In This Section:
A Co-op for the 21st century
Journalists honor Dufresne with distinguished teaching award
Lighthouse added to preservation Register
Women's basketball team sets new consecutive win record
Wilbur Cross Building re-dedicated
Speeding up transcripts by computer
Alumni teams wanted for 20th anniversary Oozeball tournament
New calendar begins December commencement
Huskies have a Fall to remember

A dramatic new building for expanded needs.

Now located at the corner of Hillside and Stadium Roads, the new UConn Co-op includes a greater selection of merchandise as well as additional features that include a café and a branch of People's Bank.

The new UConn Co-op opened in a dramatically designed building at the corner of Hillside and Stadium roads, across from Gampel Pavilion.

With the addition of nearly 20,000 square feet, the store includes a café, complete with outdoor seating, greater merchandise selections, and on-site storage. There is also a branch of People's Bank and the Co-op's computer repair operations.

"People will be pleasantly wowed by the space inside," says William Simpson, the store's general manager. "Everybody's seen the outside, which has turned heads. I think we'll get a similar reaction inside."

Besides the main entrance, Co-op patrons will be able to access the store from either the first or second floors of the South Parking Garage.

Marcel Dufresne, associate professor of journalism, works with students by emphasizing computer-assisted reporting.

Marcel P. Dufresne, associate professor of journalism, received the national Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for 2002.

The annual award recognizes outstanding teaching ability, contributions to journalism education, and contributions toward maintaining the highest standards of the profession.

Maureen Croteau, professor and head of the UConn journalism department, says she nominated Dufresne because of the success of his classroom projects and his activity in the profession and because he not only helps his students pass the "editor test" of news skills but also prepares them for the rigors of a Research I university education.

Dufresne teaches in-depth, investigative and computer-assisted reporting and guides his classes through hands-on projects that have won first-place SPJ awards from state and national organizations. Two of the student projects were presented last year at an event sponsored by the University's Honors Program that showcased outstanding undergraduate student research. The works were among the few presentations made by non-science students.

Last year, Dufresne team-taught with John Breen, an associate professor of journalism, a course in which students worked with Hartford Courant editors to produce commentary pieces about the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The pieces were published in May and distributed nationally by the L.A. Times-Washington Post News Service.

The 55-foot-tall lighthouse at the Avery Point campus has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the official list of properties recognized by the federal government as worthy of preservation. The 60-year-old sandstone structure, now under restoration, is one of only 23 remaining lighthouses in Connecticut. A listing on the National Register qualifies the building for federal funding for restoration and preservation.

Women's basketball team sets new consecutive win record
The UConn women's basketball team's record- setting 55th straight victory continues to bring accolades to coach Geno Auriemma's talented young group of student athletes.

The women's basketball team is all smiles after its record-setting 55th consecutive Division I NCAA victory against Georgetown on January 18.

The 72-59 victory over Georgetown on January 18 broke Louisiana Tech's NCAA Division I women's basketball record of 54 consecutive victories. The Huskies continued their winning streak to 70 games, completing the regular season at 29-0, losing 52-48 to Villanova in the Big East Tournament championship game.

ESPN2's coverage of the women's college basketball game pitting Connecticut at Duke on February 1 was the most-viewed regular season women's basketball game ever on ESPN or ESPN2 and the highest rated in 20 years. In addition, the telecast was ESPN2's third most-watched college basketball game, including postseason and men's action.

On February 20, Auriemma appeared at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., to present to the Hall memorabilia from the landmark victory, including the game ball.

[Above] Norman Stevens, former University librarian, addresses the audience of students faculty and guests in the North Reading Room during the re-dedication of the Wilbur Cross Building November 20. The building, originally the University's library, is now a student services center. [Below] The re-dedication of the Wilbur Cross Building brought together President Philip E. Austin and three former UConn presidents. From left: John A. DiBiaggio (1979-1985); Austin; Harry Hartley (1990-1996); and John T. Casteen III (1985-1990).

The same PeopleSoft computer system that makes it easier for UConn students to register for classes is also providing a benefit to alumni. By using a toll-free phone number or by going through the University's website, alumni can more easily obtain copies of their UConn transcript.

University Registrar Jeffrey von Munkwitz-Smith says all transcripts since the mid-1970s are now available. The registrar's office processes about 50,000 requests annually.

"It makes the service of providing transcripts a little better and a little easier for our alumni," he says. The new system also cuts down on the amount of correspondence required when requests for transcripts are incomplete. That, in turn, allows the transcript requests to be processed more rapidly.

If you need information on transcripts, go to the UConn home page (URL: http://www.uconn.edu). Once there, click on Alumni & Husky Fans, which will take you to a page with a link for information on transcripts.

You also can obtain a transcript by calling 1-800-759-0373.

The annual Oozeball tournament was highlighted by Sports Illustrated as the "Best Mud Volleyball" event in the country. UConn alumni can get back into the action as part of the 20th anniversary tournament on Saturday, April 26, 2003. Organize your alumni team, enter the tournament and try to reclaim the glory of the Oozeball Championship! For more information, contact Kristi Napolitano '94, '01 via e-mail: kristi.napolitano@uconn.edu or call 1-888-822-5861.

A new academic calendar will take effect in 2003-04, highlighted by December 2003 commencement exercises in Storrs and an earlier start and end to the academic year.

"The new calendar offers a variety of new opportunities," University Chancellor John Petersen says. "Because the spring term ends sooner, our students can get a head start in summer employment and interning opportunities, and we'll be able to host more summer conferences." He adds that having a December commencement recognizes the increasing numbers of students who are fulfilling degree requirements at the close of the fall semester.

The new calendar begins the fall semester on the Monday before Labor Day and concludes exams during the second week of December, creating a window for the mid-year commencement.

The start of classes in the spring begins the day after Martin Luther King Day. Spring semester will end one week earlier than currently, and the standard commencement exercises also will take place one week sooner.

Three teams advance to NCAAs
The University of Connecticut enjoyed another outstanding fall sports season as Husky teams advanced to NCAA play in three different sports.

Kate Foley '03 (CLAS) earned Verizon Academic All-American honors helping the women's soccer team to its first-ever Big East tournament championship.		Terry Caully '06 (CANR) rushed for 1,247 yeards to lead all freshmen in the nation enroute to four consecutive Husky wins at the end of the football season.		All-American Lauren Henderson '05 led the field hockey team to both the Big East regular season and tournament titles and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

After the completion of fall sports, UConn stood 19th in the standings for the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics all-sports competition, which annually gauges the top athletic programs in the country based on participation and advancement in NCAA competition.

Head coach Randy Edsall and the UConn football team posted a 6-6 record in their third season in Division I-A competition. Terry Caulley rushed for 1,247 yards - 11th in the nation and first among all freshmen. The Huskies made national headlines when they traveled to Ames, Iowa, and defeated Iowa State of the Big 12 Conference to close out the season. UConn opens play in August at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., which will be among the premier stadiums in the nation.

Under the leadership of head coach Len Tsantiris, the women's soccer team compiled a 21-3-1 record and a 6-0 mark in the Big East Conference Northeast Division to win the regular season championship. UConn also won its first-ever Big East tournament championship and enjoyed great postseason success by advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals. Midfielder Sarah Popper was a first team All-America selection while Kate Foley, a pharmacy major, earned Verizon Academic All-America accolades.

The men's soccer team and head coach Ray Reid also advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals and the Big East tournament championship game. Reid and his Huskies posted a 17-6 regular season mark and a 7-3 record in Big East play. Damani Ralph was named the Big East Conference offensive player of the year while Ralph and Shaver Thomas were named All-America second team.

The UConn field hockey team, led by head coach Nancy Stevens, won both the Big East regular season and tournament titles and played in the NCAA tournament. UConn had a 15-8 final record and was a 5-0 in the Big East. Kelly Cochrane and Lauren Henderson were each named All-Americans.

Head coach Kelli Meyers and the UConn volleyball team had a 9-4 record in Big East play and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament.