o. 5 Vol. XXXV, N
IN THIS ISSUE... Success in Local Government...................................2 Safe Surfing...................................3 Free Fitness Classes....................4 Catanach at 900.............................5 Winter Break Construction Plans...............................................5
Riverside Center Open House Dec. 12 All faculty and staff are invited to stop by the Riverside Center on Wednesday, Dec. 12, from 9:30–11:30 a.m. for the annual Riverside Center Holiday Open House. The event is hosted by the development, human resources and public information offices on the second floor of the Riverside Center.
2012 DECEMBER
Staff Joins Students at Commencement Dec. 15 Staczar is Commencement Speaker
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he University will hold its 133rd commencement Saturday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. at the newly re-dedicated Martinez Athletics Center. Among the 445 graduates will be several staff members. Colleen Itani, staff assistant I for the Academic Advising Office, will receive her Bachelor of Arts cum laude. Itani was enrolled in the Honors Program during her studies. Andria Stewart, staff assistant II for the Office of Public Information and Publications, will receive her Bachelor of Liberal Studies. Three staff members have earned their Master of Business Administration, including Stephanie Bihr, assistant director of admissions; Valerie French, assistant director of admissions; and Tara (Lemay) Micgiel, financial aid counselor. Monica Cook ’05, associate director of admissions, will receive her Master of Education. Michael Staczar, chair of the Department of Speech, Theater and Dance and associate professor of theatre, is the speaker for the ceremony. Staczar is the recipient of the 2011-2012 Louise Loy Hunter Award, which is given annually by its previous recipients to a UT professor for excellence in teaching and cumulative contributions in service and scholarship. Roger A. Trujillo Cowley, a management major, will give the challenge to the graduating class. Continued on page 2
Toys for Tots Car Show Dec. 9 On Sunday, Dec. 9, from noon to 5 p.m., Drive UT will host its annual Toys for Tots Car Show in the Sykes College of Business parking lot. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate and enjoy the cars on display, vendor tables, a rock climbing wall and other activities. For more information, email DriveUT@gmail.com .
Five Recognized for Dedication to UT
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ongratulations to the winners of the 2012 Edmund P. Sliz Awards: Toni Diaz-Calderon, mail clerk in the post office; Jana Davila, administrative assistant for the College of Natural and Health Sciences; Elizabeth Schoepp, academic advisor in the academic advising office; Sabrina Griffith, associate director of residential communities for residence life; and Mark Wright, network systems administrator for information technology. The winners were announced at a reception on Nov. 28.
From left: Toni Diaz-Calderon, Elizabeth Schoepp and Jana Davila
The Sliz awards are given annually to staff members who are recognized as the most dedicated and valuable staff members at the University. Recipients are awarded a plaque and a cash award of $250.
Make it a Day of Service Mark your calendar for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 21. Students, faculty and staff will meet at 9 a.m. in Fletcher Lounge before heading out to volunteer with one of a number of organizations. Email peace@ut.edu for more information or to sign up.
Let them Eat ... Pancakes Save the date for the annual Senior Staff Pancake Breakfast on Wednesday, Jan. 9, and enjoy a hot breakfast served by the powers that be. Keep an eye out for the global email with all the details.
January Student Services Briefing The next Student Services Briefing will be held on Thursday, Jan. 10, in the Vaughn Center Crescent Club at noon. Lunch will be available at 11:30 a.m.
Paine Spending Sabbatical Uncovering Secrets to Success in Local Government
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cott Paine, associate professor of communication/ government and world affairs, not only studies local government, he knows what the job is like firsthand. Paine served on the Tampa City Council from 1991 to 1999. By 2000, he transitioned to training municipal officials on leadership and ethics and has spoken nationally about these issues. He writes regularly for Quality Cities, the magazine of the Florida League of Cities. For his sabbatical project this year, Paine is studying the differences between those who are successful in local government and those who are not. “Leadership practices of municipal officials are not particularly well-studied, except in the case of very large cities,” said Paine. “Most municipalities are not large, however, and a substantial percentage of the population does not live in those big cities.” Paine will spend the next several months interviewing present and former city managers and elected municipal officials to find out how they’ve handled contentious situations — a crime spree or battle with a colleague, for instance. He’ll also spend time looking at archives for news coverage and other records of the situation to see how their behavior was perceived by the public. “Local officials work on a more personal dimension, not through mass media like national candidates,” said Paine, explaining that most of the time they are dealing face-to-face with four to eight other officials, as well as activists, the city manager and directors of programs. “I’m looking at how they understand and play their role at the local level.” Paine said that though we don’t yet know for sure what it takes for elected officials in a smaller city to be successful, his educated guess is that what makes it work is recognizing they belong to the public. “You’re assuming a role, assuming an identity,” he said. “If a person is screaming at you because you raised taxes, you can’t scream back. You can’t take it personally.”
Commencement Continued UT Graduates by the Numbers: Total graduates = 445 | Countries represented = 33 | % of graduates from Florida = 49 Undergraduates
Graduate students
Total associate’s degree candidates = 2
Total master’s candidates = 92
Total bachelor’s degree candidates = 351
With honors (GPA 3.9 or higher, but less than 4.0) = 7
Summa cum laude (GPA 4.0) = 1 Magna cum laude (GPA 3.75 or higher, but less than 4.0) = 18
With highest honors (GPA 4.0) = 4 MBAs awarded = 44
Cum laude (GPA 3.5 or higher, but less than 3.75) = 33
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Top three most popular undergraduate majors in this class = Finance, Accounting, Management and Exercise Science (tied with Accounting and Management)
Staying Safe Online
A Message from the Office of Information Security As we enjoy the holiday season, here are some tips to ensure that you and your family members stay safe online. When away from the University for vacations or winter leave, shut down your computer equipment. Not only does it save money on electricity, it also reduces the opportunity for “Scammer Claus” and his band of mischievous elves to attempt to attack your computer. Be careful when shopping on the Internet. Always use “safe” payment methods such as credit cards, which allow you to seek refunds easily if merchandise is not received or problems occur. Make sure there is a closed padlock on your web browser’s address bar or a URL address that begins with “shttp” or “https.” This indicates that the
Winter Break Checklist
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n the holiday rush, don’t forget to prepare your office for winter break. Some items to think about include: • • • •
Back up your files on the appropriate drive(s). Set up your out-of-office email and telephone messages. Secure laptops and other devices that remain in the work area. Lock cabinets and other storage areas.
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WHO’S NEWS
JUDY HAYDEN, professor of English and writing, edited a collection of essays recently published as Travel Narratives, The New Science, and Literary Discourse, 1569-1750. This is the second book in a series on literature and science in the 17th and 18th centuries. The first book, The New Science and Women’s Literary Discourse: Prefiguring Frankenstein, was published in 2011. She’s working on the third book, which focuses on literature and astronomy in the early modern period. DANIEL HUBER, associate professor of biology, co-authored “Feeding biomechanics and theoretical calculations of bite force in bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) during ontogeny,” which was published in Zoology. ROBERT KERSTEIN Dana professor of government and world affairs, presented “Key West on the Edge: Inventing the Conch Republic” in October as part of the Florida Conversations series at the Tampa Bay History Center. RONALD KUNTZE, associate professor of marketing, and Erika Matulich, professor of marketing, co-authored “The rise and fall of virtual reality
purchase is encrypted or secured. For new sites, check online reviews before shopping. As a new year approaches, consider changing the passwords to online accounts you and your family frequently use, such as online banking, shopping, social networking, email, etc. It’s free and easy and adds another layer of protection to your online experience. Think of passwords that won’t be easily guessed by savvy cyber wrong-doers … so no birthdays, high school, family, pets or maiden names. Be creative! You might consider using passphrases, which contain a combination of at least eight upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Seek to educate your children about online safety. Talk to your children young and old about protecting their personal information and sharing practices overall while online. Visit the following site to get more tips: www.staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online. • Remove perishable items from your work area, including refrigerators. • Empty recycling containers. • Ensure that everyone in your department has your emergency contact information (and vice versa) in case an emergency arises during non-scheduled hours. If you are going to be on campus during the break, it is never a bad idea to let Campus Safety know when you are in a building at a nonroutine time. Campus Safety can be reached at x7777. retailing in Second Life: an avatar’s perspective,” which was accepted for publication in the Journal of Management and Marketing Research. CHARLOTTE PETONIC, wellness coordinator, was honored at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Quad S (Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality) with the award for Outstanding Early Professional Ambassador. RANDAL RENTFRO, associate professor of accounting, co-authored “Exploring relationships between demographic variables and social networking use,” which was published in the Journal of Management and Marketing Research. MARY JANE SCHENCK, professor of English, had her paper “The Charlemagne Window at Chartres: Visual Chronicle of a Royal Life,” published in Word & Image: A Journal of Verbal/Visual Enquiry. She has been doing research this fall on medieval epics and legal topics at the Bibliothèque Nationale and was invited in September to lecture on early glass at l’Université d’Orléans (France) where she presented “Le Vitrail de Charlemagne: Scènes Choisies de la Chronique Visuelle.” SHANE SMITH, assistant professor of marketing, co-authored “Game Plan: How Can Marketers Face the Challenge of Managing Customer Value Metrics,” which was accepted for publication in the Journal of Marketing Management.
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McNiff Closed for the Holidays The McNiff Fitness Center will close on Thursday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m. The center is scheduled to reopen on Jan. 20, 2013.
Faculty in the News • BRADFORD BLACKBURN, chair/associate professor of music and director of music technology and composition, talked to WTVT about the Music Genome Project. • CHRIS CAPSAMBELIS, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice, talked to Western Pennsylvania’s TribLIVE about a proposed bill to make home invasion a state crime. • RYAN CRAGUN, assistant professor of sociology, spoke to several news outlets, including The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, about the increase of atheism in the U.S.
Free Orangetheory Fitness Classes UT MBA student Phil Michaels ’10, a personal coach at Orangetheory Fitness, is offering free classes to UT faculty, staff and students. Orangetheory Fitness is the No. 1-ranked 60-minute workout in the U.S. and uses heart-rate monitor training. For more information, contact Michaels at (813) 373-2995 or pmichaels@spartans.ut.edu .
• LEE HOKE, professor of economics, was interviewed by WUSF News about Tampa’s economy, which is ranked 30 out of 100 U.S. metro areas in how much its economy has improved the last quarter. • RONALD KUNTZE, associate professor of marketing, spoke to Forbes Asia about “aspirational products,” which promise better health or appearance. • JIM LEE, associate professor of marketing, appeared in a WFLA piece about the rise of couponing and the reaction of manufacturers. • ERIKA MATULICH, professor of marketing, was interviewed by United Press International about the concept of “ad wearout” in reference to the onslaught of political ads this fall. • SCOTT PAINE, associate professor of communication/government and world affairs, was interviewed by several new outlets regarding the recent presidential election, including The Tampa Tribune and WTSP.
Victorian Christmas Stroll
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he annual Victorian Christmas Stroll is in full swing at the Henry B. Plant Museum. The event runs through Dec. 23, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Visitors to the museum at this time of year experience Christmas as it was during the Victorian era. The museum is decked out with Victorian holiday decorations, including trees trimmed with beveled crystals and prisms, masquerade masks, chess pieces, origami, men’s hats from the “Grand Tour” and antique toys. Visitors can enjoy spiced cider and cookies on the verandah and carol singing in front of the 15-foot tree in the hall. Admission is free for faculty, staff and students with a UT ID, $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and $7 for youths (4-18 years). On Dec. 10 and 11 admission will be reduced to $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for youths. Proceeds from the Victorian Christmas Stroll fund significant museum restoration and preservation projects, as well as educational programming. For more information, contact Sally Shifke, museum relations coordinator, at (813) 258-7302.
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Just FYI: Winter Break Construction Projects
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hile the construction of Residence Hall 7 and the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex grab construction headlines, there are several smaller projects happening over the next few weeks to be aware of. Part of the Sykes College of Business parking lot (north of Smiley Hall) will be closed from Dec. 17 –Jan. 11 to install additional piping to the new chiller plant. Work will be ongoing down A Street and Edison Avenue, from approximately Dec. 17–Feb. 1. This will be phased and is dependent on getting approval from the City of Tampa for utility connections. West B Street will be open soon to accommodate re-routed traffic from A Street. The A Street work will run from the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex all the way to North Boulevard. This project
will address existing issues due to the wear and tear of A Street from construction and delivery traffic. Sidewalks and landscaping on the north side of B Street will begin and occur throughout the winter break. Improvements to the Naimoli Family Softball Complex are moving quickly and will be almost complete by the end of break. There will also be small projects to complete the Martinez Athletics Center renovation, including finishing the exterior façade on the south and west sides. into practice.
Catanach Achieves Milestone 900th Win
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ongratulations to Chris Catanach, head volleyball coach, on earning his 900th career victory on Nov. 14 against Sunshine State Conference rival Eckerd College. Catanach holds the second highest number of wins among active coaches and the third all-time behind the retired Peggy Martin (1,099 Central Missouri/Spring Hill) and active coach Tracey Rietzke (1,021 Rockhurst). Catanach is in his 29th season as head of UT’s volleyball program. Under his direction, the Spartans eclipsed the 1,000 win mark as a program, also against Eckerd, on Oct. 10, 2012. The team won the NCAA Division II South Regional on Dec. 1, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals on Dec. 6.
A DELIGHT-FUL AWARD — President Vaughn received the Education Award at the Istanbul Cultural Center-Tampa Bay Dialog and Friendship Dinner on Nov. 7. The Istanbul Cultural Center-Tampa Bay is the local chapter of the Turkish American Chamber of Commerce of the Southeast United States. UT has approximately seven students from Turkey.
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Holiday Shopping Ideas Looking for last minute gift ideas? Stop by the UT Campus Store on Tuesday, Dec. 11, and Wednesday, Dec. 12, for the faculty and staff appreciation sale and receive an additional 10 percent off of UT clothing and gifts — a total of 20 percent off. The store is also running a 25 percent off sale on all fleece tops and bottoms until Sunday, Dec. 23. And for the dog or dog lover in your life, the Campus Store now carries dog collars, leashes and bandanas. Please note the faculty and staff appreciation discount cannot be combined with the fleece sale or on clearance items.
Goodbye! From left: Amanda Adas, Tracey Potter and Katie White
A TASTE OF THE HOLIDAYS — Faculty and staff members gathered on Dec. 4 for the annual Holiday Cookie Party. Prizes were given to Amanda Adas, area coordinator in residence life, for the Best Tasting Treat; Tracey Potter, director of network services in information technology, for the Prettiest Cookie; Ashley Wilcox, staff assistant II for the Baccalaureate Experience, for the Ugliest Cookie; and Katie White, assistant director of campus recreation and wellness, for the Best-tasting, Guilt-free Treat.
Hello! KELLY CALLAHAN Student Leadership and Engagement
Director of Community Engagement
MADELYN CASTRO
President’s Office
Executive Assistant
COLLEEN ITANI
Academic Advising Office
Staff Assistant I
KATHERINE PAZDA
International Programs
Advisor
SHERRI TINGLER- Bursar’s Office HOWARD
Part-time Accounts Receivable Service Representative
JACKIE GARCIA
Staff Assistant II
College of Social Sciences, Math and Education
DANIELLE HOUSTON International Programs
Senior Education Abroad Advisor
MEGAN MCCONVILLE
Senior Associate Director
Admissions
LINDSEY SMITH College of Business
Coordinator of Centers and Institutes
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TWO WEEKS@UT Friday, Dec. 7
Saturday, Dec. 29
First Friday Concert. Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values. Noon.
Men’s Basketball vs. Miles. Martinez Athletics Center. 4 p.m.
Dec. 7–8
Sunday, Dec. 30
Dancing With Winds. The Wind Ensemble and Department of Dance will perform choreographed works including Three Celtic Dances, Carol of the Bells, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and excerpts from The Nutcracker. Falk Theatre. 7:30 p.m.
Men’s Basketball vs. Paine. Martinez Athletics Center. 4 p.m. Dec. 24–Jan. 1 Winter Leave.
Employee of the Month
DECEMBER
JAY HENDERSON Shift Supervisor Campus Safety
Thursday, Dec. 13 Men’s Basketball vs. Shaw. Martinez Athletics Center. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 Commencement. Martinez Athletics Center. 10 a.m. BFA Exit Show Reception. Scarfone/Hartley Gallery. 7 p.m.
For future events and more info see www.ut.edu/campuseventcalendar
CAMPUS HOURS CAMPUS STORE http://utampa.bncollege.com
MACDONALD-KELCE LIBRARY http://utopia.ut.edu/hours.htm
HENRY B. PLANT MUSEUM www.plantmuseum.com
COMPUTER LAB HOURS www.ut.edu/technology/labs
SCARFONE/HARTLEY GALLERY www.ut.edu/scarfonehartleygallery
DINING SERVICES http://dining.ut.edu/locations.html
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Office of Public Information | (813) 253-6232 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. | Tampa, FL 33606-1490
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