Monday, December 9, 2013

Businesses and organizations invited to the Springfield Collegiate Career Fair at UIS

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to register now for booth space at the 2014 Springfield Collegiate Career Fair at the University of Illinois Springfield. The fair will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2014 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on the UIS campus.

The fair is an annual event hosted by the career development offices at the University of Illinois Springfield, Benedictine University at Springfield, Robert Morris University, Lincoln Land Community College, and ITT Technical Institute.

The Springfield Collegiate Career Fair is intended to bring students from all five institutions, local employers, and organizations together to discuss career opportunities in a broad range of available positions. Businesses who are recruiting students and alumni to fill part-time jobs, internships, volunteer and full-time career opportunities are invited to participate in the fair. The event has an average attendance of more than 400 students and alumni.

Every year this event boasts more than 100 employers who come from across the nation as well as Springfield. There are only a few Premier Exhibition options for premium booth placement left. Although employers and agencies must register for space by February 13, 2014 at 5 p.m., placement is on a first-come, first-served basis. It is highly encouraged for employers and recruiters to register as soon as possible.

Employers can register for the Springfield Collegiate Career Fair by visiting the UIS Career Development Center’s online system called “CareerConnect” at www.uis.edu/career/. Click on the “Employers: Login here” option to get started.

The Springfield Collegiate Career fair is sponsored by the UIS College of Education and Human Services, Novanis and Epic.

For more information or if you have questions about registration, contact the UIS Career Development Center at 217-206-6508 or employerrelations@uis.edu.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

UIS Visual Arts Gallery hosts annual Silent Auction Benefit featuring original works of art

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery will hold its annual Silent Auction Benefit from December 2-12, 2013. This year, the auction boasts a wide range of high caliber works by artists from Springfield, throughout Illinois, and beyond. A closing reception, along with final bidding, will take place on December 12 from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Visual Arts Gallery.

This annual fundraising event will feature an extraordinary range of work by artists who are celebrated locally and nationally. Artists Chris Britt, Mike Miller, Shane Harris, Felicia Olin, Thom Whalen, Kevin Veara, and Betsy Dollar are among the list of local artist donors. The list goes on to include Bloomington artists Erin Hayden and Mel Cook, Peoria artists Bill Conger and Ann Coulter, and Decatur artists Lyle Salmi and Molly Hesie. We also extend beyond the region, offering works from Chicago-based artist Dawn Gettler, Brooklyn-based artist Victoria Calabro, and Minnesota artist Liz Miller, among others.

This remarkable collection of donated works is accessible to the community through this annual Silent Auction Benefit, which supports gallery programming throughout the year.

“We work to bring in artists that have strong reputations and can offer original works. It’s always encouraging to see how artists, especially in our local community, donate their own work to support visual arts in Springfield,” said Jeff Robinson, UIS Visual Arts Gallery Director. “Now we look to the broader community for continued support through bidding. It’s likely one of the best opportunities to obtain an original work of art or even a functional, unique holiday gift, and very likely at a significantly reduced price. This auction is a chance for anyone to acquire a unique work of art and, at the same time, support programming here at the Visual Arts Gallery.”

The Silent Auction Benefit will launch bidding at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery on Monday, December 2, and bidding will remain open through Thursday, December 12. A December 12 reception, scheduled from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., will include complimentary refreshments as well as offer final bidding for auction items. This event is free and open to the public. The UIS Music Camerata will also be performing.

The UIS Visual Arts Gallery is centrally located on the UIS campus in the Health and Science Building, room 201 (HSB 201). Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on exhibitions, please visit the UIS Visual Arts Gallery website at www.uis.edu/visualarts/gallery, or contact the gallery by phone at 217/206-6506 or email Allison Lacher at alach3@uis.edu.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

UIS Music Program presents Fall Showcase Concert

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Music Program presents its annual Fall Showcase Concert featuring performances by the UIS chorus, chamber orchestra, and band. The performance is free and open to the public.

WHEN: Friday, December 6, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Sangamon Auditorium, UIS

DETAILS: The event will feature a wide array of music with many pieces including traditional Italian, Chinese and Irish songs, as well as Holiday music. Highlights include Steve Reinecke’s “The Witch and the Saint”, a traditional Chinese arrangement of “Jasmine Flower”, as well as traditional carols “God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Sleigh Bells”.

The chorus, under the direction of UIS Associate Professor Sharon Graf, will open the Showcase with “December Snow” by Helen D. Bell.

Directed by UIS Assistant Professor Yona Stamatis, the chamber orchestra will perform selections including “Concertino Op. 107” by Cécile Chaminade, featuring a flute solo by UIS faculty member Abigail Walsh, and “The Conversation”, composed by Springfield composer Justin Child and arranged by UIS faculty member Brian Pryor. Xincheng Liu will also perform as a soloist.

Finally, Walsh will lead the band through selections including Robert Longfield’s “Italian Holiday” and Frank Ticheli’s “Amazing Grace”.

Donations are welcome and will be used to benefit the UIS Music Student Merit Award. The UIS Music program began in 2001 and is comprised of students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as Springfield community members, all with a variety of skill levels. Anyone who is interested in joining the UIS chorus, band or chamber orchestra may contact Abigail Walsh at 217/206-7549 or music@uis.edu.

Monday, November 18, 2013

UIS Lunch & Learn Series presents “Quilts, Canvas and Women Artists”

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Alumni SAGE Society and Illinois State Historical Society presents “Quilts, Canvas and Women Artists” as part of its annual Lunch and Learn Series.

WHEN: Thursday, December 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center (PAC) Conference Room C/D, located on the lower level of the PAC on the UIS campus.

DETAILS: The expressive response by women to various environmental and societal conditions can be seen and felt through artistic expression. Angela Goebel Bain, assistant curator of decorative arts and history for the Illinois State Museum, will speak on “Civil War quilters: Loyal Hearts of Illinois.” Channy Lyons, writer and project director of the Illinois Women’s Artists Project, with a special interest in regional women artists and arts organizers in history, will speak on “Skirting Convention: Women Artists in Illinois, 1840-1940.”

The cost for the hot buffet lunch and program is $20/per person. Reservations are requested, as seating is limited. Seating is available in the back for those who do not purchase the luncheon buffet.

Visit www.uiaa.org/uis to register online. For more information, contact the UI Alumni Association at UIS at 217/206-7395 or email alumni@uis.edu.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

UIS holds public forums on possible nickname/mascot change

The Student Government Association (SGA) at the University of Illinois Springfield is seeking feedback from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members about possibly changing the Prairie Stars nickname and mascot.

Three informational public forums will take place on Monday, November 18 at Noon and 5:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room and on Tuesday, November 19 at 9 p.m. at The Recreation and Athletic Center at UIS.

At these forums the SGA and UIS Student Affairs will present information regarding the six names in the race to be UIS’ nickname/mascot (this includes Prairie Stars and Stars).

Following the presentation, the SGA will take general questions from anyone and also issue a ballot initiative to pinpoint your favorite nicknames/mascots from the presentation.

If you are unable to attend one of the forums and would like to provide feedback, please email uissga@uis.edu.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

UIS Lincoln Legacy Lectures to discuss the Gettysburg Address

The 11th Annual Lincoln Legacy Lectures presented by the University of Illinois Springfield will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, November 19, 2013 in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library at UIS.

This year’s topic is “Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address”, commemorating the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s immortal speech. The lectures, and a reception and book signing that will immediately follow, are free and open to the public. No reservation is required.

The Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series brings nationally known scholars to Springfield to present lectures on topics that both engaged Abraham Lincoln and the citizens of his era and are still timely today.

This year’s featured speakers are Dr. Martin P. Johnson, assistant professor of history, Miami University-Hamilton, and Dr. Joseph R. Fornieri, professor of political science and Director of the Center of Statesmanship, Law, and Liberty at Rochester Institute of Technology. Dr. Michael Burlingame, Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS, will give opening remarks on the relevance of the Gettysburg Address for Americans today, and serve as moderator.

Johnson’s lecture will discuss “Lincoln’s Journey to Gettysburg”, tracing Lincoln’s new vision of the American experiment in the words of his speech. In his lecture, “Abraham Lincoln’s Political Faith in the Gettysburg Address”, Fornieri will consider Lincoln’s statesmanship in preserving the nation’s political faith at Gettysburg and the meaning of its “new birth of freedom” in defending, affirming, and extending the Founders’ legacy of equality and self-government.

Johnson’s research has focused on the American Civil War and the politics of the Lincoln Administration. His most recent book, Writing the Gettysburg Address (University Press of Kansas, 2013) resolves longstanding mysteries about how Lincoln wrote his most admired speech. Fornieri is the author of several books on Lincoln’s political thought including Abraham Lincoln’s Political Faith (Northern Illinois University Press, 2005) that explores Lincoln’s religion and politics.

Burlingame and central Illinois photographer Robert Shaw have collaborated on a new book, A Day Long to Be Remembered – Lincoln in Gettysburg (Firelight Publishing, 2013). Slides of Shaw’s photographs of Gettysburg will be shown before the lectures begin at 7:00 and the book will be available for purchase after the program.

The Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series is sponsored by the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership in cooperation with the Lynn Chair in Lincoln Studies. Cosponsors of this year's event are the Abraham Lincoln Association, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Public Affairs and Administration, Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, Engaged Citizenship Speaker Series, Jim and Linda Gobberdiel, Illinois Issues, Illinois State Library, University of Illinois Alumni Association, and WUIS Public Radio.

Seating in Brookens Auditorium is limited; however overflow seating will be available in the Public Affairs Center, Level 1, Conference Room C/D, where the audience can watch a large-screen live video feed. Those unable to attend in person can watch a live webcast by going to www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html at the time of the event.

For more information, contact the Center for State Policy and Leadership at 217/206-7094.

Monday, October 28, 2013

International Festival brings cultural exhibits and performances to UIS

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield presents the 36th annual International Festival with the theme “Passport to the World”.

WHEN: Friday, November 15, 2013 from 5-8 p.m.

WHERE: Student Life Building (SLB), located on the east side of the UIS campus. Parking is available in lot B, located next to SLB. A map of campus is available at www.uis.edu/maps/.

DETAILS: For over 35 years, the University of Illinois Springfield family has celebrated its rich international and cultural diversity with the annual International Festival. Some of our friends from the greater Springfield community will be joining UIS students, faculty, and staff to share an evening of cultural exhibits, artistic performances, food tasting.

This is a free admission event and is open to public. Countries and organizations that will be represented include African countries, China, India, Ireland, Peru, Turkey, Scotland and more. Some of the delicious ethnic dishes you will have a chance to sample will be donated by The Holy Land Diner, Dynasty Asian Cuisine, Hunan Chinese Restaurant, Osaka, La Fiesta, Xochimilico, Olive Garden, and more.

When you arrive be sure to pick up a program and a UIS International Festival Passport kit. You will have a chance to explore our showcase of the globe while making your own UIS festival passport as you pick up different exhibition pages during your visit.

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

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Wrongly convicted mother to speak about Shaken Baby Syndrome at Innocence Project event

WHAT: The Illinois Innocence Project will welcome Audrey Edmunds to the University of Illinois Springfield campus to tell the story of her exoneration for a conviction based on Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). In 1996, Edmunds was wrongly convicted of first degree reckless homicide after a child she was babysitting died in her care. Her conviction was later overturned after science proved her innocence.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Public Affairs Center (PAC), Conference Room G

DETAILS: Audrey Edmunds was a happily married young mother of two with a baby on the way; the neighborhood soccer mom in a small Wisconsin town provided casual childcare when the unthinkable happened. An infant died in her care at the same time the unknown science of Shaken Baby Syndrome was being accepted within the medical community. Based on the diagnosis of SBS by local doctors, Edmunds was accused of killing the child by shaking it to death. She was stripped from her children and husband and sent to prison where she would fight for freedom for 13 years before she was finally exonerated after updated science demonstrated her innocence.

Edmund’s story is similar to that of Pamela Jacobazzi who the Illinois Innocence Project is representing. Jacobazzi, too, was convicted of shaking a baby to death based on SBS, again at a time when there was limited awareness of questions about the diagnosis.

Edmunds’s story has been featured in many national newspapers and television programs. She recently released the book It happened to Audrey: A Terrifying Journey from Loving Mom to Accused Baby Killer and will have copies available to sign at the event.

Edmunds will also speak at U of I College of Law, 504 E. Pennsylvania Ave. in Champaign, on November 13 at Noon.

UIS Speaker Series presents "Out Europe!: Discussion and Concert by Greece's Leading Rebetika Musicians"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “Out Europe!: Discussion and Concert by Greece’s Leading Rebetika Musicians.” Yona Stamatis, assistant professor of music at the University of Illinois Springfield, will lead the discussion, followed by a rebetika performance by the Rebetiki Istoria Band, the leading rebetika group in Greece, featuring Pavlos Vassiliou, Evangelos Nikolaidis, and Nikolaos Menegas.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: The Rebetiki Istoria Band performs an urban popular song genre, rebetika, in its complex early twentieth century style. This group is unique in its politicization of the music as a means of resisting the Europeanization of Greek Culture.

Vassilious is a leading rebetiko musician in Greece and owner of the best-known rebetiko tavern. In 2011, he was awarded the King, Chavez, Parks Visiting Professorship by the University of Michigan for his contribution to the diversity of social and cultural perspectives in Greece and abroad.

Stamatis received her doctorate in Ethnomusicology from the University of Michigan in 2011 with a focus on rebetiko music of Greece. Her research consisted of spending three years in Athens performing bouzouki and violin with Rebetiki Istoria and writing about the effects of the economic crisis on musical practice. Stamatis teaches music courses at the university while directing the UIS Chamber Orchestra and playing violin with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speakers Series events and more information, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries. All events are free and open to the public.

Students invited to have "Chicken Wings with the Chancellor"

WHAT: Students are invited to talk to Chancellor Susan J. Koch about their experiences at UIS during “Chicken Wings with the Chancellor”.

WHEN: Tues., Nov. 5, 2013 at 9 p.m.

WHERE: Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room

DETAILS: The forum will allow students to share their ideas and opinions with Chancellor Koch over FREE chicken wings in an informal setting.

This is the fifth forum in a series designed to create an ongoing open exchange of ideas between students and Chancellor Koch. The idea is to make the campus’ top leader more available to students in a comfortable environment.

This event is co-sponsored by the Black Male Collegiate Society, Black Student Union, Greek Affairs Board, International Student Association, Organization of Latin American Student, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and the Student Government Association.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

UIS students Trick or Treat for Canned Goods to benefit the Central Illinois Foodbank

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield students will be going door-to-door on Halloween night collecting canned goods for the Central Illinois Foodbank. The goal is to collect more than 7,000 pounds of food.

WHEN: Thursday, October 31, 2013 from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

WHERE: Various Springfield neighborhoods (call for specific details)

DETAILS: A total of 18 teams, consisting of nearly 230 students, have registered for the annual Trick or Treat for Canned Goods drive. The teams have been assigned specific neighborhoods to collect non-perishable food items.

Earlier this month, the teams canvassed the neighborhoods and distributed door hangers that explained the project. Collected items will be returned and weighed at Quaker Steak and Lube following the drive. Prizes will be awarded to the teams that collect the most food during a post-collection party at the restaurant.

The Central Illinois Foodbank distributes over 9.5 million pounds of food annually to over 150 food pantries, soup kitchens, residential programs and after-school programs in a 21 county region.

For more information on Trick or Treat for Canned Goods, contact Mark Dochterman, director of the UIS Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center, at 225/921-9398, or go to www.uis.edu/volunteer.

UIS Lunch & Learn Series presents "War, Medicine and Remembrance"









WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Alumni SAGE Society and Illinois State Historical Society presents “War, Medicine and Remembrance” as part of its annual Lunch and Learn Series.

WHEN: Thursday, November 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center (PAC) Conference Room C/D, located on the lower level of the PAC on the UIS campus.

DETAILS: The year 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the World War I. Monarchies fell; the “old world” order was greatly damaged; Communism rose; and 37 million soldiers and civilians were killed, wounded or died.

Chris McDonald, Lincoln Land Community College professor of social sciences, will discuss Sangamon County’s involvement in WWI, specifically on members of the ambulance corps. Adriana Schroeder, writer and command historian for the Illinois National Guard, will speak on “Prairie Soldiers Passed: The Illinois State Military Museum.”

The cost for the hot buffet lunch and program is $20/per person. Reservations are requested, as seating is limited. Seating is available in the back for those who do not purchase the luncheon buffet.

The final Lunch & Learn event of the season on “Quilts, Canvas and Women Artists” will take place on December 5.

Visit www.uiaa.org/uis to register online. For more information, contact the UI Alumni Association at UIS at 217/206-7395 or email alumni@uis.edu.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Scholarship Luncheon connects students with donors



The University of Illinois Springfield recognized scholarship donors during the annual Scholarship Luncheon on October 23, 2013. Over 250 people attended the celebration in the Sangamon Auditorium lobby. For many of the donors it was their first time meeting the students they support.

“Each year there are different recipients for the different scholarships, so it’s a chance for our donors of these scholarships to develop new relationships with students as time goes on,” said Jeff Lorber, UIS vice chancellor for development.

Lynda Humphrey and her daughter Cathy Humphrey Padget have given several scholarships, including one for athletics, one for legal studies in memory of Lee Humphrey, and one for study abroad.

“It’s just such a blessing to see young people and all recipients, whatever age they are try and pursue their goals and have a career. It’s just very exciting,” said Humphrey Padget.

One of the Humphrey scholarships benefited senior criminal justice major Jasmine Torres-Gonzalez. She wouldn’t have been able to attend UIS without the support.

“The pressure to go to school and the financial strain, it’s really hard. It’s really important to get donors to donate and for those scholarships to keep going,” said Torres-Gonzalez.

For donors, such as Brad Ward, creating a scholarship is just another way to pay if forward. Ward graduated from UIS and now has a successful career in higher education.

“I really want to support UIS and I want to meet the student that gets my scholarship and my wife Jennifer’s scholarship. It’s always fun to just reminisce and be at a place that we love and enjoy.”

Thanks to donor support, UIS was able to award 265 scholarships during the 2013-14 academic year, which was made possible by 120 individuals, couples, or businesses.

“These people need to know that they make a difference, that they change people’s lives and they change society to be a better place to live,” said Lorber.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Political Art and the Public Sphere series to screen and discuss "Examined Life" film

WHAT: The Political Art and the Public Sphere (PAPS) series at the University of Illinois Springfield presents a screening and discussion of the film Examined Life by filmmaker Astra Taylor.

WHEN: Monday, October 28, 2013 at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Examined Life brings philosophy back to the streets. Filmmaker Astra Taylor accompanies some of today’s most influential thinkers on a series of excursions through places and spaces that hold particular resonance for them and their ideas. Peter Singer’s thoughts on the ethics of consumption are amplified against the backdrop of Fifth Avenue’s post boutiques. Michael Hardt ponders the nature of revolution while surrounded by symbols of wealth and leisure. Judith Butler strolls through San Francisco’s Mission District questioning our culture’s fixation on individualism. While driving through Manhattan, Cornel West compares philosophy to jazz and blues, reminding us how invigorating a life of the mind can be. Examined Life reveals philosophy’s power to transform the way we understand the world and our place within it.

The PAPS series is a monthly event on the UIS campus hosted by Dr. Richard Gilman-Opalsky, associate professor of Political Philosophy.

The theme of the Fall 2013 PAPS series is “Theory in the World”. The series is dedicated to discussions of social and political questions relating to theory and praxis, that is, to the role of thinking in dealing with real problems of economic crisis, war, democracy, and ecology. The Fall 2013 series explores the importance of philosophy for human action in the world. PAPS events are included in the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Dr. Gilman-Opalsky at 217/206-8328 or email rgilm3@uis.edu.

Monday, October 14, 2013

UIS Theatre presents "Clybourne Park"

The Theatre Program at the University of Illinois Springfield presents the play Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris, opening Friday, Nov. 8. Six performances will be presented in the Studio Theatre, on the lower level of the Public Affairs Center at UIS - on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Nov. 8, 9, and 10, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Nov. 14, 15, and 16. All shows will begin at 7:30 p.m., except the Sunday performance (Nov. 10), which will begin at 2 p.m. UIS Associate Professor and Director of Theatre Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson will direct the play.

Clybourne Park takes on the provocative issues of race, political correctness, and the changing social landscape in America, while still managing to make us laugh along the way. Act One takes place in 1959, in Chicago's Clybourne Park neighborhood, as the community responds to a black family buying a house there. Act Two takes place in 2009, in the same house, as the next generation of this black family struggles to hold on to its sense of identity. The New York Times calls the play “Vital, sharp-witted and ferociously smart.”

Ticket prices are $14 for adults; $12 for senior citizens (65 or older with a picture I.D.); $10 for UIS Faculty/Staff; $8 for UIS students (and all other college-level students) with a valid, current i-card or college I.D. card; and $6 for 17 and under. Please note that a service charge, not included in the prices above, from Sangamon Auditorium will be added to each ticket price, at the time of purchase. To avoid a higher service charge, buying tickets in person at the Sangamon Auditorium ticket office is highly recommended.

For more information, contact Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson at 217/206-6613 or email ethib1@uis.edu, or visit www.uis.edu/theatre.

UIS Wepner Symposium explores conflict in the Lincoln and Obama presidencies

The fourth annual Wepner Symposium on the Lincoln Legacy and Contemporary Scholarship at the University of Illinois Springfield will explore political conflict, polarization, and political hatred in the presidencies of both Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama.

The symposium will be held October 18-19, 2013 in Springfield, Ill. Portions of the symposium will take place on the UIS campus and the Old State Capitol in downtown Springfield. All events are free and open to the general public.

Events begin on Friday, October 18 at 9:30 a.m. in the UIS Public Affairs Center, as political scientists explore “Polarization and Political Hatred - Reasoning from History, Social Science, and Common Experience”. Featured speakers include Matthew Holden, University of Illinois Springfield; Chad Newswander, University of South Dakota; Stephen Schwark, University of Illinois Springfield; and Wilbur Rich, Wellesley College. Events will conclude at 5:30 p.m. with a reception in the PAC Restaurant.

Day two of the Wepner Symposium begins on Saturday, October 19 at 9 a.m. at the Old State Capitol in downtown Springfield. Political scholars will discuss the “Agenda for Further Learning, Teaching, and Application” until 11 a.m. Featured commentators include James Cornelius, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum; Shoon Lio, University of Illinois Springfield, Dan Monroe, Millikin University; and Bert A. Rockman, Purdue University.

The symposium brings together scholars from around the country with diverse intellectual backgrounds, from political science to history and economics, and also seeks to bridge the gap between K-12 and university education.

For more information on the Wepner Symposium, contact Matthew Holden at 217/206-8519 or mhold3@uis.edu. The symposium can be found online at www.uis.edu/wepner/.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

UIS Visual Arts Gallery hosts "New Springfield" exhibit inspired by Vachel Lindsay

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to present the fall feature exhibition New Springfield, a site-specific installation from new media artist Rosemary Williams.

The exhibition runs Monday, Oct. 7 through Thursday, Nov. 14. Williams will present a public lecture on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium with a gallery reception to follow from 6:30-8:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

The exhibit grows from The Golden Book of Springfield, a novel written in 1920 by famed and local poet Vachel Lindsay. In the novel, Lindsay imagined a utopic vision of world peace coming to Springfield, Illinois in the year 2018. This project, emerging from Lindsay’s book and a site visit to Springfield, will use the looming five-year deadline for world peace, as envisioned by Lindsay, as a way of framing the city of Springfield and investigating broader cultural issues.

“I am interested in the contrasts between Lindsay’s vision and the actual reality of Springfield in 2013, five years before this utopia is to be achieved,” said Williams.

The exhibit will include an oversized, dominating composite photograph of Vachel Lindsay’s historic Springfield home as well as stacks of printed images of every house in Springfield, taken as screen shots from Google maps. One of the images, showing a man aggressively confronting the Google maps camera, will be pinned to the wall across from Lindsay’s home, in opposition to his idealism.

“As a romantic, Lindsay envisioned the struggle to perfect human society, and we can imagine his lofty ideas as we gaze on his well-preserved house. But the day-to-day concerns of most people may or may not match up with his own vision,” adds Williams.

Williams’s work has been exhibited widely in venues in the United States and Europe. She was a Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist Fellow in Visual Arts for 2007-8. Her work has been profiled in the New York Times Magazine, The Times of London, and National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation. Rosemary received her MFA in Combined Media from Hunter College, City University of New York, and is currently associate professor of integrated media in the Art Department at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

The UIS Visual Arts Gallery is centrally located on the UIS campus in the Health and Science Building, room 201 (HSB 201). Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on exhibition programming, please visit www.uis.edu/visualarts/gallery, call 217/206-6506 or email alach3@uis.edu.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

UIS Speaker Series presents "Chicanas of 18th Street: Women Community Activism from Latina Chicago"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “Chicanas of 18th Street: Women Community Activism from Latina Chicago”. The Hispanic Heritage Month event will include a panel of women activists of Mexican ancestry who lived and worked in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood from the 1970s. Leonard Ramirez, who will also be joining the panel, featured these women in the book Chicanas of 18th Street: Narratives of a Latino Movement.

WHEN: Thursday, October 3, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: The panel will discuss the activist tactics their group used to organize for educational equity and social reform. They will also speak about their motivations, initiatives, and experiences, offering insight on the dynamics that transform community members into activists.

Ramirez was a founder and past director of the Latina American Recruitment and Educational Services (LARES) program at the University of Illinois at Chicago and received the Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE) Educational Leadership in 2010 for his efforts. His book, Chicanas of 18th Street, received the Society of Professors of Education Book Award in 2013.

This event is co-sponsored by the UIS Organization of Latin American Students, Women and Gender Studies Department, and Sociology and Anthropology Department.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speakers Series events and more information, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries. All events are free and open to the public.

"Foot in the Door" Fair helps UIS students and alumni find jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Career Development Center will host the 2013 “Foot in the Door” Career Fair for students, alumni, and community members looking for full-time positions, part-time jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities – both on- and off-campus. The event is free to all attendees.

WHEN: Thursday, September 26, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: The Recreations and Athletic Center (TRAC) on the UIS Campus

DETAILS: The “Foot in the Door” Career Fair is intended to connect students, alumni and community members with employers to discuss career opportunities in a broad range of available positions. Attendees are encouraged to bring their resumes and networking cards to the event. A business casual dress code will be observed.

A partial list of off-campus employers attending includes AriesPro, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), County Market, Dot Foods, Fastenal Company, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Hope Institute, Horace Mann, Illinois Government (Dept. of Revenue, Prisoner Review Board, Division of Rehab Services), LRS Consulting Services, Memorial Medical Center, Rite-Hite Corporation: Arbon Equipment Corporation Division, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, and Wells Fargo. The complete listing of employers can be found online at www.uis.edu/career.

This event is hosted by the UIS Career Development Center in collaboration with their Career Advantage Business and Campus Partners: UIS College of Business and Management, AriesPro, and Rite-Hite Corporation: Arbon Equipment Corporation Division.

For more information about the “Foot in the Door” Career Fair, go online to www.uis.edu/career or call the Career Development Center at 217/206-6508. Individuals requesting disability related accommodations should also contact the UIS Career Development Center.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

UIS Lunch & Learn Series presents "From Liverpool to Fiji: A Celebration of Music"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Alumni SAGE Society and Illinois State Historical Society presents “From Liverpool to Fiji: A Celebration of Music” as part of its annual Lunch and Learn Series.

WHEN: Thursday, October 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center (PAC) Conference Room C/D, located on the lower level of the PAC on the UIS campus.

DETAILS: The year 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of The Beatles coming to America. Michael Cheney, Beatles historian and UIS professor of communication and economics, will provide an interactive discussion on Beatles history.

Sharon Graf, UIS associate professor of ethnomusicology, recently spent a sabbatical conducting research in the South Pacific and will speak on the musical instruments of the South Pacific and expression of the Polynesian identity.

The cost for the hot buffet lunch and program is $20/per person. Reservations are requested, as seating is limited. Seating is available in the back for those who do not purchase the luncheon buffet. A discounted series subscription is available for $50/per person.

Other upcoming Lunch & Learn events include “War, Medicine and Remembrance” on November 7 and “Quilts, Canvas and Women Artists” on December 5.

Visit www.uiaa.org/uis to register online. For more information, contact the UI Alumni Association at UIS at 217/206-7395 or email alumni@uis.edu.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

UIS Creative Writing and Publishing Series brings nationally recognized writers and poets to Springfield

The University of Illinois Springfield Creative Writing and Publishing Series will bring several emerging and established fiction writers and poets of national reputation to Springfield in October. All events are free and open to the public.

“We have a special focus on writers with an interest in place,” said Meagan Cass, UIS assistant professor of English. “Visiting writers give readings from their work, discuss the writing (and publishing) life, and visit UIS classes.”

The first public reading by Matt Rasmussen will take place on Thursday, October 3 at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room at UIS. His poetry collection, Black Aperture, was selected by Jane Hirshfield as the winner of the 2012 Walt Whitman Award from the Academy of American Poets and was published by Louisiana State University Press in May 2013. Rasmussen is the recipient of grants and fellowships from the Bush Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board, The Corporation of Yaddo, the Loft Literary Center, the Jerome Foundation, Intermedia Arts, the Anderson Center in Red Wing, Minnesota, and the McKnight Foundation.

Katherine Boo, a staff writer at The New Yorker and a former reporter and editor for The Washington Post will headline the second public event on Monday, October 7 at 7 p.m. in UIS Sangamon Auditorium. Over the years, her reporting from disadvantaged communities has been awarded a Pulitzer Prize, a MacArthur “Genius” grant, and a National Magazine Award for Feature Writing. For the last decade, she has divided her time between the United States and India. Behind the Beautiful Forevers, her first book, won the National Book Award for Non-Fiction in 2012. The appearance is in collaboration with UIS Brookens Library. Tickets for this event are free, but should be required in advance from the Sangamon Auditorium Box Office at 217/206-6160.

The final October event will feature husband and wife Adam Prince and Charlotte Pence on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room at UIS. Adam Prince’s award-winning fiction has appeared in The Missouri Review, The Southern Review, and Narrative Magazine, among others publications. His debut short story collection The Beautiful Wishes of Ugly Men was published with Black Lawrence Press in 2012. The recipient of the Tickner Fellowship at the Gilman School in Baltimore, he is currently at work on a novel about identity and surveillance that takes place in Jakarta, Indonesia. Charlotte Pence’s full-length poetry collection, Spike, will be released by Black Lawrence Press in 2014. She is also the author of two award-winning poetry chapbooks, The Branches, the Axe, the Missing (Black Lawrence Press, 2012) and Weaves a Clear Night (Flying Trout Press, 2011). Pence also edited The Poetics of American Song Lyrics (University Press of Mississippi, 2012) that explores the similarities and differences between poetry and songs. She is a professor at Eastern Illinois University.

For more information about the UIS Creative Writing and Publishing Series, contact Meagan Cass at 217/206-8358 or mcass3@uis.edu.

Friday, September 13, 2013

UIS Speaker Series presents “The Banning of Mexican American Studies"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “The Banning of Mexican American Studies: Towards Cultural & Intellectual Apartheid in Arizona”. The Hispanic Heritage Month event will be led by Augustine Romero, a founder and former director of the Tucson Unified School District’s (TUSD) Mexican American/ Raza Studies Department.

WHEN: Monday, September 23, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: Teachers in Tucson, Arizona's majority Mexican American K-12 school district developed a Mexican American Studies curriculum that emphasized critical thinking and helped students of Mexican ancestry see themselves in the curriculum. Despite evidence that it enhanced student engagement, graduation rates, and performance on state exams, the Arizona legislature passed a law that shut down the program in 2012. Romero will discuss the theory behind the program and its success. He will address the attacks and dismantling of the department, the current court-mandated resurrection of the model, and what the curriculum means to the students.

Romero is TUSD's director of multicultural curriculum and co-founder of the Social Justice Education Project. He has served on Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano's Latino Advisory Board and was Tucson's Hispanic Professional Action Committee’s Man of the Year (2011).

This event is co-sponsored by the UIS Organization of Latin American Students, Women and Gender Studies Department, and Sociology and Anthropology Department.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speakers Series events and more information, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries. All events are free and open to the public.

Monday, September 9, 2013

UIS Speaker Series presents "Law, Religion, and Politics in the American Constitution and Tradition"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series and the Notre Dame Club of Central Illinois presents “Law, Religion, and Politics in the American Constitution and Tradition” as part of a Constitution Day event. The Hesburgh Lecture will be led by Richard Garnett, professor of law and political science at the University of Notre Dame.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: Garnett’s talk will address how citizens might understand the Constitution’s prescription of a separation of church and state, and what is required of religious believers and institutions that engage in public and political life. The topic is timely, especially in the wake of recent elections, the Pledge of Allegiance case, the contraception-coverage mandate, and the same-sex marriage controversy, and the debate about the appropriate role of religious believers and arguments in public life.

Garnett teaches and writes about criminal law, constitutional law, religious freedom, and the freedom of speech. Before coming to Notre Dame, he served as a law clerk to Chief Justice William Rehnquist and to Chief Judge Richard S. Arnold of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He also practiced law at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin, specializing in criminal defense and religious liberty matters. Garnett’s scholarly work is in the areas of law and religion, federalism, school choice, and the freedom of association. He has also participated in the drafting of numerous amicus curiae briefs submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in First Amendment cases, including Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, the landmark school-voucher decision.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speakers Series events and more information, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries. All events are free and open to the public.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

PAPS series to screen "Living in the End of Times (According to Slavoj Žižek)"

WHAT: The Political Art and the Public Sphere (PAPS) series at the University of Illinois Springfield presents a screening and discussion of the film Living in the End of Times (According to Slavoj Žižek).

WHEN: Monday, September 16, 2013 at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: One of the world’s most famous living philosophers is Slovenian thinker Slavoj ŽiŽek. ŽiŽek’s talks pack auditoriums and stadiums around the world, and he has achieved a peculiar “celebrity” status, despite the fact that he writes books about G.W.F. Hegel and Jacques Lacan. In this film, ŽiŽek is alone on a stage, surrounded by giant television screens, bombarded with clips of images and quotes revolving around four major issues: the economic crisis, ecology, war, and the state of democracy.

The PAPS series is a monthly event on the UIS campus hosted by Richard Gilman-Opalsky, associate professor of Political Philosophy.

The theme of the Fall 2013 PAPS series is “Theory in the World”. The series is dedicated to discussions of social and political questions relating to theory and praxis, that is, to the role of thinking in dealing with real problems of economic crisis, war, democracy, and ecology. The Fall 2013 series explores the importance of philosophy for human action in the world. PAPS events are included in the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Gilman-Opalsky at 217/206-8328 or email rgilm3@uis.edu.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

UIS Speaker Series presents "Immigration and Illegality in the American Imagination"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “Immigration and Illegality in the American Imagination” featuring Judy Tzu-Chun Wu, associate professor of history and women’s, gender and sexuality studies at The Ohio State University.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: This talk and multi-media presentation will explore the historical origins and contemporary manifestations of how the U.S. became a "gatekeeping" nation. It focuses on the groups of immigrants - Asian Americans, Eastern and Southern Europeans, Latino/a, political dissidents, women migrating alone, as well as those who have disabilities - which the U.S. government and people have sought to exclude and restrict to socially engineer ideal Americans.

The United States is often described as a nation of immigrants, a characterization that erases the history of indigenous people to the formation of the nation. At the same time, many Americans harbor intense fears about "the huddled masses" and "the wretched refuse" from other shores.

Professor Wu joined the faculty of Ohio State in 1998 after receiving her Ph.D. from Stanford University. She teaches courses on Modern U.S. History, Asian American History, Women's History, Immigration History, History of Comparative Racialization, the 1960s, Intersectionality, Women and Labor, Race and Sex, and American Women's Movements. She is particularly interested in incorporating new media assignments into her classes.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speakers Series events and more information, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries. All events are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

UIS Friday Night Star Parties start September 6th

The University of Illinois Springfield’s popular Friday Night Star Parties will resume the Friday after Labor Day and run through the end of October. Those dates include: September 6, 13, 20, and 27 and October 4, 18, and 26. Please note that there is not a Star Party on October 11. Friday Night Star Parties are held from 8 to 10 p.m., weather permitting, at the UIS observatory on the roof of Brookens Library.

Star Parties are hosted by Dr. John Martin, associate professor of Astronomy/Physics. The observatory’s telescopes will be used to view a number of celestial objects, including the Moon, when visible; the Ring Nebula; globular star clusters M13 and M15; and other double stars and star clusters.

A typical Star Party begins with a presentation as visitors ascend the stairs to the observatory, learning about galaxies, the sun and stars along the way. On the roof observation deck visitors are invited to view the skies through telescopes and ask questions. Participants are welcome to arrive and leave as they wish between 8 to 10 p.m.

Friday Night Star Parties are free and open to the public. Reservations are not required and groups are encouraged to attend. The entrance to the campus observatory is located outside Brookens Library on the southeast corner of the building.

Star Parties may be canceled for cloudy weather. Questions about whether the weather is suitable for viewing should be directed to 217/206-8342 at 7 p.m. on the evening of the Star Party. Updates will also be posted on the UIS Observatory Twitter page. For more information on Star Parties, contact John Martin at jmart5@uis.edu or visit www.uis.edu/astronomy/about/starparties.html.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

UIS Visual Arts Gallery begins new exhibition season with Alumni Showcase 2013

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery presents Alumni Showcase 2013, a juried exhibition that reflects the ongoing studio practice of artists that have emerged from the Visual Arts program at UIS. A variety of media will be represented in this grouping of contemporary works. An opening reception will take place on Thursday, September 5 from 5:30-8 p.m.

The Visual Arts Gallery is proud to present this exhibit that highlights recent works from select UIS Visual Arts alumni artists. Works will range from contemporary approaches to painting to site-specific installation works. The exhibition serves as a visual collection that speaks to the impressive and ongoing efforts from artists that launched from the Visual Arts program at UIS.

“The exhibition demonstrates that many of the most capable and active artists in the community have roots in our program,” said Jeff Robinson, UIS Visual Arts Gallery Director. “Some of the artists are relatively recent grads, while others have been maintaining their practice for many years. Careful consideration was extended in the selection of this particular grouping of artists, and reflects the contemporary focus of both the visual arts curriculum and gallery programming at UIS.”

Exhibiting artists include Brad Balster, Stan Bly, Karen Boerema, Ashley Dickey, Amanda Greive, Judah Johnson, Skan Jolly, Sarah Joseph, Adam Perschbacher, Matthew Schultz, and Ryan Sponsler.

Alumni Showcase 2013 will open at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery on Thursday, August 26, and will run through Thursday, September 26. Complimentary refreshments will be provided at the opening reception. The event is free and open to the public.

The UIS Visual Arts Gallery is centrally located on the UIS campus in the Health and Science Building, room 201 (HSB 201). Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on Alumni Showcase 2013 and future exhibitions, please visit www.uis.edu/visualarts/gallery, call 217/206-6506 or email alach3@uis.edu.

Monday, August 19, 2013

UIS welcomes new students on Freshman Move-In Day


The University of Illinois Springfield welcomed hundreds of new students and their parents during Freshman Move-In Day on August 21, 2013.

Students were assigned arrival times in an effort to avoid headaches and congestion at Lincoln and Founders Residence Halls. Volunteers helped direct parents to parking spaces, unloaded and carried items, and led students to their new rooms.

Dozens of volunteers from the UIS student organizations and athletic teams assisted with the move-in process.

Fall Semester classes at UIS begin on Monday, August 26. Upperclassmen will return to campus starting Friday, August 23.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Local businesses and organizations invited to the UIS "Foot in the Door" career fair

Area businesses and organizations are encouraged to register now for booth space at the 2013 “Foot in the Door” career fair at the University of Illinois Springfield. The fair will be held on Thursday, September 26, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on the UIS campus.

The event is sponsored by the UIS Career Development Center and the UIS College of Business and Management. The event is free for all UIS students and alumni to attend.

The “Foot in the Door” event is intended to bring students, local employers, and organizations together to discuss career opportunities in a broad range of available positions. Local businesses who are recruiting students to fill full-time and part-time jobs, internships, volunteer and other career opportunities are invited to participate in the event, which typically yields over 250 students. All attending employers should have immediately available opportunities for students.

Over 100 recruiters are expected to attend, so advanced registration is required. Employers can register for the “Foot in the Door” career fair by visiting the UIS Career Development Center’s online system called “CareerConnect” at www.uis.edu/career/. The deadline to register is September 19, 2013.

For more information, contact the UIS Career Development Center at 217/206-6508 or careerservices@uis.edu.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

UIS Theatre announces upcoming 2013-14 season

The Theatre Program at the University of Illinois Springfield is excited to announce its lineup for 2013-14. The season features two award-winning dramas, which explore human relationships and culture.

In the fall, the 2011 Pulitzer Prize and 2012 Tony award-winning drama Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris will be performed Nov. 8-10 and 14-16 in the Studio Theatre. The play takes on the provocative issues of race, political correctness, and the changing social landscape in America, while still managing to make us laugh along the way. Act One takes place in 1959, in Chicago's Clybourne Park neighborhood, as the community responds to a black family buying a house there. Act Two takes place in 2009, in the same house, as the next generation of this black family struggles to hold on to its sense of identity. The New York Times calls the play “Vital, sharp-witted and ferociously smart.”

UIS Associate Professor and Director of Theatre Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson will direct Clybourne Park. Open auditions/crew interviews will be held Sept. 3-4, 2013 in The Studio Theatre. Callbacks will take place on Sept. 5. Auditions and crew positions are open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Check www.uis.edu/theatre for updated times and information.

In the spring, UIS Theatre will present Paula Vogel’s 1998 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama How I Learned to Drive on April 11-13 and 17-19, 2014. The play takes an un-flinching look at "the gifts we receive from people who hurt us,” according to Vogel. The play’s protagonist, Li'l Bit, "received the gift of how to survive," from a surprising source. Through a non-linear series of emotional, and often times funny flashbacks and recollections, Li’l Bit takes the audience on a ride that explores how a family, a culture, and a society contributed to an inappropriate relationship. This thrilling ride has been described by Dramatists Play Service as “a wildly funny, surprising and devastating tale of survival as seen through the lens of a troubling relationship between a young girl and an older man.”

UIS Associate Professor of Theatre Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson will direct How I Learned to Drive. Open auditions/crew interviews will be held Jan. 26- 27, 2014 in The Studio Theatre. Callbacks will take place on Jan. 28. Auditions and crew positions are open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. More information will be posted on www.uis.edu/theatre.

The curtain time for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night shows is 7:30 p.m. with the Sunday performance starting at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $14 for adults, $12 for senior citizens (65 or older with a picture I.D.), $10 for UIS Faculty/Staff and $8 for UIS students (and all other college-level students) with a valid, current i-card or college I.D. card. Please note that a service charge, not included in the prices above, from Sangamon Auditorium will be added to each ticket price, at the time of purchase. To avoid a higher service charge, buying tickets in person at the Sangamon Auditorium ticket office is highly recommended.

UIS Theatre will also present “Student Directed Scenes” on December 9-10, 2013. The series will present a variety of scenes from contemporary American plays, which will be directed by UIS theatre students. For updated audition and crew information, visit www.uis.edu/theatre/.

For more information on the upcoming theatre season contact Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson at 217/206-6613 or ethib1@uis.edu.

Monday, August 5, 2013

UIS co-hosts meteor shower event at Dickson Mounds

Dickson Mounds Museum and the University of Illinois at Springfield’s Therkildsen Field Station present “Under the Stars” as the topic for the next Nature Trek program. The program will be on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 4:00 a.m. to view the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower. Participants are welcome to bring a blanket or chair and view the sky at Dickson Mounds Museum. After the sun comes up, all are welcome to enjoy a light breakfast at the Museum.

Dickson Mounds Museum and the University of Illinois at Springfield’s Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon present Nature Trek, a “walk & talk” science series typically on the third Thursday of the month April through September. After a brief introduction to a particular topic, the group will trek to different locations on the Emiquon Campus where trip leaders will share their understanding of plants, animals, human history, earth history, and the sky.

Admission is free and registration is not required. All ages are welcome. Participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather and wear proper footwear as much of the program will be held outdoors and includes walking on uneven terrain.

Friday, July 26, 2013

UIS and Lincoln Memorial Gardens to host Perseid meteor shower viewing event

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Astronomy-Physics Program and Lincoln Memorial Gardens will host a special Star Party to view the annual Perseid meteor shower.

WHEN: On the night of Sunday, August 11 the Star Party will start at midnight and run until dawn on Monday, August 12.

WHERE: Lincoln Memorial Gardens, 2301 East Lake Drive, Springfield, Ill.

DETAILS: The Perseids meteor shower takes place annually in the beginning of August when the Earth passes through a stream of debris crossing the Earth’s orbit from the comet Swift-Tuttle. In 2013, the shower is predicted to peak between August 11 and August 13. This year the Moon sets about midnight during the peak, making the morning hours also the darkest hours to look for meteors.

The Perseid meteor show is known for producing more fireball type meteors than any other meteor shower. In a dark location on any given night you between 3-5 meteors per hour can be spotted. During the peak of a shower like the Perseids one may observe up to 60 meteors per hour.

People attending the before dawn event at Lincoln Memorial Gardens should park in the spaces just off East Lake Shore Drive. Observing will be done in Crawly Meadow across the street from the nature center. Attendees are encouraged to wear bug repellant, dress appropriately for the cool pre-dawn hours, and bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on.

The event may be canceled for cloudy weather. Questions about whether the weather is suitable for viewing should be directed to 217/206-8342 after 7 p.m. on August 11. Updates will also be posted on the UIS Observatory Twitter feed.

For more information on Star Parties, contact Astronomy-Physics Assistant Professor John Martin at 217/206-8342 or Joel Horwedel at Lincoln Memorial Gardens at 217/529-1111.

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The University of Illinois Springfield is a premier public university that provides students with a high-quality liberal arts education, exceptional public affairs opportunities, and outstanding professional preparation programs. UIS has four core strengths: (1) a teaching-focused academic experience; (2) an abundance of opportunities to collaborate; (3) a right-sized supportive community; and (4) a tradition of educating public servants and leaders. UIS has four colleges: business and management; education and human services; liberal arts and sciences; and public affairs and administration. 

Lincoln Memorial Garden is a 110-acre woodland and prairie garden located on the shores of Lake Springfield. The Lincoln Memorial Garden Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation, manages the Garden as a public facility. Its maintenance, programs and events are funded by donations. The Foundation’s purpose is to manage and fund the preservation and improvement of the garden, established as a living memorial to Abraham Lincoln, consistent with Jens Jensen’s design philosophy and to provide opportunities for children and adults to learn about the environment.

Friday, June 7, 2013

UIS Speaker Series explores Thomas Jefferson's historic Monticello garden

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series will explore Thomas Jefferson’s historic Monticello garden during a presentation hosted by professional gardener and historian Peter J. Hatch.

WHEN: Thurs., June 20, 2013 at 6 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: Hatch has 38 years of experience in the restoration, care, and interpretation of historic landscapes. A celebrated author of four books on the gardens of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, where he served as director of gardens and grounds for 35 years, Hatch has lectured in 36 states on Jefferson and the history of garden plants. Presently, he gardens and botanizes from his home on Lickinghole Creek in Crozet, Virginia, travels extensively to promote his latest work, ‘A Rich Spot of Earth’: Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden at Monticello, and consults on the installation and maintenance of both public gardens and private estate landscapes.

Seating for this presentation is first come, first served, and is free and open to the public. Following the presentation, Hatch will sign copies of his latest book, which will be available for purchase.

Hatch will discuss the various themes that defined his passion for gardening and the natural world: Monticello was an experimental garden laboratory. He will also review the restorations of Monticello's flower, fruit, and vegetable gardens, as well as the Grove or ornamental forest, over the last 50 years. Finally he will show how the fruits, flowers, and vegetables Jefferson grew at Monticello have evolved over the last two centuries.

The presentation is sponsored by the University of Illinois at Springfield ECCE Speaker Series, University of Illinois Extension and Illinois Executive Mansion. For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speakers Series events and more information, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Girl Tech teaches middle schoolers about technology!

WHAT: Join the University of Illinois Springfield’s Computer Science Department for two days of fun exploring technology during Girl Tech 2013. Hands-on activities include geo-caching with iPad, Scratch programming, molecular gastronomy and much more.

WHEN: Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: University Hall Building (UHB) on the UIS campus

DETAILS: Studies show the number of women in higher education in computer science is falling drastically. Girl Tech is geared toward girls in middle school because interest seems to start decreasing around that age.

Highlighting the sessions this year is “Geo-caching with iPad”, which will use software and maps for creating a treasure hunt around campus. “Fabulous Fab Lab” will use some new high-tech toys: a 3-D scanner, a laser cutter and a 3-D printer. “Green Screen and Limelight”, will allow girls to record short videos and insert themselves into a background anywhere on earth. Using the MIT-designed language “Scratch”, the girls will create and program their own computer games.

Other sessions this summer will include: “Hi-Tech Design using Gimp”, which will allow girls to design a t-shirt for their team. “I see SUN spots!” will use telescopes equipped with solar filters to view current sunspot activity. “What’s to Eat?” will look at technology in the kitchen by making snacks with molecular gastronomy.

The registration fee is $30 per girl, which covers lunch both days, snacks and a participation t-shirt. To be eligible to participate, the girl must be entering 7th, 8th or 9th grade in the fall of 2013. For more information about the camp and to register visit http://csc.uis.edu/girltech/. The registration deadline is Thursday, June 6.

For more information, contact Mary Sheila Tracy, camp coordinator and UIS Computer Science instructor, at 217/206-7328 or mtrac1@uis.edu.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Former Governor Jim Edgar part of panel discussion on "The Two States of Illinois"

WHAT: Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar will join a panel of distinguished guests to discuss how the economic, social & political differences between Chicago and the rest of the state present challenges for the governance of Illinois.

WHEN: Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: This panel discussion will explore how the perceived division between Chicago and the rest of Illinois is affecting state leadership and decision making, public perceptions of governmental effectiveness, and political and social operations.

Edgar will be joined by Chicago Sun-Times columnist and Capitol Fax newsletter publisher Rich Miller, UIS Political Science Professor Christopher Mooney, and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Executive Director Randy Blankenhorn.

Edgar, a distinguished fellow with the University of Illinois Institute for Government and Public Affairs (IGPA), was the 38th governor of Illinois. As governor, he made fiscal discipline and children the cornerstones of his two terms. First elected in 1990, Governor Edgar won re-election in 1994 by the largest margin ever for a governor. Four years later Governor Edgar left office with the highest approval rating in state history.

“The Two States of Illinois” presentation is sponsored by the University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series and the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA).

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Kimberly Craig at 217/206-6245 or kcrai01s@uis.edu.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Springfest 2013 ends with mud tug-of-war



Students at the University of Illinois Springfield ended Springfest 2013, a week-long event featuring a variety of fun and educational competitions, with the annual mud tug-of-war on April 27.

The theme of the 2013 competition was “The Springfest Games”, which featured a total of 29 teams made up of over 400 students.

Springfest is one of the longest running and most popular traditions at UIS. Springfest challenges include a scavenger hunt, trivia night, flag & chant competition, and sports day.

For more information on Springfest, visit their Facebook page.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Springfest 2013 begins with Scavenger Hunt



Over 400 students helped to kick off Springfest 2013 with the annual Scavenger Hunt on April 22, 2013. Springfest is one of the longest running student traditions on campus, which started in 1992.

Scavenger Hunt participants were given a surprise list of over 200 items to collect during a one-hour period. Points were awarded based on the number of total items collected.

“Teams are given entire freedom as to how they want to parcel out the Scavenger Hunt list and some people come up with really innovative ways to do the Scavenger Hunt itself. It’s really exciting,” said Matt Dobill, Student Activities Committee traditions co-chair.

Students were not allowed to use cars, bikes, or other transportation and had to collect all of the items on campus.

“It was just really intense and I felt like really under pressure to get everything,” said Parker Sheley, a freshman visual arts major.

While some items on the list were straightforward, other items were a little harder to locate. Some of the stranger items on this year’s list included a matching pair of left shoes, a coconut bra, and a butterfly net.

For a complete list of Springfest activities, visit https://www.facebook.com/Springfest2013AtUIS

Thursday, April 18, 2013

UIS makes enrollment easier for transfer students with one-stop "Transfer Express" events

The University of Illinois Springfield is making it easy for transfer students to enroll next fall. Transfer Express is a series of five one-stop, one-day events, beginning on April 27, 2013 and running through August 17, 2013. Students from area community colleges, other universities, and those who never finished college, can get everything taken care of for Fall 2013 classes – in a single day.

Transfer Express will have its first session on April 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Admissions Office in University Hall (UHB). Other dates for Transfer Express are June 22 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.), July 18 (3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.), August 8 (3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.), and August 17 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

Prospective transfer students should bring their official sealed transcripts and application fee to the sessions. Students can talk to an advisor about transferring credits, fill out an application, be admitted, secure financial aid, and even register for classes before leaving. Veterans and other students seeking application fee waivers are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office prior to arrival at 217/206-4847 or admissions@uis.edu.

No advance registration for Transfer Express is necessary. Students expecting to be admitted should have a 2.00 cumulative transfer GPA on a 4.0 scale, have 30 transfer hours by entry to UIS in the fall, and if they are seeking financial aid they should have filed the 2013-2014 FAFSA (UIS school code 009333). Students must be applying for an on-campus program. Online programs are not eligible.

Questions may be directed to the UIS Office of Admissions at 217/206-4847 or to Transfer Coordinator Raymond Barnett at rbarn2@uis.edu.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

"Take Back the Night" march & rally at UIS calls for an end to violence against women

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield and Lincoln Land Community College will hold the sixth annual “Take Back the Night” march & rally.

WHEN: Friday, April 19, 2013 beginning at 7 p.m. (March starts at 7:40 p.m.)

WHERE: The candlelight march will start near the colonnade on the UIS main quad and progress towards the Lincoln Residence Hall (LRH) & Founders Residence Hall (FRH) courtyard where the rally will be held. In the event of rain, the rally will be held in the LRH Greatroom.

DETAILS: “Take Back the Night” protests rape and all forms of violence against women. This event empowers women and all people to reclaim their right to be part of the night and the human experience of nighttime. “Take Back the Night” will include survivor stories, music, poetry and t-shirts for students who arrive early.

The Clothesline Project and 10 Paper Cranes for Healing the Violence will be on display in the LRH & FRH courtyard. The Clothesline Project is made up of t-shirts telling women’s stories. The paper cranes are dedicated to victims/survivors and include a healing word and bell. A pledge by UIS men to end violence against women will also be on display.

Following the rally, the second annual JAMnesty benefit featuring live bands and food will begin in the LRH Greatroom. All donations will benefit the advancement of girl’s education in the Global South.

“Take Back the Night” is co-sponsored by UIS Residence Life, the UIS Women’s Issues Caucus, LLCC Feminist Activist Coalition, and the Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association. Partial funding was provided by the UIS Student Government Association.

For more information on “Take Back the Night”, contact the UIS Women’s Center at 217/206-7173 or womenscenter@uis.edu.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Good as Gold Ceremony at UIS honors over 40 Sangamon County volunteers

The University of Illinois Springfield Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center and the Junior League of Springfield honored more than 40 Sangamon County volunteers during the annual Good as Gold Ceremony. The event was held on Tuesday, April 16 in the Sangamon Auditorium Lobby at UIS.

Larry Adams, an Ameren gas operations supervisor, was honored with the 2013 Distinguished Volunteer Award. He has been volunteering at Springfield’s Matheny-Withrow Elementary School for the past 25 years. Adams started tutoring students at the school in 1988, but his commitment has since grown.

In March, Adams presented a $4,500 check from Ameren to the school’s principal to help buy books, crayons, paper and other items. It is not uncommon for Adams to use his own money to buy things for the school. On Halloween, he’s provided candy for the entire school. For eight years, he selected a class at Christmas and purchased gifts for all the students. One year, he gave Barnes and Noble gift certificates to all the teachers.

Adams also has a knack for recruiting other employees to volunteer at the school. Since 2002, he has chaired the weekly tutoring program, scheduling and handling logistics for a team of volunteer tutors who spend more than 500 hours per year inside and outside the classroom, teaching reading and math and hosting special events aimed at developing the students. He has also become a positive role model for many of the students.

Finalists for the Distinguished Volunteer Award included Julie Baliva from the Inner City Mission, Don Ecklund from Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County, Kemia Sarraf from the GenH Coalition, and Lori Wynstra from Springfield Public School’s Early Learning Center.

UIS students Samia Ahmad, Amanda Cummins, and Paige Heiser were honored with Star Student Award for their volunteer efforts. Ahmad organizing a tie a yellow ribbon and toiletries donation campaign for troops on campus. Cummins helped organize UIS’ Hunger and Homelessness Week. Heiser was honored for her leadership role in the UIS Alternative Spring Break student organization. The Star Staff Award was given to UIS International Student Series Program Coordinator Erika Suzuki for her volunteer efforts with Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach.

Community member Hailey Judge was honored with the Youth Volunteer Award for efforts at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site where she spent over 50 hours volunteering in 2012. Springfield Public School’s AVID Tutoring Program senior mentors Kaylynne Beck, Robin Franklin, Chelsea Hayes, Sinclaire Loughary, and Raechal Stacy were also honored with the Youth Volunteer Awards. The Douglas Avenue United Methodist Church was recognized with the Organization Agent of Service Award for its contributions to the community.

Thirty-four local volunteers were also honored with the Heart of Gold Award. Recipients included: Michael Baker, Wes Barr, Judy Brown, Chuck Clark, Laura Clark, Lori Coultas, William Crook, Charlene Damp, Mark Donovan, William Drew, John Frintz, Susan Gauvin-DeWilde, Dianne Gorolotta, Debbie Holt, Lori House, Greg Lakebrink, Larry and Bernadette Landis, Roy Newman, Brandy Odom, Janice Palmer, Paula Peddicord, John Record, Patricia Robinson, James Schackmann, Heather Schneider, Julia Lea Stapleton, Darla Steiner, Colleen Stuart, Rene Umberger, Leland Warzala, Suzann Welch, Charles 'Chuck' Weyhenmeyer, and Mary Yokem.

For more information about the awards, please visit www.uis.edu/volunteer, email volunteer@uis.edu or call 217/206-7716.

UIS Speaker Series explores American Higher Education Policy in Postwar Iraq

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series will explore American Higher Education Policy in Postwar Iraq. Dr. Jonathan Loopstra, an historian who spent a number of years teaching in Iraq, will discuss the condition of Iraqi universities in the aftermath of the 2003 war and present some prospects and challenges facing Iraqi college students today.

WHEN: Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: Before the mid-1980s, Iraq had one of the best educational systems in the region until a series of wars and economic sanctions devastated Iraqi education. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraqis have struggled to revitalize these institutions, to reverse the effects of decades of decline, and to regain their place as an educational hub in the region. After 2003, foreign governments and international aid agencies provided millions of dollars in foreign aid to help the new Iraqi Ministry of Education improve colleges and universities across Iraq. In addition, individuals and corporations have invested heavily in new, private universities, particularly in Northern Iraq.

While a portion of Loopstra’s talk will summarize the recent history of education in Iraq, most of his focus will be on the experiences of Iraqi youth today. A number of questions will be addressed.

Loopstra is an assistant professor of late-Antique /Middle Eastern history at the Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. He holds a M.S. degree in Syriac Studies from the University of Oxford, a M.A. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America.

The presentation is co-sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Central Illinois. For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speakers Series events and more information, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS presents "Collective Exit" Senior Art Exhibition

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery and Access Gallery present “Collective Exit”, an exhibition of senior student artists. The exhibition will open on Monday, April 22 and will run through Thursday, May 9, 2013.

The exhibition will take place in the Visual Arts Gallery, located in the Health and Sciences Building (HSB 201), and the Access Gallery, located in the Visual and Performing Arts Building (VPA lobby). An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, May 2 from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at both locations.

The artists will exhibit a wide range of media including ceramics, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and illustration. The student artists have each created a body of work that shows the culmination of experience and skill that have developed during their time pursuing their degree. Collective Exit marks the important transition from student to emerging artist. Exhibiting artists include Akeem Freeman, Kim Hobby, Stephanie Mahoney, A.J. Masterson, Mercedes Mayoral-Wiesner, Anna Mulch, Jared Strohm, Barbie Sutheard, and David Ryan Swaar.

“As faculty of these students in the capstone course, I have been working with them and watching them evolve as students and prepare for this exhibition. This collection of work offers a lot of variety, and demonstrates their ability to refine a body of work and work towards producing a well-rounded exhibition,” said Shane Harris, UIS assistant professor of art, music and theatre.

A reception will be held on Thursday, May 2 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with complimentary refreshments provided by The Burger Bar, Cheddar’s, and Texas Roadhouse.

The UIS Visual Arts Gallery is located in HSB, room 201. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Access Gallery, located in VPA, is publically accessible Monday through Friday.

For more information on “Collective Exit” and future exhibitions, contact the gallery at 217/206-6506 or email gallery@uis.edu.