See the University Calendar for events through 2008

Previous day's EMU Today

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21

NOTES AND QUOTES

Note: On this date in 1694, French author and philosopher Jean Francois Voltaire was born in Paris.

Quote: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” — Jean Francois Voltaire

SPECIAL NOTICES

NOTICE TO ALL EMU EMPLOYEES: Per Internal Revenue Service regulations, if you are changing your payroll exemption status or withholding allowances for 2009, you are required to complete a new Federal W-4 Form: Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. If you are not making a change, you do not need to take any action. One can link to the Federal W-4 Form from the Payroll Department Web site at http://www.emich.edu/controller/finserv/payroll/forms.htm and link directly to the IRS Web site at http://www.irs.gov/, or obtain a copy of the form in the Payroll Office, located in Room 104, Hover. For questions, please call the Payroll Office at 487-2393.

STUDENT CENTER THANKSGIVING BREAK HOURS: Due to the upcoming Thanksgiving Break, the Student Center will close at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, and reopen at 7 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1. The Computer Lab will remain open for a portion of the break, keeping the following schedule: Tuesday, Nov. 25; close at 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 26 through Saturday, Nov. 29, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 30, open at 10 a.m. and resume normal operating hours. An EMU ID will be required to access the lab from the north entrance. For more information, please visit www.emich.edu/studentcenter.

HALLE LIBRARY THANKSGIVING BREAK HOURS: Due to the upcoming Thanksgiving Break, Halle Library will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 26, through Saturday, Nov. 29. Halle Library will reopen Sunday, Nov. 30, and resume regular hours from 1 p.m. to midnight. For more information, call 487-0020, extension 2100.

SEASON'S GREETINGS: President Susan Martin and Dr. Larry Martin are inviting all EMU employees to University House (790 North Hewitt Road) for a reception to celebrate the holidays. To accommodate EMU's large employee family, four dates have been set aside from which to choose. The dates are Dec. 1, 2, 3, and 4, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. We look forward to celebrating the warmth of the season with all employees. If you would like to attend, please select one of the four dates and R.S.V.P. by Tuesday, Nov. 25, to the Office of Special Events, achicko1@emich.edu or by calling 487-2360. Limited parking is located at University House; additional parking is located in Convocation Center Lot C.

TODAY

*SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROMOTION AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: The Roundtable Discussion for the School of Health Promotion and Human Performance is scheduled today, 10 a.m. to noon, in room 300, Halle Library. The Roundtable Discussion is open to interested parties on campus, and is the mechanism for clarification of any points of oversight, confusion, or disagreement in the school’s program reviews. If you have any questions, please contact Dondi Goerlitz at 487-0169 or by e-mail at dgoerlitz@emich.edu.

WOMEN'S COMMISSION SCHOLARSHIP: Applications are now online for the EMU Women's Commission Scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship is open to both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at least half-time with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 (for undergraduates) or 3.0 (for graduates). For additional criteria, visit www.emich.edu/finaid and select the Women's Commission Scholarship Application. The application deadline is TODAY.

THE SNOW QUEEN: EMU Theatre presents Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale with music, "The Snow Queen," tonight at 7 p.m.; Nov. 22, 23, and 30 at 3 p.m.; Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.; and Dec. 6 at 3 p.m., Quirk Theatre. Follow Gerda on her quest to save her best friend, Kay, in this children's fable about doing what's right. For ticket information, call 487-2282.

ROCK THE CONVO: Hard rockers Avenged Sevenfold and Buckcherry, with special guest Shinedown & Saving Abel, perform tonight, 6 p.m., Convocation Center. Tickets are $35 and are on sale now. For tickets, call 487-2282, go to livenation.com or call any Ticketmaster location. For more information, call Marcy Szabo, 487-8198.

REMELEIXO DUO: Remeleixo is a Portugugese word meaning "style" or "finesse." Guitarist Pablo Cohen and soprano saxophonist Steven Mauk, professors of music at Ithaca College in New York, specialize in the music of South America. The two will perform a concert tonight, at 7:30 p.m., in Alexander Recital Hall. For more information, contact the events hotline at 487-2255.

NEW FACULTY/STAFF HEADSHOTS NEEDED: New faculty and staff (PT07 rank or higher), who were approved at the Board of Regents meeting, need to schedule a photo with University Photographer Randy Mascharka as soon as possible. Photos are needed by TODAY, for publication in the Dec. 2 issue of FOCUS EMU and for University Communications' files. To schedule an appointment, call 487-4403 or e-mail rmaschar@emich.edu

PERCUSSION CLINIC AND MASTER CLASS: One of the world's premier virtuoso performers on the xylophone and marimba, Bob Becker presents a clinic and master class for percussionists. Becker holds degrees from Eastman School of Music and is a founding member of the multicultural percussion ensemble NEXUS. The clinic and master class are scheduled tonight, at 7:30 p.m., Alexander Recital Hall. For more information, contact the events hotline at 487-2255.

FOCUS EMU ON THE WEB: Eastern Michigan University's Marching Band is the only college or university band that will perform in Detroit's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Get the details. A couple of EMU students are planning a trip to El Salvador next spring to learn more about that country's election process. Find out why. As winter approaches, be sure to read a refresher on the University's inclement weather policy. And this week's "Why I" feature works in the GEAR UP program. Guess who it is. For these and other stories, check out the Nov. 18 issue of FOCUS EMU at www.emich.edu/focus_emu

CELLAR ROOTS WEEK: Cellar Roots, Eastern Michigan University's literary and visual arts journal, dedicates this week to the arts. Cellar Roots and Dogzplot present "Flash Fiction Slam!" tonight, 7 p.m., room 330, Student Center. Light refreshments will be served. Scheduled readers will begin at 7 p.m. The floor will be open afterwards for anyone who wants to read. For questions, contact the editor-in-chief at cellarroots@editorinchief@gmail.com.

GRADUATE COUNCIL: There will be a Graduate Council meeting today, at 3 p.m., in room 203, Marshall Building. For more information, contact the Graduate School at 487-0042.

NATURAL RESOURCES SEMINAR: Patrick Zollner from Purdue University will host a seminar entitled "Oversimulated? Implementing Models and Empirical Studies in Ecological Investigations" today, at 4 p.m., room 122, Mark Jefferson. For more information, contact Judy at 487-4242.

SHABBAT HAPPENS: Break away from the ordinary with Shabbat at Hillel tonight. Services begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. Join old friends and make new ones as we bring in the Sabbath. Enjoy a delicious home cooked meal made by your fellow students. If you would you like to help prepare the Shabbat meal, come to Hillel after 1 p.m. that day. For more information, contact Ricky (734) 482-0456 or program@emuhillel.org

FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE: This week's Friday Night Movie is "Pay it Forward." Showings are at 7 and 9:30 p.m., Student Center Auditorium. The showing is free and so is the popcorn for the first 100 people. For more information, contact Campus Life at 487-3045.

AQIP ACTION PROJECT PROPOSALS DUE: Proposals for AQIP Action Projects are due before the end of the day TODAY. Proposal information was distributed by e-mail to all employees several weeks ago. Please click on the following link to access information on existing projects, the proposal form and proposal guidelines at http://www.emich.edu/aqip/actionproject1.html. If you have questions, please e-mail John Dugger at jdugger@emich.edu or call the Office of Continuous Improvement and Planning at 487-8288.

LECTURES AND MEETINGS

 

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

 

ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

STUDY IN GERMANY: An information session on the Study Abroad Intensive German Program at Heinrich Heine University in Duesseldorf, Germany (July 12 - Aug. 21, 2009) is scheduled Tuesday, Dec. 2, 4 p.m., room 216, Alexander building. For more information, contact Professor Margrit Zinggeler at 487-0130.

SPIRAL HAM SALE: EMU Social Work students are selling delicious, spiral holiday hams, fully cooked, now through Dec. 1, to benefit local community residents. The hams are a great gift idea for family, friends, or employees, and serve a worthy cause. For more information, contact Marney Earnest at (810) 623-3335 or Sara Korican at (517) 673-7456.

MASTERS OF THE ROAD: Halle Library is exhibiting "Masters of the Road," an acclaimed
display of international vintage posters from the collection of Discount Tire. The exhibit is open to the public through Sunday, Nov. 23, in Halle Library. Bruce T. Halle, for whom the library is named, began collecting vintage posters advertising tires in 1982. Since then, he has amassed more than 325 color lithographs dating from 1888 to the mid-1970s, and printed in 17 countries. The display is in conjunction with the 10th anniversary celebration of the opening of the Bruce T. Halle Library on EMU's campus. For more information, contact Heather Chasey, assistant director of development, EMU College of Arts and Sciences, at 487-0277 or e-mail heather.chasey@emich.edu

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC: Former Vermeer first violinist Shmuel Ashkenasi will be joined by Kelli O'Connor, clarinet, and Zhihua Tank, piano, for a program Sunday, Nov. 23, at 4 p.m., in Pease Auditorium. For more information, contact the events hotline at 487-2255.

WILLIAM STEWART COMPETITION: The finest EMU undergraduate wind and percussion music students compete for a cash prize as well as the opportunity to perform a solo with the Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony during a winter semester concert. The competition takes place Monday, Nov. 24, at 6 p.m., in Pease Auditorium. For more information, contact the events hotline at 487-2255.

THE KILLERS: Famous rock band, The Killers, will be coming to EMU's Convocation Center for a concert Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.livenation.com, TicketMaster and the Convocation Center ticket office. For more information or tickets, call 487-2282.

CELL TANGO: "George Legrady: Cell Tango" features a dynamically evolving array of images transmitted from all over the world by participants using cell phones. Visitors will be able to add photos and interact with others. This work will examine the most recent products of pop culture and raise questions about technology's impact on identity and society. The art exibit runs through Monday, Nov. 24, Ford Gallery. For more information, contact Larry Newhouse at 487-0465 or 487-1077.

EMU AS MUSE: The seven members of Telegraph, an artist collection that originated in Detroit, will bring parts, pieces, sketches and notes to campus and spend three days creating site-specific work. "EMU as Muse: A Project of the Telegraph Art Collective" will make the people and resources of EMU the subject of art. The collection will run through Monday, Nov. 24, at the University Art Gallery, Student Center. For more information, contact Larry Newhouse at 487-0465 or 487-1077.

ATHLETICS

BASKETBALL SEASON TICKETS ON SALE: Season tickets are on sale now for the 2008-09 EMU men’s and women’s basketball seasons. Prices for both season tickets have been lowered, with packages starting at $140 for men’s basketball and $94 for women’s basketball. Additional season ticket discounts are available to EMU faculty and staff as well as youths, ages 12 and younger. Additionally, all basketball season ticket holders will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win one of three exciting prizes: a hospitality suite for 10 to the EMU women’s game against Notre Dame (Dec. 2); an all-expense paid trip to travel with the basketball teams to Cleveland for the 2009 MAC Basketball Tournament; and two tickets to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four in Detroit. The three winners will be drawn at random throughout the season. For season tickets, call the Convocation Center at 487-2282.

REMINDERS

ASTRONOMY INTEREST: For all EMU students interested in astronomy, EMU's Physics and Astronomy Department offers its exciting and popular ASTR 203, which is now ASTR 105. Register today before classes fill. For more information, contact 487-4144.

SYMPOSIUM XXIX: The student nomination/submission process is underway for the 2009 Undergraduate Symposium and can be accessed online at http://db1.emich.edu/symposium for the 29th event scheduled Friday, March 27, 2009. For more information, contact wkivi@emich.edu or call 487-3198.

HOMECOMING COMMITTEE SEEKS THEME: The Homecoming Committee invites the EMU community to select the theme for Homecoming Week 2009. Please submit your recommendations for a Homecoming theme to marcomm@emich.edu by Dec. 31. The number of themes will be narrowed down for a campus vote in early 2009. To review last year's theme, please visit http://www.emich.edu/homecoming.

KAREN VARNEY MEMORIAL DONATIONS SOUGHT: The Career Services Center is seeking contributions from the campus community in memory of Karen E. Varney who passed away in late July. Karen worked at EMU for 25 years. Those who knew Karen are aware that one of her greatest passions was the Relay for Life cancer walk, for which she worked tirelessly. A tree (with a memorial plaque) will be planted in her honor near the Lake House where the Relay originally started. Contributions for the plaque should be made payable to Eastern Michigan University and mailed to Barb Gehring, 200 McKenny Hall. Please write “Karen Varney Memorial” on your check in the memo area. Checks should be received by Nov. 30. For questions, call Barbara Jones, 487-2419.

MLK PROPOSALS SOUGHT: Session proposals for the 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, "Our Revolution...Our Responsibility," are now being sought. The proposal deadline is Monday, Nov. 24. For more information, go to http://tinyurl.com/mlkproposal
For questions, e-mail Margaret Best at mbest@emich.edu or Jessica "Decky" Alexander at jalexande1@emich.edu

HOLMAN LEARNING CENTER NEEDS TUTORS: Holman Learning Center is currently hiring tutors in a number of subjects. Holman Learning Center offers flexible hours and competitive wages. If interested, please fill out an employment application that can be found in their office (G04 Halle) or online www.emich.edu/tlc.

FACULTY/STAFF CAMPAIGN: The annual EMU Faculty and Staff Campaign is upon us. Please keep an eye on your e-mail in-box for this year's appeal. The campaign received tremendous support from our online appeal last year with a total of $1,088,070 given during the campaign. Thanks to all of our generous faculty and staff for making a difference in our academic community. For questions about this year’s campaign, contact Susan Rink at the EMU Foundation, (734) 481-2310, or e-mail susan.rink@emich.edu.

STAIRS WORK: The staircase and sidewalk to the west of Bowen Field House are shut down. This shutdown is necessary to allow the installation of a new handicapped-accessible ramp in the area. Pedestrians are advised to use the sidewalk adjacent to the parking structure and the sidewalk across West Circle Drive. The sidewalk and stairs should be re-opened by Friday, Nov. 28.

"WHY I" FEATURE SUBJECTS REQUESTED: If you know of an interesting faculty, staff member or administrator that you think would make an interesting "Why I" subject, please forward to Ron Podell at rpodell@emich.edu or call 487-4400. The employee must have worked at EMU for at least three years. Participants receive a green "FOCUS EMU" polo shirt.

SCHOLARSHIPS

EVANS-STRAND SCHOLARSHIP: The Evans-Strand Scholarship, modeled after the Nobel Peace Prize, annually recognizes an individual for significant contributions to advancing the understanding and furthering the acceptance of diversity at EMU. Award recipients receive a cash award and an award medallion. Each year’s award recipients will be listed on a plaque in a permanent campus location and honored at EMU's Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in January. Approximate value of the scholarship is $1,000. View and print the application from http://www.emich.edu/cas/stu-scholarships.html.

MIDWEST REGIONAL BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION: The Center for Entrepreneurship is now accepting entries for the 2009 Midwest Regional Business Plan Competition. All EMU students are eligible to enter their plan and compete for prize money totaling $5,000. Plans completed as part of coursework (from winter 2008 or current semester) are welcome and finalists chosen will present their plans at the Midwest Regional CEO (Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization) Conference Feb. 13, 2009, at the EMU Student Center. All EMU faculty and students are invited to attend the conference. For more information, call 487-0902. Read more about the competition and enter your plan at http://www.cob.emich.edu/include/templatesubpage.cfm?id=1115&preview=1.

LINK TO OPPORTUNITIES: To find out about current scholarship opportunities, go to www.emich.edu/finaid/schols/schols.htm

The deadline to submit events for consideration for EMU TODAY is noon the day before the event is to occur. For inclusion in EMU TODAY, entries should be formatted in the EMU TODAY style and forwarded electronically to emu_today@emich.edu. Most events will only be able to appear for three days. For more information, call the Office of University Communications at 487-4400.