Friday, October 31, 2008

UIS program will examine the crisis in Sudan

The University of Illinois at Springfield will present documentary photographer Ryan Spencer Reed speaking on "Sudan: The Cost of Silence" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 12, in Brookens Auditorium. Reed's presentation and a book-signing session that follows are free and open to the public.

Brookens Auditorium is located on the lower level of Brookens Library on the UIS campus.

Abandoning his medical studies in 2002, Reed moved to Africa and eventually found himself in a camp in northwestern Kenya where most of the more than 90,000 refugees were Sudanese. The harsh conditions these people faced affected Reed so deeply that he has since focused his work exclusively on Sudan. He has traveled to that country, especially Darfur, several times to document the conflict there, and his program at UIS will examine the political, historical, and social issues at work.

UIS sponsors of the event are the Social Work Club and the Office of International Programs, with support from the UIS Speakers Series and Diversity Task Force, and the Riis-Parks Project.

See more information about Reed's work The Sudan Project

For more information about the UIS event, contact Larry Livingston, UIS assistant professor of Social Work, at 206-7527

31st annual International Festival will focus on "Harvest Celebrations around the World"

The University of Illinois at Springfield will host its 31st Annual International Festival, this year focusing on "Harvest Celebrations around the World," from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, November 16. The event is free and open to the public.

The festival will feature cultural performances and exhibits, plus a variety of ethnic foods from local restaurants. All activities will take place in the lower-levels of the Public Affairs Center and Library on the UIS campus.

This year, in "theme park" fashion, each room will represent a different part of the world with continual performances, food, and exhibits presented together. Programs will be available to help participants visit the celebrations of their choice. The theme of "celebrating the harvest" is intended to illustrate how people in other countries observe their equivalent of America's Thanksgiving holiday.

For more information, contact the UIS Office of International Student Services at 217/206-6678 or send an e-mail to iss@uis.edu.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

WUIS marks War of the Worlds 70th anniversary

In observance of the 70th anniversary of Orson Welles' infamous radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds, WUIS, in association with Gordon Productions, will present a re-creation of the original program at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in downtown Springfield.

WUIS will broadcast the performance on Halloween night at 9 p.m.

With a nod to the night that the Mercury Theatre radio group panicked America, the live show at the Hoogland Center will be presented as if it were an actual 1930s radio show. The actors will be dressed in period costumes, reading from scripts, while sound men provide all of the appropriate sound effects.

Cast members are Kevin Purcell (reading the Orson Welles role), Don Schneider, Pat Foster, Dennis Rendleman, Flynn Hanners, Brett Rutherford, and Steve Krampitz, along with local broadcasters Dave Leonatti (WUIS), Bob Murray (WTAX), Jim Leach (WMAY), Johnny Molson (ALICE 97.7/WMAY), and Joe Crain (NewsChannel 20).

Tickets for the stage performance are $12, and can be picked up at the Hoogland box office, by calling 523-2787, or online.

For information about the broadcast on Halloween night, call WUIS at 217/206-6516.

See an article about the performance from the October 30 State Journal-Register.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

UIS men's basketball team will face ISU in Normal for the first time

UIS Alumni Relations will host pre-game party

The University of Illinois at Springfield Prairie Stars men's basketball team will travel to Redbird Arena in Normal for the first time on Tuesday, November 11, to take on the Redbirds of Illinois State University. UIS' Office of Alumni Relations will host a deli-buffet pre-game party, beginning at 5 p.m. in the Kaufman Football Building, adjacent to Redbird Arena.

The cost of the party, which includes a ticket to the game, is $15 per person, $10 per person for children 12 and under. For more information and to make a reservation, or call 217/206-7395.

Coached by former NBA star Kevin Gamble, the Prairie Stars finished the 2007-08 season with a 22-10 overall record while the Redbirds, coached by Tim Jankovich, ended their campaign with a 25-10 overall record.

UIS returns four starters, including All-American Kelvin Johnson at point guard, American Midwest Conference First Team guard Jacob Motteler and center Ralph Woodson, along with guard Nick Livas.

ISU returns two starters to their lineup and will fill the gap with four returning seniors on their roster. The Redbirds are led by Osiris Eldridge, who finished second in the voting for the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.

UIS Diversity Center to host traveling exhibit "Summer of Hate"

The Diversity Center at the University of Illinois at Springfield will host the traveling exhibit "Summer of Hate: A Modern Perspective on the Springfield Race Riot of 1908," from November 3 through 21 in the Center, room 22 of the Student Life Building on the east side of the UIS campus.

Ken Page, president of the Springfield branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), will unveil the exhibit during an opening reception at 5:30 p.m. on November 3 in the Center. Both the exhibit and opening reception are free and open to the public.

Commemorating the centennial anniversary of the Springfield Race Riot of 1908, the 14-panel exhibit includes photographs, maps, and historical accounts of the violence that resulted in the deaths of six people and the destruction of dozens of homes and businesses and led to the founding of the NAACP.

Area high school students researched and created the exhibit with assistance from staff members at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. After researching the riot using historical materials in the Presidential Library, the students toured Springfield to pinpoint key riot locations, gather modern and historical images, and create maps.

"It is my hope that events such as this exhibit will translate into positive action that will last one hundred years," Page said.

For more information, contact the UIS Diversity Center at 217/206-6333 or e-mail diversitycenter@uis.edu.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

UIS among host sites for international programming contest

The University of Illinois at Springfield will host a round of competition in an international programming contest on Saturday, November 1. Spectators are welcome.

Sponsored by IBM and the Association for Computing Machinery, the 33rd annual ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest – also known as the Global "Battle of the Brains" Software Competition – sets three-member teams of university students against each other in a competition to solve real-world problems.

The event has become the largest and most prestigious competition of its kind, each year attracting thousands of students – including some of the world's finest students in computing sciences and engineering – from universities around the world. Ninety winning teams from regional contests, held from September to December, will advance to the World Finals, which for 2009 will be hosted by KTH – Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.

At UIS, 18 teams from eight colleges and universities will compete. Teams will meet for registration and welcome from 9 to 10 a.m. in Brookens Auditorium, lower level of Brookens Library on the UIS campus. Team members, special guests, and a representative from IBM will be introduced and the competition will begin at 12:30 p.m. An awards ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium will present ribbons to the top four teams and prizes to the top three teams. The UIS Computer Science Club will host the event, which is sponsored locally by UIS, Novanis, and Capitol Strategies.

Last year, five teams from the UIS competition site placed among the top 10 in the Midwest Regionals and two teams from the UIS competition attended the World Finals.

For more information about the UIS competition, contact Laszlo Acs, past-president of the UIS Computer Science Club, at 622-5398.

Monday, October 27, 2008

UIS to host annual Hunger Banquet

The University of Illinois at Springfield will host its third annual Oxfam Hunger Banquet on Tuesday, November 18, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Great Room of Lincoln Residence Hall on the UIS campus. The dinner is free and open to the public, however reservations are required.

The event is held in observance of National Hunger and Homelessness Week and will focus on the theme "Spreading the Peanut Butter Thin," based on the book Spread the Peanut Butter Thin! by central Illinois author Leah Riley. Riley will be present at the dinner to discuss her personal experiences with poverty. The program will also include a video and discussions about hunger.

The Hunger Banquet is presented by UIS student organizations Women's Issues Caucus, Las Olas, Alternative Spring Break, Christian Student Fellowship and by the UIS Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center. Donations of non-perishable food and canned goods will be accepted for the 2008 Holiday Stars Project, a campus-wide holiday service initiative benefiting the Central Illinois Foodbank.

During a Hunger Banquet, guests are randomly assigned high-, middle-, or low-income rankings and are served meals that range from gourmet fare to small portions of rice and water, depending on the guest’s designation. The purpose is to heighten participants’ awareness of hunger in the U.S. and internationally. Guests are invited to share their thoughts after the meal.

"Oxfam" was the original postal abbreviation for the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, which was started in England during World War II to provide relief to war victims in Europe. Oxfam America, an affiliate of Oxfam International, is a relief and development organization that works to create lasting solutions to poverty, hunger and injustice.

To make a reservation for the UIS Hunger Banquet or for more information, contact Lenore Cole in the Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center at 217/206-7716 or e-mail volunteer@uis.edu.

UIS to host first annual Graduate and Professional School Fair

The Career Development Center at the University of Illinois at Springfield will host the first annual Graduate and Professional School Fair on Thursday, November 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The Graduate and Professional School Fair will connect UIS students, alumni, and community members with representatives of higher educational institutions from many disciplines. Participating recruiters include the University of Illinois at Springfield, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, SIU School of Medicine, Western Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University School of Law, Bradley University, and Illinois State University's Mennonite College of Nursing.

"Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the different graduate programs that are available, discuss program requirements, and network with recruiters to gain valuable insight and contacts," said Tammy Craig, director of the UIS Career Development Center.

In the afternoon, three breakout sessions will be held in PAC in conference room C/D. They include: Deciding to go to Grad School (12:30 to 1 p.m.); The Grad School Application Process (1:30 to 2 p.m.), and a Panel Discussion/Q&A Session (2 to 3:30 p.m.)

Advance registration is not required; however, registration tables will be available at the event to provide participants with event materials, nametags, and other information. Individuals requesting disability-related accommodations should contact the UIS Career Development Center prior to the event.

For more information, contact the Career Development Center at 217/206-6508.

Sustainability Brown Bag Series

A new monthly event sponsored by the Senate Committee on Sustainability

  • "Sustainability Initiatives at Food Service" - noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday, November 5, PAC G
Speakers: Alan Barnhart, food service Administrator, and Howard Seidel, executive chef. Presentation will also discuss the Local Food Initiative.

  • "Save Time, Save Money, Save Trees: Conserve Your Limited Resources through Office Sustainability" – time and place tba, Wednesday, December 4
Speaker: Rose Schweikhart Cranson, dean's assistant, College of Public Affairs and Administration

For more information, contact Tih-Fen Ting, SCS chair, at 6-7876 or TTing1@uis.edu.

The China Experience

A brown bag presentation by Kathy Petitte Jamison, assistant professor of Communication and 2008 UIS China Faculty Exchange Scholar

Noon-12:45 p.m., Wednesday, October 29, PAC 3B

Bring your lunch and learn about China and the exchange program.

Campus Adobe Day

Representatives from the U of I Software WebStore and Adobe will be on hand to present free workshops that explore Adobe Creative Suite 4’s new features and functionality.

9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday, November 3, PAC C/D

Three sessions:
  • 9:30-11:30 a.m. See how Creative Suite Design Premium enables a cross-media workflow
  • Noon-1 p.m. Learn how to move your projects into the digital age quickly and effectively
  • 1:30-3:30 p.m. Empower learning with PDF and Adobe Acrobat 9
Seating is limited; register for one or all of the sessions and get additional information

U of I Alumni Association to hold annual awards dinner

The University of Illinois Alumni Association's Office of UIS Alumni Relations will honor alumni and friends at the annual Alumni Awards Dinner on Friday, November 7, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in downtown Springfield.

Raju L. Indukuri, owner and president of Reachnet International, Inc., in Fremont, California, will receive the University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award for outstanding success and national or international distinction in one's business, profession, or life's work.

Shelley Hoffman, retired director of corporate affairs for Wiley Office Furniture in Springfield, will receive the University of Illinois Distinguished Service Award for extraordinary commitment, dedication, and service to the advancement of the University.

Barbara Dickerman, community activist and volunteer leader in Springfield for more than 50 years, will receive the University of Illinois Alumni Humanitarian Award for significant contributions of leadership or service to improve the lives of others and the welfare of humanity.

University of Illinois Alumni Loyalty Awards will be presented to Susan Blocker, coordinator, Surbanes-Oxley Information Technology at Caterpillar; Bruce Bullard, director, Office of the Auditor General; Ronda Guyton, deputy, Peoria County Sheriff's Office; Barbara Lestikow, educational consultant, retired school teacher and principal for Springfield School District #186; and Donovan Pepper, manager, State and Local Government Relations, Walgreens. This award recognizes consistent demonstration of exceptional loyalty, commitment, dedication, and service to the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Reservations are $75 per person or $600 for a table of eight. Contact the UIS Office of Alumni Relations at 217/206-7395.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

UIS kicks off holiday project with trick or treating for charity

The Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center at the University of Illinois at Springfield will sponsor the campus' first Trick or Treat for Canned Goods competition on Halloween, Friday, October 31.

The event is part of the first-ever UIS Holiday Stars Project, a campus-wide service initiative giving focus to UIS' efforts to make a difference in the local community during the upcoming holiday season. The overall goal is to collect 2008 pounds of food for the Central Illinois Foodbank.

Teams of UIS students who register for the trick or treat event will be assigned neighborhoods where they will collect non-perishable food items. The teams will canvas their neighborhoods in advance, on Saturday-Sunday, October 25-26, distributing collection bags, along with doorhangers that explain the project.

On Halloween, the teams will revisit their neighborhoods between 4:30 and 8 p.m. to pick up donations. Collected items will be weighed, and prizes will be awarded to teams that bring in the most food in pounds.

The Holiday Stars Project continues through November, when specially marked collections bins will be placed around campus and UIS will participate in a federal Hunger study in conjunction with the Foodbank. Everything collected during the project will be presented to the Foodbank on December 4.

Central Illinois Foodbank serves 160 agencies throughout 21 central Illinois counties and also hosts the Kids Café, part of a nation-wide program through America's Second Harvest that feeds children a hot, nutritious meal in a safe environment.

For more information about the UIS Holiday Stars Project, contact Kelly Thompson, director of the UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center, at 217/836-3706.

UIS Theatre Program opens season with "Cloud 9"

The Theatre Program at the University of Illinois at Springfield will open its 2008-2009 season with the British play Cloud 9 by Caryl Churchill. Six performances will be presented in the Studio Theatre, lower level of the Public Affairs Center at UIS -- on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, November 7, 8, and 9, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 13, 14, and 15. All shows will begin at 8 p.m. except the Sunday performance (November 9), which will begin at 2 p.m.

Described by the New York Times as "intelligent, inventive, and funny," Cloud 9 explores the politics of sexuality and sexual identity. Using cross-gender casting and role-doubling, Churchill creates a stinging and satirical look at the relationships between the sexually repressed Victorian era and the sexually liberated late 20th century. Act 1 takes place in British Colonial Africa in 1880, where the characters secretly attempt to resist the constraints of Victorianism. Act 2 takes place in London 100 years later – although the characters have aged only 25 years – and everyone has thrown off their 19th century restraint. (Note: This production is intended for mature audiences and is not suitable for children.)

Act 1 characters include Clive, a government official; his wife, Betty; their daughter, Victoria; Clive's friend Harry, an explorer; Mrs. Saunders, a "new" woman, challenging the Victorian ideals; Clive's son, Edward, who still plays with dolls; and Joshua, a servant. By Act 2, some of the same characters return, having aged only 25 years, and they are affected by their encounters with new characters -- Gerry, Lin, Cathy, and Martin. Various roles are cross-gender cast, and almost all of the actors play one role in Act 1, and a different role in Act 2.

The cast is: Troy Thomas-Pfaffe (Clive/Martin); *Dwight Langford (Betty/Gerry); *Leif Mogren (Joshua/Edward); *Colleen Kabbes (Edward/Betty); Mary Myers (Maud); *Ashley Warren (Ellen/Victoria); *Cassie Oswald (Mrs. Saunders/Lin); and *Roger Boyd (Harry Bagley/ Cathy/Soldier). * denotes a UIS student

UIS Assistant Professor of Theatre Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson will direct.

The performances on November 8 and November 13 are also presented as part of UIS' ECCE Speaker Series -- events that aim to exemplify engaged citizenship as part of the university’s effort to foster appreciation for and practice of diversity and the active effort to make a difference in the world. These performances will include post-show discussions with the cast, director, and dramaturg.

Tickets – $12 general adult; $10 senior citizen, 55+ with photo ID; $8 UIS faculty/staff with current i-card; $6 all students with current school ID – are available now at the UIS Ticket Office, located on level two of the Public Affairs Center. Purchase tickets in person, by phone at 217/206-6160 or 800/207-6960 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.uis.edu/theatre. Tickets will also be available at the ticket office on the day of the performance, beginning 90 minutes before curtain time.

The spring production will be Shakespeare's comedy As You Like It, directed by UIS Director of Theatre Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson. Production dates are April 17-19 and 23-25.

For more information about the plays, or about UIS' Theatre program.

For information about the ECCE Speakers Series, contact series coordinator Kimberly Craig at 206-6245.

UIS presents a look at "Campus Computing and the Law"

"Trouble Online: Campus Computing and the Law," a program aimed at giving college students insight into legal rights and responsibilities related to social networking sites, will be presented Wednesday, November 12, at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The event will be held twice, at noon and 5 p.m., in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library on the UIS campus. Both sessions are free and open to the public.

In a program hailed as "entertaining, even hilarious," attorney/advocate C. L. Lindsay III (at left) -- author of The College Student's Guide to the Law: Get a Grade Changed, Keep Your Stuff Private, Throw a Police-Free Party, and More! (Taylor Trade Publishing, 2005) -- will lead a discussion designed to teach students "everything they need to know about their online lives," including what their rights and potential liabilities are, as well as how the laws operate. Topics will include the various ways that information posted to a student's Facebook or MySpace page can open the door to problems such as repercussions for violating plagiarism and intellectual property laws, diminished job opportunities, and increased vulnerability to Internet predators.

A recognized expert in the field of student rights and educational law, Lindsay is the founder and executive director of the Coalition for Student & Academic Rights (CO-STAR), a national organization that provides free legal assistance to thousands of college students each year. Lindsay's weekly column, "Ask CO-STAR" is distributed nationwide on Knight Ridder/Tribune's College Wire Service.

Sponsored by the UIS Career Development Center, the event is co-sponsored by the UIS Office of Alumni Relations, Student Activities Council, and Student Government Association. It is also presented as part of the ECCE Speakers Series at UIS -- events that aim to exemplify engaged citizenship as part of the university's effort to foster appreciation for and practice of diversity and the active effort to make a difference in the world.

For more information, contact Kristen Chenoweth in the Career Development Center at 206-6501. Individuals who would like to request disability-related accommodations should contact the Center at 206-6508 no later than October 31.

For information about ECCE events, contact series coordinator Kimberly Craig at 206-6245 or send an e-mail to speakerseries@uis.edu.

UIS Visual Arts Gallery to present photography exhibit "Indians from India"

Selections from "Indians from India," works by noted photographer Annu Palakunnathu Matthew, will be on display in the Visual Arts Gallery at the University of Illinois at Springfield from Monday, November 3, through Wednesday, December 3.

An artist's talk and discussion session will be presented at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, in the gallery, followed by an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. The artist's talk, reception, and exhibit are free and open to the public. The gallery is located in room 201 of the Health and Sciences Building on the UIS campus.

Matthew is an associate professor of Art (Photography) at the University of Rhode Island whose work can be seen in numerous collections, including at the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York.

Of "Indians from India" she notes, "As an immigrant, I'm often questioned about where I'm 'really from.' When I say that I am Indian, I often have to clarify that I'm an Indian from India, not an American-Indian." In this portfolio, she compares early photographs of Native Americans with those taken by 19th century British photographers in India.

Since Bombay is home to a thriving movie industry -- producing more than 1,000 films each year -- the city has come to be known as "Bollywood." Matthew notes that her work "Bollywood Satirized" is a commentary on the social expectations she experienced growing up in India. Using digital technology to alter Indian movie posters, she re-interprets the images to humorously challenge the traditional gender roles and behavior of Indian society.

The artist's talk and discussion session on November 6 is also presented as part of the ECCE Speakers Series at UIS -- events that aim to exemplify engaged citizenship as part of the university's effort to foster appreciation for and practice of diversity and the active effort to make a difference in the world.

Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For further information, contact the gallery by phone at 217/206-6506 or by e-mail at visarts-ga@uis.edu. For more information about Dr. Matthew's presentation, contact Liz Thomas, UIS assistant professor of Visual Art, at 206-7547.

For information about the ECCE Speakers Series, contact series coordinator Kimberly Craig at 206-6245 or send an e-mail to speakerseries@uis.edu.

UIS to host Campus Preview Day

The University of Illinois at Springfield will host a Campus Preview Day for prospective students and their families from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 8. The program will include an academic fair, campus tours, lunch, and greetings from Chancellor Richard Ringeisen and Provost Harry Berman.

For reservations or additional information, call the UIS Office of Admissions at (217) 206-4847 (toll-free 1-888-977-4847), or send an e-mail to admissions@uis.edu. For those unable to attend the regular session, individual visits can be arranged by contacting the Admissions Office.

The next Preview Day is scheduled for Saturday, January 24.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Postcard Party

9:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 22
Women's Center, SLB 15 (new location)

Send postcards to women in Ohio, reminding them to vote on Election Day

Why you should go:
  • Free food
  • Watch a movie
  • Encourage people to exercise their right to vote
Hosted by the Women's Issues Caucus and Student Government Association

For details, send an e-mail to wicaucus@uis.edu.

Monday, October 20, 2008

UIS will offer workshop on basic GIS applications

The Geographic Information Systems Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Springfield will present "Using GIS to Explore Your Community: A Fundamental GIS Applications Workshop" from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, November 14, at UIS. Advance registration is required and space is limited.

The program is designed for anyone with a beginning interest in spatial visualization and mapping. Basic computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft Office are the only prerequisites.

In addition to the basics of GIS and how to use the ArcGIS 9.2 software, participants will learn how to: create thematic mapping; display data specific to individual interests; find the best locations for projects; conduct spatial queries and spatial processing; and map addresses, locations, and other points of interest.

Instruction will also be given in downloading and mapping community data, as well as how to work with census data, natural resources data, economic data, housing data, and other specific data.

All participants will receive a comprehensive workbook, including step-by-step instructions, and a copy of Illinois Data Inventory Handbook.

Geographic Information Systems provide a new way to explore the world and offer a dynamic digital environment for visualizing and analyzing geographic information. GIS users can access, acquire, analyze, and display information in the forms of maps, 3-D simulations, tables, and figures.

UIS' Geographic Information Systems Laboratory was established in 2005 and currently supports research and teaching for many academic units.

Cost to attend the workshop (does not include lunch) is $125 for current UIS students, faculty, or staff members, and $250 for all others. A limited number of student scholarships are available.

To register or for more information, or contact Angela Maranville, GIS Lab coordinator, at 217/206-8403 or amara2@uis.edu.

UIS speaker to discuss "Queer Love in the Time of War and Shopping"

"Queer Love in the Time of War and Shopping," a presentation by Dr. Martin Manalansan (shown at left), will be held beginning at 3 p.m., Wednesday, October 29, in Brookens Auditorium, lower level of Brookens Library at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The program and discussion session that follows are free and open to the public.

Dr. Manalansan is interim director of Asian American Studies and an associate professor of Anthropology at the U of I Urbana-Champaign campus. "Queer Love…" reflects his interdisciplinary research into socio-cultural anthropology, gay and lesbian studies, sexuality and gender, and race and ethnicity. It is also the title of the chapter he contributed to The LGBT Studies Reader (currently under review). Manalansan's other research interests include immigration and globalization, cities and modernity, food and culture, public health, the Filipino diaspora, Asian Americans, and the Philippines.

His address is presented as part of the ECCE Speakers Series at UIS -- events that aim to exemplify engaged citizenship as part of the university's effort to foster appreciation for and practice of diversity and the active effort to make a difference in the world.

The next ECCE program will be "Indians from India" and "Bollywood Satirized," an art exhibit and discussion on November 6. See the complete schedule of speakers and topics for the 2008 Fall Semester.

For more information about Dr. Manalansan's presentation, contact Lan Dong, assistant professor of English, at 206-8334.

For information about any ECCE event, contact Kimberly Craig, series coordinator, at 206-6245 or send an e-mail to speakerseries@uis.edu.

An Evening with David Crosby and Graham Nash at Sangamon Auditorium

Legendary musicians David Crosby and Graham Nash will take the stage at the University of Illinois at Springfield's Sangamon Auditorium on Sunday, October 26 at 8 p.m., sponsored by 100.5 WYMG - Springfield's Classic Rock.

Grammy-winning Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Famers, Crosby and Nash embark on a tour as "two together." Billed as "An Evening with David Crosby and Graham Nash," this special performance offers a rare opportunity to savor an intimate, harmony-heavy experience with two of rock's most legendary singer-songwriters.

"This is a rare treat for central Illinois," said Bob Vaughn, director of Sangamon Auditorium. "We often have to travel to Chicago or St. Louis to see big-name performers like David Crosby and Graham Nash -- and pay twice the price. The show is selling very well, but we often release tickets that are being held for various reasons. For those who haven't yet purchased tickets, my advice is to call the Ticket Office. The staff will be happy to assist you in placing your order."

Tickets for this event are $52 or $42 and are on sale now. Order tickets online, or call the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office at 217/206-6160 or toll free at 800-207-6960. Tickets can also be purchased in-person at the Ticket Office, which is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Individual tickets to all Visiting Artist Series and Family Events are on sale now, and tickets to Broadway shows go on sale approximately six weeks prior to each event. Patrons can receive a discount through the Create Your Own Series option by simply choosing at least five events from the Visiting Artists Series, Broadway Series and Family Events at UIS. Please call the Ticket Office for more information.

About Sangamon Auditorium, UIS
Sangamon Auditorium, located on the campus of the University of Illinois at Springfield, hosts more than 120 performances annually. Also home to the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Springfield Ballet Company, it is the only auditorium of its kind and size in the Springfield area, with a seating capacity of 2,018. Sangamon Auditorium continues to fulfill its mission of presenting and supporting varied cultural and educational professional arts activities to audiences in Springfield, Sangamon County, and the surrounding areas. The auditorium administrative offices can be reached at 217/206-6150 or by e-mail at onstage@uis.edu.

Friday, October 17, 2008

UIS to host Sunday Star Party for people with disabilities

The University of Illinois at Springfield will host a special Sunday Night Star Party for people with disabilities on Sunday, November 9, weather permitting, in the UIS observatory. The party is free, but reservations are required.

Featured objects for viewing will be Jupiter, the largest planet, and the moon.

Conducted by Charles Schweighauser and John Martin, UIS professors of astronomy and physics, Sunday Star Parties use a telescope specially designed to give people with disabilities access to the sky. This is the first telescope in the world designed for, and dedicated to, people with disabilities.

The modified eight-inch Schmidt Cassegrain telescope employs a traditional optical design but with a fixed eyepiece that brings the image to the viewer. This eyepiece can be moved backward and forward in its tube as much as seven inches without refocusing, and can accommodate anyone from a large person in a high wheelchair to a child in the lowest, smallest wheelchair. A laptop computer runs the telescope, eliminating the need for a large keyboard and monitor that can emit too much distracting light on the dark observation deck.

To make a reservation, or for more information, contact Schweighauser at 206-6721 no later than Friday, October 31, for the November 9 Star Party.

UIS Emiquon Field Station will host lecture on "Migratory Waterfowl and the Illinois River"

The University of Illinois at Springfield's Emiquon Field Station will host a free public lecture on "Migratory Waterfowl and the Illinois River," at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 28. The Field Station is at The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve, located between Havana and Lewistown.

The speaker will be Dr. Josh Stafford, waterfowl ecologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey and director of the Forbes Biological Station in Havana, Illinois. Dr. Stafford will cover a variety of topics, including a brief history of Illinois River wetlands and waterfowl research in the region, trends in migratory duck populations, chronology of migration, and results of recent waterfowl studies at the Emiquon Preserve.

Entrance to the Emiquon Field Station is on Prairie Road, located off Illinois Rts. 97/78, approximately one-and-a-half miles north of the Dickson Mounds turnoff. A sign will be posted at the turnoff. See a map

For more information, contact Mike Lemke, Emiquon Field Station director, at lemke.michael@uis.edu or (217) 206-7339.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Webcast for Campus Sustainability Day

A live interactive webcast on "Climate Realities, Challenges and Progress in Higher Education" will be open to members of the campus community (release time policy applies for staff)

1 to 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 22, in Brookens Auditorium

Made possible by the UIS Provost’s Office, Senate Committee on Sustainability, and Office of Sustainability

See a description of the program and information about the moderator and speakers

Contact Facilities and Services at 6-6530 for details.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

UIS program will address domestic violence

The Healing Waters Empowerment Project: "I Will Carry My Sister's Pain" will be presented at the University of Illinois at Springfield beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library on the UIS campus. The event, as well as a 6 p.m. reception in the Public Affairs Center restaurant, is free and open to the public.

Presented in recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the program tells the stories of six victims of domestic violence, who share their experiences through song, dance, poetry, and inspirational readings.

Event facilitator LaTrice Nettles explained that the program is designed to provide a forum to discuss domestic violence and how it affects men and women of all cultures, sexual orientations, and races, and to raise awareness and understanding of domestic violence and related issues, including how to get out of a violent situation.

Featured performers will be Briana Byrd, Dorian Byrd, Shellie Moore Guy, Joy Johnson-Williams, Nina Little, Sandra Solomon, Juanita Spann, and the Suffice Gospel Choir and Beloved Dance Team.

The event is sponsored by the UIS student organization Living Word Bible Study; co-sponsors are the UIS Student Activities Committee, Women's Center, Diversity Center, and Office of Volunteer & Civic Engagement, and student groups Suffice Gospel Choir, Student Parents Association, and Christian Student Fellowship.

For further information contact LaTrice Nettles at 836-0861 or Lwbs@uis.edu.

UIS music groups to present concerts, open rehearsals

Music groups at the University of Illinois at Springfield will present a series of three concerts/open rehearsals in October. All programs are open to the public and will be held in the Office of Electronic Media TV Studio, located in the lower level of the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus.

These informal concerts will feature the UIS Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, and Chorus as they rehearse for future performances. In addition to enjoying a variety of music, the audience will learn how musical groups prepare to perform and will be able to talk with ensemble members.

The schedule is: Concert Band – 4 p.m., Monday, October 20; Chorus – 7 p.m., Tuesday, October 21; and Chamber Orchestra – 5:30 p.m., Thursday, October 30.

Admission is free; however, donations to the UIS Music Student Merit Award will be accepted.

UIS Music’s annual Fall Showcase concert will be Friday, December 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the PAC Studio Theatre at UIS.

UIS Music ensembles welcome participation by students, faculty, staff, and community members. For information, call 206-6790, or send an e-mail to music@uis.edu.

UIS to present survey of 1908 riot by noted historian and author

"Centennial of Fire," an address by noted historian and author Dr. Roberta Senechal (at left), will be presented beginning at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, October 23, in the lobby of the Public Affairs Center at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The program is free and open to the public.

In this lecture, Senechal surveys the course of Springfield's 1908 race riot, and the reaction of the press and public, weighing the known facts in light of her later work on collective violence, in the United States and elsewhere.

Senechal's published works include the award-winning In Lincoln's Shadow, the only book-length study of the Springfield riot. Originally published in 1990 by the University of Illinois Press as The Sociogenesis of a Race Riot: Springfield, Illinois, in 1908, a reprint of the book under its new title is forthcoming from Southern Illinois University Press. She is currently an associate professor of History at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, where she specializes in American social and urban history, the history of crime and violence, women's history in the United States, and African-American history.

Senechal's presentation is one of the keynote addresses for the 30th Annual Conference of the Association for Integrative Studies, hosted by UIS and held October 23-26 at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel. It is also a program in the ECCE Speakers Series at UIS -- events that aim to exemplify engaged citizenship as part of the university’s effort to foster appreciation for and practice of diversity and the active effort to make a difference in the world.

Upcoming ECCE programs include "Queer Love in the Time of War and Shopping" with Martin Manalansan on October 29; and "Indians from India" and "Bollywood Satirized," an art exhibit and discussion, on November 6. See the schedule of speakers and topics for the 2008 Fall Semester.

The Association for Integrative Studies is an interdisciplinary professional organization founded in 1979 and charged with promoting the interchange of ideas about integration and interdisciplinarity, in all of the arts and sciences, among scholars and administrators around the world.

For more information about Dr. Senechal's presentation, contact Karen Moranski, associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education at UIS and associate professor of English, at 206-7440.

For information about any ECCE event, contact Kimberly Craig, series coordinator, at 206-6245 or send an e-mail to speakerseries@uis.edu.

Women's Center Open House

Staff of the Women's Center will host an open house

in their new location -- SLB 15

from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, November 6.

For more information, call 6-7173.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

UIS students to take part in AmeriCorps Opening Day events

Sixteen students from the University of Illinois at Springfield will be among AmeriCorps members from around the state who take part in the 2008 AmeriCorps Opening Day ceremonies, Thursday, October 16, in downtown Springfield.

The Midwest Campus Compact Citizen-Scholar (M3C) Fellows AmeriCorps Program is a 10-state initiative that creates opportunities for students to work together as agents of civic change in their local communities and on their campuses.

Morning activities at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center will involve the students in a service project assembling CPR and first aid information packets for the American Red Cross. In the afternoon, students will collect non-perishable food items for the Central Illinois Food Bank as they march to the State Capitol, escorted by members of the Springfield Fire Department.

The students also will hear remarks from a number of speakers, including Scott Kimmel, executive director, and Rosemary Keefe, commissioner, of the Serve Illinois Commission; Springfield Mayor Timothy Davlin; State Representatives Lisa Dugan and Richard Brauer; State Senator William Haine; former AmeriCorps member Patti Kurtz; and Parkland College Director of Student Life Tom Caulfield. Jerry Lambert, from WICS TV20, will serve as master of ceremonies.

See more information about the Midwest Campus Compact Citizen-Scholar Fellows Program.

For information about UIS' Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center contact Center Director Kelly Thompson at 206-8448 or volunteer@uis.edu.

UIS Emiquon Field Station to host discussion of "Electronic Teaching"

A lecture and discussion on "Electronic Teaching, Online and Offline" will be presented at the University of Illinois at Springfield's Emiquon Field Station beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 21. The program is free and open to the public.

The discussion will be led by Dr. Keith W. Miller, UIS professor of Computer Science. Dr. Miller is also associate director of the field station.

The Emiquon Field Station is at The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve, between Havana and Lewistown. Entrance to the field station is on Prairie Road, located off Illinois Rts. 97/78, approximately one-and-a-half miles north of the Dickson Mounds turnoff. A sign will be posted.

UIS is a recognized leader in online education, and Dr. Miller, one of UIS' "early adopters" of electronic learning, has used computers in his teaching for over 30 years. In this presentation, he will give a brief description of his experiences in online learning and will suggest ideas for designing opportunities in Internet learning.

Following the lecture, a discussion session will allow members of the audience to share their own experiences and questions about how to use the Internet to enhance teaching and learning, for both face-to-face and online classes.

For more information, contact Keith Miller at miller.keith@uis.edu or call 217/206-7327.

See a map to Emiquon.

Midterm Stress Free Zone

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, October 16, PAC concourse
  • Tips on reducing stress
  • Free neck massages by licensed therapists
For more information, contact the Counseling Center at 6-7122.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Award-winning film "Election Day" to be shown at UIS

The award-winning PBS documentary "Election Day" will be shown at the University of Illinois at Springfield beginning at 7 p.m., Monday, October 20, in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library on the UIS campus.

Sponsored by the UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center, the event is free and open to the public. A short panel discussion will follow the film.

A political film that is not about candidates or politics, but instead explores the "street-level experience of voters," "Election Day" challenges viewers to think about the nature of American democracy and whether actual practices adequately achieve national ideals.

On November 2, 2004, director Katy Chevigny sent 14 film crews to shoot simultaneously from dawn until long past midnight. Together they captured 11 stories over a range of locations, from major cities like Chicago, St. Louis, and New York; to middle-sized cities like Dearborn in Michigan, Cincinnati and Shaker Heights in Ohio, and Orlando and Quincy in Florida; to the little town of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and the even tinier Stockholm, Wisconsin; to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

The results have been called "as fast-paced and suspenseful as a thriller" with heroes who are "ordinary Americans determined to vote, to turn out others to vote, and to see that the voting is legally and fairly done."

This event is presented in collaboration with the award-winning documentary series P.O.V., produced for PBS by American Documentary, a nonprofit media organization dedicated to presenting contemporary nonfiction stories that express opinions and perspectives not usually covered by mainstream media.

For more information, contact the UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center at 206-7716 or send an e-mail to volunteer@uis.edu.

UIS to host panel discussion of civil unions

The University of Illinois at Springfield will host an informational panel discussion on civil unions beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, October 20, in conference room C/D, lower level of the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Panelists will include Rick Garcia, public policy director for Equality Illinois; Jim Madigan, staff attorney at Lambda Legal; and Gail Clodfelter, a representative for Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of Springfield. Discussants will also include a couple who will be directly affected by the passage or defeat of the Civil Unions Act (HB 1826), currently pending in the Illinois House of Representatives.

HB 1826, The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, would extend basic state-level protections and responsibilities to all adult, committed couples by recognizing civil unions. The Act also preserves the separation of church and state and ensures that religious denominations would not be forced to recognize or sanctify relationships they oppose.

Sponsors of this discussion session are the UIS Safe Zone program and Campus Health Service.
For more information, contact Campus Health Services at UIS at 206-6676.

Friday, October 10, 2008

UIS to host array of Lincoln Bicentennial events

The University of Illinois at Springfield will host a variety of programs in observance of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial, ranging from lectures to musical events to a contest for high school students across the state.

On Wednesday, October 15, UIS' annual Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series will present "Lincoln and Presidential Campaign Politics." Speakers will be Dr. Jennifer Weber from the University of Kansas, who will examine "How Lincoln Handled the Antiwar Movement," and Dr. Silvana Siddali, from St. Louis University, who will discuss "Lincoln and the Constitution in Civil War Era Presidential Campaigns." Illinois State Historian Dr. Thomas Schwartz will moderate the discussion. The program begins at 7 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium on the UIS campus. Admission is free.

Composer/folklorist duo Jay Ungar and Molly Mason will lead a musical Early Birthday Celebration for A. Lincoln at 8 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2009, in UIS' Sangamon Auditorium. Their performance of Ungar's composition "Ashokan Farewell," heard in Ken Burns' The Civil War, earned the couple an Emmy nomination and a Grammy award. Special guests for this program are the 10th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Band, directed by R. Todd Cranson, assistant director of co-curricular music at UIS. Ticket information is available from the Auditorium Ticket Office at 206-6160 or 800-207-6960.

In February, public radio WUIS 91.9 will broadcast a number of special programs focusing on Lincoln. More information about "Lincoln the Poet," "Lincoln the Lawmaker," and "Lincoln and Humor," including broadcast times and dates, will be available from the WUIS website.

On Saturday, February 21, UIS faculty and students will present a readers' theater production of Ronald Gow's one-act play The Lawyer of Springfield beginning at 7 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium. A discussion session with the audience will follow the performance.

At 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, acclaimed performer/composer Wynton Marsalis will lead the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in a concert at Sangamon Auditorium. This "extraordinarily versatile" orchestra, which Marsalis serves as musical director, is composed of leading jazz soloists who perform an extensive repertoire that ranges from their own compositions to jazz classics. Ticket information is available from the Auditorium Ticket Office at 206-6160 or 800-207-6960.

Applications are now being accepted for the Lincoln Legacy High School Forum -- a statewide contest for high school juniors and seniors co-sponsored by UIS and the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The three categories of competition are: Historical Essay, Creative Expression in the Written Word, and Performance/Visual Arts. The first prize in each category is a one-year tuition scholarship to the University of Illinois at Springfield; winners will be invited to UIS to present their work to the public on Saturday, April 4. Entries must be postmarked by January 2, 2009. Get complete information.

From April 2 to 17, a juried "Lincoln Legacy" exhibit, presenting selected artwork from the High School Forum, will be on display in the Access Gallery, located in the lobby of the Visual and Performing Arts Building on the east side of the UIS campus.

For more information about any event in UIS' series of Lincoln Bicentennial events, contact the Office of the Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, at 217/206-6512.

All three campuses in the U of I system are hosting events in the University's Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration. Get more information.

See information about programs and events sponsored by the Illinois Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

UIS to screen "10 Questions for the Dalai Lama"

10 Questions for the Dalai Lama, a film by Rick Ray, will be presented beginning at 7 p.m., Friday, October 17, in Brookens Auditorium, lower level of Brookens Library at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The film and a discussion session that follows are free and open to the public.

In this 2006 film, Ray examines some of the fundamental questions of our time by weaving observations from his own journeys throughout India and the Middle East together with the wisdom of an extraordinary spiritual leader. Speaking at length with the Dalai Lama over the course of an extended private visit to his monastery in Dharamsala, India, Ray asked a number of questions, including: How do you reconcile a commitment to non-violence when faced with violence? Why do the poor often seem happier than the rich? Must a society lose its traditions in order to move into the future? The result has been described as "part biography, part philosophy, part adventure, and part politics." Also included are rare historical filmclips and footage by individuals who, at great personal risk, filmed with hidden cameras inside Tibet.

Part of UIS' Fall 2008 Foreign and Independent Film Series, the film is also presented as part of the ECCE Speakers Series at UIS -- events that aim to exemplify engaged citizenship as part of the university's effort to foster appreciation for and practice of diversity and the active effort to make a difference in the world.

Upcoming ECCE programs include "Centennial of Fire" with author/historian Roberta Senechal on October 23; and "Queer Love in the Time of War and Shopping" with Martin Manalansan on October 29. See the complete schedule of ECCE speakers and topics for the 2008 Fall Semester.

See the line-up of remaining foreign and independent films for the fall semester.

For information about any ECCE event, contact Kimberly Craig, series coordinator, at 206-6245 or send an e-mail to speakerseries@uis.edu.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

UIS political art series to present a look at the Black Panther Party

The next program in the Political Art and the Public Sphere series at the University of Illinois at Springfield will be a screening of excerpts from "What We Want, What We Believe," a documentary about the Black Panther Party, at 6 p.m. Monday, October 13, in Brookens Auditorium, lower level of Brookens Library on the UIS campus. Both the film and the discussion session that follows are free and open to the public.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Black Panthers were considered one of the most dangerous militant groups in America. Newsreel Films was the unofficial documenter of the Panthers, and "What We Want, What We Believe" -- not a documentary so much as living history preserved on film -- has been described as "a fantastic journey back to a time when equal rights were the name of the game, and the price to pay for them was very high."

Footage includes interviews with founding members Stokely Carmichael, Bobby Seale, and Huey P. Newton; a look at some of the group's activities, such as demonstrations, speaking appearances, and the Breakfast Program for neighborhood children; and interviews with FBI agents and film of police raids on party offices.

Each month Political Art and the Public Sphere features a showing or performance of some kind of "political art," followed by a group discussion of the issues it raises. "The basic idea is to consider how 'art' raises provocative social and political questions," said series facilitator Richard Gilman-Opalsky, UIS assistant professor of political philosophy.

This fall, the series focuses on questions of race and class in 20th century American politics with topics ranging from the Springfield race riot of 1908 to the disenfranchisement of black voters in the 2004 elections.

"Public spheres are the places where people come together to communicate, to evaluate, and to circulate ideas and arguments," said Gilman-Opalsky. "In the public sphere, people form a collective political opinion and will. Ultimately and ideally, the public sphere brings the interests and demands of the public to bear on those who hold power."

The presentation of "What We Want, What We Believe" is also co-sponsored by the ECCE Speakers Series at UIS – events that aim to exemplify engaged citizenship as part of the university’s effort to foster appreciation for and practice of diversity and the active effort to make a difference in the world.

The next PAPS event will be a showing of the film "American Blackout" at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 10, in Brookens Auditorium. For more information about the PAPS series, contact Gilman-Opalsky by phone at 206-8328 or by e-mail at rgilm3@uis.edu.

Upcoming ECCE programs include a screening and discussion of the film "10 Questions for the Dalai Lama" on October 17. For more information about any ECCE event, contact Kimberly Craig, series coordinator, at 206-6245 or send an e-mail to speakerseries@uis.edu.

Reception honoring Caryl Moy

The Friends of Brookens Library will host a reception with Dr. Caryl Towsley Moy, SSU Professor Emerita of Child, Family, and Community Services

7 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 28, in the PAC Restaurant

to celebrate the publication of her new book, Naperville's Genevieve: A Daughter's Memoir.

For more information, contact the Development Office at 6-6058.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Depression screening day

Thursday, October 9

The Counseling Center and Campus Health Service will offer free depression screenings in HRB 64 (noon to 4 p.m.) and the LRH conference room (noon to 3 p.m.).
  • Written self-tests
  • Confidential screening interviews
  • Videos
  • Brochures
Symptoms of depression include: loss of interest in favorite activities; feeling sad, helpless, or worthless; changes in sleeping and eating habits; an inability to concentrate; fatigue and loss of energy; feeling irritable, tense, anxious, and restless; suffering unexplained aches and pains; and thoughts of death or suicide

For more information, call the Counseling Center at 6-7122

Friday, October 3, 2008

Renowned Flamenco dancer Jose Porcel coming to Sangamon Auditorium, UIS

The University of Illinois at Springfield will be hosting a performance by Compañía Flamenco José Porcel as part of the Visiting Artists Series on Thursday, October 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS. A pre-show discussion will take place prior to the performance at 6:45 p.m.

Direct from Spain, Porcel and his company of dancers represent the best in classic, traditional flamenco while melding contemporary styles and moves. The evening promises fiery footwork, brilliant costumes, evocative choreography, and music from an onstage ensemble of guitarists and vocalists.

A former principal with the National Ballet of Spain, Porcel has performed to wide acclaim and his music and dance spectacles display both creativity and the desire to challenge convention while honoring tradition. Spain's El Pais praised Porcel for the "stamp that differentiates him from the typical dancer, with his breadth and lean profile, his strong dramatic accent that helps him to command respect on the stage."

Tickets for this event are $37, 32 and 20. To order, visit the Sangamon Auditorium website, or call the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office at 217/206-6160 or toll free at 800-207-6960. Tickets can also be purchased in-person at the Ticket Office, which is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Individual tickets to all Visiting Artist Series and Family Events are on sale now, and tickets to Broadway shows go on sale approximately six weeks prior to each event. Patrons can receive a discount through the Create Your Own Series option by simply choosing at least five events from the Visiting Artists Series, Broadway Series, and Family Events at UIS. Call the Ticket Office for more information.

This presentation is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes a great nation deserves great art, with additional contributions from General Mills Foundation, Land O' Lakes Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council.

Sangamon Auditorium, UIS
Located on the campus of the University of Illinois at Springfield, the auditorium hosts more than 120 performances annually. Home to the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Springfield Ballet Company, it is the only auditorium of its kind and size in the Springfield area with a seating capacity of 2,018.

With a staff of 11 full-time employees, graduate assistants, more than 400 volunteers, ushers, and local stagehands, Sangamon Auditorium continues to fulfill its mission of presenting and supporting varied cultural and educational professional arts activities to the audiences in Springfield, Sangamon County, and the surrounding areas. The Auditorium administrative offices can be reached at 217/206-6150 or by e-mail at onstage@uis.edu.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Dedication ceremony

The campus community is invited to the dedication of a scholar tree and bench in memory of beloved UIS professor Lee Frost-Kumpf (at left), who served UIS from 1996 to 2003.

5 p.m., Monday, October 20, PAC lobby

See more remembrances of Lee, share your own memories, or contribute to the scholarship fund in his name.

UIS and WSEC Ambassador Series

The UIS and WSEC Ambassador Series presents a luncheon with Swiss Amabassador, His Excellency Urs Ziswiler

11:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 8, at the Prairie Heart Institute's Dove Conference Center, downtown Springfield

Upcoming programs are:
  • December 3 - His Excellency Roy Ferguson, ambassador from New Zealand
  • January 22 - His Excellency Welile Nhlapo, ambassador from South Africa
  • March 11 - His Excellency Oleh Shamshur, ambassador from Ukraine
  • Date TBD - His Excellency Wegger Christian Strommen, ambassador from Norway
The ambassadors will share business, economic, and political insights. A question-and-answer period will follow each presentation.

Cost: $860 for the series for a table of 8; $108 for the series, per person

For more information, contact Stacey Willenborg at 6-6058.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

UIS to host Campus Preview Day

The University of Illinois at Springfield will host a Campus Preview Day for prospective students and their families from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 18. The program will include an academic fair, campus tours, lunch, and greetings from Chancellor Richard Ringeisen and Provost Harry Berman.

For reservations or additional information, contact the UIS Office of Admissions -- phone (217) 206-4847 (toll-free 1-888-977-4847), e-mail admissions@uis.edu. For those unable to attend the regular session, individual visits can be arranged by contacting the Admissions Office.

The next Preview Day is scheduled for Saturday, November 8.

UIS to host address by expert in Constitutional and national security law

Was part of successful challenge to administration's use of military tribunals

"Lawyers, 'Lawfare,' the War on Terrorism, and the Rule of Law" is the topic of a program beginning at 7 p.m., Thursday, October 9, in Brookens Auditorium, lower level of Brookens Library at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The program and discussion session, as well as an informal reception immediately following, are free and open to the public.

The featured speaker will be attorney/professor Steve Vladeck (left), who was part of the legal team that successfully challenged the Bush administration's use of military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay. Vladeck will discuss what the rule of law should mean in the context of the war on terror, not just for lawyers on both sides of the issues, but for society as a whole.

Vladeck has also been a consultant and co-author for amicus briefs in a host of other cases arising out of the war on terror, and he is the author of reports on related topics for various organizations, including the ABA Standing Committee on National Security. He is currently an associate professor at Washington College of Law, American University, where his teaching focuses on Constitutional law, the federal courts, and national security law.

Vladeck's address is presented as part of the ECCE Speakers Series at UIS -- events that aim to exemplify engaged citizenship as part of the university's effort to foster appreciation for and practice of diversity and the active effort to make a difference in the world.

Upcoming ECCE programs for October include a screening and discussion of the documentary "What We Want, What We Believe" on October 13; the film "10 Questions for the Dalai Lama" on October 17; and a presentation by author/historian Roberta Senechal on October 23.

See the complete schedule of speakers and topics for the 2008 Fall Semester.

For more information about Vladeck's presentation or about any ECCE event, contact Kimberly Craig, series coordinator, at 206-6245 or send an e-mail to speakerseries@uis.edu.