2002-03 Fact Finders History of Thanksgiving Giving hope CLOSURE OF TEMPORARY PARKING LOTS On Saturday, December 7, the temporary parking lots located behind the Lowe Art Museum and across from the Day Star Health Center will close. Parking is available in the Pavia and Ponce Garages. To save time locating a parking space, listen to WVUM 90.5 FM for campus traffic updates every morning.

CONGRESSWOMAN ROS-LEHTINEN TO ADDRESS UM STUDENTS

U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) will take part in a student-led conversation hosted by the Council for Democracy, a non-partisan student organization, from 6 - 7 p.m., Monday, November 25 at Studio C in the School of Communication. The event is free and open to the public. Topics of discussion include the recent Congressional elections, the Homeland Security Act, the war on terrorism, and Iraq. For more information on the Council for Democracy contact David McCombie at 305-439-7496.


NEW FACT FINDERS AVAILABLE ON WEB, IN PRINT

The 2002-03 Fact Finder is now available. It can be found on the Web or you can order the pocket-sized printed version from Planning and Institutional Research. Single copies are free, but orders of four or more are $0.30 per copy. Submit an IDR form to Planning and Institutional Research (Ungar 335, loc. 4222) or contact Gabrielle Antoine at 305-284-3856 to place an order.


THE HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday commemorating the harvest reaped by the Plymouth Colony in 1621 after a winter of great starvation and privation. In that year, Gov. William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving, and the feast was shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native Americans. George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day November 26, 1789. Abraham Lincoln revived the custom in 1863, making it the last Thursday of November. In 1939 - 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Thanksgiving the third Thursday in November. When a contradiction arose between Roosevelt's proclamation and some of those of state governors, Congress passed a joint resolution in 1941 decreeing that Thanksgiving should fall on the fourth Thursday of November. The day is observed by church services and family reunions and the customary turkey dinner is a reminder of the four wild turkeys served at the Pilgrims' first thanksgiving feast. Remember, the Coral Gables and Rosenstiel campuses are closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. University Relations wishes all UM faculty and staff, and their families, a safe, happy and joyous holiday.

	REGISTER NOW AND TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH UnitedHealthcare offers a personal and secure Web site that gives you access to your health benefits information. Simply visit myuhc.com and select “register.” Enter the member/ID number on your membership card and take advantage of all the great features myuhc.com has to offer, including: Review claims Search for doctors Select and rate doctors and hospitals Check eligibility NEW LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE BENEFIT OPTIONS The University has expanded the current Long Term Care per day benefit options of $70, $100 and $130 to include a $150 and $200 per day benefit (with and without inflation protection). Employees who are interested in applying for Long Term Care insurance or who are currently enrolled in the Long Term Care plan and want to buy up to a higher daily benefit need to submit an Enrollment form and an Evidence of Insurability form available on the Benefits Administration Forms Web page. Send completed forms to Pam Salemi, Benefits Administration, Max Orovitz, Locator Code 1415. For more information, contact Pam Salemi 305-284-2973.

'CANES ANGEL PROJECT PROVIDES GIFTS

Making Holiday dreams come true! The Law school's volunteer/community outreach project, H.O.P.E., is once again sponsoring its holiday project 'Canes Angel. This project collects presents for underprivileged children, and this year they are working with the Community Partnership for the Homeless Shelters in Dade and Homestead as well as clients from the Children and Youth Law Clinic. More than 300 presents are needed! If you would like to sponsor child, stop by and pick up your 'Canes Angel information or contact the H.O.P.E. office at 305-284-2599 or fax 305-284-3646. Gifts must be turned in by Friday, December 6.


RAPE DEFENSE CLASS OFFERED BY PUBLIC SAFETY

The Department of Public Safety presents a 12-hour women's course R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense), 6 - 9 p.m., December 10, 12, 17 & 19 at the Wellness Center. R.A.D. Is a personal safety/violence prevention course offering basic education from risk reduction and avoidance to basic physical self-defense techniques designed specifically for women of all ages. Preregistration is necessary as seating is limited. Wear comfortable clothing, sneakers, or workout clothes. For information on registering and fees contact Betty Helms.

	ATHLETICS FOOD DRIVE BENEFITS DAILY BREAD FOOD BANK UM and the Daily Bread Food Bank are teaming up to fight hunger. Bring two non-perishable items and receive a reduced ticket price of $7 to see the men's basketball team play the Aggies of Texas A&M on Tuesday, November 26 or $3 to watch the women's basketball team play either South Florida (Friday, November 22) or Morris Brown (Monday, November 25). The Athletic Department will be taking food donations Friday, November 22 through Wednesday, November 27. For more information call 1-800-GO-CANES. ANNUAL FOOTBALL BANQUET You are invited to join Head Football Coach Larry Coker and the football coaching staff as they honor the UM graduating seniors and Outstanding Players, Tuesday, December 10 at the Radisson Mart Plaza Hotel Centre (711 N.W. 72nd Avenue). The event is sponsored by the Hurricane Club together with the Miami Touchdown Club. The Football Banquet will begin with a 6 p.m. cocktail hour and dinner at 7 p.m. The cost to attend this event is $60 per person in advance, $75 at the door, and $480 per table of eight. To make your reservations or for more information, call 305-284-6699.

WELLNESS CENTER BLOOD DRIVE

Save a life by becoming a blood donor. The Wellness Center will hold a blood drive from 4 - 9 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, December 2-3 in the atrium. For more information, call the Wellness Suite at 305-284-5433.


GIVE HOPE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

The UM Butler Volunteer Services Center is hosting it's annual Holiday Hope Tree. Pick-up a child's request at the UC Information Desk and return all gifts unwrapped to the desk by noon, Wednesday, December 4. Gifts will be sent to participating non-profit agencies below. For more information contact the Butler Volunteer Services Center at 305-284-GIVE (4483) or stop by UC room 240.

• The Salvation Army, which has been running the Angel Tree Program since 1985, distributed more than 30,000 toys last year.
• South Miami Head Start is a child development program that has served low-income children and their families since 1965. Children from birth through 5 years of age are eligible to participate.
• The CHARLEE (Children Have All Rights: Legal, Educational, and Emotional) Program has an extensive history of providing for abused and neglected children within Dade County.
• Flamingo Elementary, a Professional Development School, is a setting where the school faculty has made a commitment to the preparation of teachers, and UM faculty has made a commitment to school improvement.

RESEARCH LISTSERV KEEPS YOU UPDATED ON COLLABORATIONS AND SHARED INITIATIVES

The Office of Research has established a LISTSERV to foster research interactions, collaborations, equipment sharing, and sharing of research initiatives. To register for the listserv, send a request to mailto:listserv@listserv.miami.edu. Leave the subject line of your e-mail blank and type only "SUBSCRIBE RESEARCH-L" in the body of the message. If you have any questions or comments, contact Norman Altman.


BLACKBOARD LISTSERV PROVIDES COURSE WEB SITE INFORMATION

The Instructional Advancement Center uses a LISTSERV to distribute news to faculty members and instructors who use the Blackboard course web site system. To register for the LISTSERV, send a request to listserv@listserv.miami.edu. Leave the subject line of your e-mail blank and type only "SUBSCRIBE BB" in the body of the message. If you have any questions or comments, contact Bill Vilberg or the IAC Help Desk.


REMINDERS

• TODAY: Patricia Ireland, former president of the National Organization for Women (1991-2000), will be meeting informally with the UM community to discuss her work and current politics, 8 - 9 p.m., Monday, November 25, in apartment 108 of Eaton Residential College. All faculty, staff, administrators and students are invited to attend. For more information contact Donna Coker at 305-284-3041 or 305-284-4688.

• The School of Law will host an open house for prospective law students 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Tuesday, November 26, at the school. The event will provide students an opportunity to tour the law school complex and to attend panel discussions featuring members of the law school's faculty, student body, and administration. Check-in begins at 8:15 a.m. and the first panel is scheduled for 9 a.m. For further information or to register for the open house, visit the School of Law's Web page or call 305-284-6746.

• The SPEAK test, required for prospective International Teaching Assistants (ITA's) to demonstrate ability in spoken English, will be given at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 26 in Dean Robert Allen Hall, Room 102. Registrations may be sent to sarah.ballinger@miami.edu and should include the student's name, department and UM ID#. All test takers must bring photo identification (passport or Cane card) with them on the day of the test. Contact Sarah Ballinger (305-284-4728) or Julia Cayuso (305-284-1326) at the Intensive English Program for more information.