Pick up a copy of our Valentines issue of The Forum, now available at newsstands around campus! In this issue:

• Academia Nut with Dr. Barry Liss
• Top Ten Sports Moments with Jonathon Zenk
• Movie and Music Reviews
• Campus News and Event Coverage
• And More!

Grab our print issue download the electronic version here! We welcome your comments, as always. Please direct letters to editor@uwmcforum.com.

It’s not every day that a student at UWMC gets a liver transplant. For his entire life, Darin James Weiks, known by family and friends as Doogie, had been fighting a disease called Glycogen Storage Disease Type 1A, characterized by a missing enzyme in the liver needed to break down sugar. As a result, all the sugar he consumed was stored in the liver, which in turn caused the liver to enlarge.

His condition affected his life in many ways, but Doogie has received a lot of support from friends and family, especially in his hometown of Athens, WI. Doogie attended high school there, and even though he always wanted to join the football team, his disease prevented him from doing so. His doctors would not allow him to play because contact sports were especially dangerous for him; if he took a blow to the liver, it could be fatal. The last game of the 2008 season, Doogie’s senior year in Athens, some of the members of the high school football team came up with a way to fulfill Doogie’s dream despite his illness. Making an agreement with the Abbotsford team, they made it possible for him to get on the field and play as the team’s kicker—an experience he will never forget. The story of the game is featured on the ESPN website along with a video of the television broadcast. You can find it all at sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/ football.

In October of 2008, Doogie developed potentially cancerous tumors on his liver requiring him to have a liver transplant. Recently receiving a call that a liver was available for him on Oct 28, Doogie went in for surgery the following Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is currently in recovery from this procedure, and all has gone well so far.

As a writer for The Forum, I was granted the opportunity to contact Doogie via Facebook messaging while he was in Rochester, and he graciously took the time to answer a few of my questions.

Forum: Has it been difficult living with this condition? What sort of things did you have to do to regulate it?

Doogie Weiks: It hasn’t been too difficult because I didn’t know any different. Every day I had to take cornstarch and Kool-aid mixtures to regulate blood sugar. At night I had to be hooked up to a pump that would constantly be feeding me through a gastrostomy tube I had in my stomach.

F: How did you feel when you got the call that they had a liver for you and you could receive the transplant?

Weiks: I was excited when my transplant coordinator called. I had been waiting for this for almost a year. I wasn’t too nervous because I knew it would go well because of the care I was already getting at Mayo Clinic.

F: Have you had a lot of support from family and friends? How has that support helped you?

Weiks: I have had awesome support from family and friends. I had a little extra motivation to get through the surgery without problems because I knew I had so many people out there pulling for me.

F: Is there anything else you would like the readers of the Forum, or any of the students at the UWMC, to know? Is there anything you would like to say to them?

Weiks: I guess I would like to encourage you, if you’re not already, to become an organ donor. By being an organ donor you can save more than 60 lives. It’s almost like giving the gift of life to someone who needs a second chance.

Doogie is currently a freshman at UWMC and isn’t expected back at school until next semester at the earliest. He has greatly appreciated all the support from family, friends, and students and faculty associated with the UWMC campus, and would definitely also appreciate your thoughts and continued support as he begins a life with his new, healthy liver.

The construction taking place across from campus is to extend the UWMC with a brand new communications building. This building will be the home of a state of the art theatre, the Wisconsin Institute of Public Policy and Service (WIPPS), Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR), and UWMC’s Continuing Education program.

It sounds great, this new building. But, considering these institutions already have homes on the UWMC campus, not to mention our current theatre, some are wondering why we need another building.

The new building project is something that is near and dear to Sarah Rudolph’s heart. As a professor of Communication and Theatre Arts, she has always been right at the front of getting the project started.

“We have a special opportunity with WIPPS,” said Rudolph. “In order to realize this opportunity, we need offices and conference space.”

Right now, WIPPS, which focuses on enhancing the civil life of Wisconsin through public forums, education outreach, and service learning and internship opportunities, is stuffed into a relatively small room. Continuing Education and WPR are out of the way and in the basement.

As for the theatre—“the one in the existing building was cobbled together from an all purpose room,” explained Rudolph. “We will now have a theatre on par with what other colleges have.”

The current theatre also lacks space. There is so little space that during the production of “The Producers,” actors had to change costumes out in the hallway. “[We] have pulled off some big shows in the space we have… but it has meant all sorts of complicated plans for storing and moving scenery,” said Rudolph.

The idea for a new building has been in the works for quite a while now. “I have been harping about the need for a real theatre since the day I set foot in UWMC in 1991,” Rudolph explained. “During the time Jim Veninga was dean, he worked very hard to get the process moving but it started in earnest a couple of years back.”

According to UWMC’s website, the cost of this new building is $6.8 million. The project was financed with $3.6 million from Marathon County, $1.38 million from the State for movable equipment, and $5.068 million from the Federal Government for the building and also for the land acquisition.

Completion of the building is scheduled for November 2010, and a production in the theatre is already planned for that same month. Everything else should be moved in during the spring semester of 2011.

From Nov.12 to Nov. 15, the UWMC theatre put on a production of the controversial play, “Fat Pig.” The story follows the developing relationship between Tom and Helen. Because Helen is obese, they are viewed by everyone else as an “odd couple.”

On the night of the first performance, audience behavior was shameful and, I can easily imagine, painful for the actors and everyone else involved with the production. UWMC students in the audience were talking and texting throughout the play. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it seems this audience also found the premise of the play to be quite funny. They laughed at the lead character’s pain and made rude comments such as, “Oh gross, that dude’s making out with a fat chick.” We spoke to Director Sarah Rudolph about the play and the reaction to it.

The Forum: Why do you feel that “Fat Pig” is such an important play?

Sarah Rudolph: We all know that young women— well, women throughout their lives, but it is perhaps more painful for young women—are under a great deal of pressure to be thin. We are constantly bombarded with images of models who promote a rather unrealistic ideal—yet as models have become bonier, most of us have become heftier… The diet industry is a huge racket and, along with media, often influences women to yo-yo diet and never feel satisfied with who they are. While most men understand that few real women will look like Playboy centerfolds or models, there is a stigma attached to obese women that I think most men—consciously or not—buy into. [Neil] LaBute [the author of the play] claims his play is really about Tom’s (the male lead) inability to withstand the teasing and sneers of those around him and stay with Helen, a woman he loves who happens to be plus-sized. In the preface to the play, LaBute claims his interest in writing this work had to do with how hard it is to stand up for one’s beliefs, to be a hero. Tom ultimately fails at that.

F: How did the performances go?

Rudolph: I have to say that I was very proud of this all student cast. Given that there are only four characters in the show, each of them had to carry a good deal in terms of lines and scene work. The four students—Cadie Brusky, Cody Wesner, Jacob Hillberry, Lindsey Peshel—had a range of experience. […] I was impressed that all four of them grew a tremendous amount as actors throughout rehearsals and were able to create a strong ensemble that sustained their performances. We had very different houses (audiences) each of the four performances and—for a nonmusical with a small cast and serious themes—a good turnout. One of the most difficult things for young actors is to remain consistent and this cast managed to do that quite well. As you know—a lot of people know by now—our opening night was pretty rowdy. We had 56 UWMC students in the house that night, and it is great to have a large student turnout as the theatre program is really for them. Unfortunately, many of our students have seen little, if any, theatre like this—I am constantly surprised that many of the students I have, even in theatre class, have seen nothing but the high school musical—and there was lots of laughter. It became contagious and grew to the point where people were laughing even during scenes in which the jokes being made about fat women were intended to reveal peoples’ cruelty. Fairly or unfairly, it seemed that a lot of people were laughing at the expense of fat people—thus at the expense of the situation in which Helen and Tom found themselves. There is a scene in which there is a great deal of intimacy and people hooted and laughed at that, which I found disappointing, just as I did the way many laughed at the profanity being used on stage. At the time I was—as were many people in the audience and working on the production— just plain angry at the lack of sensitivity. In retrospect, however, I think this response stemmed from a lack of theatre etiquette and no familiarity with serious drama.

The amount of conversation that has been generated after this particular performance has proven far more important than the actual audience behavior during the show that night. […] Both in and outside of classes there has been a lot of reflection on theatre etiquette in general but also and more importantly on the reprehensible treatment of obese people. Friday night’s audience was so quiet it was almost a letdown. Saturday’s and Sunday’s were a good balance. […] We realized that we neglected to run the ‘turn off your cell phone’ announcement before Thursday’s performance, and one of the things that people who are not accustomed to live performance do is text, which is very distracting to other audience members and just not appropriate behavior, so we will certainly never forget that announcement again. […] We had talk backs after each performance and they were all very different in terms of how people perceived the play and all very rich in terms of thoughts/feelings expressed.

Under Wisconsin statute 36.09(5), the students of the university “shall be active participants in the immediate governance of and policy development for such institutions”. During the fall 2009 term, the Student Government Association (SGA) of UWMC has the authority to represent the student body in the affairs of the university and has focused its efforts on the task of creating and implementing programs that benefit students.

The SGA began its efforts to improve student participation in campus activities this semester by creating incentives for attendance. The Community Involvement Takes Initiative (CITI) program, provided students with two gas cards or a movie ticket in exchange for attending at least six campus events. Executive Director Jake Kuehl believes the program has been successful. At least 15 students have received incentives from participating in CITI. The incentive program may change during the spring semester to reward students with a raffle entry for a single large prize, according to Kuehl. The change will make the CITI program less expensive to operate and should improve its appeal to students who might not otherwise participate in exchange for a small prize, according to SGA Vice President Corey Swinick. He believes the program is particularly important at a two-year campus, where commuting students are less likely to become involved in campus activities.

A convention of the United Council will be hosted by the UWMC and SGA in February. The United Council is an organization that advocates on behalf of student government in the state legislature and UW Board of Regents. SGA has been preparing for the convention, during which United Council leaders will answer questions from member campuses and report on advocacy efforts. The United Council will use the convention to set the agenda for the following year, hold leadership development workshops and provide training to student groups. Kuehl said the SGA intends to ask United Council leaders about textbook rental programs and the impact of budget reductions on the library.

This fall, the SGA created a suggestion box that is located at a table in the round room of the student union and was proposed by Gender and Women’s Issues Director Pa Vang. So far, six responses have been received. Kuehl hopes the box will provide another channel of communication between SGA and the student body.

Jeff Heise

SGA President Jeff Heise has assumed the role of President of the UW Colleges Student Governance Council (SGC), the governance structure for all thirteen UWC campuses. We asked Heise about his new responsibilities as SGC President in a Q & A discussion:

The Forum: When and how did you become President of SGC?

Heise: Three weeks ago, I learned that SGC had leadership positions available. I was asked if I was interested in a position and informed that my knowledge of and experience with institutional governance would be beneficial to SGC. I attended the election meeting of SGC, spoke to my qualifications and was elected by a vote of 7 to 6, over candidate Sana Khan of Waukesha, who then was elected to Vice President.

F: What responsibilities do you have as SGC President?

Heise: The responsibilities of SGC President include a position on the UW Colleges Senate Steering Committee, being a voting member of the UW Colleges Senate, presiding over the meetings of SGC, appointing students to senate committees / taskforces (in order to promote and maintain WI State Statute 36.09-5), being the official voice of the students of the UW Colleges and being a “go between” for the students and upper level officials such as the Chancellor and Associate Chancellor.

F: What are some of the issues that SGC has been working on under your leadership?

SGC has not had an official full meeting this year, (the meetings will be decided upon at the first executive meeting of SGC which will be held on Wednesday, December 9th) which makes it difficult to tell you exactly where SGC is headed, but I as well as other SGC members feel that a restructuring of SGC is necessary. This is a big undertaking, as each aspect of SGC will need to be examined. Once it is decided how SGC should be restructured, the actual restructuring can begin. The goal of the restructuring will be to improve the ease of operations of SGC, establish a better rapport with the colleges, improve communications with the colleges (SGAs and Students) and outline clear goals and functions of SGC to allow new SGCs to operate smoother and more effectively (all in efforts to improve and maintain the student representation that students in the past have fought so hard for).

F: Do you feel the UWMC SGA has had a successful fall semester?

UWMC’s SGA has had an enormously beneficial year. We started the year looking at ways that we could go above and beyond our normal duties. The program that has developed from this drive for excellence is the CITI program. Without going into too much detail, the CITI program rewards students for attending on campus events (with a raffle at the end of the year, as well as extra credit available in some classes). This program is one that we hope will benefit students for years to come; we think it is advantageous to students not solely because of the rewards students can receive, but also the sense of community that is gained by students attending on-campus activities. Another great program that has been waiting in the wings is the website SGA has developed called “The Daily Jolt.” We have just received confirmation that this website will be on the tabbed browser of the on-campus computers. Look for the SGA’s “Daily Jolt launch party” when the spring semester begins.

Pick up a copy of our latest issue of The Forum, now available at newsstands around campus! In this issue:

• Roller Derby Girls!
• UWMC Student Gets Liver Transplant
• Going Rogue: An American Joke
• Campus News and Event Coverage
• Horoscopes
• And More!

Grab our print issue or download the electronic version here! We welcome your comments, as always. Please direct letters to editor@uwmcforum.com.

Greg Lampe, Provost and Vice Chancellor of UW Colleges, spoke with UWMC faculty and students during a visit to the campus on Oct. 29. Lampe, a former communications professor, department chair and campus dean, conducted on-site visits at all thirteen UW Colleges. During his meeting with students, Lampe entertained questions from Student Government Association (SGA) officers on a number of issues. Read the full story

The Wisconsin State Senate passed bill 27-5 on Oct. 20, banning drivers from sending text messages while driving. Breaking the law could come with a fine between $20 and $400. Read the full story

UWMC’s newest Spanish professor really knows the language. Professor Eduardo Gregori is from Valencia, Spain, a city on the eastern coast of Spain. Here, Gregori grew up making many “fun memories of my childhood back home in Spain playing soccer with friends.” Read the full story

Accomplished poet and UWMC alumni Lowell Jaeger visited his old campus on Oct 1 to spend some time with students and share a bit of his work. To describe the event as anything less than inspirational would be an injustice. While attending a Creative Writing class taught by his former instructor, Professor J.D. Whitney, it was clear that this UWMC alumni still shared, not only a great respect for the campus and those who teach there, but also an obvious passion for life. Speaking with a class that occasionally lapsed into friendly laughter, it was like a meeting of a society of writers, people who understood an art and why they took part in it. Jaeger read and discussed a few of his poems with the students, including pieces entitled “World-Maker’s Daughter,” “On my Forty-Ninth Birthday,” and “Milkweed.” Students gained a rare opportunity to discuss the work of a poet that they had read, with the actual poet who had written those individual poems. Throughout the discussion, a great deal of insight was shared, coming not only from Jaeger, but also students and Professor Whitney. It was a pleasure to interview Lowell Jaeger after class and ask him a few questions about his work, his experiences with The Forum, and how attending the UWMC campus has affected his career and his life. Read the full story