It's the 10 days of Harlaxton Christmas! Each day we will give you a chance to guess at the gifts the UE Harlaxton team has gotten this year in our work with Harlaxton to win a prize. We will present a question each day, and the person who emails the closest answer first to harlaxton@evansville.edu will get some Harlaxton swag! We will post answers the following day, so check back here each day for the 10 days of Harlaxton Christmas final facts.

Yesterday's answer was Cliff and Agnes, the protagonists of the Harlaxton Heist novel!

On the 2nd day of Harlaxton Christmas, my true love gave to me air miles! Guess how many miles Director Holly Carter flew for Harlaxton this year.

Submitted by Kaylynn McCalister kc205@evansville.edu.

Reminder: The University of Evansville will be closed during the holidays to allow our employees to enjoy this special time with their families.
The following November – December – January holiday schedule will be observed:

Thanksgiving
Closed Wednesday, November 27
Closed Thursday, November 28
Closed Friday, November 29

Christmas
Last day to work before break – Friday, December 20
Closed Monday, December 23 through Wednesday, January 1
Reopen Thursday, January 2

The complete listing of holidays observed by the University of Evansville can be found the UE website.

The TIAA-CREF representative will be on the UE campus for individual counseling sessions on Wednesday, December 11, 2019. To schedule an appointment, call TIAA-CREF at 1-800-732-8353.

Please note that the meeting location has been changed to SOBA room 153, Eades Music Room.

Submitted by Lori LeDuc LL138@evansville.edu.

We hope you had a great Thanksgiving break and you're ready for the finals and ready to finish this semester strong! But, if you're feeling stressed about your finals, this Wednesday we will be De-stressing by having different cultural dances at I-House. We will be having more than 5 different group dances lead by International students. There will dances from Greece, Lebanon, Honduras, and Brazil. We hope to see you at 2nd Floor Ridgway on December 3rd at 7pm!

Submitted by Hussam Taj ht70@evansville.edu.

Take a break from studying for finals to join some of your favorite Aces at the Pancake Study Break! This event is free of charge for UE students. A UE ID is required. Pancakes and more will be available on Thursday, December 5 from 9:00-11:00 p.m. in Cafe Court. Door prizes will be given out throughout the event.

Submitted by Chad Hart ch299@evansville.edu.

Hello Campus community!

We are gearing up for Christmastime on Campus which is THIS Friday, December 6, and we need your help.

We need volunteers and we have lots of spots to fill. Please take a look and help if you can!

Sign up online.

Submitted by Jennifer Whitaker jw604@evansville.edu.

Holiday Arts and Craft Sale
Saturday, December 7, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Melvin Peterson Gallery

The perfect opportunity to find unusual holiday gifts made by local artists, crafts people, and our very own UE family!

From the Department of Art and the Friends of Art.

Free, confidential HIV testing performed by Matthew 25 at the Student Health Center from 9-11am on Tuesday, December 3. No appointment necessary.

Submitted by Tara Ulrich tu19@evansville.edu.

Free off-site paper shredding by Piranha Mobile Shredding will return to campus once again on Thursday, December 5 (Reading Study Day) from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. All UE students, faculty, staff, and alumni can take advantage of this free service by bringing paper to the Piranha truck in Koch Center for Engineering and Science parking lot. Paper will be shredded off-site.

So, if mounds of paper are taking over your office, home, or room, this is the time to gather those old files, receipts, cancelled checks, tax forms, etc. No need to take out the staples or paper clips. Avoid identity theft by having confidential information permanently destroyed.

Please - no telephone books, magazines, or newspapers. Also, please note that there is a 100-pound paper limit per visit (number of visits is not limited).

Submitted by Amber Elkins ae152@evansville.edu

Medical Spanish practice is designed to help students practice communication skills in Spanish for medical settings. Students may arrive and leave at any time. The last session of the semester is this Wednesday, December 4, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. in Room 64 in the Schroeder School of Business Building. Please contact associate professor of Spanish Diana Rodríguez Quevedo at dr130@evansville.edu for more details. ¡Nos vemos el miércoles!

Submitted by Diana Rodriguez Quevedo dr130@evansville.edu.

First Tuesday Concert Series, December 3
Holiday Pops
7:30pm, Victory Theatre

Celebrate the final First Tuesday concert series of the semester with Holiday Pops at the Victory Theatre! Hear the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, University Choir, Choral Society, and Women’s Chorus perform a variety of holiday music from beautiful choral works to pop favorites. The concert is free and open to the public.

Vespers, December 6
7:30pm, Neu Chapel

Join us for this beautiful holiday tradition of choral music, hymns, and readings held in Neu Chapel.

Joins RSA for our holiday Bingo in Rademacher's Lounge at 8pm on Dec. 4 and get the chance to win a Disney+ year long subscription!

Submitted by Lily Renfro lr156@evansville.edu.

When God is Father: The Unjust Theology of the Evangelical Orphan Care Movement
by Valerie Stein

Valerie Stein is an associate professor of religion and chair of the Department of Philosophy & Religion at the University of Evansville. She has been at UE since 2002. She holds a ThD from Harvard University in Hebrew Bible / Old Testament. Her teaching and research interests focus on the intersection of religion and culture. Much of her work has centered on the history of biblical interpretation, particularly examining the ways in which the biblical text has functioned to marginalize or oppress certain groups. She uses social identities such as race, religion, and gender as lenses through which to critically engage religion as a structural force in both contemporary society and throughout history.

Adoption and foster care have become especially popular over the past decade within evangelical Christian circles, as evidenced by the establishment and growing popularity of Orphan Sunday and by the extensive promotion of adoption by evangelical religious groups, such as the Southern Baptist Convention and Focus on the Family. This call to adopt or foster is not fundamentally about providing options for infertile couples or promoting humanitarianism; rather, evangelicals draw on the Bible and Christian theology to frame adoption and foster care as a missionary activity that both symbolizes and accomplishes the salvific message of the Gospel. The patriarchal theology behind the framework privileges the interests of the male “father” god over those of the birth mother. The resulting Christian rhetoric empowers the perspective of the adoptive parents by aligning them with God as pater familias while rendering the birth mother invisible and theologically irrelevant. God the Father’s "heart for adoption" thus promotes an Evangelical Orphan Care Movement that allows the desires of wealthy, privileged (and Christian) members of society to take precedence over the needs, wishes, and interests of vulnerable women.

The lecture begins at 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Eykamp Hall (Room 252), Ridgway University Center
A social gathering with beverages begins at 3:45 p.m.

For further information, call Annette Parks at 812-488-1070
or the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences at 812-488-2589

Join us for some fellowship and fun as we head into finals and Christmas! As always there will be FREE home-cooked food and plenty of friends!

Submitted by Savannah Leigh Cyr sc315@evansville.edu.

Finals got you stressed and need a break from studying??? Counseling Services, with the help of SAB and RSA, is having our bi-annual relaxation event before finals! We'll have 3 chair massage stations from Bodyworks Massage, aromatherapy, yoga, coloring, puzzles, and other relaxing activities. Come and go as you like and move at your own pace. We always have a great time and hope you'll join us!

Thursday, December 5, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Eykamp 253-255

New this year: Who likes line dancing??? (Think electric slide, cupid shuffle, etc.) Join us in Eykamp 251 at 1pm and 3:30pm to get your groove on!

Submitted by Jennifer Hargus jh693@evansville.edu.

Finals got you stressed and need a break form studying??? Counseling Services, with the help of SAB and RSA, is having our bi-annual relaxation event before finals on Reading Study Day! We'll have 3 chair massage stations from Bodyworks Massage, aromatherapy, yoga, coloring, puzzles, and other relaxing activities. Come and go as you like and move at your own pace. We always have a great time and hope you'll join us!

Submitted by Jennifer Hargus jh693@evansville.edu.

The University of Evansville, in pursuit of excellence in service, wishes to recognize monthly a non-faculty employee displaying records of achievement as a leader. Leadership may be demonstrated in any of the following categories:

• Service to the University community
• Service to students
• Job performance and attitude to fellow employees

One award is presented each month.  To be eligible, an employee must be a full-time member of the administration or staff.  Nominations are due before the 15th of each month.  Nominations are now being accepted for the month of January!

Nominate someone or find out more information about the Employee Excellence Award.

Submitted by Lori LeDuc LL138@evansville.edu.

The Crescent, University of Evansville's student magazine, is available for FREE right now to all students at magazine stands across the campus! This issue we put free speech on center stage. Pick up an issue on magazine racks across campus. The Crescent is a student magazine - by and for the students of the University of Evansville - that is published six times during the academic year. The Crescent serves as an open forum for the UE community. Copies are free to students and the goal is to present relevant content in a fair, accurate, and unbiased manner.

Also, be sure to cast your vote for the Best of UE online. The Crescent would like to highlight these little things that make students and UE tick by honoring the Best of UE! Look out for our Feb. issue to see if your #1 made it to the top!

Submitted by Tim Young ty32@evansville.edu

A new series of classes – Catholic Thought and Culture – is now being offered at the Newman Catholic Student Center. The first of these one-hour, for-credit courses will be offered during the Spring 2020 semester, on Mondays from 10:00-10:50 am. All participants can receive a 1 hr credit from Marian University, transferrable to the University of Evansville. Cost is $250 for a 12 week course. Participants can also choose to pay $150 if you do not wish to receive credit. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Instructor and Catholic Campus Minister Jenny Koch at 812-454-0062.

Submitted by Savannah Leigh Cyr sc315@evansville.edu.

Come vote for your favorite winter window in the Center for Student Engagement on the second floor of Ridgway! Windows have been decorated with a winter or holiday theme with a touch of UE pride!

To vote, stop by the Residence Life desk to pick up a ballot and may the best window win!

Submitted by Kaitlyn Luczak kl241@evansville.edu.

From Tuesday, December 3, through Tuesday, December 10, the Neu Chapel offices will be open during the day to use as a quiet study space. Cookies provided and the coffee machine is available for use.

Submitted by JillAnn Knonenborg jk383@evansville.edu.

Book buybacks will take place in the Student Media Center, Room 274, Ridgway University Center. Bring your ID

• Fri, Dec 6, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Sat, Dec 7, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Mon – Thur, Dec 9-12, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Fri, Dec 13, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Official transcripts for current students will not be sent out between December 6th and until all grades are posted and finalized, approximately December 20th. Any orders placed during this time should be ordered "hold for grades".

Submitted by Teresa Haller th227@evansville.edu.

Payment plans for summer session courses including Early Summer, Harlaxton Summer, Summer I, and Summer II are available now. Contact the cashiers in the Office of Student Financial Services (Olmsted rm. 105G) to set-up a payment plan. Payments can be arranged from the point of set-up to the due date of the session. There is no fee for the payment plan.

Students should contact the Office of Student Financial Services no later than Reading-Study Day, May 7, 2020 to determine if financial aid is available for their summer courses.

Submitted by Amy Sowders as560@evansville.edu.

REMINDER! If you were a new incoming student to UE this 2019 fall semester, you must have your Meningitis B series completed and submitted to your MedProctor account by January 31st 2020. If you are going home during Thanksgiving or winter break, schedule your second dose to complete your Meningitis B series that is part of the admission requirements. This is only required for new students who entered University of Evansville FALL 2019 who has submitted only one dose of Meningitis B to MedProctor. Please call the Student Health Center at 812-488-2033 for any questions/concerns.
Trumenba- 2 doses required at least 6 months apart
Bexsero- 2 doses required at least 1 month apart

Submitted by Tara Ulrich tu19@evansville.edu.

Residence Hall Students - do you need a place to stay this winter? The residence life office has limited winter housing available. Only students participating in official University functions or with approved reasons will be considered for winter housing.

Winter housing is located on the fourth floor of Morton Residence Hall. Students will not have access to their permanent rooms during winter break. Approvals are subject to room availability. Students are charged a flat fee of $400 for winter housing.

Students seeking winter housing must submit a Winter Housing Request Form by noon on Reading and Study Day, available through this link - https://uesurvey.evansville.edu/WinterHousing.

Students who live in Village housing can stay in their apartment or house at no additional cost but we do ask that you let us know when you will be on campus by filling out this form - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/villagewinterhousing.

Submitted by Brian Conner bc32@evansville.edu.

Xyan is deeply knowledgeable about the various technology systems and has been crafting brilliant tools for use by the campus community.  Xyan always strives for the best possible experience for every user.  His dedication and skills clearly show in the tools that he has delivered.  Xyan is most recently credited with developing the online parking permit system that we were able to use this past fall for employees and students.  He took feedback meeting after meeting, test after test, never once exhausting his “can do” approach, never once cringing, never once hesitating to make the system exactly what multiple departments needed it to be.  His willingness to dive into projects and ability to automate the vision from start to vision is commended.  Please help us congratulate Xyan on his recognition of excellence!

Submitted by Lori LeDuc LL138@evansville.edu.

Rania Mousa, Associate Professor of Accounting, has a paper accepted for publication in the Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management, which is one of the top journals specialized in qualitative accounting research.

The paper is titled, A Case Study of XBRL Implementation and Development at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Using data collected from the FDIC and representatives of the software development and banking industries, the research examines the Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) technology implementation process at the FDIC as part of the larger Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s Central Data Repository modernization project. The research incorporates the well-established Diffusion of Innovation Theory and gauges the impact on the FDIC’s stakeholders’ internal organizational processes. It also presents an empirical assessment of the agency’s recent development of Inline XBRL to support the bank examination process, which was never reported in accounting, information systems or public administration literature.

It is with great sadness we announce that friend and former colleague Earl D. Kirk Jr, 70, passed away on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 in Naperville, Illinois after a lengthy illness. Earl served as UE’s Director of Study Abroad/Harlaxton College Programs from 2003-2015 and worked tirelessly promoting Harlaxton and the University of Evansville even after his retirement.

Originally from Aurora, Illinois, he earned his BA in French, magna cum laude, from Illinois Wesleyan University as well as his MA and ABD in French from Indiana University. Before coming to Evansville, Earl served as a professor and held various administrative positions for 25 years at Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas.

He was a world traveler and had a love of people, languages, history and cultures. One of his most recent adventures was in 2017, when he took the challenge of the Camino de Santiago (the Way of Saint James), walking 500 miles in 35 days to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain.

Earl was an inspirational and passionate educator, administrator, and mentor dedicating his life and career encouraging and inspiring thousands of students to achieve their goals in education, studying and traveling abroad.

He is survived by his sister, Dale (Robert) Seidelman, of Big Rock, Il., sister Doris (Robert) Field of Idaho, and brother, Edward Kirk of Aurora, Il, as well as many nieces, nephews, friends and former students and colleagues from around the world.

A visitation will be held on Saturday December 7, 2019, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM at The Healy Chapel, 370 Division Dr., Sugar Grove, IL 60554. The funeral service will immediately follow the visitation at 11:00 AM.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Robert Dunham Scholarship Fund at Baker University or to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in memory of Earl.

Submitted by Wes Milner wm23@evansville.edu.

The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors announced the 2020 Men's Induction Class to be honored on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.  Among those set to be inducted is former University of Evansville men’s basketball player Mark Siegel.

Siegel played in the first four games of his freshman year for the Purple Aces when he was among the 29 people killed in the December 13, 1977 plane crash.  In his time on the floor at UE, he posted 1.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.  He added five steals and three assists.

He set numerous records at Pike High School in Indianapolis.  A 1976 and 1977 honorable mention all-state player and 1st team academic all-state selection, he earned 1st team all-Marion County honors twice and 1st team all-conference honors twice, averaging nearly 14 points per game as a junior and 19.5 points his senior season.  Along the way he set six school records including 13 assists in one game, 180 assists in one season and 271 career assists, along with 11 steals in one game, 103 steals in one season and 184 career steals. 

Johnathan DeJurnett – a 6-7 forward from Memphis, Tenn. – has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the University of Evansville men’s basketball team next season.  DeJurnett will be a freshman for the Purple Aces.

“Johnathan DeJurnett is a special player.  He has a relentless motor and plays above the rim,” UE head coach Walter McCarty said.  “His desire to be the best that he can is present on the court and in the classroom.  He will be a terrific student-athlete at the University of Evansville.”

DeJurnett is set to embark on his senior season at Lausanne Collegiate High School in Memphis. He has been a starter in each of his previous high school seasons and is on the cusp of reaching 1,500 points in his career. In his junior campaign in 2018-19, DeJurnett averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds.

Lausanne has a storied history of sending players to the top level. Current NBA players who attended the school include Marc Gasol, Cameron Payne and Skal Labissiere.