The University of Oregon's computer network has taken top honors in a national competition that spotlights the best networking in higher education.

CAUSE, the association for managing and using information resources in higher education, gave UO its Award for Excellence in Campus Networking on Dec. 5 at CAUSE `96, the group's annual convention held this year in San Francisco.

"What CAUSE seemed most impressed by was that in our entry we highlighted not only the network's impressive technical specifications, but also the practical ways it helps the university community," says Joanne Hugi, University Computing director.

The university's network, known as UOnet, serves more than 20,000 campus users at 10,000 workstations in 120 buildings. Off-campus users access UOnet by way of 350 dial-in modems. In addition, UOnet supports more than 2,500 World Wide Web pages published on the Internet by UO faculty, staff and students.

Since 1978, the UO has invested $3.3 million from departmental funds and a U.S. Department of Education grant in UOnet infrastructure.

"Even with a small staff, we've been extremely creative in using our resources and bold enough to excel," Hugi says. "We believed we could build a world-class network, and we have."

The CAUSE mission statement calls for members of the group to be indispensable partners in enabling the transformational changes occurring in higher education through the effective management and use of information resources--technology, services and information. All higher education institutions, whether they are CAUSE members or not, are eligible to compete for the Excellence in Campus Networking award.

CAUSE recognizes campus networking excellence in two categories. One is for institutions with an operating budget of less than $100 million and one is for institutions, such as UO, with a larger budget.

CAUSE awarded honorable mention in this year's competition to Duke University, the Georgia Institute of Technology and Northwestern University. Last year's winner in the $100 million and over category was Cornell University.

A complete description of the UO's award-winning networking project is available from the CAUSE Web server at http://www.cause.org/pd/awards/network/1996/applicants.html.

The university's entry, endorsed by President Dave Frohnmayer and Provost John Moseley, was submitted in March. It was produced by University Computing's Dave Ulrich, assistant director for documentation services, and Joyce Winslow, publications editor.

Contributors to the UO entry included Joe St. Sauver, Academic User Services; Dale Smith, Network Services; Dave Meyer, Advanced Network Technology Center; and Lynn Buffing, all of University Computing. Others were assistant university librarians Deborah Carver, Public Services and Collections, and Andrew Bonamici, Administrative and Instructional Media Services; Dave Barta, Telecommunications Services; and James Bailey, Academic Advising and Student Services adaptive technology adviser.

The Provost's Office is challenging every faculty and staff member to give one item of nonperishable food and $1 to help make this holiday season more comfortable and joyous for our less-fortunate neighbors.

Contribution deadline is Dec. 13 for the fifth annual holiday giving project.

"We hope to exceed last year's contribution of 2,271 pounds of food and $308 worth of energy assistance," says Vice Provost Lorraine Davis.

Food will go to Food for Lane County. Cash will be donated to EWEB's Energy Share and SUB's Project Share energy assistance programs.

Place packaged food in collection boxes marked for Food & Fuel '96 at any of the 30 participating departments and offices throughout campus. Send or deliver cash donations to Donna Chittenden at Academic Affairs or to Kathie Stanley at Student Academic Affairs.

For information, call 6-3081 or 6-1278.

Tom Urban, coordinator of the EMU Craft Center for 23 years, believes there are some things that cannot be learned in a classroom.

"Learning is not all in your head. It is a connection and balance between what you know in your mind, but also what you know in your heart and soul. I think this center helps tie all those elements together," he says.

One of the things Urban most enjoys is finding ways to help people.

"I really like seeing people grow as they learn new skills and develop the ability to problem solve. I like to think I am here to provide emotional support as well as direction. So, if an individual is going through a tough time elsewhere, I try to give that person a new option or a different perspective in order for them to find a way to keep going," Urban says.

"It is through these creative discoveries," he continues, "that we learn more about ourselves, and we establish more confidence in ourselves, which can provide important stepping stones to the rest of life. If someone can create the avenue for you to solve a certain problem with your own ideas, there's no limit to what else you can do."

Urban does enjoy spending time in his home studio, working with various materials, such as wood, stone and metal. He also enjoys racing cars and solo piloting airplanes, in which he has crossed the country three times.

But working with people's creative potential is what Urban does best.

"You may start out intimidated by woodshop, yet all you need is for somebody to help you work through that fear, so in six weeks you can walk out with a table that you have gone through all these machines to make. That is a confidence builder."

Such success "creates a real change in one's life," he continues, "as one gains a whole new creative outlet. I take a small amount of pride in being able to help someone develop that creative potential."

Nine mature trees, all rated highly hazardous to campus pedestrians, vehicles and structures by a consulting urban forester, will be removed by the end of December during winter break.

Campus and grounds supervisor Tim King, Facilities Services, says the impact on campus appearance created by the loss of these trees will be short term. Replacements will be planted during winter term while the new trees are dormant and have the best chance of thriving.

The most prominent of the trees to be removed is the large Oregon maple directly south of the Pioneer statue north of Johnson Hall. Replacing that tree will be one, of the same or possibly a different species, to be planted in recognition of President Dave Frohnmayer's inauguration.

Also to be taken down are two other trees on the north side of East 13th between Kincaid and University, two on the west side of University Street north of Hendricks Hall and four trees near the intersection of East 18th and Alder.

King says all nine trees have been posted. To avoid campus crowds, removal will begin Dec. 16, and it is slated to be completed by Dec. 27.

"The certified arborist we hired to assess the condition of the nearly 4,000 trees on campus determined all of the trees we are removing to be at risk for falling or major breakage during future storms," King says. "On a hazard scale of 1 to 12, with 12 posing the most imminent danger, all of the trees rate 10 or 11, primarily due to extensive decay in trunks and major branches and evidence of root rotting fungus."

He says an ongoing program enables campus and grounds crews to monitor the condition of all campus trees. As the campus arboretum ages, other trees likely will need to be posted, removed and replaced to protect the safety of people and integrity of occupied buildings.

For information, call King at 6-5256.

When Gov. John Kitzhaber released his proposed budget for the next biennium on Dec. 2 in Salem, smiles spread across the faces of lots of faculty, staff and students in higher education.

That happiness is tempered, however, with the knowledge that the Democratic governor must convince a Republican-controlled legislature and a skeptical electorate of the importance for Oregon's future of re-investing in education at all levels from preschool or postgraduate.

For Oregon higher ed, Kitzhaber proposes:

Retaining the so-called "two-percent kicker" and devoting it to education.

Proposing an 8.2 percent increase in higher education funding over the 1995-97 budget.

Maintaining all existing programs and campuses. In all but a few cases, programs are budgeted to stay even with inflation, including added funding to cover extraordinary inflationary increases in the cost of library materials.

Freezing in-state tuition at 1996-97 levels.

Expanding engineering education in the Portland metropolitan area.

Funding to ensure that four-year colleges and universities can attract and retain the highest quality faculty.

Assuring the opportunity for affordable and easily available postsecondary education throughout Oregon.

Facilitating responsiveness by Oregon's colleges and universities to the needs of employers.

Investing in technology to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Oregon's educational infrastructure.

The proposed budget is summarized on a Web site at http://www.governor.state.or.us/governor/budget97-99/bbtext.html.

The new Athletic Training Service Center for faculty, staff and other nonstudent athletes, slated to open officially on Jan. 6, is now accepting membership applications.

Housed in the Bowerman Building northwest of Hayward Field, the center offers assessment and screening of sport-related injuries, acute injury treatment, and client education on training, prevention and self-management of injuries. Services also include nutritional and body composition assessments.

The International Institute for Sport and Human Performance administers the center in cooperation with the Sports Medicine and Athletic Training programs of Exercise and Movement Science. Community professionals from a variety of health care fields comprise the center's review committee.

Rick Troxel is the center's educational director, Lou Osternig is research director and Henriette Heiny is administrative director.

The Athletic Training Service Center serves nonstudent elite athletes who are training for national and international competition, competitive athletes who are regular exercisers training for local or seasonal activities, and recreational athletes who exercise regularly for their health.

"The center's purpose is to fill a gap in today's athletic health care for the master athlete," says Clinical Coordinator Anna Brockmeyer. "Whether you have a nagging Achilles tendon or other athletic injury, are training for a competition or need professional advice, the staff can help you."

Graduate students who are certified athletic trainers and other sports medicine faculty members staff the center, which is open from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. weekdays and by appointment.

Membership costs $30 per month or $10 per drop-in visit, payable by cash, check or Visa or MasterCard. Other fees apply for special services such as hydrostatic weighing or nutritional counseling.

For a membership brochure and complete information about services and fees, call 6-4114.

Women staff and administrators, as well as women faculty, are invited to gather and share their ideas and experiences resulting from challenging careers in higher education during the 16th annual Oregon Women in Higher Education Conference, set for Jan. 31, 1997, at the Governor Hotel in Portland.

Keynote speaker will be Rosalind Barnett, senior scholar at the Murray Research Center of Radcliffe College and co-author of She Works/He Works.

Break-out sessions will examine technology, balance, legislative changes, health, gender in communication, women in science and more.

Cost is $65 per person ($35 for full-time graduate students) and includes continental breakfast and lunch. For further information or to be added to the mailing list for a detailed brochure, call Sue Corner, Willamette University, (503) 370-6463, or e-mail scorner@willamette.edu.

The UO Alumni Association is looking for distinguished Ducks to honor during Commencement in June.

"We're seeking two individuals who have attained extraordinary distinction to receive the Distinguished Alumni/Alumnus and the Outstanding Young Alumni/Alumnus awards," says Amy Schroeder, Alumni Programs director.

The Distinguished Alumni/Alumnus Award honors UO graduates who have served the nation, state, city or university or who have distinguished themselves by personal endeavor. The 1996 recipient was Edwin Peterson, retired chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.

Individuals under 45 years of age who have made significant accomplishments within 15 years of graduation are recognized with the Outstanding Young Alumni/Alumnus award. NBC News anchor Ann Curry was the 1996 honoree.

Nomination materials must be turned in to the Alumni Association at 120 Agate Hall by Dec. 20. For information, call 6-5656.

Classified staff and officers of administration who are "Realizing the Dream" by upholding the ideals espoused by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are eligible for recognition during the university's annual celebration commemorating the life of the late civil rights leader.

Human Resources will accept nominations through Friday, Dec. 13, for the annual award which will be presented during a ceremony in mid-January.

Submit nomination forms to Linda King, Human Resources director. For information, call 6-2966.

Come New Year's Day, student employees who currently earn less that $5.50 per hour will get a raise, thanks to voter approval of a stepped increase in Oregon's minimum wage law.

Effective Jan. 1, 1997, all students must be paid at least $5.50 per hour. The minimum will increase to $6 a year later and to $6.50 on Jan. 1, 1999.

Chris Lonigan, Human Resources, has convened a working group to propose a new student wage schedule and to discuss other student employment policy and procedure issues such as minimum enrollment requirements.

To share concerns with the working group or for questions about employing students, call 6-2963 or e-mail Chris_Lonigan@ccmail.

In the spotlight

Michael Neill, National Career Information System director, presented an Oct. 29-31 workshop in Budapest on developing occupational information for career planning for youth. The workshop was sponsored by the Open Society Institute and funded by the Soros Foundation.

The UO Campus Recycling Program this fall received the State of Oregon Recycling Team's "Waste Prevention/Reduction Award" for establishing numerous programs that significantly reduce solid waste, and therefore, garbage costs. Aiming to generate zero waste, the UO program reduced the use of paper towels and napkins, food waste and office supplies and encouraged the recycling of a wide variety of materials.

Misook Yun, Music GTF, won first place in the Metropolitan Opera National Council district auditions, held Nov. 16 in Portland. A doctoral student of Mark Beudert in vocal performance and choral conducting, she will go on to the Northwest regional auditions in January. Misook received her Master of Music degree from the university in 1995.

Maura Ann Schoen, Early Intervention graduate research assistant, is one of four outstanding doctoral degree students who are recipients of 1996 University Club Foundation Fellowship Awards. The Portland group awards $5,000 to each fellow for any purpose that will help keep them in graduate school and help further their goals.

Gaylene Carpenter, Human Development, received an Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Society of Park and Recreation Educators. The award recognizes outstanding educators for quality of teaching; ability to motivate and stimulate students; innovation in presentation and evaluation measurements; mastery of subject; academic advising, counseling and working with students; and campus and professional involvement.

Shelley Sutherland, Student Development, received the Distinguished Service Award for the Western Region on Dec. 6 from the Association of Fraternity Advisers during its national meeting in Orlando, Fla. The only Greek adviser to receive awards in two of AFA's four regions during her career, she previously received the Distinguished Service Award for the Mid-American Region.

On the move

Theresa Ius, workers' compensation claims coordinator, transferred from Human Resources to Environmental Health and Safety, effective Dec. 1. She maintains all of her current workers' comp claims management responsibilities. Joyce Rauschert, Human Resources Records, processes workers' comp claim overpayments and hardship leave requests, and Human Resources continues to handle unemployment claims.

Gwen Steigelman, Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, has been assumed additional duties as secretary of the faculty, University Senate and University Assembly. She succeeds Keith Richard, who retired Nov. 1 after 24 years as university archivist, 16 of them as faculty secretary.

In Print

Lani Loken-Dahle, Physical Activity and Recreation Services, had an article entitled "Centennial Olympic Spirit" published in the September-November 1996 issue of Inside USA Diving, the official journal for US Diving.

Leslie Hall, National Career Information System, and three Oregon State University colleagues are authors of "The Marital Construction of Gender through Work and Family Decisions: A Qualitative Analysis" in a recent issue of the Journal of Marriage and the Family.

On the podium/stage

Milagro Vargas, Music, was alto soloist with the Orchestra and Chorus of Valencia, Spain, in a performance of the J.S. Bach Mass in B Minor conducted by Helmuth Rilling, artistic director and conductor of the Oregon Bach Festival. The Oct. 25 performance was at Valencia's Palau de la Musica.

On Nov. 2-3, Jon Erlandson and Madonna Moss, Anthropology, each spoke about Oregon coast archaeology and cultural preservation issues at the Coquille Indian Tribe Cultural Heritage Conference in Coos Bay.

David Povey, Planning, Public Policy and Management, spoke on "Low Impact Recreation and Tourism Development Alternatives for Rural Areas" at the first Conference on World Tourism and the Future, Nov. 25-27 in Toronto, Canada.