Eye on U
Telling River Stories history project funded
The Telling River Stories collaborative at the University of Minnesota has received a $45,000 planning grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, according to an announcement from the university. The study is intended to tell the stories about how living near the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and St. Paul has shaped lives. Work during the planning phase will occur in the Old St. Anthony area, where the city began.
The research will be conducted over the next 10 months, with community workshops and discussions to allow the public to contribute.
“We know a lot about large industries such as milling and shipping, and about broad patterns of history such as the establishment of Fort Snelling,” Project Director Patrick Nunnally said in a news release. “But we know much less about what the river meant to the diverse communities along its banks.”
Later, depending on additional funding, the collaborative hopes to conduct a series of storytelling projects along the riverfront. They may include brochures, kiosks, web postings, pod casts, phone-in interpretation and tours.
The Telling River Stories collaborative is housed in the university’s Institute for Advanced Study. For information, contact Nunnally at pdn@umn.edu.
Institute for Advanced Study offers public programs
Looking to expand your knowledge? The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) at the university offers a variety of programming — with a very wide range of topics — that is free and open to the public. July events include:
Catastrophe: Imaging and Imagining Disruptions of Time, a kick-off symposium and discussion for a collaborative interdisciplinary research project on the topic of time. Friday, July 6, 2 p.m., 155 Nicholson Hall.
Chinese Sojourners in the Spanish Philippines, a talk by Lucille Chia, associate professor of history, University of California, Riverside. Tuesday, July 10, 4 p.m., 125 Nolte Center.
Summer Asian Film Series, Wednesdays through Aug. 8 (except July 4).
Microtubule Catastrophe: Social Interaction at the Nanoscale, a discussion with David Odde, professor of Biomedical Engineering at the U of M.
For times, locations and a full list of IAS events, call 612-626-5054, or see the website: www.ias.umn.edu.
Jan Morlock receives U service award
Jan Morlock, director of community relations, who participates in numerous neighborhood and campus meetings, has been awarded a President’s Award for Outstanding Service. “Recipients of this award have gone well beyond their regular duties and have demonstrated an unusual commitment to the University community,” said University President Robert Bruininks.
Joe Ring, past president of the Prospect Park/East River Road Improvement Association (PPERRIA), said that Morlock has contributed in two main ways. “Just her presence in the community is far greater than [there was] in the past,” Ring said. He called Morlock “a listener” for the university, which is much needed. Morlock has advocated for the health of the community around the university, which is an integral part of the health of the university itself, Ring said.
Football stadium construction to start, roadwork continues
Actual construction on the TCF Bank on-campus Gopher football stadium is expected to start at the beginning of July, while reconstruction of nearby roads continues, said Jan Morlock, director of community relations. “The stadium area is changing daily as the East Gateway District roads and infrastructure take shape,” she said. The stadium is expected to open in 2009.
Morlock said to look for the installation of landscaped “bioswales” along the roadways, intended to capture and filter stormwater, rather than discharge it directly into storm sewers. Morlock said trees will need to be removed from the construction site, but new landscaping will be installed in the future. For updates on stadium construction and traffic, parking and bus information, go to www1.umn.edu/pts/stadium.htm.
Step aboard free campus shuttle buses
The university shuttle buses are open for use by the public, at no charge. The buses link the East Bank, West Bank and St. Paul campuses. Schedules vary during semester breaks and during summer term. For information, see www1.umn.edu/pts/shuttle.htm.
Noontime music on Northrop Mall
A free noontime summer concert series on Northrop Mall will feature jazz, gypsy swing, zydeco, Afro funk, world folk, Cajun, Klezmer and cabaret music. Concerts are at noon–1 p.m. on the mall, or inside Northrop Auditorium in case of rain. See a performance list at www1.umn.edu/ umato/summer.html umato/summer.html.
‘Greek Village’ on the drawing boards
The Minnesota Greek Alumni Partnership is leading a group looking at the feasibility of building an apartment building to be shared by up to eight fraternity and sorority chapters on Southeast Fourth Street, between 17th and 18th avenues Southeast, east of Dinkytown. The university reported it would provide partial funding for the next stage of the feasibility study.
Norwegian landscapes at Bell Museum
The Norwegian landscape is the subject of an exhibit, “Flashback: Norwegian Landscapes in Retrospect,” through Aug. 12 at the university’s Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church St. SE. For information, call 612-624-7083 or visit www.bellmuseum.org.
Mid-week farmers’ market returns
The University of Minnesota Farmers’ Market begins July 11 and continues on Wednesdays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the Church Street Mall, East Bank campus. The “Cornercopia” booth will feature organic vegetables grown by students on the St. Paul Campus.
U of M info
University of Minnesota information, directories, maps, and parking, can be found at www1.umn.edu/twincities. Also see news at www1.umn.edu/umnnews/ index.php index.php and events at http://events.tc.umn.edu. University information by phone is at
612-625-5000.
last revised: July 5, 2007