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Boulder researchers at the University of Colorado and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration anticipate an emerging El Niño event may reduce the severity of drought conditions in the Southwest United States this summer. The announcement was made this week by researchers at the Climate Diagnostics Center, run jointly by CU-Boulder and NOAA through the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences. CIRES is headquartered on the CU-Boulder campus.

Special recognition ceremonies will be hosted by most University of Colorado at Boulder schools and colleges in addition to the main university commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10, at 9:30 a.m. in Folsom Stadium. Following is a schedule of special events in the schools and colleges to honor the graduates and their families and guests.

Students at the University of Colorado at Boulder will have a wider choice of courses this summer featuring guest faculty from universities around the world. The Faculty-In-Residence-Summer-Term, or FIRST program, starts on May 13 and will continue throughout the summer. The 12 initial faculty members come from New Zealand, Sweden and France, in addition to the United States.

Live music and art displays will be featured at a free public celebration May 10 and May 11 presented by the University of Colorado at Boulder's Graduate Students of Color, the campus AM station Radio 1190 and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

Nobel Laureate and Distinguished Professor Carl Wieman will give the commencement address on Friday, May 10, when the University of Colorado at Boulder will confer 4,377 degrees during the spring commencement ceremony. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Folsom Stadium, regardless of the weather, and will last about an hour and a half. Commencement is free and open to the public and no tickets are required. Guests are asked not to bring large purses or bags to the ceremony. Guests entering the stadium may be subject to search.

The CU-Boulder Friends of the Libraries will present a talk by mystery writer Dr. Robert Greer at the 10th annual Just Desserts event on Friday, May 17. The event begins at 7 p.m. in the Fleming Law Building on the CU-Boulder campus and is free and open to the public. A dessert reception will precede the program. Greer is the author of the CJ Floyd mystery series made up of "The Devil's Hatband," "The Devil's Red Nickel," and "The Devil's Backbone." Film rights to "The Devil's Red Nickel" have just been optioned for an HBO movie.

The University of Colorado at Boulder has received a statement today from District Attorney Mary Keenan following a City of Boulder and CUPD police investigation of an alleged rape by football players and recruits at an off-campus party December 7. In the statement, District Attorney Keenan said that investigators have decided against filing sexual assault charges. In her statement, the District Attorney suggests that although the evidence is not adequate to press charges, the allegations are significant.

Steven Manaster, dean of the University of Colorado at Boulder Leeds School of Business, has appointed Professor David Guenther associate dean of faculty and academic programs. "David is a strong leader and nationally renowned researcher," Manaster said. "He supports the values of the Leeds School and will help us move forward in our goal of being a top-25 school." Guenther holds the Tisone Chair in Accounting and is an expert in financial accounting and taxation. He was awarded the American Taxation Association Manuscript Award in 1992, 1998 and 1999.

Philosophy and Environmental Studies Professor Alan Carter will continue the Chancellor's Community Lecture series with his presentation, "Evolution and the Problem of Altruism" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at The Academy. Located at 970 Aurora Ave. in Boulder, the lecture series at The Academy is free and open to the public, and is co-sponsored by The Academy and the University of Colorado at Boulder Office of Community Affairs.

The Office of Diversity and Equity at the University of Colorado at Boulder awarded six faculty, staff and students the 2002 Equity and Excellence Awards on Thursday, April 25, at the 17th Annual Equity and Excellence Graduation Ceremony and Awards Banquet.