Melissa Warner's Journalism Portfolio

Worth the Read?

2008-08-13T13:10:00.000-07:00

Worth the Read?
By Melissa Warner
Publication: FrontPageMilwaukee.com
Issue Date: October 1, 2007
Section: Review
Word Count: 655

Worth the Read?

Hip Ideas for Hyper Dogs

Living with a hyper dog is quite the experience. At times it is so stressful you wonder why you are bothering. Sometimes it even feels like training is pointless because you are getting no where. I know from personal experience, Kirby, who is part Coonhound and part Beagle, joined our family just over a year ago.

Kirby is quite the handful. I cannot tell you how many pairs of socks, shirts, newspapers and books Kirby has chewed up in the last year. He constantly wants to play and sleeps no more than three hours at a time. After cleaning up all the toys he has destroyed and all the paper he ripped up at the end of the day, angry thoughts cross my mind, but then I look at my cute little guy wagging his back end at me, and realize all the terror is worth it.

After reading Hip Ideas for Hyper Dogs (Howell Book House, 2007) by Amy Ammen and Kitty Foth-Regner I feel that I understand my dog better and have been exposed to not only new, but creative activities and training to share with my dog.

Ammen and Foth-Regner’s book is an incredibly user friendly handbook teaching you how to live with hyper dogs. It is organized in a chronological fashion beginning with how to recognize if your dog is hyper. Once you determine if your dog is hyper, the authors explain various tools and techniques to use with the different sized breeds to deal with the dog’s personality.

The authors explain how to gain the most important part of all training and relationships with dogs- communication. There are various stages and techniques used to do this which are clearly demonstrated through words and pictures. Some of the techniques are obvious, like basic obedience training, and other techniques are more complex.

After you gain control the following chapter offers great ideas to help your hyper dog release energy. A few of the ideas are not original; however, some of them are quite creative. Exercise is a given, but it’s more than just exercising your animal, it’s adding an intense element to the exercise you do. For example instead of walking your dog, go for a bike ride with your dog in tow.

One of my favorite ideas was playing kickball with your dog. It’s a great way to avoid touching a wet, drool filled ball. Another original idea was playing Hide and Seek with your dog. It’s an excellent way to test their listening skills and wear them out at the same time.

Following exercise and playtime, or at the end of the day, there are many suggestions on how to relax your dog. Grooming your dog and petting/massaging your dog are a few suggestions. There are even items like lines of oils specially geared to settle down your dog.

Not only is important to physically relax your dog, but it is important to have a soothing environment. The authors propose ways to arrange your home not only to make it hyper dog-friendly, but also ways to avoid situations like separation anxiety. I found these suggestions most helpful.

Kirby hates staying home by himself, when I leave he starts howling and continues to howl until I return. In this situation the authors suggest you give your dog a tasty treat before you leave. When I did this, he was distracted as I left the house, there was no howling.

Hip Ideas for Hyper Dogs is written clear and simple. The pictures and graphics make it very comprehensible. The instructions are not too vague or too detailed and they are organized by chapters so information is easy to find.

Unlike many other obedience books, this book is truly full of new ideas to create an even closer bond with your animal.

Ammen and Foth-Regner’s have successfully created an effective manual for many dog owners.

Back to School

2008-08-13T13:07:00.001-07:00

Back To School

Publication: milwaukeedoglovers.com

Date: September 2007

Word Count: 621

Picking the best obedience school for your dog is not an easy decision. There are a few factors most people do not consider. To begin, it is important to recognize what kind of training you are looking for.

The most common type of training is obedience. Obedience training is basic commands, housebreaking, walking on a leash, teaching your dog how to properly act.

Another type of training is competition. Dogs compete in many activities such as flyball and agility games. Agility training is teaching your dog to follow commands through an obstacle course. Whereas flyball is a sport where dogs race across hurdles to catch a tennis ball that drops from a box.

The competition courses teach you how to train your dog to communicate during such activities. Both forms of training share the need for a trusting master/dog relationship.

In order to decide what training and what school is appropriate it is important to recognize specific characteristics in your dog. There are specific classes and trainers who work with dogs who are timid, aggressive or hyper. Classes are often divided by age as well.

“You should pick a school where you are working with your dog, not someone else,” Patti Muraczewski, owner of For Pet’s Sake, said. “Training is about the relationship you create.”

In the Milwaukee area there are a variety of obedience schools to choose from. One of the most well known establishments is the Milwaukee Dog Training Club. The club originated in 1929 and is the oldest training club in the Midwest. The Milwaukee Dog Training Club offers training in obedience and competition. All the classes are led by dog enthusiast instructors. Not only are instructors dog enthusiasts, but the club is certified by the American Kennel Club and follows all training is based on their guidelines. All dogs- purebred or mixed breed- ages six months and older are welcome.

Another trainer in the Milwaukee area is Chas Rooney. Rooney has been training dogs for 22 years. Over that time period he has trained over 7,000 animals. He believes hands on training is the best way to train dogs. “Most people show you to train your dog,” Rooney said. “You do not get physically involved with your dog.” Rooney is much different. He works one on one with you and your dog, guaranteeing results.

The “Duh Method” is what Rooney bases his training off of. “You do something wrong, watch me to see what you’re doing wrong and say ‘duh,’ realizing what you need to change,” he said. In his sessions he works with real life distractions like toys and balls because it is realistic. Classes begin at $195.

Perhaps the most well known training school is For Pet’s Sake out of Muskego. Patti Muraczewski began training dogs over 25 years ago. Muraczewski belongs to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, only 236 trainers belong to this. Her company is located in Muskego but provides classes at locations all over Southeastern Wisconsin. Like other training companies, For Pet’s Sake offers training in obedience and competition.

Using reward-based training, all instructors work with dogs and dog owners to gain control and communication with your dog. For Pet’s Sake specializes in shy dogs, even offering social events like puppy parties.

For more information visit these Web sites:

For Pet’s Sake: http://www.forpetssake.cc/

Milwaukee Dog Training Club http://www.milwaukeedog.com/

Chas Rooney: http://www.dogsbestfriend.net/

MilwaukeeDogLovers.com recommends that you do plenty of research on your own prior to selecting a training class. Bottom line: you have to be comfortable with the way you train your dog.

Melissa Warner is a student and freelance writer who attends the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She lives in New Berlin with her black lab, Rocky, (pictured)and Coonhound/Beagle, Kirby.

Louder Now

2008-05-26T14:27:00.003-07:00

Louder Now
By Melissa Warner
Publication: FrontPageMilwaukee.com
Issue Date: August 2007
Section: Entertainment

Louder Now. Taking Back Sunday. April 25, 2006. Pop/Punk. $13.98

The newfound kings of pop/punk are back with their third release leaving the MTV crowd longing for more and their original fans wondering what went wrong.
Taking Back Sunday joined forces in 1999. Their first release Tell All Your Friends, was the most successful independent album of their time. Everyone on the Emo scene spread the word quick and they were the must-know band.
After the departure of original members, John Nolan and Shaun Cooper, Taking Back Sunday released their first commercial release, Where You Want To Be.
Many fans turned their back feeling betrayed. Not to mention in the underground Emo scene it’s not cool to like anyone’s sophomore album. Bands can’t change their sound either.
I stood by Taking Back Sunday through lineup and musical changes. However, with their latest release, Louder Now, I’m confused what happened or even what Adam Lazzara is talking about.
There truly is nothing like waiting for your favorite band to release an album after two years of waiting and the album sounding awful.
Out of 13 songs I will generously say four are good- five if I stretch it.
The album begins with “What it Feels Like to be a Ghost.” The hook is confusing, like the rest of the lyrics, but catchy. The guitar riffs, bass lines and drums are any wannabe mosher’s dream come true. Most listeners will probably skip this decent song to the song MTV made popular, “Liar (It Takes Two).”
Any song- good or terrible- that calls someone a liar or cuts them down is destined to be a hit. Just like Where You Want to Be’s most popular single, “A Decade Under the Influence.” To hell with you and all your friends, the lyric almost the loudest screamed at any Taking Back Sunday conert. “Liar” has the same appeal to the popular crowd.
“Makedamnsure” isn’t quite the high point of the album, but is a close second. It is the first single from the album with a notable bass line. Lazzara’s whining makes the track either loveable or pure torture, depending on your taste.
Following the first single of the album is perhaps the lowest point of the album, “Up Against (Blackout).” The hook is meant to be catchy, Face it/ This is what we're up, up against/You're waiting/And every minute is a minute away/Face it/This is what we're up, up against/You're waiting/And every minute is a minute away. However, it’s no better than nails down a chalkboard.
Tracks five and six are the high point of the album. “My Blue Heaven” is a sweet song about giving into one temptation you don’t want to. The slow but heavily bass track is a track worthy of $.99 on iTunes.
“Twenty-twenty Surgery” is a track unlike any other on the album. The first time I heard the song I did not even think it was Lazzara on vocals, but it is. The lyrics are confusing, Well all young children listen, 'cause they've got so much to learn/We'll get you home in time to make the rent/Should be for free for being me, but the song is incredibly catchy so the lyrics are easily overlooked.
The rest of the album is hardly even worth noting. It is hard to sit through and with terrible music to accompany even worse lyrics. “Divine Intervention” is an awful attempt to recreate the chilling acoustic sound as demonstrated in Where You Want to Be’s only acoustic track, “New American Classic.”
With Taking Back Sunday releasing the great let down of “Louder Now” it makes me truly understand why fans long for the day of John Nolan and especially his lyrics.

Nature Writings Win Prize for Poet

2008-05-26T14:27:00.001-07:00

Nature Writings Win Prize for Poet
By Melissa Warner
Publication: The Irish American Post
Issue Date: Spring 2007/ Vol. 7 Issue 3
Section: Feature Articles
Word Count: 867

Seán Lysaght has been writing since he was a teen, setting out to produce lyrical poetry that combines his love of composition with his love of nature.

For these successful efforts, Lysaght received the 11th Annual Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Award for Poetry from the Center for Irish Studies. The $5,000 award was presented on April 13 at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

The O'Shaughnessy Award is named after recently retired Lawrence O'Shaughnessy, who was an English professor at St. Thomas from 1948 to 1950 and who served on the institution’s board of trustees.

Lysaght grew up in Limerick. His father was a book dealer who ran his business from home, selling mostly Irish literature and historical works. However, Lysaght found it important to separate himself from these genres and found himself reading modern European writing. Yet he eventually fell back into Irish literature.

One influential book was Wintering Out by Seamus Heaney. Lysaght picked up a copy at a bookstall in Doneraile during a writer's festival. When writing his The Clare Island Survey, Lysaght often turned to Heaney’s pieces for inspiration while working on his bird poems.

Lysaght studied Anglo-Irish Literature at the University College-Dublin. He took a break to study in Geneva and spent time abroad in Switzerland and Germany. In 1983, Lysaght started writing again when his post-graduate studies were completed. He was homesick and said writing was the only cure.

It must have been what the muse doctor ordered. In 1985, Lysaght won the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Festival. Soon after, his first collection of poetry, Noah's Irish Ark, was published. The follow-up, The Clare Island Survey, was released in 1991 by The Gallery Press. The collection was nominated for The Irish Times-Aer Lingus Poetry Award. The poems focus on the West Ireland landscape and seaside.

From 1990 to 1994, Lysaght lectured English at St. Patrick's College in Maynooth. During this time, he wrote Robert Lloyd Praeger: The Life of a Naturalist and received his doctorate. In 1998, he released the collection, Scarecrow, followed by Erris in 2002. Scarecrow is adapted from his early fieldwork notes and sketches. Erris focuses on the notion of nature-as-myth compared to his normal nature-as-landscape.

Lysaght has always tried to incorporate nature into his poems. "I have always been an outdoors type of person," he said, "At one time, I wanted to be a naturalist." He considered himself a nature poet, but felt that niche felt too restricting.

When Lysaght is not writing and has time to relax, he enjoys fishing. "Here in Mayo, we have great salmon water, and some wild, uncrowded rivers. That's my heartland," he said. Many times after a day of angling, he sits down and writes about his excursions.

Lysaght currently lives in Westport, Co. Mayo, with his wife, Jessica, his son, Seamus, and the family dog, Homer. He teaches at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

Lysaght generally writes alone but meets for readings with Peter Fallon, his editor at The Gallery Press. "Peter steers the work very slowly and carefully," he said. "He has saved me from a lot of my own impatience and extravagance."

Looking at poets today, Lysaght did not think there was a certain mold. Writers come from every walk of life, whether teachers, farmers, homemakers or others. But it is hard for people to make a living merely as a poet, he admitted. Although there is a supportive Irish arts council and many festivals and readings, it is difficult to wait for poets to make money, he pointed out.

"No poet should complain about not making money from poetry," Lysaght continued, however. "That's not what you got into it for in the first place."

Lysaght has an audience but he did not feel as connected to his fans as he wished. To get a better feel for the audience and to broaden his circle, he plans on more readings and travel.

"There are a few hundred people out there who notice what's going on and pick up the new books," he said.

Lysaght said he was honored to receive the O'Shaughnessy Award and considered it a great encouragement to his writing. To receive the award, no one has to apply, nor write prospectuses or cost-benefit analyses.

"It's an unexpected and free gift," Lysaght said.

America is a great place for poetry, especially Irish poetry, he added. Receiving awards gives artists an idea of what they and their writing represent.

"I'll try to answer that, and maybe leave some of it open because hopefully there will be more writing to come," Lysaght concluded.

Eamonn Wall, a poet and president of the American Conference for Irish Studies, has said that "as readers, we need to pay attention to the work of Seán Lysaght, who, in his ability to bring natural science and lyric poetry into free play, provides Irish poetry with a new direction. Devoid of shallow romanticism and Celtic Revival myth, we experience in his poetry a vision of a living, lively, natural and deeply resonant Irish place."

Previous winners of the O'Shaughnessy Award have been Eavan Boland, John F. Deane, Peter Sirr, Louis de Paor, Moya Cannon, Frank Orsmby, Thomas McCarthy, Michael Coady, Kerry Hardie and Dennis O’Driscoll.

Falling in Love Means Gaelic

2008-05-26T14:26:00.004-07:00

Falling in Love Means Gaelic
By Melissa Warner
Publication: The Irish American Post
Issue Date: Spring 2007/ Vol. 7 Issue 3
Section: Feature Articles
Word Count: 761

Singer/author Virginia Blackenhorn of Detroit loves learning foreign languages. In the early ‘70s as a California native, Blackenhorn fell in head over heels for Gaelic.

Although her husband is Irish, Blackenhorn is not. "He's not responsible for the operation," she said laughing. But as a graduate student, Blackenhorn decided to get a degree in Celtic Studies. The majority of her learning took place in the United States, but she spent many years living in Ireland and Scotland.

From 1975-1978, she spent her first significant amount of time abroad. Blackenhorn then returned to the States, living here from 1981-1988, but sandwiching three years in Scotland in-between. For two years, Blackenhorn studied Celtic studies at Dublin's Institute of Advanced Studies (DIAS), a publicly-funded statutory corporation that specializes in Celtic studies, theoretical physics and cosmic physics.

Blackenhorn also spent one year living in Galway and Carlow. In Galway, she became attached to the people and culture, using this as an opportunity to converse with locals. Talking "with anyone that would put up with me," she said.

Blackenhorn decided to learn Gaelic because she enjoys studying languages, a relatively easy task because of what she described as her good ear for sounds. Gaelic is difficult to learn because it uses many such sounds that the English language does not, she explained, adding that the language was s not fun to learn but that the process was rewarding.

The easiest way for her to learn Gaelic was through song repetition. Before graduate school, Blackenhorn earned a degree in music. "I was interested in learning the songs and the funny sounds made it irresistible," she said.

Sean nos means "old style." Yet, in her opinion, her songs are not sean nos because there is no old style or new style, saying there is only one style. Therefore, she prefers to call her music merely "traditional Irish songs."

The first time she appeared live singing was in 1973, after taking classes in school that introduced her to legendary artists such as Joe Heaney. She found the songs easy to learn because many of the tunes are the same, the scores recycled with different lyrics.

When Blackenhorn was learning, she picked up on the sounds of the words and sang along, although she had no idea what she was singing. Blackenhorn recalled that she learned by repeatedly listening and then looked at the words over and over. To have the songs come out well, just imitate the tune and pronunciation, she suggested.

One of the first artists she imitated did not have a good singing voice. This made her studies a challenge because the man spoke a different dialect of Irish than what she was learning. However, after she listened to enough of his music, Blackenhorn became comfortable enough to mimic him. She put her own stamp on the music by simultaneously changing the tune enough to fit her style.

"It's okay to go off tradition," she said.

It is also easy to learn a tune from someone with a poor singing voice. Blankenhorn just takes the text and sings along.

Blackenhorn does not often perform traditional Irish songs, usually once or twice a year at events such as a recent sean nos weekend in Milwaukee. It is difficult to find perform venues, she said, because listeners do not necessarily like this style of music. "It’s not like artists in a bar performing with a band," she pointed out, indicating that her style is done solo, originally sung in a quiet place such as a kitchen.

The Irish believe there are singers and musicians. The two are totally different activities, according to Blankenhorn. In true Irish tradition, singers do not use accompaniment.

Many people are interested in sean nos, especially if their families have passed the tunes down through the generations. Children learn such songs in school but Blankenhorn did not consider this rote as truly traditional. Traditional Irish songs are too flexible to be sung as choral pieces, she asserted, adding that to be traditional they should be passed along from generation to generation.

Since teachers do not always speak good, fluent Irish, this creates another problem with pupils learning the music. Often, when such activities are too closely related to a school situation, youngsters often look negatively upon them, Blackenhorn said.

In 1978, Blackenhorn released a compilation of her songs, entitled Tiocfaidh an Samhradh. She also took third place in the All-Ireland competition for women's singing in 2001. In 2003, she published a book based on her doctoral work titled, Irish Song-Craft and Metrical Practice Since 1600.

Carlton Grange Provides Touch of Olde World

2008-05-26T14:26:00.003-07:00

Carlton Grange Provides Touch of Olde World
By Melissa Warner
Publication: The Irish American Post
Issue Date: Spring 2007/ Vol. 7 Issue 3
Section: Feature Articles
Word Count: 731

Dining or drinking at the Carleton Grange Pub is a unique experience, even for the Irish who appreciate a good pint and snug grub. Its décor is truly British: football, the Beatles, Tube maps, anything you could imagine British - including the original Carleton Grange Street sign smuggled into America.

The tavern’s name comes from the Carleton Grange in Tufnell Park, on the border of the boroughs of Islington and Camden in North London. The place housed international students and travelers for years before being torn down in September, 2006.

Owners Eric Ellworth and Michael Rusch opened the pub after their study abroad experience in London. The two met at the London Metropolitan University in 2003 while studying international relations. The business partners opened the Carlton Grange after graduating from different universities and Rusch's stint as a semi-professional football coach in New Zealand.

Not only is the memorabilia original to London, but the food and drinks are based off British culture and locations. Ellsworth chose the items on the menu, keeping in mind the difference between their dining establishment and an actual British pub. Restaurant consulant Todd Moro also helped with design and menu.

Rusch and Ellsworth thought a smoky, corner pub would not be a big success in America, so they based their dream off one of the higher end Hampstead Heath pubs. These pubs have much more elbow space and are virtually smoke free. At any rate, as of summer, 2007, British pubs will become smokeless.

The Carlton Grange menu helps guest think "Britain" immediately, with such traditional items as fish n' chips done with beer batter or pasties. Popular beers to accompany these favorites include St Joe's and Fuller's.

Rusch and Ellsworth wanted to make a unique fish n' chips basket.

"We wanted to have the best fish n' chips in the area," Rusch said, "Not just a good Friday fish fry."

Carleton Grange's pasties change weekly. The weekly flavor depends on who is working in the kitchen. "We rotate the pasties depending on what is selling and who is cooking them," Rusch said. "The flavor depends on the mood of the kitchen."

Wood oven pizzas are another featured item, each named after an area of London, such as Piccadilly Circus and Notting Hill. For the less adventurous are Fettuccine Alfredo or sirloin steaks.

As of March 25, 2007, the pub began offering a traditional brunch. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. customers can stop in for a full English breakfast, including Sunday roast, pancakes, fresh omelets and eggs, fruit platter and more. The meal includes free live jazz.

Head chef Ellsworth and sous chef Greg Clounie do most of the food preparation at the Carleton Grange. Clounie He has a more Southern influence while Ellsworth emphasizes a deft Italian touch.

Not only does the food draw customers, but the wide array of imported beer does as well. "People come for the atmosphere to eat and drink," Rusch said.

The bar has 16 imported beers on tap, but offers more 100 varieties. Among the beverages are Young's, Fullers, Stella Artois, Delirium Noel, Guinness, Belhaven Scotish Ale, Bass, New Castle Brown Ale, Strongbow, Hacker-Pschorr Weiss, Pilsner Urquell and Monty Python Holy Grail.

"They are mostly fun beers from English breweries," Rusch said. "We're all about having fun."

During the winter, Carleton Grange Pub sells 800 liters of beer a week. For the record-conscious, that comprises 16 kegs. The pub peddles even more in the summer, amounting to 1,200 liters, or 23 kegs a week. Fridays are the busiest nights of the week, selling around 300 liters of beer alone. Saturday nights people mostly come to eat appetizers and have a couple of drinks.

The imported beers are more popular than domestic, according to the Carlton Grange folks, mainly because the bartenders encourage people to try new beers. "If someone orders a Miller Lite, the bartender may suggest a Fuller's or Young's as an alternative," Rusch said. The most popular is usually the featured beer or ale of the week.

While enjoying a meal or drink, diners can watch various international sports events on televisions located throughout the pub. Live bands perform every Saturday night, featuring acoustic musicians such as Irish singer Barry Dodd and small bands such as 3D.

Carleton Grange Pub celebrated its one-year grand opening on May 19, 2007. Visit http://www.carletongrangepub.com or call 414-747-9669 for more information.

Cape Breton Performers Do More Than Fiddle Around

2008-05-26T14:26:00.001-07:00

Cape Breton Performers Do More Than Fiddle Around
By Melissa Warner
Publication: The Irish American Post
Issue Date: Fall-Winter 06/ Vol. 7 Issue 2
Section: Feature Articles
Word Count: 1,991

Kicked out of their homeland in The Clearances, in which the English and their lackey Scottish chieftains displaced real people in favor of sheep, 25,000 Scottish Highlanders settled in Cape Breton between 1775 and 1860. Today, the rugged region of coastal Canada retains an indefatigable Highland spirit through its language and music.

In Gaeldom throughout the 1800s, folks gathered at their ceilidh house for entertainment, hosted by the talented singers who lived there. Other performers, story-tellers and dancers stayed at these houses, then entertained guests after evening chores. These houses protected culture and tradition by passing on tunes, dances, songs and stories. This was a popular form of entertainment when fiddling was at its peak.

In the 1900s, the organ and square dance were introduced to Cape Breton. The addition of the organ increased the demand for piano accompaniment. Square dancing put step dancing sets of two into a four-couple set, replacing any former patterns, becoming the traditional dance of Cape Breton. Contemporary Cape Breton music has deep roots, dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, with one of the most popular performance pieces being Milling Frolic.

The province is home to many talented young musicians, such as fiddler Kimberley Fraser, 24, who grew up in Sydney Mines on the eastern side of Cape Breton. She also has an extensive background in piano and Cape Breton step dancing.

Although her immediate family does not perform, her grandfathers played fiddle, as did his father and grandfather. Fraser was lucky enough to inherit the fiddle her great -great-grandfather played.

She learned to step dance when she was 2 and at age 6, she began piano. By 9, she also learned the fiddle. Now, Fraser practices daily for at least a half hour, whether at home or touring. "I play a variety of gigs ranging from the pub to the studio," she said.

Each gig is like a practice, but Fraser has no preshow rituals, aside from the fact she's usually rushing to get to the stage on time. Although Fraser isn’t affiliated with a single band, she goes on tour about every six weeks with other Cape Breton performers she hires. Fraser travels around the world, particularly catering to fans in Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, the United States and the rest of Canada.

"My favorite places to place are small, acoustic venues and theaters," she said, indicating that each performance site is unique. However, she still finds the Celtic Colours International Festival each year very fulfilling. The date for the 2007 show is Oct. 5-13 at various locales on Cape Breton.

Not a composer, Fraser does not play or record original tunes, saying that she did not have any favorite tunes. "I just enjoy playing traditional Cape Breton music," she said. When not performing, Fraser enjoys running, reading and teaching music.

Fraser explained how she was inspired by Cape Breton fiddler Buddy MacMaster and pianist Tracey Dares, as well as such international fiddling stars as Eileen Ivers and Martin Hayes.

The music is different from Irish Celtic music in many ways, Fraser explained. Most fiddlers from Nova Scotia and Scotland play strathspeys, musical styles not played in Ireland. However, she said, "We have incorporated a lot of Irish repertoire into our music, but played in Cape Breton style."

"Amateur" is the perfect word to describe Andrea Beaton, whose love of music permeates her life. Beaton comes from a long line of musicians on both sides of her family and is the youngest generation of Beatons to perform.

Her father, Kinnon Beaton, is a well-known fiddler in Cape Breton. Her mother, Betty, is a distinguished piano accompanist. Not only are her parents musicians, but her grandparents are as well. Grandfather Donald Angus Beaton is a fiddler and her grandmother, Elizabeth, is a strong pianist. Uncle Buddy MacMaster, is the best known fiddler in Cape Breton and cousin, Natalie MacMaster is also highly regarded on the concert circuit.

"I have always been around music and music people," Beaton said of her heritage. "It's something I never wanted to be away from."

At the age of 13, she took lessons with Stephanie Wills and began fiddling seriously to help overcome homesickness during her studies on Prince Edward Island. By the age of 21, Beaton was booking shows at local dances. Sidelined with a back injury, her father gave her many of his gigs. Being from a musical family her parents have always been very supportive and coached her.

When practicing in her kitchen at home she often turns to her family and friends. "I ask my family and friends if I'm learning the tunes okay," she said.

With this support, Beaton has made a successful career, touring Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Maine. This summer, she will perform throughout British Columbia.

These jaunts are mostly visits to cultural centers where Beaton plays fiddle and piano with her family, Troy MacGillivray, Alan Dewr and the band Beolch.

Despite all the traveling, Beaton's favorite place to perform is at square dances at home where the adrenaline is high. "I like square dances because I can see the dancers as I play, it's really inspiring," she said, emphazing that’s where her heart is.

Between touring and home gigs, Beaton’s idea of a relaxing evening is enjoying other people's music. "It's a way of being social," she said. "I like to catch up on music and also see my friends and family."

Her first album, License to Drive 'Er, was nominated for the Roots Traditional Solo Artist of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards. Her second, Cuts, was nominated for 2005 instrumental recording of the year, also at the East Coast Music Awards. "The Tap Session" is a live recording that features friend Troy MacGillivray on piano.

Beaton has also produced and appeared on two of her father's albums, Saturday Night Lively and Eoghan Dubh. "I play a few of my own compositions, some of my dad's and other local musicians," she said of the records. "A lot of the tunes come from my grandpa, grandma, cousins and other family members."

"I have no idea where my songs come from, I just start playing," she said of her own compositions. Her songs touch on the heritage of the Mabou Coal Mines, a community whose port was possibly originally named for one of three Beaton brothers who were early settlers there.

"Our music is in the beat," she said. "It's a very different style than Irish. Timing for dance is most important for us. It's similar to Irish, but it's our style. Irish has their style. The Scottish have their style. It all depends on the beat."

To purchase any of Beaton's CDs or check out her tour schedule, visit www.andreabeaton.com.

Troy MacGillivray, 26, is also talented young fiddler and pianist hailing from Cape Breton. He has released three CD's in his career, Eleven,Boomerang and Musical Ties.

Boomerang , released in 2003, is an example of his piano and fiddle talent in purist traditional style, receiving nominations for the East Coast Music and Music Industry Awards. "The title reflects the idea that with all the musical experimentation that goes on, we always have to remember where the traditions come from, sort of a full circle like a boomerang," MacGillivray said.

Musical Ties, released in 2001, is a collection of contemporary and traditional melodies. Some of the pieces are more than 100 years old, MacGillivray said. The title refers to the neckties decorated with keyboards, violins or guitars which his grandmother gave to him to wear at shows.

His third CD, Eleven, comes from a family nickname and is dedicated to his late mother. "Eleven" was the name given to the land his mother's ancestors settled in Nova Scotia when they immigrated from Scotland.

MacGillivray also comes from a long line of musical talent. For generations, the Lanark MacGillivrays and MacDonalds have been an important part of Nova Scotia’s Gaelic tradition.

Hugh A. MacDonald, MacGillivray's grandfather, was named to the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame for his contribution to Gaelic culture in the province.

His parents are also well-known around the Cape Breton area. His parents, Tony and Janice MacGillivray, often play on stage with him. Kendra MacGillivray, his sister, is a winner of the East Coast Music Award. His other sister, Sabra, is also a dancer and percussionist.

As a yongster, MacGillivray began step dancing and then took fiddle and piano lessons. When he was 7 or 8, he began performing.

"I was part of a step dance class and we began doing concerts. Soon after that I started step dancing in concerts with my sister Kendra, and mother, Janice, on piano," he said.

Being from a musically-inclined family, MacGillivray always has loads of support. Everyone is involved in each other's daily lives, even to babysitting when necessary.

After playing for a few years, MacGillivray taught piano at the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts in St. Anne's, Cape Breton, when he was only 13. After high school, he went on to earn a bachelor of arts degree from St. Francis Xavier University.

MacGillivray now teaches workshops and regularly tours, traveling to Europe, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, the United States and throughout Canada. Each place is special in its own way, he asserted.

Although he has traveled to many different cities, home remains MacGillivray's favorite place to perform. "I get to jump out of the shower, head into town and play...all in 15 minutes," he laughed.

MacGillivray also enjoys playing in Ireland and Scotland, often accompanying Andrea Beaton and Kimberley Fraser, among others.

"We don't usually tour together, these shows were a special project," he said of a recent Stateside jaunt. "But we all live close by and are good friends."

MacGillivray also tours with his sisters or a crew consisting of Brent Chaisson on guitar and percussion and Allan Dewar on piano. He doesn’t have any preshow rituals but he prefers not to eat prior to a concert and appreciates the chance to warm up.

"If it's been a hard day, I would ask my mom to help me wake up and get through it," he said, adding that she died unexpectedly a year and a half ago.

MacGillivray mostly plays what he calls "old country" materia, such as traditional strathspeys and reels traced back to Scotland. Yet he weaves a few contemporary pieces into his shows for variety. Some are originals.

"Anything could inspire a tune, a good night with friends or a bad day, it just depends on when the melody hits me," he said. "A lot of times it will happen when I am sleeping or waking up."

Daily, MacGillivray practices at home on a grand piano. If on tour, he practices his violin with a mute in hotel rooms. Regardless, he tries to put in a short period of time every day to hone his skills.

His career highlight so far has been performing with his sister, Kendra. "We opened for the Rankin Family in 1998 in Ontario on a football field with 50,000 people in the crowd," he said, recalling every second of the night. It was the best, he said.

When not performing, MacGillivray works on the computer, books gigs and fills out paper work. "I like to go for a drive in the middle of the night maybe, when there is no one on the road," he added, saying, "That's fun." He also enjoys skating and listening to a variety of music.

MacGillivray said he was most influenced by fellow Nova Scotian performers. In his opinion, John Morris Rankin of the Rankin Family is one of the most gifted musicians he’s ever heard andalso enjoys Dave MacIsaac, who hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dave Matthews and Rob Thomas have great musical abilities and ideas, MacGillivray went on, saying, "There is a group from Scotland, Session A9, that is really dynamic. I can't go long without listening to them," he concluded.

Daylight Savings Changes may Effect PantherCal

2008-05-26T14:25:00.001-07:00

Daylight savings changes may effect PantherCal
Melissa Warner
Publication: The Leader
Issue date: 2/21/07
Section: News
Word Count: 177

On Jan. 30, Information and Media Technologies added a patch on to UW-Milwaukee's PantherCal to prevent problems with the change of daylight savings time.

Congress has changed the dates of daylight savings time. It will begin March 11 and is extended a week later to Nov. 4.

I&MT has prepared by examining how UWM's technologies will be affected.

PantherCal is the most affected program. It was programmed to adjust with daylight savings time but due to the change in dates, a patch had to be added to prevent any problems.

If the patch was not added, all appointments would be off one hour from the previous spring start and fall end of daylight savings time.

Instead, due to when the patch was added, any meetings scheduled between March 11 through Apr. 1 and Oct. 28 through Nov. 4 will appear one hour later than scheduled and need to be manually changed. There is no way for the glitches to be automatically changed.

The patch was the least invasive solution to the problem recommended by Oracle, PantherCal's vendor.

Pantherfile Earns Technology Award

2008-05-26T14:23:00.001-07:00

PantherFile earns technology award
Melissa Warner
Publication: The Leader
Issue date: 12/6/06
Section: News
Word Count: 367

The 2006 InfoWorld 100 has named the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the yearly prestigious list of organizations recognized for investing in innovated technology. InfoWorld is a leading magazine about technology information.

People outside of the UWM community are intrigued with the use and progress of PantherFile, so Information & Media Technologies filled out an application for the InfoWorld 100 to see if InfoWorld would take interest.

"We are humbled and gratified by the award," said Bruce Maas, interim chief information officer for I&MT. "The Infoworld 100 Award is a very high honor and it is not given out without much consideration. Only the very best innovative projects get rewarded with this honor."

UWM is recognized for the use of PantherFile, which uses Xythos software, allows students and faculty to store files and access them from any web browser on or off campus.

PantherFile is used by 8,000 members and makes many things available to students and staff. For example, the Office of Charter Schools are able to provide contract compliant documentation to nine charter schools and the Student Accessibility Center can provide textbooks electronically to students with disabilities.

Students and faculty can share research information. Student organizations and other campus committees are able to easily share files with all members.

Ensuring the security of information was an important objective when creating PantherFile.
"PantherFile allows us to focus our resources on securing one location and one technology," said Maas. "The result is better data security and greater efficiencies in managing the data."

The individual or group that owns the files controls them. PantherFile is replacing various storage devices, including things such as USB drives.

Due to PantherFile, I&MT has cut down on costs. Having found a reliable one-solution answer to the problem of file storage, multiple and expensive solutions are not necessary. Fewer staff is also required to support core services.

A team of faculty, staff and students researched PantherFile with interests in improving technology.

Students find PantherFile a helpful tool. "I enjoy using PantherFile," UWM senior Dana Braunel said. "Half the time I forget my USB drive so I utilize PantherFile a lot."

I&MT has also received the Xythos Innovation Award.

Employers look at more than just GPA, CareerBuilder Says

2008-05-26T14:22:00.002-07:00

Employers look at more than just GPA, CareerBuilder says
Melissa Warner
Publication: The Leader
Issue date: 11/8/06
Section: News
Word Count: 462

Career Web sites can both help and hinder college students when they are frantically searching for jobs prior to and after graduation.

While Web sites like MonsterTRAK and CareerBuilder seem to be offering helpful hints and tips to getting a job, Thomas Bachhuber of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Career Development Center warns against them.

Bachhuber said those Web sites can be misleading to students in the fact that they are vague and leave a lot of variables undefined.

MonsterTRAK recently announced the top five occupations for college graduates with the number one being in business operations, human resource and financial services. Most specifically in this category are accounting jobs.

The top five list of jobs is as follows:

1. business operations, HR and financial services
2. sales and marketing
3. office, administrative and customer support
4. architecture and engineering-electrical and mechanical engineers are highest in demand
5. computer, information technology and mathematical

MonsterTRAK specifically called their announcement "Top Five Hottest Occupations for Entry-Level
Professionals." Bachhuber questions this because of the fact that "hottest" is undefined. Also, there is no evidence as to where this information came from.

"There are many other variables and questions," Bachhuber said. "Business operations can be defined in multiple ways, [for example] technical support, business systems development/management, IT, MIS. It also leads students to incorrectly think if they major in one of those areas, they will have more success in job hunting."

Bachhuber said it is not that simple.

When applying for any job, recent studies have found that 70 percent of hiring managers check the applicants' grade point average, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

A high GPA is also important to keep in mind when applying for graduate school. The minimum GPA varies from school to school. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee many graduate programs require a GPA of 3.0 in the major.

Although employers look at a students' GPA there are many other determining factors when hiring.

The most important characteristics to employers, according to CareerBuilder.com are: relevant experience, having a good fit with company culture, educational background, enthusiasm and offering new ideas to the company.

"Employers like 3.0 GPA's, but more importantly, employers want leadership, initiative, team, and communication skills all demonstrated through activities, projects, volunteering, community, internships, part-time jobs, etc," Bachhuber said. "[And] of course, the technical or other job specific requirements must be met."

Candidates with various extracurricular activities and a good GPA will stand out amongst others.

However, employers often keep in mind that many college students work 20-40 hours a week while attending school a CareerBuilder.com press release said. This may have a negative affect a student's GPA.

Bachhuber said the most important thing in searching for a job is for the individual to "develop their own personal job market."

Warmer Temperatures? Only if global warming can't be stopped.

2008-05-26T14:22:00.001-07:00

Warmer temperatures? Only if global warming can't be stopped
Melissa Warner
Publication: The Leader
Issue date: 11/8/06
Section: News
Word Count: 290

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee geography professor and climatologist, Mark D. Schwartz, and 13 other scientists released a report stating that the pace of global warming is increasing in the northeastern region of the United States.

The report released by the Union of Concerned Scientists and group of independent scientists is titled, "Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast." It warns that the increasing pace may change our climate if it is not looked into.

The report predicts warmer and longer summers in the Northeast. That is, unless carbon dioxide emissions are reduced three percent a year, there is likely to be less snow and more droughts.

Also, the temperature could rise between 6.5 and 12.5 degrees Fahrenheit in the Northeast by the end of the century.

The report suggests if cleaner, renewable energy sources replace those that release greenhouse gases, such as coal and oil, the increase of temperature could be cut in half.

The research for this report was done in fall of 2005. The report was written in January and February of 2006.

"My part of the report primarily involved using a model of spring plant development to simulate how projected air temperature increases would affect the timing of the onset of spring plant growth in the Northeast United States over the next century," Schwartz said.

The model is based off the first leafing of lilacs and honeysuckles over the last 40 years. The model indicates that spring arrives five to six days earlier than it did before 1960.

Such global environmental changes can affect almost every aspect of human society for generations now and in the future.

"Decisions being made now and in the near future will determine how severe and how long-lasting these impacts will be," Schwartz said.

Have a cold? Are you male?

2008-05-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

Have a cold? Are you male?
Norris conducting study of testosterone and illness in males
Melissa Warner
Publication: The Leader
Issue date: 10/25/06
Section: News
Word Count: 422

Male students between the ages of 18-40 have the opportunity to partake in a study at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Michael Muehlenbein is researching the correlation between testosterone, illness and energy levels.

Muehlenbein and assistant Jana Jordan are working with the Norris Health Center to collect data on students who come in to receive vaccinations, have bacterial infections or colds.

With the information collected, Muehlenbein and Jordan will determine if illness affects the level of testosterone in a male. They are also interested in the effect anabolic steroids have on human immune system responses.

It is suspected that as a male becomes ill, testosterone levels increase as well as energy levels. This is because when one is sick the body requires more energy, Muehlenbein said.

Jordan spends six hours a day at Norris Health Center finding subjects and testing them.

An initial interview is given to interested subjects to ensure they are free of metabolic and immunosuppressive diseases and are not on prescription drugs.

The tests include saliva and urine--no blood samples. The samples are used to test hormones through immune function. There is also a questionnaire and the height and weight of the subject are taken.

Finally, photocopies of each subject's hands will be taken. This is to measure the body's symmetry.

After the initial testing there are two more required check-up visits. The first is two days after the treatment begins. The last test is conducted two weeks after the initial test.

The study began in August and runs until the end of April. So far, 21 students have been tested, the ultimate goal is 400. Students participating will earn $10 for each test.

The study focuses on men because it is known that if women are ill, stressed or athletic it affects their reproductive system. It is much different with men.

"Testosterone and sperm count stay the same after strenuous physical activity," Muehlenbein said. "Men are not as sensitive to the environment."

Often, doctors prescribe testosterone to people, such as HIV patients, to increase one's quality of life, Muehlenbein said. Testosterone promotes muscle growth.

This is not important to an ill male, because when you are sick all energy should be focused on ridding your body of the illness.

When the study is complete, information will be presented at a meeting in April and further grants will be applied for to continue research on different diseases and non-human primates.

If you are interesting in being a participant, e-mail Dr. Muehlenbein at mpm1@uwm.edu or Jana Jordan at jordanjl@uwm.edu.

Changes to PantherMail in the works

2008-05-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Changes to PantherMail in the works
Open forum held to determine what students would like to see
Melissa Warner
Publication: The Leader
Issue date: 10/11/06
Section: News
Word Count: 285

Panthermail is getting a facelift. I&MT, Information and Media Technologies, revealed on Friday during an open forum the process used to determine the five candidates for the replacement calendar/e-mail system.

Over the last three years, teams have been setup to help purchase a new e-mail/calendar system to better fit the needs of students, staff and faculty. Bruce Maas CIO officer said the teams “are about campus community and what it wants.”

Students were asked through surveys in the union and online what features would interest them with the new system.

Overall while evaluating various vendors the teams decided the required features were: the ability to use standard e-mail clients such as Outlook, be compatible with all operating systems such as Windows and Macs. Other features they looked at were how easy it would be to migrate the new system with Panthermail and cost. The five systems currently being evaluated are Communigate, Exchange, Lotus Notes, Sun Java Messaging, and Zimbra.

To evaluate the systems the teams have come up with a point system. A total of 1,000 points could be awarded to each system.

Points were awarded for required functions, additional functions, references from other companies, and cost.

Zimbra received the most points, 682, followed by Sun Java Messaging at 681, and Communigate at 551. Exchange received 426 points and Lotus Notes received 414.

The top three finalists will be featured in a demonstration on Nov. 10. Students, staff and faculty are encouraged to attend and evaluate. Each vendor will present their program and will have booths available to answer any questions.

I&MT is always looking for students opinions on the process and what they feel is important for the system. Send your thoughts to emailfuture@uwm.edu.

Board of Regents to Investigate seg fees

2008-05-26T14:19:00.001-07:00

Board of Regents to investigate seg fees
Melissa Warner
Publication: The Leader
Issue date: 12/7/05
Section: News
Word Count: 322

After a dramatic increase in segregated fees over the last few years, UW System Auditor Ron Yates has agreed to launch an investigation into student fees on UW campuses, including UW-Milwaukee. The audit comes after Board of Regents member Thomas Loftus made the unprecedented move of asking the Board to conduct an audit on the use of all UW System segregated fees.

Segregated fees are additional charges on top of tuition that go towards student services. Most of the fees are approved by student governing bodies, but some are not. Two weeks ago, the Student Association Senate Finance Committee agreed to raise segregated fees by $3.70 for the 2006-07 school year. The amount of fees available each year depends on enrollment per semester.

"The more students we have, the more money is available," Allen Lee, business representative for the Division of Student Affairs said.

This year the total budget of segregated fees at UWM is about $18 million. Students have recommended spending for about $9 million of the fees to the chancellor for various programs.

The heaviest burden from segregated fees comes from non-allocable fees that administrators impose upon students. At UWM, the non-allocable portion of fees includes the UWM Union and the Klotsche Center, among others. Although the Student Association decides funding for programs like B.O.S.S. and U-Pass, administrators, with approval from Chancellor Santiago, get final say over what non-allocable fees are.

Loftus proposed the audit on fees because of the dramatic rise over the last few years, questioning if the fees are being used for the appropriate reasons. At other UW schools, fees have been used to pay for new fitness centers and building renovations. UW-Green Bay has seen the highest change in their segregated fees, an increase of over $1000 over the last ten years.

The Business, Finance and Audit committee of the Board of Regents will look further into the audit proposal at their December meeting this week.

A Download a day Keeps the Virus Away

2008-05-26T14:17:00.003-07:00

A download a day keeps the virus away
I&MT pushing new security measures for student's computers
Melissa Warner
Publication: The Leader
Issue date: 11/23/05
Section: News
Word Count: 472

The Internet is an important part of daily life for many students and staff at UW-Milwaukee. However, many users are unaware of the security issues that surround it.

"It's not a technical problem, it's a lack of education," Steve Brukbacher, Information Security Coordinator for Information and Media Technologies (I&MT), said. People always blame the computer or operating system for giving out information when most of the time it is the person giving out the information him or herself.

"If you have a locked down security system and give out your information to someone, you wasted your time and your money," Brukbacher said.

I&MT is working to educate students, faculty, and staff about security risks. Print publications are available to students along with a useful web site that addresses many security issues. I&MT also offers classes to inform people about the security problems and how to use different spyware and anti-viral programs.

One class Brukbacher teaches is Information Security Basics. This class covers the general information on different scams that exist and how to protect your information. Another class, Identity Theft and Freud Prevention, focuses specifically on how to protect yourself from identity theft on the Internet. He explains what to look for in safe internet vendors and how to "not get ripped off." Both classes are offered for free.

The biggest scamming technique used today is "Phishing." According to I&MT's Website "Phishing" is an Internet scam whereby a message is sent out via e-mail instructing recipients to immediately provide their financial institution with personal financial information. People then give out their information and realize too late that their bank would not e-mail them and ask them for this.

Brukbacher suggests to keep a close eye on your bank statement and credit report in case something suspicious occurs. It is then easier to detect the problem and fix it. Many students have become concerned over the issue.

"It does concern me," freshman Justin Luebbe said. "I never buy this stuff, but some people are pretty ignorant and will make bad choices."

IMT is working to get the word out.

"Education is the number one solution to the problem," Brukbacher said.

Another big security issue in the dorms is "botnets." "Botnets" occur when someone is chatting and a link appears. The person clicks the link and the bot then has control over your operating system.

"Normally we have a huge virus outbreak in the dorms," Brukbacher said. "But this year it was botnets."

Brukbacher said to always verify the link you are clicking. If it is from someone you do not know, do not click it. If it is from a friend message them back and ask if they sent you the link. Make sure you keep your operating system up to date. Computers that do not have the proper security patches are targets for bots.

Crime on Campus Higher so far in 2005

2008-05-26T14:17:00.001-07:00

Crime on campus higher so far in 2005
Melissa Warner
Publication: The Leader
Issue date: 11/9/05
Section: News
Word Count: 692

Statistics obtained from the UWM Police Department show crime on campus is slightly higher now than they were in 2004. The most significant increases were accidents, administration, alarm, motorist assist, property and service crimes.

The UWM Police Department is constantly striving to make the campus a safer place according to Detective-Sergeant Art Koch.

"My concern is the safety of students, the safety of the campus area," Koch said, noting that property damage has increased from 22 to 56 cases in the past year and continues to be a big problem campus-wide. "If a student loses or has his or her backpack stolen, it's a disaster."

Another big problem on campus is alcohol. Although alcohol itself is not a direct crime (for those over 21), it can lead to other crimes.

"Not that we have a campus full of alcoholics," Koch said. "We have too many students just going out and getting drunk, just passing out." Students are often found passed out on the lawns, in their personal bathrooms and public bathrooms, Koch added. He also said that alcohol is believed to be the main cause of reported sexual assault cases on campus, a statistic that has decreased since last year.

"It's dangerous because it's a health issue," he said. "I don't want anybody to die."

Koch and the UWM police run safety programs throughout campus including programs on alcohol. "When I'm giving my safety programs I say I don't condone drinking if you're under 21," he said. "I know students, they are going to go out and do it anyway. Be responsible about it."

Do not get behind the wheel of a car and do not drink in excess, Koch said. "Don't do anything in excess. Don't eat in excess, anything you can do in excess. And alcohol is the same way," he said.

The department has an important stance when it comes to being called on medical reasons when alcohol is involved. Students are concerned about getting tickets if they call in need of help.

"Let me emphasize, we do not write tickets on a medical," Koch said.

In the last year the number of persons under the influence of alcohol has declined from 23 to 17 cases. But the cases of operating a vehicle under the influence have risen by 15 cases. Those involving people with blood alcohol level greater than .08 rose by 11. The number of possessions of intoxicants by underage persons has increased by 63.

Koch also said that the police department has been working more on preventing alcohol from getting into the dorms. The best way to prevent it, he said, was by checking every bag coming in to make sure students are not entering the dorms with the beverages.

Besides alcohol, theft is also a common crime in the dorms. Koch said the most common items stolen are video game systems, wallets, DVD players-anything small.

"Keep pin numbers safe in your head or a secure place," he said. Sometimes students leave these sitting out and people can easily take them and drain bank accounts. "Leave anything super valuable at home. 99% of the time you'll be okay but just in case."

The UWM Police Department also works to protect the campus. The department, located in the west tower of Sandburg Halls, is staffed 24 hours a day.

"We do rely on the faculty/staff and students," Koch said. "If you see something, please report it."

Last year a student helped the department catch a man who continuously exposed himself on campus. "There's not a cop on every corner so we rely on students," he said. "You can help us out and we can help you, help each other to make the campus a safer place."

Koch said he wants students to be safe.

"Use B.O.S.S. when you're going out; don't walk alone at night," he said. "Never leave a party with someone you just met." Many people have the false idea that crime does not happen on campus.

"You gotta be careful out there," Koch said.

Students may obtain information on the campus crimes through open records request or the UWM Police Department's Web site, police.uwm.edu.

Yes, I am a member.

2008-05-26T14:16:00.001-07:00

Yes, I am a member
Free membership, new marketing strategy kickoff new year for Alumni Association
Melissa Warner
Publication: The Leader
Issue date: 10/12/05
Section: News
Word Count: 552

With a brand new marketing plan and a month of events meant to spike awareness about the graduates of UWM, the UWM Alumni Association has a new director and board of trustees working to shape the association and better serve the 115,000 alumni and current students of UW-Milwaukee.

Andrea Simpson is in her first year as director of the association. In August, Simpson began her new position.

"It's a whole new organization," Simpson said. As of July 1, a new board of trustees also took their positions. Tim Schoewe is the new president of the board.

The first change occurred in April when the association changed from a $400 lifetime fee to a no-dues association, meaning all alumni of UWM are automatically members. The membership has jumped from 8,000 members to the current 115, 000.

"This is a year of exploration," Simpson said. "We want to find new ways to get more alumni involved."

The first set of events planned is for homecoming weekend, Oct. 14-16. Friday night kicks off with a 50-year class reunion. Alumni College is planned for Saturday morning, with some of the classes being directed towards children. These include "Brush, Paint, & Pigment", "Wacky World of Numbers" and more. Adults can take part in classes such as "Can Fido Make you Feel Better?" and "Quick and Easy Webpage Construction." A homecoming luncheon follows Alumni College. The weekend concludes Sunday with the Panther Prowl 5k Walk and Run.

The Panther Prowl is the biggest event planned for the association. The walk will take place on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 9:30 a.m. The money raised will be used for scholarships awarded to UWM students.

Tim Schermetzler is the student representative serving on the logistic and volunteer committees for the event. Schermetzler said the Prowl "is a great way to start to encourage students, alumni, faculty and other parts of the university to work together." Aside from homecoming weekend, the Gold Council has its annual brewery bash planned.

Another important program for the association was the introduction of the US Bank UW-Milwaukee alumni association Visa platinum card. Three designs are offered for all alumni and current students. The credit card offers travel awards, cash rewards, and college rewards.

"It's a great way to offer benefits to Alumni and friends," Simpson said, "and a great way to show panther pride."

A large amount of money was initially given to the association from US Bank for using the program. A small percentage of purchases made on the card are given back to the alumni association for scholarships and other programs. One scholarship offered is the Outstanding Scholar Award that is awarded to two students in the top 5% of their class. The Alumni Memorial Scholarships are $2000 each, awarded to five incoming freshman. In December, a debit card will also be offered.

The alumni association also works with various departments to sponsor guest speakers and events.

"We are always looking for ways to work with students," Simpson said. Many volunteer opportunities exist.

Working with the association has been a learning experience for Schermetzler.

"I learned a great deal about coordinating events on campus," Schermetzler said. "Equally or more important is having the experience to apply different leadership and communication skills," he said.

To get involved with the UWM Alumni Association, call (414) 906-4640.

OSA works for student ideas

2008-05-14T10:43:00.002-07:00

OSA works for student ideas
by Melissa Warner
Issue date: 03/02/05
Publication: The Advance Titan
Section: News
Word Count: 563

The Oshkosh Student Association plans to express the importance of voting, involve students in lobbying the state budget and continue to make the students’ voices heard during the spring semester.
“The big thing we’re looking into is the budget,” said OSA President Tom Bertram.
The new budget will increase tuition by 5 to 7 percent, adding $13 million in teaching positions but cutting $35 million from student and faculty support services.
The new budget has many negatives, most importantly taking away many student support services the students and OSA have worked hard to build up, said OSA Vice President Dave Ruby.
OSA plans to lobby the state Legislature and wants students to lobby as well.
“When there’s a whole group of us lobbying Legislature, it means more, and we can get our message across,” Bertram said.
State Rep. Robin G. Kreibich, 93rd District, suggested a 3 percent tuition increase each year after Gov. Jim Doyle announced the 2005-07 budget.
“Proposing the legislature means it gives us an advantage, and we would have one vote,” Bertram said.
Aside from lobbying the Legislature, OSA plans to increase the awareness of voting in local elections.
“One thing we’ve found is there’s a stigma that students think the presidential elections are most important and only want to vote for them,” Bertram said, “but in reality a lot of local politics are throughout the year.”
OSA wants to inform students why they should vote and familiarize them with the candidates.
“Elections can be easily swayed if we get a lot of people out to vote,” Bertram said. “Students still have the opportunity to say who gets elected.”
Expressing students’ voices is an important goal for OSA this semester. The week of Feb. 21-25 was Shared Governance Week. OSA, along with Reeve Advisory Council, the Multicultural Education Center and United Students in Residence Halls, used this week to gain an understanding of how students feel they are represented.
“It went pretty well. We had different surveys designed to understand people’s perception,” said Shared Governance Director Tom Wolf.
The questions were geared at how students’ feel OSA should be involved, how OSA has been improving students’ lives and how students are involved in government.
“A good number of people didn’t know much,” Wolf said.
The survey shows the student government needs to step up and educate the students, he said.
Last semester, OSA worked alongside the New Voters Project to register people to vote and get them to the polls. Local representatives from the 54th District were invited to assembly meetings and answered questions.
With the New Voter’s Project registering people to vote, OSA focused on students voting at local elections.
OSA not only worked on getting students to vote, but also made sure the voices of the students were heard.
“We worked hard to fill positions in committees by students,” Bertram said. “One of our execs worked strictly with these committees filling positions.”
Students were selected for the search and screen of the new vice chancellor. Students also were asked to help select the College of Education and Human Services dean.
The spring semester presents many goals for OSA, most importantly getting students involved.
Students who are interested in becoming involved can run for president, vice president or any position on the OSA Senate this semester. Applications are due in the OSA office by March 11 at 3 p.m.

Wellness Center plans still on track for 2007

2008-05-14T10:43:00.001-07:00

Wellness Center plans still on track for 2007
Albee Hall to become home to Employee Health Promotion program
by Melissa Warner
Issue Date: 02/23/05
Publication: The Advance Titan
Section: News
Word Count: 438

After a minor problem with Department of Natural Resource zoning, planning for the Wellness Center is moving forward.
Construction of the building is planned to start in August 2005. It will be located on the corner of Osceola Street and Pearl Avenue near the Fox River.
The location was of concern to the DNR because is near a protected area called the Lawton Zone said Jeff Herzig, Oshkosh Student Association senator.
Plans for the Wellness Center had to be slightly modified so the building did not cross this zone, he said. Herzig also indicated that although the plan needed manipulation, there was never a setback to the original timing schedule.
The $21 million Wellness Center will include a 14,000-square foot aerobic and weight room that will replace the current weight room located in Albee Hall. Albee’s weight room will then be converted to an aerobic room for use by the UW-Oshkosh Employee Health Promotion program.
The Employee Health Promotion program is designed as an internship program for students studying exercise science and health promotion. Faculty can enroll in this program and receive fitness and nutritional training from these students during their lunch hour.
“We have kids that are in classes that are studying to be fitness personnel that work in health clubs and so on that work with staff members during noon hour as part of their class load,” said Terry Barth, director of intramural sports and recreation.
The aerobic room will be set up based on the needs of the clientele, Barth said.
When the Wellness Center opens, the gym in Albee will be used for physical education classes during the day and intramural sport leagues at night. Intramural league games will also be held in Kolf Sports Center.
UW-Oshkosh has over 50 intramural basketball and volleyball teams.
“We need that much space for volleyball and basketball,” Barth said.
Segregated fees are funding the Wellness Center, said Elliott Garb, vice chancellor of student affairs.
A $75 per semester increase in segregated fees will take effect in fall. Students will be able to use the new center free of charge.
A referendum on whether to build a wellness center on campus was passed in 2003 and planning for the project began in March 2004. The center will be the first new building built on campus since Kolf Sports Center was built in 1971.
Freshman Joel Kleier is excited about the Wellness Center. He said it will be a good service for campus and a “nice, spacious place to work out.”
The Wellness Center is set to open in Fall 2007.

Kelly Augustin contributed to this story.

Pool closing affects team performance

2008-05-14T10:42:00.001-07:00

Pool closing affects team performance
by Melissa Warner
Issue Date: 02/16/05
Publication: The Advance Titan
Section: News
Word Count: 275

Albee Hall’s swimming pool re-opened after closing on Dec. 3 due to high levels of chlorine.
The chlorine level rose dramatically after the Facilities Management Department mistakenly pumped a month’s worth of chlorine into the pool in one day.
The pool’s closing had the biggest effect on the UW-Oshkosh swimming team.
Paula Struwing, head coach of the swimming and diving team, said several swimmers could not reach their full potential during the season due to hindered lung capacity. A meet at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa was cancelled because many of the swimmers were ill.
The Titan Invite was moved to Lawrence University in December because of the pool closing.
“We ended up competing with a fraction of our total squad due to breathing difficulties,” Struwing said.
Despite the problems with chlorine, the swimmers are not afraid to utilize the pool. “We are comfortable with the changes that the university and Facilities Management have taken to ensure our safety,” Struwing said.
Elliott Garb, vice chancellor of student affairs, said many precautions are being taken to make sure the levels of chlorine stay under control.
“Some of them are security precautions, some of them are new testing equipment, some of them are new procedures,” Garb said.
Fewer people also have access to the pool, and those who do are educated on how to manage the facility to make sure no other incidents occur, Struwing said.
“As for the overall effect on the team, we won’t know that until after this weekend’s WIAC Championships in Whitewater,” Struwing said. “However, we remain hopeful that our training after the chlorine incident will be enough for us to remain competitive.”

Changes made after cafe closes

2008-05-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

Changes made after cafe closes
by Melissa Warner
Issue Date: 02/02/05
Publication: The Advance Titan
Section: News
Word Count: 326

Following the closing of the Crescent Café, Flash in the Pan now offers all-you-can-eat weekend dinners.
The change was made due to low attendance at the all-you-can-eat line at dinner on weekends.
“The change in evening meal service at Reeve is essentially moving the offering from Crescent Café to Flash in the Pan,” said Randy Hedge, director of Reeve Memorial Union and University Dining.
Not only is the location changing, but the menu will be, too.
“Students requested that we offer themed menus---—such as taco, nacho and pasta bars—instead of the traditional entrees that we had served during the fall semester,” said Susan Fukushima, general manager of Sodexho at UW-Oshkosh.
Some students are hesitant about the changes in weekend meal options.
“It seems like they try to give us better options but they give us less,” said sophomore Jess Vogt.
Other students are worried about the lack of food choices.
“It’s great that Sodexho is trying to help the students, but every time I go into Reeve on weekends I say to my friends, ‘What are we having tonight? Chicken … or chicken?’” said sophomore Lindsay Albertin.
Although students are concerned, no menu cycle has been established yet, Hedge said.
The USRH Food Committee approved the movement of the “all-you-care-to-eat line” on Dec. 8.
This is the newest change to the weekend meal options at UW-Oshkosh. Blackhawk Commons closed for the first time Sept. 10, leaving students to eat at Reeve Memorial Union’s Marketplace on weekends.
Weekend meal attendance is up by 13.6 percent from last year. The numbers show acceptance of the weekend offering, Hedge said.
Flash in the Pan is located in the center of the Marketplace. The location is more ideal than Crescent Café, Hedge said.
All-you-can-eat at Flash in the Pan will be a permanent change if the food committee favors the location.
The USRH Food Committee will make a decision to keep the change at its Feb. 2 meeting.