The University of Evansville will hold a 46th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1977 Plane Crash on Wednesday, December 13 at 12:00 p.m. The ceremony will be held at Memorial Plaza on the UE campus. The order of service will include remarks from University of Evansville President Christopher Pietruszkiewicz.

On December 13, 1977, Air Indiana Flight 216 crashed shortly after takeoff from the Evansville airport. All on board died in the crash or from crash-related injuries, including the University of Evansville basketball team and coaches, two fans, five members of the UE staff, and the flight crew.

During Wednesday’s commemoration, the UE Interfaith Peace Bell will be rung 29 times--once for each of those who perished--followed by a moment of silence and peace in remembrance.

If you cannot attend, the service will be livestreamed on the University of Evansville Alumni Association's Facebook page.

Come cheer on your UE Women’s Basketball team and you could win prizes! During tonight’s Women’s basketball game inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse, students will get raffle tickets and could win a variety of gift cards! Halftime will feature a student knockout competition with the winner taking home an Amazon gift card. Help cheer on the Aces tonight at 6 PM!

December Staff and Administrators Book Club Gathering 12noon-1pm Tuesday Dec 19th (Please note the date change. This has been rescheduled due to the Memorial Service on the 13th)

We will be discussing the book The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox – but even if you don’t finish reading it you will want to join us for the annual Used Book Swap!

Bring a wrapped used book. (This can be any genre- just something that you think another reader would enjoy) We will play a game and everyone will go home with a new to them book!

Location Conference Room in basement of SOBA (Room 67) Contact Kathy Taylor at ks6 to RSVP or for more information.

Finals are coming up - but so are pancakes! Take a break from studying for finals to join some of your favorite Aces at the Pancake Study Break!

Pancakes and more will be available on Reading/Study Day - Thursday, December 7 - from 9:00 p.m -11:00 p.m. at The Eatery in Ridgway University Center. There will also be drawings for prizes - so don't miss out! Plan to be at the Pancake Study Break!

This event is free of charge for all UE students. A UE ID is required to enter.

Questions? Contact Chad Hart at ch299@evansville.edu.

Everyone is invited to the inaugural Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Graduation Ceremony on Saturday December 16 to honor the 16 students in the class of 2023. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in Shanklin Theatre. No tickets are required. For those who cannot attend in-person, the ceremony will also be live streamed at www.evansville.edu/live.

The UE Holiday Ceramics sale will be held in the Melvin Peterson Gallery on Tue 12/12, Wed 12/13, and Thu 12/14 from noon - 6:00 pm. This is a great opportunity to purchase fine art for yourself or for gift giving.

Please pay with checks or cash only.

"Bring Your Own Lunch and Learn" event with the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & the Nursing Department

Come listen to Rachel's story and hear the stories of individuals in the Marshallese community.

CDEI will be providing cookies and rice krispy treats

Bio for Rachel Acton, guest speaker:

Rachel is a Korean-adoptee who grew up in Evansville, Indiana. She attended University of Southern Indiana (USI) with degrees in History and Social Science Secondary Education. As the Director and instructor of the USI AmeriCorps GED program, she taught English GED and created the first Spanish GED program in Evansville. In addition, attended Indiana University (IU) Bloomington to earn a Masters in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education (LCLE). There were opportunities to teach in literacy and English as a New Language (ENL) in Bloomington and Indianapolis before returning to Evansville as the ENL middle school International Newcomer Academy (INA) teacher for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) for six years. This incredible endeavor led to educating diverse students and collaborating with families throughout the city, including the amazing Marshallese community. Recognizing the tremendous growth of the Marshallese community and their struggles adapting and surviving in a new country led to her current position as the Health Advocate at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital. She has been able to connect and bridge the tri-state regional community to resources, supports, and programs. Specifically, she works to support the Marshallese community to elevate and create opportunities through collaboration with various local organizations and agencies to access health services. In addition, as an International Community advocate, Rachel collaborates with the Marshallese Consulates and various international community nonprofit organizations including the Marshallese across the country. Rachel‘s interests include spending time with family and friends, watching sports, and traveling.

Videos from:

Lurina Bwein was born in Majuro, Marshall Islands. Lurina grew up in Marshall Islands, graduated high school and attended the College of Marshall Islands. She earned her Associate degree in Education. She taught at the local elementary and high school. Then, she and her family moved to Ohio in 2020. In 2021, they moved to Evansville, Indiana. Lurina is a proud mother of three children. She assists other Marshallese with interpretations and translations in Evansville. ansville.

Brenson Laneab was born in Majuro, Marshall Islands. Brenson grew up in the islands, attended school, and learned about carpentry. One of his skills is carving handcrafted coconut shells into one-of-a-kind decor. Brenson moved to Hawaii in 2010, and then to Evansville, Indiana in July 2012. He is a husband and a father to five amazing children. Brenson is a leader in the Latter Day Saints (LDS) church and the Marshallese community.

Binta Laukon was born in Wotje, Marshall Islands. Binta graduated high school in Marshall Islands and attended the College of Marshall Islands. She is a mother to three wonderful children and one grandson. Binta moved to Arizona, then to Evansville, Indiana in 2019. She creates beautiful handcrafted flowers that are well known from Wotje Atoll. She is a faithful servant of God and attends Full Gospel church in Evansville.

Rebecca Hemos was born in Majuro, Marshall Islands. She grew up in the islands and moved to Springdale, Arkansas in 1996, as a teenager. Rebecca continued to live in the United States until 2005, and returned to the Marshall Islands. She is an amazing mother to five beautiful children and returned with her family to Utah in 2015. In 2021, Rebecca and her family moved to Evansville, Indiana. She works full time and continuously serves as an interpreter and translator for the Marshallese. She is part of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) church.

The University of Evansville African American Alumni Association (UEAAA) proudly presents a special Black History Month event featuring Arnell Hill '80, the award-winning creator of a documentary spotlighting his UE experiences. The documentary, honored at the Indy Fest Film awards and showcased at the Heartland International Film Festival, offers a unique insight into the African American student journey at the University of Evansville. This event will take place at the EVPL Central Library on Walnut Street on February 6th, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. free of charge.

UEAAA invites faculty to include this historic event as an extra credit option in their Spring 2024 syllabi. Sponsored by the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, this is a unique chance for students to explore the African American student experience.

For more information, contact UEAAA.

Please join us in celebrating with Dr. Jerrilee LaMar's retirement on December 7th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in Graves Hall Nursing Lab 105. Stop by and share a memory, wish her well, and enjoy some refreshements.

Magic, ritual, shaminism, and witchcraft are common components of religions across the globe and across time. Why? ANTH 224 takes an anthropological look at how these religious practices operate within cultures by examining real-life modern examples from around the world. Taught by one of UE's newest faculty members, Dr. Kyle Clark, the course highlights his area of research specialization. The course also counts towards the Outcome 4 General Education catagory. It will be taught this spring semester T TH 1:15-2:30. There are no pre-requisites.

FREE, confidential HIV testing, performed by Matthew 25, the first Wednesday of every month at the Student Health Center. No appointment necessary. 9-11am

Do you have textbooks or other course materials you don't need anymore and don't have to return? Donate them to the UE Lending Library! This program gives students the chance to find their required materials at no cost at all, and is run by Students for Social Change and the UE Library. We will be taking donations in Ridgway from 11am-1pm on December 4th, 5th, and 6th. The donation box will also be available every day at the Library front desk!

Check out the current catalog.

Join us in the bookstore on reading and study day to decompress with a hot cup of tea before finals begin!

The November issue of the Crescent Magazine is printed and available around campus. You may also find the issue online. https://crescent.evansville.edu/2023/11/28/november-2023/

Student Media has worked hard this semester to provide quality content for the University of Evansville campus by producing 3 print issues of the Crescent Magazine and the production of 10 podcasts with more to come. https://crescent.evansville.edu/podcasts/

Please take a copy of the magazine and appreciate all the hard work that goes into the publications.

Interested in joining or advertising with Student Media? Contact Tommy J Housman th208@evansville.edu

A new course, Politics of the Middle East (PSCI 360), will be offered next spring (on Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:00 - 2:15 p.m.) If you want to understand what is going on in the Middle East right now and the consequences for the rest of the world, this course will provide you an introduction to the history, politics, and international relations of the Middle East region. The instructor is a retired Foreign Service Officer who has worked at the Egypt desk at the State Department and has been stationed in Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Kuwait during his long diplomatic career. By the end of the semester, you should have a basic understanding of the political and historical process that have shaped societies in the Middle East, and a knowledge of political culture, political development, political institutions, political process, and political economy of the Middle East countries. You don't need a prerequisite to take this course, and it is not too late for you to register for it. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dr.Robert Dion (rd35@evansville.edu) or Dr.Lorena Andueza (pa55@evansville.edu) The International Studies program and the Political Science program are excited about being able to offer this incredible learning opportunity to the UE student body.

Professor Katie Mullins had a full house at Bluestocking Social for her poetry reading, including WFIE 14 News. Keep an eye out for future events!

Free off site paper shredding by Piranha Mobile Shredding will return to the campus once again! All UE students, faculty, staff and alumni can take advantage of this free service by bringing paper to the Piranha truck in Koch parking lot. Paper will be shredded offsite.

So, if mounds of paper are taking over your office, home, or room, this is the time to gather those old files, receipts, cancelled checks, tax forms, etc. No need to take out the staples or paper clips. Avoid identity theft by having confidential information permanently destroyed.

Please no telephone books, magazines or newspapers. Also, please note that there is a 100lb. paper limit per visit (number of visits is not limited).

College Mentors for Kids connects UE students from all majors with a local elementary school student in grades 1-5 for a brief mentoring session one day a week. Elementary students come to UE's campus on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 to work with their mentor.

A recent MENTOR 2023 study found that 74% of youth who had a meaningful mentoring relationship said their mentor contributed significantly to their later success. However, another study notes that one-third of youth who want a mentor don’t have one due to a lack of formal mentoring programs in their community. Our College Mentors for Kids group currently has students from a local school on a waitlist, and we want to provide all students desiring a mentor with a UE student who can take an interest in their current and future success.

Please help us meet the needs of local students who would benefit from having a UE student mentor by volunteering to serve as a UE mentor during the spring 2024 semester. You don't have to leave campus to make a difference in a young student's life. Mentoring is transformative, and it takes all of us. We invite you to partner with UE's College Mentors for Kids organization to ensure more kids and college students experience this deep connection, leading to many lifelong possibilities. Please get in touch with Lilly Kolley at lk165@evansville.edu or Dr. Lisa Hale at lh241@evansville.edu for more information.

We all need space to breath; a place to rest from the doing to just be. As we enter into finals week, UE’s campus ministries and staff want to create a sanctuary space where you can come to rest, decompress, pray, and meditate. This will be a come and go space set up throughout the week with self-guided stations as well as a scheduled noonday prayer service that will be led each day by Campus Ministry Leaders and UE’s Spiritual Formation Coordinator.

Purple Patrol is returning for Spring 2024! Sign up as coworkers, a department/office, or a team, and get ready to pass out fun goodies to our Aces displaying purple pride!

When you sign up using the link below, please include your name and department or additional employees who will be helping you. Please sign up for one slot only so everyone has a chance to participate.

For questions or more information, please contact Abbie Perry at ap445@evansville.edu

Sign up for Purple Patrol now!

Please join us in congratulating Mike Averett upon receiving his second master’s degree this week! Mike is the Executive Director of Facilities Management and Planning for the University of Evansville. Mike received his Bachelor of Science and MBA from Southern Utah University. Mike now adds a Masters in Facilities Management from the University of Texas at San Antonio to his impressive resume. Mike, we appreciate your commitment to your profession and wish you continued success!

Kevin Jordan, Director of Clinical Psychology, co-authored the article, “Positive and negative online social experiences and self-rated health: Associations and examination of potential pathways,” which is now available in Health Psychology, the flagship American Psychological Association journal for behavioral medicine. Using data from a national sample, Dr. Jordan and colleagues examined the association between online social support and self-rated health. Offline social support was found to mediate this relationship. The article can be viewed here https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38032612/

Dr. Melissa Fitch, DNP, CRNA, Founding Administrator of the UE Nurse Anesthesia Program, assumed the role of President of the Indiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists on November 4 for the 2023-2024 year. Melissa has served on the INANA Board of Directors since 2019 as one of three directors until 2022 and as President-Elect in 2022-2023. As President, Dr. Fitch will lead the INANA Board of Directors to advocate for legislative advancement and strengthened practice for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists throughout Indiana. While representing CRNAs across Indiana, she will attend CRNA Legislative Day in Indianapolis in January 2024, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Assembly of Didactic and Clinical Educators in Orlando, FL in February 2024, the AANA Mid-Year Assembly for national advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. in May 2024, and the AANA Annual Congress in San Diego, CA in August 2024. Most recently, Dr. Fitch testified along with other INANA Board Members at the Health Care Cost Task Force Summit led by Republican State Senator Chris Garten at the State House. In August, she attended the National Conference of State Legislators in Indianapolis. In October, she represented the INANA and AANA at the Republican Governor’s Association Summit which was also held in Indianapolis, and she was able to discuss health care cost and workforce issues in Indiana with Governor Holcomb. Dr. Fitch is honored to have been elected as the INANA President by her peers and looks forward to representing her CRNA colleagues in the coming year.

Alejandro Malla, U. E. student majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics, has two newly published sequences in the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequents (OEIS) -- you can see it them here: https://oeis.org/A367309 and https://oeis.org/A367310. Malla discovered these sequences while writing computer programs for one of his current courses (Real Analysis, Math 420). At least three past U. E. students have sequences published in the OEIS: Karen Wangel (https://oeis.org/A022559, published in 1998), Melia Aldridge (https://oeis.org/A020330, in 2000), and Michelle Huff (https://oeis.org/A277754, in 2016). The OEIS is an immense database founded by Neil J. A. Sloane in 1964. For details, visit the Welcome page: https://oeis.org/wiki/Welcome.

Following a close game in the first 18 minutes of action, BYU closed the first half on a 12-0 run and never looked back, defeating the University of Evansville men’s basketball team by a final score of 96-55 on Tuesday evening inside the Marriott Center.

Yacine Toumi led the way for the Purple Aces with 13 points while Antonio Thomas recorded 10.  Five Cougars reached double digits, led by Jaxson Robinson’s 19 points.  Trevin Knell scored 13.

Throughout the opening moments, the Purple Aces played toe-to-toe with the Cougars.  After BYU hit a triple in its first possession, the Aces got on the board on a Cam Haffner layup.  Just over two minutes in, Yacine Toumi capped a 3-for-3 start by UE, converting a basket to give the Aces a 6-5 edge.

Over the first five minutes, the squads swapped the lead five times as Toumi’s second field goal put Evansville up by a 10-9 score.  Over the next five minutes, the Cougars embarked on a 17-0 stretch to open a 26-10 lead near the midway point of the half.  They connected on seven shots in a row to open the advantage.  Toumi got UE back on track with another bucket, but BYU hit another triple on the ensuing trip down the floor to take a 29-12 lead.

Evansville regained its edge over the next four minutes, outscoring BYU by a 10-2 margin to get back within single digits.  Antonio Thomas hit a triple with 6:24 on the clock to make it a 31-22 game.  Ben Humrichous knocked down a trey at the 2:31 mark that made it a 35-25 game as UE looked to head to the break with a manageable deficit.

Unfortunately, the Cougars had other ideas.  Over the final 1:47, BYU reeled off 12 in a row to take a 47-25 halftime lead.  They shot 50% in the period while going 8-of-19 from outside.  Jason Robinson led everyone with 14 points.

BYU continued to shoot at a frenzied pace in the second half, taking a 60-29 lead in the first five minutes of the period and would continue their dominant form in the second half.  Their highest advantage came at 85-38 with 7:31 remaining.  Evansville closed slightly in the final minutes, finishing with the 96-55 decision.

For the game, BYU shot 52.9% while the Aces shot 33.3%.  The outside shooting of the Cougars was off the charts as they knocked down 14 triples in 32 attempts.

Following a busy few weeks, the Aces will have an 11-day break before returning to action on Dec. 16 at Bellarmine.

Adding to what has already been an unbelievable list of accomplishments, University of Evansville volleyball player Giulia Cardona has been named to the AVCA North All-Region Team.

The 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year became the first Purple Aces player to garner All-Region honors.  Cardona was selected by the AVCA North Region Committee.

In 2023, Cardona was one of the top performers in the MVC and the entire nation.  She led the nation in kills (5.34/set), points (6.14/set) and attempts (15.00/set) while ranking 11th in the nation and tops in the MVC with 0.54 service aces per set.  Cardona wrapped up the 2023 campaign with a total of 593 kills, breaking her own UE program mark, which she set in 2022.

Cardona was named the AVCA GameChanger Division I National Player of the Week on October 17 becoming just the second player in league history to earn the accolade.  Cardona was a 4-tie MVC Player of the Week and recorded two of the league's four 20-kill, 20-dig performances in 2023.

For the second time this season, Chuck Bailey III has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week as he and his University of Evansville teammates prepare to face BYU on Tuesday evening in Provo, Utah.  The game will be carried by Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network.  Tip is set for 8 p.m. CT.

Bailey opened MVC play with a spectacular week, averaging 16.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.  He opened the week with a career-high 27 points at Missouri State.  Bailey knocked down 10 of his 17 attempts and all 5 free throws.  In the win over UNI, Bailey added 6 points and 5 rebounds.  He was a perfect 9-of-9 from the line in UE’s two games.  Bailey’s 27-point game at MSU was the top scoring effort by a freshman in the MVC this season and just the second 20-point game by a league freshman in 2023-24.

Last Time Out

- In a game that featured a season-high 13 lead changes, the Aces overcame a 7-point deficit in the second half to take a 91-89 overtime win over Northern Iowa on Saturday inside the Ford Center

- Antonio Thomas put together his top Division I performance with 27 points while Ben Humrichous scored 18 and Joshua Hughes added 11

- Tanner Cuff hit a triple with seven seconds left in overtime to seal the victory

Clutch Shot

- With seven seconds remaining in overtime against UNI, Tanner Cuff knocked down a 3-pointer to give UE a 4-point lead and seal the win

- He finished the game with nine points and has averaged 8.25 points over the last four games

- Cuff has the top assist-to-turnover ratio in the MVC and second in the nation at 5.80 and has 29 assists and just 5 turnovers this season

- Cuff had an excellent all-around performance at Missouri State, recording 8 assists, 7 points and 7 boards

- He had UE’s first double-double of the season at Chattanooga, totaling 10 points and 11 caroms

Top Performance

- Scoring 27 points in the win over UNI, Antonio Thomas put together the top effort in his Division I career

- He recorded 27 points on 8-of-11 shooting and a 9-for-10 effort from long range

- Thomas is tied for 6th in the MVC with 1.75 steals per game

- He has posted 7+ points in six of the last seven outings and had his first double-digit game of the season in the win at Chattanooga

Scouting the Opponent

- BYU is a perfect 7-0 on the season with wins over #17 San Diego State, Arizona State and North Carolina State

- The Cougars were ranked 19th in last week’s top 25 polls and are sure to rise this week

- Five BYU players average double figures with Jaxson Robinson leading the way with 16.6 PPG

- He is a 47.2% shooter from the field and 43.8% from 3-point range

- Spencer Johnson and Trevin Knell average 12.4 and 12.0 PPG, respectively

- Noah Waterman checks in with 11.1 points and a team-best 6.6 rebounds

The University of Evansville track and field team will look to continue breaking school records in the 2024 indoor season.

The Purple Aces have five meets in four different locations lined up for their 2024 indoor schedule before Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships. UE will return to three indoor meets from the 2023 indoor schedule with two new additions.

Evansville will first travel to Nashville for the Commodore Challenge hosted by Vanderbilt on January 12 and 13. The Aces attended the Commodore Challenge last season with strong throwing finishes. UE’s second meet is the Indiana Invitational on January 19 and 20 in Bloomington. The Invitational was formerly the Hoosier Hills meet which Evansville competed in last indoor season as well.

The first new meet of the season for the Aces will take place in Louisville hosted by the Louisville Cardinals. UE will spend two days at the Lenny Lyles Invitational for the first time since the program began in 2018 on January 26 and 27. After a week off, the other new meet Evansville adds to its 2024 schedule is the Music City Challenge on February 9 and 10. The Music City Challenge is the second meet hosted by Vanderbilt that the Aces will compete at in 2024.

UE’s final meet before conference championships is hosted by fellow MVC team Indiana State for the Indiana State Open. Evansville has been competing at the Indiana State Opens since the 2020 indoor season. The Aces will look to beat their 2023 performance where the women finished third of six teams on February 17.

After five meets, UE will head to Chicago for the MVC Indoor Championships. The final indoor event of the season will happen over two days at Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center at Gately Park on February 25 and 26.