Nov. 12-18, 2003 INTERview: Rex Forehand Sorrentine Restarts Men’s basketball associate head coach Jesse Agel thought he’d Nov. 12, 6 p.m. died and gone to A presentaion on the basketball recruiting medical school heaven. There he stood, admissions process all alone, watching a with panelists from recruit draining jump UVM's College of shots in a gym, while Medicine, NE College dozens of other of Optometery, NE basketball coaches College of obliviously watched a Osteopathic tournament downstairs. Medicine, and Ross University School of Medicine. Rowell Conquering Conflict Building, Room 103. In one form or another, Information: 656- Sure hand: Parenting expert Rex Forehand conflict resolution seeps 3450. says parenting is a day-by-day process of into all of Saleem Ali's love, limits, consistency and communication. research, and his first Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m. (Photo: Bill DiLillo) book, which focuses on why indigenous UVM Theatre communities support presents the Tony environmental causes in award-winning play Rex Forehand, professor of psychology and co- some cases of mining "Metamorphoses," a author of the popular parenting self-help book development but not retelling of the classc Parenting the Strong-Willed Child, has spent 30 others, is no exception. myth of Ovid. Royall years helping parents in difficult situations learn Tyler Theatre. how present their best selves to their children. Information: Theatre. Nov. 14, 8 a.m. The Committee of the Whole of the Board of Trustees kicks off a full day of meetings in southern Vermont. The Business Lecture Looks at Market Incentives for Equinox, Conservation Manchester. Information: Trustees. Lift an 'Empty Bowl' Against Hunger Nov. 15, 8 p.m. Conservationist Offers Future Scenarios for Land UVM's all-female Protection acappella group presents its "Cat's Meow Fall Concert." Vermont Public Television To Air Six Athletic Ira Allen Chapel. Events Information: 862- 3784. Cat's Meow. Four Colors Suffice Nov. 17, 4 p.m. Maureen Cummins, Grant Will Make Middle-Schoolers Game for Food in conjunction with a Safety Science retrospective exhibit of her work, speaks on the making of New Partners Join Forces to Help Northern Forest artist's books using research, found materials, and text. Classroom Tech Initiative Lets Students Mentor Information: 656- Faculty 2138. Faculty Fellowships for Service Learning Available Nov. 18, 8:30 a.m. Nov. 12-18, 2003 Athletic Attendance on the Upswing At the bottom of every e-mail sent out by university ticket operations manager Jesse Bridges is a quote from political writer, cultural critic, and public policy consultant Varda Burstyn. It reads: “The rituals of sport engage more people in a shared experience than any other institution or cultural activity today.” Historically, that hasn’t always been the case in Vermont, where sports haven’t dominated the landscape like, say, basketball in Indiana or football in any of the southern states. But Bridges, along with the rest of the athletic department and university administration, are A group of visiting Tibetan monks are hoping to change that to some degree. Based on constructing an intricate sand mandala this ticket sales so far this year, they have reason to week in the Billings Round Room. The be optimistic. mandala is open for viewing during business hours — for now. The monks will destroy it on Nov. 14 during a closing ceremony. At 8 Season ticket sales for men's basketball are up p.m. on Nov. 14 at Ira Allen Chapel, a 52 percent from last season, when the Tibetan Cultural Pageant featuring the Catamounts led the America East Conference in monks will offer chant, dance and attendance with an average of 1,955 fans per discussion. Information: 656-6903. (Photo: game. This year’s increase comes on the heels of Bill DiLillo) a 130 percent jump in 2002-2003. Bridges, who has sold 480 season ticket packages, including 313 renewals, expects men’s basketball to Professor’s Exchange Effort Brings average more than 2,000 fans per game in 3,228- seat Patrick Gymnasium for the first time in Cultural Group to UVM, Burlington school history. The power of art to engage young people is the Women's basketball was second in America East motivating force — and the message — of the in attendance in 2002-2003 with 1,366 fans per Three Rivers Jenbé Ensemble, a cultural game, and among the top 50 nationwide over the education forum that combines traditional West past four seasons. As of Nov. 11, there were 440 African drumming, dancing and storytelling with season ticket holders and 408 renewals. community-based social justice education. The ensemble will visit the university Nov. 14 and 15 in conjunction with the U.S. Literacy Politics class As for men's hockey, the state’s leading sports taught by Nancy Welch, associate professor of draw for decades, four consecutive sellouts of English. Her students actively promote literacy in 4,035-seat Gutterson Fieldhouse and a steady the Burlington community by serving as mentors increase of student tickets distributed, has been for elementary, middle and high school students an encouraging start to the Kevin Sneddon era. at the King Street Area Youth Program. An average home attendance of 3,752 placed the Catamounts 18th in the country last year and fifth in the Northeast behind New Hampshire Literacy, says Welch, is not limited to reading (6,664), Boston College (6,236), Maine (4,898), and books. Music, dance, theatre and other art and Cornell (3,836). Wisconsin led the nation forms, which are often viewed as extracurricular with an average of 11,430. elements of K-12 education, may be the most powerful way to engage students in communicative activities, she says. So why the big increase in fan interest after 100 Consequently, Welch’s students involve King years of athletics? Street students in activities that range from writing, storytelling and drawing to performing Bridges says the university’s recent push to plays and designing their own Web pages. promote athletics through advertisements, give-a- ways, contests and entertainment at games is That repertoire will expand as the Jenbé the driving force. Spearheading these efforts are Ensemble leads drumming and dance workshops recent hires Chris McCabe, assistant vice for King Street youth, culminating with a joint president of athletic marketing and business Jenbé Ensemble/King Street Teen Futures development, marketing specialist Kristin Balogh, performance in the Living/Learning Fireplace Athletic Director Bob Corran, Bridges and others. Lounge on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. The ensemble also will give a presentation and performance on With no slight to UVM’s marketing efforts, “Community Arts Education and Promoting Social nothing puts fans in seats like winning. Men’s Justice” for UVM students and faculty on Friday basketball is coming off its best season in school at 1:30 p.m. in John Dewey Lounge. history, highlighted by a first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. Women’s basketball has been Comprising members from ages eight to 50, the strong for years, and with new coach Sharon Jenbé Ensemble fosters cultural enrichment in Dawley, who has already proven adept at children and families through direct experience recruiting top talent, that should continue. with the cultural and rhythmic history of a West African civilization. By working to understand the Bridges says another reason for increased link between Malinke and African-American attendance is a new policy that gives students cultures, parents and children gain valuable free admission to all athletic events as part of a insight to their own cultural identity. The group student fee. Previously, students paid about $5 also goes on the road to perform and create per game — no small amount for the financially- collaborative relationships with community strapped student over an entire season. organizations. "It's very helpful that games are free," said The ensemble’s visit to Vermont is part of an junior Jennifer Annas at a recent soccer game. exchange funded by the College of Arts and "Because of this I'm planning on coming to many Sciences and a service-learning grant. Last year more games this year." Welch and a colleague met with the Three Rivers staff at their home base in Fort Wayne, Indiana to begin discussions about linking community- Men's soccer, consistently ranked among national based social services, such as King Street, with leaders in attendance (25th in 2001 and 36th in programs in community justice and social 2002), has also managed to increase its fan change. base, including a season high of 1,624 for its game against the University of North Carolina. Baseball hosted the America East Baseball One result of that exchange was to invite three Championship in 2003 for the first time and set a ninth-grade students from King Street to spend a conference record by drawing 1,128 to its game day at UVM earlier this month. Although King against Northeastern. Street is within walking distance of UVM, Welch notes that few of the center’s clients have ever been on campus, and that most see college as “There’s an overall buzz around UVM athletics socially and economically remote. right now,” Bridges says. “New ways of marketing and promoting events are creating a lot of support, especially from students, who Each ninth-grader spent the day with a UVM should add to the atmosphere and excitement student; attended an honors economics class for and boost attendance figures (further). The a discussion on the wage gap between women overall experience and entertainment value for and men in the workplace; and, without getting a the fan is getting much better.” sales pitch, got information about financial aid.