UNLV Briefs

     Fraternities, sororities
     try to break ice
     
      Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. will help incoming freshman and transfer students "break the ice."
      The week-long event, designed to acclimate new students to UNLV, begins Sunday in the Moyer Student Union with a 4 p.m. mixer for students and faculty hosted by the African-American Student Alliance, formerly the Black Student Association.
      The organizations, along with other black Greek-lettered groups, will team to help students learn their way around campus, find classrooms and move into their dorms.
      There will also be forums on adjusting to college life and the history of black Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities, a barbecue, step show, mixers and a picnic.
     
     Health physics given
     radiation analyzer
     
      Oxford Instruments recently donated an advanced radiological detection system to the health physics department in the UNLV College of Health Sciences.
      The machine - a new Series 5 XLB Alpha/Beta Automatic Low Background Analyzer - valued at more than $37,000 was donated by the Oak Ridge, Tenn.-based company through the UNLV Foundation.
      The analyzer examines environmental samples from water, vegetation and soil for alpha and beta-emitting radioactivity. It will be used in teaching, to support the radio-analytical laboratory and for research.
      UNLV officials are already talking with the Las Vegas Valley Water District and other agencies about using the analyzer to test water wells and help improve the database on water quality.
     
     Parking lot set
     for restructuring
     
      The Thomas and Mack Center parking lot will get a new look this fall.
      Originally designed facing the center, the reconfigured lot will face the Student Service Complex to the east.
      Additional changes to the lot will include a reduction in drive aisles from 15 to five, 500 additional student spaces and more than triple the handicapped spaces, from four to 14.
     
     Orientations for new
     students scheduled
     
      There will be an orientation for new students who live outside Clark County from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today inside the Moyer Student Union.
      A Thursday orientation for students who missed the previous sessions will run the same time.
      Sign-up information was mailed to students admitted to UNLV after Dec. 1, 1997 for the Fall 1998 semester. School begins on Monday.
      Those interested can call 895-4450.
     
     Degree available in
     childhood education
     
      Starting this fall, UNLV will offer a new undergraduate degree in early childhood education.
      Regents for the University and Community College of Southern Nevada system approved two weeks ago the 2+2 early childhood education program which prepares and educates teachers in early childhood settings such as day care facilities, preschools, hospital, community education and early intervention centers, according to UNLV Special Education Professor Jeff Gelfer.
      The degree is being offered through the College of Education's department of special education.
      Those interested should call Gelfer at 895-1327 or the UNLV special education department at 895-3205.
     
     Reading assistance
     available for children
     
      Reading tutoring is available for children in grades one through eight at UNLV's Literacy Development Center.
      The program begins in the middle of September and fees are based on a sliding scale.
      Those interested can call Literacy Development Director Maria J. Meyerson at 895-3783.