Alumni Association Home > Past Issues > 2007 > November-December 2007	Print View

R. Justin Stewart works on a new piece. Photograph by Patrick O'Leary

University of Minnesota MFA student R. Justin Stewart was one of 21 sculpture students worldwide to receive an outstanding student achievement award for 2007 from the International Sculpture Center for his work titled Connections. He is the first student from the University ever to receive the award, which was established in 1994. Recipients were selected from a field of 339 college students in five countries. Stewart discovered his love for art as a high school sophomore in Waukesha, Wisconsin, when he took a ceramics course. His passion took him to art school, which, he says, completely transformed my way of thought. It blew open my world. His work explores networks and systems; he is pictured here at work on a piece inspired by the Minneapolis-St. Paul bus map. Connections, along with the work of other award recipients, is on view through April 27, 2008, at the Grounds for Sculptures Fall/Winter Exhibition in Hamilton, New Jersey. Stewart will also have an exhibition on campus in the spring.

Accommodating Students

Resources are plentiful to ensure that the U's 1,400-some students with disabilities are able to participate as fully as possible in academic and student life at the University of Minnesota. In August, Disability Services, in the Office of Multicultural and Academic Affairs, hosted an orientation for new students and their parents to introduce them to those resources.

One technology that has opened up new worlds for deaf and hard-of-hearing students is the videophone, which is capable of both audio and video transmission. Its available to any student, faculty, or staff member who requests it, and currently about 50 do. It allows deaf and hard-of-hearing people to communicate with each other in their own natural language: sign language, said Tim Fitzgerald, a computer technician with Disability Services. Other assistive technology available to students includes captioning and electronic conversion of documents into Braille, large print, or spoken word. Among the no-tech options are access assistants who help in labs and libraries and with studying and note-taking; a testing center where course exams can be modified as needed; and captioners and American Sign Language interpreters who provide more than 400 hours of service per week.

The orientation ended with a panel discussion with students from the Disabled Student Cultural Center (DSCC), a student-run organization located in Coffman Memorial Union where students study, socialize, and work together to improve the campus climate for students with disabilities. Toward the end of the discussion, DSCC president Rachael Garaghty, a junior political science major and one of the panelists, cut to the chase and asked the question that might have most been on the minds of new students: Enough about accommodations. What do you guys like to do for fun?Cynthia Scott

A Bridge to China

In June, Yongwei Zhang was named director of the University of Minnesota China Center. Founded in 1979, the China Center works to strengthen understanding, friendship, exchange, and cooperation between the United States and Chinese peoples. Zhang comes to Minnesota from Missouri State University, where he was director of international programs and affairs, assistant vice president of research and economic development, and director of university programs in Asia.

What is your vision for the China Center? It is fundamentally important that we promote broader awareness of the growing importance of Chinas role in the global community and help the University and the state of Minnesota build extensive connections with the Chinese government, business community, and academic partners.

Describe a couple China Center programs. Through the Mingda Institute for Leadership Training, more than 1,600 Chinese business and public sector officials and University professionals have received