UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Notable Visitors

1990s

Year/Mo. Visitor Event Description

1990 February

Julianna Roosevelt, leader in Educational Therapy for Children with Learning Disabilities in the Los Angeles Area

Speech: "Experiences in Educational Therapy," Roosevelt spoke in the North Hall auditorium about her experiences in educational therapy, focusing on low-income, minority children and their families.  Roosevelt has spoken on many subjects including women's issues, civil rights, senior issues, education, and political heritage.  She is the great-granddaughter of the 32nd US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1990 February

James Torres, economics professor, consultant to the U.S. State Department's Agency for International Development

Lecture: "Bolivia, The Land of High Blue Waters," This lecture explored Bolivian culture.  Torres worked in Bolivia as a consultant for the Agency for International Development.  He gave a talk as part of the University's Dinner/Travel Series.  "Bolivia has plateaus, mountain valleys, and lowlands, also the highest navigable waters in the world, Lake Titicaca.

1990
March

Denna Weinstein, professor of sociology at DePaul University, and David Gleason, criminal justice faculty, Lakeland Community College (Minnesota)

Lecture: "Heavy Metal Music and Satanic Cults," given to a full house in the Kleinpell Fine Arts Recital Hall; the Sociology Department's Annual Issues and Answers Forum brought those two related subjects to center stage for discussion; is heavy metal satanic or a unique aspect of pop culture? Weinstein said pop culture has been decried from the beginning and Gleason said, "A true cult is a pattern of religious behavior with a dominant leader, deceptive recruiting, absolute and unquestioning obedience" [sponsored by the Sociology Department]

1990
March

Yuri Maltsev, professor of economics and former researcher for the Soviet Academy of Sciences

Lecture: Visiting Professor Maltsev painted a black picture of the Soviet economy: "The only hope for the Soviet Union's stagnant economy is to pursue 'political democracy'" [sponsored by the UWRF Alumni Foundation]

1990
May

Joan Hamilton, Marathon Oil geologist, West Coast exploration supervisor

Oil Exploration and Environmental Concerns: "People who work for oil companies are not villains, they are people like me," said Hamilton.  She is the first woman geologist to ever head Marathon's west coast on-shore oil exploration efforts.  She also said that oil companies are more than willing to safeguard the environment. Ian Williams, Geology professor coordinated the two-day lecture.  He said it was fortunate that students could gain the perspective of a giant oil company employee. However, according to Williams, the environmental impact of oil exploration was not raised at either of the lectures

1990
May

Jeffrey Jacobs, Detroit advertising executive

Visiting Advertiser to Discuss Advertising: Jeffrey Jacobs, a visiting lecturer, came to UW-River Falls to discuss advertising.  Jacob's program included a detailed presentation to the general audience explaining the role advertising plays in today's society.  He visited classrooms and discussed advertising with students and faculty.  [sponsored by the Journalism Department]

1990
September

Rebecca Penneys, pianist, distinguished recitalist, chamber musician, orchestral soloist, and teacher

Recital: Penneys performed a solo program in the Fine Arts Concert Hall; her engagements this season include appearances at Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Rochester, and Buffalo.  In the 1988-1989 season she made her New Zealand debut and also performed in East Asia  [hosts included UWRF Music Department and the St. Croix Valley Piano Teachers Association]

1990
October

Ole Edvard Antonsen, trumpeter, and Iver Kleive, organist

Concert: The Norwegian musicians entertained during a performance in the Kleinpell Fine Arts Concert Hall

1990
October

John Croft, Minneapolis Star-Tribune staff photographer

Presentation: "Opportunities and Careers in Journalism and Photography," Croft spoke to interested students and faculty in the Student Center, discussing opportunities and careers available in Journalism and Photography [sponsored by the UWRF Chapter of Professional Journalists]

1990
October

Dixieland Acoustic Guitar and Vocal Trio

Jazz Festival: The festival kicked off at Brandy's, with the  Dixieland Trio performing during the Concerts and Lectures Committee's First Jazz Concert  [sponsored by Concerts and Lectures Committee]

1991
March

Allen Ginsberg, poet

Ginsberg Packs Full House With Controversial Work: Ginsberg was considered a prophet an idol to a rebel generation.  He entranced a packed audience at the North Hall Auditorium.  Over 300 people came to hear from the most controversial poet of all time.  Ginsberg read and sang songs that followed a "chronological rainbow" through the fifties to the present.  Ginsberg said that while 30,000 people die every year from cocaine poisoning, over 400,000 die from cigarette related illnesses [sponsored by Concerts and Lectures Committee]

1991
September

Shirley Chisholm, seven-term Congresswoman from New York State and candidate for president in 1972

Presentation: "Politics and Civil Rights," Chisholm was the guest speaker at the first convocation held in the Karges Center

1992
March

Jean Kilbourne, author and lecturer

Lecture: "Advertising Distorts Women's Images," Dr. Kilbourne spoke before about 400 students and faculty and others, claiming that advertising portrays women as sex objects and demented housewives; the event took place in the North Hall Auditorium. [sponsored by Concerts and Lectures Committee]

1992
September

Jesse Jackson, human rights and political activist

Lecture: "Be All You Can Be," Rev. Jackson silenced and ignited the crowd during his lecture, intended to motivate students, faculty, and staff to rededicate and recommit themselves; the activist told gut-wrenching stories about the homeless, the hungry, the poor, and the unemployed, and urged students to get out and vote: "You must register and then you can vote!" [sponsored by the Academic Convocation]

1992
October

Alina Dobrzanska, professor from Poland

Lecture: "Dietary Fiber and the Role it Plays in Human Nutrition," Poland's Alina Dobrzanska was a guest lecturer at River Falls through the College of Agriculture's faculty exchange agreement.  She was a guest lecturer on human nutrition.  She holds the highest academic obtainable from Lubin Medical Academy, Warsaw, Poland.  Alina gave several other lectures.

1992
October

State Geographical Conference

Conference: The Wisconsin Geographical Society held its annual meeting at UW-River Falls, which brought geographers from all of the Wisconsin universities and some high school teachers [sponsored by the Geography Department]

1993
April

Chicago Brass Quintet Brass Ensemble

Performance: The Chicago Brass Quintet performed at the Abbott Concert Hall.  Members included Ross Beacraft, Robert Bauchens, Brad Boehm, Jonathon Boen, and James Mattern.  The quintet has toured the U.S. and Canada.  [sponsored by the Wyman Concerts and Lectures Committee]

1993
October

Ballet Hispanico, dancers

Performance: Dancers from Ballet Hispanico performed in the Karges Gym, and the dancers also conducted a class and lecture [sponsored by Wyman Concerts and Lectures]

1993
November

Jane Elliot, teacher and lecturer

Lecture: "Brown Eyes and Blue Eyes-Us and Them," Jane Elliot's address on racism forces her audience to face the issue of racism.  She uses the "brown eyes" and "blue eyes" separation to illustrate "us" and "them".  One group with X-eye color discriminated against the other color.  Elliot spoke in the North Hall Auditorium [sponsored by the Wyman Concerts and Lectures Series]

1993
November

Food Microbiology Annual Symposium

Symposium: The thirteenth annual symposium attracted experts from all over the world to UW-River Falls to exchange ideas on safer food production [sponsored by various organizations including the UWRF Animal and Food Science Department]

1993
December

Zuni Migoze and William Fehlow, musicians

Performance: Migoze of Kenya and Fehlow of Minneapolis performed at the Kwanza celebration [sponsored by the African American Alliance and the Hagestad Union Board]

1994
February

Franklin Little, Baylor University professor, Methodist minister, and Holocaust expert

Lecture: "What Does the Slaughter of Six Million Jews During the Holocaust Have To Do With Christians in River Falls, Wisconsin?" Visiting Professor Franklin Little said that  "the Holocaust is something that happened to Christians," and  "Christians have been preaching contempt from Jewish people for centuries"

1994
March

Kathryn Gillis, associate scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

Lecture: "Hydrothermal Systems at Mid-Ocean Ridges," Dr. Gillis discussed her views on the crystal component of deep sea drilling [Distinguished Lecturer Series]

1994
March

Linda Gordon, Women's History professor at UW-Madison

Lecture: "Violence Against Women: Has There Been Progress?" Gordon was the keynote speaker for Women's History Month, held in the Abbott Concert Hall, Fine Arts Building

1994
September

Carlos Muñoz, Jr., Ethnic Studies professor at the University of California-Berkley and a human rights specialist

Human Rights in the U.S.: Dr. Muñoz, a nationally known specialist on this topic, delivered the convocation address in the Karges Center

1994
September

Musica Femina (Kristan Aspen, flute, and Janna MacAuslan, guitar)

Performance: The flute-guitar duo entertained in the Abbott Concert Hall for for a general audience attracted to classical music, "new" music, and students interested in the humanities  [sponsored by the Wyman Series, and the Concerts and Lectures Committee]

1995
March

Mimi Abramovitz, Social Work professor at Hunter College

Myths and Facts Surrounding Women and Welfare and Women and Poverty in Western Wisconsin: In collaboration of Women's National History Month, UW-River Falls hosted two lectures by Dr. Abramovitz; She focused on the debate of women. 

1995
October

Vaga Spel og Dansarlag, Norwegian folk troupe

Performance: The popular Norwegian folk troupe held a performance at UWRF.  That year the troupe, consisting of folk dancers, fiddlers, and musical performers, were given the top honors at the Landsfestival competition.  [sponsored by the Music Department, and others]

1995
October

John Battelle, editor of Wired Magazine

Lecture: "The Internet, a Cultural Phenomenon," Battelle lectured about the internet and how it should be viewed as a cultural phenomenon rather than just a technological one. 

1995
October

Y. Ron Shen, professor at the University of California-Berkley

Lecture: "What Can Lasers Do?" Shen discussed the advancement of laser technology and how it can be used  [sponsored by the Wyman Series]

1995
October

Prague Wind Quintet, musical group

Performance: The quintet, consisting of five highly acclaimed soloists performed in Abbott Concert Hall. 

1996
February

The Philadelphia Brass, musical group

Performance: Known at the time as one of America's finest brass quintets, The Philadelphia Brass made a rare appearance at UW-River Falls.  The quintet won several competitions including the 1989 Rafael Mendez competition.

1996
March

Wilma King, History professor at the University of Michigan, and author

Lectures: "African American Women and Children in 19th Century America," King presented a series of lectures on the topic. 

1996
April

Steward Decorah, Powwow Master of Ceremonies

Powwow: Unity in the community: Celebrating Native American culture through participation in a powwow.  Decorah was the Master of Ceremonies and shared with the crowd the meanings, myths, and instruments behind the powwow.

1996
May

Katherine Lyall, UW System president

Discussion: Lyall visited UW-River Falls to discuss the future of UW schools and how RF will be affected by increasing enrollment and budget cuts.  She discusses options for keeping tuition prices down.

1996
May

Niansheng Yang, Animal Science professor at Guangxi Agriculture University in China

Visit: Dr. Yang visited River Falls for a month to observe and learn new teaching techniques to help improve his university.  Teaching methods are more personal here than in China. 

1996
May

Maria Teresa Tula, activist, Committee of Mothers and Relatives of Political Prisoners, Assassinated, and Disappeared of El Salvador

El Salvador: Maria Teresa Tula visited campus to share her experiences as a political prisoner in El Salvador and her time in the United States as a refugee.  Mothers of El Salvador asked the North American governments to no longer intervene in their civil war.

1996
May

Conrad DeJong, former Music Professor and Founder of School's Commissioned Composer Program

Earth Songs: DeJong returned to UW-RF to present and perform his new piece, Earth Songs" in honor of the program's 30th year.

1996
May

The Johnny Holm Band, musical group

Concert: The band came to the Knowles Center to entertain for Residence Hall Week.

1996
October

Leo Kottke, guitarist

Performance: World famous entertainer, Leo Kottke performed in the Abbott Concert Hall.  Kottke has worked with artists like the Violent Femmes and Lyle Lovett. [sponsored by the Wyman Series]

1996
October

Jeffrey Birnbaum, Author, Radio Commentator, and Senior Political Correspondent for Time Magazine

Insider's View of Political Life: Birnbaum gave the audience an insider's view of political life in Washington D.C. in the North Hall auditorium. 

1997
December

Minnesota Ballet

Performance of The Nutcracker: The Nutcracker is a traditional fable about a girl's dream on Christmas Eve and he magic of making dreams come true.  It was the biggest show on the UWRF campus this year.  A special set was built to accommodate the large cast.  [sponsored by the Wyman Series]

1997
December

Marcus Knight, Actor, Knight Tyme Storytellers

One-Man Play: Knight performed a play, depicting the life of a 30 year old slave named Tobias.  This event was held at Brandy's. [sponsored by the African American Alliance]

1998
February

Dorothy Siegel, Vice President and Professor Emeritus, Towson State University, Maryland

Hate Speech,  A Crime Of Words: Twin cities colleges and universities gather to hear nationally recognized speaker in River Falls.  This workshop was in response to the coming out of gays and lesbians to a source of retaliated speech.  Siegel was the presenter and facilitator.  Students are a diverse grouping and there must be collective dialog from many people involved.  Student responses to coming out have been mixed but there is need for discussion.  [sponsored by a University-Wide Committee]

1999
May

José Ramos-Horta, Nobel Peace Prize winner

Issues of Globalization: The lecture focused on struggling for freedom and world harmony.  According to Wes Chaplin, a political science professor and the chair of this event, the conference was held due to heightened interest by students.  Chaplin said, "We held the event for three reasons: to increase awareness of important international events, to encourage and debate, and to create positive publicity for the campus."  Many events took place during the conference, the biggest was Ramos-Horta's presentation.  [sponsored by the UWRF Cabinet, the International Relations Club, and others.]

1999
October

Microbiology Conference

Food Viruses: Experts from around the world gathered at UW-River Falls to discuss issues.  Food-borne illnesses and bacterial pathogens were just two of the topics that were discussed.  The is one of two programs in the U.S. and the UWRF program has evolved. [sponsored by the College of Agriculture]

1999
October

Le Trio Gershwin, French ensemble

Performance: Three members of the French ensemble; classical guitarist Alfred Street, pianist Jean-Noel Roux, and cellist Benoit Charvet performed eight pieces in the Abbott Concert Hall.  [sponsored by the Wyman Series]