FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Mike Bobeldyk, Student Activities program coordinator, (319) 273-5888
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — A tradition that began on the University of Northern Iowa campus in 1943, will continue at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 28, with the holiday tree lighting celebration.
The day will start with the Holiday Gift and Craft Sale, held at the Maucker Union Expansion, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vendors will sell items, such as wool sweaters, jewelry, Christmas ornaments and holiday decorations.
The tree-lighting ceremony will start outside near the northeast corner of the union. Santa Claus will arrive on his sleigh and some special guests will switch on all of the holiday lighting on campus. UNI President Robert Koob, along with students Dan Sterenchuk of Cedar Rapids and Mike Russell of Cedar Falls, NISG president and vice president, will take part in the ceremony.
Moving inside Maucker Union, the UNI Trombone Ensemble will perform. Also performing will be the Elementary School Chorus from Waterloo's Black Hawk Elementary school (UNI's Partner-in-Education School), and the UNI Gospel Choir. Sleigh rides to view the lighting on campus will be offered throughout the evening. Hot chocolate, hot apple cider and other refreshments will be served. Children will have an opportunity to visit with Santa Claus.
Prior to the tree-lighting ceremony, the public is invited to attend “Cocoa and Carols” at the Marshall Center one-room schoolhouse, located on the UNI campus, northwest of the Schindler Education Center. The celebration will include story-telling, crafts and carols in the old-fashioned atmosphere of a one-room school.
The first tree-lighting ceremony, in 1943, was designed to draw together the three student bodies then on campus -- Army, Navy and civilian students. Students gathered near the Campanile bell tower for a brief concert of carols. The central lighting was turned off for the occasion and colored flood lights
trained on the tower.
The event is free of charge and open to the public. The tree lighting is sponsored by the Maucker Union Policy Board and Student Activities. For more information, contact Mike Bobeldyk, Maucker Union program coordinator at (319) 273-5888.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Kenneth Atkinson, assistant professor of philosophy and religion, (319) 273-6990
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa —“Scrolls, Scandals and Scholars: A History of the Controversy Over the Dead Sea Scrolls” will be the topic of the Phi Alpha Theta/Department of History Lecture at the University of Northern Iowa, at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 29, in Seerley Hall, room 115.
Kenneth Atkinson, UNI assistant professor of philosophy and religion, will examine the history of the Dead Sea Scrolls, explain the present controversies over these texts, and investigate the importance of archaeology and historical studies in defining national and religious identity.
Atkinson said the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls was discovered more than 50 years ago in what is now Israel. From 1953 until 1991, only seven scholars were permitted to view the 800 documents, preserved in over 40,000 fragments, that comprise the scrolls. They became available to the public after a protracted media campaign.
“Since the release of the scrolls, new and bitter controversies continue to rage, bringing the issues of nationalism, racism and religious identity to the fore,” said Atkinson.
The next history lecture will be Feb. 21, 2001, when Joseph McGill, Jr., director of the African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa, will present “The Roles of African Americans in the Civil War.” The presentation will take place at 7 p.m. in Seerley Hall, room 115.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lt. Col. Mike DePuglio, (319) 273-6220
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Recently, 18 cadets from University of Northern Iowa's Army ROTC Panther Battalion traveled to Camp Ripley, Minn., to compete in the Ranger Challenge, an annual military skills competition.
UNI cadets competed against teams from seven Midwest universities. More than 130 cadets competed in the physically demanding events, which included a10K ruck run, grenade assault course, land navigation, M-16 weapons assembly/disassembly and the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). Several UNI Cadets received top honors in the competition.
For more information, contact Lt. Col. Mike DePuglio, UNI professor and head of military science, at (319) 273-6220.
Note: to obtain a complete listing of cadets, please contact the office of University Marketing and Public Relations at (319) 273-2761.
###
Back to the news release directory.