You might think it was Dan Gable who drew Travis Taylor to the University of Iowa. But it wasn't. The first-ever state wrestling champ in his hometown of Callendar, Iowa, became a Hawkeye after breaking his neck in a tragic accident, coming to the UI for health care expertise.

Internationally renowned Darwin biographer James Moore will describe the manuscripts, unpublished family correspondence, notebooks, diaries, and ship logs that show abolitionism had deep roots in Darwin’s family. His lecture will take place at 5 p.m. in the Senate Chamber of the Old Capitol Museum on the University of Iowa campus.

The University of Iowa Center for New Music, housed within the UI School of Music, will present a Composers Workshop performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, in Riverside Recital Hall on the UI campus. The concert is free and open to the public.

Dale Fisher, education curator at the University of Iowa Museum of Art, will present a talk from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Old Capitol Museum in conjunction with the current exhibit, “Cultures in Clay: Puebloan Vessels at the University of Iowa.” The exhibit, curated by UI anthropology professor Margaret Beck, is on display through Dec. 29.

Students can earn both an undergraduate and a graduate degree in five years through a new combined degree program offered by the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

Once again, the University of Iowa W-2 forms will be available on the Human Resources Self Service website.

People passing by the Iowa River’s Burlington Street dam will likely see lots of unusual activity this week, starting Monday, Nov. 11, as a barge and divers make appearances for two separate projects.

The University of Iowa School of Music will present a performance by a graduate jazz combo and the Jazz Repertory Ensemble starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, in The Mill in downtown Iowa City. Admission is $5 ($3 for UI students).

University staff, faculty, students, and alumni are accomplishing great things every day. See who's making news with awards, publications, promotion and tenure, and more.

The UI Department of Theatre Arts will hold open auditions Nov. 16-21 for five productions (including a Mainstage musical), one workshop, two readings, and three special projects. Casting will be announced starting at noon Friday, Nov. 22, with some shows beginning rehearsal on Monday, Dec. 2.

Almost immediately after starting surgery, the doctors found a large mass behind Aidan Hanson's eardrum. They ended the surgery and referred the Hansons to University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Hanson will be the honorary Kid Captain when the Hawkeyes take on Purdue Saturday, Nov. 9.

UI Staff Council’s service recognition program acknowledges all professional and scientific and merit staff who have reached 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 years of continuous service. Longevity Award winners receive a certificate and letter of appreciation from the Office of the President.