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Colorado will join other Western states at the forefront of national job growth in 2006, according to University of Colorado at Boulder economist Richard Wobbekind. Wobbekind's announcement was part of the 41st annual Business Economic Outlook Forum hosted Dec. 5 by CU-Boulder's Leeds School of Business and Compass Bank. "The western United States is by far the strongest section of the country for job growth right now," Wobbekind said. "And Colorado is part of a strong Rocky Mountain economy."

Grand Marshals from the University of Colorado at Boulder will lead the 2005 edition of Boulder's Lights of December Parade. Several deans and distinguished faculty from the university will direct the parade from businessman Steven Tebo's antique CU fire truck. The parade begins and ends at 15th and Pearl streets in downtown Boulder this Saturday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m.

Fourteen University of Colorado at Boulder faculty have been awarded prestigious Faculty Fellowships for the 2006-07 academic year for research ranging from foreign policy in ancient Athens and nanometer-sized machines to suicide prevention in bipolar adolescents.

Note to Editors: Photographers and media members should check in at the media table in Balch Fieldhouse upon arrival. Ask a greeter or registration volunteer for directions to the table. Contact Ross Parrent for more information, (303) 588-7219. The state finals of the "FIRST Lego League" robotics competition for 9- to 14-year-olds will be hosted by the University of Colorado at Boulder Dec. 3.

Engineering students will demonstrate inventions and show how technologies work -- such as the sensor that activates a car's air-bag system -- during the University of Colorado at Boulder's ITL Fall Design Expo on Dec. 3. The event, which is free and open to the public from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., will be at the Integrated Teaching and Learning (ITL) Laboratory, located on Regent Drive one block south of Colorado Avenue.

University of Colorado at Boulder By Pauline Hale, CU-Boulder Spokesperson

Female students washed their hands more often than their male counterparts during a study at the University of Colorado at Boulder that suggested hand hygiene dramatically reduces respiratory illnesses in campus residence halls. With prominent reminders and an ample supply of hand soap and gel sanitizer, students in four CU-Boulder residence halls suffered 40 percent fewer absences from classes and work if they increased their hand hygiene, according to the study.

University of Colorado at Boulder I appreciate the ongoing involvement of all students, faculty and staff in the quest for solutions to the major societal issues of racism and intolerance, including those within the campus environment.

University of Colorado at Boulder On Sunday, Nov. 20, several flyers with racist messages were distributed on the Boulder campus, apparently the work of a national organization called National Vanguard as noted on the flyers. CU-Boulder and other campuses around the country have been leafleted in the past by similar organizations with similar messages.

University of Colorado at Boulder Professor Gerard Hauser has been named a National Communication Association Distinguished Scholar, making CU-Boulder one of a very small group of institutions with more than one such scholar on its faculty. Hauser was recognized Nov. 19 at the association's awards ceremony in Boston. The honor recognizes his career contributions to the understanding of communication. CU-Boulder Professor Stanley Deetz won the same award in 2004.