In A Glass House...

Tis the season

ashmw — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 00:41:36 +0000

Well friends, this is it. We’re down to a semester and then it’s over. Tis the season of finals, of stress, of laughter and of friends. What a semester it’s been- I feel fortunate that I have been able to work with the Students of the University of Montana in the capacity I habe. We have some very exciting news… the Montana It Gets Better Campaign is up and running on the University of Montana’s YouTube Channel. Thank you to UC Marketing and to all the wonderful people who made this a reality.

the Legislative session begins in just a few weeks… and it’ll be a crazy 90 days. ASUM hired Jen Gursky as the ASUM lobbyist and has full faith that she will do all that she can in an effort to represent the students of The University of Montana. We’re lucky to have her in Helena.

That’s all for now, see you in the Spring friends. Good luck with your finals.

Board of Regents: Live!

ashmw — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:50:34 +0000

Live From the Board of Regents, I’m Ashleen Williams.

Well things have kicked off folks- the meeting began at 8:30 this morning and we have many more hours ahead of us. Regent Christian is presently speaking about the governor’s budget (9.99% increase to higher ed in round one).

The Montana Associated Students met last night in the University Center to hire a student lobbyist for the 2011 Legislative Session. There were some incredible candidates from diverse backgrounds interviewed for ten minutes each. Janelle Booth, MSU, was hired as the 2011 lobbyist. Janelle is a MPA student at Montana State University in Bozeman. Janelle, who hails from South Dakota, has served as page as well as a research assistant and has a list of publications. Congratulations Janelle!

Graduate Student Association…
Many of you may have read in the Kaimin today that the Graduate Student Association would like to become autonomous from ASUM. I truly believe that ASUM is just that, the Associated Students of The University of Montana. We are a united body that represents the needs of students, and we need to remain as such.

Higher Ed Rally and Dance Party

Many thanks to the UFA for hosting the higher ed Dance Party at the Elks Club last night. We had an excellent turnout thanks to the work of MontPirg and some ASUM senators who got the word out. Today at 12 we will have a higher ed rally on the Mansfield Mall (Free Speech Zone). Please join us for a discussion about higher ed.

Montana Associated Students

ashmw — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:54:57 +0000

We’re rebranding- We’re revamping- We’re representing Montana.

MAS met last night-

Elected Chicky Wines as MAS President

Myself as Vice President (to work on Legislative issues).

We’ll also hire a MAS lobbyist!

UM Presidential Finalist

ashmw — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 01:24:07 +0000

Royce Engstrom, The Provost and Chief Academic Officer of The University of Montana, is the sole candidate for the UM President. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Provost Engstrom a lot over the last three years and there are few people I respect more than him. He is open to, and excited about, student involvement in the shared governance process, in the state of higher education and in making decisions about the culture of the University. He is one of few people that takes the time to ask questions, seek out answers and listen to the concerns of students.

Each year Mount of Olives Arabic Language and Culture Club hosts a ‘hafla’ (essentially a huge party celebrating culture and language with food and dancing). For the last two haflas Mount of Olives has invited the Provost to attend this event, and he has accepted each time— engaging in the dialogue and discussion, learning more about the students involved in this community on campus, and staying (always a surprise for a person with a schedule such as his) for the duration of the event.

Dr. Engstrom is an excellent candidate to be UM President-
He can even dance.

Musings and such

ashmw — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 01:09:10 +0000

Well this is it, we’re into week three of school, and how quickly it’s going! There have been many things going on at UM in the last few weeks and here are my thoughts on some of the most noteworthy.

UM Football:

This is a group of amazing individuals. I had the opportunity to travel, along with Amanda, to CALPOLY with the UM Football team this last weekend. I don’t know very much about football, and I’m the first to admit it. I do know though, that these are athletes trying to balance the pressures of school and an incredible fan base. They are polite, and they are positive. What a lucky experience- I can’t wait for homecoming!

The College of Technology:

ASUM passed two resolutions last week about the College of Technology- UM’s comprehensive two year program based in Missoula. We will have three meetings at the COT this fall- Tomorrow, one in October and one in November- join us. Take the tour, and start the conversation.

UM Presidential Finalist Royce Engstrom (see next blog).

and do not fear, next week is the Board of Regents so I am certain I will post with frequency…

It’s been too long…

ashmw — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:13:27 +0000

Classes started yesterday… it’s been too long- too long since the last blog post, too long since the last time I got to work with so many fantastic students.

ASUM will hire a student political action director this week, and we also have a senate position open! You can turn in your application for senate this week, and join us in serving the needs of the students of UM.

This will be an exciting semester- we have endless possibilities! So hope on the bus, come to campus and let us know what’s on your mind. Tomorrow is the first meeting of the semester in University Center 331. Can’t wait to see you there

Ramadan at The University of Montana

ashmw — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:05:54 +0000

RAMADAN DINING INFORMATION – FALL 2010

Food Zoo and Cascade Country Store

University Dining Services wishes you a happy Ramadan! The Cascade Country Store and the Food Zoo will have culturally appropriate menu items daily during Ramadan – these are listed below. To help you eat a dinner type meal, UDS welcomes you to come to the Food Zoo during regular operating hours and create a to-go meal which we will then hold hot or cold for you until Eftar time. During Ramadan the Food Zoo will remain unlocked for 45 minutes past Eftar time to allow for pickup of your to-go meals. You are welcome to use the Food Zoo during this time period to enjoy your meal and eat with friends. Please note that there will not be food on the lines at this time as it is past our normal operating hours.

To accommodate requests for more Halal meat options, we will be offering Halal beef burgers at the Cascade Country Store grill during Ramadan. Salmon filets and Tyson chicken breasts can be made-to-order at the Food Zoo grill. The daily Food Zoo menu is available at: www.umt.edu/uds. You can also purchase many grab and go items in the Cascade Country Store.

The Cascade Country Store: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 8:30pm

The Food Zoo:

-Summer Hours: Breakfast 7-8:30, Lunch 11:30-1:00, Dinner 5-6:30

-Academic Year Hours: Monday through Friday, 11am to 7:30pm,

-Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am to 7:30pm

** During Ramadan the Food Zoo will be open for retrieval of pre-boxed to-go-meals and dining with friends for 45 minutes starting at Eftar time (each day we will use the times listed under the column labeled ‘Maghrib’ found in the table on the next page as the start of the 45 minutes). No food will be served during the extended hours.

-All year, guests may take out their food during regular operating hours when following the to-go meal procedures.

-During Ramadan as mentioned above, to-go meals can be kept in the Food Zoo at the proper temperature for retrieval and consumption at Eftar time.

Cascade Country Store Daily Ramadan Items

During Ramadan the following items will be available for a-la-carte purchases:
Almonds

Dried Apricots

Dates & Figs

Fresh Fruit

Mint Tea

Wheat crackers

Soups

Halal Beef Burgers
The Food Zoo Daily Ramadan Items

The following items will be available during Ramadan:

Whole Almonds

Dried Apricots

Mint Tea
Salmon filets and Tyson chicken breasts available upon request at the grill

In addition, we will provide a pork and alcohol free soup every day. We will also offer hearty soups and stews, using whole grains and legumes, to help our guests get nutritious and balanced food during Ramadan.

For more information please contact Mike Spencer at 243-4501 or Cristin Zachariasen at 243-4441.

Ramadan 2010 Prayer Times Schedule
Month: 9/1431, 8-9 / 2010 C.E

Location: Missoula, MT 59801, USA

Calculation Method: North America
Juristic Method: Standard

Day Ramadan Gregorian Fajr Sunrise Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha
Mon 6 16/8 5:00 6:35 1:41 5:35 8:45 10:21
Tue 7 17/8 5:02 6:36 1:41 5:34 8:44 10:19
Wed 8 18/8 5:04 6:37 1:40 5:33 8:42 10:17
Thu 9 19/8 5:06 6:38 1:40 5:32 8:40 10:14
Fri 10 20/8 5:08 6:40 1:40 5:32 8:38 10:12
Sat 11 21/8 5:09 6:41 1:40 5:31 8:36 10:10
Sun 12 22/8 5:11 6:42 1:39 5:30 8:35 10:08
Mon 13 23/8 5:13 6:44 1:39 5:29 8:33 10:05
Tue 14 24/8 5:15 6:45 1:39 5:28 8:31 10:03
Wed 15 25/8 5:15 6:45 1:39 5:28 8:31 10:03
Thu 16 26/8 5:18 6:47 1:38 5:25 8:27 9:58
Fri 17 27/8 5:20 6:49 1:38 5:24 8:25 9:56
Sat 18 28/8 5:22 6:50 1:38 5:23 8:24 9:54
Sun 19 29/8 5:23 6:51 1:37 5:22 8:22 9:52
Mon 20 30/8 5:25 6:53 1:37 5:21 8:20 9:49
Tue 21 31/8 5:27 6:54 1:37 5:20 8:18 9:47
Wed 22 1/9 5:28 6:55 1:36 5:19 8:16 9:45
Thu 23 2/9 5:30 6:57 1:36 5:17 8:14 9:42
Fri 24 3/9 5:31 6:58 1:36 5:16 8:12 9:40
Sat 25 4/9 5:33 6:59 1:36 5:15 8:10 9:38
Sun 26 5/9 5:35 7:00 1:35 5:14 8:08 9:36
Mon 27 6/9 5:36 7:02 1:35 5:13 8:06 9:33
Tue 28 7/9 5:38 7:03 1:35 5:11 8:04 9:31
Wed 29 8/9 5:39 7:04 1:34 5:10 8:02 9:29
Thu 30 9/9 5:39 7:04 1:34 5:10 8:02 9:29

Note 1: Fajr means both Fajr Athan (Azan) and Imsak (starting fast) and Maghrib means both Maghrib Athan (Azan) and Iftar (breaking fast).

Untitled For James

ashmw — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:06:34 +0000

UM graduate, Ali Tabibnejad, has his film in a major contest- vote today!

VOTE!!!

http://www.openfilm.com/videos/untitled_for_james/

What is the College of Technology?

ashmw — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:15:58 +0000

This happens to be a favorite question of Dean Good of The University of Montana (Missoula) College of Technology when meeting new people. And it is a good question to ask because few can answer the question.

The Commons

The College of Technology is located on South- near Sentinel High School and the Book Exchange. It is THE comprehensive two year program. Students attending the COT campus are some of our brightest- studying to be nurses and radiologists, welders and exemplary restaurant entrepreneurs.

Classrooms and Offices...

The restaurant at the COT is one of the best in Missoula- I used to say it was the best kept secret, but let’s talk about it. I have had some of the best food and service in the COT restaurant that changes its menu constantly.

Lab for A&P

But While the students and faculty at the COT are amazing there are serious issues we face- these students have inadequate and poor facilities. Is that the lab that comes to mind when you think of students studying to be nurses? Should students and faculty to be isolated to the “Math Shack,” a trailer in the parking lot? No- and that’s something we can change. The University of Montana needs to make certain that all its students have the best education and facilities possible-

A&P Lab

. So What is The College of Technology? It’s The University of Montana.

Because sometimes it’s pretty here

ashmw — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:37:32 +0000

Why do you love the University of Montana?

before the people are out

“The early morning walk between Knowles and Lommasson with the Grizzly Bear looming in front of me and Main Hall gradually appearing in between the leaves and branches of the trees.” Micah Everson

The Bear