On Monday, January 21, the University of Evansville will hold its 25th annual re-enactment of the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the original march. Everyone is invited to join in the events. They are all free and open to the public. Please note there is a new gathering location to begin the march!

10:30 a.m.
Viewing of the 57th Presidential Inauguration
For only the second time, the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the public Presidential Inauguration fall on the same day. The inauguration ceremonies will be shown on the main screen in the Bernhardt Atrium in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building

Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Hear excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic speeches on 91.5 WUEV.

12:45 p.m.
Walk for Justice 
Note: New gathering location. Participants gather in the Bernhardt Atrium in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building. Refreshments will be served.

7:00 p.m.
William G. and Rose M. Mays Martin Luther King Jr. Lectureship, Eykamp Hall, Room 251, Ridgway University Center

Through the generosity of William G. and Rose M. Mays, this lectureship funds the annual keynote speaker during the UE’s celebration.

Speaker: The Honorable Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge, Cook County (Ill.) Circuit Court
Timothy C. Evans serves as the chief judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, the largest of the 22 judicial circuits in Illinois and one of the largest unified court systems in the world.He was first elected chief judge in September 2001 by unanimous vote of the circuit judges. He was re-elected in 2004, 2007, and 2010. He is the fourth person to serve as chief judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and the first African American to serve in the position. During his 10 years as chief judge, Evans has brought sweeping reforms to the court that are both innovative and compassionate. Under his leadership, there has been an unparalleled growth in free legal services for low-income, self-represented litigants, including a free mediation program to help homeowners facing foreclosure. Throughout his career, Evans has been an outspoken voice for equal opportunities for women and minorities.

Please use the hashtag #UEMLK when you Tweet pix and comments from the march and other events.
 

The Office of Human Resources will begin processing W-2’s soon, which will be issued to employees no later than January 31.  Just like last year, we are pleased to announce that you can choose one of two options to receive your W-2:
• Electronic W-2 – If you provide your consent, you will receive an e-mail notification via AceNotes Extra that your W-2 is ready to view/print on WebAdvisor.
• Paper W-2 – If you prefer, you can continue to receive a paper W-2 in the mail, as you have in the past.

Among the advantages of electronic W-2’s: (1) you will have access to your W-2 a couple days earlier than a paper copy that is mailed to your home (2) you can print as many copies of the W-2 as you need.  The electronic W-2 is IRS compliant and can be submitted with your tax return.

To take advantage of the electronic W-2 option, you must log onto WebAdvisor and select the option “W-2 Electronic Consent.” Click the first radio button to give your consent.   You will not receive paper W-2 in the mail if you select the electronic W-2 option.  If you previously gave your consent for the electronic W-2 option, there is nothing you need to do.

If you choose to withhold your consent to view/print your online W-2, a paper copy will be prepared and mailed to you at your home address. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Gloria Spencer at ext. 2159. 

As part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (i.e., the “fiscal cliff bill”) recently signed by President Obama, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has directed employers to increase the amount of FICA taxes withheld from employee paychecks for Social Security effective January 1, 2013.  In December 2010, as part of legislation that extended Bush-Era tax cuts (the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010); the federal government negotiated a temporary reduction in the FICA payroll tax. This reduction was not extended as part of the new act, which means the amount collected for FICA will be reinstated to its previous rate from 4.2% to 6.2%.

As Congress did not vote on the bill until after the University of Evansville processed its January 4 bi-weekly payroll, we had no choice but to deduct taxes at the old 4.2% rate.  Therefore, we will need to catch up the extra 2% that was not deducted on the January 4 payroll.  This catch-up will occur over the next two bi-weekly payrolls: January 18 and February 1.  Beginning with the February 15 bi-weekly payroll, the normal 6.2% FICA tax will be deducted.  There will be no catch-up for employees paid on a monthly basis, as this payroll will not be processed until the end of January.  However, employees paid on a monthly basis will also be affected by the increase to 6.2%.

If you have any questions, please contact Gloria Spencer ext. 2159.

 

Are you a woman with a love for music?  If so, you are invited to the recruitment events for Sigma Alpha Iota, the women's music fraternity.  Informal recruitment events will take place Friday, January 11 at 7 pm and Sunday, January 13 at 9 pm in Room 110, Fine Arts Building.  Both music majors and non-majors are welcome, as well as those affiliated with social Greek organizations.  For questions or more information please contact Emily Naas at en30@evansville.edu.
 

¡Hola! Are you interested in Spanish and the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries? Come and join us at the first Spanish Club meeting this semester, which will be on Wednesday, January 9 from 6 to 7 p.m. in Room 70 (Case Study Room), Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building.  All are welcome to join the club. Come by, help select the members of the executive committee, and decide activities and events the club will do throughout the semester. If you are interested in joining the Spanish Club or if you have any questions, please contact Dr. Diana Rodríguez Quevedo at dr130@evansville.edu. ¡Allá nos vemos!

The University of Evansville community is invited to attend a welcome for the Vice President for Enrollment Services, Dr. Shane Davidson Thursday, January 10 from 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. in the 1959 Gallery on the second floor of the Ridgway University Center.   Dr. Davidson started his tenure at UE on January 2 of this year.

Dr. Davidson previously served as vice president for enrollment and marketing management at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. He joined HSU in 1997 as associate vice president for enrollment services and has 20 years of experience in higher education, including leadership positions at Wayland Baptist University and Howard Payne University.

Dr. Davidson holds a Doctor of Education degree in higher education administration and leadership from Baylor University, a Master of Business Administration degree in management from Wayland Baptist University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Howard Payne University.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Davidson to UE!

The Department of Music welcomes all students, faculty, and staff back to campus and hopes everyone had a wonderful holiday break. The Department would also like to advise the campus community that the faculty recital originally scheduled for tomorrow evening, January 8, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 12.  The semester’s concert offerings will begin next Tuesday, January 15.
 

The first Student Government Association meeting of the semester will be January 17 at 5:00 p.m. in Room 170 (Smythe Lecture Hall), Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building. All SGA representatives need to be in attendance and we encourage any and all University of Evansville students to attend as well!

The Schroeder Family School of Business Administration is hosting Dr. Brian Schwarz as a guest speaker on Wednesday January 9. He will be speaking from 4-5 p.m. in Smythe Hall (Room 170), Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building.  Brian’s topic is “Doing Business in China.”  The entire community is invited.

Brian has been a senior lecturer in business for 12 years in Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai, China.  He is currently an adjunct business professor at East China Normal University.  Brian has taught a variety of business courses including Organizational Behavior, Marketing Management, Corporate Strategy, and Managerial Economics.  Brian has published in numerous business magazines including the China Economic Review, Shanghai Business Review, and China International Business.  Brian Received his Doctorate in Business Administration at California Coast University.
 

An information session will be held this Thursday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m. in Smythe Lecture Hall (Room 170, Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building regarding ALL UE summer programs abroad. Students interested in applying for a UE summer program abroad but who are unable to attend this session are encouraged to contact the Office of Study Abroad at studyabroad@evansville.edu

The TIAA CREF representative will be on the UE campus on Tuesday, January 29 and Thursday, January 31, 2013 for individual counseling sessions.  To schedule an appointment, call TIAA CREF at 1-800-732-8353 or 317-706-6200.   The sessions are held in the Clifford Rare Books Room of the University Libraries (Room 158).  If you have any questions, call Carol McCraney at extension 2943.

The Residence Life program is currently seeking students for Resident Assistant positions for the 2013-2014 school year! The Resident Assistant position offers excellent, opportunities to gain great work experience and transferable skills, make new friends, and make a difference on campus. It's an immersive leadership experience that can change your life!

Information sessions will be held on January 10, 14 and 15 at 9:00 pm in Room 271, Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building. Applications will be available at those sessions, in the Office of Residence Life and in all hall offices. Applications and recommendations are due to the Office of Residence Life by 5 pm on January 21.

Faculty and staff, if you know any students who would be an outstanding Resident Assistant candidate, please encourage them to attend an information session or stop by the Office of Residence Life for more information.
 

This is a call for nominations/applications of UE faculty to serve as a UE Global Scholar for the 2013-14 academic year.  It is anticipated that up to five appointments will be made.  Global Scholars will engage in scholarship, travel and/or research activities related to the impact of globalization on our learning environment.  Global Scholars will receive a $2,000 stipend and a professional development budget of $3,000 for expenses, e.g., materials, books, travel, workshop registration, etc.  In addition, funds will be available to the Global Scholar’s department to provide a one-course release during the academic year.  It is expected that Global Scholar activities will have an impact on the global awareness and understanding of our learning community through curriculum or co-curricular activities.  We will value both research and pedagogical advancement in the proposed projects.  Projects that impact both of these elements will be given stronger consideration.  An evaluation form and narrative report detailing activities will be required on or before June 28, 2014.  A requirement of the Global Scholars program is to provide a written summary of the project performed upon completion of the work.  We may also ask for updates on progress during the course of the work.

Nominations/Applications should be made to the Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana, Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building, Room 260.  Deadline for full consideration is February 8, 2013.  Electronic submissions may be sent to Dan Miller, Executive Director, Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana at pm82@evansville.edu.  Materials in support of the candidate should include information that supports the candidate’s appointment and a description of activities proposed by the nominee/applicant, not to exceed one page.  The appropriate Department head and Dean must approve the application in advance. Materials will be reviewed by the Institute and Dr. Steve Standifird, Dean of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration, in collaboration with the Council of Deans. Please provide your dean a copy of your submission.  Appointments will be announced by February 22, 2013.

The Writing Center will be "open for business" effective Monday, Jan. 14. Hours will be the same as last semester: Noon to 5 p.m. on Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday; evening hours are 7 to 10 Sunday through Thursday. Appointments are available via Acelink; or, call the Writing Center at ext. 2391. "Walk-in" sessions are also available, but only if a mentor is not working with a student who has made an appointment. Also, please honor all appointments you make, and show up on time. Students who create an appointment but do not appear for the time(s) they schedule are depriving fellow students of time with a writing mentor. The Writing Center is located in Clifford Memorial Library (entrance facing Koch Center).

The Aces Brass/University Band welcomes musicians of all levels of experience to perform at basketball games as well as concert band literature. We always welcome all woodwinds, brass, and percussion, although this semester we especially need more percussionists this semester who can play drum set. The conference games are underway and it’s an exciting time to get involved. Activities this semester involve several basketball games, an exhibition performance, our final concert, and overnight trips to the Men’s and Women’s Missouri Valley Conference tournaments in the St. Louis area. Contact Dr. Groulx at tg90@evansville.edu for more information.

The last day to add/drop a spring class is January 11. Please make sure that your form is signed by your advisor.  If you are changing part-time or full-time status, the back of the form must be stamped by Student Accounts. Forms are available in the Registrar’s Office.  

UE Professor of Creative Writing Margaret McMullan’s essay, “My Interview with Sally Ride” appeared in the December 2012 issue of Women’s Media Center, an online magazine about women in the media. Her short story “Spring Cleaning” will appear in the Spring 2013 issue of StorySouth, and this spring, Chicago Public Library's Reader's Theatre Troupe will perform their adaptation of McMullan’s novel Cashay in monthly shows throughout Chicago.  McMullan’s sixth novel, Sources of Light is available on Kindle and in paperback from Graphia Paperbacks, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. McMullan is the Melvin M. Peterson Endowed Chair in Literature and Writing.

Associate Professor of Creative Writing Rob Griffith's most recent book, "The Moon from Every Window," was recently nominated for the prestigious Poets' Prize. The Poets' Prize is awarded annually for the best book of verse published by a living American poet two years prior to the award year. The $3000 annual prize is donated by a committee of about 20 American poets, who each nominate two books and who also serve as judges. The Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York City hosts the annual awards reception in May, which includes readings by the winner and finalists. Former recipients have included A.E. Stallings, X.J. Kennedy, Wendell Berry, Maxine Kumin, Mark Jarman, Miller Williams, and Andrew Hudgins.

Dr. Yasser Alhenawi, assistant professor of finance, has had his paper "What does the U.S. REITs Market have in Store for Non-conventional Investors? The case of Shariah Compliance" accepted in the Journal of Investing. This paper models the behavior of a hypothetical investor who is interested in U.S. securities but is also interested in compliance with Islamic Investment Guidance. His findings indicate that financial compliance might be rewarding for Shariah-abiding investors who are interested in U.S. REIT sector. In separate tests, he shows that leverage and REITs’ performance are independent. Yet, he shows that outperformance of compliant portfolios may imply efficiency of an underlying conservative, but not necessarily religious, strategy that avoids the excessive use of debt, interest, and cash. This paper was co-authored with Professor Kabir Hassan.

University of Evansville sophomore forward Mallory Ladd was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week in an announcement by the league office Monday afternoon.  Ladd finished the week with a pair of double-doubles and went a perfect 19-for-19 at the free throw line.

Ladd opened the week by scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the Purple Aces’ victory over Drake in Thursday’s MVC opener.  Ladd finished 4-for-12 from the floor and 8-for-8 at the charity stripe. 

The sophomore forward capped the week by pouring in a career-high 25 points and pulling down 11 boards in UE’s narrow, 70-63, loss to MVC preseason favorite Creighton Saturday evening.  Ladd completed the night 6-for-12 from the field and knocked down all 11 of her attempts from the free throw line.  For the week, the Evansville native averaged 20.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, and has made her last 32 free throw attempts.

Ladd, a Valparaiso transfer who became eligible to join the Aces prior to the Toledo Invite, has averaged 15.5 points and 10.5 boards per contest, and posted double-doubles in all four of her games for Evansville so far this season.  She has also tallied nine assists, six steals and four blocks.

Evansville will return to action Sunday, Jan. 13, when it hosts conference foe Southern Illinois for a 1 p.m. matinee at the Ford Center.