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University of South Carolina Upstate Emergency Notification System







USC Upstate students, faculty and staff can now register for the Campus Emergency Notification System through VIP. With everyone’s participation, this system strengthens emergency preparedness for our students, faculty and staff at all USC Upstate locations. Information Technology & Services along with University Police, University Communications and the Incident Management Team are implementing a Campus Emergency Notification System.  The system is currently being installed and we will begin testing in April. The Emergency Notification System will enable us to provide you with critical information when unexpected circumstances arise that pose a threat of imminent danger. Be assured that Upstate will also use other communication tools during emergency situations including, broadcast e-mail messages, paging to campus telephone extensions through existing Cisco IP speaker phones, electronic signage, a coordinated use of public media outlets, and a 24-hour recorded Emergency Hotline, (864) 503-5599. Participants are being asked through VIP to provide a cell phone number, email address and work/alternate phone in order to receive the alerts in the event of an emergency. 

On-Campus Jobs

In an effort to better coordinate the on-campus student employment function, and to encourage students to obtain work on campus, a new Web site has been developed to post all on-campus positions. Clink on this icon to go to the Web site.

THIS WEEK'S JOBS:

use your coupons

Don't forget to use the coupons in the back of your Student Handbook for great savings from these Upstate businesses.

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FALL WELCOME 2008

CLASSES BEGIN         
August 21

INFORMATION TABLES
August 21 8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. CLC/Lower Quad/HEC  
August 22 8:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. CLC/Lower Quad/HEC

Lost? Hot? Tired? In need of help? Faculty and staff will set up tables in front of the CLC, Annex and HPAC buildings. Along with lemonade and ice cold water, they will have student handbooks, maps, a list of building codes, athletic schedules, health insurance brochures and other information.

CAB presents Oxygen Bar
August 21 @ 11:00 am CLC Patio

One of the hottest events available! Participants report feeling calm, refreshed,and less stressed after their time at the oxygen bar. Aromatherapy, combined with sound and mind machines, allow each participant to have a unique experience. Join CAB for a quick break between classes to recharge your batteries and start your semester off right.

INTRAMURAL SIGN-UP
August 21 Student Life Office CLC 224

Begin signing up now for Intramural football, tennis, ping-pong, volleyball, soccer, 5K, bowling, and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Get ready to participate in one of our many intramural options.

Greek Information Night
August 21 @ 9:00 pm CLC Ballroom

The Office of Greek Life will host this informational meeting to answer all of your questions about greek life at USC Upstate. Each organization will be given time to present information about their organization, what they represent, and how to get involved. Following the presentations, members of the chapters will be avail able to assist with any further questions you might have.

"Parallel Lives" Production
August 21-23 and 28-30 @8:00pm Studio Theatre

"Parallel Lives is a raucous, bawdy investigation of female roles in society. Originally conceived and written by Kathy Najimy and Mo Gaffney, the play explores feminism, gender roles, and relationships with a frankness and audacity reminiscent of the good ol’ days of Saturday Night Live, In Living Color, and Mad TV. Each of the six Upstate student actresses will thrill in their multi-role performances—akin to last season’s hit production of A Tuna Christmas. An hour-long, hysterical show that makes a great date—and will be sure to create conversation on the way home. August 21-23 & 28-30, 8:00pm, HPAC Studio Theatre. $2 General Admission. Limited Seating. For more information, contact the Fine Arts Box Office at (864) 503-5695."

Drive-in Movie – "Ironman"
August 26 @ 9:00 pm Amphitheater

Bring a blanket or lawn chair and join CAB for a night under the stars and watch the hit movie "Ironman" on a giant outdoor screen. After an accident, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark creates a suit that sustains his life. When he heals, he decides to use his technology to fight crime and leads a double life as Iron Man in this comic book adventure.

Premiere Fair
August 27 11am -3pm CLC Lawn

To help introduce you to USC Upstate clubs, organizations and businesses in the area. Come by for the free food and beverages at the tent beside CLC.

Palmetto Games
August 28 2:00 p.m. Palmetto House Lawn

The competition is fierce as residents from Palmetto House and Villas compete against student organizations and each other to test their metal in games such as water balloon toss, hippity-hop races, mattress relay and much more. Bragging rights are up for grabs so don’t miss out on the fun!!!

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT INFORMATION MEETING 
August 28 5:30 p.m. CLC Ballroom

All international students are Required to attend this event to receive information about campus services and policies.

Freshman Convocation 
September 3 10:00 a.m. Hodge Gymnasium

This event is mandatory for all freshman students. Come to the Hodge Gym to begin the year with our new freshman class and to hear remarks from Dr. Adolph Brown.

Freshman 1st – Deborah Siegel: Talkin ‘bout My Generation: Youth, Gender, Race and the 2008 Election.September 4 @ 7:00 CLC Ballroom

Deborah Siegel targets young voters have been the subject of heated debate in an election where race and gender matter like never before. But what do young voters really think about gender, feminism, race, and the Presidential election? In this talk, feminist author/cultural critic Deborah Siegel sheds fresh light on media myths and real-life generational rifts that surfaced during primary season.Join Deborah for a lively, interactive forum in which members of the so-called post feminist, post-Civil Rights generation are invited to freely speak their minds.

STUDY ABROAD FAIR
September 8 11am- 2 p.m. CLC Lobby

Hosted by the International Studies Office

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION MEETING 
September 8 3:30 p.m. CLC Ballroom

Join your SGA officers for the first meeting of this academic year. Everyone is welcome.

Green Series – Preface Speaker Dr. John Francis
Author of Planetwalker
September 10 @ 7:00 pm CLC Ballroom

Dr. John Francis will be speaking at USC Upstate about his current novel, Planet Walker, How to change your world one step at a time, which the incoming freshman will be reading as their preface novel for the fall 2008 semester. After a massive oil spill polluted San Francisco Bay in 1971, Francis gave up all motorized transportation. For 22 years, he walked everywhere he went -- including treks across the entire United States and much of South America -- hoping to inspire others to drop out of the petroleum economy. Join the Campus Activities Board as they welcome this dynamic speaker for an evening of storytelling, music, and conversation.

NPC Recruitment
September 11 - 15 CLC Ballroom

IFC Recruitment
September 15 – 19 Various Locations

NEW FACES TALENT SHOW
September 16 7:00 p.m. HPAC Theater

Join a campus tradition. Housing and Residential Life sponsors this show featuring new students who will compete for prizes. $1 admission. Call 503-5422 to sign up.

University 101 House Party featuring After August
September 18 @ 5:30 pm Arboretum

University 101 and Student Life are proud to sponsor the first annual "House Party" featuring local favorite After August. Listen to the hot sounds of one of Spartanburg’smost popular bands in the comfort of the arboretum while you mix and mingle with your classmates. During this event you can also find out more information about how to be a part of the Dance-A-Rama dance marathon to help support Habitat for Humanity.

Dance-A-Rama
September 20 @ 12:00 pm URC

Get ready for the second annual dance marathon to help raise money for the Habitat for Humanity build that is taking place on the campus of USC Upstate. Dance-a-rama is a continuous, 12-hour event that will take place on Saturday, September 20th from 12:00 pm until 12:00 am. Dance-a-rama involves music, food, live entertainment, and drawings & contests throughout the evening for chances to win great prizes. All dancers will receive a free t-shirt and the student and organization to raise the most money will walk away with a $500 cash prize. Come out and dance or just show up and enjoy all of the fun. For more information, contact the Office of Student Life at 503-5125.

CAB presents Barry Drake, Rock and Roll Historian
‘70’s ROCK-THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
September 25 @ 7:00 pm CLC Ballroom

The 60s were over, but were they really? As the 70s began, the Vietnam War, the draft and Richard Nixon were still with us and so was some of the best rock music ever made! Groups like Led Zeppelin, The Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd were just reaching their full potential in the early 70s. Singer-songwriters such as James Taylor, Elton John and Joni Mitchell would make rock music more personal than ever. By the mid 70s, rock was no longer the music of the counterculture, it WAS the culture. 70’s Rock - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly will examine one of the most confusing, misunderstood and criticized decades in rock & roll history.

LATIN FEST 
Sept 29 @ 7:00 pm CLC Ballroom

Come and join the Hispanic Awareness Association to enjoy free food, fun, and salsa dancing!

Rocktoberfest
October 1 @ 5:00 pm Upper Quad

Join CAB and the Office of Student Life as we celebrate "Rocktoberfest", the newest tradition at USC Upstate, Wednesday, October 1st on the upper quad. Starting at 5:00 pm, this festival will feature carnival rides, food, and hip-hop recording artist Nappy Roots along with an abundance of activities to fill the night. Ride the Ferris Wheel and Giant Swings or enjoy a corn dog or funnel cake before the show, then settle back and listen to the alternative southern rap sounds of Nappy Roots. Don’t miss the first annual Rocktoberfest and your chance to party like a rock star.

USC Gamecock Tickets Available This Year!  

This year the Division of Student Affairs will once again offer USC Gamecock tickets for all home games. Since last year's lottery system worked so well, a lottery system will be used again to offer every student an equal opportunity to purchase a ticket.

Lottery tickets available August 21 – August 26, 2008
Between August 21 and August 26, 2008, stop by the Campus Life Center, Room 220 to pick up your lottery ticket for a chance to purchase TWO tickets to any ONE USC Gamecock football game. Tickets can be picked up between 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.

You must be a current student and provide a student ID to obtain a ticket. 
On Wednesday, August 27, 2008, all winning numbers will be posted online by following the ticket lottery link on the USC Upstate homepage. If you have a winning number you can go to CLC, Room 220 to purchase two tickets of your choice to any one game listed below. Only payment by check or cash will be accepted (no credit cards). Remember: You must bring back your original “lottery ticket” and your student ID in order to purchase tickets.

Disclaimer: There is a limited number of tickets to each game, and the “favorites” do go quickly. We cannot guarantee that you will get  the tickets of your choice and strongly recommended that as soon as you see that you are a winner, go to CLC, Room 220 to increase you chances of retrieving the tickets you desire.

Please note: If you don’t claim your tickets in CLC, Room 220  within 48 hours of the posting date, your number will be withdrawn and another one posted. You may also leave your name and telephone number with us in the event we have any tickets left over for other games after the lottery closes that you wish to purchase.

Call Karen Thomas at 503-5107 or Melissa Perry at 503-5387 with questions.

USC GAMECOCKS SCHEDULE

• North Carolina State – Thursday, August 28
• Georgia – Saturday, September 13
• Wofford – Saturday, September 20
• Alabama – Saturday, September 27
• Louisiana State – Saturday, October 18
• Tennessee – Saturday, November 1
• Arkansas – Saturday, November 8

campus news and services

No More Paper Pay Stubs

The University of South Carolina Upstate will discontinue printing and distribution of paper pay stubs following the May 31, 2008 pay period.

--The on-line pay stub will then become the only pay notification issued to University employees, including student employees.

--This new service is part of a University-wide initiative to expand the use of paperless processes within administrative functions to enhance the delivery of information to employees.

--To access electronic pay stubs, student employees will sign into VIP using step #3, click on the Employment tab and select the new Past Paychecks option to view the pay stub information.

--The on-line stub displays the same information that is currently provided on the paper stub.

--Pay stubs will be transmitted to the VIP system in the early morning of each payday.

--A nice feature of the system is that it retains an 18-month history, which allows users to view/print pay stubs from the prior 36 pay periods.

--The self-service function also means employees can print a copy of the stub, which displays the University Seal, to furnish to banks, mortgage companies or other financial institutions when such information is requested by a lender.

--Step-by-step user instructions for the VIP Past Paycheck feature are available on the Payroll Web site. Instructions are also included here. 

Community Events

Indigo Girls in Spartanburg

Performing live at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium

With Special Guest Missy Higgins

Thursday, September 11, 2008, 8 PM

Purchase tickets at www.crowdpleaser.com or call 864-576-1550

Sponsored by The Music Foundation of Spartanburg

Click on the link below to listen to the Indigo Girls.

Indigo Girls "Little Perennials" Music Video 

Outdoor Events Season is Back With Music on Main and Jazz on the Square

Spring - and hopefully warm weather - are here at last, and with them come two popular music series in Downtown Spartanburg. Music on Main and Jazz on the Square are both set to make their weekly appearances beginning in April. Music on Main will be held every Thursday in April, May, June, July, and August from 6 to 9 pm on Main Street and Denny’s Plaza. This popular after-work social gathering is celebrating its 15th year. 
     Didn’t get enough music on Thursday? Then head back to downtown Spartanburg on Friday for the City of Spartanburg’s second music series of the week - Jazz on the Square. The series is returning to Morgan Square for its third season and will be held every Friday in April and May and then again in September and October.  Jazz on the Square will have new hours this year  6 pm – 8 pm. Complete details are in this media release, or download a copy of the complete schedule  and line-up.

Eblast is a weekly newsletter for students of the University of South Carolina Upstate. Items for publication should be submitted to the dean of students office, CLC 220, or to studenteblast@uscupstate.edu by 4:00 p.m. on Friday of each week.  Please note that all Eblast submissions are subject to editing, which may include correcting punctuation and removing unnecessary text (due to space limitations).