UIS Visual Arts Gallery presents |fon' seks|: Digital Devices and the Transformation of Intimacy

The Visual Arts Gallery at the University of Illinois Springfield presents |fon' seks|: Digital Devices and the Transformation of Intimacy. This nationally juried exhibition explores the impact that digital devices have had on intimacy and previously assumed private and personal sexual behaviors.

An opening reception that includes a brief talk from the jurors, Assistant Professor of Art Dave Kube and Assistant Professor of Women and Gender Studies Michael Murphy, will take place on Thursday, March 7 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Celebrities, congressmen, and amorous teenagers have discovered - often to their shock and embarrassment - that the meaning of dating, relationships, romance, and even sex itself is currently being renegotiated in light of the fluorescent glow of handheld digital devices. The advent of handheld digital technology seems to have heralded something entirely new. iPhones, Blackberries, and Androids are transforming what it means to be sexually intimate in the 21st century. We are witnessing a revolution in human intimacy and this one will be televised…via the XTube mobile app on your iPhone 4GS. In light of this, how should we view the transformation of intimate relations enabled by handheld digital devices? The artists and works included in this exhibition address this core theme through a variety of responses, interpretations, and media.

Exhibiting artists include Cory Peeke, Sean Fader, Jon Henry, Craig Ryan, Chad States, Lauren McGinn, Michael Max McLeod, Jonathan Armistead, Coalfather Industries, Liat Berdugo, Erin M. Riley, and Malena Barnhart. A Best in Show Award and two Honorable Mentions will be revealed at the reception.

|fon' seks|: Digital Devices and the Transformation of Intimacy will open at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery on Monday, March 4 and run through Thursday, April 11. The opening reception will take place on Thursday, March 7 from 5:30-8 p.m., and will include a brief presentation. Complimentary refreshments will be provided. This 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 exhibition programming, 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 alach3@uis.edu.

Political Art and the Public Sphere to screen The Invisible War documentary

WHAT: The Political Art and the Public Sphere (PAPS) series at the University of Illinois Springfield presents a screening and discussion of the documentary The Invisible War, a film about sexual assault in the United States military.

WHEN: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: The Invisible War is nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 85th Academy Awards. The 2012 film features interviews with veterans from multiple branches of the United States Armed Forces who recount the events surrounding their assaults. Common themes of their stories include the lack of recourse to an impartial justice system, reprisals against survivors instead of against perpetrators, the absence of adequate emotional and physical care for survivors, the unhindered advancement of perpetrators’ careers, and the forced expulsion of survivors from service.

The survivors and advocates featured in the film call for changes to the way the military handles sexual assault, such as shifting prosecution away from unit commanders, who often are either friends with assailants or assailants themselves.

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 Spring 2013 Political Art and the Public Sphere series, Women and War, is dedicated to discussions of ignored, marginalized, misrepresented, and underrepresented social and political questions relating to the experiences of women in war.

This event is co-sponsored by the Women’s Issues Caucus. 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.

UIS Speaker Series presents "Honoring in a Good Way", a Native American cultural program

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “Honoring in a Good Way”, a cultural program that focuses on understanding Native American people. Adam Danner, an author and Native American cultural speaker from Chillicothe, Ill. will lead the discussion.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 7 p.m.

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

DETAILS: This talk will include a discussion of how people can honor their own Native American heritage and/or interest in Native American culture in ways that are respectful and sustainable. This program will also identify misconceptions and falsehoods about Native people and discuss current and historical Native American issues.

Danner’s book, Honoring in a Good Way, and his Native American cultural presentations have been widely praised and endorsed by Native American people around the country for their accurate presentation of Native American people and culture, while addressing the issues of misconception and cultural exploitation. For more information, visit www.adamdanner.com.

This event is being co-sponsored by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Mahatma Gandhi Fund.

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.

Cyber Defense and Disaster Recovery Conference focuses on mobile security

WHAT: “Mobile Security” is the focus of a one-day conference at the University of Illinois Springfield. The conference is hosted by the UIS' Computer Science Department, in conjunction with InfraGard Springfield, an initiative of the FBI, and CSSIA, a regional center for cyber security.

WHEN: Friday, March 8, 2013 from 8:15 a.m. - 3:40 p.m. (Registration at 7:30 a.m.)

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

DETAILS: Experts estimate that by 2015 there will be more mobile devices than people on our planet. It is also expected that people will be seven times more likely to connect to the Internet using a mobile device than with a traditional desktop or laptop computer. We are on the move and we want to take the Internet with us in a smaller form.

What does BYOD mean for organizational security? How does the military handle troops accustomed to using personal mobile devices? What are best practices for on-the-go individuals who are tied to social media? Which moves will smartly tap into this new market of mobile viewing at minimal risk? How can your organization safely integrate mobility and security? Join us as we consider mobile security from a variety of perspectives presented by 12 speakers who are forerunners in their fields.

Dr. Newton Howard, resident scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will deliver the keynote address. Featured speakers include Michael Davis, author of Hacking Exposed. Other speakers include a senior security engineer from IBM, senior security engineer from Sophos, and the assistant vice president of IP & network operations from AT&T.

Register online at: http://csc.uis.edu/cyberconference. Registration cost is $42 through Feb. 24, $55 Feb. 25-March 3, and $75 March 4 and after. Preregistration is required. Call Janis Rose with questions at 217/206-8246.

UIS Lunch & Learn Series presents "Slavery and Emancipation"

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

WHEN: Thursday, February 28 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: As the nation celebrates the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, the UIS Lunch & Learn Series will examine the impact of the landmark document through two presentations.

Dr. Michael Burlingame, the Naomi Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS, will discuss “Lincoln’s Early and Persistent Efforts to End Slavery”. While Dr. Mathew Holden, the Wepner Distinguished Chair of Political Studies at UIS, will present on the topic of “Slavery and Emancipation in the Atlantic Quadrangle”.

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 “Globalization - Where We Are Headed” on March 21 and “UIS: Leadership Lived – Distinguished Insights” on April 25.

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.

UIS Speakers Series presents "The Other Emancipation of the 1860s: Freeing Russia's Serfs"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “The Other Emancipation of the 1860s: Freeing Russia's Serfs” featuring author Peter Kolchin, Ph.D., the Henry Clay Reed Professor of History at the University of Delaware.

WHEN: Friday, March 1, 2013 at 10:45 a.m.

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

DETAILS: This year marks the sesquicentennial of the emancipation of the slaves in the United States. However, the emancipation of 22 million Russian serfs in 1863 is less well-known. While Tsar Alexander II issued an Emancipation Statute in 1861, the legislation did not take effect until 1863. Kolchin will discuss the emancipation of the Russian serfs in comparative perspective with the emancipation of the slaves in the U.S.

Kolchin received his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in 1970, specializes in nineteenth-century U.S. history, the South, slavery and emancipation, and comparative history. His books include First Freedom: The Responses of Alabama's Blacks to Emancipation and Reconstruction (1972, Revised Ed. 2008), Unfree Labor: American Slavery and Russian Serfdom (1987), American Slavery, 1619-1877 (1993, revised ed. 2003), and A Sphinx on the American Land: The Nineteenth-Century South in Comparative Perspective (2003).

This event is co-sponsored by the Illinois State Historical Society, the UIS College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Public Affairs and Administration, the Department of History, and International Programs

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 hosts 15th annual Springfield Collegiate Career Fair

The University of Illinois Springfield hosted the 15th annual Springfield Collegiate Career Fair on February 12, 2013. The event, held at The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC), attracted over 120 employers.

Representatives from non-profit organizations, corporations, and government agencies were in attendance.

“They’re looking for people who want part-time positions, full-time positions, internships, and there are a few here to network. Primarily, most of the people that are here this year are looking for people to hire,” said Tammy Craig, director of the UIS Career Development Center.

UIS computer science major Amulya Chintakuntla came to the fair looking for an internship and volunteer opportunities.

“There are really good opportunities,” said Chintakuntla. “You just go and grab some information from them. There are some openings I can really look into.”

Others, such as MBA student Ben Eckler, came to the fair looking for jobs.

“I’m really surprised at how many employers they got to come out today and really excited to have some many options to choose from,” said Eckler.

Craig encourages students to prepare before they attend a career fair. They should dress appropriately in business attire, have a prepared 30 second elevator speech about themselves, and have specific questions ready to ask companies.

For more information about job opportunities and future career fairs, visit the UIS Career Development website at www.uis.edu/career/.

UIS Speaker Series presents "Taking the River Pulse: Sustainability and Restoration of Rivers and Their Floodplains in Illinois and Brazil"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “Taking the River Pulse: Sustainability and Restoration of Rivers and Their Floodplains in Illinois and Brazil”. This presentation and discussion will be led by Professors Claudia Costa Bonecker and Michael Lemke.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

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

DETAILS: The great rivers of the world have a pulse – an annual rhythm of flooding and drying. In some places, the river pulse is being removed and thus, changing the ecology and the dynamic of the river. In other places, efforts are being made to return the pulse to the rivers. The UIS Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon is honored to have established collaboration with the scientifically prestigious NUPELIA group at The State University of Maringá in Brazil, experts in large river studies. In this presentation, Bonecker and Lemke will stress the importance of ecological study as a part of sustainability using examples from their collaborative study.

Bonecker is a distinguished ecology professor studying Continental Aquatic Environments and Comparative Biology at The State University of Maringá in Paraná State, Brazil.

Lemke is the director of the UIS Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon and a professor of biology at UIS. His research centers on the microbiology of aquatic systems. His current focus of study is on the shallow lakes of the central reach of the Illinois River System and large rivers of Brazil.

This event is co-sponsored by 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 joins global "One Billion Rising" campaign to stop violence against women and girls

The University of Illinois Springfield Women’s Center will join with activists around the world on February 14, 2013 for “One Billion Rising”, the largest day of action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.

UIS students and staff have been practicing a dance, which will be performed at 11:15 a.m. outside the Public Affairs Center (PAC) Food Emporium and at 5:15 p.m. at The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) prior to the start of the UIS women’s basketball game. The “One Billion Rising” campaign is activating women to perform similar dances around the world.

“One Billion Rising” began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls.

On February 14, 2013, V-Day’s 15th anniversary, UIS will join activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities, and women and men across the world to express outrage, demand change, dance, and rise in defiance of the injustices women suffer, demanding an end at last to violence against women.

As part of the effort, male students, staff, and faculty at UIS have signed a pledge to help end the violence. Male and female students have also made glittered self-portraits, which will be displayed during the dance performances.

For more information on “One Billion Rising”, visit www.onebillionrising.org. For details on the UIS event, contact Lynn Otterson, director of the UIS Women’s Center at 217/206-7173 or lotte1@uis.edu.

Students invited to have "Cheesecake with the Chancellor"

WHAT: UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch, along with the UIS Student Government Association (SGA), Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS), African Student Association (ASA), Black Student Union (BSU), and International Student Association (ISA) will host “Cheesecake with the Chancellor”.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 13 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 cheesecake in an informal setting.

This is the fourth 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.