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A state-of the-art, $962,000 optical-measurement facility based at the University of Colorado at Boulder funded by the W.M. Keck Foundation of Los Angeles will be dedicated on campus at the JILA facility June 28. A joint institute of CU-Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, JILA was founded in 1962. JILA is world-renowned for its innovative developments in lasers and optical science.

Silvery-blue ice clouds known as noctilucent clouds that appear each year in the far northern and southern latitudes in the middle atmosphere were spotted over Colorado for the first time on June 22.

The University of Colorado Board of Regents approved a revised CU-Boulder campus diversity plan at its June 24 meeting held at the University of Colorado at Denver. An annual "report card" containing data and campus input will be issued each year to document progress. The plan, "Diversity and Equity: A Blueprint for Action," contains input from campus groups that was not included in the original plan approved by the board in December 1998.

University of Colorado Regents approved a five-year contract Thursday, June 24, with Ceal Barry, head coach of womenÂ’s basketball at CU-Boulder. Under the contract, Barry will receive compensation worth at least $219,600 per year. The multi-year contract is permitted under Colorado statutes as one of six such agreements allowed for each state university. BarryÂ’s contract is effective with the 1998-99 fiscal year, continuing until June 2003.

Bill Reynolds, owner of the W.W. Reynolds Cos. in Boulder, and his wife, Jane, have given a $1 million gift to the University of Colorado at BoulderÂ’s College of Business and Administration. The Reynolds, along with their sons John and Forrest and BillÂ’s father, Vergyl, all have degrees from CU. The gift will be used to supplement graduate and undergraduate programs at the Real Estate Center at the College of Business, including the academic internship program -- the undergraduate capstone course for a certificate in real estate.

The Clifford Calhoun Public Service Award, given to a CU-Boulder law student or faculty member who contributes to the public service mission of the law school, was awarded to law Professor Mark Loewenstein in a May luncheon ceremony on campus.

"CU This Summer," a cultural outreach program of the University of Colorado at Boulder, will present the acclaimed art exhibit, "Hollywood Goddess: Photographs of Marilyn Monroe" at the Estes Park Conference Center this summer. The exhibit opens Thursday, June 24. Featuring photographs of Marilyn Monroe by celebrity photographer Philippe Halsman, the exhibit will be available for public viewing from June 24 through Sept. 12 at the Estes Park Conference Center, located at 201 S. St. Vrain. Viewing hours are Thursday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Already the fastest moving glacier in the world, the Columbia Glacier in Alaska has increased its speed from 25 meters to 35 meters per day in recent months, according to a University of Colorado at Boulder glaciologist. And while that may seem like a snailÂ’s pace to most, scientists are intrigued and a bit alarmed at the rapid rate, said Research Fellow Tad Pfeffer of CU-BoulderÂ’s Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. "I expect we will see some really dramatic event occur with this glacier within the next year or two," he said.

NASA El NIÑO-WATCHING SATELLITE Four Colorado institutions including the University of Colorado at Boulder have teamed up on the construction, launch and control of a NASA satellite designed to observe Earth’s oceans and act as an "El Niño watcher." Known as the Quick Scatterometer, or QuikScat, the satellite will provide daily, detailed snapshots of the winds swirling above the world’s oceans to improve weather forecasting, according to NASA officials.

The University of Colorado at Boulder summer blood drive will be held on June 22 from noon to 3:30 p.m. in Baur Lounge of the Farrand Residence Hall. Donors may sign up for an appointment by calling (303) 492-5473 through June 21 or may drop in the day of the blood drive. Donors should be in good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and not be in an at-risk behavior group. They should eat within four hours of donating blood and drink lots of fluids before and after donating.