Law School Named To 'Best Value' List
 

UM's School of Law has landed at No. 6 on a list of best value law schools in the nation.

The list was compiled by The National Jurist, a magazine that reaches an estimated 100,000 law students. It appears in the September 2009 issue in an article titled "Best Bang! for your buck."

The UM law school was lauded for its $10,273 in-state tuition, its bar-passage rate of 95 percent and its 95.7 percent employment rate after graduation.

"We are proud to share this ranking with you," UM law school Dean Irma Russell said. "The National Jurist runs rigorous comparisons of data to make its determinations. If the Jurist analysts experienced our beautiful new building -- set in the splendor of Montana's mountains -- and the profound educational experience at The University of Montana law school today, I am confident they would rank us No. 1 on the list."

UM School of Law 

 US, Korean Diplomats Speak At UM Tuesday
 

U.S. Ambassador to Korea Kathleen Stephens and Korea's Ambassador to the U.S. Duk-Soo Han will speak at UM on Tuesday, Sept. 8. In a rare morning time slot, the event will take place from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in James E. Todd Building Rooms 203-204. It is free and open to the public.

At a time when the North Korean nuclear threat lingers and a potential succession crisis adds new uncertainty for both the U.S. and South Korea, the countries' top diplomats will present a wide-ranging public discussion on these and other issues.

They also will address key bilateral interests such as the broad security and economic situation on the Korean Peninsula; the U.S.-Korean alliance in the 21st century; how the U.S. and Korea are coping with the world financial and economic turmoil; the significance of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement; and Korea's role in the new global economic and financial architecture.

For more information, call Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center Director Terry Weidner at 243-2988 or e-mail terry.weidner@umontana.edu.

 

 Forum Delves Into Contemporary Native Issues
 

UM will host the Calvin B. Stott Forum on Contemporary Native American Issues at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, in the University Center Ballroom.

The forum, titled "Native American Futures: The Path to Self-Sufficiency," will feature speakers Charles Trimble, an Oglala Lakota Indian who grew up on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation, and Patty LaPlant, a Blackfeet Indian.

Trimble and LaPlant will discuss current issues plaguing Indian Country, including high rates of unemployment, infant mortality and teen suicide, as well as epidemics of diabetes and substance abuse.

For more information, call UM Professor Kathryn Shanley at 243-5832 or e-mail kathryn.shanley@umontana.edu.

 

 Lecture Tackles Free Speech, Obscenity
 

UM history Professor Michael Mayer will give the University's 2009 Constitution Day Lecture on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Mayer will present "'I Know It When I See It': Obscenity and the Constitution" at 7:30 p.m. in the University Center North Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public.

The lecture will focus on major legal battles over obscenity from the 19th century to the present and the tension between the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech and the desire on the part of some to rid society of what they regard as the blight, or even the danger, of obscenity.

Constitution Day, Sept. 17, is an annual celebration of the signing of the Constitution in 1787. Events are held around the nation to continue the legacy of the 39 brave men who changed the course of history.

 

 UM Hires New Executive Chef
 

After an extensive national search, UM has hired a new executive chef. Monty Colby will take over the position in early fall semester, University Dining Services Director Mark LoParco announced last week.

Colby comes to UM with a strong background in the hotel and hospitality industry. His most recent position was executive chef at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Visalia, Calif. He has been featured in articles written for Style Magazine, 25 North magazine and Tulare County magazine. He also appeared as the featured chef on the "Central Valley Today Show "in Visalia.

Colby's innovative influence will be felt throughout all UDS restaurants, especially University Catering Services. To learn more about Colby and see some of his original culinary creations, go to the UDS Web site.

University Dining Services 

 National Geographic Features UM Researchers
 

For the second month in a row, National Geographic magazine features UM researchers examining crucial changes in ecosystems from the Arctic to coastal Russia.

The September 2009 issue features the research of Joel Berger, John J. Craighead Chair and professor of wildlife conservation in the Division of Biological Sciences. Berger, a National Geographic grant winner, tracks Alaska's muskox with GPS as fears arise among conservationists that climate change could endanger the 800-pound Ice Age survivors.

The August 2009 feature article "Where the Salmon Rule" focuses on the work of UM Bierman Professor of Ecology Jack Stanford, director of the University's Flathead Lake Biological Station. Stanford and his Russian colleague Kirill Kuzishchin examine the importance of Pacific salmon in the Kol River ecosystem on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

 

 School Presents 2009 Research Awards
 

UM faculty members Curtis Noonan and Tony Ward are the recipients of School of Public and Community Health Sciences 2009 Research Awards. The awards, which recognize excellence in public health research, were presented at the school's Student Orientation on Friday, Aug. 28.

Noonan, an assistant professor, and Ward, a research assistant professor, are both with UM's Center for Environmental Health Sciences. They were recognized for their work analyzing changes in air quality and the health of Libby children after residents replaced old woodstoves with new EPA-approved woodstoves.

The researchers demonstrated that there was a dramatic reduction in specific indoor and outdoor air pollutants with the use of the new woodstoves, with corresponding health results still forthcoming. Their work was published in the March 2008 issue of the journal Indoor Air.

The school also presented a 2009 Research Award to UM master's student Darcy Merchant, an assistant injury prevention specialist with Indian Health Service in Billings, for his work using Geographic Information Systems spatial analysis to understand risk factors involved with motor vehicle crashes and to identify MVC cluster sites occurring on Montana's Crow Indian Reservation.

 

 Get Acquainted At Ice Cream Social
 

The Eighth Annual University Community Ice Cream Social to welcome new and returning UM students to campus and to Missoula neighborhoods is set for Sunday, Sept. 13.

The free street party that celebrates the diversity UM students bring to campus and the community will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. on the 400 block of University Avenue.

The event features special guests, including UM's mascot, Monte, and Missoula Mayor John Engen, as well as live music by folk musicians Baba Ganoush. Participants can meet and mingle with neighbors, browse informational tables and win door prizes.

For more information, call Jean Woessner at 721-3540 or e-mail jwoessner@bigsky.net.

 

 Easier Now To Support Griz Athletes
 

With the arrival of the new academic year, Grizzly Athletics is making it easier for faculty and staff to attend athletic events.

If there are unclaimed student tickets as of Wednesday night prior to each home football game, the tickets will be offered for sale to UM faculty and staff each Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (limit of 2). Any remaining tickets will go to the general public after that time.

Faculty and staff also will be admitted free of charge with a current Griz Card to all soccer, volleyball, men's basketball and Lady Griz basketball games on a single game basis. Seating for basketball will be in general admission areas of Dahlberg Arena. Free admission is limited to the Griz Card holder.

For more information, e-mail IntercollegiateAthletics@umontana.edu.

Montana Grizzlies 

 Tickets Available For Performing Arts Series
 

UM Productions will present four family-friendly shows during its upcoming 2009-10 Performing Arts Series.

The series feature performances by the Lowe Family, the Mud Bay Jugglers, Bearfoot and "Rave On! The Buddy Holly Experience." All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

Series ticket packages, which cost $97, are on sale at the Adams Center Box Office, by phone at 243-4051, or online at GrizTix. Tickets for individual performances will go on sale Sept. 18.

More information about the Performing Arts Series is on the UM Productions Web site.

UM Productions 

 Get Free Tickets To Theatre/Dance Events
 

Faculty and staff members now can enjoy a night out on UM.

To show appreciation for the long-standing commitment and service to UM, President Dennison and the School of Theatre and Dance will provide faculty and staff one free ticket to each of the following drama/dance productions. In addition, a second ticket may be purchased for only $8 for each performance.

• Brighton Beach Memoirs -- Oct. 6-10 and Oct. 13-17, 7:30 p.m., Montana Theatre.
• Eurydice -- Oct. 27-31 and Nov. 3-7, 7:30 p.m., Masquer Theatre.
• Hamlet -- Dec. 1-5 and Dec. 8-12, 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 5 and 12, 2 p.m., Montana Theatre.
• Dance Up Close -- Dec. 8-12, 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 12, 2 p.m., Masquer Theatre.
• Leading Ladies -- Jan. 26-30, Feb. 2-4 and Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m., and Jan. 30, 2 p.m., Montana Theatre. (Montana Rep National Tour).
• Dance in Concert -- March 3-6, 7:30 p.m., Montana Theatre.
• Tongue of a Bird -- March 16-20 and March 23-27, 7:30 p.m., Masquer Theatre.
• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee -- April 23-24, April 27-May 1 and May 4-8, 7:30 p.m., and May 1, 2 p.m., Montana Theatre.

To get faculty/staff tickets, present your Griz Card at the Theatre/Dance Box Office in the Performing Arts and Radio-Television Center.

School of Theatre and Dance 

 HRS Sets Fall Management Forums
 

UM's Fall Human Resources Forum for campus managers and administrators will take place Sept. 14, 15 and 16. General topics include recruitment, labor relations and changes in policies and procedures.

HRS offers three options to attend the forum, which will take place in the University Center Theater:

• 9-10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 14.
• Noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15.
• 4-5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 16.

Managers and administrators are asked to e-mail betsy.hawkins@umontana.edu if they have other specific areas they feel need to be covered at the forums.

 

 Consultant Available For Retirement Planning
 

Patrick Connell, TIAA-CREF retirement consultant, will be in University Center Room 216 Tuesday through Thursday, Oct. 13-15, to assist faculty and staff with retirement planning.

To make an appointment, call the TIAA-CREF Phone Center at 800-732-8353.

 

 President Dennison's Office Hours
 

Each semester, President Dennison welcomes members of the campus community to meet with him to discuss issues and topics of their choice. Please call 243-2311 or e-mail prestalk@umontana.edu to make an appointment to meet with President Dennison during these times.

The president's office hours for fall semester are:

• Tuesday, Sept. 8: 9-11 a.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 17: 1-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 22: 3-5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 30: 10 a.m.-noon.
• Thursday, Nov. 12: 9-11 a.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 24: 3-5 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 7: 3-5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 16: 9-11 a.m.

 

 Faculty/Staff Socials
 

Socials will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. most Fridays during fall semester in the Davidson Honors College Lounge. Fall semester dates and event sponsors are:

• Sept. 11: Davidson Honors College
• Sept. 18: Sponsor to be announced
• Sept. 25: Continuing Education
• Oct. 2: President Dennison
• Oct. 16: Sponsor to be announced
• Oct. 23: Mansfield Library
• Nov. 6: International Programs
• Nov. 13: President Dennison
• Nov. 20: College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Dec. 4: College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences
• Dec. 11: Athletics

 

 News About U
 

Anthropology and Native American studies Professor Neyooxet Greymorning, with UM student and daughter Amber Hiisiino3o Greymorning, delivered a series of three talks at Southern Cross University campuses in Australia: "The Importance of Saving and Maintaining Indigenous Languages" July 22 at the Lismore campus; "Understanding the Difficulties of Teaching Indigenous Languages" July 30 at the Tweed Heads campus; and "The Struggle to Save Indigenous Languages from the Forces of an Unrelenting Storm" Aug. 12 at the Coffs Harbour campus. Professor Greymorning also delivered the keynote address for National Aboriginal and Islander Day -- "Pathways to Learning Within the Sacred" -- July 29 at Southern Cross University.

Geosciences Professor George Stanley was a delegate to the International Conference on the Cambrian Explosion -- The 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Burgess Shale by Charles Doolittle Walcott, held Aug. 3-9 in Banff, Alberta. Stanley gave a lecture at the conference titled "Soft-bodied Gelatinous Fossils from the Lower Cambrian, Chengjiang Biota, Yunnan Province, China."

Mathematics Professor Bharath Sriraman gave two invited colloquia in August at the math department of Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran. They were titled "Non-European Proof Traditions in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics" and "The (Mis)appropriation of Imre Lakatos in Mathematics Education." Sriraman also gave an invited plenary talk titled "Global Directions in Research and Theory in Mathematics Education" Aug. 31 at the Ministry of Education in Tehran.

Mathematics Professor Thomas Tonev gave an invited talk titled "Algebra Isomorphisms between Standard Operator Algebras" at the International Conference on Banach Algebras held July 14-24 at the Banach International Mathematical Center, Bedlewo, Poland.

Sociology Professor Rob Balch and Associate Professor Teresa Sobieszczyk participated in a monthlong study tour of the People's Republic of China sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education's Fulbright-Hays Program.

 

 Publications
 

Ashmore, Rhea. 2009. "What's so Special?" Montana State Reading Journal, 25(2):26-29.

Brown, Barry N. 2009. "Research Methods for Comprehensive Science Literature Reviews." Issues in Science & Technology Librarianship, 57.

Brown, Barry N. 2009. "General Aquatic Ecology." In Current and Selected Bibliographies on Benthic Biology. (Ed.) D. Webb. Champaign, IL: North American Benthological Society. pp. 104-115.

Brown, Barry N. (co-author). 2009. "Freely Available Science Information Resources on the Web." Searcher, 17(6):22-41.

Hughes, R.B. (with others). 2009. "Development of Measure of Abuse among Women with Disabilities and the Characteristics of their Perpetrators." Violence Against Women, 15(9):1001-1025.

Hughes, R.B. (with others). 2009. "Interpersonal Violence and Women with Disabilities: Analysis of Safety Promoting Behaviors." Violence Against Women, 15(9):1040-1059.

Hughes, R.B. (with others). 2009. "Reply to Our Commentators." Violence Against Women, 15 (9):1080-1086.

Sriraman, Bharath. 2009. "Socially (Re)constructing Paul Ernest." In Relatively and Philosophically Earnest: Festschrift in Honor of Paul Ernest's 65th Birthday. (Eds.) B. Sriraman & S. Goodchild. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing. pp. 1-8.

Sriraman, Bharath (co-author). 2009. "Icelandic 5th Grade Girls Development Trajectories in Proportional Reasoning." Mathematics Education Research Journal, Australia, 21(1):6-30.