CU News
News from the University of Colorado in Boulder.
MORE THAN 3,500 PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AND PARENTS EXPECTED FOR CU’S ADMITTED STUDENT DAY ON APRIL 2
Mar 29th
More than 3,500 prospective students and their parents are expected for the daylong event, according to Kevin MacLennan, director of admissions.
“We’re excited to welcome this outstanding group of students and their families to the CU-Boulder campus for Admitted Student Day,” MacLennan said. “This program provides students and their families the chance to explore the academic opportunities at our world-class institution as well as connect with faculty and staff.”
After registering, picking up an agenda and meeting Ralphie, CU’s live mascot, students will attend the Welcome Pep Rally from 8 to 8:40 a.m. in the Coors Events Center. The pep rally will include a welcome by Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano followed by entertainment from CU’s spirit squad, members of the Golden Buffalo marching band and the mascot Chip.
The rest of the day is structured so that attendees can explore academic and student life interests. A full range of activities across campus has been planned in order to give students who have been admitted the opportunity to find if CU is the “right fit” for their college experience, said Cara Ray, a senior assistant director of admissions who organized the event.
Tours will be offered of the campus, residence hall rooms, the Engineering Center, the Koelbel Business Building and selected academic facilities, and the Center for Community will have an open house so guests can explore the many student support services. Participants also will have the opportunity to confirm their intent to enroll, sign up for housing, and talk with financial aid counselors.
A wide variety of information sessions also will be offered throughout the day, including: Navigating Your Academic Experience; Life in the Residence Halls; Academic Support Services; Safety, Security and Student Responsibilities on Campus; and Academic, Cultural and Social Support for Diversity. An information fair will be held from noon to 2:30 p.m. in Coors Events Center where current students associated with clubs, organizations and residential academic programs will be available.
Activities such as recreation center classes, music performances, films and museum open houses also will be available to attendees.
FORMER PRESIDENT OF MEXICO VICENTE FOX TO SPEAK AT CU’S MACKY AUDITORIUM
Mar 28th
Fox will present “Surveying the Geo-Political Landscape” and speak on his perspective on the state of the world. He will touch on the relationship between the United States and Latin America, the role of the United Nations and the promises of globalization, both fulfilled and unfulfilled. There also will be a question and answer session.
Tickets are $1 for students with a valid BuffOne Card. Community tickets are $15 for general admission and $30 for priority seating, and are being sold through Ticketswest.com and local King Soopers locations.
Doors will open at 6:45 p.m. No backpacks or skateboards are allowed inside the building.
“We believe Mr. Fox gives an important voice on the current geopolitical climate,” said Distinguished Speakers Board Chair Punam Chatterjee. “He can provide a new understanding of current economic and social challenges as well as provide his perspective on global leadership. We also believe he will connect with many students, as well as the community, because of his expertise in many fields and because of current events.”
Fox was the president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006. When elected he ended the rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party. During his term in office he succeeded in controlling inflation and interest rates, and in achieving the lowest unemployment rate in Latin America. He studied business administration at the Universidad Iberoamericana and afterward pursued a Top Management Diploma at the Harvard Business School.
Fox has four adopted children. He was born in Mexico City in 1942 and grew up on San Cristobal Ranch in the municipality of San Francisco del Rincon, in Guanajuato state. Post-presidency he wrote an autobiography, “Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith and Dreams of a Mexican President,” and travels for public speaking engagements.
“Fox’s experiences as a businessman, educator, politician and leader in a foreign country are attractive to the CU community, which appreciates diverse perspectives,” said Distinguished Speakers Board Public Relations Director Taylor Coughlin.
The Distinguished Speakers Board mission is “to bring speakers of the highest caliber, who will intellectually stimulate the student body and the surrounding community. Ultimately, we hope to inspire people by bringing some of the world’s greatest minds to the University of Colorado Boulder.”
The board is a student-run organization and part of the CU student government. Previous speakers brought to CU-Boulder by the board have included Queen Noor, Thomas Friedman, B.B. King, the Rev. Desmond Tutu, Howard Dean and Karl Rove.
MEASUREMENTS OF WINTER ARCTIC SEA ICE SHOWS CONTINUING ICE LOSS, SAYS CU-BOULDER STUDY
Mar 23rd
The CU-Boulder research team believes the lowest annual maximum ice extent of 5,650,000 square miles occurred on March 7. The maximum ice extent was 463,000 square miles below the 1979-2000 average, an area slightly larger than the states of Texas and California combined. The 2011 measurements were tied with those from 2006 as the lowest maximum sea ice extents measured since satellite record keeping began in 1979.
Virtually all climate scientists believe shrinking Arctic sea ice is tied to warming temperatures in the region caused by an increase in human-produced greenhouse gases being pumped into Earth’s atmosphere. Because of the spiraling downward trend of Arctic sea ice extent in the last decade, some CU scientists are predicting the Arctic Ocean may be ice free in the summers within the next several decades.
The seven lowest maximum Arctic sea ice extents measured by satellites all have occurred in the last seven years, said CU-Boulder Research Scientist Walt Meier of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, who participated the latest study. “I’m not surprised by the new data because we’ve seen a downward trend in winter sea ice extent for some time now.”
Scientists believe Arctic sea ice functions like an air conditioner for the global climate system by naturally cooling air and water masses, playing a key role in ocean circulation and reflecting solar radiation back into space, said Meier. In the Arctic summer months, sunlight is absorbed by the growing amounts of open water, raising surface temperatures and causing more ice to melt.
“I think one of the reasons the Arctic sea ice maximum extent is declining is that the autumn ice growth is delayed by warmer temperatures and the ice extent is not able to ‘catch up’ through the winter,” said Meier. “In addition, the clock runs out on the annual ice growth season as temperatures start to rise along with the sun during the spring months.”
Since satellite record keeping began in 1979, the maximum Arctic sea ice extent has occurred as early as Feb. 18 and as late as March 31, with an average date of March 6. Since the CU-Boulder researchers determine the maximum sea ice extent using a five-day running average, there is small chance the data could change.
In early April CU-Boulder’s National Snow and Ice Data Center will issue a formal announcement on the 2011 maximum sea ice extent with a full analysis of the winter ice growth season, including graphics comparing 2011 to the long-term record.
For more information visit http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews.