The Brooks Memorial Mines Building is now open as a new center for rural and Alaska Native students. The building now houses the CRA, Rural Student Services, the Alaska Native Language Center and Alaska Native Studies program. A week-long celebration of the opening kicks off Sept. 21 at 4 p.m. with a rededication ceremony. For more information visit http://www.uaf.edu/events/.

Gov. Knowles has proclaimed September as "College Savings Month" in Alaska. Knowles urged families to plan ahead for the cost of college and to take advantage of the UA College Savings Plan. For more information about the savings plan call
1-866-277-1005 or visit http://www.uacollegesavings.com.

The UAF provost's office announced a recently designed web-based faculty handbook. The handbook is still in draft form, and your input is needed to assess the site's functionality and what should be added, changed or deleted. Comments need to be submitted by Oct. 11. Faculty members are asked to please take a moment to fill out the electronic survey form at http://www.uaf.edu/univrel/proof/fac_handbook3b/index.html.

The Engineering Arctic Research Lab (EARL) on the Old Steese Highway is closing and will no longer be available to any UAF department after Sept. 30. All UAF property stored at the site must be removed. For more information about the closure of EARL contact the Division of Real Estate Management at 5780. For more information about inventory or surplus disposal contact the UAF Property Office at 6143.

The University of Alaska Foundation is accepting proposals for the 2003 Angus Gavin Memorial Bird Research Grant. The grant is available to faculty, research associates and graduate students within the university system. The deadline for submitting proposals is Nov. 15. For more information call 7687 or visit http://www.alaska.edu/uafound/.

The UAF Master Planning Committee is meeting regularly throughout the academic year to continue implementing the new UAF Master Plan. Community comments and ideas are welcome. For more information contact Rick Caulfield at 5573 or visit http://www.uaf.edu/mastplan/.

Syun-Ichi Akasofu, IARC, recently had his book "Exploring the Secrets of the Aurora" published by Kluwer Academic Publishers. Akasofu wrote his newest book for graduate students and scientists in all fields. The book describes the history of progress in aurora science and uses it for a framework for the theme of embracing controversy.

The UAF Women's Center sponsors various support groups during the semester. Current groups include a non-traditional/returning student group, a single-parent support group and a network of students interested in trading daycare. For more information on these and other support groups contact the Women's Center at 6360 or fywoc@uaf.edu.

Nettie La Belle-Hamer, UAF alumna, was recently appointed as director of the Alaska Synthetic Aperture Radar Facility. La Belle-Hamer earned her Ph. D. and masters of science degrees from UAF in 1994 and 1988.

CRA has created a search committee to look for a new director of the Northwest Campus. Barbara Oleson is chairperson of the committee. Applications are being accepted until Oct. 4 at 5 p.m.

The UAF Graduate School is hosting a "Leadership in Action" seminar series through March 2003. The first seminar is "Vision and Action for UA in 2009" presented by President Hamilton on Sept. 20 from 1 - 2 p.m. in the Wood Center Carol Brown Ballroom. The next seminar is "Vision for K-12 Education" presented by state Board of Education chair Susan Stitham in Schaible Auditorium Oct. 3 from 1 - 2 p.m. For more information call the Graduate School at 7464.

A Welcome Back reception is being held for students in the Signers' Hall Lobby Sept. 26 from 3 - 4:30 p.m.

The UA Museum is hosting the "Arctic Wilderness" lecture at the Noel Wien Library Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. Roger Kaye, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services wilderness specialist, will discuss the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the role of wilderness as a place for solitude, reflection and wonder. Admission is free. For more information call 7505.

The Fairbanks Symphony Association kicks off its season with a recital by Andrés Diaz on violoncello Sept. 26 and Diaz with the Arctic Chamber Orchestra Sept. 28. Both performances are at 8 p.m. at Hering Auditorium. For more information call 5733 or visit http://www.fairbankssymphony.org/.

The UAF Staff Council is hosting an orientation for new staff Sept. 27 from 8:30 - 11 a.m. in the Wood Center Memorial Conference Room. You must R.S.V.P. to attend. For more information contact Scott McCrea at 1157 or fnsjm@uaf.edu.

The UAF Bookstore and the Rasmuson Library are sponsoring a banned book reading Sept. 27 in Wood Center. Volunteers are needed to read from banned or challenged books. For more information or to sign up for a 10-minute reading slot contact Jennie at 6858.

CLA is hosting "Grantsmanship for the Liberal Arts," a day-long, skill-building workshop for faculty and staff Sept. 28 from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information contact Anita Hartmann at ffamh@uaf.edu.

The UAF Alumni Reunion 2002 begins Oct. 3 with registration from noon - 5 p.m. in 201 Constitution Hall. For a list of scheduled events visit http://www.uaf.edu/events. For more information contact the Alumni Association at 7081.

The UA Museum Saturday Family Program presents "Rain, Shine or Snow: Predicting Interior Weather!" Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. - noon. Children age 7 - 12, along with a parent or adult mentor, will learn to identify clouds and predict upcoming weather. Admission is $15 per child. For more information or reservations call 6948.

UAF Summer Sessions recently received the first place award for best catalog and second place award for best website from the Western Association of Summer Sessions Administrators.

The UAF volleyball season is in full swing. The next home games are Sept. 20 against Humboldt State and Sept. 21 against Western Oregon. Both games start at 7 p.m. in the Patty Center. UAF plays St. Martin's College Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. and Central Washington Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. in the Patty Center. For more information call 5977 or visit http://www.uaf.edu/athletic/.

The UAF hockey season kicks off with the Blue and Gold game Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. in the Patty Center Ice Arena. UAF will face off with Mount Royal College Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Carlson Center. For more information call 5977 or visit http://www.uaf.edu/athletic/.

Providing a safe environment is essential for successful learning and research. A recent survey highlighted in the Cornerstone a few editions ago indicated that our students put safety near the top of the list in importance.

Although safety is everyone's business, many UAF individuals and departments focus on ensuring our safety. These departments include Facilities Services, Risk Management, Codes & Safety, the Emergency Communication Center, the University Police and the University Fire Department (UFD). It is particularly noteworthy that this year marks 50 years that groups of UAF students, faculty and staff have been working together as part of the UFD.

The UFD also works in partnership with the Fairbanks North Star Borough to provide emergency fire, rescue and medical services to our campus and to more than 22,000 people in the west Fairbanks area. This is an excellent example of a successful public partnership that seems to be a "new" trend in efficient and effective government — only the FNSB University Fire Service Area and UAF have been doing it since 1977.

Beyond basic safety services, the UFD also has an academic mission in which student firefighters are provided a unique and rewarding educational opportunity. So rewarding, in fact, that 38 student firefighters have landed professional positions over the last three years. Additionally, national recognition has led to inquiries from around the country by students interested in coming to UAF. This past summer 60 young people applied to become university student firefighters. And out of this summer's class, 20 will stay in the program; 12 will be first-time freshmen, with the majority studying fire sciences at TVC.

This successful collaboration between our academic and administrative resources is one more example of a successful public partnership. The UFD and the TVC Emergency Services Program continue to explore ways to enhance offerings to students interested in this exciting and growing field.