In House http://inhouse.unt.edu In House en-us inhouse@unt.edu inhouse@unt.edu Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:08:50 CST Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:08:50 CST 15 copyright (c) 2009 In House BlogFusion 4.0 - www.blogfusion.com In House http://inhouse.unt.edufiles/BFlogo.gif http://inhouse.unt.edu 88 31 In House Message from the President: Proposition 4 approval strengthens UNT, state http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3650
To: UNT community members

With a yes vote on Proposition 4 in yesterday’s election, Texans established the National Research University Fund, which will provide a dedicated and independent source of funding for UNT and Texas’ other emerging research universities once each institution qualifies.

The fund will be created by redirecting about $500 million from the existing Higher Education Fund. To receive support from the new fund, UNT must meet the qualifying criteria laid out in HB 51, which considers the number of new doctoral graduates each year, annual research expenditure, faculty and student academic quality and other measures.

While UNT won’t immediately qualify for monies from this new fund if it passes, we will eventually. Already, we have taken advantage of the state’s new matching funds initiative, which aims to help us grow our research more quickly. In September, we submitted roughly $2.9 million in gifts, which we are hoping will qualify for a matching amount of $1.73 million.

These initiatives are an important step forward for Texas. They mean that as a state, Texas will be able to compete for a larger share of the federal research dollars. And, with more research universities, Texas also will be more attractive to cutting-edge industry. Research universities are at the center of innovation through understanding and they play a critical role in moving communities and industry forward. As each of the emerging research universities grows stronger, Texas’ economy and future will grow brighter.

And at UNT, we are a force to be reckoned with that is only getting stronger. Our restricted research expenditures and awards are each up over 60 percent since 2007, which is incredible progress!

Thank you all for everything you do. I hope you are as pleased as I am that we now have this state support to work toward achieving.

With green pride,
Gretchen M. Bataille
President
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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:05:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3650#comments Texas voters approve Proposition 4 to create research fund http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3649 Texas voters approved Proposition 4, a constitutional amendment that will establish a new National Research University Fund using about $500 million in existing Higher Education Fund monies. The new fund will provide a dedicated and independent source of funding for UNT and Texas’ other emerging research universities when each institution qualifies.

• Read a note to campus for President Gretchen M. Bataille.

Today’s (Nov. 4) unofficial vote tally by the Texas Secretary of State shows these results from Texas’ 254 counties:

• For: 591,183
• Against: 450,819
• Total votes: 1,042,002
• Number of voters: 12,952,562
• Voter turnout: 8.04 percent

Election results show the measure passing in Denton, Dallas and Tarrant counties, home to UNT, the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Texas at Arlington, respectively. County vote totals were:

• Denton County, approved 9,742 to 9,071
• Dallas County, approved 40,923 to 22,852
• Tarrant County, approved 35,557 to 26,186

Voters in home counties of other emerging research universities also approved Proposition 4. These are Harris County, home to the University of Houston main campus; Lubbock County, Texas Tech University; Bexar County, the University of Texas at San Antonio; and El Paso County, University of Texas at El Paso.

• Find vote totals for all Texas counties.

Legislation creating support more national research universities in Texas was introduced by Dallas Rep. Dan Branch and Laredo Sen. Judith Zaffirini during the 81st Texas Legislature. Gov. Rick Perry signed the measure into law in June.

• Find an endorsement by the Faculty Senate.
• Learn more about UNT’s commitment to research.

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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:28:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3649#comments Fidelity to provide investment information http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3647 All UNT, UNT Dallas Campus and UNT System faculty and staff members are invited to attend an important briefing about the various economic factors that impacted the performance of investments during the third quarter of this year. Learn how you might apply that information in the selection of investments in your personal retirement savings plan.

The briefing will include information about:
• forces driving recent developments in financial markets and the U.S. economy
• factors affecting the performance of domestic and international equity markets
• changes driving bond-market interest rates and valuations 

The briefing will be from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Eagle Student Services Center, Room 255

The seminar is sponsored by Human Resources and will be conducted by Fidelity. Registration for the seminar can be made at 800-642-7131 or online at www.fidelity.com/atwork/reservations.

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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:36:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3647#comments Fun Fact: Sustainable Play House joins Elm Fork program, activities http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3645 One of UNT's missions is to be green and support environmental education for ages five to 95. What does the university have that uses solar power, captures rain water, provides a habitat for insects and animals, and is green all over?

A. The Mean Green Machine
B. Boomer
C. The Spirit Bell
D. My Green Play Office

The correct answer is D. My Green Play Office is a sustainable play house located in the Elm Fork Education Center's Outdoor Environmental Learning Area. The play house incorporates the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design principles.

To win a free UNT T-shirt gift pack, send an e-mail with the word “Play House” in the subject line to InHouse@unt.edu by 5 p.m. Nov. 6. The winner will be selected at random from all e-mails received.

My Green Play Office was donated by the Red River Rodeo Association to the Hearts and Heroes fundraiser auction held in the University Union Sept. 18. The eco-friendly play house was purchased at the auction and gifted to the university by President Gretchen M. Bataille and Denton attorney Robert Widmer.

My Green Play Office will be used by groups at the Elm Fork Education Center. Brian Wheeler, above left, assistant director of the center, says, "We will use the play house in our camps like the Go Green camp to teach middle school-aged students about sustainbability."

The play house uses solar power to run the lights, weather vane and water barrel pump. It has a green roof that absorbs less heat which lowers the temperature inside and around the building. The roof garden also provides a habitat for insects and animals. The house's water collection system works by coleecting rain in a barrel which can be used for lanscaping and gardening. Collecting rain water also reduces excess runoff into the storm drain system and conserves the supply of drinking water.

"There will be a good view of play house from the second floor windows in the ESSAT building," says Wheeler. "It offers a way for the Elm Fork children to learn about ways to help our environment while they play."

For more information about My Green Office or the Elm Fork Education Center's programs, contact Wheeler.

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]]> mstucky@unt.edu (Mellina Stucky ) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:05:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3645#comments Congratulations to these InHouse prize winners http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3646 Congratulations to this week’s randomly selected winners who responded to last week’s InHouse prize giveaways.

• Inez Loche, administrative coordinator, College of Business
• Elizabeth Dracobly, administrative coordinator, Gateway Center
• Julie Howell, associate director, Financial Reporting
• Susan Sullivan, director of alumni operations, UNT Alumni Association
• Diane Charles, financial aid counselor assistant, Financial Aid

Winners are randomly chosen from all responses. Prizes include UNT T-shirt gift packs and free tickets to concerts, sports and other campus activities that are generously provided by event sponsors and departments.

InHouse is the electronic newsletter that is always online and is regularly updated with news about events and strategic activities at UNT. The formatted version is emailed to faculty and staff each week, usually on Wednesdays. Click on headlines, which link to continuously updated postings, to find the complete article and its links to related information.  Follow InHouse reminders at www.twitter.com/InHouseUNT.

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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:37:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3646#comments Immigrant Research and Policy Center launched http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3644 The university founded the Immigrant Research and Policy Center, an interdisciplinary program with faculty from the colleges of arts and sciences,  business, education, public affairs and community service and visual arts and design. 

Faculty will participate in an effort to encourage interdisciplinary work in immigrant-related research. Since 2002, faculty members have received almost $3 million in external funding to support research in this area.

Todd Jewell, right, professor of economics, will serve as director. Jewell says the center’s research programs will be far-reaching, covering all elements of the immigrant experience. The center’s research will not be strictly focused on Hispanic immigration to the U.S., but will instead examine the immigration experiences of populations in many different regions of the world. 

The center’s primary goal is to become a nationally recognized source and repository of immigrant-related research, and in the future to expand to include researchers from UNT Dallas and the UNT Health Sciences Center at Fort Worth.

“This center will be an asset not only to the university and its faculty, but also to the community at large. The center will support interdisciplinary research, encourage a higher level of scholarship and allow our researchers to answer important immigrant-related questions in a comprehensive manner,” says Wendy K. Wilkins, provost and vice president for academic affairs. 

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]]> mstucky@unt.edu (Mellina Stucky ) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:42:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3644#comments Flu news may be overwhelming, but media reports often helpful http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3643 Information about  H1N1 flu, is ubiquitous, likely to lead the news in any and all media outlets. This is a good thing, says Nann Goplerud, left, interim chair of the Department of News in the Mayborn School of Journalism.

“An event like the H1N1 flu outbreak is a perfect opportunity for the traditional news media to again demonstrate its importance to society,” she says. “The tone of the news coverage is critical in a situation like this - in print, on air and online. This kind of public health emergency is an opportunity for the media to show it’s not going to cause a panic, but instead create calm by providing expert advice from medical professionals, updated information on school closings, trends in the spread of the illness, resources about care and other information that will help consumers make choices about their health.”

That’s a comforting thought for parents, says Wendy Middlemiss, associate professor of educational psychology. News about flu-related deaths of children and teenagers may make it difficult for young viewers to understand flu news.

“Lots of kids are going to be frightened,” Middlemiss says. “You want to talk to them about their fears and discuss certain precautions. Keep it simple and factual. Don’t be overly histrionic.”
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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:33:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3643#comments DFW Airport executive to speak on campus http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3642 Jeffrey P. Fegan, right, CEO of DFW International Airport, will give a free lecture titled “Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport – The World Connected” Nov. 6 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the University Union, Golden Eagle Suite, as part of the College of Business Distinguished Lecture series.

As the facility's chief executive, Fegan is responsible for making sure that the airport runs as smoothly as possible for the more than 5 milion passengers and other customers who pass through each year. His talk will give an overview of the airport, the board’s strategic plan for the airport and all of the different facets of the airport as a business.

Fegan’s talk will expose the university community to opportunities in the aviation industry. UNT also recently announced plans to be the first public, four-year university in Texas to offer a bachelor’s of science degree in aviation logistics. That program will begin in fall 2010.

Contact Julie Willems-Espinoza, external relations director, at 940-369-8442 or julie.willems-espinoza@unt.edu.

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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:45:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3642#comments Staff Appreciation Week continues with awards, fitness, training http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3641 Staff Appreciation Week continues Nov. 2-6. Events include merchandise and food and merchandise discounts, retirement and savings fairs, health and wellness activities and training programs. Learn more below, or find a schedule (pdf).

Nov. 2, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Staff Contribution Awards announcement and reception, Gallery of Staff Talent, University Union, Silver Eagle Suites

Nov. 3-4
Training and Development Opportunities; register for these and other sessions:

• Listening Skills, Nov. 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Marquis Hall, Room 118
• Business Ethics, Nov. 4, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., University Union, Room 411
• Project Management, Nov. 5, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., Marquis Hall, Room 118

Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Retirement Savings Investment Fair, University Union, Golden Eagle Suite. Learn more.
http://inhouse.unt.edu/index.cfm?commentID=3629

Nov. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
UNT Staff Health Fair, Chestnut Hall, Career Center; learn how to get on track to a healthy lifestyle. Staff Health Fair will include free information and screenings, demonstrations, snacks/drinks, raffles and door prizes. Local vendors will provide information.

Free access to Pohl Recreation Center, plus these classes (space is limited):
• Nov. 2-6 - Weight Room Orientation, from 12 to 2 p.m.; meet at the weight room desk and learn about lifting.
• Nov. 2 -Yoga I, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. and Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.; participants of all levels are lead through a class full of challenging postures and pacing.
• Nov. 2 - Cycle, from 4 to 4:45 p.m. and Nov. 6, from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m.; cycle class combines visualization techniques with music to enhance the ride.
• Nov. 3 - Step Aerobics, from 12:15 to 1 p.m.; challenging, high-intensity class involves stepping , upper body movements and stretching

Nov. 5
Staff Appreciation Celebrations; entertainment, food and fun; Gallery of Staff Talent, from 2 to 4 p.m., University Union, Silver Eagle Suites and from 12:30 to 1:30 a.m., Marquis Hall, Room 118

Nov. 6
Staff Appreciation Celebrations, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Discovery Park, near Jazzman Café, and UNT Dallas Campus.

Nov. 6
Fun Field Day, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., College of Business lawn
Gather your department teams and spend lunch hour enjoying some classic Field Day fun. Field Day will include tug-of-war, water balloon toss, hula hoop, dodge ball and much more! Games planned for all activity levels.

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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:36:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3641#comments Staff Appreciation Week features discounts, fairs, awards http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3637 Staff Appreciation Week begins today (Nov. 2) with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. in the University Union, Silver Eagle Suites.

The week, sponsored by Human Resources, begins with service awards and displays of staff creativity. Staff Contribution Awards, noting employees who have contributed to the university’s success, will be announced. Staff reaching service milestones in November also will be honored.

Show your UNT ID to receive these employee discounts Nov. 2-6:

• College Optical Express - $15 off eye exams scheduled during Staff Appreciation Week and 25 percent off all frames and lenses
• UNT Dining Halls - $3 special price on all-you-can-eat
• Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell, Einstein’s & Boar’s Head Deli - Half price Combo Meals
• Green Mountain Coffee Shop - Half price specials on all coffee or specialty drinks
• Freshen’s – Half price specials on all Frozen Yogurt, Smoothies, Ice Cream and Specialty Drinks
• Eagle Images Copy Center in the University Union – 15 percent off Kodak picture kiosk prints and 15 percent off color copies
• UNT Bookstore – 20 percent discount on UNT clothing and gift items

Other activities include:
• Training and Development Opportunities
• Retirement Savings Investment Fairs, Nov. 4-5
• UNT Staff Health Fair

Find a schedule of activities.

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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:03:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3637#comments Mean Green set scoring record, earn second conference win http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3640 The Mean Green matched a school scoring record and won its first 2009 Sun Belt Conference game with a 68-49 win over Western Kentucky Oct. 31 at Fouts Field.

UNT scored 68 points versus Youngstown State College in 1957.

Quarterback Riley Dodge, left, accounted for seven touchdowns (42 points) with four passing scores and three running scores.

The University of Louisiana at Monroe visits Fouts Field for a 3 p.m. game Nov. 7. Come early, wear green, be loud stay late.

 

• Buy tickets for the Nov. 7 game, and the Nov. 21 game versus Army.
• Learn about the new football stadium.

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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:56:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3640#comments Native American Heritage Month features films, dancing http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3639
Nov. 5 - The documentary film Spiral of Fire, produced, directed and edited by Carol Cornsilk, right, lecturer in the Department of Radio, Television and Film, will be shown at 7 p.m. in Radio, Television, Film and Performing Arts Building, Room 184.

Cornsilk, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, will introduce the movie and answer questions after the screening.

The movie is about the Eastern Band of Cherokees’ fusion of tourism, cultural preservation and spirituality that helps the tribe maintain its identity in the 21st Century. Spiral of Fire is the second part of Cornsilk’s Indian Country Diaries series. She produced the series with her company, Adanvdo Vision, in conjunction with Native American Public Communications in Lincoln, Neb., where Cornsilk was director of programming and production.

Nov. 9 - Drumming and Dancing, Native American Cultural Event will be at 12 p.m. in the University Union, One O’Clock Lounge. Presented by the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas, the event will feature traditional drummers and dancers from Across Indian Country, a performing group. Left, a dancer at  the 2008 indigeneous student video conference held at UNT.

Nov. 10 - The film, Our Spirits Don’t Speak English: Indian Boarding School, will be shown at 4 p.m.
in the University Union, Multicultural Center Office, Room 216. Told from a Native American perspective, the documentary uncovers the history of the U.S. government’s policy toward Native Americans, which included taking children from their homes and families and forcing them into boarding schools. Former educators and students from these schools give voice to Native American children forced through a system designed to take away their culture, heritage and traditions.

After the screening, a discussion about the film will be led by Jonathan Hook, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:52:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3639#comments EcoArtTech founders kick off third biennial water conference http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3638 The founders of EcoArtTech, a digital art program to call attention to environmental issues, will launch Fluid Frontier and WaterWays 2010 with a free lecture at 7 pm. Nov. 4 in the Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building, Room 125.

Cary Peppermint and Leila Christine Nadir will lead a discussion about their works; how digital art can be used to get the public to think about the relationship between nature and technology, and how art, literature, philosophy, ecocriticism, computer science and ecology can create interactive ecoart.

Fluid Frontier and WaterWays 2010 is a year-long exploration of the environment as a personal, geographical and cultural experience. WaterWays 2010 is the third international biennial water conference, organized by the UNT Philosophy of Water Project. The theme of WaterWays 2010 is rivers and cultures, with a focus on the Trinity River.

A major shared program is the hosting of visiting EcoArtTech artists who will be in residence at the College of Visual Arts and Design. The artists will focus on the Trinity River Basin in North Texas. Fluid Frontier and WaterWays 2010 will conclude March 3- 5 with an exhibition and conference.

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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:39:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3638#comments Climate change researcher to speak Nov. 2 http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3635 David E. Blockstein, left, senior scientist with the National Council for Science and the Environment, will discuss “Climate Change: Science and Solutions,” from 2 to 3 p.m. Nov. 2 in Chemistry Building, Room 253. Blockstein’s free lecture is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences and the graduate program in environmental science.

The council is a nonpartisan organization of scientists, educators, environmentalists, business people, and policymakers working to improve the scientific basis of environmental decision making.

Blockstein joined the council, then the Committee for the National Institute for the Environment, in 1990 and was its first executive director. He led an effort to develop a proposal for a National Institute for the Environment, which gained the support of more than 500 universities, scientific, business, government and environmental organizations and was subject to congressional legislation and hearings.
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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:30:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3635#comments International Education Week features Chinese films http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3636 Films by Oscar winner and Taiwanese-born director Ang Lee, left, will be screened and discussed during International Education Week, Nov. 16-20. The films selected for the festival are all part of Lee’s exploration of generational and cultural conflicts among Taiwanese parents and their Americanized children.

International Education Week, a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of State and Education, celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide by promoting programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attracts students from other nations to study in the United States and exchange experiences with U.S. students.

A panel discussion will follow the Nov. 20 film, Eat Drink Man Woman. Panelists will be Harry Benshoff, associate professor of radio, television and film; Kevin Heffernan, adjunct faculty at UNT and associate professor of cinema-television at Southern Methodist University; and Don Staples, professor emeritus of radio, television and film. 

These films will be shown at 7 p.m. in the University Union, Lyceum:

• Nov. 16: Pushing Hands (Tui shou) — In this 1992 release, a retired Chinese tai-chi master moves to New York to live with his son's family. His presence leads to a family struggle between cultural tradition and the modern American lifestyle.
• Nov. 18: The Wedding Banquet (Xi yan) — This 1993 flim features a gay Taiwanese-American man whose parents pressure him to marry, so he marries a Chinese girl who needs to marry an American citizen to obtain a green card. Complications arise when the young man’s parents arrange a huge banquet to celebrate.
• Nov. 21: Eat Drink Man Woman (Yin shi nan nu) — Released in 1994, this film focuses on a chef in Taipei with three adult daughters. Life revolves around the ritual of an elaborate dinner each Sunday and the love lives of all of the family members.

Lee also has directed Sense and Sensibility, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hulk and Brokeback Mountain, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Director. 

Contact UNT-International at 940-565-2197.

(Photo courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.)

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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:41:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3636#comments Coordinating Board approves stadium plans http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3634 A new football stadium is about to become a reality. Plans for the stadium passed their final hurdle today (Oct. 29) when the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the proposal.

A public groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled Nov. 21, prior to the Mean Green-Army game, and the Mean Green will move into the new facility for the 2011 season.

The stadium, rendering, right, will replace 57-year-old Fouts Field, and will be the first collegiate football stadium designed by award-winning HKS Inc. Architects, the firm that designed the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. The university will be seeking Gold LEED certification, one of the highest levels of sustainable achievement. UNT likely will be the first college football stadium with a Gold LEED designation.

“If you look at America’s great universities, you’ll see that they all have the three A’s in common: great academics, great arts and great athletics. All are key to a vibrant alumni community and continued growth. And all require great facilities,” says President Gretchen M. Bataille. "I am committed to ensuring that UNT, like many of the nation's best research universities, strives to be excellent in everything we do.”

• Learn more about Mean Green football.
• Buy tickets to the Nov. 21 game versus Army/U.S. Military Academy.
• Learn more about all Mean Green sports and athletes.

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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:44:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3634#comments American Book Award winner, environmentalist Ray speaks Nov. 10 http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3633 American Book Award winner Janisse Ray, left, will give a free reading at 8 p.m. Nov. 10 in the University Union, Silver Eagle Suite A.

Ray’s 2000 award winner,  Ecology of Cracker Childhood, combines memoir with natural history in an examination of the complex relationship between rural communities, poverty and ecology. Ray, a Georgia native, is the author of another memoir, Wild Card Quilt: Taking a Chance on Home and Pinhook: Finding Wholeness in a Fragmented Land.

Ray’s visit is part of the Department of English Visiting Writers Series and the 2009-10 One Book, One Community program. The program is an annual yearlong reading discussion focusing on a theme. This year’s selection is Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind America's Energy Future by Jeff Goodell, who spoke at UNT Oct. 6. 

Contact Corey Marks or 940-565-2126 or Ruby Al-Qasem, creative writing assistant, or 214-240-5682.

(Photo courtesy of Milkweed Editions, MInneapolis.)

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]]> Cbobo@unt.edu (Carolyn Bobo) Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:25:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3633#comments Fun Fact: Celebrate 40 years of music at KNTU's anniversary http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3622 KNTU was launched Nov. 3, 1969. Come celebrate their 40th anniversary Nov. 6 in the Gateway Center, Ballroom. What were some of 1969's top songs and artists?

A. Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In -The 5th Dimension
B. Get Back - Beatles
C. Honky Tonk Woman - Rolling Stones
D. All of the above

The correct answer is D, all of these songs and artists. The 5th Dimension, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones all had hit songs in 1969. You can stroll down the 1969 Billboard hits. 

To win a free UNT T-shirt gift pack, send an e-mail with the word “KNTU” in the subject line to InHouse@unt.edu by 5 p.m. Oct. 30. The winner will be selected at random from all e-mails received.

Join KNTU to celebrate their 40th anniversary at 6 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Gateway Center, Ballroom. Hors d’oevures will be served and the One O’Clock Lab Band will perform beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $30 per person and must be reserved by 5 p.m. Oct. 30. Call Russ Campbell, KNTU general manager, at 940-565-2554.

KNTU's original frequency was 88.5. It's now 88.1. "KNTU did not start out as a jazz station," says Campbell. It became primarily a jazz station in 1984. "The students and staff were looking for a niche to fill in the Dallas-Fort Worth area." UNT was already known for the music school and well-thought of in jazz circles. "Providing a primarily jazz music station filled a void in the area as well as being a natural tie to North Texas." Right, the station's early days, courtesy of UNT Archives.

The station offers opportunities for students majoring in radio, television and film to get hands-on experience and even produce their own radio shows. "Student-produced shows such as Schlock's Block of Rock, Infrequent Exposure, Notes from Underground and North Texas Jukebox have gotten good reviews from listeners," says Campbell.

Much of the station's music now is on CD, but KNTU still has one turntable and one reel-to-reel tape player on hand for that occasion when it might be needed. "The future of radio is strong. There will always be a need for audio content," says Campbell.

• Learn more about KNTU. 
• Buy tickets to the 40th anniversary celebration. 
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]]> mstucky@unt.edu (Mellina Stucky ) Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:56:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3622#comments TAMS leads state in Siemens competition finalists http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3632 UNT has more finalists in the prestigious Siemens competition that any Texas high school. Eighteen students enrolled in the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science are finalists or semifinalists in the 2009 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology, the nation’s leading original research competition in math, science and technology for high school students.

In 2008, TAMS led Texas with 14 semifinalists.

In 2009, four TAMS students are finalists and 14 are semifinalists.

Finalists are:

  • Sai Achi
  • Somak Das
  • Peter Hu
  • Sahil Khetpal

Semifinalists are:

  • Smitha Janardan
  • Brandon Kiasaleh
  • Matthew Krenik
  • Jesse Lou
  • Ruobing Lu
  • Alex Mentzelopoulos
  • Eva Ng
  • Navaneeth Ravindranath
  • Jay Shah
  • Rena Sheng
  • Katheryn Shi
  • Tian Tian
  • Kathy Wang
  • Amruth Venkatraman
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]]> mstucky@unt.edu (Mellina Stucky ) Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:47:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3632#comments Congratulations to these winners of InHouse giveaways http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3631 InHouse prize giveaways.

• Ann Bartts, academic advisor II, College of Business
• Tina Garza , administrative services officer, Information Technology & Decision Sciences
• Amy Gray, administrative assistant III, New Student & Student Success Programs
• Nora Martinez, library specialist III, UNT Libraries
• Elisha Tucker, administrative specialist II, Purchasing and Payment Services
• Ann Howington, project coordinator – Texas historical newspapers, UNT Libraries
• Lori Barthold, administrative assistant, College of Business
• Stephanie McCane, senior budget officer, College of Engineering
• Nicole Pyron, student assistant

Winners are randomly chosen from all responses. Prizes include UNT T-shirt gift packs and free tickets to concerts, sports and other campus activities that are generously provided by event sponsors and departments.

InHouse is the electronic newsletter that is always online and is regularly updated with news about events and strategic activities at UNT. The formatted version is emailed to faculty and staff each week, usually on Wednesdays. Click on headlines, which link to continuously updated postings, to find the complete article and its links to related information.
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]]> mstucky@unt.edu (Mellina Stucky ) Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:27:00 CST http://inhouse.unt.eduindex.cfm?CommentID=3631#comments