May 2, 2008

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Michigan News

Inspired by the clowns and fools in William Shakespeare's plays, U-M drama students will create an original work to debut at the Kennedy Center Family Theater in Washington, DC. The Kennedy Center’s Education department commissioned the U-M drama department to bring the production, titled "Quick Comedians and Changeable Taffeta," to the stage. Clowns or fools appear in most of Shakespeare's dramas. While the clown often appears simple-minded, the fool is more complex and varied. Some are witty and philosophical, while others are dark or employed as foils. The performances are May 9-10 at 6 p.m. and will be simulcast on the Kennedy Center Web site.

On May 6 the Alumni Association will host the annual Michigan Alumni Reception in Lansing, an important event to show support for the University to state legislators. Alumni with an interest in legislative advocacy are welcome to attend the event, which will feature University President Mary Sue Coleman, AAUM President and CEO Steve Grafton, other campus leaders and state policy-makers. Go online for details.

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Looking for a job? Make inCircle, the online community for U-M alumni, your first stop. You can search for jobs from employers who are specifically targeting U-M grads, find connections at companies you’re interested in, and network with the entire Michigan alumni family—more than 460,000 strong. inCircle is free to you—get started at www.umalumni.com/incircle.

For great Mother's Day gift ideas, turn to the Alumni Store. Our selection ranges from clothing to books, CDs and electronics. The Vineyard Vines Michigan Classic Tote, the newest arrival to the Alumni Store, is a great gift and the perfect accessory for our Campus Chinos collection of Michigan capris, skirts and shorts. Top off this great look with a silk reversible belt by Colony Sportswear. And don't forget that Alumni Association members get discounts on most items. To ensure delivery by Sunday, May 11, your order must be received by Friday, May 2, at noon Eastern time. For the complete selection of merchandise, visit the Alumni Store.

Arts & Culture

The Alumni Association has partnered to create two special events on June 1 in Detroit for unique experiences with a U-M twist:

• Interested in classical music? Consider Michigan Alumni Day with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the Max M. Fisher Music Center. The performance features the world premiere of U-M alumna Stacy Garrop's "Becoming Medusa." For one low price you get a mid-balcony concert ticket and admission to our private, Michigan alumni afterglow reception held in the delightful Donors Lounge at The Max. At the reception you'll have the opportunity to chat with various performers who participated in that day's show, including many Michigan alumni.
• If live theater is your thing, then you won’t want to miss Michigan Alumni Day at "The Color Purple." Presented at the fabulous Fox Theatre, this is the first North American touring production of this powerful show. You can take advantage of an exclusive pre-performance brunch, where a cast member will share the experience of being a part of the show, and then enjoy the matinee performance.

Research

The roads may soon be a little safer, thanks to a new crash-warning system for cars and heavy trucks that is being developed and tested by the U-M Transportation Research Institute. The Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety System will use information gathered by inertial, video and radar sensors and a global positioning system to prevent or minimize accidents. The $32.3 million program includes $25.2 million in federal funding and $7.1 million in cost-sharing from several corporate partners. It has just been approved for Phase II funding by the US Department of Transportation. UMTRI director Peter Sweatman says the project is “a reaffirmation of UMTRI's position as the premier place to do research on driving safety.”

Science & Health

Brain-training efforts designed to improve working memory can also boost scores in general problem-solving ability and improve fluid intelligence, according to new U-M research. Many psychologists believe general intelligence can be separated into "fluid" and "crystalline" components. Fluid intelligence—considered one of the most important factors in learning—applies to all problems, while crystallized intelligence consists of skills useful for specific tasks. Previously, many psychologists believed the only way to increase fluid intelligence was through direct practice of the tests themselves, rather than by training. But the new findings show that multiple efforts designed to improve memory skills similarly improve fluid intelligence.

True Blue Travel

Journey to Egypt, the land of the pharaohs. Visit the great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. You’ll dine in an Egyptian home and learn about life in Cairo from a local family. After a visit to the Temple of Karnak and the Luxor Temple, you’ll see the Colossus of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings and the Tombs of the Nobles. You and your Michigan companions will sail up the Nile aboard the MS Tu-Ya on a four-night cruise that takes you to temples, the Aswan High Dam and Abu Simbel, an archaeological site from the time of Ramses II. Before your departure from Cairo, you’ll visit the Citadel of Saladin, where you can view the Alabaster Mosque and tour the Egyptian Museum. You can extend your journey with an optional five-day visit to nearby Jordan. Read more about this and our other True Blue Travel itineraries on our Web site.

Sports

Six Wolverines were selected in the NFL Draft last weekend, with offensive tackle Jake Long going as the first overall pick to the Miami Dolphins. Long is the Wolverines' second No. 1 overall pick in the draft and the 43rd Michigan player to be drafted in the first round. The Chicago Bears acquired running back Tom Harmon (1938-40) with the opening pick in 1941. The other Michigan players selected this year are:

• Chad Henne, QB, Miami Dolphins, 2nd round, 26th pick (57th overall)
• Shawn Crable, OLB, New England Patriots, 3rd round, 15th pick (78th overall)
• Mario Manningham, WR, New York Giants, 3rd round, 32nd pick (95th overall)
• Mike Hart, RB, Indianapolis Colts, 6th round, 36th pick (202nd overall)
• Adrian Arrington, WR, New Orleans Saints, 7th round, 30th pick (237th overall)

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Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, 200 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor, MI, 734.764.0384, 800.847.4764, malumni@umich.edu