Lecturer to discuss decades of Mideast wars

“The Wars of Israel: the Blame Game,” a lecture by Dr. S. Ilan Troen, a professor and director of the Schusterman Center for Is­rael Studies at Brandeis Uni­ver­sity, is set for 3 p.m. Monday, April 28, in Room 122 of Wooten Hall at UNT. The event is free.

For more information, call 940-369-8926.

U.S. News ranks master’s program in top 10

U.S. News and World Report has ranked UNT’s Master of Public Administration degree program ninth in the nation and first in Texas in the city management and urban policy specialty area. The MPA program is in­cluded in U.S. News’ annual guide to the best graduate schools on the magazine’s Web site.

UNT’s program moved up one spot in the latest national rankings. It was previously ranked 10th in the city man­agement/urban policy specialty area on the 2004 U.S. News list.

“The ranking gives affirmation to the dedication of the public administration faculty and staff to helping UNT achieve its strategic goals,” Department of Public Administration chairman Dr. Bob Bland said in a news release.

For more information, visit www.padm.unt.edu .

Student named 12th best speaker at tournament

UNT senior Kuntal Cholera placed 12th in the top 20 speakers at this year’s National Debate Tournament. Cholera, an economics major, was the highest-ranked student from a Texas school.

The tournament was at Cali­for­nia State Uni­versity at Fullerton.

Cholera and his debate partner John Elson, a sophomore political science major, qualified for the tournament last month after they finished third at the District III Qualifying Tournament. Dis­trict III includes colleges in Kan­sas, Louisiana, Missouri, Okla­homa and Texas.

Cholera and Elson achieved four wins at the National Debate Tournament, which was won by a Wake Forest Uni­ver­sity team. It was their second year at the tournament as partners. Cholera qualified for the 2006 tournament with another partner.

Cholera and Elson also recently finished among the top nine teams at the Cross Examination Debate Association’s National Tournament, at Wichita State University in Kansas.

Statue of educator to be dedicated Friday

UNT is dedicating a life-sized bronze statue in honor of Dr. J. K.G. Silvey, who served as the chairman of the Department of Biological Services from 1952 to 1973.

The statue will be unveiled during ceremonies at 4 p.m. Friday in front of UNT’s En­vi­ronmental Education, Science and Technology Building. Gayle Strange, chairwoman of the UNT Board of Regents and a former student of Silvey’s, and members of the Silvey family are expected to speak.

David Iles, a UNT alumnus who sculpted a series of Texas wildlife works that grace the grounds of the EESAT Building, sculpted the Silvey statue. Money for the $40,000 statue was jointly raised by the Department of Biological Sciences, the Institute of Applied Science and the J. K.G. Silvey Society.

Silvey joined what was then known as North Texas State Teachers College in 1935 as an assistant professor with a specialty in limnology, or the study of freshwater conditions. His reddish hair and bowtie made him instantly recognizable to students of the day. Silvey retired in 1977 as a distinguished professor emeritus. He died in 1989.

Silvey also served as associate dean of basic sciences for what was then known as Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. 

Former students and colleagues established the J. K.G. Silvey Society in 1965 to recognize his contributions.

A fish fry and tribute to Silvey will be held after the dedication ceremony.

‘New Choreographers Concert’ this weekend

The UNT Department of Dance and Theatre invites the community to join 12 student choreographers in their investigation of personal, social, and cultural subject matter at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

The event, “New Cho­reo­gra­phers Concert: Consider This,” is the creation of 12 seniors completing their undergraduate degrees in dance at UNT under the artistic direction of dance professor Dr. Timothy Wilson.

The performances take place in the University Theatre of the UNT Radio, Television, Film and Performing Arts Building. Ad­mis­sion is $5. Tickets can be purchased at the department’s box office in Room 104, open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted.

Seating is limited. The box office will open one hour before each performance. There is a no late seating policy at the theater.

Tickets can be ordered with a credit card by calling 940-565-2428 or 817-267-3731, ext. 2428.

Students collect school supplies for Afghans

Political science students at UNT are raising money to distribute donations of backpacks filled with school supplies collected for Afghan children in Feb­ruary and March. The supply drive was coordinated in conjunction with Operation Care, an all-volunteer team of military and civilian personnel that works with teachers and students in Afghanistan.

The donations were able to fill 77 backpacks with school supplies, blankets and shoes.

The group is now focusing efforts on raising about $300 for the transportation costs of the supplies.

The UNT chapter of the American Humanics Student Association also participated in the supply drive.

For more information, e-mail kking@unt.edu  or call 940-565-4984.