Obama To Rally On Campus Saturday Morning
 

Campus community members should be aware that a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will be held Saturday morning at the Adams Center.

The doors open for the event at 8 a.m., and the rally starts at 10 a.m. Parking will be extremely limited, and those coming to campus that morning may want to arrange transportation other than driving.

Public transportation options for getting to and from campus include Mountain Line buses.

 

 Native American Center To Break Ground
 

Leaders from all Montana American Indian tribes will be at UM on Saturday, April 19, to speak at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Native American Center.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which begins at 9 a.m. at the building site, located on the UM Oval south of the Grizzly Bear statue and east of Lommasson Center.

The first of its kind on a U.S. university campus, the center will house UM's Native American studies department and American Indian Student Services offices, as well as related campus programming, under one roof.

Construction will begin this summer, with completion expected in fall 2009. The center will be the first UM campus building constructed in accordance with the Leadership in Energy Efficient Design's green building standards.

For more information, contact Linda Juneau, UM tribal liaison at 406-243-6093 or linda.juneau@mso.umt.edu.

Native American Center News 

 Lecture Examines Climate Change, Disease Link
 

Rita Colwell, one of the world's foremost scientific experts on emerging infectious diseases, will give the next installment of the President's Lecture Series at UM on Monday, April 14.

Her presentation, "Oceans, Climate and Human Health: The Cholera Paradigm," begins at 8 p.m. in the University Theatre.

An authority on marine science, Colwell will talk about research on emerging diseases in the waters of both the developed and developing world.

Earlier that day from 3:10 to 4:30 p.m., she will give a seminar titled "Infectious Diseases, Climate and the Environment" in Gallagher Business Building Room 123.

Both events are free and open to the public and presented in collaboration with the Montana-Ecology of Infectious Diseases education and research program.

President's Lecture Series 

 Distinguished Artists Take 'Odyssey' Stage
 

UM's School of Fine Arts will honor Beth Lo and David Simmons, two versatile artists and UM alumni, at the eighth annual "Odyssey of the Stars -- A Celebration of Artistic Journeys."

This year's event, titled "A Kaleidoscope of Sights and Sounds," begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5, in the University Theatre. All proceeds go toward UM's School of Fine Arts scholarships.

"Odyssey of the Stars" showcases performing and visual arts alumni who have gone on to successful careers in the arts, along with current UM students. This year's event will spotlight students from UM's music and drama/dance departments.

Tickets are available at all GrizTix locations, by phone at 406-243-4051 or 888-MONTANA. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $15 for UM students. "Odyssey" sponsorships are available at a cost of $125 for two tickets or $200 for four tickets. Sponsorship tickets include a VIP champagne reception with the guest artists following the main event. For more information on tickets or sponsorships, call the School of Fine Arts dean's office at 406-243-4971.

Odyssey of the Stars 

 Kyi-Yo Native American Celebration April 18-19
 

The public is invited to share in American Indian heritage and artistry during the 40th Annual Kyi-Yo Celebration at UM Friday and Saturday, April 18-19.

This year's theme is "Celebrating 40 Years through Song and Dance." Events kick off with a grand entry featuring dancers in traditional dress at 6 p.m. Friday, April 18, in the Adams Center.

The celebration offers community members a chance to enjoy the skills of champion American Indian dancers and drummers from across the region. Dance specials that highlight different styles will be held throughout the weekend. Additional grand entry events take place at noon and 6 p.m. Saturday.

General admission is $5 Friday and Saturday evening and $8 for all day Saturday. Dance registration is $5 with one pass, and drummer registration is $40 with 10 passes. Tickets can be purchased at the door, and weekend passes will be available.

A complete schedule of Kyi-Yo Celebration events is on the Web site.

For more information, call Kyi-Yo President Dustin Whitford at 406-945-4330 or Kyi-Yo program assistant Denise Grant at 406-243-5403, or e-mail denise.grant@mso.umt.edu.

Kyi-Yo Events 

 Public Service Internship Honors Kimmitt
 

A public service internship for students who attend UM has been established to honor Stan Kimmitt, former secretary of the U.S. Senate and aide to Montana's late U.S. Sen. Mike Mansfield.

The J. Stanley Kimmitt Public Service Internship will be a paid position in the offices of a member of the Montana congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. The first 10-week internship will be available this summer and will come with a $1,500 stipend.

All UM undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply for the internship. To be considered, students must submit an application that includes an essay, resume and unofficial UM transcript to the Davidson Honors College. The application deadline is Friday, April 18.

For more information, call the Davidson Honors College at 406-243-2541 or e-mail dhc@mso.umt.edu.

 

 Montana Public Radio Pledge Week April 7-13
 

Montana Public Radio invites loyal listeners to tune in and pony up during its annual Pledge Week coming April 7-13.

Many listeners say Montana Public Radio is a vital part of their daily lives that they can't live without. Comments such as these motivated the station to select DNA -- Daily Necessary Audio -- as the theme for this year's fundraiser.

Pledge Week begins at 6 a.m. Monday, April 7, and runs until midnight on Sunday, April 13. Highlights of the week include a two-hour Bill Harley concert airing at 7:30 p.m. April 7, and perennial favorite "Pet Wars" from 5 p.m. to midnight April 13.

Listeners can pledge their financial support by mail at Montana Public Radio, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812; by calling 406-243-6400 or 800-325-1565; or on the MTPR Web site.

Montana Public Radio 

 Fritz To Be Honored At Library Banquet
 

Harry Fritz, a popular University of Montana history professor, will receive the H.G. Merriam Award for his contributions to Montana literature on Tuesday, April 15, during the 45th Annual Friends of the Mansfield Library Banquet.

The event kicks off at 6 p.m. with a social hour in the University Center Ballroom. A London broil buffet dinner will follow. Tickets cost $30 in advance, $35 at the door and $275 for a table for 10. Visit Betsy Dalessio at the Mansfield Library for tickets. For more information call 406-243-6049 or e-mail elizabeth.dalessio@umontana.edu.

In addition to winning numerous UM teaching awards, Fritz served in the Montana House of Representatives during 1985-87 and the Montana Senate during 1991-93. In 2004 he was named Montana Professor of the Year by two national organizations that promote excellence in teaching. He now is semi-retired, teaching at UM part time.

The H.G. Merriam Award is named for an English professor who worked on campus from 1914 to 1954, founding UM's creative writing program. The Friends of the Mansfield Library is a group that independently advocates for the library while working to ensure its holdings remain up-to-date.

 

 Students Present Projects At Science Fair
 

Montana's high school and middle school students will present their research findings during the 53rd annual Montana Science Fair at UM April 7-8.

The grand award winners from the Montana Science Fair and Montana's regional fairs will go on to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair May 11-17 in Atlanta.

Registration costs $25. More information on the Montana Science Fair and an online application are available on the fair's Web site.

The exhibits will open for public viewing from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, April 7, and from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 8. The awards ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the University Theatre. Students must display their exhibits for public viewing until after the awards ceremony.

Montana Science Fair 

 Author To Share Tales Of Tibetan River Trip
 

Author Craig Childs, UM's Kittredge Distinguished Visiting Writer in Environmental Studies, will host a reading and slide show about his September 2007 first descent of a river in Tibet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, in Turner Hall's Dell Brown Room.

At the presentation, titled "Lost in Tibet," Childs will share astonishing stories and images of running 200 miles of uncharted water through 17,000-foot mountains.

Childs is the author of "The Animal Dialogues," "The Secret Knowledge of Water," "House of Rain," "Soul of Nowhere" and numerous other books. His recent essays have appeared in Orion, High Country News and The Sun, and he is a regular commentator on NPR's "Morning Edition."

 

 UM Educator Receives National Recognition
 

University of Montana Assistant Professor Martin Horejsi will be one of only three national educators in attendance at a black-tie affair at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to present its Current Achievement and Lifetime Achievement trophies.

Horejsi, who teaches in UM's Department of Curriculum and Instruction, will attend the April 3 Washington, D.C., event as an invited key member of the Stardust Comet Sample Return Mission, part of NASA's series of Discovery missions. The Stardust Mission is the recipient of the museum's 2008 Current Achievement Trophy.

The trophy -- a miniature version of "The Web of Space" by sculptor John Safer -- recognizes both past and present achievements involving the management or execution of a scientific or technological project, a distinguished career of service in air and space technology or a significant contribution in chronicling the history of air and space technology.

Horejsi has been at work on the NASA Stardust Mission since 1998, a year before the 1999 launch of the spacecraft that would send back a treasure trove of cometary and interstellar dust samples years later, after completing 2.88 billion miles and three giant loops around the sun. The mission's return sample capsule touched down in the Utah desert in January 2006 - the first spacecraft to safely make it back to Earth with cometary dust particles.

NASA Stardust Mission 

 Armed Forces Court To Hear Case At Law School
 

A hearing of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces will be held Tuesday, April 8, at UM.

The case -- United States v. SFC Sean P. Bright, U.S. Army -- is scheduled for a noon hearing in the School of Law Castles Center, located in the lower level of the Jameson Law Library. The event is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow in the Pope Room.

Sean Bright, a U.S. Army sergeant first class, was convicted by a general court-martial of rape and other offenses involving a private assigned to his platoon. The conviction was affirmed by the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals. Bright appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

The case will be presided over by Chief Judge Andrew Effron and judges James Baker, Charles Erdmann, Scott Stucky and Margaret Ryan. Erdmann is a UM law school graduate.

 

 Experts To Speak On Community Rights
 

Two advocates from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund will give a lecture about their recent work on community rights on Monday, April 7, at UM.

Thomas Linzey, CELDF co-founder and executive director, and Mari Margil, CELDF associate director, will present "Asserting the Rights of Communities and Nature Over the 'Rights' of Corporations" at 7:30 p.m. in Gallagher Business Building Room L14. The event is free and open to the public.

Linzey will talk about the organization's work to assist rural communities in adopting local laws that seek to create environmental and economic sustainability. Margil will summarize CELDF's work with Ecuadorians to draft a new constitution that codifies rights for natural systems.

The CELDF is a nonprofit law firm that provides free and affordable legal services to community groups and local governments.

The lecture is sponsored by UM's Environmental Studies Program. For more information, call UM Assistant Professor Robin Saha at 406-243-6285 or email robin.saha@umontana.edu.

 

 Track Coach Raunig To Step Down
 

University of Montana cross country/track and field coach Tom Raunig announced Friday that he will step down from his UM position at the end of the upcoming outdoor track and field season to pursue a full-time teaching career.

Raunig is in his 12th of year coaching the Grizzlies and in his 23rd year of coaching track and field overall. He recently accepted a full-time tenure-track teaching position in the School of Education at the University of Great Falls.

Griz Track And Field 

 Al Manuel Track Meet This Week
 

The Montana track and field teams will open their 2008 outdoor season this weekend when the Grizzlies host the Al Manuel Invitational Friday and Saturday at Dornblaser Field in Missoula.

The women's and men's hammer throws will be held Friday afternoon, with the remainder of the meet taking place Saturday. The women's hammer throw starts at 3 p.m. Friday; the men's follows at 4:45 p.m.

Saturday's field events start at 10:45 a.m. with the women's shot put and javelin and the men's long jump. Running events start at 11:15 a.m. with the women's steeplechase.

Division I teams using the meet as a dual-scoring opportunity will be UM, Montana State, Eastern Washington and Gonzaga. A handful of athletes from Carroll and MSU-Billings will compete, as will some unattached athletes.

Griz Track and Field 

 Griz Lacrosse Hosts Home Games This Weekend
 

The University of Montana men's lacrosse team will play home games on Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6, at River Bowl field north of Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

The Grizzlies will host Washington State at 1 p.m. Saturday and will play the University of Idaho at noon on Sunday. Both games are free and open to the public.

After winning the national Men's College Lacrosse Association Division II championship last year, the team voted to move up to MCLA Division I to face tougher competition. The Grizzlies are 4-3 this season and looking to improve their record at home this weekend.

During UM's Spring Break, the team traveled to California where they defeated the University of Southern California 22-10 on March 24 and the University of San Diego 11-10 on March 26.

UM Lacrosse