Updates on Hurricane Wilma

USF St. Petersburg is committed to the safety of its students, faculty and staff. The campus is in communication with local and state agencies in efforts to monitor the path of Hurricane Wilma.

USFSP will participate in the system-wide evaluation of the hurricane throughout the weekend. Updates will be available for student, faculty and staff via the campus hotline 727-553-4USF.

The latest official notifications regarding university operations will be released through the USF Web site, the system's toll free information line (800) 992-4231 and the local media.

Currently there are no plans to cancel classes through Oct. 21.

Festival Set-Up Closes Davis Parking

The Festival of Reading promises to fill campus with a day's worth of exciting activity. Event planners are projecting 15,000 guests, a record high for a campus event.

This year the Festival is condensed from a two-day event into a literary extravaganza on Saturday-more than doubling last year's authors and venues. Booksellers and vendor participants are also up from previous years. Set-up begins before classes Friday, Oct. 28 to install of more than 40 tents in the parking lot north of Davis Hall, Poynter Park and the Harborside Lawn.

To accommodate a safe set up, parking lots 2 and 3, north of Davis Hall will be closed Friday, Oct. 28. Students, faculty and staff will begin receiving multiple communications Friday, Oct. 21 with windshield flier reminders, emails and signage to remind them of this change.

Faculty members with classes on Friday will be asked to advise colleagues and students to park in alternate lots in front of USGS and the Children's Research Institute.The community is being urged to park downtown and walk or ride a $5 shuttle to campus for the day of the event.

"It's thrilling to be selected as a partner for such a popular community festival," said Holly Kickliter, associate regional vice chancellor for University Relations. "We look forward to the behind-the-scenes opportunities it will offer our students, staff and faculty, and the chance to show our community the hospitality for which our campus is known."

Kickliter said that organizers expect large crowds and difficulty parking, but are prepared for some bumps at the first-time event. She credited Sudsy Tschiderer, Lisa Starks, Scott Toscano, Benny Chenevert and many others from nearly every department on campus who have spent the last six months planning everything from physical plant needs to classroom usage.

"Now we get to put our plans into action and let our campus community enjoy the world-class authors."

USF Homecoming Game Rescheduled

Due to concerns about Hurricane Wilma, the homecoming game between the USF Bulls and West Virginia Mountaineers has been rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3. At this time, a kick-off time has not been determined but stay tuned for further updates.

The Bulls Roast, sponsored by the Alumni Association, has also been rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3, and will take place three hours before the game. The Alumni Association is also postponing several meeting scheduled for Friday, Oct. 21 so please visit www.usfalumni.org for more details.

Individual game tickets are still available by calling 1-800-GoBulls Monday through Friday 8 am - 6 pm, online to Ticketmaster.com, or at the Athletics Ticket Office at Entry 3 of the USF SunDome Monday-Friday 9 am - 6 pm. Tickets are $29, $24 or $20 plus service charges.

Semi-Final Friday Reception Postponed
The semi-Final Friday reception has been postponed due to concerns about Hurricane Wilma. For more information, please contact Annette Hamon at 553-4256 or annette@spadmin.usf.edu.

Disability Awareness Week
If we eliminate the “dis” and the “d” and the disabled really are “able.” This is the essence of Disability Awareness Week—to help people become aware of the numerous physical and psychological challenges that people with disabilities face each day.

In honor of Disability Awareness Week, Student Disability Services and the Office of Multicultural Affairs are sponsoring events throughout the week. The highlight will be the Wheelchair Rugby Exhibition Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 2 pm in the Campus Activities Center.

Members from the nationally ranked Tampa Generals Team will play a game of hybrid basketball and football in their custom made gladiator-like wheelchairs. Some members were also featured in the critically acclaimed documentary, “Murderball."Light refreshments will be served.

Other events include a Wheelchair Scavenger Roll Thursday, Oct. 27 from 11 am – 2 pm by the Bookstore. Power scooters and wheelchairs will be available to “roll” and navigate to various facilities on campus. To culminate the festivities, the USF St. Petersburg Sailing Center will demonstrate and assist students in wheelchairs in learning how to sail Tuesday, Nov. 1.

For more information on the event sponsored, please call 553-4837. For more information on the Tampa Generals and wheelchair rugby, please visit their Web site.

See: Quad Rugby Flier (.doc)

Community Luncheon on Tuesday

Join alumni, faculty, staff and administrators at the annual Community Luncheon Oct. 25 at 11:30 am. Located at the Hilton in downtown St. Petersburg, the luncheon offers networking opportunities and updates about the progress that USF St. Petersburg has made this year.

Hear about USF's entry into the Big East Conference. Guest speakers include Regional Chancellor Karen A. White, Director of Athletics Doug Woolard, and Women's Sailing Coach Allison Jolly, who also is an Olympic Gold Medalist.

Registration for this event will be accepted until noon on Thursday, Oct. 20. For more information on the luncheon or to register, please contact Katie Giglio at 553-4561 or kgiglio@spadmin.usf.edu.

See: Community Luncheon Flier (.pdf)

Festival of Reading Next Weekend

More than 60 authors including best-sellers Carl Hiassen, Candace Bushnell, Doris Kearns Goodwin, R. L. Stine, Sue Ellen Cooper and Jim and Kate Lehrer, will be featured at the 13th Annual St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 am to 5 pm.

More than 15,000 visitors are expected. Plan to pak off campus, downtown or at one the city's parking garages. Shuttles will pick up guests at Bayfront Center, Baywalk Garage and Progress Energy Park. The shuttles cost $5.

Hosted by USF St. Petersburg, the festival will feature a variety of events for guests of all ages. There will be several celebrity readers, panel discussions and poetry readings throughout the day. An extensive Book Market will be on site, where attendees can peruse and purchase the many volumes of work available.

Activities for children will include arts and crafts, interactive games, costumed story-book characters and an appearance by SPOT the News hound — the Times’ literacy mascot.

For more information on the event, please visit the Festival of Reading Web site at http://www.festivalofreading.com/.

Read: Press Release for Festival (.pdf)  

Students Will Examine Ethical Dilemmas

USF St. Petersburg will host the Southeastern Regional Ethics Bowl Saturday, Nov. 5 from 9 am - 6 pm. Located in Davis Hall and Steidinger Auditorium, the bowl is sponsored by USFSP, Eckerd College and St. Petersburg College and is open to the public.

In a debate-style competition with one moderator and three judges per room, teams are encouraged to foster a constructive ethical dialogue while examining dilemmas of every day life to find the best solutions.

After breakfast, teams will compete in three morning rounds from which the best teams will be invited to participate in the concurrent semi-final rounds. From this single elimination rounds the two best teams advance to the final round with a trophy award.

In-state and out of state teams will compete against representatives from USF Tampa, Georgia Tech, Flagler College, Eckerd, St. Petersburg College and Barry University.

Sponsor Final Friday
Sponsor a campus tradition.The Office of Academic Affairs is looking for sponsors for the remaining Final Fridays of the 2005 – 2006 academic year. These social gatherings are a great way for faculty and staff to meet, talk and share ideas and information.

Some remaining available dates to sponsor are Jan. 27 and Feb. 24. For more information on sponsoring a Final Friday event, please contact Jennifer Baker, coordinator of Academic Affairs, at 553-4469.

Open Enrollment Ends Soon

Open Enrollment runs until Oct. 28. Employees may enroll, change or cancel benefits that are available through the State of Florida. All changes will be effective Jan. 1, 2006.

New health plan options, HMO choices, and additional services are some of the changes that employees can expect.

Read: Benefit Changes (.pdf)

2005 SuperBull IX Homecoming
Homecoming week began strong with cardboard boat building and a race, of which the team, the "Horny U's," was the winner. The week also included Spirit Day where students were able to showed their green and gold colors in honor of homecoming.

Students celebrated at a festival on campus for food, fun and games. Guests could even ride our very own Rocky the Mechanical Bull or make photo key chains.

Despite concerns about Hurricane Wilma, students will still be able to enjoy the remaining events of 2005 SuperBull IX Homecoming. Support of our team Friday, Oct. 21 by participating in the annual homecoming parade in Tampa at 7 pm. Enjoy the bonfire and fireworks at Fowler Field beginning at 9:30 pm.

See: Homecoming Events Schedule (.doc)

Media Coverage for New Technology
Hand-held classrooms have hit campus. V. Mark Durand, regional vice chancellor of Academic Affairs, teaches classes that are downloaded onto portable media centers so students can take classes anywhere, anytime.

As a professor of psychology and an expert on autism, Durand converted his autism course to Windows Media Video files to provide more accessibility to his students and to parents of autistic children without time to attend a class or seminar.

Local reporters and television crews were on campus last week to interview Durand about the class technology, especially now that Apple has launched the iPod's capability to play video files.

Imagine the possibility of downloading a course next semester instead of trying to find the time to attend the class due to a busy schedule.

Durand presented his teaching method to the National Institute on the Teaching Psychology in an annual conference held earlier this year.

Final Celebration of Hispanic Heritage a Success
A legend in children's television ended the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with a luncheon Friday, Oct. 14, sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs. More than 100 guests attended the lunch lecture.

Sonia Manzano, who portrays the character Maria on 'Sesame Street,' spoke about her experiences as an actress, writer and first generation American of Latino descent. Before the luncheon she was interviewed by reporters from Channel 10, Bay News 9, The Tampa Tribune and WB38.

She discussed current projects she is working on, her experiences on the show and the impact she had as a role model for Latino children.

“The luncheon was a great success,” said Steve Marshall, interim coordinator of Multicultural Affairs. “Manzano’s success on Sesame Street has set a precedent and paved the way for the Hispanic population and certainly lends itself to the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month and its celebration.”

Students Learn Career Options
With many different opportunities and programs available to college students, it is sometimes difficult to choose a major let alone a career choice. The Counseling and Career Center will offer a series of workshops aimed at alleviating this conflict that students face.

These free workshops, led by Sara Leslie, will help students clarify their interests to help students establish career goals. Students can attend one of the workshops scheduled Oct. 28, Nov. 4 and Nov. 18 from 10 – 11:30 am in BAY 227. For more information and to RSVP please contact the Counseling and Career Center at 553-4422.

Professors Honored for Service

After contributing years of exemplary teaching, research, institutional service and leadership, two USF St. Petersburg professors were recognized for their contributions to the profession of education.

President Genshaft conferred the title of Professor Emeritus to Daniel Wells, PhD, professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences. Wells was nominated by V. Mark Durand, regional vice chancellor of Academic Affairs, for 35 years of service and accomplishments to the campus and to the field of English.

“Dan Wells is an outstanding teacher and noted scholar in the field of American Literature,” said Winston Bridges, PhD, interim dean of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences. “He has always been well regarded by students and faculty and certainly is well deserving of the honor.”

Genshaft also conferred the title of Librarian Emerita to Janeth Shewmaker, university librarian, for 18 years of service to the College of Education and to the campus. Shewmaker was nominated by Kathy Arsenault, dean of the Poynter Library, for her many professional contributions and in honor of her ten years of service as a library volunteer.

“Jackie’s record of service and dedication to USF St. Petersburg, to Poynter Library and to her community is exemplary,” Arsenault said . “Her library colleagues believe that her designation as Librarian Emerita is long overdue.”

Prospective Students Received Warm Welcome

USF St. Petersburg warmly welcomed prospective college students at the Fall Open House Wednesday, Oct. 19.

Scheduled during the campus' homecoming celebration, prospective students and parents learned about life on our campus. The day included activities for guests such as cardboard boat races, team competitions, music and more. As a special highlight, attendees to the Open House entered to win a scholarship to USF St. Petersburg.

Guests toured the campus, attended presentations by college representatives and spoke to students and faculty members about campus life. Recruiters answered questions about admission requirements, fields of study, financial aid and scholarship opportunities that are available only to USF St. Petersburg students.

For the latest information from HR, visit: USF SP HR Web site

Check out the USF St. Petersburg Human Resource Web site to learn more about Open Enrollment, Health and Education Seminars and 2006 details of Health Insurance changes.

Give Blood and Save a Life

In just a few minutes, you can save lives. Donate blood at the October Blood Drive on Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 8 am to 6 pm. Donations can be made at blood-mobiles located in front of Davis Hall and FWRI. For more information, please contact Barry McDowell at 553-4990 or mcdowell@stpt.usf.edu.

Volunteer Opportunities

A special thanks for the volunteer efforts for the coastal cleanup at Tierra Verde Oct. 15. About 12 volunteers were on hand to collect 50 bags of trash in an effort to clean up the environment.

Help out the animals by volunteering for the SPCA Paws on Parade Oct. 29 at 8:30 am or join the literati at the 13th annual St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading Oct. 29 from 10 am – 5 pm.

For more information on upcoming volunteer opportunities, please contact Barry McDowell at 553-4990 or mcdowell@stpt.usf.edu.