Tuesday, September 30, 2008

General to speak on foreign policy

Monday, September 29, 2008

Gen. John Abizaid, the former commander of the U.S. Central Command, will give a presentation about foreign policy Wednesday.

The four-star general, who oversaw operations in Iraq, will present “The Foreign Policy Challenges of our Next President” at 7 p.m. in the Joe Crowley Student Union Ballroom for free, said Meghan Wagonseller, Associated Students of the University of Nevada director of public relations.

Abizaid will talk about the future of relations with Iran, North Korea and terrorism around the world, said Sundance Bauman, Flipside Productions’ contemporary issues chairman.

The general was scheduled to speak last year for The Joe opening, but the engagement fell through when Abizaid had to go to Washington, Bauman said.

The Northern Nevada International Center asked Abizaid to speak, Bauman said. Flipside provided the venue.

University of Nevada, Reno President Milton Glick will introduce the general. A question-and-answer session will follow the speech. Bauman said he expects about 700 people at the presentation, half of them students and faculty and half the general public.

“He wants to convey to young people what his experiences are,” said Carina Black, the executive director of the Northern Nevada International Center. “He’s been wanting to do this for a really long time.”

The next president will face problems from the area Abizaid commanded, political science professor Leonard Weinberg said. Abizaid’s area of command included substantial oil supply areas and hot spots of terrorist activity.

“His take on what the next president is likely to confront is very important,” Bauman said.

Abizaid headed U.S. Central Command from July 2003 until May 2007 according to UNR’s office of Media Relations. Central Command covers the 27-country region between the European and Pacific commands. He also oversaw operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Army Times.

Abizaid served for 34 years in the Army and rose from infantry platoon leader to four-star general. He served in Lebanon, Bosnia, Kurdistan, Grenada, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. He studied at the University of Jordan and has a master’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University. He is fluent in Arabic.

A protest area will be set up outside of the student union during the event because Abizaid’s speech about foreign policy is “very controversial,” Bauman said.

“People will protest anything,” said Lauren Kohler, the Flipside special events chairman. “We’re preparing for the worst.”

http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2008/09/29/general-to-speak-on-foreign-policy/

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

University president answers students’ questions in open forum

Tuesday, September 23, 2008


University of Nevada, Reno President Milton Glick answered questions today from students on topics ranging from the upcoming football game with University of Nevada, Las Vegas to how budget cuts will affect the university.

About 42 students came and went during the one-hour Pizza with the President session. Glick said the group had a high turnout with a low energy level.

Glick answered questions in an informal forum while students ate pizza, cookies and sodas provided through the event.

“This is really my chance to hear from you,” Glick said.

Glick explained he would eat his salad while talking. He said he was jealous of the students and their pizza because his diet restricted him to salad. Students listened to the president from couches and chairs arranged around the Graduate Student Lounge. More chairs were brought in during the course of the event to accommodate students as more attended.

A senior economics major asked what steps the university is taking to lobby the legislature about raising the tuition rate.

Glick said the Nevada Assembly leadership is supportive of raised tuition rates and senate leadership is open to the possibility.

“We have alternatives,” he said.

A nursing student asked about proliferation of online classes, saying most of her classes are online. Glick asked the students who have a majority of online classes to raise their hands. Only one student, an accounting major, did.

Glick said he does not think online classes are the wave of the future.

“If you can’t get to the university, we want to bring the university to you,” he said.

A member of the audience asked what the university is doing to decrease the amount of time it takes students to graduate to four years.

“Most students are still on a four year degree,” Glick said.

The university is considering lowering the required amount of credit hours to graduate from 128 to 120, he said.

Students change their majors two to three times on average, he said, increasing the time it takes to graduate.

“I still haven’t figured out what I want to do when I grow up,” he said.

One student asked about the chatter flying around campus surrounding the possibility of cutting majors. Glick responded that in one worst-case scenario, the university will cut some programs.

“We don’t want to degrade every program so we may have to eliminate a few,” he said. “If we have a $30 million budget cut, we have to stop doing some things.”

When asked about the upcoming football game against Las Vegas, Glick said it will be a tough game.

“It’s too close to call,” he said. “I hope we whip ‘em.”



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nts-questions-in-open-forum/

Getchell’s future up to legislature

Tuesday, September 23, 2008


The future of Getchell Library is in the hands of the Nevada State Legislature, which will decide whether to pay $10.5 million for renovations or allow the building to mothball.

The legislature will make its decision during its 2009 session. The plan calls for renovating 155,000 square feet of the existing 177,000. If the legislature approves the funding, renovation would start in 2010, said Stephen Mischissin, the interim vice president of facilities services department.

Getchell Library was built in 1962, and the building needs to be brought up to today’s building codes, he said.

The plan calls for a new sprinkler system, fire alarms, ramps and elevators in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, he said.

“They’re life and safety upgrades,” he said.

The University of Nevada, Reno submitted a Capital Improvements Project request to retrofit the library for another use to the Board of Regents, who sent it to the Nevada Public Works Board.

Paul Neil, director of the university core curriculum office, said the old library would be turned into a student services building and an informal learning space. Student Success Services, currently in the Thompson Student Services building, might move to the Getchell space.

The first floor of the old library would house student advising and the academic skills center, he said.

The Thompson building might be turned into an academic space. The philosophy department may move from E.J. Cain Hall to the Thompson building. The English department may extend its offices into the Thompson building.

The middle level of the basement may be removed and the space turned into rehearsal and studio spaces for the art department, Neil said.

Retrofitting the Getchell Library space will postpone the need for more expensive buildings, Ron Zurek, Vice President of Administration and Finance, said.

The renovations will cost about $58 per square foot, he said. A new building would cost between $400-$500 per square foot.


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