Roland Gangloff, CSEM and Earth Science Curator for the UA Museum, was invited to co-author a perspective article on paleontology for the Feb. 8 issue of the journal "Science" titled "Polar Dinosaurs." Alaska has the largest number of specimens and varieties of dinosaurs in the Arctic or Antarctic. Alaska's North Slope and the Alaska Peninsula hold the greatest potential for more dinosaur finds.

Sukumar Bandopadhyay, SME, has been designated as a 2002 Distinguished Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. He will be presented with the award, which is restricted to 1 percent of the corporate membership, at the society's annual meeting Feb. 27 in Phoenix, Ariz.

The William Elmhirst Duckering Building re-dedication will take place Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. The $13 million revitalization to correct code violations and modernize the labs and facilities was completed this fall, creating a modern engineering center for the 21st century.

The University of Alaska and United Academic - Adjuncts, AAUP/AFT recently reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement subject to ratification by union members, the board of regents and legislative funding. The agreement goes into effect when approved and will expire Dec. 31, 2004.

Kate Salisbury, CLA, has a photography exhibition in the Valdez Museum. The exhibit will be on display through March 31. A collection from the exhibition is also being published in the upcoming Winter 2002 issue of "Double Take" magazine.

The Alaska Sea Grant program has published "Harmful Algal Blooms on the North American West Coast." Harmful algal blooms are a pervasive health and economic problem. For more information visit http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/pubvid/Pubs.html.

The Alaska Native Language Center has two new faculty members. Anna Berge is a linguist who specializes in the study of Eskimo languages and Walkie Charles is a native Yup'ik speaker. For more information visit http://www.uaf.edu/anlc/.

UAF's Department of Communication recently collaborated with the United Way Compass II project and the Fairbanks North Star Borough to facilitate a community visioning session to help anticipate how the people of the Fairbanks North Star Borough want their community to develop.

John Harbaugh, CLA, and the UAF Jazz Ensemble will perform at the University of Notre Dame Jazz Festival in South Bend, Ind. March 1. The invitation-only event is one of the longest-running university jazz festivals in the country.

UAF music major Chris Barr has had an original composition chosen for performance at the Music Educators National Conference in Nashville. Barr, a junior saxophonist, premiered his piece at the UAF holiday concert in December.

The Hutchison Cafe will open for the spring semester on Feb. 13. Lunch entrees with soup and a small salad are $6 and Friday buffets, including dessert are $7.50. For more information call 5240 or e-mail fycah@uaf.edu to be added to the mailing list.

The UAF Institutional Review Board has updated its website. For information on human subject research visit http://www.uaf.edu/irb/.

The UAF Bookstore is celebrating African American History Month with a featured book display. For more information contact Jennie Witter at 6859 or fybook@uaf.edu.

The UAF Small Business Development Center presents "Starting a Small Business" Feb. 9 from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. with a $35 fee and "How to Write a Business Plan" Feb. 19 from 6 - 9 p.m. with a $25 fee. For more information or to register call 456-7232.

"My Spirit Raised Its Hands," a one-person, one-act play written and performed by Diane E. Benson, Lxeis´ portraying Alaskan civil rights activist Elizabeth Peratrovich will be performed Feb. 14 at 4 p.m. in the Salisbury Theatre. A reception and plaque dedication will take place in the Great Hall immediately following the play. For more information call Phyllis Fast at 6604.

UAF Outdoor Adventures is hosting the 26th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. Tickets are available at the Wood Center front desk or at the door. For more information contact 6027 or fywild@uaf.edu.

The UA Museum presents "Cool Kids on Ice," for ages 7 - 14 from 10 a.m. - noon, and "Cool Adults on Ice," for ages 15 and older from 1 - 3 p.m., Feb. 16. Participants will learn the basics of ice carving with ice, tools and hot cocoa provided. There is a $21 fee per person. For more information or reservations call 6948. Stop in and see the Museum's Special Exhibit, "Burned into Memory," which runs through March 24.

The UAF Engineering Open House will be held Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Duckering Building. There will be a science exposition for all ages, guest speakers, presentations, demonstrations and hands-on activities for everyone. The American Society of Civil Engineers' Ice Arch will also be on display in Constitution Park.

Matt Emmons recently lead the Nanook rifle team to a three-game winning streak and earned the first 400 score in NCAA history from the standing position for smallbore.
Nanook hockey player Aaron Voros was named Rookie Player of the Week for a third time. On Feb. 4 Voros shared the honor when teammate Bobby Andrews was named Offensive Player and Voros was once again named Rookie Player of the Week.

I joined other volunteers at the Signers' Hall help desk during registration and fee payment. I'd recommend the experience to staff and faculty who would like to witness first-hand what a terrific student body we have as well as the great job the admissions office does in organizing the start of semester activities. Meeting students face-to-face is something I always enjoy and getting to know them on a personal level just reaffirms my commitment.

During this legislative session we will ask the state legislature to fully fund the university and we will share information with them about our quality programs, research partnership potential, economic diversification, deferred maintenance and critical space needs as well as other challenges we face in the coming years. We will ask for continued support of the institution as an economic engine for the State of Alaska. An essential ingredient to keep that engine running strong is making sure Alaska's high school students stay in-state for college to gain the skills they need for the workforce of tomorrow.

Students affected by decisions made in Juneau recognize the university's importance to our state and have embarked on a postcard campaign again this year to let the legislature know what full-funding means to them. ASUAF, along with the Coalition of Student Leaders and the Alumni Association, will be personally delivering the postcards to the state capitol later this month.

This semester I challenge our staff and faculty to remember that students are our most important constituent group and to continue to look for ways to improve our outreach and services. We are an accredited institution of higher learning providing services that can – and often do – change peoples' lives. It may take more than one afternoon at the help desk, but we should recognize that each of us has the potential to positively influence our students while they are here.