Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Jump roping flash mob raises awareness for Kenyan orphanage



A jump roping flash mob turned heads during lunch at the University of Illinois Springfield’s Food Emporium on Tuesday, Dec. 14. It was all in an effort to raise awareness about Jump for Joel, a non-profit organization started by UIS student Shana Stine in 2005.

“We decided to do something a little different and a little unusual to celebrate Joel’s birthday,” said Stine.

Joel, who just turned 11-years-old, is an orphan at the Gathiga Children’s Hope Home in Kenya. The primary focus of Jump for Joel is to raise money for the orphanage of 120 children northwest of Nairobi. The group also finances a feeding program in the Kabiria slum of Nairobi.

“Joel is an orphan, HIV positive, but it doesn’t slow him down. He loves to jump rope and is very joyful, so that’s kind of why we named it Jump for Joel,” said Stine.

Stine was joined by a group of current and former UIS students to celebrate Joel’s birthday. Amelia Cheshire graduated from UIS in May and now serves as Administrative Director for Jump for Joel.

“Going to Kenya and meeting the kids for myself and just falling in love with them. They’ve changed my life as much as I’ve ever hoped to changed there’s and so that’s a huge reason why I continue to do this,” said Cheshire.

Every summer a group of UIS students travels to Kenya to volunteer and meet the orphans. Freshman biology major Amanda Cummins wants to make the trip next summer. Knowing the organization was started at UIS makes her feel like it’s possible to make a difference.

“I think it’s awesome that UIS students started this. I think it’s a great thing to show what we can do as students,” said Cummings.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Students stuff stockings for children at Inner City Mission in Springfield



A group of over 40 University of Illinois Springfield students spent their Friday night stuffing stockings in an effort to put a smile on children’s faces.

Members of the UIS Christian Student Fellowship have been collecting money from fellow students on campus to fill the stockings for the past three years. Donations will benefit 35 children at Inner City Mission in Springfield this year.

“They never really get stockings. They get presents sometimes, but they never get stockings, so stockings is something new,” said Amanda Wilczynski, a junior Computer Science major who helped coordinate the event.

The students raised more than $550 going door-to-door in townhouses and residence halls on campus.

“Normally we just get to fill stockings, but this year because of the generosity of the students we’re able to not only give them stockings, but give them bigger presents,” said Debra Tudor, a senior Social Work major.

Inner City Mission provides shelter, support, education and faith based counseling to homeless children, their parents and single women in the Springfield community.

Andrew Nicol, a junior Communication major, has volunteered regularly at the mission. He knows the difference the stockings will make in the children’s lives.

“I know that these kids actually look forward to this kind of thing. They understand that this is coming from students who normally couldn’t do this,” said Nicol.

Following the stocking stuffing, members of the Christian Student Fellowship hand delivered the gifts to the children at the Inner City Mission.

“They’ve never really felt love like this before, so I know for a fact they are going to know people at UIS truly care about them,” said Tudor.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Volunteers thanked for making Holiday Stars Project a success

The University of Illinois Springfield collected a record 9,612 pounds of food for the Central Illinois Foodbank as part of the 2010 Holiday Stars Project. That’s an increase from the 6,209 pounds collected last year.

Student, staff, and faculty volunteers gathered to hear the announcement of the final total during a celebration in the Public Affairs Center on Friday, December 3. The volunteers helped load a truck with the canned goods collected following the celebration.

UIS Chancellor Harry Berman thanked the volunteers for their efforts and dedication to service. He said the project shows the community that UIS cares.

In addition to collecting food on campus throughout the month of November, students also involve the community through the Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods competition. On Halloween night, seventeen student groups from UIS collected a record 8,354 pounds of food.

The UIS Holiday Stars Project, a campus-wide service initiative giving focus to UIS’ efforts to make a difference in the local community during the holiday season was started in 2008. The month-long food drive benefits foodbank clients in 21 central Illinois counties.

View more photos from the Holiday Stars volunteer event

Thursday, December 2, 2010

UIS Visual Arts Gallery holds benefit and auction

The Visual Arts Gallery at the University of Illinois Springfield will be holding its 2010 Benefit and Silent Auction December 7 through 9.

The annual auction offers a wide range of donated art from national and local artists and collectors. The items featured this year include photographs, original paintings, prints, and pottery from local and international artists including Chris Britt, Felicia Olin, and Ginny Lee.

There will be a reception to close the auction on Thursday, December 9 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Visual Arts Gallery. Bidding will end at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be provided, and the reception and exhibit are open and free to the public.

The event is sponsored by the Friends of the UIS Visual Arts Gallery, and all proceeds benefit future gallery programming.

The Visual Arts Gallery is located in room 201 of the Health and Sciences Building on the UIS campus. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The gallery will be open on December 9 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, go online to www.uis.edu/visualarts/ or contact the gallery by phone at 217/206-6506 or by e-mail at gallery@uis.edu.

Monday, November 22, 2010

First U.S. death row exoneree freed using post-conviction DNA testing to speak at UIS

WHAT: The UIS Downstate Illinois Innocence Project will host a presentation by Kirk Bloodsworth. He is the first death row Innocence Project exoneree in the United States that was freed using post-conviction DNA testing.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with a reception to follow.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library on the University of Illinois Springfield campus.

DETAILS: The appearance is being held in celebration of the receipt of the $687,448 U.S. Department of Justice Bloodsworth Grant, which was recently awarded to the UIS Downstate Innocence Project. The Project has formed a partnership with the University of Illinois College of Law and the Southern Illinois University Law School to conduct a review of and possible DNA testing in 30 downstate Illinois cases where DNA testing might decide the outcome.

Kirk Bloodsworth was exonerated using DNA testing for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Maryland. He spent 8 years in prison and two on death row before DNA testing proved his innocence. Bloodsworth was released from prison in June 1993 and pardoned in December 1993. The Innocence Protection Act of 2003 established the Kirk Bloodsworth Postconviction DNA Testing Program, which provides funding for testing under the act.

This event is sponsored by the Center for State Policy and Leadership, UIS Office of Student Affairs, College of Public Affairs and Administration, Chancellor’s Office, Office of Development, and Office of Undergraduate Education.

For more information contact Larry Golden at 217/553-7171 or email lgold1@uis.edu. More information about the Innocence Project can be found on their website at www.uis.edu/innocenceproject/.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Outstanding alumni honored at 2010 Alumni Awards Dinner



The University of Illinois Springfield Alumni Awards Dinner was held on Friday, November 12, 2010 in the Sangamon Auditorium lobby.

The University of Illinois Alumni Association hosted the annual event, which recognized and celebrated the achievement, distinguished service, humanitarianism and loyalty of UIS alumni.

“These are individuals that have rendered tremendous service to the campus and to the Alumni Association and they honor us by accepting these awards,” said Loren Taylor, U of I Alumni Association president.

Read more about the winners of this year’s awards and their accomplishments in a previous news release.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

The Big Read in Central Illinois is looking for your stories, poems, videos and artwork

Area libraries and cultural institutions participating in The Big Read in Central Illinois are sponsoring a community-wide contest that asks individuals to share a story, poem, video, or piece of artwork or mixed media that expresses the influence of music in their lives. The contest is inspired by Carson McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, the book selection for The Big Read in Central Illinois. Throughout history music has been a prominent outlet for the expression of personal identity. For the novel’s main character Mick Kelly, music is a dream and a refuge, and offers her hope for a better future.

The “Under the Influence: Music that Inspires Expression Contest” is open to individuals ages 13 and older. Contest entries will be accepted online through Friday, January 7, 2011 and will be narrowed down to the top 12 finalists by a panel of judges from the various libraries. Once the 12 finalists are selected, the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites. Finalists can direct friends and family to the contest website to vote for them. Public votes will determine the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place contest winners. Prizes include: 1st place – Flip Video camera; 2nd place – iPod Nano; and 3rd place – iPod Shuffle. All of the 12 finalists will be invited to the kickoff event for The Big Read in Central Illinois at the University of Illinois Springfield on February 15, 2011 to accept their prizes. Entries from the top 12 finalists will be on display at the event.

For contestants who would like to produce a video entry, four of the participating libraries have flip video cameras that can be checked out by library members. Interested individuals or groups should visit the official contest website and click on HOW TOS for further details: www.influencecontest.org.

If you are interested in publicizing this contest please refer to Press on the official contest website: www.influencecontest.org. A full list of events planned for The Big Read in Central Illinois throughout the months of February and March 2011 can be found on the Big Read website: www.neabigread.net. If you have any questions regarding the contest please contact Amanda Binder at University of Illinois Springfield at influencecontest@gmail.com.

The Big Read in Central Illinois is made possible by a grant issued to the Illinois State Library, a Division of the Office of the Secretary of State, by the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support for the contest is provided by a grant issued to the Illinois State Library by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Progam: ILEAD U (Illinois Libraries Explore, Apply and Discover).

Participating libraries in The Big Read in Central Illinois:

• Benedictine University, Becker Library
• Chatham Area Public Library
• Illinois Center for the Book
• Illinois State Library
• Illinois State Library Talking Book & Braille Service
• Jacksonville Public Library
• Lincoln Library, The Public Library of Springfield, Illinois
• Prairie Skies Public Library District
• Quiddity, International Literary Journal and Public-Radio Program
• Rochester Public Library
• Sherman Public Library District
• University of Illinois Springfield, Brookens Library
• Williamsville High School Library
• Williamsville Public Library

UIS community celebrates Veterans Day with flag raising ceremony



Students, faculty and staff at the University of Illinois Springfield celebrated Veterans Day on Thursday, November 11, 2010, with a flag raising ceremony in front of the Public Affairs Center.

UIS Veterans Resource Coordinator Cathleen Cassavant came up with the idea for the first of its kind ceremony with help from student service members.

“These people have worked so hard in their life and they need to be recognized,” said Cassavant. “I’m so excited. I want to do it every year.”

Senior Sociology/Anthropology major and President of the Military Veterans Student Organization Rebecca Johnson is a current member of the U.S. Navy reserves and served a 2-year tour of duty in Germany.

“It feels really good to be recognized. Even though we do have to be in school today they are still acknowledging veterans,” said Johnson.

Johnson hopes to raise awareness about the student organization with the help of fellow service members on campus.

Janet Wankum is a senior Business Administration and Management major who was deployed to Bahrain for four years before retiring from the Navy.

“We’re trying to grow. We want more and more students and we want more activities like this,” said Wankum.

For more information about services for veterans at UIS visit the Veterans Affairs website.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Students celebrate Sustainability Week 2010



Students at the University of Illinois Springfield are learning how to become environmentally friendly during the 3rd annual Sustainability Week (Nov. 8-13).

“What we’re trying to do this week is bring attention to those things that we do, which leave us worse off for tomorrow,” said Nate Keener, president of Students Allied for a Greener Earth (S.A.G.E.).

The Campus Senate Committee on Sustainability (SCS) as well as S.A.G.E. is hosting the educational week. Events include a recycled art contest, a bike-to-work day and interactive games geared towards teaching students about recycling, harmful chemicals and water use.

“There’s so many little tips and tricks that we can do and even though we are somewhat becoming more green there’s so much more we can do,” said Carol Schulte, an active member of S.A.G.E. and SCS.

Read more about Sustainability Week events in a previous news release.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Scholarship Luncheon brings students and donors together



The Office of Development at the University of Illinois Springfield hosted the 2010 Scholarship Luncheon on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 in the Sangamon Auditorium lobby.

The luncheon gave students a chance to meet the donors who provided the funding for their scholarships face-to-face. The event was also a great opportunity for students to network and make connections.

“I really enjoyed it because I got to see who the people are who gave me the scholarship,” said Cameryn Barbeau, a freshman scholarship recipient.

Associate Chancellor of Development Vicki Megginson says the number of scholarships available to UIS students have been growing, but there’s still a demand.

“We have more students in line who need help,” said Megginson.

For students like scholarship recipient Jordan Herd the extra support will help balance the financial demands of an education and raising a family.

“I have a little daughter, so it helps me because it allows me to be able to worry more with her and not be so focused on how I’m going to pay for school,” said Herd.

UIS Chancellor Harry Berman says with the rising cost of education and declining state funding support scholarships are becoming even more important.

“Scholarships can make the difference in a person’s life to make it possible for them to complete their bachelor’s degree and go onto have a wonderful future,” said Berman.

Speakers Series presents "Closing the Food Gap"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series and Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center presents “Closing the Food Gap” featuring author Mark Winne.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 5 p.m.

WHERE: Student Life Building (SLB) Gymnasium, located on the east side of the UIS legacy campus.

DETAILS: Winne is the author of Closing the Food Gap, which tells the story of how we get our food: from poor people at food pantries or bodegas and convenience stores to the more comfortable classes, who increasingly seek out organic and local products. Winne’s exploration starts in the 1960s, when domestic poverty was “rediscovered,” and shows how communities since that time have responded to malnutrition with a slew of strategies and methods. Winne also has a new book titled Food Rebels, Guerrilla Gardeners, and Smart Cookin' Mamas, which will be available for purchase at the event.

Winne was the Executive Director of the Hartford Food System, a private non-profit agency that works on food and hunger issues in the Hartford, Connecticut area from 1997 to 2003. He is a co-founder of a number of food and agriculture policy groups including the National Community Food Security Coalition. He currently writes, speaks, and consults extensively on community food system topics including hunger and food insecurity, local and regional agriculture, community food assessment and food policy.

For more information contact Kelly Thompson, director of the Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center at 217/206-8448 or email kthom03s@uis.edu.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Students spend their summer studying abroad in Peru



Eight students from the University of Illinois Springfield shared their experiences from a summer spent studying abroad in Perú during a brown bag presentation. The event was held on November 4, 2010 in the Public Affairs Center.

“Each time that a group of students gets to go on a study abroad experience they come back and share their experiences and that’s really important for students to hear it from other students,” said Craig Pelka, a Public Administration graduate major.

The students spent over a month abroad studying the Peruvian culture and history, completing 32 hours of Spanish immersion, and participating in a volunteer internship at one of the many local non-government organizations.

“Last year when we went we were only there for two weeks, so we only got a quick snap shot,” said Pelka. “Five weeks this year was still a snap shot, but we got to engage at a different level.”

The UIS delegation lived in Cusco, the former capitol of the Incan empire, and took part in many excursions to historical sites. Students trekked through the jungle, climbed the challenging Huanya Picchu mountain, explored and studied the 500 hundred year old World Heritage Site Machu Picchu, and navigated on Lake Titicaca – the world’s highest navigable lake sitting 12,500 feet above sea level.

“I don’t think there’s a study abroad at UIS quite like this one,” said Carol Schulte, a Communication gradate major. “I would definitely recommend this to anyone.”

The group was lead by UIS professor Veronica Espina. The group consisted of students Kimberly Bach, Cathy Caldwell, Kelsey Holt, Stanislaw Lipski, Molly Meinhardt, Craig Pelka, Carol Schulte and Andy Shaffer.

Political Art and the Public Sphere presents "Outrage" film screening and discussion

WHAT: The Political Art and the Public Sphere (PAPS) series presents a screening of the film Outrage followed by a discussion moderated by Jason Pierceson, associate professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at UIS.

WHEN: Monday, November 15, 2010 at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium on the lower level of Brookens Library at UIS

DETAILS: Outrage, directed by Kirby Dick, is a searing indictment of the hypocrisy of closeted politicians with anti-gay rights voting records, politicians who actively campaign against the LGBT community they covertly belong to. Boldly revealing the hidden lives of some of the United States’ most powerful policymakers, Outrage takes a comprehensive look at the harm they’ve inflicted on millions of Americans, and examines the media’s complicity in keeping their secrets.

Outrage probes deeply into the psychology of this double lifestyle, the ethics of outing closeted politicians, and the double standards that the media upholds in its coverage of the sex lives of gay public figures.

Jason Pierceson is the author of Courts, Liberalism, and Rights: Gay Law and Politics in the United States and Canada published by Temple University Press in 2005. He has also edited and contributed essays to two recently published books on same-sex marriage.

The PAPS series is a monthly event on the UIS campus featuring a showing or a performance of some kind of “political art,” followed by an hour or two of group discussion. Each of the three installments in the fall 2010 series aims to raise social and political questions related to gender and sexuality.

For more information contact Dr. Richard Gilman-Opalsky, professor of Political Philosophy at rgilm3@uis.edu or 217/206-8328.

Regional "Battle of the Brains" computer programming contest to be held at UIS

Local Information Technology Code Warriors Compete on Campus to Showcase Problem-Solving Skills at Regional Competition of IBM-sponsored Contest

WHAT: The powerhouse computer programming team from the University of Illinois Springfield and top collegiate programmers from surrounding areas will compete in an all-out “battle of the brains.”

WHO: Over 20 teams comprised from the University of Illinois Springfield, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Augustana College, Illinois College, Illinois State University, Knox College, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology will be participating.

WHEN: Saturday, November 6, 2010 from 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: University Hall Building (UHB) at UIS in the 2nd floor Cisco labs

DETAILS: Imagine completing a semester’s worth of computer programming in one afternoon. The IBM-sponsored ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest, the most prestigious computer programming competition of its kind, will include tens of thousands of university students during its preliminary rounds through December. One hundred teams from approximately 90 countries on six continents will earn coveted spots at the contest’s World Finals on March 3, 2011 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

The 35th annual Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) International Collegiate Programming Contest challenges teams of three university students to use their programming skills and rely on their mental endurance to solve complex, real world problems under a grueling five-hour deadline. For more information on previous contests, problem sets and last year’s final standings, please visit http://icpc.baylor.edu/icpc/. Also visit IBM’s contest page at www.ibm.com/university/acmcontest/ or the contest podcast series at battleofthebrains.podcast.com.

For more information about the event at UIS please contact Lucinda Caughey, Computer Science Instructor at 217/206-8336 or lcaug2@uis.edu.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

UI Alumni Association to honor five during UIS Alumni Awards Dinner

The University of Illinois Springfield Alumni Awards Dinner will be held on Friday, November 12, beginning at 6:00 p.m., at the Public Affairs Center Sangamon Auditorium Lobby on the UIS campus.

The University of Illinois Alumni Association hosts this annual event, which recognizes and celebrates the achievement, distinguished service, humanitarianism and loyalty of UIS alumni. The year’s dinner celebrates the 40th anniversary of the campus, and the program will include special remarks from University of Illinois President Michael Hogan.

Lin Ezell, ‘74, director of the National Museum of the Marine Corps will receive the Alumni Achievement Award. The award is the highest honor bestowed upon graduates of the University. It is given to those who have attained distinction and success in one’s profession or life work. Ezell graduated from UIS with a bachelor’s degree in English. She worked at NASA in Houston for 10 years, and then went on to work for the Smithsonian for 21 years before becoming the director of the new National Museum of the Marine Corps.

Janice Spears, Ph.D., ’73, M.A.'74, M.A.'81 will be honored with the Loyalty Award for Exceptional Alumni Service. The award is given to individuals who support the role of the Alumni Association, and give of themselves in support of their Alma Mater. Spears started volunteering at UIS after returning to Springfield. She helps welcome back students each fall at the Chancellor’s Picnic; has provided volunteer leadership to groups such as the CEHS Alumni Council and the UIS Alumni SAGE Society; and also volunteers time to WUIS’ “Alumni on the Air Day”. Spears, who graduated with degrees in sociology and anthropology and educational administration, was a school administrator for 16 years and an elementary school teacher, teaching all subjects to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.

Tim Schweizer, M.B.A. ’85 is also a recipient of the Loyalty Award for Exceptional Alumni Service. Many might recognize his name (and voice) from his work as a sports reporter for WFMB Sports Radio 1450 in Springfield. As an alumnus of UIS, he has served on the Campus Alumni Advisory Board for the Alumni Association, on the board of Friends of Brookens Library, and, when he has the opportunity, he helps with spring and fall membership campaigns at WUIS. Schweizer earned a master’s degree in business administration from SSU and the skills he learned in the program, particularly the writing skills, have served him throughout his career.

The Distinguished Service Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and service to the University. Dr. Judith Everson is the recipient of the 2010 Distinguished Service Award. She was a charter faculty member of SSU, and retired in 2001, after 31 years of fulltime teaching, but she remains active with the university community. She taught English, History and Public Speaking. Her activities include participating in the UIS Alumni SAGE Society, a group for alumni, friends and faculty of SSU/UIS over the age of 50. She currently works on the Lifelong Learning Committee of SAGE, which is responsible for organizing classes and lunch programs for alumni, faculty, and friends.

Francie Staggs, ’81, M.A. ’91 will receive the Alumni Humanitarian Award, which recognizes alumni who have made great contributions of leadership and service to improve the lives of others. Staggs has given a lot of her time to volunteering. Organizations she has volunteered for include the Springfield Overflow Shelter, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the Old State Capitol Foundation, the Elijah Iles House, and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, just to name a few. Staggs graduated from SSU/UIS with an undergraduate degree and master’s degree in history.

For more information on the Alumni Awards dinner and the award recipients, contact the Office of UIS Alumni Relations/UI Alumni Association at 217/206-7395 or alumni@uis.edu.

Alumni Magazine Freelance Writer & Managing Editor Shannon O'Brien contributed photos and information to this report.

UIS hosts Sustainability Week to raise environmental awareness on campus

The University of Illinois Springfield community is gearing up for the kick-off to the 3rd annual Sustainability Week. The Campus Senate Committee on Sustainability as well as Students Allied for a Greener Earth (S.A.G.E.) announced the line-up of activities for the weeklong initiative that will begin on Monday, November 8, and run until November 13.

“It’s going to be a great week, we are all very excited,” said Carol Schulte, an active member of both organizations.

Events are free and open to students, staff and faculty. They will be taking place both on and off the UIS campus throughout the week. Some of the activities include a recycled art contest, a bike-to-work day and a tour to a local recycling center and landfill site.

One of the more fun and educational activities will be a Wacky Wednesday Sustainability Student Challenge – interactive activities and games to foster environmental awareness and to get students excited about being green. There will be a ‘How much water/energy could be saved if…’ obstacle course, trivia games, and a ‘Toxic Household Cleaning Products’ match-up game – Price is Right style. For a complete list of Sustainability Week activities visit www.uis.edu/sustainability/.

Last year over 250 members of the UIS community took part in the week’s events. S.A.G.E. President Nate Keener hopes that number will increase at this year’s program, which has more events planned than ever before.

“Our main goal is to increase awareness. Students especially need to know how important and easy it is to be green,” Keener said.

Students Allied for a Greener Earth (S.A.G.E.) is a student-run volunteer organization that acts as a role model in promoting environmentally friendly practices on campus. In partnership with the Senate Committee for Sustainability (SCS) it creates and maintains effective recycling programs and provides leadership for sustainability issues. In 2008 it was awarded a $27,550 government grant by Opportunity Returns, a program dedicated to enhancing the state's recycling collection. With the help of SAGE and SCS, the University recycles 76 tons of material annually.

For more information on Sustainability Week contact Carol Schulte at 217/206-7687 or email cschu3@uis.edu.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Lunch and Learn Series focuses on "Our Financial Institutions and the Public Trust"

Join us for another thought-provoking educational luncheon on University of Illinois Springfield campus on Wednesday, November 17. These lunch-time programs, 40th Anniversary Timely Talk About Timeless Topics, held in the lobby of Sangamon Auditorium from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. will build upon our SSU heritage of open dialogue and intelligent debate. Designed to inform as well as stimulate creative thinking, a panel of faculty emeriti, current faculty and other experts will make brief presentations and engage in discussion among themselves and with the audience.

November 17 the topic is "Our Financial Institutions and the Public Trust". Dr. Ron McNeil, dean of the College of Business and Management will moderate a panel who include: Dennis Shaul, senior professional staff, Financial Services Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Roy Wehrle, UIS faculty emeritus of Economics, Bill Wheelhouse MA '99 PAA, general manager of public radio station WUIS and Amy Hagen MBA '02 CBM, market president, U.S. Bank Taylorville. They will engage in discussion as they discuss our financial institutions from an international, national, state and local perspective.

Reservations are available for a delicious hot buffet lunch that begins at 11:30 a.m. The cost for lunch is $20 per session. The presentations that begin at noon and end at 1:30 p.m. are free and open to the public. Pre-paid luncheon reservations are required by Friday, November 12. Pre-registration is requested from those not purchasing the lunch, but who wish to attend the presentations to assure seating. . For more information and to register, visit www.uiaa.org/uis/ or contact the Office of UIS Alumni Relations at 217/206-7395 or alumni@uis.edu. This program is part of the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers series at UIS. Sponsors are the UIS Alumni SAGE Society, the Illinois State Historical Society and the Office of UIS Chancellor.

UIS commissions musical work to celebrate its 40th anniversary

The University of Illinois Springfield Concert Band will premiere a new work, Song and Spirit by Professor William Davis, written expressly for the 40th Anniversary of Sangamon State University and the University of Illinois Springfield. The premiere will take place as part of the 40th Anniversary Showcase Concert on November 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sangamon Auditorium. The composer will be present. This event is in conjunction with the Annual Alumni Awards Dinner.

Davis was commissioned by the University of Illinois Springfield to write a commemorative piece of art music for wind band which musically portrays the synergetic energies developed on our campus over the past forty years. Song and Spirit is a ten plus minute concert work composed in an arch form with a spirited march at the apex of the form. This march is intended to be extractable as a school song, and a contest was held last month on campus to pen lyrics for and give a title to this new song extracted from Song and Spirit! This project was organized by UIS Music faculty Todd Cranson and supported by many on the UIS campus.

UIS currently has one official school song, the UIS Fight Song – Look to the Stars, by Phillip Snow. Mr. Snow was a student at UIS at the time he composed the music and lyrics. The newly commissioned piece of music will be an exciting addition to the musical legacy of the UIS campus.

The 40th Anniversary Showcase Concert will also feature the UIS Chorus, directed by Melinda Pitt Kaye, and the Chamber Orchestra. A slide show set to live music from our campus’ past will open the second half of the program and culminate with the premiere of Song and Spirit. The first half of the program will feature other works by Davis, including a solo with band featuring Todd Cranson on tuba and the composer conducting, as well as compositions by Antonio Vivaldi, John Philip Sousa, and a set of holiday favorites!

For more information about Song and Spirit, the 40th Anniversary Showcase Concert contact UIS Music via their website, www.uis.edu/music, or call 217/206-6240. For more information about the Alumni Awards Dinner, contact the UIS Alumni Association via their website, www.uiaa.org/uis, or call 217/206-7395.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER OF SONG AND SPIRIT:

William Davis is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia, having taught in UGA's Hugh Hodgson School of Music from 1981 to 2009. His teaching fields included music composition, theory, and bassoon, and he also served as Associate Director of the School from 2003 to 2009.

He earned Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees at the University of Kansas, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music. His composition teachers have been John Pozdro, Samuel Adler, and Warren Benson, and he studied bassoon with Austin Ledwith and David Van Hoesen. His published compositions include works for soloists, chamber ensembles, chorus, and symphonic band. His orchestral works have been performed by the Toronto Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and other orchestras. He has performed solos and chamber music in the United States, Europe, and South America, and he is featured as composer and performer on numerous commercial compact discs.

Prior to his service at the University of Georgia, he was an Army Band Officer, a bassoonist in the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, and a faculty member at West Texas State University. He has served in several officer positions in the International Double Reed Society, as President of the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, and as President of the Southeastern Composers League. In 2006 he received the Albert Christ-Janer Award for Creative Research from the University of Georgia.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

UIS kicks off Holiday Stars Project with Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods

The Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center at the University of Illinois Springfield will sponsor a Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods competition to collect the most canned goods on Halloween, Sunday, October 31.

The event is part of the 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 6,000 of pounds of food for the Central Illinois Foodbank by December 3, 2010.

“Over the past two years, thanks to help from the local community, UIS students, faculty and staff have been able to collect over five tons of food for the Central Illinois Foodbank. We greatly appreciate the community’s support with this project,” said Kelly Thompson, director of the UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center.

Twenty teams of UIS students who registered for the Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods drive have been assigned to neighborhoods where they will collect non-perishable food items. The teams have already canvassed the neighborhoods in advance, distributing door hangers 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 returned & weighed that evening at the University of Illinois Springfield, and prizes will be awarded to teams that bring in the most pounds of food.

The Holiday Stars Project continues through November, when specially marked collection bins will be placed around the UIS campus. Everything collected during the project will be presented to the Foodbank on Friday, December 3, 2010.

The 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. More information is available at www.centralilfoodbank.org.

For more information about the UIS Holiday Stars Project, contact Kelly Thompson, director of the UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center, at 217/206-8448, or go to www.uis.edu/holidaystars.

Monday, October 25, 2010

UIS volleyball team to hold "Pink Out" game



The UIS Women’s Volleyball Team will be hosting a “Pink Game” on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 7 p.m. against Robert Morris University Springfield. The volleyball team will be selling T-shirts for $12 and all proceeds will be donated to breast cancer awareness. Anyone that purchases and wears the pink T-shirt will be allowed free admission to the October 26 match.

Come support a great cause and watch an exciting match! Let’s Pack the Place in Pink! Anyone wishing to purchase a T-shirt – please see a UIS Volleyball Player or Coach Riggle.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Speakers Series presents "1970: What We Were Reading"

WHAT: In celebration of the University of Illinois Springfield’s 40th anniversary the Friends of Brookens Library and the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “1970: What We Were Reading”. The panel discussion will feature UIS Emeritus faculty members Cullom Davis, Judy Everson and Marcellus Leonard.

WHEN: Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: The year 1970 was a banner year for American publishing—books that would help to shape the consciousness of an entire generation were published that year and are still being read and discussed. Our panel of distinguished UIS emeritus professors have chosen to reflect on three important books from that year: Studs Terkel’s Hard Times, an oral history of the Great Depression; Kurt Vonnegut’s absurdist classic Slaughterhouse Five; and Maya Angelou’s moving memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the first book by a black woman to appear on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list.

The discussion will be moderated by Cecelia Cornell, associate professor of History at UIS. Friends of Brookens Library will be sponsoring a dessert reception after the book panel discussion in the PAC Restaurant.

The ECCE Speakers Series at UIS is a campus-sponsored lecture series that aims to exemplify engaged citizenship as part of the university’s effort to foster appreciation for the practice of diversity and the active effort to make a difference in the world. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information contact Marcia Rossi, library administration at 217/206-6597 or email Rossi.Marcia@uis.edu.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

UIS Career Development Center presents "Networking: Connecting for Success"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Career Development Center will host a networking event designed to bring UIS students, faculty, alumni and business partners together to network with each other.

WHEN: Monday, October 25, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. with registration beginning at 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Sangamon Auditorium Lobby, located on the 2nd floor of the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus.

DETAILS: Keeping alumni and business partners connected to UIS offers “real world experience” and mentoring for students looking to secure jobs and opportunities once they’ve completed their academic career. The event is open to UIS students, faculty, alumni and business partners. Registration before the event is encouraged.

In honor of the 40th anniversary of UIS, crews will also be taping thoughts and recollections of SSU/UIS “connections and experiences”. Interviews will be simple and last from 5-7 minutes and be filmed in the TV studio. Alumni, recent graduates, and business partners are welcome to participate. The interviews will take place between 5:45 and 7:55 p.m.

For more information on how to register visit www.uis.edu/careerservices/events/40th.html

For questions, e-mail Rachel Hasenyager employerrelations@uis.edu or call the Career Development Center at 217/206-6508.

UIS Visual Arts Gallery presents "Object Code"

Object Code, an exhibition of new works relating to digital culture by artist Mike Miller, opens at the University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery on November 4 and continues through December 1, 2010. The gallery will hold a reception for the artist on Thursday, November 4 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. Miller will also give a lecture about the exhibit and other work completed during his 2009 sabbatical leave on Wednesday, November 10, from 12-1 p.m. at the UIS campus, Public Affairs Center, Conference Room C/D. Both events are free and open to the public.

With references to programming, search engines, social media, and the human genome, Object Code questions the operations and products of the digital revolution. The exhibition brings together a variety of elements from the current digital culture in an effort to question what human beings want and need from technology. Miller investigates computer language in a number of works, pointing out the transformative yet subliminal role it plays in our lives. Genetic research and social media are also considered in a large installation that includes a re-creation of a Facebook page measuring sixteen feet. The exhibition employs a hybrid mixture of analog and electronic processes including painting, etching, laser-cutting, CNC modeling, and screen printing to question notions of utopia, progress, and the infallibility of science in contemporary culture.

“In Computer Science, the object code is the deepest level of computer code, that which is read by the computer’s processor and actually performs the desired calculation or function,” said Miller. “The purpose of this exhibit is to encourage personal reflection about the impact of digitization on our culture, and to consider the changes that have occurred in our patterns of living.”

Miller is associate professor of Visual Arts at the University of Illinois Springfield. He received his M.F.A from the University of Michigan, and B.F.A. from Texas Christian University. Recent exhibitions include the Illinois State Museum, Chicago, IL; Zentral Bibliothek, Zurich, Switzerland; and the White Stag Block Building, Portland, OR. He is a Fulbright Scholar and the recipient of numerous residencies and grants.

The Visual Arts Gallery is located in the Health and Science Building (HSB 201). Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information contact Ken Pease, UIS Visual Arts Gallery Preparator at 217/206-6506 or email gallery@uis.edu.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Students to share amazing experiences from their Study Abroad in Peru

Eight dedicated students from University of Illinois Springfield will share their experiences from their Summer study abroad program in Peru on Nov. 4, 2010. The brown bag presentation and photo exhibit will take place at noon, in PAC Conference Room F on the UIS campus. UIS students, staff, faculty and community members are encouraged to attend this free presentation.

"Traveling to Peru this past summer was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Craig Pelka, one of the students who spent over a month abroad studying the Peruvian culture and history, completing 32 hours of Spanish immersion, and participating in a volunteer internship at one of the many local non-government organizations.

The UIS delegation lived in Cusco, the former capitol of the Incan empire, and took part in many excursions to historical sites. Students trekked through the jungle, climbed the challenging Huanya Picchu mountain, explored and studied the 500 hundred year old World Heritage Site Machu Picchu, and navigated on Lake Titicaca – the world’s highest navigable lake sitting 12,500 feet above sea level. They also participated in local festivals and parades (sporting traditional costume!) including Inti Rami, the Festival of the Sun God.

A language course also fulfilling an Engaged Citizen Community Experience (ECCE) requirement, this Perú Study Abroad was being offered for the second year in a row under the instruction of UIS professor Veronica Espina. “This course is very special to me,” she said. “There has never been such an extensive and truly experiential learning short term study abroad course in South America that allows our students to stay 35 days abroad, intern in Spanish speaking organizations, and travel to World Heritage Sites!”

The group consisted of students Kimberly Bach, Cathy Caldwell, Kelsey Holt, Stanislaw Lipski, Molly Meinhardt, Craig Pelka, Carol Schulte, and Andy Shaffer. The enthusiastic bunch will be eager to share their stories of battling soroche (altitude sickness), eating the local delicacy cuy (guinea pig!), and relying on the magical healing powers of the coca leaf on Nov. 4. “I don't think I could put into words how much this trip has changed me,” said Kelesy Holt. This year’s Brown Bag presentation is sure to be a huge success.

For more information contact Carol Schulte at 217/206-7686 or email cschu3@uis.edu.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

UIS hosts Illinois Intramural-Recreational Sports Association Conference



The University of Illinois Springfield is welcoming intramural and recreational sports staff from 12 different Illinois colleges and universities to campus.

It’s the first time UIS has hosted an Illinois Intramural-Recreational Sports Association Conference. The conference is designed to give professionals a chance to network with one another and talk about issues they have in common.

“Everyone will have their own experience and their own opinion and it’s good to gather that information because you’re not always going to have all the answers,” said Matt Panich, UIS Recreational Sports assistant director for facility and member services.

Conference topics centered on developing leadership skills, creating customer service models for reaction staff and included a round table discussion for new professionals entering the field.

Participants also learned what it takes to “go green” with tours of Springfield’s energy efficient Southwind Park & Erin’s Pavilion.

“This year we’re talking about green initiatives and sustainability. You never even would have heard that term 10 years ago,” said Kristin Duitsman, assistant director of facilities for Campus Recreation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The two-day conference concludes on Friday, October 15 with sessions on “Engaging Sport Clubs in the Community” and “Get’em Oriented. Giving your staff the vitals”.

For more information on the Illinois Intramural-Recreational Sports Association Conference visit their website.

Faculty Scholarship Recognition Luncheon 2010



University of Illinois Springfield faculty were honored for their teaching and scholarly research during the annual Faculty Scholarship Recognition Luncheon. The ceremony was held on October 13, 2010, in the Public Affairs Center.

“The quality of the faculty in whatever way we measure is just incredible. It’s not accidental that we’re being noticed. It’s not accidental that we’re winning awards,” said UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen.

The University of Illinois’ highest honor, the University Scholar award, was presented to Professor Christopher Z. Mooney during the luncheon. Mooney is a professor in the Political Science Department and The Institute of Government and Public Affairs.

“This is a place where people very much understand and appreciate those of us who study politics in the states,” said Mooney. “The students understand in their bones the importance of state government.”

Mooney was awarded a plaque and $30,000, as University Scholar to be spent over the next 3 years to advance his teaching, research and scholarship.

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Harry Berman lead a presentation that highlighted faculty research efforts on campus to close the luncheon. He thanked the faculty for their excellent work and service to the university.

Watch a previous video of Mooney being honored by his peers at the State Politics and Policy Conference.

Contest to write lyrics for new UIS school song


The University of Illinois Springfield music program is sponsoring a campus-wide contest to write lyrics for a new school song.

Entries should include no more than two verses and must include a title. All winning entries will be published as verses to the song. The deadline to submit entries is Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Complete contest materials are available online at www.uis.edu/music. One lucky lyricist will have their lyrics performed and recorded on a 40th Anniversary CD by the UIS Band and Chorus. Winners will be announced before the premiere performance at the 40th Anniversary Showcase Concert which begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 12, 2010 in the Sangamon Auditorium. Admission to the concert is free and open to the public.

Dr. William Davis, professor emeritus at the University of Georgia has been commissioned as part of UIS’ 40th anniversary to write the song titled Song and Spirit. The march is a 10 plus minute song that will be performed at various events on campus. Davis is the composer of other fight songs including the University of Kansas’ fight song, Fighting Jayhawk. This project was organized by UIS Music faculty Todd Cranson, supported by many on the UIS campus, and generously backed by Chancellor Richard Ringeisen.

UIS currently has one official school song, the UIS Fight Song – Look to the Stars, by Phillip Snow. Snow was a student at UIS at the time he composed the music and lyrics. The newly commissioned piece of music will be an exciting addition to the musical legacy of the UIS campus.

For more information contact Todd Cranson, UIS band director at 217/206-7549 or email rcran2@uis.edu.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Students celebrate National Coming Out Day



Students, faculty and staff at the University of Illinois Springfield are showing their support for members of the LGBTQ community.

A National Coming Out Day celebration was held on the UIS quad on October 11. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning participants used a door on stage to literally “come out of the closet.” They shared their stories about how they came out to their families and problems they’ve encountered.

“The symbol of the door is we’re fighting for equal rights,” said William Kipp, junior Liberal Studies major.

National Coming Out Day was started in 1987 as a day to support gay rights and support each other.

“I feel very, very passionately about equal rights for gays and lesbians and people of various sexual orientations,” said Kari Bedford, senior Communication major.

Kipp had a parent who worked at Brookens Library on the UIS campus. He grew up without the support of his family and the campus, but now feels things have changed.

“Since they’ve opened up Founders Hall and Lincoln Residence Hall and all the new townhouses and brought a larger population onto the campus it’s become open and more friendly,” he said.

The university recently hired its first LGBTQ Resource Office Director and students agree progress is being made.

“It’s a good environment. I feel like there’s a lot happening on campus. It’s a very active campus with the gay and lesbian community,” said Bedford.

National Coming Out activities continue through Friday, October 15th on the UIS campus. Visit the LGBTQ Resource Office for a complete list of events.

New York Times bestselling Lincoln author to discuss new book at UIS

WHAT: Author James L. Swanson will speak about his new book Bloody Crimes: The Chase for Jefferson Davis and the Death Pageant for Lincoln 's Corpse. The discussion will be hosted by Dr. Michael Burlingame, Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS.

WHEN: Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 8 p.m.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: In Bloody Crimes, James L. Swanson the Edgar Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of Manhunt - brings to life two epic events of the Civil War era: the thrilling chase to apprehend Confederate president Jefferson Davis in the wake of the Lincoln assassination and the momentous 20 -day funeral that took Abraham Lincoln’s body home to Springfield. A true tale full of fascinating twists and turns, and lavishly illustrated with dozens of rare historical images - some never before seen - Bloody Crimes is a fascinating companion to Swanson’s Manhunt and a riveting true-crime thriller that will electrify civil war buffs, general readers, and everyone in between.

Swanson has degrees in history from the University of Chicago, where he was a student of John Hope Franklin, and law from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has held a number of government and think-tank posts in Washington, D.C., including at the United States Department of Justice. He serves on the advisory council of the Ford’s Theatre Society.

His other books include the acclaimed photographic history Lincoln’s Assassins: Their Trial and Execution, as well as Chasing Lincoln’s Killer. James L. Swanson was born on Lincoln’s birthday.

For more information contact Dr. Michael Burlingame at mburl2@uis.edu. This event is free and open to the public.

Monday, October 11, 2010

UIS 40th Anniversary Lunch and Learn Series

Join us for another thought-provoking educational luncheon on the University of Illinois Springfield campus on Wednesday, October 20. These lunch-time programs, 40th Anniversary Timely Talk About Timeless Topics, held in the lobby of Sangamon Auditorium from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. will build upon our SSU heritage of open dialogue and intelligent debate. Designed to inform as well as stimulate creative thinking, a panel of faculty emeriti, current faculty and other experts will make brief presentations and engage in discussion among themselves and with the audience.

October 20 the topic is the printed word as William Furry, Director of the Illinois State Historical Society and Dr. Larry Shiner, emeritus professor of Philosophy, History and Visual Arts at UIS moderate a panel on “Our Digital Age: The Future of Books, Newspapers and Libraries”. Other participants include Jane Treadwell, Dean of Brookens Library and alumnus Scott Reeder MA ’88 PAR, Managing Editor for the Illinois Statehouse News, an online news service in Springfield. The series will conclude on November 17 with the topic of the economy as UIS College of Business and Management Dean Ron McNeil moderates a panel on “Financial Institutions and the Public Trust”.

Reservations are available for a delicious hot buffet lunch that begins at 11:30 a.m. The cost for lunch is $20 per session. The presentations that begin at 12 and end at 1:30 p.m. are free and open to the public. To sit near the front and enjoy the camaraderie at the tables we hope you will join us for lunch.

Pre-paid luncheon reservations are required by Friday, October 15. Pre-registration is requested from those not purchasing the lunch, but who wish to attend the presentations to assure seating. For more information and to register, visit www.uiaa.org/uis/ or contact the Office of UIS Alumni Relations at 217/206-7395 or alumni@uis.edu. Sponsors are the UIS Alumni SAGE Society, the Illinois State Historical Society and the Office of UIS Chancellor.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Donor tags attached to items around campus as part of Foundation Week



During the week of October 10-16, the Office of Development will be displaying tags around campus on 300 items given to UIS by donors. These gifts include scientific equipment, artwork, memorial benches and many other items.

Even students who receive scholarship assistance will have tags on their backpacks, which read, “My load is lighter because of my UIS scholarship”.

“I have been out of school for quite some period of time and raising a family, so it definitely helps,” said Kari Thevenot, a junior transfer student who relies on a scholarship.

The week is being called Foundation Week to promote and celebrate the importance of private giving and philanthropy and to highlight the relationship between the University of Illinois Foundation and UIS.

“Its purpose will be to educate our alumni, our students and our friends,” said Vicki Megginson, associate chancellor for development.

Last year alone, over 2,000 UIS alumni made an annual fund donation to UIS. Their gifts totaled over $375,600 often in the form of gifts to honor former faculty members or another person who enhanced their experience at UIS.

Private support extends beyond alumni as well. Last year, private gifts to UIS total more than $3.2 million dollars.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Political Art and the Public Sphere presents Boy I Am film screening and discussion

WHAT: The Political Art and the Public Sphere (PAPS) series presents a screening of the film Boy I Am followed by a discussion moderated by Mike Murphy, UIS assistant professor in Women and Gender Studies.

WHEN: Monday, October 18, 2010 at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium on the lower level of Brookens Library at UIS

DETAILS: Boy I Am explores the plight of women struggling with their gender identity as they encounter adversity from both heterosexual society and the lesbian community. Some lesbians, for example, view female-to-male transitioning as anti-feminist, or as a “trend” that takes advantage of male privilege.

Boy I Am is a feature-length documentary that aims to promote dialogue about transgender issues through a look at the experiences of three young transitioning people in New York City. The film not only includes their stories, but also the voices of lesbians, activists, and theorists who raise and address questions that many have but few openly discuss.

Dr. Murphy’s research and teaching interests include feminist approaches to visual and popular culture, critical men’s and masculinity studies, LGBTQ Studies/Queer theory and rape and sexual assault prevention programs.

The PAPS series is a monthly event on the UIS campus featuring a showing or a performance of some kind of “political art,” followed by an hour or two of group discussion. Each of the three installments in the fall 2010 series aims to raise social and political questions related to gender and sexuality.

For more information contact Dr. Richard Gilman-Opalsky, professor of Political Philosophy at rgilm3@uis.edu or 217/206-8328.

Speakers Series presents "Native American Women: Ethnography and Survival"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “Native American Women: Ethnography and Survival” featuring Deborah Miranda, associate professor of English at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 2 p.m.

(The event will be available a few days after the event on video on demand at www.uis.edu/its/iss/webcasting.html)

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: Miranda's talk will address the issues of literacy, violence, history, religion and power structure as they are related to Native American women. Her research on Isabel Meadows' engagement in a creative use of white, male-dominated liberacy to empower her indigenous, female community is of importance in gender studies, religious history as well as ethnic studies. Through an interdisciplinary approach (anthropological, literary, sociological, and historical) to Meadow's narrative, this talk reveals the gendered violence that hundreds of Native American women would survive.

The ECCE Speakers Series at UIS is a campus-sponsored lecture series that aims to exemplify engaged citizenship as part of the university’s effort to foster appreciation for the practice of diversity and the active effort to make a difference in the world. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information and a list of other speakers series events visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries or contact Kimberly Craig at 217/206-6245 or craig.kimberly@uis.edu.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Mashed Potato Sculpting a tradition at UIS Homecoming



UIS students rolled up their sleeves and got messy during one of the first events celebrating Homecoming 2010.

Mashed Potato Sculpting is a tradition that was started 3 years ago by Assistant Director of Student Life Beth Hoag. Students used food coloring, glitter, wiggly eyes and much more to pull off their creations.

“At first I was a little apprehensive. I was like touching these wouldn’t be fun, but its actually not that bad. It’s kind of just like a giant ball of play doh,” said Emily Newcomb, a sophomore at UIS.

It takes 25 pounds of mashed potatoes to pull off the sculpting and students added flour to make them “extra stiff”.

“It’s just messy and you’re not really use to sculpting with food,” said Randy Knuppel, a senior accounting & business major.

The spud creations were judged based on creativity and students got extra points for basing their creation on the Homecoming theme “Where Stars are Born”. The winner of the contest was rewarded with a $50 gift card.

For a full list of Homecoming events visit the Student Life website

UIS theatre presents The Heidi Chronicles


The Theatre Program at the University of Illinois Springfield will debut its 2010-11 season with the play The Heidi Chronicles by Wendy Wasserstein, opening Friday, October 22. Six performances will be presented in the Studio Theatre, on the lower level of the Public Affairs Center at UIS - on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, October 22, 23, and 24, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, October 28, 29, and 30. All shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. except the Sunday performance (October 24), which will begin at 2 p.m.

Winner of the 1989 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award, The Heidi Chronicles humorously and poignantly traces Heidi Holland’s coming of age from the late ‘60s to the late ‘80s—mirroring a generation’s trek through various political and social movements, most notably the evolution of the women’s movement. Through thought-provoking and often funny vignettes, Heidi, an intelligent, educated woman, struggles to find her place in a male-dominated world, surrounded by various women who are navigating the same challenging terrain.

Nine actors are playing various roles in the production. The cast includes UIS alumna Ashley Warren playing the role of Heidi; community member Cassie Poe as Susan; student Ben Beams as Scoop; student Jason Youngberg as Peter; student Jennica Danner playing the roles of Fran, Lisa, and April; student Diana Sahagun as Jill, Debbie, and Denise; student Karina Diaz playing Becky, Clara, Molly, and Betsy; student Matt Dobill playing Chris, Mark, and Waiter; and student Tommy Caldwell in the roles of Steve and Ray.

UIS Assistant Professor of Theatre Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson directs this play by the late icon of American theatre, Wendy Wasserstein.

Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens (65 or older with a picture I.D.), $8 for UIS Faculty/Staff and $6 for UIS students with a valid i-card*. Tickets are now available at the Sangamon Auditorium 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. *Please note that a $2 Sangamon Auditorium “Stage Operating Surcharge” is added to all tickets purchased, and for mail and phone purchases, an additional $4 service fee is added. On-line tickets are assessed a convenience fee by Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office based on ticket price.

For more information on the upcoming theatre season contact Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson at 217/206-8307 or email mthom1@uis.edu.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Wepner Symposium on the Lincoln Legacy and Contemporary Political Science

The University of Illinois Springfield Political Science Department presents the inaugural Wepner Symposium on the Lincoln Legacy and Contemporary Political Science, to be held October 8-9, 2010.

The symposium is designed to provide an opportunity for political scientists to present recent research related to the Lincoln legacy, to relate such work to the broader discipline of political science and to discuss the broad range of Lincoln studies. The event will also welcome K-12 educators from Springfield, who teach classes in history and government. All events are free and open to the general public, with the exception of the Friday night dinner.

Events begin on Friday, October 8 in Conference Room D of the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus. The first session focuses on “Thinking About Lincoln: The Ownership and Interpretation of Abraham Lincoln”, which runs from 8:10 to 9:20 a.m. The discussion will feature Tim Miller, associate professor of Political Science at UIS; Kristina Stevens of Old Dominion University; and Stephen Skowronek of Yale University.

The second session of the day addresses “Presidents and the Challenge of Maintaining the Union”, which runs from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The discussion will be lead by Fred I. Greenstein, an Emeritus professor from Princeton University; David Robertson of the University of Missouri St. Louis; and Bert A. Rockman, head of the Purdue University Political Science Department.

“Presidents and Military Command” will be the focus of the third session of the day from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. The panel will discuss the explicit and implicit bargaining and command relationships between the Chief Executive and the general officers through the exercise of command over the military. The panel includes Pinky Wassenberg, dean of the UIS College of Public Affairs and Administration; Vice Adm. Ronald Thunman, United States Navy, retired; and Richard Sobel of Northwestern University.

Following lunch, the topic turns to “The Lincoln Legacy and the Problem of Exclusion and Inclusion” from 12:30 to 1:40 p.m. Janet Martin of Bowdoin College; Jason Pierceson chair of the UIS Political Science Department; and Adrianna M. Crocker, assistant professor of Political Science at UIS will be the featured speakers during this panel.

“The Lincoln Legacy and the How Institutions Have Been Adapted” will be discussed from 1:40 to 2:55 p.m. The panel looks at how the Lincoln legacy may be evaluated in reference to the capacity of American government, after Lincoln, to deal with critical problems of adaptation. Rich Valelly of Swarthmore College, Lenneal Henderson of the University of Baltimore and Shamira Gelbman of Illinois State University will discuss the topic.

The day of sessions concludes with a discussion on “Lincoln and Obama” from 3 to 4 p.m., which explores how “the people” have seen two distinctive persons in the Presidency. The discussion will be led by Joe Lowndes of the University of Oregon; Wilbur Rich, emeritus professor at Wellesley University; James W. Ingram III of San Diego State University; and Shoon Lio, UIS assistant professor of Sociology & Anthropology.

A dinner for registered participants will be held at the Sangamo Club starting at 6:30 p.m. and will feature Peyton McCrary of the U.S. Department of Justice.

On Saturday, October 9, 2010, two sessions will be taking place. The first, “Lincoln Studies and Political Science: What should scholarship now take up?” will be held from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. This round table discussion will feature Mildred Robinson of the University of Virginia Law School; Bert A. Rockman of Purdue University; David Robertson of the University of Missouri St. Louis Thomas Schneider of Boston University; and Thomas Schwartz, the Illinois State Historian.

The symposium moves to the Hall of Representatives at the Old State Capitol from 10:15 to Noon with “What Shall We teach the Young?”: A Forum on the Lincoln legacy, Political Science, and K-12 Social Studies. This session will give participants an opportunity to discuss what there is to be taught and learned on the Lincoln legacy in middle school and high school social studies. The keynote speaker will be Rogers S. Smith, a Springfield native and professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Wepner Symposium is made possible through the cooperation of the Abraham Lincoln Association, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Old State Capitol Site, the Lincoln Home, Looking for Lincoln and the Lincoln National Heritage Area.

For more information on the event contact Dr. Matthew Holden, Jr., Wepner Distinguished Professor in Political Science at 217/206-8519 email mhold3@uis.edu.