There will be a conversation about the future of the Student Homecoming celebration today at 8:00 pm. in Room 271, Schroeder Family School of Business Building. The conversations will be facilitated by Geoff Edwards, Director of the Center for Student Engagement to discuss what activities and events students would like to see as part of Homecoming in order to get larger student participation. All students are encouraged to attend.

8.6% of college students' academic performances have been affected by the death of a family member or close friend within the last year. Students of AMF (Actively Moving Forward)is dedicated to supporting college students grieving the illness or death of a loved one, and will have their first meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 5:00 pm in Room 70, Schroeder Family School of Business Building. Contact Bailey Wellspring at bw142@evansville.edu with any questions.

If you haven't had the opportunity to be a part of the many Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. activities on campus, here is your last chance.  A Race Experience discussion will happen in Rachmacher's Lounge, across from Jazzman's Café on Thursday, January 23 from 7-8  pm.  The discussion will be over the Race Experience Kiosk and confronting stereotypes of different races today.  Dr. Diana Rodriguez Quevedo will lead the discussion and provide information to all that attend.

The event is being co-sponsored by the Black Student Union and the Spanish Club.  Free pizza and drinks will be provided. For more information please contact Dr. Diana Rodriguez Quevedo at dr130@evansville.edu or LaNeeca Williams atlw161@evansville.edu.

91.5 F.M.-WUEV - the campus radio station - and AcesTV - the campus video production group - are looking for new members for the Spring semester. An informational meeting about both programs will take place on Monday, January 27 at 5 pm outside of the WUEV Studios, located on the second floor of Ridgway.

No prior experience in either radio or video is necessary. Openings are available for both groups. For questions, please contact WUEV/AcesTV General Manager Tom Benson via email at tb39@evansville.edu.
 

The campus community is invited to attend this Sunday's unveiling of an exhibit that pays tribute to the victims of the UE plane crash.

The second phase of the Hilliard Lyons Corridor of Champions, featuring a permanent memorial to the victims of the December 13, 1977 crash, will be dedicated at the Ford Center on Sunday, January 26.

A ceremony will take place beginning at 11:45 a.m. in the lobby of the Ford Center. The dedication will be followed by a 1:00 p.m. men's basketball game vs. Bradley.

The general public is invited to the event, which will be emceed by Mike Blake of 14News and will feature speakers that include 1977 assistant coach Stafford Stephenson. The ceremony is expected to last 15-20 minutes.

This phase of the Hilliard Lyons Corridor of Champions is a memorial to those members of the UE family - players, head coach, administrators, and friends - who lost their lives in the crash. The memorial wall will serve as a reminder of what this event meant to the community.

Fire & Rain, an Evansville-based communications firm, designed the display with one goal in mind – to tell the story of the 1977 team so they will be remembered for generations to come. The museum-quality exhibit features photos of all of the members of the UE family who perished in the crash, action shots from basketball games played by the team, a narrative of the accident, and photos related to the tragedy and its aftermath.

The center of the display features the weeping basketball that is also part of the memorial on the University of Evansville campus. This part of the exhibit is illuminated in a manner that encourages reflection. The center panel also includes a quote from Dr. Wallace Graves, who was UE president at the time of the crash, in which he challenged the community to pick up the torch of those lost and carry it forward.

The exhibit was made possible through donations. Berry Plastics is the Gold Sponsor; their sponsorship is in memory of Meg Dettwiler who was a Berry employee, long-time Purple Aces Club president, and avid Aces supporter; she died in 1999. Anniversary Sponsors are Bussing-Koch Foundation, Kenneth and Martha Maikranz, Curt and Kelley Begle, Heritage Federal Credit Union, Schultheis Insurance, Susan and Steve Worthington, Jack and Dinah Dutton (in memory of “Pappy” Jack Dutton), Benny’s Flooring, Kathy Kleindorfer and Steve Wolf, and the University of Evansville.

Several promotions are in place for the televised ballgame that follows the dedication - including $5 tickets courtesy of the Evansville Courier and Press along with $1 hot dogs, popcorn, and sodas courtesy of the Ford Center.

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 January 27, 28, and 29 at 9:15 p.m. in FA 142. There will be food, fun, and information about joining. Both music majors and non-majors are welcome, even those affiliated with social Greek organizations. For questions or more information, please contact Kaitlin Emmert at ke81@evansville.edu .

Come and join the students of UE Opera for an evening of arias, duets, and ensembles this Saturday, January 25 in Shanklin Theatre. It will be a night of tuxedos, ball gowns, and high Cs sure to delight any lover of music. The event is a fundraiser for UEO to present opera the rest of the year, so be sure to buy your $10 ticket soon. Tickets are on sale in the Music Office in the Fine Arts Building, or call 488-2754 for more information.

The Office of Admission is hosting Davidson Academic Scholarship Day on Friday, January 24. There will be over 200 families on campus for this event. The front oval will be closed for the Davidson Academic Scholarship Day visitors until 9:00 a.m. After 9:00 a.m., the oval will open for general parking. The visitors will join the UE community for lunch in Café Court between 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Please give our visitors a warm welcome.

Sign up with Venturing Crew to go skiing/snowboarding at Paoli Peaks on Saturday, February 1!

Sign ups will be available in Ridgway University Center on Wednesday, January 22 from 11 am to 1 pm and Thursday, January 23 from 11 am to 1 pm.

Bring your UE ID and $15. Sign-ups are limited to 40 people per day, so hurry up and get your spot before they run out!

The University of Evansville Office of Religious Life announces a Neu Chapel Vespers series for the Spring semester, 2014. Offered in cooperation with the Neu Chapel Society and the UE chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the series will begin on Sunday, January 26 at 4:00 p.m. The acclaimed women’s choir, Angelus, from Mt. Vernon High School, will provide special vocal music under the direction of Dana Taylor.

Dedicated to the performance of sacred music from varied religious traditions and historical periods, Angelus performs music ranging from medieval chant and polyphony to the American Sacred Harp tradition as well as contemporary Irish and American sacred works. In 2012, Angelus was honored by the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana as the Arts Ensemble of the Year.

With roots in ancient Jewish worship, the Divine Office of Vespers was firmly established in Christian churches and monasteries by the mid-6th century. For more than 1,500 years, Vespers services, featuring Psalm singing and the lighting of lamps, have been observed throughout the Christian world. The University of Evansville offers Vesper services for the spiritual enlightenment of the campus and the larger community.

Vesper services will be also be offered on February 23, with Kirk Rich and students from the Indiana University Early Music Institute; March 23 with the Neu Chapel Jazz Ensemble; and on May 4 with Douglas Reed, University Organist.

The Chinese Club members are going to have Chinese New Year Celebration at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan 26! There will be a dragon dance, kung fu show, traditional Chinese dance, Zither show and so on. There will be a lot of things about Chinese culture. It’s open to all UE students. If you like Chinese culture you cannot miss this big event.

Tickets to the event will be sold January 22, 23, 24 in Ridgway Lobby from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Tickets are: $10 for 11 years and older, $5 for 3 to 10 years old. Kids under 3 are free. Ticket includes Chinese New Year show and complimentary dinner following the event at a restaurant off campus. If you don’t want to have dinner with us you can buy tickets for $5 for all adult.

Dinner offer only valid on Jan 26 starting at 5:30 p.m. with purchased tickets.

Tickets will be sold at the entrance of Eykamp Hall in Ridgway University Center on Jan 26.

Interested in working for IBM or Roche Diagnostics? Those are just two of the over 100 employers expected in Indianapolis for Collegiate Career Expo on Thursday, February 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The University of Evansville will provide bus transportation. There is a $10.00 deposit required that will be refundable upon attendance. Reserve your seat now.

Fair registration is through UE JobLink. Click the Jobs Tab -> CSM Jobs -> Posting #719891.

Find a list of registered employers here.

Need assistance with your job, internship, co-op or graduate school search? Please contact the Center for Career Development: career@evansville.edu or 812-488-1083.
 

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Remember, applications to be a Resident Assistant are due to the Office of Residence Life by 5 pm on Friday, January 24. Applications are still available from any current staff member and at the Office of Residence Life.

Irma Jean Rodgers’ career was spent teaching in Evansville – at Emma Roach Elementary (now Cedar Hall) and Central High School. She was a lifetime member of the National Education Association and a member of the Indiana and Evansville Retired Teacher Associations. Rodgers’ love for education lives on following her death through a gift of approximately $3 million to the University of Evansville.

Rodgers’ bequest will be added to an already generous endowment in memory of her parents, Lettie and Clarence G. Rodgers, and her sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Charles A. Weber.

“Irma Jean’s generosity will allow the University to offer additional scholarships to Tri-State students who have financial need,” said John C. Barner, UE vice president for development and alumni and parent relations. “The entire family was committed to assisting bright local students with the opportunity to experience the impact of a UE education. The new gift will provide approximately $150,000 annually in additional scholarship support.”

“We’re incredibly thankful to Irma Jean and the rest of the Rodgers and Weber families for their generous support of the University,” said UE President Thomas A. Kazee. “Their investment benefits the entire community as their scholarships are specifically designated for Tri-State students who need assistance. Clarence Rodgers was remembered as having great compassion for the ‘underdog’ and constantly assisting people in financial need. That legacy carried on through his daughters, and the young people of the Evansville area are the beneficiaries of that.”

Rodgers died February 8, 2013. Her gift to the University will allow for additional scholarships beginning in the fall semester this year.

The spring Healthy Lifestyle Challenge registration is Monday, Jan. 27, in Olmsted lobby and Monday, Feb. 3, in Krannert lobby.  Both times are 1 - 3 p.m. Points are awarded for each fruit or vegetable serving eaten and every fifteen minutes of exercise completed during an eight week period.  Top employees will be awarded a $50 gift card.  Employees/spouses in the HRA program will earn credit for their account.  Rules and forms are available in AceLink Wellness or see the nurse on Monday.             

The Office of Human Resources is finishing up its processing of W-2's, which will be issued to employees no later than January 31. 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 email notification via AceNotes that your W-2 if 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-2s: (1) you will have access to your W-2 a couple of 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 a paper W-2 in the mail if you select the electronic W-2 option.

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.

The Office of Cultural Engagement and International Services matches families with UE international students for intercultural communication and understanding for all involved. The Global Friends and Families Program is not a home-stay program, and matches will vary in length due to differing academic programs offered for international students. Students want to experience true American culture through a meal around your table, the bleachers at your child's soccer game, or simply a conversation over a cup of coffee. We'll provide you with ideas along the way! Find out more and register here (http://www.evansville.edu/ceis/friendsandfamilies.cfm) to be a Global Family! Please direct any questions to ld101@evansville.edu.

The 2014 Spring Fitness Class Schedule is as follows:

Insanity Monday through Friday 6:30 to 7:30 am

T-25 Monday through Friday 5:00-6:00 pm

Total Body Fitness Monday and Wednesday 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Noon Basketball League Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Cardio Blast Tuesday and Thursday 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Cycling Friday 4:00-5:00 pm

Yoga Monday and Wednesday 5:00-6:00 pm

Pilates Tuesday and Thursday 5:00-6:00 pm

Tae Kwon Do Friday (4 week session starts 1/24/14) 5:00-6:00 pm

Line Dancing Monday 6:00-7:00 pm

Butts and Gutts Tuesday 6:00-7:00 pm

Zumba Wednesday 6:00-7:00 pm

Brazilian Dance Thursday 6:00-7:00 pm

Come join the fun!

In cooperation with Harold Matthews, UE’s Director of Safety and Security, the Office of Administrative Services has been made aware of a fraud scheme targeting U.S. Colleges & Universities with a reported loss in excess of $5 million. The Indianapolis office of the FBI reports this is a very elaborate scheme where actual university logos and, in some cases, employee names along with fake websites (domain names ending in .org or .com suffix rather than .edu) are being utilized. Various methods are being used to obtain this information for fraud purposes. Fraudulent purchase orders are being placed for electronics, laboratory/medical items, other related merchandise and supplies “on behalf of the university” that are shipped to an address that is seemingly associated with the university (often identified as a research & development facility). However, the shipping addresses are typically a shipping company or storage facility. Once the fraudulent items are received, they are re-shipped overseas most often to Nigeria while the institution is billed for merchandise that it never ordered or received.

UE faculty, staff and administrators are being asked to be mindful of this fraudulent activity and follow these guidelines:

• Work with only known, credible suppliers
• Submit all appropriate information with purchase orders including documentation such as quotes, estimates, etc.
• Check websites and addresses of unfamiliar on-line vendors before completing a purchase transaction
• View SDG2 Pcard transactions on a routine basis, at least twice during every cycle period.
• Review all invoices carefully
• Avoid responding to emails such as “work from home” advertisements or from dating sites as that is one way “the bad guys” obtain names for use in the scheme.
• Report any suspicious purchasing/Pcard related activity immediately to the Office of Administrative Services at extension 2940 or email Kim at kw83@evansville.edu.

The Office of Administrative Services will be working with the Office of Safety & Security any potential fraudulent matter.

The Office of Admission needs current UE students who live in the residence halls to host prospective high school seniors for Road Trip February 21-23rd. If you are available, you can register to host at http://acelink.evansville.edu/forms/admission/RoadTripAssistance.cfm, emailing Ashley Ross (aj53@evansville.edu) or Bryan Hamann (bh153@evansville.edu), or stopping by the Office of Admission (OH 104).

A lot of college students spend their long Christmas break relaxing and recharging for the spring semester. Not UE junior Alex Luebbehusen and his brother, Brandon, a high school senior in Ferdinand, Ind. They spent their off time creating two new Windows apps based on what Alex had just learned through a fall electrical engineering class called Small Computer Software.

Alex says he and Brandon created the first app, a fast-paced word game called Party Phrase, in just a few hours to get a feel for getting into the Windows app market.

The second one took a lot more time and work, but it is also getting a lot more notice. Late last week it was noted on the Windows App Store as the top “new and rising” travel app. It is called tripp. It’s described as “a world travel organizer that enables you to map all the places you have visited. By adding notes, dates, and photos from your trips to the pinned locations, you can recapture the thrill of these unforgettable experiences and easily share them with family and friends—anytime, anywhere.”
Both apps are free. “We didn’t plan on getting rich off of this,” said Luebbehusen. “We wanted to get downloads and get people to use it. We did it for the experience.”

Mark Randall is co-instructor for the class that gave Luebbehusen the hands-on experience, and the confidence, to hit the marketplace. “It’s really neat to see somebody take something from the class and to turn something out that is being recognized. It’s a project-based class that rewards students grade-wise for adding bells and whistles above and beyond their basic assignments.”

Luebbehusen added that just the competitiveness of the class members was an incentive to adding more to the projects than required.

As for why they chose the Windows App Store for their work, he says that as a newer market, it is not quite as crowded as others and that makes it easier to get noticed.
 

Local Evansville naturalist Mike Lodato and Assistant professor of Biology Noah Gordon recently published a record in the peer reviewed journal Herpetological Review (Lodato and Gordon 2013, Hyla cinerea(green treefrog) Vol 44(4)620) documenting the range expansion of this frog into Spencer Co IN. Photographic and audio recordings documenting this invasion were accepted into the collection at the Illinois Natural History Museum. The green treefrog has only been documented in Indiana since 2003 when it likely crossed the Ohio from Kentucky.

Aces fans, your men’s basketball team takes the court Sunday, January 26 at 1:00 p.m., as they take on Bradley at the Ford Center. Sunday’s game will be televised on FOX Sports Indiana and FOX Sports Midwest. FREE Rally Towels will be handed out to all students at the game courtesy of FOX Sports Midwest!

Coach Simmons and his coaching staff will take part in the Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers TM Awareness Weekend along with other coaches from across the country as they will wear sneakers during the game to help raise awareness for the American Cancer Society and the fight against cancer.

For men’s and women’s basketball games, students get free admission with their IDs, and can also earn student rewards points for great prizes just for attending Aces home events! All full-time faculty, staff and administration receive two complimentary tickets to the games. These tickets can be picked up from the Carson Center Ticket Office Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. by showing your UE ID.

Come out and support the men’s basketball team Sunday afternoon and help back the Aces to a conference victory over the Braves!