Connections
A Newsletter for theViterbo University Community
Vol. 14 No. 15 December 11, 2000
Connections' Holiday Season
The end of the semester approaches, as does the holiday season and that means Connections will take a hiatus. The final issue of Connections will be published on Monday, Dec. 18. Copy is due by Thursday, Dec. 14. Publication will resume with an issue on Monday, Jan. 8. Copy for that issue is due on Thursday, Jan. 4 by noon.
Winter Graduation Set for Dec. 16
Eighty-three students are scheduled to receive their diplomas at Viterbo University’s Winter Commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 10:30 a.m. in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.
Earl Madary, President of the Faculty Assembly, will be the master of ceremonies, while Jessica Luebker, a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree candidate, will give the senior address. Robert F. Anderson, Class of 1996, will give the alumni welcome and Dr. William J. Medland, Viterbo University President, will confer the degrees.
There will be a pinning ceremony for nursing graduates at 11:30 a.m. in San Damiano Chapel.
A Baccalaureate Mass will be held at 9 a.m. that morning in the Maria Angelorum Chapel at St. Rose Convent.
Reminder
Faculty and administration should line-up, wearing academic attire, in the FAC hallway by 10:15 a.m. Please ask a committee member if you have questions: Amy Gleason, Fr. Tom O'Neill, Sr. Sue Ernster, Susan Rush, Sr. Jeanine Luger, Linda Malick, Rob Anderson, Carlena Goddeau, Jane Mrozek, Sally Emerson, Jess Luebker, Tony DePaolo, Sasha Bobrov, Joel Spaulding, Theresa Hoeger, and Sarah Rahn.
Alcohol Awareness Week Planning Underway
The Connect Club has scheduled Alcohol Awareness Week for April 2-6. This year’s student coordinator is Connect member Molly Cowden, a sophomore C.I.S major.
The goals of Alcohol Awareness Week are to enhance awareness of alcohol issues affecting college students and to promote low-risk alcohol choices. Educational programs, alternative activities, and campus involvement activities are planned throughout the week.
The success of Alcohol Awareness Week is contingent on participation of campus groups. Last year 12 campus organizations coordinated educational, recreational, or awareness activities during the week. Connect is planning for similar levels of involvement this year.
Connect members will contact campus clubs and organizations at the beginning of second semester to encourage their participation in the week and to provide activity ideas. Groups wishing to reserve a time slot or activity now may contact Molly Cowden, ext. 3351 or Anne Ellefson at ext. 3807.
In the meantime, mark your calendars for April 2-6, and think about activities that your club, organization, or department might be interested in coordinating.
MC Lobby Active
The following are upcoming scheduled activities in the MC Lobby:
• Monday and Tuesday Dec. 11-12, Residence Life will be selling Candygrams.
• Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 13-14, Financial Aid has the lobby reserved.
• Friday, Dec. 15, the Spanish Club will be selling hand-painted Christmas Ornaments.
• Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Dec. 18-20, there will be a textbook exchange.
Out and About
Pianist Jack Wallace brings a blend of ragtime, jazz, and classical music and song to the Pump House Regional Arts Center for a special New Year’s Eve show on Sunday, Dec. 31, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $11 in advance or $13 at the door. Seating is limited. Call 785-1434 to order tickets.
Kudos to...
...Loretta Waughtal, Communications & Marketing, and Ginny Brochhausen, FAC, who will graduate from Viterbo University on Saturday, Dec. 16. Waughtal will receive a degree in liberal studies and Brochhausen will receive a degree in management.
...Rae Myers, senior biology major, who presented her summer research entitled “Analysis of MIP-1a Signaling Pathways in Jurkat T lymphocytes” at the Mayo Research Forum, Dec. 1-2.
Flu Shots are Here!
The wait is over! Health Services now has flu shots available.
Wednesday, Dec. 13, a flu clinic will be held in the conference room on the second floor of MC (MC221). from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There is a $6.50 charge for each shot. Flu shots may be arranged through Health Services if the flu clinic date is inconvenient. Contact Marilyn Jaekel at ext. 3806 to schedule.
Soup Bowl Benefit
Tom Bartel’s pottery class will conduct a “soup bowl benefit sale” on Thursday Dec. 14 from 12:30-3 p.m. in the FAC lobby.
This “benefit sale” will be the conclusion of an assignment from the pottery course. Students were required to throw and trim 30 bowls and 20 would be donated to the sale. Proceeds from the sale will be given to a local charity of the student's choice.
All bowls are one-of-a-kind, handmade and reasonably priced, as well as microwavable, dishwasher, and food-safe.
Viterbo Christmas Treat Exchange
Why slave away making different kinds of Christmas treats this season? All employees are invited to the Viterbo Christmas Treat Exchange. Simply bring in two dozen of one kind of cookie, bar, fudge, etc., and exchange them for a variety of holiday goodies. The exchange will take place in the MC conference room on Monday, Dec. 18, from 3-4 p.m. The Social Committee will provide hot apple cider for those participating. Don’t forget to bring a container in which you’ll take your treats home.
In-service Week Schedule
Spring in-service week this year is January 8th through the 12th. This week has been reserved for schools and departments to complete the program review self studies. The emphasis for this program review will be on assessing program goals, curriculum currency of programs and statistical data about programs. Incorporating models from other colleges and universities with the advice and input from the Program Review Task Force helped to develop the self-study form. This task will take considerable time and involvement from everyone in their departments and schools to do it well and meaningfully.
News You'll Notice by Institutional Advancement Staff
Phonathon Results are in!
The hard work of Chris Helixon and our student callers, along with the generosity of alumni, have made this year’s Alumni Phonathon a great success. Thus far, alumni have pledged $96,000 in the 2000-01 Alumni Phonathon. These funds will be used to complete special projects not covered by Viterbo’s annual operating budget. The Parent Phonathon is scheduled for Feb. 11-21.
Alumni Update
Details are being finalized for Homecoming 2001, Feb. 16-18, and the School of Nursing Reunion on April 21. We’re also working with Career Planning & Placement and the Biology/Chemistry Club to bring alumni back to campus for the Science Career Expo on Jan. 19. During Homecoming, the Outstanding Alumni Award recipients will be honored on Friday, Feb. 16. This year's honors go to Marie Leon La Croix, FSPA ’45 Service to the College; Carole Plante ’66, Community Service, Kathryn Larson ’56 and Chris Parr ’89, Professional Development. If you would like to attend this event, contact Sally Emerson at ext. 3072 or email sbemerson to reserve your seat.
Need a Stocking Stuffer?
The Department of Athletics is asking for your support and appealing to your sense of giving. During the next few days, you will receive a letter with three raffle tickets enclosed. You can buy one for $5 or all three for $10. All proceeds benefit the athletic teams, but more specifically, the student-athletes. The $1,000 grand prize will be drawn on Feb. 17 during Homecoming. If interested, simply keep the ticket(s) and return the completed stub(s) with payment in the reply envelope provided. If not interested, just return the unused tickets.
Grant Announcements
• The Dr. Scholl Foundation recently awarded Viterbo a grant of $25,000 for support of full and partial tuition scholarships for the 2001-02 academic year for Viterbo University students wishing to pursue careers in health-related fields.
• The Emory T. Clark Family Charitable Foundation recently awarded Viterbo a grant of $25,000 for scholarship support for inner city teachers in Milwaukee to take classes through Viterbo's Graduate Education Program.
Need Assistance Writing a Grant?
One function of the office of Institutional Advancement is to provide support for faculty and staff seeking grant funding for Viterbo-related programs and projects. Because many grant makers have timing restrictions on considering grant applications and most will consider only one application from an institution at a time, please contact Grants Development Director Natalie McGarry before approaching any potential funder. In addition, any Viterbo University employee wishing to use the services of the Institutional Advancement Office to search for and secure funding should fill out a Grant Initiation Form. A Grant Initiation Form can be obtained by visiting http://www.viterbo.edu/aboutvit/advancement/grants/, or by contacting McGarry ext. 3073 or by email at njmcgarry.
Tax Tips
The Institutional Advancement Office thanks the many Viterbo employees who have contributed to campus projects this year. As the tax season approaches, please keep in mind that copies of receipts can be obtained by contacting Chris Sanger at ext. 3070 and employees making contributions via payroll deduction can find their total deduction amount for the year on their Dec. 21 paystub. Happy Holidays!
Campus Ministry by Fr. Tom O'Neill
• Advent 2000: It is difficult to orient our lives, anticipation, and preparation with balance and vision toward a glorious Christ who is yet to come. It is far easierand supported by society’s rhetoric and expectationsto prepare for a Jesus who is a sweet, innocent Babe.
Advent challenges us to take the real events of our everyday livesall the suffering and pain, all the anxiety and hopelessness, all the joy and peaceand see them as means to recognize the presence of Christ to us. In this way, we make our Advent something more than the preparation for a single-day feast of a birth. This is what Advent is all aboutrecognizing the presence of Christ in our lives as salvation already come.
• Our Lady of Guadalupe: Dec. 12 is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patronal day of Mexico and of all the Americas. In the image of Guadalupe, Mary appears on the tilma, the cloak, of Cuatitlatoatzin, Juan Diego, as a young mestiza, a woman of Native American and European heritage. Thus she is affectionately called La Morenita, “the little brown one.” Guadalupe presents God’s “yes” to the native peoples of the Americas. She is the image of holiness and dignity with which the native and mestizo peoples of the Americas identify. La Morenita is pregnant; she wears the blue band traditionally worn by Aztec women who were with child, and on her womb appears a flower, the Aztec symbol for new life and a new era. Like the church during Advent, she awaits the birth of Christ who will usher in the era of peace and justice.
• Sacrament of Reconciliation: The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) will be celebrated on Monday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. in San Damiano Chapel.
Need Business Cards?
If your supply of business cards is waning, plan to order more in the bulk order being placed in mid-January. Bring a signed purchase order to the office of Communications and Marketing, MC 228, and fill out a business card order form. Please turn in your order no later than Friday, Jan. 12 to take advantage of our quantity discount. If you have questions, please call Rita at ext. 3047, or email rdkochthometz.
Students of the Month
• Jessica Gosh—November
Jessica is a senior nursing student who has become successfully involved in promoting health issues on the Viterbo Campus and in the La Crosse Community. Jessica has volunteered on a community committee educating and promoting STD prevention. In addition, Jessica has been active in educating high-risk middle school students and working with the La Crosse Health Department with community outreach.
• Ellen Fargen December
Ellen is one of three freshman elected to the Student Government Association. She is involved on the Student Involvement Committee and the University Computer Committee. Ellen is one of the strongest advocates for her class on SGA. In addition, Ellen is a first year tutor in the Learning Center and holds down a 20+ hour a week job yet continues to receive high praise from her fellow Student Government Association members for her contributions this semester.
Christmas Recital is Thursday
Students of Karla Wakeen will perform a Christmas piano recital on Thursday, Dec. 14 in the FAC Recital Hall.
Students will provide Christmas music before and after the recital in the Recital Hall Lobby and Hospitality Suite. The program includes the works of Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Chopin, and Salutrinskaya. In addition, students who studied jazz during the summer will share a variety of pieces representing traditional jazz and blues styles. There is a reception following. The event is free and open to the public.
During the program, Wakeen will announce the total amount of money raised by the families of students in her program for the Pingxiang orphanage in China, where Wakeen’s daughter previously lived. The families who participated in the fundraiser will receive a brass ring from China as a gift for their generosity.
For more information, contact Wakeen at ext. 3770 or by email at kjwakeen.
Season's Greetings from Viterbo University
Students, faculty, and staff of Viterbo University inaugurated the holiday season with its traditional tree-lighting ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 30.
The event, held annually in the Fine Arts Center Lobby, signals the beginning of the holiday season and the approaching end of the semester. All gathered to reflect, sing, and enjoy the camaraderie.
Human Resources
New Hires:
Jim Braziel joined the Viterbo family Wednesday, Dec. 6 as Acquisition Supervisor in the Todd Wehr Memorial Library. Welcome, Jim, to Viterbo University!
Departures:
Marilyn Adam, Library
Jennifer Bucheit, Communications & Marketing
Classifieds
For Sale: '95 Dodge Caravan, 7 passenger, V-6, new transmission, tune-up, with air, cruise, tinted glass, tilt wheel, cassette, 94,000 miles. $7,000/obo. Call Jan J. at ext. 3364.
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