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Date: 4/19/00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Donna Thompson, director, National Program for Playground Safety, (319) 273-2416
Gwenne Culpepper, Office of Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS), based at the University of Northern Iowa, today released a report card on the condition of the nation's playgrounds, giving an average grade of C. Iowa received a C-. However, the country as a whole received an “F” in two elements of the study: posted supervision rules, and signage indicating equipment is designed for specific age groups.
The two-year study examined 23 criteria within four overall areas: supervision, age appropriateness, fall surfacing and equipment maintenance.
“We are generally unhappy with most of the results, but two low-scoring areas are of particular concern,” says Donna Thompson, founder and director of the NPPS. Thompson says children were observed playing on equipment without adult supervision 19 percent of the time, and only 10 percent of the country's playgrounds had rules posted. Only 41 percent had separate age-appropriate areas, and only 6 percent had signage indicating equipment is designed for certain ages.
“The equipment will not supervise the children, so it is up to the adults to perform that important task,” says Thompson. “Appropriate signage would assist adults in understanding the expected behavior and use of equipment so they could supervise appropriately.”
The study covered playgrounds at childcare centers, schools and parks nationwide. From 1997 to 1998, a total of 1,353 playgrounds were studied in 27 states for a final average grade of C-. Those grades were released in April 1999. The second half of the study, from 1998 to 1999 included 1,699 playgrounds in the remaining 23 states. The average grade for all 3,052 playgrounds was a C.
“To say that we are disappointed with the study results would be an understatement. The children of America deserve an `A' playground. Most of the factors that are preventing them from having the playground they deserve can be easily remedied, ” Thompson says.
The study was administered by college professors and their trained research associates between spring 1998 and spring 2000. A team of statisticians at UNI evaluated the data.
The NPPS is initiating a program this week with partner 3M Nexcare First Aid Products to install age-appropriate signage on playgrounds in Phoenix, Ariz.; Cincinnati; Tampa, Fla.; and Washington, D.C. The objective is to call attention to the lack of such signage nationwide and to remind those in charge of playgrounds that erecting signage could improve a failing grade. The signs can be viewed by visiting the NPPS Web site, www.uni.edu/playground.
The Web site also includes information on individual state grades. A blank report card can be downloaded by those interested in evaluating their own playgrounds. For more information, call the NPPS at 1-800-554-PLAY (7529).
Below is a list of state-by-state report card grades.
New Grades released April 2000:
Alaska C+ Arizona B+ California B- Colorado B
Georgia B Idaho C- Illinois C Kansas C+
Louisiana B- Minnesota C Montana C+ Nebraska C
Nevada B N. Dakota C+ Ohio C+ Oklahoma B
Oregon B S. Dakota B Tennessee B Texas B-
Utah B W. Virginia C Wyoming B-
Grades released in spring 1999:
Alabama C- Arkansas C- Connecticut C Delaware B
Florida D- Hawaii C- Indiana C+ Iowa C-
Kentucky C Maine C Maryland B- Massachusetts C+
Michigan D- Mississippi C- Missouri C- New Hampshire C+
New Jersey C- New Mexico B- New York C N. Carolina C-
Pennsylvania C+ Rhode Island C+ S. Carolina C Vermont C-
Virginia C Washington C- Wisconsin D+
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Michelle Clark, Advisor, Bachelor of Liberal Studies Program, (319) 273-7740
Vicki Grimes, Office of Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
University of Northern Iowa's Bachelor of Liberal Studies program provides an opportunity to earn a degree without being on campus; informational meeting April 25
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa—Adult students who have no practical way of completing their degree through traditional, full-time or on-campus study, can do so through the University of Northern Iowa's bachelor in liberal studies (BLS) program. An informational meeting on the program will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 25, in Room 321 of the UNI Schindler Education Center.
Michelle Clark, the new advisor for the BLS program, said the program “allows students to tailor a degree to their own needs and interests. There are no residency requirements for the program.” In structuring their programs, Clark said, “students choose courses from three distribution areas. These areas include humanities, communication and arts, natural science and mathematics, social sciences and professional fields, such as business, education and social work.”
Students can complete their degrees using various options, including evening courses, correspondence study, telecourses and courses from other colleges and universities. Admissions requirements include the completion of 62 semester hours of acceptable college credit with a 2.0 grade point average.
For more information, contact Clark at (319) 273-7740 or 1-800-648-3864, or stop in her office at 132 Student Health Center.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Holly Crandall, program administrator, UNI Office of International Relations, (319) 273-6807
Vicki Grimes, UNI Office of Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
NOTE TO EDITOR: If you are interested in interviewing these guest pianists or want to use a
picture with your story, please call Vicki Grimes at (319) 273-2761.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa —Russian pianists Nataliia Alekseevna Terent'eva and Oleg Iur'evich Koshelev, from the Russian State Pedagogical University in St. Petersburg, will perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, in Davis Hall, located in the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at the University of Northern Iowa.
Among selections to be performed are “Concerto in F Major, KV 459” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, “Brandenberg Concerto No. 1 in F Major, BWV 1046” by Johann Sebastian Bach and “Prelude and Tarantella” by Dmitri Shostikovich. Their performance is free and open to the public.
The pianists, whose visit is sponsored by the UNI Office of International Programs and the UNI School of Music, are conducting lessons with UNI students during their visit. This is their second visit to UNI, and her third. They also have performed at Clarke College and the University of Iowa, since arriving last week (April 14), and will visit Coe College April 24.
Terent'eva is a professor of music and dean of the College of Music at the Russian State Pedagogical University in St. Petersburg. Koshelev is an associate professor of music, with a specialty in piano, at the Russian State Pedagogical University in St. Petersburg. He is also head of the piano department in the College of Music at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory of Music, from which he graduated in 1980. They are accompanied by Sergei Shilov, administrator of international programs for their institution, also known as Herzen Pedagogical University.
According to Holly Crandall, program administrator in the UNI Office of International Programs, the two universities — UNI and Herzen — “have had an on-going, mutually productive relationship for over 10 years.” She said a number of faculty and students from UNI have traveled to St. Petersburg for study and many Russian students have come to UNI.
Terent'eva received her doctor of arts degree in 1995 and has been a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Pedagogical Sciences since 1992. She has also been president of the Council on Music Pedagogy for the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation since 1992, and she has been the recipient of numerous grants in the fields of piano and music education.
Frequently, Terent'eva performs piano concerts, gives music education presentations and conducts master classes in Russia and abroad. She regularly has been a jury member for international music competitions, has published over 100 works, including monographs, textbooks and articles, and has made presentations at more than a dozen international conferences and conventions.
Koshelev has performed numerous chamber concerts and solo recitals, conducted master classes and participated in international music festivals in Russia and abroad. He has trained numerous students in St. Petersburg, many of whom have won prizes in international music competitions. He also serves as chair of the European Piano Teachers Association in St. Petersburg.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Susan D. Hudson, UNI professor of leisure studies. (319) 273-2790
Vicki Grimes, Office of Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa—Susan Hudson, University of Northern Iowa professor of leisure studies, will discuss leisure and the role it plays in human existence and the quality of life, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 25, in Davis Hall of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.
Hudson's lecture, “Eight Hours for What We Will,” will contend the fight for leisure is as much an on-going struggle today, as we are moving into the 21st Century and the new millennium, as it was during the Industrial Revolution.
During the millennial year, selected members of the UNI faculty are presenting Millennium Lectures. Hudson's lecture is the fifth in the spring series and five more will be offered in the fall. All lectures include presentation of a scholarly paper, and some will include artistic performances and exhibits.
“We want to think of the Millennium Lecture Series as a year long conversation among those of us who are fortunate enough to experience this historic moment, which comes just once in 20 lifetimes,” said Aaron Podolefsky, UNI provost and vice president for academic affairs. “It is an opportunity to consider our histories, our lives today and our futures as individuals, as members of Iowa families and communities, and as members of the larger human family.”
The series will resume in September when Tom Rice, UNI professor and head of the Department of Political Science, will discuss “Rebuilding Civic Society in the New Millennium.”
For more information, contact the UNI Office of Public Relations at (319) 273-2761, or check UNI's Web site, at www.uni.edu.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
UNI Foundation, (319) 273-6078
Vicki Grimes, UNI Office of Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The University of Northern Iowa's 42nd Annual Recognition Breakfast will be held Saturday, April 29, honoring 37 employees who will have retired within the 1999-2000 fiscal year.
All current and former university employees and their families are encouraged to attend the 8:15 a.m. breakfast in the Maucker Union Expansion. Tickets for current staff members and their guests are $6 and can be obtained from the Controller's Office through Wednesday, April 26. The event is sponsored by the UNI Foundation.
This year's honorees together have completed 915 years of service.
The individuals to be honored this year include (years of service follow in parentheses), from the College of Education: School of Health, Physical Education & Leisure Services— Susan Doody, professor of physical education (23), Donald Erusha, associate professor of physical education (37), Kenneth Green, associate professor of physical education (33), and Jane Mertesdorf, assistant professor of leisure, youth & human services (31); Jeanne Harms, professor of education (32); Peggy Ishler Bose, professor of education (10); Sharon Longnecker, adjunct instructor in education (11); Phillip Nelson, assistant professor teaching (31); Joyce Taylor, secretary I, curriculum and instruction (21); Marion Thompson, professor of special education (21).
From the College of Business Administration: B. Wylie Anderson, professor of economics (33); Charles Strein, associate professor of economics (30).
From the College of Humanities and Fine Arts: Marianna Delafield, instructor in art (7); George Glenn, professor of theatre (34); Elaine Kalmar, associate professor of English language and literature (28); Robley Wilson, professor of English language and literature and editor of the North American Review (33).
From the College of Natural Sciences: Wayne Anderson, professor of earth science (37); Gerald Intemann, professor of physics and dean of the College of Natural Sciences (20);John Longnecker, assistant professor of mathematics (33); H. Kent Macomber, professor of physics (24); David McCalley, professor of biology and executive director of Iowa Academy of Science (33);
(College of Natural Sciences continues)--Douglas Pine, associate professor of industrial technology (19); R. Jean Wellman, clerk typist III, biology (15)
From the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences: Roy Chung, associate professor of geography (42); Robert Clark, assistant professor of geography (24); Hattie Middleton, assistant professor of design, family and consumer sciences (12).
From the Controller's Office: Elaine Chapman, clerk typist II (22); Mary Ann Karsjens, account specialist (23); Joyce Snodgrass, clerk III (24).
From the Physical Plant: Virgil Cordes, equipment operator, physical plant (17); Paul Hansen, mason (24); David Loonan, groundskeeper I (34).
From the Department of Residence: Laura Jackson, custodian I (22); Charlotte Lindberg, kitchen helper I (33); Beverly West, custodian II (11).
Others to be recognized: Betty Cool, clerk typist II, financial aid (16); Janice Nanke, clerk III, continuing education and special programs (15).
For more information, contact the UNI Foundation at (319) 273-6078.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Leonard Upham, UNI assistant professor of teaching and chair, PLS music department, (319) 273-2407
Vicki Grimes, Office of Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Music students from Northern University High School of Price Laboratory School in Cedar Falls recently took honors at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest at Don Bosco High School, Gilbertville. Together, orchestra, band and choir students brought home 24 Division I ratings, and one “Outstanding Contest Performance Award.”
Peter Behroozi received the distinction of the best performance of the day in his award center for his violin solo, marking seven out of the last 10 years when NUHS string students have won such a distinction. A sophomore at NUHS, he studies violin with Therese Fetter. Behroozi has twice been a member of the All-State Orchestra, and plays with the Northern Iowa Youth Orchestra and Fiddlesticks.
Other soloists receiving a Division I rating, in addition to Behroozi, were: Emily Callahan, vocal; Mallory Piehl, clarinet; Jenna Davis, vocal; Ben Oleson, baritone saxophone; Nate Ohrt, trumpet; Jennifer Grabowski, vocal, Tal Jones, vocal; Steve Shelton, French horn and vocal; Tal Jones, vocal; Katy Lyman, vocal; Cam Puetz, tuba; Rochelle Nesbit, vocal; John Paar, vocal; and, Laura Wellnitz, vocal.
Small ensembles receiving Division I ratings were duets: Rochelle Nesbit and Laura Wellnitz, Jenna Davis and Sami Renfro; Barbershop Quartet (Ian Cawley, Carlin Dorris, Ben Oleson, Brian Oleson and Laura Wellnitz), and, the Violin Quartet (Peter Behroozi, Amy Miller, Katie Judas and Lindsay Hickman).
Ashley Atherton received a Division II rating on her vocal solo. Others who received Division II ratings were Lynden Davis, flute; Katy Lyman and Anne Thompson, Madrigal duet; Amy Miller and Lindsay Hickman, violin duet; and Travis Coulter and Ian Cawley, cello duet.
Band students are under the direction of Leonard Upham; orchestra, under Michael Fanelli; and, vocal, under Linda Sharp. All are members of the Price Lab music faculty and the UNI Department of Teaching.
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