News
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.
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.
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."
Deb Toftness: the woman behind the Falcon Daily
February 20, 2024
Since the first issue of the Falcon Daily was sent to UW-River Falls employees on Nov. 1, 2005, the email newsletter has provided the university’s faculty and staff with news and information relevant to UWRF and its community. “Employees and others may submit short blurbs about events, speakers, retirements, new employees, condolences… to [the] Falcon Daily,” said Deb Toftness, who has been the editor of the Falcon Daily since its 2005 debut.
UWRF wins $5,000 sustainability award
February 20, 2024
UW-River Falls placed first in the Higher Education Kit Challenge, a statewide sustainability competition sponsored by the energy efficiency organization Focus on Energy. 11 Wisconsin colleges participated in the challenge, which was held from July 1 to Oct. 31, 2023. Focus on Energy presented UWRF with an award of $5,000 on Dec. 7, 2023.
Equestrian therapy for veterans discussed on campus
November 12, 2023
22 veterans a day commit suicide. This poignant statement, from keynote speaker Toni Mattson in the Veterans Day commemoration at UW-River Falls on Nov. 9, is a hard truth to stomach. According to the CDC, the veteran suicide rate is roughly 60% higher than the non-veteran rate, and makes up nearly 14% of total US adults suicides. This sobering statistic was tackled by Mattson in her Veterans Day speech.
Narcan boxes added around campus as part of campus prevention efforts
November 12, 2023
In collaboration with Wisconsin's Voices of Recovery, UWRF installs 17 Narcan (Naloxone) boxes around campus. The campus is taking preventive measures as opioid related deaths are on the rise.
UWRF students win national award for innovative dairy product
November 12, 2023
A team of five UW-River Falls students won a national award in the Dairy Management Inc. New Product Competition on July 17, 2023. Students Yihong Deng, Ashley Gruman, Rafael Larosiliere, Kate Petersen, and Anna Euerle developed a product called RootCurd, which took first place in the competition. The competition focused on “products that calm,” according to its guidelines, “with a heightened emphasis on mental and emotional wellbeing."
Get to know the new Dean: Wesley Kisting
November 12, 2023
The new dean of the college of arts and sciences answers questions about his time here, future goals, and etc.
"I love it here! The people at the university and in the surrounding community are wonderful and welcoming. My family adjusted quickly and this has to be the single most livable area I’ve ever been. The community is highly active and there are so many fun things to do here."
Here is this semester's Student Voice staff. Click on a name to see what the staff member has written.
Jack Schindler Van Hoof
Editor
Lexi Janzer
Assistant Editor
Anna Gunderson
General Manager
Joshua Brauer
Reporter
Rachel Karweick
Reporter
Ethan Lay
Reporter
Ashley Patrin
Reporter
Madelyn Retzlaff
Reporter
Ella Tretsven
Reporter