What You Missed

UNIVERSITY

TEXT ALERT The University emergency text alert system malfunctioned after it was activated in July in response to a threat e-mailed to School of Law Dean Irma Russell.

SUMMER RECORD More than 4,000 students enrolled in summer courses, breaking an all-time record and increasing more than 500 from the previous year.

AUTO ENROLLMENT Freshmen spent less time on campus and in workshops this summer after the university shortened orientation schedules and automatically enrolled incoming students in some classes based on answers from a new academic interest questionnaire.

ONLINE HOUSING It might be easier for students to find housing after the Associated Students of the University of Montana Renter Center recently launched its online rental search.

STUDENT FIREFIGHTERS Students working as firefighters across Montana were granted an extension to complete registration, financial aid and other basic deadlines at the state's universities and colleges. DEFERRED PAYMENT PLAN The acceptance requirements for UM's deferred payment plan were tightened just after spring semester finished. Now, students must exhaust all other financial aid options — such as student loans and scholarships — before being approved to pay semester bills in three segments.

NEW COT PROGRAMS The College of Technology created two new industrial trade programs in carpentry and welding technology, which begin this fall.

VISA MISHAPS U.S. Immigration agents arrested three students from Saudi Arabia in late June and detained them for several days in Helena before releasing them after clearing up a visa misunderstanding.

STUDENTS

FOLGERS IN YOUR CUP Student Ethan Thompson won a Folger's contest in honor of the 25th anniversary of the coffee company's famous tune.

UM FULBRIGHTS Students Henry Bundy, Ellen Cheng and Shane McMillan were awarded Fulbright U.S. Student scholarships for this school year and will complete the prestigious exchange program in the Netherlands, Mongolia and Germany respectively.

FLYFISHERS IN IRELAND Student Jesse Filingo and UM administrator Tony Tomsu represented UM at the first World Varsities Fly Fishing Competition in Ireland last week.

SUSTAINABILITY TOUR The UM Forum for Living with Appropriate Technology at 633 S. Fifth St. was featured in homeWORD's annual sustainability tour in June.

TRANQUILIZED GOATS A research project led by UM doctoral candidate Stefan Ekernas and wildlife conservation professor Joel Berger was halted after two mountain goats were accidentally killed when tranquilized in Glacier National Park.

CRIME+AREA NEWS

BILLINGS TWISTED A tornado damaged the MetraPark Arena and other Billings businesses when it whirled for 12 minutes on June 20. It was the city's first tornado in more than 50 years.

POV STABBING John Briscoe, a regular client of the Poverello Center, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder after reportedly stabbing a staff member in the back in late June.

WILSON IN LIMELIGHT Jimmy Wilson was granted a fifth-year waiver in July by the NCAA and was reinstated by UM to play football as a Griz cornerback. On Aug. 6 Wilson was charged with misdemeanor assault after being accused of biting a woman's leg and pled not guilty. Wilson was indefinitely suspended following the charge but has since returned to practice.

BUSY JUDGE MOLLOY Chief U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy requested an environmental assessment on the effects of fire retardant in late July, then reinstated wolves to the endangered species list in early August.

MINOR ASSAULT Liam Black, 14, faces felony charges after reportedly attacking a woman with a knife along Missoula's river front trail in early August. The woman was able to take the weapon from her assailant and slice across his abdomen.

POT CARD LAWSUIT Three former employees of the Montana Caregivers' Network recently filed a lawsuit against the group's founder Jason Christ, alleging wrongful discharge, verbal abuse and that Christ ordered them to falsify applications for a state medical marijuana card.