IN BRIEF

Commodore super fan "Vandy Lance" Smith has volunteered to have his head shaved when the Vanderbilt men's basketball team opens practice with its annual Midnight Madness festivities Saturday, Oct. 14.

Preliminary plans called for the players to take turns trimming Smith's locks, but a barber may be used to speed up matters.

NCAA rules permit teams to begin practicing Oct. 15, and the Commodores will waste no time by beginning at the stroke of midnight with a Black-Gold scrimmage. Admission is free.

Midnight Madness starts at 10:30 p.m. and includes a "Rebounders Classic" with Vanderbilt stars of the past, student slam dunk and three-point contests, introductions of the 1995-96 Commodore team, and slam dunk and three-point shooting contests featuring the Vanderbilt players.

Season tickets are available at discounted prices to faculty an staff for both the Vanderbilt men's and women's basketball teams.

Men's tickets may be purchased for $50 (maximum of two tickets) because of the 50 percent discount offered for full-time faculty and staff. There are only a limited number of seats available and the offer is good only while supplies last.

Tickets for the Vanderbilt's women's team, which has been tabbed No. 1 in some pre-season polls, are priced at only $54 apiece.

For further ticket information, call 322-GOLD.

Applications are now available in the Graduate School, 411 Kirkland Hall (322-3939), for National Science Foundation Graduate and Minority Graduate Fellowships, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Predoctoral Fellowships in Biological Sciences, and Ford Foundation Predoctoral and Dissertation Fellowships for Minorities. Seniors and graduate students are eligible to apply for these awards.

Nov. 3 is the postmark deadline for these fellowships. Also available are applications for Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowships in the Applied Physical Sciences, which have an Oct. 20 submission deadline.

The University Lectures Committee (ULC) invites the submission of proposals for the 1995-96 academic year.

Since funds are limited, the committee asks that requests be made at the earliest possible date. (Even if a lecture is being planned for the spring, the ULC will consider the proposal now). Allow two to three weeks for the committee to consider your proposal.

Preference will be given to programs that are sponsored by more than one department or unit. The ULC will not support programs that do not include at least one component free of charge open to all members of the University community. The committee's contribution toward the cost of honoraria will not exceed $300, and the total package, including travel and other expenses, will not exceed $800. In special circumstances, the committee will provide up to $1,200 for two related programs of wide appeal to the university community.

It is the responsibility of the sponsors to perform all logistical tasks associated with their programs. These tasks include: Reserving space on campus, publicizing the lecture, notifying the Vanderbilt Register and the University's computerized calendar, and making the most reasonable arrangements for travel and local accommodations.

Proposal submission forms may be obtained from Kelly Dillingham (322-8141).

Proposals should be mailed to: Paul R. Dokecki, chair (322-8418) University Lectures Committee, Peabody Box 6.

Blair School of Music announces performances by the Vanderbilt Opera Theater Thursday and Friday, Oct.11 and 12, at 8 p.m. at the Blair Recital Hall, 2400 Blakemore Ave.

Tickets are $8 adults; $6 Vanderbilt faculty/staff; and $4 students/seniors. Tickets go on sale Monday, Oct. 9 at the Blair office.

Members of the Opera Theater include professionals and University students. It is open by audition to singers in the Nashville area. For more information, contact the Blair School of Music at 322-7651.

Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music presents the Blair Woodwind Quintet in a concert of works by Muller, Berger and Carter and a performance of Mozart's Quintet in E-Flat Major, K.452 with pianist Mark Wait, dean of the Blair School.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, at the Blair Recital Hall, 2400 Blakemore Ave. Tickets are $8 adults; $6 VU faculty/staff; and $4 students/seniors. Ticket sales begin Monday, Oct. 9, in the Blair office.

For more information, call the Blair School at 322-7651. The program also includes Quintet No. 3 in A Major by Peter Muller, Sechs Kleine Stucke by Jean Berger, and Woodwind Quintet by Elliot Carter.

For more information, call the Blair School at 322-7651.