Save the date! The Honors Program is hosting Nerd Wars trivia night on Tuesday, February 13, at 7:00 p.m. in Eykamp Hall, Ridgway University Center. Start making your team of five people and plan to register when classes resume in January. All are welcome to form teams - students, faculty, administrators, and staff.

There will be prizes awarded to the top teams, as well as giveaways available for all who attend! Come and be a part of the race to win Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth headsets, a Fitbit-flex 2, a streaming video drone, and more!

Submitted by Cherie Leonhardt CL29@evansville.edu 

From the Ashes, a documentary about the 1977 UE basketball team's plane crash, will play at Showplace East on Tuesday, with screenings at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The 90-minute film, which was produced and directed by Communication faculty member Joe Atkinson, tells the story of the 1977 season, the plane crash, and the aftermath. After being shown at Showplace East, a shorter, 60-minute version will air on WNIN at 8:00 p.m. on December 13 - the 40th anniversary of the crash.

Tickets for the Showplace East screenings are available at http://www.showplacecinemas.com/location/4131/Showplace-Cinemas-East. A DVD of the film - which includes both versions of the film, as well as several deleted scenes, is available at the77aces.com 

Submitted by Joe Atkinson, ja122@evansville.edu 

A 40th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1977 University of Evansville plane crash will take place tonight - Wednesday, December 13 - at 7:00 p.m.

The ceremony will be held at Memorial Plaza on the UE campus and is open to the Evansville community and the general public. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved inside Neu Chapel.

The Air Indiana Flight 216 crashed at 7:22 p.m. on the evening of December 13, 1977, carrying the University of Evansville men’s basketball team along with coaches, administrators, fans, and flight crew. Those gathered will observe a moment of silence at that time during the candlelight vigil.

A candle lighting will commence the service which also includes a reading of the names of those who perished in the plane crash and a bell ringing during each interval. University of Evansville President Dr. Thomas A. Kazee will provide a statement followed by the singing of the UE alma mater, prayers and bagpipes.

Following the ceremony, an opportunity for informal gathering and fellowship will be offered in Ridgway University Center’s 1959 Gallery and Lounge. Neu Chapel will also be open for personal prayer and meditation throughout the evening.

If you have any questions about the ceremony or events taking place that night, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at alumni@evansville.edu or 812-488-2586.

Submitted by Bob Pristash rp113@evansville.edu 

The UE Office of Financial Aid has been notified that students from other schools have received phone calls claiming that they have taxes owed to the IRS that must be paid immediately. The caller states that taxes are past due as a result of recent changes to the tax laws for people receiving financial aid. THIS IS A SCAM! Do NOT provide the caller with bank account or credit card information. Should tax laws that impact financial aid be passed, we will notify our students of those changes before they go into effect.

Submitted by Cathleen Wright cw259@evansville.edu

Four days after setting his career mark with 25 points, sophomore Dru Smith poured in 17 to lead the University of Evansville men's basketball team to a 65-58 win over Canisius on Saturday at the Ford Center.

Another great all-around effort saw Smith go 8-9 from the free throw line for UE (8-2) while posing six assists. Blake Simmons finished with 12 points, four assists and three rebounds. Dainius Chatkevicius led all players with nine rebounds and also had seven points.

“I was pleased with the result today,” UE head coach Marty Simmons said. “Our guys really hung in there and showed real resilience and toughness and made enough plays to get the job done.”

Evansville shot 52.1% on the game while holding Canisius to 37.7%. The Golden Griffins were just 6-of-33 from outside and were 6/9 from the line. UE hit 22 free throws in 28 attempts.

“To me, this game was decided at the free throw line,” Blake Simmons said. “We did a good job of not sending them to the line in the first half, but in the second half, we fouled a little too much. John and K.J. knocking their free throws down were clutch.”

John Hall, who scored six points and had four rebounds hit two free throws in the final minute of the win. He said that the team was prepared to defend the outside shot against the Golden Griffins.

“All week, the coaches said they were going to shoot plenty of 3's no matter what part of the floor they were on,” he explained. “Our defense held them in check.”

Jermaine Crumpton posted a team-high 14 points to lead the Golden Griffins (4-6) while Isaiah Reese notched 13.

Smith led everyone with 10 points in the first half, but it was Canisius who got on the board first. The Golden Griffins scored the first four points of the game to take an early lead. The Aces came back with six in a row before a pair of triples put Canisius back in front by a 10-6 margin at the 12 minute mark.

Marty Hill's bucket ended the drought and sent UE on a 10-0 run that gave them a 16-10 advantage.  Five Aces found their way into the scorebook on the run. Two free throws from Smith gave UE its largest lead at 21-12 with 6:11 on the clock. Canisius rallied with a run of their own, scoring seven in a row to get back with a pair at 21-19, but the Aces found their groove in the final minute. An 8-2 run to end the half set the lead at 31-23 going into halftime. 

In the opening possession of the second half, Smith struck again. The first 3-pointer of the day for the Purple Aces gave them the first double-digit advantage of the game at 34-23. That was the first of seven in a row for UE to open up the second half and take a 38-23 lead. Daniels Chatkevicius and Blake Simmons also had baskets in the run.

Isaiah Reese responded for Canisius, knocking down a pair of triples to spearhead a 9-0 run to get them back within six points with 15:14 left in the game. Evansville was able to push lead back up to 10, but the Golden Griffins never gave up. Trailing 52-43, they notched the next four to cut the deficit to five points.

A Chatkevicius free throw ended the stretch with under four minutes remaining, but a basket from Jermaine Crumpton on the ensuing possession made it a 53-49 game, the closest Canisius had been in the second half. Crumpton added a free throw on the next trip down the floor to cut the UE lead to three, 53-50.

Smith played a pivotal role in putting a stop to the rally. With just over two minutes on the clock, he knocked down both ends of a one-and-one to help the Aces regain a 2-possession lead. After a Canisius miss, Evan Kuhlman connected on two more from the line as the lead was pushed to 57-50. 

In a game that featured several runs by both squads, Canisius had one more push left. Back-to-back field goals got them right back in the game at 57-54 with 1:24 left. After Smith knocked down two more free throws, Crumpton struck again for the Griffs. His second from long range made it even closer - 59-57.

From that point on, the Aces put the game on ice, going 6-6 from the free throw line in the final minute to clinch the 65-58 victory. 

Two home games are up for the Aces next weekend, starting on Saturday when the squad welcomes Austin Peay for a 3:00 p.m. game. On Sunday, UE takes on Midway in another 3:00 p.m. tilt at the Ford Center.

Back inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse for the first time in nearly three weeks, the University of Evansville women's basketball team ran out to an early lead before Morehead State pulled away in the final minutes in an 82-75 loss for the Aces on Sunday afternoon.

"We shot the ball really well, we're at home, and we got out to a really big lead and you can't lose that opportunity to win," said Aces head coach Matt Ruffing. "I felt like we got a little complacent and just kind of forgot what we did to get to the point that we did when we were leading 35-15 in the second quarter. That's on us and we'll make sure we take care of that."

Graduate guard Hannah Noe led the Aces in scoring for the fourth time this season, recording 17 points, while junior center Kelsi Scott and senior guard Brooke Dossett both chipped-in double-digit scoring performances with 16 and 15 points, respectively. Morehead State was led by Darianne Seward who scored 31 points and Miranda Crockett who added 25.

Evansville opened the game on a tear, as the Aces shot 63.6% from the field in the first quarter including going a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe. In the closing seconds of the quarter, Scott posted up and backed down her defender and scored off the glass to push the Aces' lead to its largest point in the opening frame at 24-12.

In the second quarter, the Aces utilized the momentum they had built in the first ten minutes. Evansville kept its foot on the accelerator, increasing its advantage all the way to 20 at 35-15 on a jumper by sophomore guard Macie Lively with 7:17 left in the quarter. Following the Aces pushing their lead to its largest point of the game, the Eagles responded with a 19-3 run to close the period, trimming the Aces' lead to just 38-34 at the half.

On two occasions in the third quarter, Evansville pushed its lead back to 11, but Morehead State once again provided resistance. With the Aces up 55-44 with 5:31 on the clock in the third, the Eagles manufactured another run, this time a 14-4 spree that cut Evansville's advantage to 59-58 heading into the fourth quarter.

The previous 30 minutes of action featured just one tie, but the final 10 minutes included five ties as each side struggled to take control of the contest. The turning point occurred with under 30 seconds to play when the Eagles went to the line and knocked-down seven of eight attempts at the free throw line to give Morehead State an 82-75 win.

Evansville shot a season-best 56.5% (26-46), while holding Morehead State to just 39.7% (27-68) shooting from the field, but the Eagles forced 29 turnovers by the Aces while committing just 17 of their own.

The Aces return to action inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. when they host Oakland City.

Over 240 letters will be photocopied and sent to three governmental representatives (240x3=720) asking for a Hate Crimes Bill to be passed in Indiana. Indiana is one of only five states that does not have such a bill. These letters serve as a show of solidarity with all the oppressed groups who have been targeted in increasing numbers. Anyone who has additional letters to submit please do so by Monday December 11 to OH 342 (just slip them under the door), or if you would like a copy of the letter to sign or distribute please email lk102@evansville.edu. The PEACE initiative in collecting these letters has been supported by numerous efforts on campus, including significant student support, faculty support, the Honors Club, and the Diversity Office. Scholars for Syria kindly helped circulated the letters on social media. 

Submitted by Lisa Kretz, lk102@evansville.edu 

As an organization, we have decided to extend the early deadline for the Student Leadership Conference on January 20, 2018 to December 13!

Want to expand upon your leadership skills and knowledge base but don't know how? I have great news for you! On January 20, the University of Evansville Leadership Academy and Center for Student Engagement are putting on their annual Student Leadership Conference. This year, the conference's theme is "Bright Lights, Brighter Leaders." This is an all-day conference where you will get the opportunity to talk with other student leaders and hear amazing speakers discuss their own leadership journeys. There is a $10 registration fee that includes a T-shirt, lunch, and an unforgettable experience! To register for the event, click here! 

The UE Bookstore would like to clarify the dates for Buyback and rental returns as there may be conflicting dates out there. Buyback runs December 8-14. Rental books need to be returned by 5:00 p.m. on DECEMBER 14. If you have any questions contact the UE Bookstore. 

Submitted by Dous Gustwiller, dg57@evansville.edu

As the semester comes to an end, the University of Evansville's Student Health Center will conclude the fall semester as well.

The Health Center will be open 8-5 on 12/7, 12/8, 12/11, 12/12, 12/13 and 12/14. Although the Health Center is open from 8-5 the Nurse Practitioner is only available two hours a day. You can call 812-488-2033 or stop by the Health Center to schedule an appointment.

Also stop by the Health Center for a complimentary OREO candy bar to get you through those final exams!

All of us at the Health Center want to wish everyone a happy holiday season and a joyous New Year!

Submitted by Ashley Craig, ac408@evansville.edu 

The UE Bookstore is looking for some extra help during spring rush (Jan 2-12). The person should be available during regular store hours during this time - eight hours a day. The position requires some lifting. This is a temporary position perfect for anyone looking for a little more cash. Students may be interested IF they can work all these days. Contact the UE Bookstore if interested.

Submitted by: Doug Gustwiller, dg57@evansville.edu 

Official transcripts for current students will not be available from December 7-20.

Submitted by Teresa Haller th227@evansville.edu 

Vectren will host its annual Executive Retreat in Eykamp Hall on December 13th from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. in Eykamp Hall, Ridgway University Center, with lunch served in Meeks Gym. Please contact Kari Hughes at kh355@evansville.edu with any questions. 

Indiana Virtual Academy will host student testing in Cokes Classroom, Hyde Hall Room 126, on Monday, December 11th from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Please contact Kari Hughes with any questions at kh355@evansville.edu.

The semester end book buyback at the UE Bookstore runs December 8-14. The bookstore freely quotes all books regardless of where purchased or used on this campus. Please bring your student ID to sell books, your original receipt is NOT needed. There will be promotions and discounts during the week as well. 

Submitted by: Doug Gustwiller, dg57@evansville.edu.

This is a reminder that books rented from the UE Bookstore are due back no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 14. Books returned after the due date are subject to late fees. Please make sure you return your books in a timely manner. 

Submitted by: Doug Gustwiller, dg57@evansville.edu. 

The bees in the UE Garden have been active all summer, and our beekeeper Carla Lemar has jars of local, raw, and unprocessed honey for sale. She will be in Ridgway University Center from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 12 and again on December 19. Give someone a sweet gift from the UE Garden this holiday season. 

Submitted by: William Hemminger, bh35@evansville.edu

Philip Lax, mechanical engineering senior, has received the Fall 2017 Honors Program Undergraduate Research Grant. As a recipient of this award, Philip will receive funding support from the Honors Program to complete his honors project, entitled “Effects on Collector Efficiency of a Thermosiphon-Powered Solar Water Heater from Variations in Reservoir Tank Shape.” Philip will present the results of his project, along with other Honors Program graduates, in April during the Honors Program Project Presentations. Congratulations Philip! 

Submitted by Jayme Williams, jw504

The Indiana Alpha chapter of Pi Gamma Mu, international honor society in social sciences, welcomed six new members at their Induction Ceremony on December 7. The newly inducted members are: Hunter King, Sylvia McFadden, Justine Moore, Hunter Sandage, Bailey Schnur, and Blake Simmons. In addition, the chapter’s new president, Sylvia McFadden, and new vice president, Bailey Schnur, were inaugurated as officers.

Submitted by Mari Plikuhn, mp168@evansville.edu 

An article written by Mark Cirino and Amanda Oaks (’14) has been published in the current Hemingway Review. Cirino and Oaks’s article, “Wise Blood: Menstruation, Fertility, and the ‘Disappointment’ in Hemingway’s Across the River and into the Trees," analyzes a crucial gap in the text that has presented a critical conundrum since the novel’s publication in 1950. Cirino and Oaks conceived of this article during her ENGL 399 class as a UE student. Oaks is currently pursuing her MFA at Chatham University. Cirino is associate professor and Melvin M. Peterson Endowed Chair in English.