Brief is on Facebook!

It was inevitable. After 41 years as the U's internal news digest for faculty and staff U-wide, Brief has dipped a toe into the cool waters of social media via Facebook.

From the salmon colored paper of old delivered in a frenzy of envelope stuffing parties, to today's all electronic variety, Brief continues its evolution. We're just now getting our feet wet, but expect that this supplement to Brief proper will go swimmingly. Our content will very often highlight faculty and staff at the U, with a particular focus on community and culture--the manifestations of our aspirations, expectations, values, systems, and programs as embodied in our people that characterize the U.

So tell us about your people. Come post on our wall.

Befriend us at http://z.umn.edu/2uv

Zombie art, hip-hop, health care reform, oh my!

I'm going to use today's post for a little crossover promotion of the U-wide publication I edit, Brief. Almost a year ago now, I began a column in Brief called Preview/Review (appearing every 2 weeks), which, as you might surmise from the title, offers a review (usually just 1, maybe 2) and many previews (up to 10) of events happening on the Twin Cities campuses over the coming two weeks or so.

My thought in starting the column was to highlight the incredible variety (see title of post) of events happening every day at UMTC. I also wanted to engage readers, and so the column offers an open invitation to faculty and staff to contribute; so far, I've had a few takers, but I'd love to get more.

I've also established a few (flexible) guidelines to get the most out of the column, foremost of which is to have fun with the writing.

Other guidelines:

Events must be on the TC campus

Events should not have previously appeared in Brief.

Events should help to make the U more accessible to, and encourage connections among, faculty and staff.

Reviews of events that offer a link to more information from the event, such as a live recording or materials from the presentation, will be favored over those without more information.

Free events will be favored over pay events.

Events should have interesting and snappy descriptions, and be a little offbeat (according to the editor's admittedly subjective idea of offbeat). For example, the "27th annual..." anything will likely not be included.

Events should be sponsored by or directly involve faculty/staff and appeal to faculty/staff.

If you have a TC event you want to rave about, let me know.