Welcome to TGIF News. This e-mail newsletter
is provided weekly, except during the summer
and scheduled academic breaks, to subscribers
including students, alumni, employees and
friends of The University of Montana.
Russians Examine U.S. Education In Missoula
Seventeen Russian education leaders are
spending much of October in Missoula
examining effective high school teaching
strategies and curricula. While in Montana,
the teachers will visit many branches of
Missoula County Public Schools and receive
hands-on practice developing coursework and
incorporating lesson plans.
International Programs and the School of
Education's Division of Educational Research
and Service at UM are administering the
project, designing the schedule of
activities and facilitating many of the
sessions and experiences.
The Russians are participating in the
Teachers to Teachers: Language, Technology,
Math and Science Exchange. A program of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in
the U.S. Department of State, LTMS is
administered by the American Councils for
International Education and supported by the
Ministry of Education and Science of the
Russian Federation.
LTMS rewards Russian educators with
concentrated professional development and
short-term internships. It gives educators
the opportunity to collaborate with their
U.S. counterparts to develop new teaching
methods, create or expand materials and
curricula, and prepare professional
development workshops for colleagues in their
home country.
The teachers were welcomed to UM Oct. 4 at
an opening reception attended by Montana Gov.
Brian Schweitzer.
National Native Trauma Center Announced
A. Kathryn Power, director of the federal
Center for Mental Health Services, visited UM
this week to help launch a first-of-its-kind
national trauma center for American Indian
children.
Power announced the new National Native
Children's Trauma Center on Thursday before
giving a public lecture.
UM received a four-year, $2.4 million grant
from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Service Administration to fund the
center, which will be operated by the
Division of Education Research and Service in
UM's School of Education.
The administration recently awarded 15
grants worth $28 million to organizations
that help children and adolescents deal with
traumatic experiences. The UM award creates
the only center in the federal National Child
Traumatic Stress Network that focuses on
Indian children and their parents.
Grads Repaying Student Loans At Record Rate
The latest statistics show fewer UM students
are defaulting on their student loans.
UM's federal fiscal cohort default rate fell
from 4.4 percent in 2004 to 2.6 percent in
2005 -- a one-year decrease of 40.9 percent.
"This is great news," said Mick Hanson,
director of UM's Financial Aid Office. "No.
1, it suggests an improved job market for
students, helping them repay their loans. No.
2, it shows the Student Assistance Foundation
in Helena, which services the majority of
student loans in Montana, continues to
improve its services for students when it
comes to repayment."
Hanson said institutions such as UM also
have improved credit counseling for students
as they exit college for the working world.
Cohort default rates are based on national
default statistics released annually by the
U.S. Department of Education. The 2005 fiscal
year cohort default rate is the most recent
available.
"These results demonstrate not only
professional standards we have come to expect
from Montana financial aid directors, but
also the Montana student's ability to follow
through with their obligations," said UM
President George Dennison.
Math Reveals Hidden World Of Leaves
During photosynthesis a plant takes in
carbon dioxide through minute openings on its
surface called stomata. But when stomata are
open, water is lost through evaporation, so
over time stomata open and close to balance
their need to breathe with their aversion to
losing water.
To understand this mechanism, scientists
injected a cocklebur leaf with fluorescent
dye and observed the results using time-lapse
photography. The resulting video shows light
and dark regions chasing one another around
the leaf surface. Light areas reveal closed
stomata, and dark areas show where they are
open. But the light regions within the video
were too faint for researchers to draw any
real conclusions.
That's where the math minds at UM came in.
Researchers in the Department of Mathematical
Sciences developed an algorithm using
variational calculus that generated a crisp
black-and-white image of the stomata at work,
showing more precisely where on the leaf
surface the pores were open and where they
were closed.
The work led to a $116,299 National
Science Foundation grant for research on
pattern analysis in leaf transpiration, which
paid for their work on the project over two
summers.
Calling all Griz fans! Show true Grizzly
pride and give the gift of life by donating
blood on Thursday, Oct. 25, at UM. The Red
Cross will hold its annual "Blood Battle"
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day in the
University Center Ballroom.
The annual event is a challenge between the
UM Grizzlies and the MSU Bobcats to see which
campus can collect the most donated blood for
patients in need at local hospitals.
"With just an hour of your time, you can help
UM win the challenge," said Julie Brehm of
Missoula's Red Cross office. "And more
importantly, you can make a lifetime of
difference to a person in need."
Appointments can be made on the Red Cross
Web site -- enter the sponsor code "gogriz"
-- or by calling the UM Advocates office at
406-243-5874 or the Red Cross at 406-543-6695.
The Missoula Heart Walk, held at UM on Sept.
15, was a roaring success. On that crisp fall
day, 111 teams and nearly 700 people raised
more than $125,000 for the American Heart
Association.
UM came through as the event's top fundraiser
with a total of $11,237.
Top prize for a University team went to the
UM Foundation. The team raised an impressive
$1,415.
The secretary who worked for F. Scott
Fitzgerald the last two years of his life
will speak at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, in UM's
North Underground Lecture Hall.
In failing health in 1938, Fitzgerald hired
Frances Ring to type his final novel, "The
Last Tycoon." She assisted him until his
death in 1940.
Ring wrote a memoir about this period titled
"Against the Current: As I Remember F. Scott
Fitzgerald." In 2002 a film adaptation of the
book was released titled "Last Call," which
starred Jeremy Irons as Fitzgerald, Sissy
Spacek as Zelda Fitzgerald and Neve Campbell
as Ring.
The film will be shown, followed by a
discussion with Ring and a book signing.
The event was organized by Pascal Bardet, a
UM Fitzgerald scholar visiting from France,
and is sponsored by the English department.
It is free and open to the public.
Singer Greg Brown To Perform
Folk and blues singer Greg Brown will
showcase his songwriting skills during a
Thursday, Nov. 1, concert at UM.
The event kicks off at 8 p.m. in the
University Theatre. Tickets are $26 in
advance or $28 the day of the show. They are
available at all GrizTix locations, online or
by calling 406-243-4051 or 888-MONTANA. All
seating is reserved.
Missoula's own Chris Lane will open the show.
An Iowa native who grew up around gospel and
Americana music, Brown has been compared to
Woody Guthrie and Muddy Waters. Since his
debut as a solo artist in 1980, he has
released two dozen albums. He was nominated
for a Grammy in 1997 for his album "Slant 6
Mind."
It's become a tradition of his to perform in
Western Montana each year.
New Orleans singer Spencer Bohren will bring
his unique mix of gospel, folk and blues
storytelling to Missoula for a Tuesday, Nov.
13, concert at UM.
Bohren will perform at 8 p.m. in the
University Theatre. Tickets are $15
for the general public and $12 for seniors,
students and children. They are available at
all GrizTix locations, online or by calling
406-243-4051 or 888-MONTANA. All seating is
general admission.
A Wyoming native, Bohren has created
authentic American roots music for more than
30 years. He has a regional and international
following and recently returned from a
successful European tour.
The Montana Grizzlies and UM athletic
department will observe a moment of silence
at the football game against Northern
Colorado on Saturday, Oct. 20, in memory of
Grizzly fans who have died during the past year.
If you would like to have a loved one
recognized, contact Christie
Anderson via e-mail or by phone at
406-243-4336.
Include the name, date of birth, date of
death, hometown and a photograph. Information
must be received no later than Thursday, Oct. 18.
The top-ranked Montana Grizzlies edged the
visiting Eastern Washington Eagles 24-23
Saturday afternoon in a key Big Sky
Conference game at UM's Washington-Grizzly
Stadium.
Senior kicker Dan Carpenter connected on a
34-yard field goal with 26 seconds left. The
hard-fought victory kept the Grizzlies
undefeated at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in conference.
Eastern Washington nearly doubled the offense
production of the Grizzlies during the
contest. The Eagles had 565 yards of total
offense, while the Grizzlies managed 289
total yards.
Junior quarterback Cole Bergquist completed
16-of-32 passes for 181 yards and two
touchdowns. The Montana ground game was led
by senior running back Lex Hilliard, with 15
carries for a game-high 70 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore Mike Ferriter led the Grizzly
receiving unit with seven catches for 92
yards and a touchdown. Senior receiver Ryan
Bagley had two catches for 53 yards and a
touchdown.
The Grizzlies return to action Saturday for
their first road game at Sacramento State.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. MDT. The
game will be broadcast live on KPAX-TV in
Missoula, as well as on statewide Montana
Television Network stations and Grizzly
Football Network radio stations.
Sacramento State hit .336 and won its 10th
straight match with a 3-0 victory (30-21,
30-20, 30-22) over the Montana Volleyball
team last Friday in UM's West Auxiliary Gym.
The Hornets improved to 16-3 overall and
remained perfect in Big Sky Conference play
at 5-0. The Grizzlies dropped to 6-10, 2-4 in
league play.
Montana Volleyball closes out the first half
of its Big Sky Conference schedule this week
at Idaho State and Weber State. The Grizzlies
face the Bengals at 7 p.m. tonight in
Pocatello, Idaho, and the Wildcats at 7 p.m.
Saturday in Ogden, Utah.
UM
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