2009 December: Community News

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Inside • DU health center • T ips for the holidays • Wine expert • L andmark bar closes

Student satisfaction Of the students who completed the 2009 National Survey of Student Engagement,

88 percent of first-year DU

student respondents reported a favorable image of the institution, and

81 percent

of senior respondents would

choose DU again if they could Wayne Armstrong

start their college career over.

82 percent of first-year

students felt the University

One Ski Hill Sophomore business major Stevenson Smith and other DU students built an impromptu ski slope and trick rail on Carnegie Green to take advantage of the snow dumped on campus during a late October snowstorm. A DU video posted on YouTube, Skiing the Carnegie Green, showcases their fun. Get up-to-date coverage and view videos and story links by joining DU’s facebook page, www.facebook.com/uofdenver. >>www.twitter.com/uofdenver >>www.youtube.com/uofdenver

places substantial emphasis on academics, and

57

percent of first-year students frequently work harder than they thought they could to meet faculty expectations. By their senior year,

78 percent

of student respondents said they participated in community service or volunteer work, and

61 percent of seniors said they have had a study-abroad experience.

DU health center receives accreditation

How to celebrate the holidays during a recession • Remember that what makes people truly happy is not money or things, but time with people they love. • Families should build new family traditions that are more about spending time with each other and less about money. • Consider planting trees, donating to a local shelter or volunteering in a soup kitchen. • Parents can sit down with their children (if the kids are old enough) to explain the holidays will be different this year. • For children who still believe in Santa Claus and don’t understand price tags, parents can wrap up lots of boxes with little things inside.

iStockphoto

There aren’t many slow days at DU’s Health and Counseling Center between September and June when the majority of students are on campus, but hard work by the center’s staff hasn’t gone unnoticed. Recently, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) recognized the center by granting it accreditation. The association accredits centers that provide outpatient diagnostic or medical care where an overnight stay is not required. College health centers are among the types of ambulatory health care organizations that can seek accreditation. “We’re very pleased to receive this honor and believe that students deserve the best care possible,” says Dr. Sam Alexander, executive director of DU’s Health and Counseling Center. “Accreditation means that an independent agency has closely examined our facility and procedures and found that we’re doing everything possible to serve our patients based on the type of care we provide on campus.” Ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation by the AAAHC undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by the group’s surveyors — volunteer physicians, nurses and administrators who are actively involved in ambulatory health care. The survey is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization improve its care and services. More than 4,500 ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation, and not all undergoing the process are granted accreditation. The Health and Counseling Center, located in the Ritchie Center, provides a wide range of on-site medical and mental health services. Physicians, nurses, psychologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other professionals staff the center. All full- or part-time DU students enrolled for academic credit may receive services at the center. —Jim Berscheidt

Tips compiled by psychology Professor Martha Wadsworth

National report ranks DU third for undergraduate study abroad The University of Denver ranks third in the nation among doctoral and research institutions in percentage of undergraduate students studying abroad, according to the 2009 Open Doors report. The report, which was released in November by the Institute of International Education (IIE), reflects data from the 2007–08 academic year and shows DU sent 73.6 percent of its undergraduates to study abroad. Nationally, just more than 1 percent of all enrolled undergraduates studied abroad. Only Pepperdine University and the University of San Diego ranked higher than DU. The IIE reports the top destination for students in 2007–08 was the United Kingdom followed by Italy. At DU, Italy is the top destination, followed by Spain and Australia.  DU offers more than 150 study-abroad programs in 58 nations. Through DU’s Cherrington Global Scholars program, students have the opportunity to study abroad while paying their tuition and fees to the University. DU also helps students with some additional costs such as transportation and fees for visa applications and insurance mandated by host countries or universities. According to the 2009 Open Doors report, U.S. students are studying abroad in record numbers. Study abroad increased by 8.5 percent to a total of 262,416 students. The top three major fields of study for students, according to the report, are social sciences, business and management, and humanities. >>www.opendoors.iienetwork.org >>www.du.edu/intl/abroad/ —Kristal Griffith

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Volume 33, Number 4 Vice Chancellor for University Communications

Carol Farnsworth

Editorial Director

Chelsey Baker-Hauck (BA ’96) Managing Editor

Kathryn Mayer (BA ’07) Art Director

Craig Korn, VeggieGraphics Community News is published monthly by the University of Denver, University Communications, 2199 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80208-4816. The University of Denver is an EEO/AA institution.

Contact Community News at 303-871-4312 or [email protected] To receive an e-mail notice upon the publication of Community News, contact us with your name and e-mail address.

Grape expectations

DU alumna one of four female wine masters in U.S.

Courtesy of Remy Cointreau

© Agau | Dreamstime.com

A

few years after graduating from DU with a degree in international business, Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan had a business lunch that changed her life. She was working for Citibank in London, and on the lunch menu was herb-crusted salmon and Sancerre — a white wine from the Loire valley in France. “They served this together, and I was so enthralled with it,” Simonetti-Bryan says. “Salmon is a very fatty fish, and it coats your tongue in an oil. When you sip the Sancerre, which is extremely high in acid, it creates this cleansing sensation on your tongue. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is really cool.’ It wasn’t that the wine itself was so amazing, it was just that I had never experienced anything like that before.” Simonetti-Bryan (BS ’95) took a wine class in London shortly thereafter, and she was “If you love what you do, you never bitten hard by the wine bug. She studied and trained for years, and in the fall of 2008 she work a day in your life. I figured became one of only four American women the money will come eventually if to earn the title Master of Wine, the highest I concentrate on what I love and standard of professional knowledge in the wine what I want to do.” industry. “It’s such an enormous endeavor,” she says. “It’s kind of like a cross between the bar exam and the Olympics. It’s a four-day exam, and it is kind of physical. One of the things you have to do is you have to identify 36 wines blind. They’ll say, ‘OK, what’s the grape variety and tell us why.’ It’s not enough to be able to guess and get it right.” The exam also tests applicants’ knowledge of viticulture — the growing of grapes — and the business side of wine. Unlike sommeliers, who mostly work in restaurants, a Master of Wine has a global understanding of the industry. Simonetti-Bryan, 35, currently works for New York-based wine and spirits importer and distributor Remy Cointreau, where she educates distributors and makes wine-related public and television appearances. She also is one of 10 American women to hold the highest credentials of the Wine & Spirits Education Trust and Society of Wine Educators. But her first wine job was a little less glamorous. She left the banking industry and a six-figure income to work for less than $25,000 a year at the Burgundy Wine Company, a retailer in Greenwich Village. “My family thought I had lost my mind,” she says. “But if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. I figured the money will come eventually if I concentrate on what I love and what I want to do.” What Simonetti-Bryan loves most is educating people about wine — even her own family. “I’ve been trying to get them into wine,” she says. “When I first started at the Burgundy Wine Company I bought this Grand Cru Burgundy, a $250 bottle, and I brought it home for Easter. I left the room for a second — and they added 7-Up to it.”

Helping for the holidays

It’s that time of year again. Clean out your closet and help others during the Pioneers for People Coat Drive January 8–20. DU’s Staff Advisory Council, with help from student organizations, is sponsoring a coat drive to benefit the Denver Rescue Mission. Items requested include new or used coats, hats, scarves, gloves, boots and any other cold weather gear. Donations can be dropped off at these locations: Ammi Hyde Building, Ben Cherrington Hall, Boettcher Hall, Chambers Center, Marcus Commons in the Daniels College of Business, Driscoll University Center, Fisher Early Learning Center, Mary Reed Building, Newman Center, Purchasing Services Building, Ricketson Law Building, Ricks Center, Ritchie Center, Sturm Hall and University Hall and all residence halls.

— Greg Glasgow

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[Events] December

Around campus 4 DU bookstore’s staff and faculty

appreciation sale. Draw a discount ticket good for 20–50 percent off entire purchase. Hours: 8:30 a.m.– 5 p.m.

8 China Town Hall: “Local

Connections, National Reflections.” 6 p.m. Cherrington Hall, Room 150. Free. Visit www. du.edu/korbel/china for more information.

21 School Days Off. Also Dec. 22–23 and Dec. 28–31. 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Gates Field House. $45 per day or $20 per day with the DU work options benefit. Visit recreation.du.edu/sdo.

25 Holiday. Campus closed through Jan. 3.

Arts 3 International Youth Ballet’s “The

Nutcracker.” Presented by Classical Dance Arts Foundation. 6:30 p.m. Gates Concert Hall. Additional performances Dec. 4 at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 5 at 11:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $21.

5 “Granny Dances to a Holiday

Drum.” By Cleo Parker Robinson. 7:30 p.m. Byron Theatre. Additional performance Dec. 6. $38.

6 Young Voices of Colorado, Ring the Bells. 4 p.m. Gates Concert Hall. $14-$25.

Channel 93.3 Not So Silent

Night with A.F.I. 6 p.m. Magness Arena.

8 An Intimate Christmas with

Lorie Line, the 20th Anniversary Show. 7:30 p.m. Gates Concert Hall. $46.50.

12 Sound of the Rockies presents

“Making Spirits Bright.” 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Gates Concert Hall. $19-$27.

13 Cherry Creek Dance Winter

Recital. 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Gates Concert Hall. Call 303-399-8087 for ticket info.

11th Annual Holiday Carillon

Concert. 3 p.m. Williams Carillon, Ritchie Center. Free; no tickets required.

31 Swingin’ in the New Year with

The Denver Brass. 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Gates Concert Hall. $30-$52.

Sports 4 Ring of Fire 36: Demolition. MMA event. 7:30 p.m. Magness Arena. $25–$120.

5 Hockey vs. Colorado College. 7:07 p.m. Magness Arena.

8 Men’s basketball vs. Cal State

Northridge. 7 p.m. Magness Arena.

12 U.S. Women’s National Hockey

Team vs. Canada. 7 p.m. Magness Arena.

14 Women’s basketball vs. Florida International. 7 p.m. Magness Arena.

16 Women’s basketball vs. Northern Arizona. 7 p.m. Magness Arena.

17 Men’s basketball vs. Florida

International. 7 p.m. Magness Arena.

18 Gymnastics Pioneer Gymboree. 7 p.m. Hamilton Gymnasium.

19 Women’s basketball vs. Montana State. 1:30 p.m. Magness Arena.

Men’s basketball vs. Louisiana-

Monroe. 4 p.m. Magness Arena.

10 “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce

21 Women’s basketball vs.

11 Miracle on 34th Street. Presented

22 Men’s basketball vs. Seattle.

of 1914.” 7:30 p.m. Gates Concert Hall. Students: $15; others: $28–$48. by the Rocky Mountain Conservatory Theatre. 7 p.m. Margery Reed Hall Little Theatre. Additional performances Dec. 12, 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 2 p.m. Adults: $14; children: $12.

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Louisiana-Monroe. 7 p.m. Magness Arena. Magness Arena.

Gymnastics: $9; women’s basketball: $8–$11; men’s basketball: $9–$15; hockey: $18–$27. For ticketing and other information, including a full listing of campus events, visit www.du.edu/calendar.

The Border restaurant seeking new owner Owners of The Border Restaurant and Lounge are negotiating with three potential buyers for the landmark watering hole, but an agent for the seller says a deal won’t be final until early December. The goal is to go under contract and close quickly, says Shawn Sanborn of Sanborn & Co., which specializes in restaurants, hotels, bars and liquor stores. The Border has been closed since it was shut down for a liquor law violation in mid-October. The 30-day suspension expired Nov. 18, but the business’ owner chose to remain closed in hope of selling the business. Border owner REM Capital Corp. of Parker, Colo., is seeking $195,000 for the bar and kitchen equipment in its 3,886-square-foot location at 2014 S. University Blvd. The business is tucked into the elbow of a 1960s-era wing of businesses that include Subway, Jason’s Thai and Floyd’s Barbershop. REM’s decision to sell is part of a formal agreement the corporation reached with the city and county of Denver. It came after The Border was accused of selling alcohol to an underage individual during an undercover police operation in July, according to Assistant City Attorney John Poley (JD ’85). It was The Border’s fourth violation since Feb. 12, 2006, Poley says. “They’re required to sell the establishment by Dec. 1, 2010,” Poley says. “That’s when their (liquor) license comes up for renewal and they understand it won’t be renewed.” The agreement satisfies the underage-sale allegation by requiring a 30-day suspension, a 90-day period to find a buyer for an arm’s-length transaction, and a deadline of Dec. 1, 2010, for applying to transfer the liquor license to a new owner. Sanborn said he has received substantial interest in the property but has been hamstrung by the credit crisis gripping the commercial lending industry. Restaurants are inaccurately viewed as risky investments, he says, when they have the same failure rate as general business. This has greatly reduced the pool of potential buyers to cash-only purchasers and made selling The Border more difficult. Sanborn says REM has a “good long-term lease” to go with its equipment, a location in “one of the best bar and restaurant markets in Denver,” and a hotelrestaurant-class-dance-cabaret liquor license that is “difficult to get” and transferrable. —Richard Chapman