CU News
News from the University of Colorado in Boulder.
CU president Bruce Benson cracks back at news media over salary debacle
Mar 11th
Public universities such as ours are subject to public scrutiny. Even though the state of Colorado provides less than 6 percent of our budget, we have an obligation to be open and accountable to our students, alumni and citizens. The close examination that comes along with that obligation is fair.
Bruce Benson
President
Not your mother’s math prof to speak at #CU
Mar 8th
Burger, who is on the record as saying “no one in their right mind would ever go to a math talk,” is not your run-of-the mill math educator. He has worked as a stand-up comedian, wrote jokes for Jay Leno in the late 1980s, starred in an episode of NBC’s “Science of the Winter Olympics” in 2010 that won him a prestigious Telly Award, and most recently is being featured in “The Science of NHL Hockey” on NBC News. “The talk is intended as whirlwind tour of the history of numbers and watch them grow from practical tools used by ancient shepherds to practical tools used to drive the digital age,” said Burger, who was named was named Vice-Provost of Strategic Educational Initiatives at Baylor University in 2011. “If you love the humanities, sciences, social sciences, medical science, business, engineering or anything involving human thought, this talk is for you.” Burger is considered by many to be the nation’s leader in math education. In 2006 Reader’s Digest named him “America’s Best Math Teacher.” In 2010 he was named the winner of the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching by Baylor University, an award that carried a $250,000 prize and is believed to be the largest and most prestigious award in higher education teaching in the nation across all disciplines. In 2010 the Huffington Post named Burger as one of the world’s 100 “Game-Changers,” a list that included “innovators, visionaries, mavericks and leaders who are re-shaping their fields and changing the world.” He also is an associate editor of the American Mathematical Monthly and of Math Horizons Magazine. In a 2005 Boston Public Library lecture on topology — the study of the properties of geometric figures or solids that remain unchanged during stretching or bending — he demonstrated that it was possible to tie a six-foot rope snugly around his right ankle and then his left ankle, take off his pants, turn them inside out and put them back on without ever cutting the rope. He once had 600 beach balls poured from the balcony of a packed auditorium at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. onto the heads of audience members to demonstrate a math principle. Burger’s deep passion for math is founded on the premise that it should be made lively, fun and educational. “The idea is to entertain and enlighten,” he said. “My goal is get people to have fun thinking, have a better feeling about math, and to look at things in a slightly different way.” Burger is the author of more than 35 research articles, 12 books and 15 video series. He has delivered more than 400 lectures and appeared on more than 40 radio and TV programs, including ABC News Now and National Public Radio. He has been a visiting mathematics professor at CU-Boulder three times. His upcoming book, “The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking,” offers students, teachers, business people and life-long learners ways of being more creative and innovative. It is being published this summer by Princeton University Press.
Boulder police: Bedroom sneak snatched laptop
Mar 6th
Boulder police are looking for a male suspect who entered a residence in the 1200 block of College Avenue and reportedly stole a laptop computer and jewelry from the residence. A composite sketch of the suspect is attached.
The burglary took place on Sunday, Feb. 26. A female victim told police she awoke to find an unknown male standing in her bedroom. When she asked him what he was doing there, he claimed that one of her roommates had told him he could stay there because he had been drinking. None of the victim’s roommates knew the suspect, who left the residence as the victim was attempting to find out who had allowed him to enter.
The suspect is a black male who is described as:
- In his early 20s
- 5’07” tall
- 160 pounds, medium build
- Clean shaven
- Shaved head
It appears the residence had been left unlocked.
Boulder police are investigating a number of burglaries in which residents have left their homes unlocked. Police remind residents to lock their doors, even if they’re only going to be gone for a little while. It’s also a good idea to keep curtains closed, so that prospective thieves can’t see into the home. There are a number of computer applications available that allow a laptop to be located through a GPS system, and police encourage laptop owners to sign up for or purchase this type of program.
The case number is 12-2647.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Kristin Weisbach at 303-441-4474.Those who have information but wish to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimeshurt.com. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead to the arrest and filing of charges on a suspect(s) may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.