April 2, 2008
DANCING FOR MOTHER EARTH
When the American Indian Awareness Month pow wow takes place April 4 and 5, participants will be dancing for Mother Earth. “Every dancer, drum group, and participant will focus on the renewal of our past in which we native people prayed that we would be blessed with rain, snow, and sunshine so we would have plenty of food, game, and clothing,” says Deb Yazzie, one of the event organizers and a member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. “We ask that everyone who attends comes with this focus,” she adds. The pow wow is open to all, with a special invitation to international students, faculty, and staff. “They bring something special from their homeland. It is this variety of reverence and prayers that we need to show that we are one people, on one earth, with one purpose,” says Yazzie. Yazzie and Dezi Lynn, president of the U’s Inter-Tribal Student Association, are busy planning this year’s events (see below).
Because higher education is valued by many tribes, native-centered campus events show respect to the American Indian cultures that are still living here. “This land belonged to the Ute nation prior to the building of this institution and out of respect for being on their land, we celebrate our cultures,” says Lynn, who also is the U’s American Indian Woman Scholar for this 2007-2008 academic year.
Contrary to popular belief, nearly 90 percent of today’s native students do not receive a free education—refuting the widespread myth that tribal or federal governments provide money to pay for school. “Potential college students apply for scholarship and financial aid but only 15 percent of the applicants may be funded. That leaves 85 percent of us without funding,” says Yazzie. As with many other college students, they apply for student loans or get a job to pay for their education. “Organizing this annual event provides service and leadership opportunities for American Indian students and allows others to recognize who we are,” she adds.
For more information on American Indian Month, contact Dezi Lynn at 587-0873 or running_native@hotmail.com, or call the Center for Ethnic Student Affairs at 581-8151.
AMERICAN INDIAN AWARENESS MONTH American Indian Woman Scholar Competition Pow Wow Free Film Night Open House |
A SALUTE TO CAIL
Saving American Indian Languages
Of 155 American Indian languages in North America, only 20 are being learned by children. Worldwide, 90 percent of human languages are threatened with rapid extinction, taking with them a wealth of cultural and linguistic knowledge. This rate of extinction is stunning when compared to the natural world, where 2.7 percent of birds and 7.4 percent of mammals are endangered. The Center for American Indian Languages (CAIL) works to rescue these languages before valuable information is irretrievably lost.
How valuable is this knowledge? Take medicine as an example. Some 75 percent of plant-derived pharmaceuticals were discovered by examining the use of these plants in traditional medicine, where the language of curers often played a key role. When such languages become extinct without being recorded and analyzed, all of humanity stands to lose.
CAIL, working to preserve these endangered languages, prepares dictionaries and grammars, and records stories and conversations. Currently, CAIL is documenting 11 different American Indian languages. Its projects include preserving and enhancing the accessibility of Goshute/Shoshoni materials; documenting endangered Xinkan, Pipil and Mocho, languages of Mexico and Central America; describing Chorote, Nivacle, and Wichí, endangered languages of the Chaco (Argentina); and three Tukanoan languages of the upper Amazon in Brazil.
Established in 2004, CAIL is the only endangered language center in the world dedicated to the documentation and revitalization of endangered languages of both North and South America. The crisis involving endangered languages is the biggest issue in linguistics and one of the most pressing issues in the humanities and social sciences. Lyle Campbell, a highly regarded endangered languages expert, is director of CAIL. For more information on the program, see www.cail.utah.edu.
Information for this article was taken from The Kingfisher 2007, a publication of the College of Humanities. For additional information on CAIL, see the spring 2008 Continuum Magazine at www.continuum.utah.edu.
Examples of healing cures from SHOSHONE
PIPIL (in El Salvador, related to the language of the Aztecs and Toltecs)
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MARIO CAPECCHI DRIVE
New road on campus
The University is proud to recognize the remarkable accomplishments of Nobel Prize recipient Mario R. Capecchi by renaming two campus roads in his honor. UDOT recently approved the new official name—Mario Capecchi Drive. Street signs will be installed this spring from the intersection of Foothill and Wasatch Drives through the transition to Medical Drive. All U and non-U entities impacted by this address change have been notified. For more information, contact Mike Perez at 581-6510 or mike.perez@fm.utah.edu.
FYI Mystery Photo Contest
Campus Photo
Where is this on campus? Send your answer (be specific) to FYI@ucomm.utah.edu by noon on Monday, Apr. 7 for a chance to win two tickets for admission to Red Butte Garden, courtesy of Red Butte Garden.
The winner will be randomly selected from the pool of those submitting the correct answer and then listed in the Apr. 16 FYI News.
Thanks to Red Butte Garden for providing the prize!
This contest is open to U of U faculty and staff only.
Last Issue’s FYI Mystery Photo Contest Answer
The Mar. 19 FYI Mystery Photo shows the roof of the Jon M. Huntsman (Special Events) Center on South Campus Drive. From the 111 correct responses we randomly chose Monica Simons as the winner of the Mar. 19 FYI Mystery Photo Contest—and for the first time, all responses were correct! After contacting Monica by e-mail to let her know she had won, we received back an auto reply saying she was out of the office until Monday. But just an hour later, she sent an e-mail to let us know she got the message. Read for yourselves: “I got married yesterday!!! I've been at the U since September and work as the secretary in the Naval Sciences office. I've also been working on my philosophy degree for about ever, and should graduate in a couple semesters depending on my class load. I totally shouldn't be checking my work email on my days off, but.... you never know what you'll find. :) ” Best wishes to Monica and her new husband! Monica received a weekend mountain bike rental for two, courtesy of the Outdoor Recreation Program. Thanks to all who entered and thanks to the Outdoor Recreation Program for donating the bike rental. |
2008 PLAN YEAR UPDATES FOR WELLU
Employees participating in the WellU Employee Wellness Program in 2008 will receive up to $40 per month off the cost of their coverage in the Employee Health Care Plan. To participate in the WellU Program and receive the discount, employees must complete the Health Quotient™ health risk assessment and have a biometric screening. Biometric screening appointments and links to the WebMD Health Quotient™ health risk assessment can be found online at www.hr.utah.edu/wellu. Upon completion of the biometrics screening, participating employees will receive a personal identification number (PIN) in the mail that will allow them to access their biometric data within their WebMD account. Those already participating in the Wellness Program must take the Health Quotient health risk assessment and biometric screening again this year to be eligible for the deduction in the 2008 plan year. This will provide a way to track any progress since their last assessment.
Also new this year, employees can grant access to WebMD and its tools to their family members 18 years-of-age and older who are enrolled in the University Employee Health Care Plan. Eligible family members will be able to complete the Health Quotient™ health risk assessment and may be eligible to receive high- or moderate-risk health coaching depending on the results of their assessment. The U is committed to the well-being of its employees at work and, to the extent possible, at home. That means caring for the family as well. Spouses and dependents are encouraged to take advantage of this extended benefit. For more information, visit www.hr.utah.edu/wellu.
U TOONS
KNOW YOUR U: HISTORY 101
The first Block U on the mountain was the brainchild of students Carl Scott and Richard Hart when in 1905 they decided to put the year of their graduation, “07,” on the hillside northeast of campus. When the “08” students wanted theirs put there too, the “mighty U” symbol was thought of as an “emblem of loyalty to the whole school.” A lime kiln located nearby (and still there today) helped to determine the final location for the block U. In April 1905 a bucket brigade was formed from the lime kiln to the site and the white U emerged. The following winter weather pretty much washed away the lime, so in 1906 it was re-limed and it too subsequently washed away. In the spring of 1907 Stayner Richards, then student body president, thought a concrete U would be more lasting. An excavation was made 100 feet by 100 feet and the concrete, hauled by Army mules borrowed from Fort Douglas, was poured. For years the annual white-washing of the U was a hallowed tradition. In 2006, University donors Ira and Mary Lou Fulton offered matching funds for a major renovation of the block U. The funds were matched—and then some. The surplus funds were used for scholarships and the block U began its second century as a symbol of our great University.
—Paul Mogren
Librarian
UPCOMING ON CAMPUS
• MAKING THE MOST OF MENTORING
Edie Kochenour Memorial Lecture
Friday, April 4, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
OSH Auditorium
Hosted by The President's Commission on the Status of Women
Stacy Blake-Baird presents an interactive workshop to explore what is meant by mentoring, identify opportunities and benefits of mentoring relationships, address concerns and challenges of mentoring, and share best practices. For more information, visit http://web.utah.edu/pcsw/index.html or call 585-3212.
• APRIL: SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
Friday, April 4
Rose Wagner Center
Downtown Salt Lake City
The Women’s Resource Center co-sponsors events focusing on sexual assault and its ramifications as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). A workshop titled Healing Through Works: Sexual Assault Activism provides insight on how sexual assault activism and victim rights advocacy serve as pivotal moments in sexual assault recovery. A second workshop, Beyond Black & White: Race, Rape and The Popular Culture, looks at recent high-profile cases using feminist and critical race theories, cultural studies, and legal scholarship to better understand how race, gender, class, and sexuality shape public perceptions of sexual assault victims and their assailants. The SAAM awards lunch ($25) follows (registration required). A free performance of SOARS: Story of a Rape Survivor is presented at 7 p.m. For more information visit www.saamutah2008.com.
• ORCHIDS GALORE AT RED BUTTE GARDEN
Saturday and Sunday, April 5 - 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Red Butte Garden Orangerie
The spring orchid show, sponsored by the Utah Orchid Society and Red Butte Garden, showcases a wide variety of orchid species from all over the world with many spectacular hybrids on display. Hundreds of orchids will be available for purchase at reasonable prices. The public is invited to submit healthy orchid plants for exhibition and ribbon-judging. Plants should be brought to Red Butte Garden between 2 and 6 p.m. on Friday, April 4 and retrieved after the exhibit closes on Sunday at 5 p.m. Experienced growers will be on hand both days with information on how to grow orchids. Lectures will be held Saturday, April 5 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. For more information, contact Barry Cole at 581-4536.
• APPLE TAX FREE DAY
April 8
University Campus Store
Here's a chance to save! Faculty and staff can purchase Apple computers and iPods tax-free on this day at the Campus Store.
• UMNH INFO MEETINGS
April 11, 14, 16 & 24
Come get an update on the new Utah Museum of Natural History at one of the following information meetings:
Breakfast meeting on April 11, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Utah Museum of Natural History. Light breakfast served.
Breakfast meeting on April 14, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Moran Eye Center, East Auditorium. Light breakfast served.
Brown bag lunch meeting on April 16, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Brain Institute (Former NPS Building), 383 Colorow Rd. (in Research Park).
U of U Community Forum Meeting on April 24, at 6:00 p.m. at Orson Spencer Hall, Caucas Room.
For more information, contact Patti Carpenter at 585-6369 or pcarpenter@umnh.utah.edu.
• NATIONAL CAREERS IN AGING WEEK
April 14-18
The U will participate by offering information about career and job opportunities in the field of aging—one of the fastest growing areas in the labor market for the 21st century. The number of jobs in gerontology-related fields will increase by more than 36 percent by 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Information booths will be in the Olpin Union (near the cafeteria) on Wednesday, April 16, and in the Health Sciences Education Building (Atrium) on Thursday, April 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact Scott Wright at 585-9542 or scott.wright@hsc.utah.edu, or Fran Wilby at 585-9276 or frances.wilby@socwk.utah.edu.
BULLETIN BOARD
• Fore!
Join the University Golf Course Super League for its final season. Matches will be played Tuesdays and Wednesdays, April 1 to Oct. 8, and start times are flexible to fit with your schedule. With separate men’s and women’s divisions, the league will be fully handicapped so all skill levels are welcome. Dues for the season are $30 and league members will receive a $5 discount toward the purchase of any 2008 golf pass. Both gross and net prizes will be offered every week. For more information, call the pro shop at 581-6511 or contact Mike Nickas, assistant professional, at Superman@pga.com.
• Update Your Qwest Dex White Pages
The deadline to submit changes for the Qwest Dex 2008-2009 Salt Lake City White Pages is April 25. University Health Care listings begin on page 212 and U of U listings are on page 213 in the business section of the current 2007-2008 White Pages. Check for other department listings (i.e., University Health Care physicians’ listings). All changes should be made online at www.it.utah.edu/services/phones/qwestdex.html. If you have no changes, there is no need to submit the form. The Dex media representative will contact departments directly about current Yellow Pages listings. If you wish to advertise in the Yellow Pages, contact Beckie Penman at 284-5055 or beckie.penman@dexmedia.com. For more information on U of U listings contact Robin Horton at 585-7205. For University Health Care listings contact Allyson Tanner at 581-3879.
• Crimson View Re-opens
Structural upgrades have been completed and the Crimson View Bistro in the Olpin Union—with spectacular views of the valley—is now open for lunch, Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located at the west end on the fourth floor, the bistro features American-style cuisine and daily specials, and may be reserved for special occasions. But don’t dawdle—it closes for the summer after April 30. For more information call 581-8191.
• Wanted: Healthy Adults
Participants are needed for an IRB-approved study on friendships and cardiovascular functioning. Participants will bring a same-sex friend into the lab (selected by the researcher) and have discussions about real-life events with that friend, while blood pressure and heart rate are measured. Participants must be relatively healthy (i.e., no cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular medication). Compensation will be provided. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Allison Vaughn at 581-3176 or allison.vaughn@psych.utah.edu.
• Volunteers Needed at Red Butte Garden
Red Butte Garden welcomes volunteers to assist in the care of gardens, conservation of endangered plants throughout the state, and the education of children and adults about the wonders of our environment. If you are passionate about our natural world, join Red Butte in its mission to learn, protect, educate, and enjoy the beauties of the outdoors. Call 585-5688 or visit www.redbuttegarden.org for more information.
U SAVING ENERGY
Since the U’s behavioral energy-saving program began in July 2003 the U has saved the CO2 emissions from 3,388,771 propane cylinders used for home barbeques.
TIP: Our nation’s institutions of higher education spend a significant portion of their annual operating budgets on utility services, diverting funds from valuable programmatic and community-building activities. We all have the power to make a difference. Look at the space you occupy throughout the day and take every available opportunity to save when possible. If everyone on campus could trim their office lighting by just an hour a day annually we would see savings of $80,000 here at the U. It may not seem like much on a small scale, but when you count every individual’s conservation efforts, the results can be huge!
Source: U of U Energy Management. For questions, suggestions, or more information contact Bianca Shama at 585-1171 or Bianca.Shama@fm.utah.edu.
