Weekly Bulletin

Retirement party for CFNR associate deans

The College of Food and Natural Resources is planning a reception for associate deans Jim Marcum and Mark Mount, who are retiring. The event is scheduled for Thursday, May 16, 3-5 p.m. in the Massachusetts Room at the Mullins Center. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by May 10 to Susan Denis at 5-1969.

A book of letters is being created for each associate dean. Letters, anecdotes, poems and funny stories can be sent to the appropriate person as follows:

For Mark Mount, send materials to Patti Cromack, Experiment Station, 201 Stockbridge Hall.

For Jim Marcum, send items to Martha Baker, Academic Programs, 111 Stockbridge Hall.

Retirement reception for Betty Brace

A reception will be held Friday, June 7 for the Library's coordinator of User Support Services, Betty Brace, who is retiring after 35 years of service.

The reception will take place from 4-6 p.m. in the Tippo Courtyard Garden of the Du Bois Library. All are welcome to attend.

Contributions towards a gift may be sent to Nancy Wonsey, Library Office, Du Bois Library, by May 25.

Reception for Undergraduate Registrar's Office retirees

A reception is being held Tuesday, May 14 for six members of the Undergraduate Registrar's Office - Penny Adams, Cathy Blake, Maija Lillya, Charlene Forgue, Moni James and Rose Weinberg - who are retiring from the University after many years of service.

The reception is scheduled for 3-5 p.m. at the Top of the Campus in the Lincoln Campus Center.

All friends and associates are invited to attend to wish them farewell.

Older men needed for Exercise Science study

Researchers in the Exercise Science Department are looking for healthy males (ages 60-75) for a study of ways to reduce the loss of muscle strength and size through the aging process.

Specifically, the research is focused on antioxidant supplementation and its possible benefits in maintaining quality of life during periods of injury, illness or disuse.

Participants will be paid $150. If interested, contact Maria at 5-4959 or by e-mail (murso@excsci.umass.edu).

Information sessions on new dental plan for USA and MSP

MetLife replaced Delta Dental as the carrier for dental care insurance for the Board of Higher Education/Massachusetts Teachers Association Health & Welfare Trust Fund benefit plan on April 1. The change affects members of the University Staff Association and the Massachusetts Society of Professors.

MetLife representatives will present details of the company's PDP network at information sessions on Tuesday, May 21, at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and Wednesday, May 22, at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. All sessions take place in 163C Lincoln Campus Center.

Housing Court judge kicks off series for property managers

Judge Williams H. Abrashkin, first justice of the state Housing Court, Western Division, will inaugurate "The Educated Property Manager," a new speaker series for property managers and owners, on Wednesday, May 15 at 7 p.m. in 101 Lincoln Campus Center.

Abrashkin's talk will focus on the particular needs of property managers and landlords in Hampshire and lower Franklin counties. Topics to be addressed include jurisdiction, housing court procedures and court-initiated mediation and inspection programs.

The series is jointly sponsored by the Commuter Services and Housing Resource Center and the Pioneer Valley Housing Association.

Light refreshments will be provided.

For information, contact CSHRC at 5-0865 or by e-mail (cshrc@stuaf.umass.edu).

Renaissance Center trails open to public

The two hiking trails on the grounds of the Renaissance Center will be open to the public on weekends of May 4-5 and 11-12. The center is located at 650 East Pleasant St.

Non-unit classified staff sick leave cash-in program

May is the designated month for non-unit classified staff to opt to participate in the sick leave cash-in program.

The sick leave-cash-in is calculated based on an employee's Fiscal 2002 sick leave accrual. The number of sick days accrued will be determined based on the individual's full- or part-time employment status on May 30, 2002.

Employees must retain six of their FY02 accrued sick days; any days over that number will be used to calculate the cash-in provision.

The program allows for reimbursement of sick leave days at a rate of 50 percent of their value. Payment will be calculated using each employee's hourly rate on May 30. Payments are usually made within 30 days of the May 30 deadline.

Questions regarding the cash-in option should be directed to the Time & Labor Section of Human Resources at 5-0287 or the Human Resources Information Center at 5-6110.

Election forms for participating in the cash-in program should be returned to Human Resources by Friday, May 31.

Alumnus presents Geosciences seminar

Josh Smith of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University will speak on "Rediscovering the Lost Dinosaurs of Egypt: Adventures in North African Paleontology" on Friday, May 10 at 3:30 p.m. in 227 Herter Hall. Smith received his B.S. through the Geosciences Department in 1994.

USA Sick Leave Bank

Open enrollment for the University Staff Association Sick Leave Bank is underway through May 31. During this time, USA members can donate sick days to the bank or drop their participation in the program.

Donation and withdrawal forms should be submitted to Human Resources by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 31.

For information on the Sick Leave Bank, call the USA office at 5-0165 or Kelly Dickinson in Human Resources at 5-1478.

Writers Night Out with Madeleine Blais

The National Writers Union Local 5 is sponsoring an evening of fine food and facilitated discussion with Journalism professor Madeleine Blais on Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-9 p.m. at the Lord Jeffery Inn in Amherst. The topic of the discussion will be "Finding the Story in Your Experience."

The cost is $16 for NWU members and $20 for non-members. A vegetarian option is available. RSVP by May 14 by phone 586-8844 or e-mail (info@nwu5.org).

Faculty Senate meeting

The Faculty Senate has scheduled an additional meeting for Thursday, May 16 at 3:30 p.m. in 116 Isenberg School of Management.

Radical Student Union shows documentaries

Documentaries about the roots of Islamic terrorism and the "living wage" campaign at Harvard University will be shown next week by the Radical Student Union.

"Looking for Answers," tries to explain the hatred behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Produced in partnership with The New York Times, the film investigates the roots of the Islamic terrorist network and the anti-American hatred that feeds it, and traces how the trajectories of bin Laden and al-Zawahiri met in the mountains of Afghanistan. The film will be shown Monday, May 13 at 7 p.m.

"Occupation" tells the story of how students and immigrant janitors took on and defeated one of the most powerful corporations in the world. The film documents the three-week sit-in by the Harvard Living Wage Campaign. The campaign catapulted the living wage movement to the center of public discussion. "Occupation" is directed by Maple Razsa and Pacho Velez, and narrated by Ben Affleck. Screening are at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 15.

Both films will be shown in the Lincoln Campus Center. Check at the concourse information desk or the daily schedules near the elevators for room locations.

The screenings are free and open to the public. A discussion follows each show.

Classes end, finals begin

The last day of classes on Wednesday, May 15 will be followed by the two-day Reading Period. Final exams begin Saturday, May 18 and continue through Friday, May 24.

Cannella to speak at Sports Luncheon

Men's lacrosse coach Greg Cannella will be the featured speaker at the Weekly Sports Luncheon on Wednesday, May 15 at noon in 1009 Lincoln Campus Center.

The buffet lunch is $6.50. Call 5-4289 for reservations.

Panel discusses 'Importance of Memory'

Faculty from four departments will discuss "Why Memory? The Contemporary Importance of Memory Across Disciplines and Cultures," on Monday, May 13 at 4 p.m. in 20 Hasbrouck Lab.

The panelists will be Elizabeth Krause, Anthropology Department, Max Page, Art Department, Annette Weinke, visiting professor in German and History, and James Young, Judaic and Near Eastern Studies.

A reception will follow the discussion.

The program is sponsored by the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, the History Department and the Modern European Studies.

Retirement planning seminars for USA members

Financial Perspectives Planning Services, Inc. will present a seminar entitled "Are You Ready for Retirement" to members of the University Staff Association.

Intended for union members who opted for early retirement in June or who are considering retirement in the near future, the sessions will cover deciding on the best retirement option, what to do with 403B plans, how to manage retirement cash flows, avoiding unnecessary taxation and common planning mistakes.

Two sessions are planned: Wednesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16. Both are at noon in 905-09 Lincoln Campus Center.

Reservations are suggested. Call (800) 726-3707, ext. 201 to register. Reservations also can be made online (www.infovise.com/mtabenefits).

Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology seminar

John Olson of the Rice University department of biochemistry will speak on "NO Dioxygentation, Vasoregulation, and Blood Substitutes" on Wednesday, May 15 at noon in S1-608 Hiatt Auditorium, Goff Learning Center at the Worcester campus.

Molecular Genetics and Microbiology seminars

The Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at the Worcester campus is hosting the following seminars:

Stephen W. Barthold of the University of California at Davis Mouse Biology program will discuss "Mouse Genomic: Phenotypes, No Phenotypes, and Faux Phenotypes" on Friday, May 10 at 12:15 p.m. in the Hiatt Auditorium at the Goff Learning Center.

On Friday, May 17, John Young of the McCardle Laboratory for Cancer Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will speak on "Retrovirus and Anthrax Toxin Entry into Cells" at 12:15 p.m. in the MGM Seminar Room, S5-310. The seminar is co-sponsored by the Center for AIDS Research at the Worcester campus.