November 3, 2009

Anti-Hate Rally at UWRF

In response to anonymous racist threats against Black and Asian students at UWRF, we the students organized an Anti-Hate Rally and March which we conducted on Monday, November 2, 2009 the date of the threatened racist action. Participants were asked to wear our school color red as a sign of solidarity with the threatened students.

We had a good turnout. A number of members of the wider River Falls community, including the Mayor, were also in attendance. Several speakers spoke movingly of their emotional reaction to the racist threats, and also of their determination not to let such threats deter them from getting their rightful education. After the speeches, we marched around campus and many students shouted their support. It was the most inspiring event I have witnessed while attending UWRF.

Many thanks to the Campus Police, and also River Falls PD. Their substantial and visible presence helped to reassure everyone that law enforcement takes the issue of equal protection under the law seriously. Perhaps we really are making some progress in this country, after all.

Click here to download:

Anti-Hate_Rally_at_UWRF_tags_r.zip (24672 KB)

October 31, 2009

Racist Vandalism at UWRF

Vandalism found in Davee Library

To the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Community,
On Sunday evening, a UWRF student discovered and reported race-related graffiti in the Chalmer Davee Library. This vandalism threatened violence against African-American and Asian campus populations on Monday, Nov. 2. We condemn such cowardly and ignorant actions and reaffirm our commitment to creating and fostering a diverse and inclusive campus culture.
The UWRF Police Department (in cooperation with external agencies as necessary) is investigating this incident. Criminal acts of this nature are addressed by the legal and campus judicial systems with potential consequences including (but not limited to) expulsion.
Campus leaders joined me in meeting with organizations representing the threatened populations and are developing a plan to address the well-being of our campus community. Details of this plan will be shared with the campus in the days to come.
We ask that members of the campus community remain vigilant over the next week. If you encounter similar incidents of vandalism, or witness any troubling behavior, please contact the UWRF Police at 715-425-3133.
I encourage you to join me in a show of support by signing and posting in a visible location the “I Pledge to Speak Up” sign available for download on the UWRF Inclusiveness Web page. This commitment to respond to bias and prejudice is an important step towards ensuring UWRF is a University where individuals can learn, live, and work in an environment of mutual respect.
Dean Van Galen
Chancellor

University of Wisconsin - River Falls
410 S. Third Street, River Falls, WI 54022-5001 USA (715) 425-3911
Copyright © 1995-2009 University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Click here to download:

Racist_Vandalism_at_UWRF_tags_.zip (10097 KB)

October 25, 2009

UWRF Week of Action: Firepit S'mores 'N T-Shirt Spray-painting

On October 20th, 2009 the Union of Democratic Progressives sponsored a Week of Action event at the UC Patio, featuring s'mores and T-shirt spray-painting. The idea was to promote the worldwide International Day of Climate Action event on Friday, Oct. 23. Although the Patio lights were not working and participants had to work in the dark, the event had a good turnout. Everyone seemed to be having a pretty good time. I know I enjoy anything that involves chocolate and fire!

Click here to download:

UWRF_Week_of_Action_Firepit_Sm.zip (9222 KB)

October 19, 2009

UWRF Week of Action: Sextival

Today the UWRF Week of Action kicked off with the Sextival. This event was sponsored by a student organization called RiSeUp for Women's Rights. We had a couple tables with free condoms, popcorn, sex education info, prizes, and a petition for our legislators to support real sex education in our public schools, not just abstinence-only "education."
It's so important for people to have access to this kind of information!

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Click here to download:

UWRF_Week_of_Action_Sextival_t.zip (3991 KB)

October 3, 2009

TURNING POINT Walk Against Domestic Violence

TurningPoint is a domestic violence victims' advocacy and shelter group. The UWRF student group RiSe Up for Women's Rights is also here to help support the event. Despite the cold, rainy October weather, there's a good number of people turning out for the event. Power to the People! Seize the Day: Stand up for Your Rights!

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Click here to download:

TURNING_POINT_Walk_Against_Dom.zip (9404 KB)

September 29, 2009

Request for information about pesticides, herbicides, and ice melting chemicals used on UWRF grounds

Brent Hopkins wrote:
Mr. Kenney,

My name is Brent Hopkins. I am a student at UWRF and I am also a Student-at-large Representative on Student Senate. I am writing you to request information about pesticides, herbicides, and ice-melting chemicals used on UWRF grounds. If you could link to the MSDS for each, that would be ideal; otherwise please inform me of a time and location where I could come to obtain such information. Thank you very much for your valuable time.

Yours truly, Brent Hopkins

Good Morning,

Attachments are the broadleaf control MSDS used in the spring, Dimension and Trupower. We also use Round Up, a non selective herbicide, on fencelines, any areas such as blacktop and sidewalk cracks, etc. where you want nothing to grow. Pendulum is used as a pre emergent on flower beds, mulched areas.
Also attached is the Professional Ice Melter we use in a pellet form. I've requested the MSDS in electronic form for the magnesium chloride brine we use as a pre treatment on our sidewalks in winter. I'll forward that to you when I receive it.

Please let me know if you need any further information or would like to meet.

You're welcome.

Manny Kenney
Assistant Director, Facilities Management
University of Wisconsin River Falls

You must have flash to see this embedded document.

(download)

You must have flash to see this embedded document.

(download)

You must have flash to see this embedded document.

(download)

You must have flash to see this embedded document.

(download)

You must have flash to see this embedded document.

(download)

August 2, 2009

Official Gmail Blog: Send mail from another address without "on behalf of"

Like many students at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, I have set up my University email to auto-forward into Gmail. I have also set up Gmail to allow me to send mail using my UWRF account as an alias. Unfortunately, until recently people who read such emails in Outlook would see a lame "From username@gmail.com On Behalf Of username@uwrf" message in the From field.

Well, now Gmail offers an option to send the email through the University's (or any other supported email provider's) SMPT servers, thus doing away with the "On Behalf Of" message. It looks more professional. Hit the link to read more about it. If you are a UWRF student and you want to try it, here's a screenshot of the details: