Weekly Bulletin

Subjects needed for Nutrition study

Subjects are needed for a Nutrition Department study on zinc depletion and repletion on zinc status, resting metabolic rate and thyroid hormones. Participants must be 18-35 years old.

Contact Christopher Theberge by e-mail (cstheberge@hotmail.com) or phone at 253-3439.

Blood drive

The Hampshire County Chapter of the American Red Cross will conduct a blood drive on Wednesday, March 26, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in 174 Lincoln Campus Center.

Subjects needed for Psychology study

Earn $15 by participating in a simple project on people's beliefs about social issues. The time commitment is one hour.

Individuals interested in taking part should call 7-6508 and leave a message with a contact phone number.

Molecular Genetics and Microbiology seminars

Professor Matthias Reddehase of Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany will speak on "Antigens and Immunoevasins: opponents in cytomegalovirus immune surveillance" on Friday, March 14.

Steven J. Norris of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston will speak on "Plasmid-encoded virulence determinants of Borrelia burgdorferi" on Friday, March 21.

Both seminars begin at 12:15 p.m. in the MGM Seminar Room, S5-310 of the Medical School in Worcester.

Evacuation Day

Evacuation Day will be observed as a legal state holiday on Monday, March 17.

According to the Division of Human Resources, since the campus must remain open and function as usual, employees who cannot be spared and who work on that day are entitled to another day off with pay in lieu of the holiday.

In addition, employees who are not scheduled to work March 17, but whose usual work week is five or more days, are also entitled to a day off with pay in lieu of the holiday.Such days may be taken by the employee with the approval of the department head within 120 days of the holiday unless other provisions exist in current collective bargaining agreements.

'W' deadline is March 26

All faculty and advisors are asked to remind undergraduates in their classes and departments that they have until Wednesday, March 26 to drop a class with a record of "W."

"Doing so will have no adverse impact on their cumulative average. A "W" on one's transcript is nearly always preferable to an "F," according to Pamela Marsh-Williams, associate dean and director of the Undergraduate Advising and Academic Support Center.

"If you have not already done so, I urge you to provide some feedback to students on their performance in advance of this date," says Marsh-Williams. "Such information would encourage those who need it to get additional help in time to make a difference in their performance as well as enable students to make a more informed decision on whether to continue in a course beyond the March 26 deadline."

For more information, students should contact the office of their academic dean.

HomeSharing looking for participants

The HomeSharing program is seeking participants who are interested in sharing space in their home in exchange for services, as well as people who would like to provide services in exchange for an affordable place to live. If your home has extra space and you would like someone to help you with an overnight presence, childcare, elder care, yard work or housework, or if you would like to offer such services in someone's home, call a HomeSharing contact. Paulie Sicard (773-5555, ext. 297) organizes elder care, and Ashleigh Sullivan (5-4488) makes child-care matches. Either can answer general questions about the program. HomeSharing is funded in part by the town of Amherst, Franklin County Home Care Corp., Highland Valley Elder Services, and undergraduate trust funds.

Judges needed for regional science fair

Organizers of the Region I Science Fair to be held on campus Tuesday, March 25, are seeking additional judges, particularly in the areas of behavioral/social and environmental sciences. Approximately 190 projects will be displayed by middle and high school students from Western Massachusetts.

The science fair, sponsored by the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the School of Education, will be held in the Student Union Ballroom. Judging duties will begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue until noon.

Professors, postdoctorals, professional staff and advanced graduate students from the University and the Five Colleges are asked to participate. Area scientists working in government or industry, doctors, and veterinarians are also encouraged to volunteer. Contact Ananda Lennox at 5-1785 or by e-mail (dean@nsm.umass.edu).

Sports luncheon speakers announced

Athletic director Ian McCaw and softball coach Elaine Sortino will speak at the Weekly Sports Luncheon on Wednesday, March 19 at noon in 1009 Lincoln Campus Center.

Tennis coach Judy Dixon and baseball coach Mike Stone will be featured at the luncheon on Wednesday, March 26 at noon in 1009 Lincoln Campus Center.

The cost of the buffet lunch is $6.50 per person. Call 5-4289 for reservations.

Spring break dates

Spring vacation begins after the last class on Saturday, March 15. Classes resume Monday, March 24.

Physiology seminar at Medical School

Aline Davis of Framingham State College will speak on "Sexual Differentation of the Brain and Hypothalamic Development" on Monday, March 17 at noon in the Physiology Seminar Room, S4-308 of the Medical School in Worcester.

Credit union's annual meeting is March 20

The UMass Five College Federal Credit Union will hold its annual meeting
Thursday, March 20, at the credit union's main office, 200 Westgate Center Dr. in Hadley.

A social hour will begin at 5 p.m. and the business meeting will follow at 6 p.m.

The meeting will include the results of the election of the board of directors. In addition, the three student nominees for the Credit Union League Scholarship Award will also be announced.

Established in 1967, the credit union has approximately 24,500 members and assets of $172 million.

Big Friday

Paychecks for the period of Feb. 23 to March 8 will be issued on Friday, March 14.