Barack Obama Visits Campus
 

Supporters turned out by the thousands Saturday, April 5, as Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama made a stop at UM on his recent swing through Montana.

Some waited in line overnight to fill the 8,000 capacity Adams Center. Washington-Grizzly Stadium held the overflow of about 500 people who watched Obama's speech broadcast live on the GrizVision. Obama took a spin through the stadium, where he greeted the overflow crowd.

His visit was part of the run up to the Montana primary June 3.

 

 Alum Brings Special Showing Of Movie To UM
 

It's been nearly 50 years since UM alumnus and daytime soap opera star Eric Braeden set foot on the UM campus. But he's coming back Saturday, April 19, to screen his aptly titled new movie, "The Man Who Came Back," for the campus and Missoula communities.

Two special showings will begin at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the University Center Theater, both starting with an introduction by Braeden. Tickets are free and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Watch local media for details. "This is Eric's gift to UM alumni, students and the public," said Charles Sherman, the actor's Hollywood publicist.

The German-born Braeden, whose name was Hans Gudegast when he attended UM in the early 1960s, is an internationally known television and film star. He's best-known for his longtime role as Victor Newman on the popular daytime soap "The Young and the Restless." He also starred as John Jacob Astor in "Titanic."

Braeden reconnected with his alma mater after he was interviewed last fall by Paddy MacDonald for a profile that appeared in the winter 2008 issue of the Montanan, UM's alumni magazine. "The Man Who Came Back" was produced by Braeden and stars the UM alum alongside Armand Assante, Billy Zane, Sean Young, Ken Norton, James Patrick Stuart and George Kennedy, among others. It takes place in a post-Civil War small southern town where emancipation has yet to occur.

The film is unrated and contains violence and nudity. For more information, e-mail rita.munzenrider@umontana.edu.

Montanan Story 

 Top Jazz Artists Coming To UM
 

UM's Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival will take place Friday and Saturday, April 25-26. The annual festival includes all-day noncompetitive, educational events and two exciting evening performances by internationally renowned artists.

The Friday evening performance features world-class clarinetist DeFranco with guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, multi-instrumentalist James Morrison and the UM Jazz Band. Saturday's featured artists are DeFranco with trombonist John Allred, saxophonist Phil Woods and the UM Jazz Band.

The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre and costs $22 for one and $40 for both. Students and seniors pay $17 for one and $30 for both. All seats are reserved. Tickets are available at all GrizTix outlets or by calling 888-MONTANA. More information about festival events and featured artists is on the festival's Web site.

Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival 

 Missoula Children's Theatre Debuts In Ireland
 

The Missoula Children's Theatre - the largest children's theater in the United States - will take its tour to Ireland April 28-May 2. MCT will perform its original musical adaptation of "Robin Hood" as conceived and written by MCT Executive Director Michael McGill. The performances will take place at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Limerick.

MCT staff members Amy Pettigrew and Kim Kempfert will arrive in Limerick with everything it takes to put on a play except the cast. The MCT team will hold open auditions in Limerick April 28, casting 50 to 60 students to rehearse throughout the week. Public performances of the full-length musical production will be presented at the school May 2.

This production will visit Ireland with the help of EnterpriseMontana, a public-private program offered by the Montana World Trade Center. MWTC is a University of Montana program housed on-campus at the Gallagher Business Building.

Missoula Children's Theatre 

 Used Outdoor Gear Sale April 15
 

Discounted outdoor gear, including climbing shoes, tents and bikes, will be on sale from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, on the first floor of the University Center.

The event, hosted by UM's Outdoor Program, is open to the general public. All those interested in selling their used outdoor or sports gear can bring items to the sale from 7 to 11 a.m. and pick up their unsold gear after the sale between 5 and 8 p.m.

The Outdoor Program will collect 15 percent of each sale. For more information call 406-243-5172.

Used Outdoor Gear Sale 

 Early Childhood Program Earns Accreditation
 

The Co-Teach Preschool Program, located in The University of Montana School of Education, has received recognition under rigorous new standards from the National Association for the Education of Young Children - the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals.

There are 22 accredited programs in Montana, but Co-Teach is one of only three to be approved under the new standards.

Co-Teach has been in existence for 27 years. The preschool has morning and afternoon programs and serves children ages 3-5.

To earn NAEYC accreditation in the new system, Co-Teach went through an extensive self-study. The program measured its services against 10 new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria. Co-Teach received accolades after an unannounced, on-site inspection by NAEYC in late January. Preparation for the visit was headed up by Co-Teach Coordinator Marcy Otten.

Only about 8 percent of all preschools across the country have passed NAEYC accreditation, and even fewer have been certified under the new standards that went into effect in September 2006.

Co-Teach now is accepting applications for fall 2008. To enroll your child or for more information, call 406-243-6303.

 

 Registration Day For Transfer Students
 

Transfer Transition, an early registration day for students who plan to transfer to UM for fall semester 2008, will be held Monday, April 21. During the daylong event, students will meet with academic advisers to develop schedules and register for classes.

Information also will be available about campus resources, on-campus and off-campus housing, and the costs and payment options associated with attending UM.

All transfer students who have been admitted to UM for fall semester 2008 prior to April 4 are welcome to attend.

For more information about Transfer Transition or to sign up, call UM Enrollment Services at 406-243-6266 or 800-462-8636.

Transfer Transition Orientation 

 MWTC Global Trade Series Offered
 

The Montana World Trade Center will offer the second round of the Global Trade Certificate Program around the state this spring. Trade officials and industry specialists will educate program participants on providing assistance to Montana businesses looking to increase their global opportunities and growth potential.

Session I of the series will be held in Billings April 24-25. Some of the courses include "Export Essentials -- Opportunities, Resources and Risks," and "Doing Business in South America: Legal Safety Measures and Protection."

Session II will take place in Bozeman May 15-16. It will feature keynote speakers from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security and the Office of the European Union.

The program's third session will be held in Missoula on June 5-6 and will feature keynote speaker David Spooner with the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Participation in the full series costs $525 and individual sessions cost $175. Members of MWTC, Montana Economic Development Association and the Montana Chamber of Commerce can attend all three sessions for $395 or $125 for individual sessions.

The complete schedule and list of speakers is available on the MWTC Web site or by calling 406-243-6982.

Montana World Trade Center 

 Men In Heels Protest Violence Against Women
 

Men from all walks of life will don women's high-heeled shoes and walk a mile through the UM campus on Wednesday, April 23, to protest rape, sexual assault and gender violence.

Registration for the "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" event opens at 10 a.m. by the Grizzly Bear statue on the UM Oval. The march begins at noon. All men, women and children are invited to participate. Registration costs $10, and participants are asked to raise $20 each.

Proceeds from the walk will go to the Student Assault Resource Center's violence prevention efforts and advocacy services for survivors of sexual assault, rape and gender violence.

For more information call Erin Scott, UM's SARC outreach coordinator, at 406-243-6429 or e-mail erin.scott@mso.umt.edu.

'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes' 

 'Walk N Roll' During Bike Walk Bus Week
 

UM will participate in Missoula's Bike Walk Bus Week by hosting "Walk N Roll" days Monday through Friday, April 21-25.

Volunteers at University entrances will hand out raffle tickets to those who arrive on campus using options to get to UM other than driving alone. Raffle tickets also can be picked up at the University Center for those who use other means of transportation and don't find a "Walk N Roll" volunteer where they enter campus.

Raffle prizes include a cruiser bike, bike trailer, headlights, locks and numerous other donated gifts.

The raffle drawing will take place at noon on Friday, April 25, on the Mansfield Mall, located near the University Center. Entertainment will be provided by the popular band Friedrich's Teeth.

Public transportation options include UM Park-N-Ride shuttles and Mountain Line buses.

For 16 years Missoula has hosted a successful Bike Walk Bus Week. This year, the 17th annual event will be held April 19-26. In addition to UM's "Walk N Roll" events, historic neighborhood walking tours and bike rides will be held, and community businesses will provide incentives for employees to reduce how often they drive alone to work.

Bike Walk Bus Week 

 UM MMAC Participates In Museum Assessment
 

UM's Montana Museum of Art & Culture recently took part in the Museum Assessment Program conducted through the American Association of Museums.

Susan Bandes, director of the Kresge Art Museum at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., and Michael Panhorst, curator at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in Alabama, were at MMAC April 3-4. Bandes helms a major museum construction project funded by well-known philanthropist and art collector Eli Broad.

The MAP team toured MMAC's facilities and met with a variety of museum stakeholders, including staff, faculty, UM executive officers, MMAC advisory board members and others.

This assessment is conducted through the American Association of Museums, and will help MMAC in its efforts toward effective community service and programming and in planning for a new building.

MMAC galleries are located in UM's Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 4 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is free, and parking is available near the northwest corner of the PAR/TV Center. For more information, call MMAC at 406-243-2019 or go to the MMAC Web site.

Montana Museum of Art & Culture 

 Student To Present Research In D.C.
 

UM senior Thomas Basset will be one of 60 undergraduate students nationwide presenting research this month at a Council on Undergraduate Research event in Washington, D.C.

Basset, an ecology major, will present his research on spotted knapweed and native insect communities in Montana at "Undergraduate Research Posters on the Hill" April 28-29.

Throughout the summer and fall of 2007, Basset conducted research as a student fellow for the Montana Integrative Learning Experience for Students at UM. He collaborated with a student in Romania to determine why traditional biocontrols haven't worked to quell the growth of spotted knapweed in Montana.

2008 Posters on the Hill 

 Panel To Address U.S. Health Care
 

UM Student Nurses for Change will host an event Saturday, April 12, to promote discussion and raise awareness of possible solutions to provide Americans with quality, affordable health care.

Senior nursing students from the Montana State University College of Nursing on the Missoula campus will present a screening of Michael Moore's "Sicko" at 11 a.m. followed by a panel discussion at 3 p.m. Both events will be held in the University Center Theater and are free and open to the public. Panelists will represent various aspects of the health care system.

 

 Economic Research Bureau Names New Head
 

Patrick Barkey will succeed Paul Polzin as director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the UM when Polzin retires on June 30.

Barkey served as director of the Bureau of Business Research at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., from 1993 until 2007, when he came to BBER as director of health care industry research.

As director of health care industry research, Barkey examines the state's health care markets, trends, costs and other high-visibility topics. His most recent research has been on the economic impact of substance abuse in Montana.

Polzin is retiring after 40 years of service to the bureau. Housed in UM's School of Business Administration, BBER has provided information about Montana's state and local economies for more than 50 years.

Bureau of Business and Economic Research 

 Local Youths Lend Hand At Historic Homestead
 

Missoula youths will volunteer their time preparing the Moon-Randolph Homestead for spring Saturday, April 26, as part of the ninth annual Global Youth Service Day.

Students will work from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on projects such as gardening, carpentry, whitewashing and other chores at the North Missoula landmark. Volunteers from all Missoula middle and high schools are invited to participate. The event is organized by Sentinel High School students.

Global Youth Service Day is an annual event sponsored by Youth Service America and the Global Youth Action Network, during which millions of young people around the world will participate in thousands of community service projects.

For more information about Global Youth Service Day, or to volunteer, visit the Office for Civic Engagement in Davidson Honors College Room 015 or call Lauren Amato at 406-243-5531 or lauren.amato@mso.umt.edu.

 

 Math Film Festival
 

The Ninth Annual Math Film Festival will take place at UM on Tuesday, April 15.

The festival, which is free and open to the public, begins at 3:10 p.m. in the University Center Theater.

Films include a three-minute production by UM math major Laura Williams titled "The Math Geek." Math major Nick Paterno stars as the geek.

The film festival is sponsored by UM's Math Club to celebrate Math Awareness Month. A festival schedule is available online.

UM Math Club