Professor appears in court on larceny charges
Edward Kostiner, a professor of chemistry, appeared for arraignment Tuesday in Tolland Superior Court on charges that he exchanged University-owned gold for a watch and cash, UConn police said. He is scheduled to return to court March 11 to present a plea.

Kostiner surrendered to police on February 10. He was charged with two counts of third-degree larceny. The administration is investigating the matter to determine if disciplinary action should be taken.

In November, Vernon police, in a routine review of pawn shop purchase lists, discovered an unusual sale of gold to a local jeweler. A man exchanged 23-karat ribbon gold with a value of $3,800 for a womens Tiffany watch, police said. The same store also received 10.53 ounces of 24-karat gold from the man in October 1995 in exchange for $3,579.

Kostiner surrendered to police more than $12,000 in gold, platinum, silver and rhodium in a desk drawer. The University-owned metals are used for research.

Kostiner served as chairman of the chemistry department from 1985-1994. He teaches inorganic chemistry and technical communications.

As a result of the arrest, the department chair, Gary Epling, has requested a department-wide inventory of chemicals and metals used or stored in the department that might have potential resale value.

Nominations sought for community service award
Nominations are sought for the fifth annual Connecticut Higher Education Community Service Awards. Awards will be made to individual students, student groups and faculty and staff who are leaders in community service through personal contributions and institutional commitment.

Every campus can submit nominees for consideration. Official nomination forms can be obtained by calling Diane Wright in the Center for Community Outreach (U-211) at 486-1165.

The deadline for nominations is March 7.

Women's lacrosse head coach named
Bonnie Rose, assistant lacrosse coach at Yale and a former member of the University of Virginia's 1991 national championship team, has been named UConn's head women's lacrosse coach. The team's inaugural season is this spring.

Rosen, 26, served as Yale's assistant coach for two seasons. "As we add the sport of women's lacrosse as our 22nd intercollegiate varsity sport, we are especially pleased to name Bonnie Rosen as head coach," said Lew Perkins, director of athletics.

Women's lacrosse was added to help the University comply with federal Title IX. Formerly a club sport, the varsity women's lacrosse team will play an eight-game schedule beginning March 25 at New Hampshire.

Free bus service extended indefinitely
A pilot program to provide free Windham Region Transit District bus service will continue indefinitely. For the past three years, the bus service, which runs from Storrs to Willimantic Mondays through Saturdays, has been free as part of an experimental program. Now, transit officials, the University and the Town of Mansfield have decided to extend the free service indefinitely.

The bus is free for UConn students with valid identification and for town residents with a bus pass.

Media relations workshops planned
Want to learn more about how to speak with reporters? The Office of University Communications can help.

A workshop is planned to help faculty answer complex questions, establish positive rapport with reporters, avoid being misquoted, and effectively communicate messages. The workshop will be held in Bishop Center. Three dates are offered: Tuesday, March 11, Thursday, April 24 and Wednesday, May 7. All workshops run from 3-4:30 p.m.

The workshop is free, but space is limited. Call 486-3530 to register.