The University of Michigan is the southeastern Michigan area's second largest employer, according to a University Record story of Jan. 7 that quotes Crain's 2010 book of lists. Here's a sample of some of the things going on at the University, drawn from links to a few of the less publicized parts of its sprawling online presence.

Earthquake aftermath: Chile

In the Chile UM weblog, university communications manager Vivianne Schnitzer Hendrickson writes from Chile where she has been since the earthquake of Feb. 27. She notes in an entry of March 3:

Echoes from the past are starting to divide. The right is focusing on the need of more military in the streets to control looting in supermarkets, the lumpen vandalism and criminality in eight days, when Sebastian Piñera will start his presidential period, he will probably expand the state of exception to more regions of the country, a political decision that allows the executive to intervene directly to maintain the order with military.

Vivienne was featured on this morning's NPR Morning Edition in a segment called Growing Up With Earthquakes.

This earthquake has reminded me how privileged my family is, here in Santiago's foothill suburbs. There is one earthquake, but two Chiles. Affluent Chile is traumatized by the force of nature, but our lives will not change dramatically. The other Chile is suddenly visible — the homeless widows and orphans, climbing mountains of debris. It is poor Chileans who are looting out of desperation, and some affluent Chileans who are calling the army.

In related Chile news, Ann Arbor Farmers Market vendor Maite Zubia raised $1,050 for Chilean relief at the Saturday market, through the Chilean organization “Un Techo para Chile”.

Earthquake aftermath: Haiti

The University of Michigan Haiti Relief organization provided a link to lecturer Pamela Bogart's Learn Haitian Creole site. Bogart is a lecturer in the English Language Institute.

A few people have asked me for advice on learning Kreyol or improving their Kreyol. It seemed that instead of limiting these conversations to one-on-one transfer of information, it would make a bigger difference to set up an annotated guide to Kreyol learning resources for speakers of English seeking to learn Kreyol.

Royal Shakespeare Co.: new plays

The Royal Shakespeare Company is working with the University of Michigan to develop three new plays during their visit to campus March 20-31. The works include a reconstruction of a "lost" play credited to William Shakespeare and his contemporary, Sussex-born playwright John Fletcher.

Library: Card catalog going away

The University of Michigan is decommissioning its card catalog . A University Record story notes that the catalog cases, "with cards intact", can be purchased from the University's Property Disposition department at 3241 Baxter Road after March 8. All Sales are "AS IS" and final. No exchanges or refunds are allowed.

If you're looking for ideas about what to do with old card catalog furniture, the weblog Library History Buff has some ideas. The cases come with the original cards, which can be turned into blinds.

Commencement: President Obama

All university graduates will need a ticket to get into this year's May 1 Spring Commencement, at which President Barack Obama is scheduled to speak. The graduation information website at the university notes that bachelor's degree recipients are entitled to 8 tickets, but master's and doctoral graduates get only four. Information about tickets for faculty, staff, current students, alumni and general public will be announced at a later date.

City ordinances prohibit parking on lawns in all cases except football games; it is unknown whether any exceptions are expected for this event.

Edward Vielmetti is lead blogger for AnnArbor.com.