Almanac

(Almanac lists facts, figures and miscellany of campus interest. Know something, or want to know? Call us: 262-3846, or e-mail: wisweek@news.wisc.edu.)

Sandefur speaks on service
Gary Sandefur, interim provost, will speak about “Tying the Community to the Classroom” Thursday, May 3, 10-11 a.m., 350 Bascom, as part of the Teaching and Learning Colloquium. Sandefur’s presentation will focus on how community experiences can become a formal part of student learning. Experiences with Associated Students of Madison internships, other internships, the Wisconsin Idea Fellowships, Alternative Breaks, and other types of student community service will be discussed.

Strategic plan open to comment
You can still offer your comments on the launch of a revised campus strategic plan scheduled for September. A draft of action plans for implementation of the campus priorities is available now at: http://www.wisc.edu/improve/planning. You’ll also find instructions for offering your comments.

Pinsky speaks tonight
Robert Pinsky, poet laureate of the United States from 1997-2000, will speak on campus today, May 2, as part of the Union Directorate’s Distinguished Lecture Series and to help the UW–Madison library system celebrate the acquisition of its 6 millionth book. The free public talk, “Celebrating Books and Poetry with Robert Pinsky,” will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Wisconsin Union Theater, 800 Langdon St. Free tickets are available to the public at the box office.

Student winners named in technology business contest
Anca Maria Copaescu and Florentina Popovici won the $10,000 top prize in the G. Steven Burrill Technology Business Plan Competition April 27. The team presented their business plan for Metagenomics, the Soil Genome Project, to a panel of judges, faculty, students and professionals. The Copaescu and Popovici business plan involves building “gene libraries” and a database by extracting and cloning DNA from the soil. The students have been working on the concept for a year.

Services held for freshman
A funeral for 18-year-old freshman Carlos Schwenn, who died April 24 of injuries sustained in a fall from a balcony at an off-campus apartment, was held April 28 in Brighton, Wis. Memorials may be sent to the Carlos Schwenn Memorial Fund, 6422 235th Ave., Salem, Wis. 53168.

UW–Madison Dean of Students Alicia Chávez says Schwenn’s friends and fellow residents at Sellery Hall are working with campus officials to plan a memorial service or other gathering on campus in his memory. Details will be announced once plans are finalized.

Ag journalism prof dies
Claron Burnett, 82, emeritus professor of agricultural journalism, died April 17 at a hospice in Mobile, Ala. Memorial services were held April 24. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or Mercy Medical, Mobile, Ala.

Backward glance
From Wisconsin Week, May 8, 1991: Single parents and domestic partners will be eligible for university family housing as a result of recent policy changes. … For the first time, spring commencement will be split into five ceremonies and held indoors to make the event more personal and less vulnerable to bad weather. … A new campus study supports evidence that points to Africa as the birthplace of Homo sapiens.