Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Businesses and organizations are invited take part in the Career Connections Expo at UIS

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to register now for booth space at the 2016 Career Connections Expo at the University of Illinois Springfield. The fair will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on the UIS campus.

The annual event is hosted by the career services offices at the University of Illinois Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College, and ITT Technical Institute.

The Career Connections Expo is intended to bring students and alumni from all three institutions, community members, local employers, and organizations together to discuss career opportunities in a broad range of available positions. Local businesses who are recruiting candidates for full-time or part-time jobs and internships are invited to participate in the event. The event has an average attendance of over 400 students and alumni.

Booth assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served response basis. Employers are encouraged to register as soon as possible as space is limited. The deadline to register is February 5, 2016 at 5 p.m.

Employers can register for the Expo by visiting the UIS Career Development Center’s online system called “CareerConnect” at www.uis.edu/career. The “CareerConnect” system also allows employers to establish a company profile and post career opportunities at no cost. UIS students and alumni are then able to view and apply for positions directly through the system by uploading their resume.

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

Monday, November 30, 2015

UIS Music Program presents Fall Band Showcase Concert


WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Music Program presents its second of two Showcase concerts this fall, featuring performances by the UIS Flute Choir, UIS New Orleans Brass Band, and UIS Band. The performances are free and open to the public.

WHEN: Friday, December 4, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Studio Theatre, located in the Public Affairs Center at UIS

DETAILS: The event will feature a wide array of music including pieces by Anne McGinty, Michael Jackson, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Percy Grainger.

The UIS Flute Choir, under the direction of Applied Music Specialist Abigail Walsh, will lead the program with an arrangement of "Simple Gifts" by Ricky Lombardo. Other pieces include "Masques", by Anne McGinty, and "Let There Be Peace on Earth" by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson.

Directed by Brian Pryor, the New Orleans Brass Band will perform arrangements of “A Closer Walk With Thee” and "Brooklyn" and end with Michael Jackson's "Human Nature".

The UIS Band will end the program under the direction of Abigail Walsh, starting with Steven Reinecke's exciting overture "Defying Gravity". Other works include "West River Jubilee" by John Darling, and "Symphony No. 1 In Memorian- Dresden 1945" by Daniel Bukvich, among others. The concert will conclude with Dmitri Shostakovich's march, "Galop".

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 23, 2015

UIS Visual Arts Gallery Silent Auction features artwork by local and national artists

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery will hold its annual fundraising Silent Auction Benefit starting on Dec. 7, 2015. The auction offers a wide range of high caliber works donated by local and national artists, and is often referred to by community collectors as “the best kept secret in Springfield” for acquiring new original works at accessible prices.

Bidding begins on Dec. 7 and a closing reception, along with final bidding, will take place on Dec. 10 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the Visual Arts Gallery, room 201 in the Health and Science Building on campus. All events are open to the public.

Works of art were donated to the silent auction by local artists affiliated with the Springfield Art Association, the Prairie Art Alliance, The Pharmacy, DEMO Project, the Illinois State Museum, the UIS Visual Arts Gallery, and UIS Visual Arts faculty. In addition to the local donors, artwork was donated to the auction from artists from throughout Illinois and beyond.

“This strong showing of support from our local creative community annually paves the way to success for the Silent Auction Benefit, which serves as the sole fundraiser for the gallery each year,” said Jeff Robinson, director of the UIS Visual Arts Gallery. “The auction features an extraordinary range of work and reflects a spirit of support amongst artists that thrive in Springfield.”

All proceeds from the silent auction will benefit UIS Visual Arts Gallery programming throughout the year.

The UIS Visual Arts Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, please visit the UIS Visual Arts Gallery website at www.uis.edu/visualarts/gallery, or contact the gallery at 217/206-6506.

Friday, November 13, 2015

UIS Music Program presents Fall Chamber Orchestra and Chorus Concert

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Music Program presents its first of two showcase concerts this fall, featuring performances by the UIS Chorus and Chamber Orchestra. The performances are free and open to the public.

WHEN: Friday, November 20, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Studio Theatre, located in the Public Affairs Center at UIS

DETAILS: The event will feature a wide array of music including pieces by George Harrison, Handel, Mozart, and modern composer/arranger Tyron Cooper.

The chorus, under the direction of Associate Professor Sharon Graf, will open the Showcase with “The Journey” arranged by Joseph M. Martin, and will end with an arrangement of “Follow the Drinking Gourd”, arranged specifically for the UIS chorus with chamber ensemble by Tyron Cooper.

Directed by Assistant Professor Yona Stamatis, the chamber orchestra will perform a wind arrangement of “Christmas Psatorale” Messiah by Handel and end with the full orchestra performing Vittorio Monti’s famous “Csardas”.

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.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

UIS Lunch & Learn Series presents "Vietnam: A Catalyst of Change"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield’s Office of Advancement, Alumni SAGE Society, Chancellor’s Office and the Illinois State Historical Society presents “Vietnam: A Catalyst of Change” as part of the Lunch and Learn Series.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 18 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: Americans’ responses to the Vietnam War ran the gamut, and the U.S. participation undoubtedly served as a catalyst of change for our country. Responses sparked internal conflict and questioning of societal norms. The impact can be felt today, 40 years following the fall of Saigon.

Mark DePue, director of oral history at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, will moderate a panel of speakers, who will discuss their Vietnam-era experiences and the war's impact on their lives and on today’s society.

The cost for the hot buffet lunch and program is $23/per person. Reservations are requested, as seating is limited. Seating is available in the back for those who do not purchase the luncheon buffet.

These lunch-time programs are designed to stimulate thinking as they build upon the university's tradition of open and intelligent dialogue.

Visit www.uis.edu/advancement/alumni/ to register online. For more information, contact the UIS Office of Advancement at 217/206-6058 or advancement@uis.edu.

UIS Speaker Series examines the U.S. school lunch in "Lunch Hour" simulation

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will take a close look at school lunches during a simulation called “Lunch Hour”. The event is co-sponsored by the UIS Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center and Student Government Association.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Student Life Building Gymnasium

DETAILS: “Lunch Hour” guests will be given $2.15 in simulated money and the opportunity to purchase real items to make their own school lunch.

After eating and assessing the nutritional value of the lunches, guests will view the 2014 documentary film Lunch Hour, by director James Costa.

Lunch Hour examines America’s national school lunch program which exposes children to unhealthy, but culturally accepted foods at a young age. It delves into the economic, political, cultural and historical challenges facing schools that wish to provide healthy lunches to their students.

The program will conclude with a discussion panel including members of a school administration, a school cook/chef, parent, student and a physician/ nutritionist with their unique viewpoints.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

UIS Sustainability Week 2015 events announced

The following events will take place during Sustainability Week at the University of Illinois Springfield (Nov. 9-13, 2015).

Sustainability Photo Contest Display
Tuesday, Nov. 10 – Friday, Nov. 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SAGE/RHA Educational Tabling
PAC Concourse (near the Food Emporium)

Vote for your favorite entry in our First Ever UIS Sustainability Week Photo Contest! Photographs taken by our semi-finalists will be on display. Cast a ballot for your favorite. Members of Students Allied for a Greener Earth (SAGE) and RHA will explain how you can help make our campus more sustainable.

FREE Electronics Recycling
Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
North side of Brookens Library, loading dock on the first floor level

Electronic waste can be incredibly toxic. Let us take it off your hands! Visit the BLH Computers web site (http://blhcomputers.com/recycling/) for a complete list of items that will be accepted for free recycling. Contact Dave Barrows, dbarr1@uis.edu, with any questions.

SAGE Food Waste Audit
Tuesday, Nov. 10 from Noon to 2 p.m. - PAC Food Emporium

SAGE members will collect and enumerate the trash generated in the PAC Cafeteria and share the results so we can mend wasteful habits.

Pop-Up Putt Putt
Tuesday, Nov. 10 & Thursday, Nov. 12 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
PAC Concourse (near the Food Emporium)

Play a round of goofy golf on holes created from re-used materials by students in Prof. Powell’s Principles of Stagecraft class.

Sustainability Week Keynote Address
Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. - Brookens Auditorium

"What is a Sustainable University? How Students, Faculty, & Staff Can Work Together to Create a More Socially Just & Ecologically Sustainable World" featuring Cindy Klein-Banai, associate chancellor of sustainability at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

SAGE Campus Clean-Up
Saturday, Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Volunteers Meet at Lincoln Residence Hall at 10:45 a.m.

Join SAGE members as they help clean-up campus. This is a wonderful opportunity to participate in a service day to make our campus beautiful. Contact Mihai Smarandescu at msmar2@uis.edu with any questions. Materials will be provided.

Sponsored by the Campus Senate Committee on Sustainability, the ECCE Speaker Series, and Students Allied for a Greener Earth. For more information, contact Megan Styles at mstyl2@uis.edu.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

UIS Speaker Series explores sustainability in a university setting

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will explore “What is a Sustainable University? How Students, Faculty, & Staff Can Work Together to Create a More Socially Just and Ecologically Sustainable World”. The event is co-sponsored by the UIS Campus Senate Committee on Sustainability and the UIS Students Allied for a Greener Earth (SAGE.)

WHEN: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.

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

DETAILS: The University of Illinois at Chicago has emerged as a leader in “greening” its campus through an innovative set of programs that encourage students, faculty, and staff to work together to create educational programs, build infrastructure, conduct research, and otherwise strategize for sustainability.

Presenter Cynthina Klein-Banai will explain what UIC has accomplished, why it matters and what UIS can do to create a more socially just and ecologically sustainable world.

Klein-Banai has been serving as the Associate Chancellor for Sustainability at UIC since 2008, where she leads the Office of Sustainability and campus towards greater environmental sustainability. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences from UIC and is an adjunct faculty member.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

UIS presents the 38th annual International Festival

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield invites the community to the 38th annual International Festival. Join UIS students, faculty, and staff to share an evening of cultural exhibits, artistic performances, food tasting and more. This year’s theme is the "World at a Glance”.

WHEN: Friday, November 13, 2015 from 5-8 p.m.

WHERE: The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC), located on the south side of the UIS campus. Parking is available in lot F and I, located next to TRAC. A map of the 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, and food tasting.

Admission is free and the festival is open to the public. Countries and organizations that will be represented include several African nations, China, India, Ireland, Peru, Scotland, the Middle Eastern countries, and more. Guests will have a chance to sample delicious ethnic dishes from many of the counties represented.

Guests should pick up a program as they enter to find their ways to the exhibits, cuisines, and performances. Everyone can spend some time getting to know people from every part of the world!

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

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Internationally renowned artist and critic Buzz Spector to deliver artist talk at UIS

Buzz Spector, an internationally recognized artist and critical writer based in St. Louis, will present an artist talk at the University of Illinois Springfield on Thursday, November 5, at 6:00 p.m. The talk will take place on the third floor of Brookens Library, in room 376, and is open to the public.

The talk is made possible by the following community sponsors: DEMO Project, The Springfield Art Association, Prairie Art Alliance, UIS Visual Arts Gallery, Friends of Brookens Library and the UIS Department of Art, Music, and Theatre.

Spector will also exhibit his work in Eye to Eye, Mouth to Mouth, Ear to Ear, at DEMO Project, a Springfield art gallery that emphasizes contemporary art practices. Eye to Eye, Mouth to Mouth, Ear to Ear will open at DEMO Project on Friday, November 6, from 6:00-8:30 p.m. The exhibit will run from Friday, November 6 through Saturday, December 5. DEMO Project is open for the duration of the exhibit on Saturday afternoons from 1:00-4:00 p.m. or by appointment.

Buzz Spector works in a wide range of mediums including sculpture, photography, printmaking, book arts, and installation. His work makes frequent use of the book, both as subject and as object, and is concerned with the relationships among public history, individual memory, and perception.

Internationally recognized as an artist and critic, his work has been exhibited in museums throughout the United States and Europe, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Corcoran Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), Mattress Factory Art Museum (Pittsburgh), and the Luigi Pecci Center for Contemporary Art (Prato, Italy).

Spector is also a highly accomplished teacher who received the College Art Association’s Distinguished Teaching of Art Award in 2013. Having taught previously at Cornell University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he is currently Professor of Art at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis.

DEMO Project is located on the Springfield Art Association campus at 732 N. 4th Street, Springfield, IL. DEMO Project is directed by Springfield-based contemporary artists, all of whom have an affiliation to the UIS Visual Arts program. For more information, email demoprojectspace@gmail.com or visit www.demoprojectspace.com.

UIS Theatre presents "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde

The Theatre Program at the University of Illinois Springfield presents The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, opening Friday, October 30. Six performances will be presented in the Studio Theatre, on the lower level of the Public Affairs Center at UIS - on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, October 30, 31, and November 1, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 5, 6, and 7. All shows will begin at 7:30 p.m., except the Sunday performance (November 1), which will begin at 2 p.m.

UIS Associate Professor and Director of Theatre Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson will direct with scenic design by UIS Assistant Professor of Theatre Dathan Powell.

In the Oscar Wilde play, Algernon Moncrieff (Algy) and Jack Worthing are young Englishmen who are both looking for a little excitement in their aristocratic lives. To this end, they have each invented alter egos, in order to call themselves away from high society doldrums. For Algy, there’s “Bunbury,” who requires constant attention and for Jack, there’s “Earnest,” a name he has adopted for escapes to London from the country. Enter Algy’s aunt, Lady Bracknell, and her daughter, Gwendolyn Fairfax—with whom Jack falls in love. As Jack labors to pass Lady Bracknell’s inspections, Algy has fallen in love with Jack’s ward, Cecily Cardew. Both Gwendolyn and Cecily reveal that any marriage-worthy suitor of theirs must first possess a confidence-inspiring name such as “Earnest.” What unfolds is a hilarious, yet perceptive and universal journey for the young men, as they learn who they really are in name and in character…all of which leads toward their final understanding of the vital importance of being “earnest.”

The cast includes UIS students Beatrice Bonner, Andrew Conrad, Diamond Dixon, Christopher Vemagiri Marbaniang and Alessandro Vazquez. UIS alum Curtis Meinhardt and community members Melissa Betty and Mary Myers are also cast members.

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 from Sangamon Auditorium, not included in the prices above, 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. You may also purchase tickets over the phone by calling 217/206-6160.

For more information on the production, please visit the UIS Theatre website at www.uis.edu/theatre.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

UIS Speaker Series examines Human Trafficking in Central Illinois

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will examine Human Trafficking in Central Illinois through a survivor’s eyes. The event is co-sponsored by the UIS Women’s Center, Grounds of Grace and Butterfly Dreams Abuse Recovery.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Human Trafficking in Central Illinois is not just your typical pimp/prostitute scenario as most commonly recognized or addressed. It is often committed in “small-town USA” communities; potentially right next door. Speaker Patricia McKnight is one such survivor of family human trafficking.

McKnight will share her true story account along with information and discussion with Dana Pfeiffer, director of Grounds of Grace, an organization dedicated to assisting victims of human trafficking.

McKnight is a survivor of 30 years of abuse, violence and human trafficking from family members. Now, she passionately advocates changing laws, trains, educates and assists those dedicated to working to end human trafficking. She is the author of the book, My Justice, works through the Butterfly Dreams Abuse Recovery and hosts a radio program to elevate awareness. Pfeiffer is the founder and director of Grounds of Grace. She passionately assists families of abuse, violence and human trafficking.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

Monday, October 19, 2015

UIS Visual Arts Gallery presents "Strange Matter"

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to present Strange Matter, a mixed-media exhibition from Chicago-based artists Sarah and Joseph Belknap.

Strange Matter will open on Monday, October 26 and run through Thursday, November 19. An opening reception for the exhibit will take place on Thursday, October 29 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The exhibit offers a new body of work and installation that plays with light, space and perception. A wash of ambiguous quasi-Mars light blankets objects and drawings that rely on touch as a primary source of navigation. Graphite, the most stable of carbon forms, is worked into the surfaces and materials of the installation, coating everything – suspending time and movement.

Sarah Belknap and Joseph Belknap are Chicago-based interdisciplinary artists and educators who earned master’s degrees in Fine Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. They have been working as a team since 2008. Their work has recently been seen at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Trinity College in Palos Heights, Ill. and The Arts Club of Chicago.

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 at 217/ 206-6506 or alach3@uis.edu.

UIS to cut ribbon on new team building Challenge Course

WHAT: The Department of Campus Recreation at the University of Illinois Springfield will be joined by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon cutting at its new Challenge Course. The course is available to campus groups, athletic teams, community groups, and local businesses.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Spencer House, 1301 West Lake Shore Drive, Springfield

DETAILS: The low team challenge course (ropes course) consists of events that may occur on the ground as well as utilizing poles, wires, platforms and ropes a few inches to a couple feet off the ground.

The course is designed to teach participants teamwork, communication, problem solving, cooperation, trust and respect. After a series of challenges, a trained facilitator leads a discussion to help the group relate the experience to something relevant to their lives as individuals and as a team.

Most groups utilize the course for a half day (3-4 hours). However, each experience can be tailored to the groups’ needs and could go as short at two hours or as long as eight hours. The course requires a minimum of eight participants, with a maximum of 150 people.

Pricing depends on the desired amount of time, numbers of participants and group objectives. For more information, contact Jay Swenson with UIS Campus Recreation at 217/206-7103 or jswen2@uis.edu.

For more information, visit www.uis.edu/campusrec/facilities/challenge-course/.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

UIS Speaker Series features poetry reading and discussion from Slow Lightning

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents ‘Cultural Code Switching in America,’ a poetry reading by author Eduardo C. Corral. The event is co-sponsored by the UIS Department of English, UIS LGBTQA Resource Office, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Vachel Lindsay Association.

WHEN: Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room

DETAILS: As part of Queertober, Eduardo C. Corral will present poems from his collection, Slow Lightning, a text that breaks taboos in embracing minority voices, using bilingualism and lyricism to explore the limitations individuals such as him experience.

Corral’s poetry addresses many possibilities as he provides a direct way of engaging with an anti-immigrant and heteronormative society to bring about positive social change.

Corral is a CantoMundo fellow. He holds degrees from Arizona State University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His award-winning poems have been featured in numerous publications including; Best American Poetry 2012, Beloit Poetry Journal, and the New England Review. Slow Lightning, was selected as the 2011 winner of the Yale Series of Younger Poets competition.

Corral currently resides in New York City and teaches at Columbia University.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS Speaker Series examines the unexpected link between temporary populations in Los Angeles

WHAT:       The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE)Speaker Series will explore “Stay” in LA: Temporary Workers and Precarious Duration in Los Angeles, presented by Anne Cong-Huyen.

WHEN:       Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:    Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room

DETAILS:  The global city of Los Angeles has long been notorious for its conflicting representational history. It persists as a destination for workers from the global south searching for opportunities in the hemispheric north.

                     This talk will examine LA as a city where diverse temporary populations struggle to endure and stay, particularly the H1B1 workers from South Asia in the high-tech industry and Latino day laborers. These groups are commonly represented on opposite ends of the economic and social spectrum. However, they are linked by the temporary and racialized nature of their work.

                     Anne Cong-Huyen, coordinator of the Digital Liberal Arts Center at Whittier College in Los Angeles, holds a Ph.D. in English from UC Santa Barbara and is a previous Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Transnational Studies at UCLA. Her research focuses on migration and labor in global cities such as Dubai, Los Angeles and Ho Chi Minh City.       
                     This discussion is co-sponsored by the University of Illinois Springfield Department of English.


For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS Speaker Series examines how Islam challenges Christian beliefs

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will explore Muslim-Christian differences in today’s society in “Islam, the Catholic Church, and the Future of the World,” with Notre Dame Professor Gabriel Said Reynolds

WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

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

DETAILS: This lecture will examine how Islam challenges Christian beliefs, reflect on how the Catholic Church has responded to these challenges through the centuries, and propose ways in which the Church and society might face the newest challenges of Muslim-Christian relations.

Gabriel Said Reynolds is a professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame. He has authored The Qur’an and Its Biblical Subtext and The Emergence of Islam, as well as three volumes on the Qur’an and Christian-Muslim encounters. He has researched and lectured throughout the Middle East and United States.

This speaker series is co-sponsored by the University of Notre Dame Hesburgh Lecture Series and Notre Dame Club of Central Illinois.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

UIS Lincoln Legacy Lectures to commemorate U.S. Voting Rights Act

Lincoln and Voting RightsWhat: The 13th annual Lincoln Legacy Lectures, presented by the University of Illinois Springfield, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Voting Rights Act of 1965 with "Lincoln and Voting Rights."

When: Thursday, October 15, 2015 from 7 to 9 p.m. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m

Where: Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library at UIS. Overflow seating will be available in the Public Affairs Center, Level 1, Conference Rooms C/D and G, where the audience can watch a large-screen live video feed.

Details: 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 Michael Vorenberg, Associate Professor of History at Brown University, and Ronald Keith Gaddie, President’s Associates Presidential Professor of Political Science at the University of Oklahoma.

Michael Burlingame, the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS, will give opening remarks on “Lincoln and Black Voting Rights,” and serve as moderator.

In the first lecture, Vorenberg will describe “Voting Rights and the Meaning of Freedom: The View from the Civil War Era.” In the second lecture, Gaddie will discuss “Citizenship and Voting Rights in the Modern Era.”

The Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series is sponsored by the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership, in cooperation with the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies.

Cosponsors of this year's event include the Abraham Lincoln Association, UIS College of Education and Human Services, UIS College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, UIS College of Public Affairs and Administration, Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, Engaged Citizenship Speaker Series, Gobberdiel Endowment, Illinois State Historical Society, Illinois State Library, League of Women Voters of McLean County, Springfield Branch of the NAACP, Springfield Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and WUIS/Illinois Issues.

For more information, contact the Center for State Policy and Leadership at 217/206-7094 or visit www.uis.edu/cspl/.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

UIS Homecoming Weekend activities announced

The University of Illinois Springfield invites you to celebrate our 19th annual Homecoming Weekend on October 16 & 17, 2015. The following is a partial list of events. To view a full list of Homecoming activities, visit www.uis.edu/homecoming/.

UIS Homecoming Parade 

WHAT: The parade is an annual tradition of Homecoming at UIS. Come out and enjoy the festivities, the UIS band and much more!

WHEN: Friday, October 16, 2015 at 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Campus – The parade will start in parking lot C-north and end in parking lot F near The Recreation and Athletics Center (TRAC). The best place to view the parade is along Eliza Farnham Drive, near Founders Residence Hall.

DETAILS: Community members are encouraged to attend to watch the parade, enjoy, and learn more about the many student organizations, athletics teams and campus departments that participate in the parade.

UIS Prairie Stars Men’s and Women’s Soccer 

WHAT: The NCAA Division II men’s and women’s soccer teams will play Maryville during the annual homecoming game.

WHEN: Friday, October 16, 2015 – The women’s game begins at 5 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Kiwanis Stadium at UIS

DETAILS: Admission to the games is $6 for adults and children are $3. UIS students, faculty and staff are free with a valid iCard. Following the men’s soccer game, there will be a free fireworks display.

Prairie Stars Athletics Hall of Fame Induction 

WHAT: UIS Athletics will induct its second class into the Prairie Stars Athletic Hall of Fame during a formal ceremony on campus.

WHEN: Saturday, October 17, 2015 (Reception at 5:30 p.m., formal ceremony at 7:00 p.m.)

WHERE: The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) at UIS DETAILS: The 2015 class includes Dorothy Walsh Ripka, women's tennis (1995-1997); Naomi & Bob Lynn, Friend of the Prairie Stars; Dominic Giacomini, tennis coach (1991-2006); Rick Wiegand, soccer (1978-1979); and the 1988 NAIA National Champion Men's Soccer Team.

Guests must preregister for the reception in TRAC. For $25, guests can enjoy beer & wine along with hors d'oeuvres. Child 15 and under are free. To register, contact Paul Kabbes at pkabb2@uis.edu or 217/206-8547.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

UIS Speaker Series explores the "Importance of Nonviolent Protests to Oppose Racial Injustice"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents a discussion on “The Importance of Nonviolent Protests to Oppose Racial Injustice in Ferguson” featuring first-hand witnesses and participants in the Ferguson civil rights protests, Pastor Cori Bush and Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou. The discussion will be moderated by UIS associate professor Roxanne Marie Kurtz.

WHEN: Friday, October 16, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Inspiring and internationally recognized speakers and civil rights activists with deep ties to the St. Louis area, Pastor Cori Bush and Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou seek an ethical path to change.

On the frontlines of the Ferguson protests, Bush reports being assaulted by police as she provided medical care to protestors. Sekou was arrested as he prayed with other clergy who had gathered. Bush and Sekou contend that only nonviolent citizen-led civil rights actions against social, political, and law enforcement practices that have shaped and sustained patterns of deep racial injustice in Ferguson can achieve the change that justice demands.

Bush is the pastor of Kingdom Embassy International, a member of Ferguson’s Women’s Caucus, a registered nurse and a daily Ferguson activist. Sekou, called to Ferguson by the interfaith peace Fellowship of Reconciliation, is a Harvard-educated theologian, author and former visiting scholar at Stanford University’s Martin Luther King Education and Research Institute.

This lecture-discussion is part of the events leading up to the One Book, One UIS Keynote event with Congressman John Lewis on Oct. 19.

A list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events can be found at www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS Social Justice Leadership Series announces book club featuring the works of author Harper Lee

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Institute for Legal, Legislative and Policy Studies (ILLAPS) invites participants to the first Community Education Book Club featuring the works of author Harper Lee. The club is part of the Social Justice Leadership Series: Race and Racism in America.

WHEN: October 14, 21, and 28, 2015 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Public Affairs Center (PAC 457) and Online Webinar

DETAILS: Harper Lee’s Pulitzer-prize winning book, To Kill a Mockingbird, has become an American literature classic, touted by critics as “the most widely read book dealing with race in America.” The book is commonly used in high schools across the country to teach about racial injustice and emphasize tolerance. Go Set a Watchman, Lee’s sequel to Mockingbird, published in 2015, and was actually written and submitted to publishers before Mockingbird in mid 1950s.

ILLAPS invites participants to read both To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman, and join them for a Book Club discussion to better understand how these two works relate and what they can tell us about race and race relations in America today.

Pauline Kayes, professor emeritus from Parkland College, will lead the discussion for book club participants who wish to meet in person and in a Webinar format.

Cost for the Community Education Book Club is $75. To register, contact Elizabeth Thai at 217/206-7990 or email illaps@uis.edu.

The ILLAPS Community Education Book Club will host a new book and discussion each semester. For more information, visit www.uis.edu/illaps/community-education/.

UIS Speaker Series examines gender roles using J.K. Rowling’s beloved world of Harry Potter

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will delve into the issue of gender roles with some of the most famous fictional characters of modern times in “Hermione Granger and Other Characters: Gender in the World of Hogwarts.”

WHEN: Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Using excerpts from the novel “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” University of Illinois Springfield Associate Professor of Women and Gender Studies Heather Dell will offer analysis and lead discussion about the way key characters are gendered in Rowling’s world.

How do girls and boys attempt to gain standing among their peers, families and teachers in this novel? Does co-ed quidditch offer us a good model for equal opportunity in sports? Rowling’s world offers an excellent opportunity to explore both the limits of her vision and the ways she opens our minds to not just tolerance, but acceptance.

Heather Dell grew up with parents who loved England. She has been recognized with the UIS Pearson Award and by the Capital Scholars Honors Program for excellence in teaching. As a cultural anthropologist, she has conducted research in India, Canada, Nicaragua, England and the Netherlands.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

Monday, September 28, 2015

UIS Lunch & Learn Series presents "Medicine on the Prairie"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield’s Office of Advancement, Alumni SAGE Society, Chancellor’s Office and the Illinois State Historical Society presents “Medicine on the Prairie” as part of the Lunch and Learn Series.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 13 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: A robust professional medical education and training program has spurred growth in high-quality healthcare, local business, education programs, and cultural diversity. Dr. Kevin Dorsey, dean and provost of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, will reflect on his tenure and offer a glimpse of the future of healthcare. Dr. Virginia Dolan, pediatrician, will speak on her experience as a medical student, her career path as a pediatrician and changes in the profession impacting women.

The cost for the hot buffet lunch and program is $23/per person. Reservations are requested, as seating is limited. Seating is available in the back for those who do not purchase the luncheon buffet.

These lunch-time programs are designed to stimulate thinking as they build upon the university's tradition of open and intelligent dialogue.

The Lunch & Learn Series will conclude for the semester on November 18 with “Vietnam: A Catalyst of Change”.

Visit www.uis.edu/advancement/alumni/ to register online. For more information, contact the UIS Office of Advancement at 217/206-6058 or email advancement@uis.edu.

Monday, September 21, 2015

UIS Speaker Series explores Capitalism vs. reality

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents a Carrol C. Hall Lecture on “Capitalism vs. Reality.”

WHEN: Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

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

DETAILS: "Does capitalism pursue a collective self-interest that benefits us all, or does it pursue the interests of the wealthy and transnational corporations?"

In this lecture, author and speaker Michael Parenti will provide a critique of capitalism as the driving logic of empire which motivates global exploitation and growing inequality everywhere. Parenti encourages attendees to think beyond dominant ideologies, and argues for the critical necessity of engaged citizens who are committed to a cooperative idea of the good society.

Michael Parenti holds a Ph.D. in political science from Yale University. He has authored more than 20 books, many of which have been translated into over 18 languages. He serves on the board for Project Censored, as well as on the editorial boards of New Political Science and Nature, Society and Thought. Parenti focuses on American politics and U.S. foreign policy, and he directly indicts the U.S. government as the central administrator of global capitalism today.

This lecture is funded by the Carrol C. Hall Endowment Fund. This fund aims to further educate young Americans on capitalism as an economic system and philosophy.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

Monday, September 14, 2015

UIS Professor Ali Nizamuddin to discuss the corporate dominance of the world's food supply

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series welcomes UIS Associate Professor of Political Science Ali Nizamuddin. He will discuss his new book, The Patenting of Life, Limiting Liberty, and the Corporate Pursuit of Seeds, which investigates the corporate dominance of the world’s food supply.

WHEN: Monday, September 28, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

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

DETAILS: The seed is nature’s gift and the first link in the food chain. This life form is becoming the exclusive intellectual property of the corporation. The advent of genetically modified seeds and strict patent protection accorded to them enables companies to own the seed even after the farmer has bought, planted, and harvested the seed. Multinational corporations have a monopoly control over seeds and the accompanying pesticides which is leading to monocultures in the food system and the disappearance of traditional methods of farming. Local producers are forced to buy seeds each year, thereby fostering a feudalistic relationship of perpetual dependence. An imbalance of power has emerged and farmers are transformed from producers to consumers by these arrangements.

Ali Nizamuddin received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in International Relations. His dissertation examined the impact of market risks on investment patterns and the bargaining interaction between multinational corporations and host governments over the life cycle of an investment project. His research has been published in numerous academic journals including the Journal of Pacific Affairs, Asian Journal of Social Science, the International Social Science Review, and the Encyclopedia of International Political Economy.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Artist Eric J. Garcia to speak at UIS and present exhibition during Hispanic Heritage Month

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to present Strata, an exhibition from Chicano artist Eric J. García, who serves as the traveling art coordinator at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. The exhibition reception is held in conjunction with an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series event, “Mexican Muralists: Public Art for Social Transformation,” and is part of the Political Art and the Public Sphere (PAPS) Series.

Strata will open on Monday, September 21, and run through Thursday, October 15. An exhibition reception will take place will take place at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery on Monday, September 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Speaker Series event, “Mexican Muralists: Public Art for Social Transformation,” will take place the same night from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium, on the lower level of Brookens Library.

García offers this context for his exhibit: “Layers of history, diverse cultures and conquests make up my complicated background. This exhibit illustrates some of the different ancestors that mixed, fought and ultimately created something culturally new. With the help of an assortment of media, hopefully these objects present not only the complexity of my identity but the circumstances that caused it.”

“Mexican Muralists: Public Art for Social Transformation” is an ECCE Speaker Series event that serves as a perfect companion to the exhibit. Garcia will address history and content found within his work and beyond. After the Mexican Revolution overthrew the Diaz dictatorship in the early 20th Century, the new government funded major public art projects. Murals by the best artists in Mexico were not created for the art world, but to communicate social and political messages for the public. They illustrated Mexican history and celebrated indigenous roots and non-European identity.

The Mexican Mural Movement became a model for public and political art that continues to inspire artists around the world, including Latinos --- such as Eric J. Garcia. As a forum in the Political Art and the Public Sphere Series, the main event will be an open discussion with the artist, in which we explore the social and political dimensions of Mexican art and his own work.

García is known for mixing history and culture with contemporary themes. He has shown his art in numerous national and international exhibitions. His awards include the prestigious Jacob Javits Fellowship and a Midwestern Voices and Visions Residency. Born and raised in Albuquerque’s South Valley, Garcia earned his Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico and his Masters of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Visual Arts Gallery is centrally located on the UIS campus in the Health and Science Building, Room 201. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit the UIS Visual Arts Gallery website at www.uis.edu/visualarts/gallery or contact the gallery at 217/206-6506 or alach@uis.edu.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

UIS Speaker Series examines a decade of Supreme Court leadership under Chief Justice John Roberts

WHAT: On Constitution Day, the University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will examine U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ first decade on the bench. Jason Mazzone, professor of law and the Lynn H. Murray Faculty Scholar in Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will offer analysis and predictions about where the Court and the Constitution are headed.

WHEN: Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Under John Roberts’ leadership, the Supreme Court has decided a set of constitutional cases that touch on the hottest political issues of our time (including same-sex marriage, abortion, Obamacare, lethal injections, and religious freedom). While the Roberts Court has not shied away from difficult and controversial matters, its decisions, overall, defy conventional labels of “conservative” or “liberal." Yet making sense of the Roberts Court is essential to understanding its impact upon American society.

Mazzone will assess how the Supreme Court impacts the social and political lives of ordinary Americans as well as how the Court's decisions are themselves informed and shaped by the views and experiences of citizens.

Mazzone is a nationally recognized expert in the fields of constitutional law and history. He received his law degree from Harvard University, a master’s degree from Stanford University and master’s and doctoral degrees from Yale University. His scholarship has been cited by many courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He teaches constitutional issues around the world and is chair of Illinois-Bologna Conference on Comparative Constitutional History, in addition to being a media commentator.

This event is co-sponsored by the UIS Legal Studies Department. For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

Friday, September 4, 2015

UIS Lunch & Learn Series presents "Typewriters, Tape Reels and Social Media"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Office of Advancement, Alumni SAGE Society, UIS Chancellor and Illinois State Historical Society presents “Typewriters, Tape Reels and Social Media” as part of its annual Lunch and Learn Series.

WHEN: Thursday, September 17 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: WUIS and Illinois Issues magazine have joined forces to offer a 24/7 tech-savvy news and entertainment organization, leveraging technology and social media tools. General Manager and publisher Randy Eccles will lead a 40th anniversary discussion with Illinois Issues editor Jamey Dunn and retired WUIS station manager Brad Swanson on the ever-changing business of radio, entertainment and print news media.

The cost for the hot buffet lunch and program is $23/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 $55/per person.

Other upcoming Lunch & Learn events include “Medicine on the Prairie” on October 13 and “Vietnam: A Catalyst of Change” on November 18. These lunch-time programs will stimulate thinking as they build upon the university's tradition of open and intelligent dialogue.

Visit www.uis.edu/advancement/alumni/ to register online. For more information, contact the UIS Office of Advancement at 217/206-6058 or email advancement@uis.edu.

UIS Speaker Series explores the history and experiences of Latin Americans in the United States

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will explore “Latin Americans: Relating Diversity, History, Experiences and Assimilation in the U.S.” during a Hispanic Heritage Month panel discussion.

WHEN: Monday, September 14, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Individuals of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity make up the largest minority group in the United States today, and by 2060 the U.S. Census Bureau projects they will make up almost one-third of the country’s population. This panel, made up of individuals from a variety of Latin American countries, will discuss the racial/ethnic makeup and current and historic social/political issues of their respective homelands. They will explain the reasons for immigration out of their respective countries and reflect on their own experiences as they have attempted to integrate into this country’s society.

Panelists will include Adriana Crocker, from Argentina – associate professor of Political Science at UIS; Jorge Villegas, from Mexico – associate professor of Business Administration at UIS; Patrick Anderson Avilés, from Honduras – writing specialist in the Center for Academic Success at UIS; Jesús Canelon, from Venezuela – assistant professor of Management Information Systems at UIS; and Rubén Darío Gómez González, from Guatemala – tour guide, Mayan civil rights advocate, and passionate public advocate for his country. The event will be moderated by Hinda Seif, associate professor of Sociology and Anthropology at UIS.

This event is co-sponsored by the UIS Diversity Center and Organization of Latin American Students. For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS hosts ambiguous grief workshop; loss that occurs without closure or understanding

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield, Memorial Health Centers and Butler Funeral Homes present “Loss, Trauma, and Resilience: The Myth of Closure with Ambiguous Loss” workshop featuring internationally known marriage and family therapist, scientist-practitioner and author Pauline Boss, Ph.D.

WHEN: Friday, October 2, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Ambiguous loss is loss that leaves a person searching for answers. It can complicate and delay the natural process of grieving and often results in unresolved grief.

Pauline Boss, Ph.D., the principal theorist in ambiguous loss has worked with families of the physically missing, from the Vietnam War, 9/11, the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami and more recently with the Malaysian Airline Flight 370. Her work on the psychologically missing is best represented in her latest book, Loving Someone Who Has Dementia.

Boss will teach about the two types of ambiguous loss and share her six therapeutic guidelines for treatment when loss is complicated by ambiguity.

Pauline Boss is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota, a fellow in the American Psychological Association and the American Associate of Marriage and Family Therapy and a family therapist and consultant in private practice.

Cost for the workshop is $100, or $125 after September 18, 2015. Continuing education units and contact hours will be provided. Register online at www.uis.edu/humanservices/.

For more information contact Carolyn Peck, UIS associate professor and chair of Human Services at 217/206-7577 or cpeck2@uis.edu.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Tickets now available for “One Book, One UIS” event featuring civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis

Tickets for the “One Book, One UIS” presentation featuring civil rights icon and U.S. Congressman John Lewis are now available free of charge to the general public through the UIS Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office. Lewis will speak at the auditorium on Monday, October 19 at 7 p.m. along with co-author Andrew Aydin and illustrator Nate Powell.

The graphic memoir, MARCH, which tells Lewis’ life story, has been chosen by UIS as the campus community read for the 2015-16 academic year.

The program, “MARCH: The Struggle for Racial Equality and Social Justice”, is supported in part by Illinois Humanities and the Field Foundation of Illinois. Other sponsors include the UIS Chancellor’s Office, Friends of Brookens Library and the UIS ECCE Speaker Series.

The title of the book MARCH comes from the many marches that Lewis organized or participated in, including one of the most well-remembered moments in civil rights history—the march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965. Lewis was one of the organizers of the march, which drew nationwide attention when the non-violent marchers were attacked by Alabama state troopers. Many historians believe that the images of cruelty from the Selma march were a factor in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Lewis has been a member of the United States House of Representatives since 1986. Born the son of sharecroppers in Pike County, Alabama, he became a civil rights activist while a student at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, organizing sit-ins and participating in freedom rides. From 1963-1966, Lewis chaired the Student Nonviolent Organizing Committee (SNCC) of which he was a founder.

Over the years, Lewis has received many prestigious awards, including the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. He was recently presented with the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government from the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs.

Co-author Andrew Aydin currently serves in Representative Lewis’ Washington, D.C. office handling telecommunications and technology policy as well as new media. He previously served as director of communications and press secretary during Lewis’ 2008 and 2010 re-election campaigns.

Nate Powell is a New York Times best-selling graphic artist whose work includes the critically acclaimed, award-winning Any Empire, Swallow Me Whole and three other books. He is currently drawing the graphic novel adaptation of Rick Riordan’s #1 bestseller Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero.

MARCH is planned as a three-volume trilogy. At UIS, we are reading volumes one and two. MARCH: Book One has received numerous awards, including a 2014 American Library Association (ALA) Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award and an ALA Notable Children’s Book designation. It made the “best books of 2013” lists of USA Today, The Washington Post, Slate and others. MARCH: Book Two has just been published and has already garnered a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.

This is the second community grant that UIS has received from Illinois Humanities to bring authors with important public policy messages to the campus and the Springfield community.

Members of the public may obtain free tickets by visiting the UIS Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office, located in the Public Affairs Center on campus, or by calling 217/206-6160 or 800/207-6960. Charges may apply for those who choose to have tickets mailed to them. You must have a ticket to be admitted to the event.

For more information about the “One Book, One UIS” community read, the event on October 19 and related events, visit www.onebookoneuis.com.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

UIS Friday Night Star Parties return in September

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 11, 18, 25 and October 2, 9, 16 and 23. Friday Night Star Parties are held from 8 to 10 p.m., weather permitting, at the UIS Observatory on the roof of Brookens Library.

In addition to the regular Friday Night Star Parties, there will also be one bonus Star Party this fall on Sunday, September 27 from 7 to 10 p.m. (weather permitting) in order to view the start of a total lunar eclipse.

Star Parties are hosted by John Martin, UIS associate professor of Astronomy/Physics. The observatory’s telescopes will be used to view a number of celestial objects, including the planet Saturn; 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 8-10 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. Participants may also follow the UIS Observatory on Twitter (@UISObservatory) for updates.

For more information on Star Parties, email John Martin at jmart5@uis.edu or visit www.uis.edu/astronomy/about/starparties.html.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

UIS Visual Arts Gallery presents "Let the Words Fall Out" by Springfield artist Brytton Bjorngaard

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery will present Let the Words Fall Out, an interactive installation from Brytton Bjorngaard, UIS assistant professor of visual arts and Springfield graphic designer and artist.

The exhibit will open on Monday, August 24 and run through Thursday, September 17. A reception for the exhibit will take place on Thursday, September 3, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

Let the Word Fall Out strives to counter the highly controlled depictions of our opinions and emotion that unfold through the use of digital communication today, such as texting, Facebook, Instagram, and beyond. Through these means, individuals often present a picture not as it truly exists --- but rather, as an expression of idealized, controlled, and polished identity. Through her installation, Bjorngaard considers the question: “How much of our communication is honest?”

Of the text-based designs that comprise her installation, Bjorngaard says, “The goal is not to be offensive, funny, or judgmental, although the work may function in those capacities. The goal is to speak openly.”

Bjorngaard was born in Minnesota and has spent her life as a rolling stone, living in Oregon, Minnesota, Spain, Italy, Iowa, Washington, and Illinois. She received her Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Iowa State University and her bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She previously held faculty positions at Whitworth University and Iowa State University.

In addition to teaching, she is a freelance graphic designer, a member of DEMO Project, an artist-run contemporary and alternative project gallery in Springfield, and a board member at the Springfield Art Association.

The Visual Arts Gallery is centrally located on the UIS campus in the Health and Science Building, Room 201. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit the UIS Visual Arts Gallery website at www.uis.edu/visualarts/gallery or contact the gallery at 217/206-6506 or alach@uis.edu.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Latin American History professor to discuss improved relations between the United States and Cuba

WHAT: The World Affairs Council of Central Illinois and the University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will examine “U.S.–Cuba Relations: Will This Thaw Continue?” The discussion will be led by Frank Argote-Freyre, a noted author, activist, journalist and professor of Latin American History at Kean University.

WHEN: Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Was the historic meeting on April 11, 2014 between Raul Castro and Barack Obama at the Summit of the Americas a harbinger of a normalized relationship between the U.S. and Cuba? Will the U.S. soon end its trade embargo? Will the Cuban government protect human rights? Will all travel restrictions be eliminated? How far will this thaw in the relationship between Cuba and the U.S. go? What will the new relationship between Havana and Washington look like? What are the obstacles and challenges to forging a new relationship? These questions and others will be addressed at this presentation by Frank Argote-Freyre.

As an author, Argote-Freyre wrote Fulgencio Batista: From Revolutionary to Strongman. His work was named Outstanding Book of the Year in 2007 by Choice Magazine. He also co-authored, with Danilo Figueredo, A Brief History of the Caribbean. Argote-Freyre is the president of the Latino Action Network. As a journalist, he has written numerous articles on topics ranging from nuclear power to corruption in the mental health system of New Jersey. At Kean University and at Rutgers, he has taught courses on the History of Cuba, History of Mexico, Colonial Latin America, and Modern Latin America.

The event is co-sponsored by the UIS Diversity Center and Organization of Latin American Students. For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS Theatre announces 2015-16 season productions

University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) Theatre is excited to announce its production lineup for the 2015-16 academic year. In fall 2015, the program will present The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. The spring 2016 production will be Distracted by Lisa Loomer.

The Importance of Being Earnest will be performed Oct. 30 – Nov. 1 and Nov. 5-7, 2015 in the Studio Theatre, lower level of the Public Affairs Center. UIS Associate Professor and Director of Theatre Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson will direct with scenic design by UIS Assistant Professor of Theatre Dathan Powell.

Open auditions/crew interviews will be held Aug. 30-31, 2015 in The Studio Theatre. Callbacks will take place on Sept. 1. Auditions and crew positions are open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Check www.uis.edu/theatre for updated times and information. Roles are available for 4 women and 5 men. Some of the crew positions available include stage management, props master, costume crew, sound designer, lighting crew and set construction.

In the Oscar Wilde play, Algernon Moncrieff (Algy) and Jack Worthing are young Englishmen who are both looking for a little excitement in their aristocratic lives. To this end, they have each invented alter egos, in order to call themselves away from high society doldrums. For Algy, there’s “Bunbury,” who requires constant attention and for Jack, there’s “Earnest,” a name he has adopted for escapes to London from the country. Enter Algy’s aunt, Lady Bracknell, and her daughter, Gwendolyn Fairfax—with whom Jack falls in love. As Jack labors to pass Lady Bracknell’s inspections, Algy has fallen in love with Jack’s ward, Cecily Cardew. Both Gwendolyn and Cecily reveal that any marriage-worthy suitor of theirs must first possess a confidence-inspiring name such as “Earnest.” What unfolds is a hilarious, yet perceptive and universal journey for the young men, as they learn who they really are in name and in character…all of which leads toward their final understanding of the vital importance of being “earnest.”

The spring production, Distracted will be performed April 22-24 and 28-30, 2016 in the Studio Theatre, located on the lower level of the Public Affairs Center. UIS Associate Professor of Theatre Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson will direct with scenic design by UIS Assistant Professor of Theatre Dathan Powell. Open auditions/crew interviews will be held Jan. 24-25, 2016 in The Studio Theatre. Callbacks will take place on Jan. 26. 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 play by Lisa Loomer, 9-year-old Jesse can’t focus at school, can’t sit still, can’t follow directions. Is Jesse simply a typical 9-year-old boy, or is he suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, as his teacher suspects? Jesse’s parents clash over this potential diagnosis, their marriage suffers, and Mom struggles to find a solution amid various health professionals--one of whom wants to prescribe Ritalin. Neighbors and friends all seem to have their own diagnoses—and suggested solutions—none of which seem to work for Jesse and his parents.

Dramatists Play Service calls the play “a hilarious, provocative, and poignant look at a modern family and an epidemic dilemma: Are we so tuned into our 24/7 info-rich world that we’ve tuned out what really matters?”

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.

For more information on the upcoming season, please visit the UIS Theatre website at www.uis.edu/theatre.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

UIS Speaker Series explores "The Charleston Massacre & the History of Racial Violence in America"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will explore “The Charleston Massacre and the History of Racial Violence in America” during a panel discussion.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.

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

DETAILS: This event will bring together a panel of experts to explore the historical, social and political lineage that nurtures the current racist culture and climate that enabled the Charleston shootings. This event was inspired by the project #CharlestonSyllabus, the creation of Chad Williams, professor of African American Studies at Brandeis University.

Williams will join in the panel discussion, along with University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign associate professor Sundiata Keita Cha-Jua and Loyola University of New Orleans assistant professor Ashley Howard. The discussion will be moderated by UIS assistant professor Ty Dooley.

The panel discussion will engage the audience in examining the complexities of race relations in America, help them identify how the long history of racial violence contributed to the Charleston shootings, teach them about the convergence of factors and conditions over time that resulted in the current racial climate in the U.S., and help them understand their role as citizens in addressing racial intolerance in their communities.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

Monday, June 15, 2015

UIS Speakers Series uses science fiction to prompt discussion on differences and acceptance

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents a film screening and discussion on Enemy Mine with moderator, author and UIS instructor Ed Myers.

WHEN: Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Enemy Mine (1985) depicts a future where the galaxy is being colonized and humanity goes to war with a reptilian race from the planet Draco, as both races fight over the control of many worlds.

During a space battle, a human pilot finds himself stranded on a volcanic planet with a Drac, who also crashed-landed on the planet. Both stranded, the two put aside their differences and hatred for one another as they both try to survive on the planet. As they do, they learn of each other’s cultures and eventually form a friendship.

Moderator Ed Myers is the author of several short stories, plays and novels, including the first volume in a science-fiction comedy series, The Totally Gnarly Adventures of the Galactically Bitchin’ Comet Sweat! He serves as an instructor for the UIS Speaker Series and as an English instructor for various other colleges in the Springfield area.

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.