To the Campus Community:

"My name's Lisa, and in 9 years I'll be an alcoholic," says the little girl in a recent TV public service announcement. She goes on to say, "I'll get started in 8th grade and I'll do some things I don't really want to do. So by the time my parents talk to me about it, alcohol won't be my only problem."

Young author Koren Zailckas tells her tale of starting to drink at age 14 in the book, "Smashed." "I had only just crammed my blinking dolls and seam-split stuffed animals into a box in the attic," she says, when she had her first sips of whiskey. She drank faithfully throughout high school, had her stomach pumped at 16, and by college she said, "I drank until I'd forgotten how much I had already drunk, and then I drank more." One point to her story, as reported in the Seattle P-I, is that "in this booze-soaked culture, society winks at underage drinking while ignoring the emotional toll." Zailckas writes, "To me, it is no surprise that underage drinking has spiked, given the fact that so much of it is dismissed as experimentation or life-stage behavior. Parents tend to brand alcohol abuse as the lesser evil, as a phase that is far less objectionable than drug abuse."

In the 2004 Healthy Youth Survey, 23 percent of 10th grade and 33 percent of 12th grade Ellensburg School District students reported drinking on three or more days in the past month. Sixteen percent of 8th graders and 20 percent of 10th graders reported riding with a driver who had been drinking; and 15 percent of 12th graders have been endangering our roads, driving after drinking. The toll isn't only emotional. It's also physical and legal. And yet, 28 percent of our 12th graders reported that they feel their parents think it is only "a little bit wrong" or "not wrong at all" for them to drink alcohol regularly. Eighteen percent of 6th graders and 79 percent of 12th graders say they think it is easy to get alcohol when they want it; and 10 percent report they get it from home with permission. What messages are we sending our kids?

Last October, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt declared that underage drinking was a "significant national problem" and asked the states to take measures to combat it. He recommended that state health officials educate the public through town hall meetings. The states quickly picked up the ball, and town hall meetings are being held around the country. In addition, a new series of public service announcements are being aired -- like the Lisa quote above -- aimed at getting parents to talk to their kids about alcohol. Washington is doing its part, with 63 communities holding town hall meetings. According to the Washington State Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, underage drinking is a leading public health problem in this state.

The Ellensburg community has already begun to talk. Our town hall meeting, on April 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ellensburg High School Commons, will continue the discussion, focusing on "Youth, Booze and the Community: A Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking - Too Much, Too Soon, Too Risky?" We will talk about the physical, legal, and health impacts of risky drinking. I hope you will join us, and help us develop community solutions. For more information, please contact me at ext. 3240.

Lynne Harrison Imamshah
Coordinator, Campus-Community Coalition and Chair, Kittitas County Advisory Board on Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Sandy Sperline, Information Technology Services, and Stuart Thompson, Purchasing, have been honored as the university civil service "Employee of the Month" for January and February, respectively. During surprise ceremonies, each received a certificate and $125 from the president's discretionary fund, through the CWU civil service employee recognition program.

Those nominating Sperline said:

• As a person in charge of hundreds of Student Lab Assistants throughout the year, she is well committed to her job. Sandy takes the time to know each of the lab assistants. She understands the importance of the labs to CWU's students and takes care to see that they are staffed, supplied and ready for use. She is very conscientious and takes great care to provide the lab users with the best facility possible.

Those nominating Thompson noted:

• Stuart's attention to detail and thoroughness makes his job duties go very efficiently and smoothly. He has the virtue of patience and always goes out of his way to explain and show customers where to locate the correct forms, and where to find information regarding Purchasing, and other departments, policies and procedures. Stuart is a problem solver and has the experience and the fortitude to find the answer.

Initiated by the CWU civil service employee council, recognition goes to employees who foster a personalized environment that supports members of the university community as well as the mission of Central.

University students, faculty and staff, along with Ellensburg community members, are encouraged to make signed or anonymous nominations for employees of the month. Nomination forms are available from the CWU human resources office, employee council representatives and on-line at: www.cwu.edu/~hr/ec/.

On Monday, March 20, Central began implement a new, Web-based application system for classified, exempt and faculty positions. All applicants will be able apply for open positions from any computer with Internet access.

"Job seekers will find applying for a position at Central easier," says Pam Zupan, CWU human resources project director. "Gone are the days of filling out a 'new' application each time someone applies for a position. In addition, applicants for civil service positions will no longer be required to complete essay type applications."

Along with the convenience of completing an application packet online, applicants will also be able to:

• View open positions;
• Complete and edit a single, general application that will be used for any position;
• Complete on-line information for specific position;
• Edit original application and attach resumes, vitaes and other supporting documents;
• Receive immediate responses as to whether they meet minimum qualifications; and
• Track the status their application on-line.

"Everyone involved should find it has many advantages over our current process," Zupan adds. "Under the new system, university hiring departments will also have faster access to applicant information."

Applicants without computer access will still have other options available to ensure their ability to apply for university positions and may make appointments with CWU human resources staff for assistance.

CWU is also working with Work Source to develop training opportunities for potential applicants, according to Zupan.

On Saturday, April 1, a team of Central Washington University food science and nutrition students will participate in the "Nutrition College Bowl," an annual trivia competition involving food science students. It will be held at California State University, Northridge (CSUN).

The only event of its kind in the nation, it's designed to encourage an enthusiasm for learning, a spirit of teamwork and a sense of community among students enrolled in nutrition and food science programs at colleges and universities across the region.

This is the fourth year of the competition, but the first time students outside of California have been eligible to participate. In all, Central will be among eight schools will, including California State University, San Bernardino; University of California, Berkeley; Pepperdine University, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly); San Diego State University and the host, CSUN.

The winning team will receive $1,000 and a trophy. The previous winners were Cal Poly, CSUN and, last year, CSU San Bernardino.

More than 60 Central Washington University theatre arts majors were among 850 students that competed in the 2006 Northwest Drama Conference/ American College Theatre Festival, Region VII was held in Pasco, Wash., Feb. 21-25. Those students represented universities and community colleges from the seven-state region: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.

Sarah Peterson, junior theatre arts major with a double emphasis in design/technology and theatre management, was the first-place winner of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) sound design competition for her work on the Central Theatre Ensemble (CTE) production of "The Foreigner." She will now represent CWU at the national conference will be held April 17-23 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

"We were competing against some large state schools that enroll up to four times as many majors as Central," says Scott Robinson, CWU theatre arts department chair. "The fact that we are again advancing a student to the national competition, and that she is one of only eight students nationwide invited to the Kennedy Center in the area of sound design, really speaks to the quality and commitment that guide our program."

Joe Wilbur, junior theatre arts design/technology major, placed second in the KCACTF sound design competition for his sound design of the CTE production of "Working." Wilbur is first alternate and would be invited to the national festival in Washington, D.C. in the event that the Peterson would be unable to attend.

Albie Clementi, senior theatre arts design/technology major, also placed second and received a Meritorious Achievement certificate in the KCACTF set design competition for his design of the CTE production of "Frankenstein." Clementi is also a first alternate.

This is the fifth year in a row and Peterson is the fifth CWU student to be honored with an invitation to the national conference.

During any given year, about 60 percent of Central's student body will, at some point, visit the health and counseling center. Students taking advantage of the center's services can again rest assured that their health care is in excellent hands. That's because, for the third time, Central's student health center has been reaccredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAAHC), a national organization based in Wilmette, Ill.

"Accreditation underscores our long-standing commitment to providing the highest possible levels of quality care to the community we serve," says Bob Trumpy, CWU senior director of health, counseling and wellness services.

The new, three-year accreditation - the maximum period allowed -- came following an extensive on-site survey of the center's facilities and services last October. CWU's student health center is one of only three at universities in the state, and the only one at a regional institution, that has received accreditation.

Brian P. BACH, Brooks Library, has just had his book, "Calcutta's Edifice: The Buildings of a Great City," published by Rupa & Co., New Delhi, India. The work's flyleaf states, "Calcutta, the Star of the East, is a great city, a city of palaces, of people, and of 'joy.' Calcutta's buildings command attention in a compelling sense - akin to a great epic drama. When their serious pictorial sense is also considered, they become a grand display gallery. Because of its political and economic history, the city and its background have been lavishly documented. As a matter of record, it has considerable awareness of its own architectural heritage. Yet, Calcutta's Edifice allows these buildings to 'speak for themselves.' Illustrated by the author, the book strives to achieve a point of view not of a judge, but of an appreciator. With notes on the past and seductive speculations on the future, it examines the architectural and associated apparatuses of Calcutta, the great city, as it is."

Firsthand encounters with both buildings and populace were accomplished during several long visits to Calcutta, followed by extensive research of gathered source materials. The selection of illustrations resulted from reviewing hundreds of original photographs and sketches.

At the 2006 Calcutta Book Fair, the first copy of the book was presented to the Chief Minister of West Bengal state, Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Katherine CAUBLE, a biology undergraduate, and Steve WAGNER, biological sciences, recently published an article entitled "Sublethal Effects of the Herbicide Glyphosate on Amphibian Metamorphosis and Development" in the Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (2005) 75:429-435. Their work describes the toxic effects of the major constituents of the widely used herbicide "Roundup" on Cascade Frog metamorphosis. Cauble is currently in dental school at Oregon Health Science University. In addition, Wagner along with co-authors Mark Miller (Utah State University) and Susan Haig (USGS-Corvallis, Ore.) published an article entitled "Phylogeography and genetic identification of newly-discovered populations of torrent salamanders (Rhyacotriton cascadae and R. variegates) in the Central Cascades (USA)" in the Journal Herpetologica (2006) 62: 63-70. The work describes the use of genetic tools to investigate the distribution of morphologically conserved species.

For his "outstanding work in the field of music education," the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) has inducted Peter GRIES, music, into the association's Hall of Fame. Inductees are selected from nominations by association members based on demonstrated excellence in music teaching or music administration, contributions to improving the educational process and music education profession, and the exhibition of extraordinary professional integrity.

Gries became the seventh member of the CWU faculty selected for the WMEA Hall of Fame, joining Patricia Bourne, Bert Christianson, Wayne Hertz, John Moawad, Robert Panerio and current faculty member Larry Gookin, who was inducted in 2000.

Sharon ROSELL, physics, attended the annual meeting of the Pacific Northwest Association for College Physics at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, March 24 and 25. Rosell is on the board of directors and was reelected treasurer of the association.

Robbi TORMEY has been selected as Central's 2006 Student Employee of the Year. Staff member of the CWU Office of Continuing Education nominated Tormey for the award. Tormey, a 2002 graduate of Cheney High School, graduated from CWU at the end of winter term with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and minor in athletic training. She says she will now pursue a nursing degree.

The following law and justice faculty members presented papers at the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, in Baltimore Feb. 28-March 4.

• Teresa FRANCIS: "Cruel and Unusual Punishment: Privatization of Health Care in the Jail and Prisons."
• Mike OLIVERO and Rodrigo MURATAYA: "At-Risk Youth and Psychopathology."
• Sarah BRITTO, with students Tycy HUGHES, Kurt SALTZMAN and Colin STROH: "Deconstructing the Meaning of 'Special' in 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.'"
• Key SUN: "Hate Offenders Mens Rea Victims Salience and Intergroup Conflict."

CWU EMPLOYEES
Civil Service new hires: Linda Waters, Fiscal Technician 2, Theatre Arts; Thomas Rockey, Information Technology Specialist 3, Information Technology Services; Kelly Zakel-Larson, Office Assistant 3, Public Relations and Marketing.

Civil Service job change: Bobbie Peterson, Administrative Assistant B, Office of International Studies and Programs; Patricia Minshull, Credentials Evaluator II, Registrar Services; William Lovell, Engineering Assistant I, Facilities Management; Nancy Schnebly, Secretary Senior, Department of Education.

Exempt new hires: Christine Schurkus, Career Counselor, CWU - Des Moines Center; Sheila Walton, Director, Student Affairs - Westside, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management.

Exempt job changes: Djordje Popovic, Program Coordinator, Diversity Education Center; Steven Rittereiser, Assistant VP, Business Auxiliaries and Public Safety, Public Safety and Police Services.

To view current job openings at CWU, go to www.cwu.edu/~hr/jobs/index.html.

The Chestnut Mall Bridge Improvement Project will remove the wooden deck structure and replace it with a concrete deck structure. The bridge will be closed to all pedestrian and vehicle traffic while under construction. Once completed, the new concrete deck will be open to pedestrians and vehicles and will be rated to support the weight of a fire truck. The new bridge is scheduled to close the week of April 17 and re-open no later than May 26.

Dr. Sura Rath, English, has announced he will step down as director of the William O. Douglas Honors College effective at the end of the school year. During three years as director, Rath has involved CWU in the regional and national honors councils, expanded the thesis committees for the senior thesis work, incorporated graduate-level preparation for the honors students, provided leadership in the learning and living residence halls program, and encouraged honor students' involvement in the Symposium On University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). An internal search for an interim position is being conducted during spring quarter.

EMPOWERMENT CENTER/ITS TO OFFERS COMPUTER TRAINING

The Center for Student Empowerment and ITS Training will host two seminars for non-traditional students, titled "Campus Computing: A Hands-On Computer Workshop."

CWU identifies a non-traditional student as someone who meets one or more of the following criteria:

• Age 25 or older, with dependants or children, and/or in a long-term domestic relationship
• The free workshops will include information on accessing the CWU network from campus and home, using the basics of GroupWise e-mail and calendar, and other questions on software programs used at Central.

The hour-long training will be held:

• Tuesday, April 4, at 9 a.m., and
• Wednesday, April 5, at 2 p.m.

To reserve a spot, visit the Empowerment Center in SUB 218, or call ext. 2127.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1
Student Recital: Andrea Wallis, voice, noon, Music Building Recital Hall
Student Recital: Chandra Rampersad and Ian Johnson, horn, 2 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Student Recital: Laura Thoreson and Rachel Alvord, voice, 4 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Music Performance: Peggy Gries, "Musica Antiqua" series, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

SUNDAY, APRIL 2
Guest Flute Recital: James Hall, 4 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
University Relations/Development: "Building Bridges Scholarship Reception," 2 p.m., SUB Ballroom

TUESDAY, APRIL 4
Student Recital: Kimberly Roy, viola, and Michelle Vaughn, violin, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

FRIDAY, APRIL 7
Baseball: CWU vs. Northwest Nazarene, 1 p.m., 3 p.m., CWU baseball field
Natural Science Seminar: Ken Bevis, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, "Complex Environmental Problems, Simple Solutions...Yeah, Right," 4 p.m., Science Building 147

SATURDAY, APRIL 8
Baseball: CWU vs. Northwest Nazarene, noon, 2 p.m., CWU baseball field

SUNDAY, APRIL 9
Music Concert: Second Sunday Faculty Concert Series, 4 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall
Softball: CWU vs. Western Washington, 1 p.m., 3 p.m., CWU softball field

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12
Faculty Recital: Daniel Lipori, bassoon, with Maria Roditeleva-Wibe, piano, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

THURSDAY, APRIL 13
Student Recital: Robert Hanson, voice, viola and composition, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

SATURDAY, APRIL 15
Baseball: CWU vs. Cal State Stanislaus, noon, 2 p.m., CWU baseball field
Graduate Recital: Joel Thoreson, violin, 4 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Music Performance: "Wolf-Tones," cello quartet, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Track and Field: Spike Arlt Invitational, Tomlinson Stadium

SUNDAY, APRIL 16
Baseball: CWU vs. Cal State Stanislaus, 11 a.m., 1 p.m., CWU baseball field

MONDAY, APRIL 17
Baseball: CWU vs. Metro State, noon, CWU baseball field

TUESDAY, APRIL 18
Baseball: CWU vs. Metro State, 11 a.m., CWU baseball field
Presidential Speaker Series: Garrison Keillor, "Lake Wobegon Days," 7 p.m., McConnell Auditorium

FRIDAY, APRIL 21
Softball: CWU vs. Saint Martin's, 1 p.m., 3 p.m., CWU softball field
Natural Science Seminar: Jim Siegel, anthropology department, University of Georgia, "Culture in Co-Management: Wetland Approaches of the Yakama Nation Wildlife Resources Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Toppenish Creek," 4 p.m., Science Building 147

For other March 2006 calendar items, visit: http://www.cwu.edu/wv3_cal

SATURDAY, APRIL 22
Baseball: CWU vs. Saint Martin's, 1 p.m., 3 p.m., CWU baseball field
Student Recital: Jennifer Greene, voice, 2 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Student Recital: Jon Fickes, guitar, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

SUNDAY, APRIL 23
Performing Arts Series: Yakima Symphony Orchestra, 4 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall, $20 general, $5 students
Student Recital: Amanda Kopcsak, viola, 2 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Student Recital: Thomas Evans, percussion, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

MONDAY, APRIL 24
Track and Field: Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Multi-Event Championships, Tomlinson Stadium

TUESDAY, APRIL 25
Music Recital: Sax Nite, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Track and Field: GNAC Multi-Event Championships, Tomlinson Stadium

THURSDAY, APRIL 27
Student Recital: Heather Hart, violin, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

SATURDAY, MARCH 29
Baseball: CWU vs. Western Oregon, 1 p.m., 3 p.m., CWU baseball field
Student Recital: Burke Anderson and Sean Brown, horn, 8 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

SUNDAY, APRIL 30
Baseball: CWU vs. Western Oregon, noon, 2 p.m., CWU baseball field
Performing Arts Series: CWU Chamber Choir and Symphony Orchestra, 4 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall, $7 general, $6 seniors (62+), students free
Student Recital: Sean Draper, euphonium, noon, Music Building Recital Hall
Student Recital: Rebecca Ford, trombone, 2 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Student Recital: Bryan Drassal, saxophone, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall