James Sullivan, assistant professor of music, will give the inaugural Crick Lecture of 2017 today at 4:00 p.m. in Room 100 in the Koch Center for Engineering and Science. A short abstract follows:

"Music’s ability to evoke emotion is surely one of the main reasons we listen to it. But how exactly does music evoke emotion? A strand of research in music cognition argues that musical emotion derives in large part from listener expectation: a piece of music is patterned in such a way that it establishes a set of expectations and then either confirms or violates them. Both confirmed and violated expectations have the potential to evoke emotion, as does the act of expectation itself. This presentation will focus on the creation of surprise through violated expectations and, in particular, on expectations and surprises that listeners process quickly and automatically. We will define several different kinds of musical expectation, consider ways that music creatively frames and executes surprises, and explore how we come to have musical expectations in the first place. We will build our discussion around some interesting musical examples and some important experiments in music cognition."

Submitted by Derek Jones dj4@evansville.edu

Just a few days remain until the University of Evansville Softball team opens the 2017 season at the Plainsman Invite in Auburn, Oklahoma.

Evansville made one of the top ten turnarounds in the NCAA last season, improving their season win tally by 14. This year, a team that features nine seniors is ready to make its move. Head coach Mat Mundell scheduled a competitive non-conference slate that will see the Purple Aces take on three of the top six teams in the preseason rankings.

In the opening week, UE is set to face second-ranked Auburn. The third weekend of the season will see the Aces face the preseason #1 team – Oklahoma. Evansville faces the Sooners on March 3 and has the opportunity to face them again depending on how the bracket works out. In the final non-conference tournament in Lexington, Ky., UE will face preseason #6 Michigan on the second day of the event.

With a week left until it all begins, Coach Mundell is excited about where his team stands.

“Our girls have been working very hard. There is some great competition in practice with everyone fighting for playing time,” Mundell said. “As a coach, it is very exciting to have the depth that we do. We have a few different lineups that we are looking at; it is a good position to be in where you have several options.”

The opening tournament at Auburn begins Friday with a 9:45 a.m. game versus Mercer and a 4:45 p.m. contest against SIU Edwardsville. The Aces also face Creighton twice and face the second-ranked Tigers on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
 

The University of Evansville Department of Theatre proudly presents its third production of the season, Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky, in Shanklin Theatre, at 7:30 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

In 2015, American Theatre magazine named Lauren Gunderson one of the most produced playwrights in America. In her exciting new play, we meet Henrietta Leavitt, one of the women employed at the Harvard Observatory to process astronomical data gathered by male scientists. A passionate and educated woman, she struggles to balance her own celestial studies, a twinkling workplace romance, and the ethereal bond of siblings. This poetic and poignant play will leave audience members whispering to their special someone, “Let’s go gaze at the stars.”

Professor of theatre Diane Brewer directs Silent Sky. Theatre department chair Eric Renschler serves as the scenic designer; Ivy Karlsgodt, a senior from San Antonio, Texas, is the costume designer; Avery Reagan, a senior from Conyers, Georgia, is the lighting designer; Benjamin Phillips, a senior from Fort Worth, Texas, serves as the sound designer; Rachel Barkalow, a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, is the dramaturg; Mary Claire Smalley, a junior from Nashville, Tennessee, is the stage manager; and professor Chuck Meacham is the technical director.

The cast features sophomore Madeline Easley, from Overland Park, Kansas, as Henrietta Leavitt; sophomore Kathleen Finch, from College Station, Texas, as Margaret Leavitt; freshman Luke Lowrance, from Arlington, Texas, as Peter Shaw; freshman Shannon White, from Rockwall, Texas, as Annie Cannon; and junior Zoie Quinn, from San Antonio, Texas, as Williamina Fleming.

Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $13 for senior adults, students, and UE faculty and staff. UE students may obtain one free student rush ticket beginning at noon on the day of the performance they wish to attend.

Following Silent Sky, the Shanklin Theatre Season closes with Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, April 7-15, which marks the 50th anniversary of Shanklin Theatre.

Tickets may be purchased by calling 812-488–2031, Monday-Friday, from noon-5:00 p.m.

Submitted by Sharla Cowden sc75@evansville.edu

The Eykamp String Quartet will present a recital tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Wheeler Concert Hall. The program will feature Beethoven’s String Quartet in B-flat, Op. 18, No. 6, Debussy’s String Quartet in G minor, and Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 2 in A minor. As always, Tuesday night concerts are free and open to the public.

Submitted by James Sullivan js820@evansville.edu

Students of all levels of Spanish are invited to meet with Belén Alemán Mansilla, a Fulbright FLTA, and talk about Valentine's Day, make cards and share an Argentinian cake at Jazzman's in Ridgway University Center from 4:30-5:30 p.m. today. It is a wonderful opportunity to interact informally in Spanish and to meet other students of Spanish. You can stay as little or as long as you want. Please contact Belén at ma360@evansville.edu if you have any questions. ¡Allá nos vemos! Hope to see you today!

Submitted by María Belén Alemán Mansilla ma360@evansville.edu

The Newman Club will be going with USI to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, over spring break. Students will leave on March 6 and return on March 11. Transportation will be provided. Free lodging and scholarship money will be available. Please contact Jenny Koch at je46@evansville.edu if interested.

Submitted by Emily Rodgers er136@evansville.edu

The University of Evansville and the Evansville African American Museum invite you to attend a Celebration of Life to honor the life and legacy of Ron Glass ’68 on Saturday, February 25, at 11:00 a.m. in Shanklin Theatre. Glass, a UE theatre alumnus and member of the Board of Trustees, passed away at his home in Los Angeles, California, on Friday, November 25.

Previously best known for his role as the debonair, well dressed Detective Harris in the classic television show Barney Miller, Glass gained a new following with his portrayal of the mysterious Shepherd Book in the science fiction series Firefly and its movie sequel, Serenity.  

Following the campus event, the Evansville African American Museum invites the community to view its permanent exhibit featuring Glass’s life and career from noon-5:00 p.m. Museum admission will be free. The museum is located at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Garvin Street at 579 South Garvin Street in Evansville.

Students who have received federal direct loans (subsidized/unsubsidized) and plan to graduate in the spring or summer (or transfer after the spring semester) are required to attend a loan repayment counseling session.

The Office of Financial Aid will hold the first session of the semester on Wednesday, February 22, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 126, Hyde Hall. Sessions will also be held on April 26 at 2:00 p.m. and May 5 at 11:30 a.m.

Submitted by Amy Sowders as560@evansville.edu

The Thames & Hudson Introduction to Art has been translated into editions for both Mandarin Chinese and Korean. Written by Debra DeWitte, Ralph Larmann (UE professor of art), and Kathryn Shields, 10,000 copies of each of these two editions are now available worldwide. Professor Larmann not only contributes the majority of the written content, but also all line art and text design direction. This text was featured in the London Times as one of their “Books of the Year” in 2015 when it was initially released, describing its innovative structure as an, “… emphatically multivalent approach that makes this book special.”

Submitted by Ralph Larmann rl29@evansville.edu  

Join President Tom and Dr. Sharon Kazee in pledging to recycle. Fill out a Recyclemania pledge by Feb. 28 and have your name entered in a drawing for one of three beverage coupons from Jazzman’s.

Recyclemania pledges and pledge boxes are located in the following buildings:

• Bower-Suhrheinrich Library
• Carson Ticket Office
• General Services Mail Room
• Graves Hall Nursing and Physical Therapy office
• Hyde Hall by the second floor copier
• Koch Center by the second floor copier
• Krannert second floor Room 126
• Olmsted Admissions office
• Ridgway second floor
• Schroeder School of Business Building, first floor

The drawing will be held on Friday, March 3. 

Please email js652@evansville.edu with questions.

Submitted by Jan Schrader js652@evansville.edu

Students recently received an e-mail with a link and a log-in code for the 2017 Indiana College Substance Use Survey. This anonymous, web-based survey asks for students’ opinions about alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. The information is tracked year to year allowing the University to better understand the campus culture and changing dynamics of student choices and opinions. If you are at least 18 years old, please take a few minutes to complete the survey by February 15. After completing the survey, you may choose to enter (not required) your name for a chance to win a UE Bookstore gift certificate. More details are provided in the e-mail that was sent February 2 and will be sent again this week to all full time undergraduate students.

Students wishing to live in a Village housing unit should pick up and submit their Village housing request cards this week. Cards are available Monday-Friday in the Office of Residence Life from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Remember, Village housing request cards are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17.

Submitted by Brian Conner bc32@evansville.edu

The Collegiate Changemaker Challenge Team registration deadline has been extended to Monday, February 13 at midnight. You can register online and find more information on the Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana’s Changemaker Challenge web page.

Need help forming a team? Contact Erin Lewis at el131@evansville.edu.

Submitted by Cindy Kelley ck116@evansville.edu 

This is a reminder that the United States Postal Service (USPS) will be closed in observance of President’s Day, Monday, February 20. Please note that UE will not be able to pick up mail from USPS that day since the post office will be closed. Any mail picked up from UE areas by mail services on that day will be transported to Data Mail to be metered and mailed on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 21. For mailing questions, contact mail services at ext. 2197.

Submitted by Kim Winsett kw83@evansville.edu

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Duane Gibson’s career game led the University of Evansville men’s basketball team to its third win in a row as the Purple Aces took down Southern Illinois by a final score of 75-70 on Saturday afternoon at SIU Arena.

Gibson connected on 10 of his 15 attempts to finish with 27 points and also set his career high with 10 rebounds to lead UE (13-14, 4-10 MVC).  Jaylon Brown finished the day with 14 points while Ryan Taylor and David Howard recorded 13 and 12 points, respectively. 

“We knew it would be important to get off to a good start.  They are a tough team to play and this is a tough place to play,” Evansville head coach Marty Simmons said.  “I was very proud of the start we got off to; we executed very well.”

Leo Vincent was the top performer for the Salukis (14-13, 7-7 MVC) as he scored 21 points.  That tally included five 3-pointers.  Sean O’Brien posted 18 points while Aaron Cook had 11.

David Howard registered four early points as the Aces hit 4 of their opening 5 shots to take an 8-4 lead.  Seconds later, Ryan Taylor hit his first shot of the game, nailing a triple to put UE up 11-4 at the 5-minute mark.

Midway through the opening stanza, Christian Benzon connected on an and-one to give UE its first double figure lead at 20-8.  After Leo Vincent knocked down a trey on the ensuing possession, Taylor connected from downtown once again to put the Aces up 25-13 with just over eight minutes left.  Evansville’s defense forced SIU to hit just 5 of their opening 19 attempts (26.3%) while drawing three charges in the first 12 minutes.

The lead reached as many as 13 for the Purple Aces with 5:52 remaining before a pair of free throws in the final seconds saw SIU cut the gap to 36-26 at halftime.  Gibson paced the Aces with 10 points at the break.

Coming out of the locker room, SIU got back within double figures at 37-28 before Evansville posted four in a row to match its largest lead of the afternoon at 13 points.  Five minutes in, Gibson continued his stellar game, putting back an offensive board to give the Purple Aces a 45-30 edge.

Southern Illinois bounced back, registering five in a row over the next minute and got within 9 as a triple from Aaron Cook made it a 49-40 game midway through the period.  Evansville bounced back with a run of its own as a Christian Benzon trey was the pivotal bucket in an 11-5 stretch that gave the Aces a 61-45 lead with six minutes remaining.

Leo Vincent was a one man show in the final minutes for the Salukis knocking down three 3-pointers in the span of two minutes to cut the UE lead to just six at 66-60.  Gibson put an end to the stretch, driving to the basket for his 25th point of the day, setting a career-high.  He later added a pair of free throws with 30 seconds left. 

The Salukis continued to rally as a Mike Rodriguez bucket cut the UE lead to three points with nine seconds remaining.  Jaylon Brown calmly knocked down both free throws as UE held on for the exciting 75-70 triumph.

A solid shooting performance saw the Aces finish at 54% while holding Southern Illinois to 40%.  UE also had a 36-30 rebounding advantage in the game.

Today’s win marked the 4th road win in a row over the Salukis, marking the first time Evansville has done that in a series that started in 1927.

Evansville is back home on Tuesday night to take on Drake in a 7 p.m. contest.

- INFO: For all of the latest information on University of Evansville men’s basketball, visit GoPurpleAces.com or follow the program on Twitter via @UEAthletics_MBB. 

- DONATE: For information on giving to UE Athletics or its individual athletics programs, visit the DONATE tab on the top of GoPurpleAces.com. 

- TICKETS: To purchase tickets for University of Evansville athletics events, log on to GoPurpleAces.com and click on the TICKETS tab on top of the page.

-www.GoPurpleAces.com-