UWRF professor to release first novel in trilogy
March 13, 2024
UW-River Falls English professor Joseph Rein will release his upcoming sci-fi thriller novel, YOUtopia, this April. Rein originally planned to publish YOUtopia as a standalone novel, but was offered a deal that resulted in the book becoming a trilogy.
Rein explained that he came up with the idea for YOUtopia around ten years ago, and started writing the novel in 2018. He finished what he described as a “decent draft” in 2021. Rein described his inspiration for the novel: “I had read a lot when I was an undergraduate about utopias. The idea was a perfect world…. [where] we're trying to figure out how we can live as a society where everyone is equal, individual, [and] perfect.
UWRF’s dairy pilot plant begins production
March 13, 2024
Four months after the grand reopening of UW-River Falls’ dairy pilot plant, production is now underway. The newly-renovated facility, recently renamed the Wuethrich Family/Grassland Dairy Center of Excellence, cleared inspection on Feb. 5, allowing UWRF to produce dairy products for sale and consumption. The week of Feb. 12 saw the plant’s first production run.
The Bottom Line: Two locally owned businesses, and their struggles under the threat of corporatism
February 20, 2024
A narrative piece about a local River Falls business. "As I write this, downtown River Falls is lit up with Christmas lights, and the snow has finally started to stick to the ground. With this year being in the middle of the holiday season, new movies have been released in full force. Titles such as Napoleon, Trolls 3, and Five Nights at Freddy's are being released back to back. To see a new film, I went to the Falls Theatre on Main Street. The theater’s marquee sign was brightly lit, showing the two movies that were playing. The theater has two auditoriums."
UWRF Dance Theatre showcases talent at spring concert
February 20, 2024
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls’ Dance Theatre showcased 13 dance routines at their 2024 spring concert, which was held from Jan. 31 to Feb. 3 in the Blanche David Theatre. The event featured various dance forms, including modern, ballroom, jazz, ballet, hip hop, and other forms, and represented the efforts of 24 dancers, 12 choreographers, and ten supporting crew members.
Sports
Noah Hanson: Six years of perseverance
February 20, 2024
Noah Hanson entered his sixth year as a member of the UWRF Men’s Basketball team in the fall of 2023. His journey to eligibility this year follows some ups and downs: Hanson’s success, the COVID-19 pandemic, a season-ending injury, and, this season, a comeback story.
Sam Anzai nominated for Hockey Humanitarian Award
February 20, 2024
Sam Anzai, a player on the UW-River Falls Men’s Hockey team since 2019, has received one of only 18 national nominations for the 2024 Hockey Humanitarian Award. The award recognizes college hockey players who have shown significant commitment to surrounding communities and organizations when they’re off the ice. It is now in its 29th season and is given to male and female college hockey players from Division I, II, or III.
#2 Falcons defeat #1 Gusties, start season 10-0
December 11, 2023
On Dec. 5, UW-River Falls women's hockey faced their most anticipated opponent yet, the reigning national champion and #1 ranked Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties. Last season, the Falcons finished as the #1 seed in the WIAC. In early March, they won the WIAC tournament, beating UW-Eau Claire in the championship game 5-1.
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Bring your appetite to 'Taste of River Falls' June 4
May 31, 2023
Taste of River Falls will happen on June 4 in Veterans Park from noon to 4 p.m. All profits will go to the local nonprofit organization Grow to Share.
UWRF Finals Fest set for end of April, to feature Nur-D
April 21, 2023
As the semester nears an end and summer approaches, so does UW-River Falls’ Finals Fest. The event is set for April 28, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and will feature a pre-party on the University Center lawn, as well as a performance by hip-hop artist Nur-D.
Stage and Screen Arts performs 'Alice in Wonderland'
April 21, 2023
UW-River Falls’ Stage and Screen Arts Productions presented an original adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland” in UW-River Falls’ Blanche Davis Theatre from March 30 to April 2.
Viewpoints
Editorial
UWRF admin wants graduates to leave Grandma at home
February 20, 2024
After navigating a tumultuous fall semester and promises made by administrators to listen to the students on issues surrounding the campus, admin fails to keep those promises less than a week into this new semester. In an email obtained by the Student Voice, Mesa Carlsen the University Event Coordinator explained the new rules and set up around Spring Commencement.
Low-income students deserve the arts and humanities
February 20, 2024
The Student Voice advises the state of Wisconsin to keep its politics out of UW students’ education. Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is withholding $32 million from the UW System because he doesn’t like diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, efforts. The state of Wisconsin has a surplus of around $7 billion; $32 million is less than half a percent of this, and, as such, has a small impact on the surplus. In fact, many of the issues that the UW System is facing could be addressed if Wisconsin decided to invest more in higher education.
UWRF unites to mourn the loss of three students
November 12, 2023
Isabella Chavira. Sabrina Hagstrom. Jasmine Petersen. These are the names of three University of Wisconsin-River Falls students who passed away between Oct. 3 and Nov. 3, 2023. All three students passed away as a result of their depression, Chavira on Oct. 3, Hagstrom on Oct. 31, and Petersen on Nov. 3. The deaths were met with a range of emotions, from grief to anger, and a range of responses as well, both from UW-River Falls and the students themselves.