Thursday, October 29, 2009

When a Heart Turns Rock Solid: The Lives of Three Puerto Rican Brothers On and Off the Streets

WHAT: The Sociology/Anthropology Department and the UIS Speakers Award Committee invite you to join us for a Public talk by sociologist Timothy Black entitled “When a Heart Turns Rock Solid: The Lives of Three Puerto Rican Brothers On and Off the Streets”.

WHEN: Monday, November 2, 2009 from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Founders Residence Hall 153

DETAILS: Timothy Black is an associate professor of Sociology and director of the Center for Social Research at the University of Hartford, Connecticut. He will present results of 18 years of interviews and participant observation of street life in Springfield, Massachusetts. His sociological analysis focuses on the lives of three Puerto Rican brothers. In the book, the brothers speak articulately for themselves. Black combines their own accounts of their lives with his observations of drug trade and drug treatment, education, the legal and correctional systems along with in-depth interviews with many participants in the brothers’ lives, including family, friends, partners in crime, teachers, and case workers. Professor Black applies sociological insights to evaluating and developing public policy, and his research focuses on communities often invisible or feared in American society.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information contact Lynn Fisher at 217/206-7938 or lfish1@uis.edu.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

UIS hosting International advisers from five foreign countries

WHAT: UIS will be hosting five EducationUSA advisers from Azerbaijan, Peru, Philippines, Oman, and Russia as part of a U.S.-based training program, which is supported financially by the U.S. Department of State.

WHEN: Monday, November 2, 2009 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center (PAC) on UIS campus

DETAILS: The advisers will participate in cultural events in Springfield and a day of informative meetings and workshops with administrators, academic department chairs, various support services, and international students. It is expected that about 20 representatives from around the state as well as a Senior International Trade Specialist from the U.S Department of Commerce will attend the meeting.

EducationUSA advisers are posted at centers around the world to help foreign students learn about higher education in the United States. The campus visit program will be more than just a tour of area institutions. Advisers will discuss the admissions process with campus officials, sample orientation and other programs available to foreign students.

UIS is working with Study Illinois, a consortium of over fifty accredited
institutions of higher learning to promote international education. UIS will also host the Study Illinois annual meeting from 12-4 on Nov. 2 as well.

For more information contact Dana Atwell, Associate Director of International Programs at 217/206-8356 or ddersh1@uis.edu.

This U.S.-based training program is supported financially by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State under the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended. The program is administered by the College Board.

UI Alumni Association to host UIS Alumni Awards Dinner

The University of Illinois Springfield Alumni Awards Dinner will be held on Friday, November 6, beginning at 6:00 p.m., at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in downtown Springfield. The University of Illinois Alumni Association hosts this annual event, which recognizes and celebrates the achievement, distinguished service, humanitarianism and loyalty of UIS alumni.

The theme for this year’s dinner is “Celebrating Alumni Who Continue Abraham Lincoln’s Legacy”, and the program will include special remarks by world-renowned Lincoln scholar Dr. Michael Burlingame, who holds the Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS.

The Honorable Gordon S. Heddell M.A.’75 of Washington, DC, Inspector General for the United States Department of Defense, will receive the University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award for outstanding success and national or international distinction in one’s business, profession or life’s work.

Helen Jane Dunn M.A.’72 of Springfield, currently residing in Mesa, Arizona, retired educator, will receive the University of Illinois Distinguished Service Award for extraordinary commitment, dedication and service to the advancement of the University.

Robert Moore ’80 M.P.A.’85 of Springfield, retired U.S. Marshal, Police Chief and community leader, will receive the University of Illinois Alumni Humanitarian Award for significant contributions of leadership or service to improve the lives of others and the welfare of humanity.

For consistently demonstrating exceptional loyalty, commitment, dedication and service to the University and Alumni Association, Nancy L. Chapin M.A.’73 of Chatham and Roberta E. Volkmann M.A.’73 of Springfield will be awarded the University of Illinois Loyalty Award for Exceptional Alumni Service. Cost to attend is $65/person and reservations are required by Nov. 2 to attend the dinner.

For more information contact the Office of UIS Alumni Relations/UI Alumni Association at 217-206-7395 or alumni@uis.edu.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

UIS Innocence Project sponsors workshop on Touch DNA Technology

New method could prove helpful in Sangamon County Murder Case

The Downstate Illinois Innocence Project, housed at the University of Illinois Springfield, will be looking at Touch DNA as a vehicle to test pieces of evidence in the Sangamon County murder of Melissa Koontz. The tests could prove to be the break the Project has been looking forward to in order to overturn the conviction of Thomas McMillen.

On Wednesday, October 28 a workshop on Post-conviction DNA Testing: Introducing Touch DNA to Illinois Courtrooms will be held at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The program features the defense team of Timothy Masters. His case was the first exoneration in the US involving Touch DNA. CBS 48 Hours Mystery featured his case in the program Drawn to Murder.

The program will begin with Linda Holloway-Wheeler and Timothy Masters. In June of 1991, Linda was assigned as the lead detective for the Ft. Collins police department’s cold-case homicide investigation of the 1987 murder of Peggy Hettrick. The prime suspect was Timothy Masters. Masters was convicted in 1999 and was sentenced to life in prison. The prosecution pointed to the drawings as the key evidence of guilt.

Featured presenters will be forensic scientists Richard and Selma Eikelenboom who developed the method of Touch DNA testing in Europe. Their sample recovery methods for isolating epithelial skin cells of a perpetrator from the clothing of crime victims was used on the clothing of Peggy Hettrick. The work of the Eikelenbooms led to the recovery of three DNA profiles which matched an individual who was on a short list of suspects in the original investigation. Faced with this evidence in January of 2008, prosecutors agreed to vacate the conviction of Masters. The attorneys and the forensic investigator who convinced the judge in the Masters case to have the testing done will also be present.

Touch DNA is so new that this will be the first workshop focused on Touch DNA in Illinois. Members of the legal profession will be able to received 5.5 continuing legal education credits for attendance at the workshop.

Attending the workshop will be lawyers and student interns who are working on the McMillen case along with students from a UIS class on Conviction of the Innocent.

For more information on the workshop, contact Larry Golden at 217/553-7171 or Bill Clutter at 217/899-4353.

Monday, October 26, 2009

International Festival brings world to UIS campus



The University of Illinois Springfield hosted the 32nd Annual International Festival on Sunday, October 25, 2009 in the Public Affairs Center.

The festival allowed participants to take a trip around the world in only a matter of minutes. Each PAC conference room was organized to be a different part of the world with Asian, European, American and African culture represented.

Students and community members preformed music and dance from different parts of the world in the Studio Theatre. Springfield restaurants donated native food for visitors to enjoy.

“Having people from different parts of the world interact with each other, learn from each other, appreciate one another is not only educational, but it helps us to get along better with one another,” said Rick Lane, UIS Director of International Student Services.

The International Festival has grown each year and organizers say more than 500 visitors took part in this year’s festival.

The theme for the International Festival was “Dancing Under the Stars” in recognition of the International Year of Astronomy.

Watch a slideshow featuring the International Festival: http://www.uis.edu/sightsandsounds/slideshows/international09/index.html

UIS Toastmasters Club welcomes 2006 World Champion of Public Speaking

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield Toastmasters Club welcomes Award-Winning public speaker Ed Hearn

WHEN: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center (PAC) Restaurant

DETAILS: Edward E. Hearn was born into a large family in Springfield. His father, Major Hearn, was a functionally illiterate factory worker who played a key role in making certain that all of his children pursued hard work and education as a way of escaping poverty and hopelessness.

In January of 2006 Ed decided to compete in the Toastmaster’s International World Championship of Public Speaking, an annual contest that is billed as the “World Series of Public Speaking”. The event involves approximately 26,000 contestants from 30 different countries. Ed roused the audience as well as a panel of 20 International Judges with his gift for speaking, and walked away with the First Place Trophy!

Edward E. Hearn is living proof that failure is not final, and that we can all overcome life’s adversities, if we are willing to try. His story is motivational, inspirational, and humorous, all at the same time! His passion, love for life, and ability to touch the hearts and souls of an audience is also the primary reason Ed was crowned the 2006 World Champion of Public Speaking.

For more information contact Rachel Hasenyager at 217/206-6508 or rhase01s@uis.edu.

Friday, October 23, 2009

UIS Peoria Center to hold open house at new location

The University of Illinois Springfield is celebrating its new downtown Peoria location by hosting an open house. The Peoria Center is located inside the Illinois Central College Perley Building, Room 120, 115 Southwest Adams Street in Peoria. The open house will take place on Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. and is open to UIS alumni and friends. The new space will provide a central location and more room to allow the center to continue providing place-bound working adults with affordable, convenient way to pursue their dreams.

The UIS Peoria Center had long been located on the ICC campus before the move and will mark 34 years in the city this year. Since its establishment in 1975, more than 2,426 area students have graduated from the degree programs at the Center. The programs offered have changed over the years, but the focus has remained on providing Peoria area working adults the opportunity to earn a degree and enhance their career options.

“The programs we offer in Peoria are business related in direct response to demand,” said Jana Wise, director of the UIS Peoria Center. “Our students, most of whom are not only working full-time but raising families, tell us it’s a tremendous opportunity to earn a U of I degree from an accredited College of Business and not have to leave Peoria.”

The programs currently offered at the UIS Peoria Center are a bachelor of arts degree in Accountancy; a bachelor of arts degree in Management; a bachelor of arts in Criminal Justice; a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), and a minor in Management Information Systems. In addition, three business degree completion programs are offered entirely online, a bachelor’s degree in Economics, bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA), and the Master of Science degree in Management Information Systems.

Most classes at the UIS Peoria Center are offered evenings and weekends, which accommodates working students and also the faculty. The same faculty who teach on the main campus in Springfield drive to Peoria to teach in the evenings. The business courses offered in their programs are relevant to issues impacting the economy, such as Technology, Management, Forensic Accounting, and Global Leadership.

For more information contact Jana Wise, director of the UIS Peoria Center at 309/999-4250 or wise.jana@uis.edu.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

"Love Your Body Day" Fair teaches positive body image



The University of Illinois Springfield’s Women’s Center held a “Love Your Body Day” Fair on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 in the PAC Concourse to teach students about positive body image.

Women were able to create buttons with phrases such as “This is why I’m hot” and "I'm a big deal because..." to give them a sense of empowerment.

"In our culture we have so much attention and it grows all the time being paid to the outer person, to the body, to the image," said UIS Women's Center Director Lynn Otterson.

The UIS Women’s Issues Caucus also sold “This is what feminists look like” t-shirts and the Alpha Phi Omega club sold pink cupcakes as part of breast cancer awareness month.

UIS Recreational Sports taught participants about the effects of nutritional supplements and how to find your “happy weight”.

“Love Your Body Day” is part of a national annual event, which UIS celebrates each year.

Theatre open auditions for Student-Directed Scenes

WHAT: Students who are currently taking THE/COM 476, Directing for the Theatre will be holding open auditions for their final project scenes.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 28 from 3:45pm – 6pm and Thursday, October 29 from 2pm – 4:30pm in the University of Illinois Springfield VPA Room 170.

DETAILS: Everyone is welcome to audition; auditions will consist of cold readings from the various plays directed by the students.

For more information contact Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson at mthom1@uis.edu.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

32nd annual UIS International Student Festival

Join UIS students, faculty, and staff to share an evening of cultural exhibits, artistic performances, food tasting, and more.

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield presents the 32nd Annual International Student Festival with the theme “Dancing Under the Stars”.

WHEN: Sunday, October 25, 2009 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center (PAC) on UIS campus

DETAILS: For over 30 years the University of Illinois Springfield family has celebrated its rich international and cultural diversity with the annual International Festival. This year’s Festival centers on the theme “Dancing Under the Stars” in recognition of the International Year of Astronomy. 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, and more, all with the international flavor that you have come to expect over the years.

Again this year, in order to make the Festival accessible to all, we are not charging any admission, and we are mixing the food, the exhibits, and many of the performances all in the same rooms. In “theme park” fashion, each room will represent a different part of the world with continual performances taking place throughout the evening. You will want to make your way to all parts of our “planet” to experience how the various countries and cultures represented express in dance and in other ways their recognition of their place under the stars. What a great way to learn about and from each other!

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

Speakers Series: Can the Israeli-Palestinian conflict be solved?

WHAT: The UIS Jewish Student Union presents Can the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Be Solved? The discussion features foreign journalist Yaakov Katz, military correspondent for the Jerusalem Post.

WHEN: Monday, October 26, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium is on the lower level of Brookens Library at UIS
(The event will be available via live webcast and video on demand at http://www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html)

DETAILS: Katz has covered military operations in Israel over the past decade including Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip earlier this year. His talk will focus on the motive behind the launching of the operation, its results, and the larger question of whether peace between Israel and the Palestinians is still attainable.

For more information about this event contact Bret Tate, Co-Chair of the Jewish Student Union, at 612/532-8556 or btate2@uis.edu .

This event is part of the UIS Speaker Series. For more information about the series visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries or contact Kimberly Craig at 217/206-6245 or craig.kimberly@uis.edu.

Monday, October 19, 2009

UIS Downstate Innocence Project hosts seminar on new methods in post-conviction DNA testing

The University of Illinois Springfield’s Downstate Innocence Project will host a 5.5 hour forensic seminar on cutting edge methods of post-conviction sample recovery and DNA testing on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. Participants will hear from the lawyers and forensic scientists who were involved in the case of Timothy Masters, a Colorado man freed from prison by the technology of Touch DNA testing.

Touch DNA was pioneered over a decade ago by forensic scientists Richard and Selma Eikelenboom. The pairs’ sample recovery methods for isolating skin epithelial cells of a perpetrator from a crime victim’s clothing in the Masters case, a twenty year old murder, led to the recovery of three full DNA profiles. All three profiles matched an individual who was on a short list of suspects in the original investigation. Faced with this evidence in January of 2008, prosecutors agreed to vacate the conviction of Masters. His case was recently featured on CBS 48 Hours Mystery.

The Touch DNA testing results in the Masters case has drawn the interest of law enforcement and prosecutors, as well. They recognize Touch DNA’s potential for solving cold cases. Since the Masters case, Colorado law enforcement authorities decided to use Touch DNA in the unsolved case of Jon Benet Ramsey. Her parents, ten years ago, had been wrongly suspected of the murder by Boulder police. Re-testing of the victim’s clothing revealed full DNA profiles in the areas of the clothing where the crime perpetrator grabbed hold of the clothing of Jon Benet Ramsey. These test results may someday lead to the identification of her killer.

Illinois has been on the forefront of the movement to investigate post-conviction claims of actual innocence utilizing DNA. In 1997, Illinois became one of the first states in the country to adopt legislation giving convicted individuals access to DNA testing.

In 2007, the Illinois General Assembly amended the statute to allow for re-testing of biological evidence even if DNA testing had been available at the time of trial. This change in the law recognizes recent improvements in DNA testing methods that can now recover DNA profiles that previous testing failed to find. (See 725 ILCS 5/116-3 (a)(2).

Tuition for the seminar is $195. Attorneys can earn 5.5 hours Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credits. The Illinois Supreme Court recently required mandatory legal training in order to maintain ones law license in good standing.

Featured Speakers:

Timothy Masters: On Feb. 11, 1987, the body of Peggy Hettrick was discovered by a bicyclist in a field south of Fort Collins, Colorado. She had been stabbed to death, and her genitalia had been surgically mutilated. Timothy Masters, 15-years old at the time, lived near the scene and had walked by the body on his way to school but failed to notify authorities. He was later interrogated and his school locker was searched. Police found graphically violent sketches that Masters penned in a spiral notebook. However, police were not able to link him to the murder. Eleven years later, in 1998, Masters was arrested for the murder. A year later, he was convicted of the murder and was sentenced to life in prison. The prosecution pointed to the drawings as the key evidence of guilt. He served over 10 years in prison before he was finally set free in Jan. of 2008. His case was the first touch DNA exoneration in the US. Last fall, his story Drawn to Murder was featured on CBS 48 Mystery.

Linda Wheeler-Holloway: Linda currently works as an investigator for the Office of District Attorney in Fort Morgan Colorado. In June of 1991, Linda was assigned as the lead detective for the Ft. Collins police department’s homicide investigation of the 1987 murder of Peggy Hettrick. A cold case investigation, the prime suspect four years later was Timothy Masters, who was by now a young man was serving in the U.S. Navy. A year later, in 1992, Ft. Collins police issued an arrest warrant for Masters. After interviewing Masters, Holloway had doubts that he was involved. She decided not to arrest him. After she retired from the police department, another detective took over the case and continued to pursue Masters as the prime suspect. The case continued to haunt Holloway after Masters was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 1999. While traveling in Holland on vacation in 2005, Linda Wheeler-Holloway discovered the pioneering work of forensic scientists Selma and Richard Eikelenboom and their ability to recover skin epithelial cells of a perpetrator from the clothing of a crime victim. When she returned to Colorado, Linda contacted Timothy Masters’ attorneys and told them about using touch DNA testing. The results of this testing exonerated an innocent man.

Selma Eikelenboom: Selma is a forensic medical expert. In 1999, she became the Forensic Medical Examiner for Amsterdam’s Municipal Medical and Health Authority. She later worked in the crime scene investigation unit for the Netherlands Forensic Institute Department of Biology. She worked closely with European law enforcement authorities and the judicial system. In 2003, she formed her own company, Independent Forensic Services, a private laboratory in the Netherlands that specializes in recovery of trace evidence and Touch DNA testing that she operates with her husband Richard.

Richard Eikelenboom: Richard is a forensic scientist specializing in trace evidence recovery and bloodstain pattern analysis. He also worked for the Netherlands Forensic Institute Department of Biology. In 2005, he joined Selma as a partner at Independent Forensic Services. Richard and Selma’s work on the Timothy Master’s case pioneered the use of Touch DNA sample recovery methods in the U.S. The Master’s case was the first exoneration case in the U.S. to utilize touch DNA.

Barie Goetz: Barie is a forensic scientist specializing in crime scene reconstruction and bloodstain pattern analysis. He worked for the Indiana State Police and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Systems. In 2004, he retired as Director of the CBI Regional Laboratory in Pueblo, Colorado. Barie then started Sangre de Cristo Forensic Services, where he utilizes his 30 years of experience assisting the judicial system in areas of crime scene reconstruction and post-conviction review. He worked as the Forensic Investigator on the Timothy Master’s case.

Maria Liu: Maria Liu is a founding partner in the law firm of Collins, Liu and Lyons LLP located in Greeley, Colorado. She specializes in criminal defense and post conviction relief. She received her law degree from Southern Illinois University. During law school Ms. Liu worked at the Illinois Migrant Legal Assistance Project and Land of Lincoln Rural Legal Aid. She began her career as a Deputy Public Defender at the Colorado Public Defenders Office. She enjoyed working with indigent clients because they are often the people that need lawyers the most. She served as president of the Weld County Bar Association from 2004-2005. Ms. Liu received the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar’s 2008 Gideon Award and the ACLU’s 2008 Sherman Award for her representation of Tim Masters.

David D. Wymore: David maintains a solo practice in Boulder, Colorado. He graduated from The Ohio State University and The University of Colorado School of Law. He became a Colorado Deputy Public Defender in 1976 and the Colorado Chief Trial Deputy from 1982 to 2004 when he retired. As the Chief Trial Deputy for the statewide defender system, he represented death eligible clients across the State of Colorado. Mr. Wymore also teaches trial tactics and death litigation across the United States as well as in foreign countries. Wymore was also involved in the 2008 exoneration of Timothy Masters.

Bill Clutter: Bill Clutter began his career as a criminal defense investigator in 1985 working for Springfield attorney Michael Metnick. In 1988, he was assigned to investigate his first case of actual innocence in the Naperville murder case of Jeannine Nicarico. That case was one of the first cases in Illinois in which DNA testing was undertaken. The early DNA test that was conducted by Dr. Edward Blake was a full profile match to serial killer Brian Dugan, corroborating his 1986 confession to the Nicarico murder. This early test conducted in 1988 exonerated Alejandro Hernandez, but was unable to exclude Rolando Cruz. Subsequent improvements in DNA testing technology later exonerated Cruz, as well. Bill Clutter’s post-conviction in the case of Randy Steidl and Herbert Whitlock that began in 1991 eventually led to their release from prison. Steidl had been sentenced to death and was released in May 2004. Whitlock received a life sentence and was set free four years later. Following Barry Scheck’s call to create a network of Innocence Projects, Bill met with his former legal studies professor Nancy Ford and Larry Golden at the University of Illinois at Springfield and founded the Downstate Illinois Innocence Project. He currently serves as Director of Investigations for the Project, in addition to maintaining a private detective agency.

John Hanlon: John Hanlon began his legal career as a staff attorney with the Illinois Appellate Defender’s Office assigned to the Supreme Court Unit. His first job out of law school landed him the assignment of defending Rolando Cruz, following Cruz’s 1985 conviction and death sentence for the murder of Jeanine Nicarico. In 1988, John persuaded the Illinois Supreme Court to reverse Cruz’s conviction. When Cruz was convicted a second time and sent back to death row in 1990, John recruited a young lawyer by the name of Larry Marshall, a new professor at Northwestern Law School, to assist him in Cruz’s appeal. That was the beginning of the Innocence Project movement in Illinois. The two succeeded in getting Cruz’s conviction vacated a second time. The third trial resulted in the dramatic acquittal of Rolando Cruz after it was revealed that two detectives had fabricated a Dream Vision Confession. William Kunkel was appointed as special prosecutor, leading to the indictment of police and prosecutors who were known as the DuPage 7. John’s work on the case of Joe Burrows and Randy Steidl contributed to their release from death row, and the Burrows case was cited by Gov. Ryan when he announced a moratorium on capital punishment. John currently serves as an adjunct professor at UIS teaching a class called Wrongful Convictions.

For more information on the seminar contact Bill Clutter at 217/528-5997 or 217/899-4353.

UIS hosts regional contest in 34th annual International "Battle of the Brains"

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

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

WHO: Teams from the University of Illinois Springfield, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Augustana College, Illinois College, Illinois State University, Knox College, and Trinity Christian College.

WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: University Hall Building (UHB) on UIS Campus in 2nd floor Cisco labs

DETAILS: Imagine completing a semester’s worth of computer programming in one afternoon. The IBM-sponsored ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest, the most prestigious computer programming competition of its kind, will gather tens of thousands of students from universities in approximately 90 countries on six continents during its preliminary rounds through December. One hundred teams from around the globe will earn coveted spots at the Contest’s World Finals February 1-6, 2010 hosted by Harbin Engineering University in Harbin, China.

The 34th annual Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) International Collegiate Programming Contest challenges teams of three university students to use their programming skills and rely on their mental endurance to solve complex, real world problems under a grueling five-hour deadline. One hundred successful teams will advance to the World Finals in Harbin, China. IBM’s sponsorship has fueled the growth of the contest to include tens of thousands of students. Since the IBM sponsorship began in 1997, the number of teams participating has grown from 1,100 to more than 7,100 teams. For more information on previous contests, problem sets and last year’s final standings, please visit http://icpc.baylor.edu/icpc/. Also visit IBM’s contest page at www.ibm.com/university/acmcontest/ or the contest podcast series at battleofthebrains.podcast.com.

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

UIS Women's Center Hosts "Love Your Body Day" Fair

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield Women’s Center will hold a “Love Your Body Day” Fair as part of the national annual event

WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center Concourse (PAC) on UIS campus

DETAILS: Everyone is welcome to participate in the fair and will have the opportunity to create buttons with phrases such as “This is why I’m hot” and “I’m kind of a big deal because…” all in an effort to promote healthy body image. The Women’s Center will also be handing out information highlighting “10 Steps to Positive Body Image.”

The UIS Women’s Issues Caucus (WIC) club will have a table at the event selling “This is what feminist look like” t-shirts and promoting their domestic violence cell phone “Light Vigil” on the UIS Quad taking place on October 28, 2009 at 9:30 p.m.

The UIS Alpha Phi Omega club will focus on breast cancer awareness by selling pink cupcakes. All the proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for cancer research.

UIS Recreational Sports will be talking about the effects supplements have on the body. They’ll also have information about finding your “happy” weight.

Planned Parenthood Illinois Action will also have a table at the event where they’ll register voters for the upcoming primary and general elections.

For more information on the “Love Your Body Day” Fair contact Women’s Center Director Lynn Otterson at 217/206-7173 or lotte1@uis.edu.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Illinois Issues: Five join legislative internship Hall of Fame

The Samuel K. Gove Illinois Legislative Internship Hall of Fame will honor five individuals who have served as legislative interns at the state Capitol. John Day, Claire B. Eberle, Stephen R. Pacey, Lee J. Schwartz and Gretchen A. Winter will be inducted during a ceremony at the Executive Mansion on Monday, November 16. Inductees are selected based on their contributions to Illinois and its citizens. The Hall of Fame is also recognition of the important role public service internships play in developing public sector leadership.

Day retired in 2003 as assistant executive director at Illinois’ Teachers Retirement System (TRS) after 10 years with the system. Prior to employment with TRS, he was executive director of the Legislative Audit Commission, worked with the Senate Democratic staff and was a legislative intern from 1970-71. Day is a resident of Rochester.

Eberle is deputy director of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) for the Illinois General Assembly. She has been with JCAR since 1986, previously serving on the Senate president’s staff from 1976 to 1978. She was a member of the legislative intern class of 1975. Eberle resides in Springfield.

Schwartz was a Chicago attorney in private practice at the time of his death in 2002. A member of the legislative intern class of 1966, he was described as an expert on the state constitution. He served as legal counsel to Jack Touhy, then-speaker of the House, and former state Senate Minority Leader Thomas Arthur “Art” McGloon. He made the transition to Chicago politics, where he served in similar positions for Chicago Mayors Richard J. Daley, Michael Bilandic and Harold Washington.

Pacey has served as Ford County’s resident circuit judge since 1996. Previously, he was a commissioner with the Illinois Court of Claims and a public defender for Ford County. A life-long Paxton resident, Pacey spent 22 years in private legal practice. He was a member of the 1970 legislative intern class.

Winter has been the executive director of the Center for Professional Responsibility in Business and Society in the College of Business of the University of Illinois since 2007. The Center is located in Chicago. A member of the 1979 intern class, she has more than 25 years of law firm, public sector and corporate experience and frequently speaks on the topics of professional responsibility, business ethics, compliance, governance, sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Illinois Issues, sponsor of the Hall of Fame, is the state’s leading public policy magazine, published at the University of Illinois Springfield. The Hall of Fame is named for Samuel Gove, one of the magazine’s founders and a longtime director of the internship program. Both the magazine and the Illinois Legislative Staff Internship Program are part of UIS’ Center for State Policy and Leadership. The Hall of Fame was established in 1990, and this year’s event, which occurs biennially, will be its 10th anniversary. The Hall of Fame now includes 49 individuals, among them a former governor and several former and current state legislators. The names of the Hall’s members are inscribed on a plaque that hangs on the fourth floor of the Statehouse.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. on November 16, with a reception followed by the induction ceremony. Tickets are $60 per person. For information on attending, call 217-206-6084.

Friday, October 9, 2009

"Girls under the Hood" teaches car care lessons



Have you ever wondered how to change a flat tire or check your oil or tire pressure? The University of Illinois Springfield Women’s Center hosted a “Girls under the Hood” event on Thursday, October 8 to answer some of those questions.

Guest mechanics from Green Toyota Scion Audi Volkswagen started out by giving the ladies an overview of what to know, what to do, and how to talk to a mechanic. Participants then popped the hood on a Toyota Camry to do some hands on learning.

"Since a lot of the students come in and regularly don't know how to maintain their car because usually their fathers, brothers, uncles or maintenance people take care of it they may not be familiar with how to take care of it during the winter months," said Women's Center Graduate Assistant Lisa Koerkenmeier.

Students who attended the event were entered into a drawing with a chance to win free car detailing or a car maintenance gift basket.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

UIS Lincoln Legacy Lecture will examine "Lincoln and the Environment"

The 2009 Lincoln Legacy Lecture presented by the University of Illinois Springfield will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, October 15, in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library at UIS.

This year’s topic is “Lincoln and the Environment”. The lecture and a reception that will immediately follow are free and open to the public.

The Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series brings nationally known scholars to Springfield to discuss issues that, while they are of contemporary interest, also engaged Abraham Lincoln and citizens of his era.

This year’s featured speaker – Dr. Mark Fiege, associate professor of History and the William E. Morgan Chair of Liberal Arts at Colorado State University, Ft. Collins – will focus on Lincoln’s experience of nature. Dr. Michael Burlingame, professor of History and Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS, will make opening remarks and moderate the discussion.

In his lecture, “Land of Lincoln: Environmental History and the 16th President," Dr. Fiege will examine how Lincoln’s unique political thought, rhetoric and leadership were grounded in his experience of nature – both the natural environment and human nature – while growing up and working in the forests, fields and rivers of pioneer settlements.

Dr. Fiege is the author of a book on the environmental history of the United States that is forthcoming from the University of Washington Press in its Weyerhaeuser Environmental Series. He has been the recipient of best article and book awards from the Idaho Library Association, the Forest History Society and various professional associations. In addition to teaching, he directs the Center for Public History and Archaeology at CSU, whose projects are funded in part by the National Park Service. Dr. Fiege received his Ph.D. from the University of Utah.

Program moderator Michael Burlingame is a preeminent scholar in Lincoln Studies. He taught History at Connecticut College for over 30 years before accepting the appointment at UIS this year. His recent two-volume biography, Abraham Lincoln: A Life (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008) has been described as the definitive study.

Presented by the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership, this year’s event is being held in conjunction with the 24th Annual Lincoln Colloquium hosted by the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Oct. 16-18. Cosponsors of this year's lecture are: Engaged Citizenship Speaker Series, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Public Affairs and Administration, UIS Speakers' Awards Committee, and WUIS Public Radio.

In previous years, lectures have focused on Lincoln and Race (2002), Ethics and Power (2004), Lincoln and Economic Opportunity (2005), Lincoln and America’s Faith (2006), Lincoln and the Law (2007), and Lincoln and Presidential Campaign Politics (2008).

Seating in Brookens Auditorium is limited; however overflow seating will be available in conference room C/D, where the audience can watch a large-screen live video feed. Conference room C/D is located on the lower level of the Public Affairs Center at UIS. 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.

Watch the entire Legacy Lecture in the Video on Demand section

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

UIS Chorus to perform at Springfield's Vachel Lindsay Home

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Sharon Graf, will perform at the Vachel Lindsay Home in Springfield.

WHEN: Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: 603 South 5th Street, Springfield, Illinois

ADDITIONAL INFO: This will be the vocal group’s first performance of the semester and the first ever at the historic home of poet Nicholas Vachel Lindsay.

The event will feature music from a variety of countries, cultures and historical periods. Highlights include songs from Russia, China, and a selection sung in Swahili.

The current UIS Chorus 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. After the Vachel Lindsay event, the next Chorus performance will be at the UIS Showcase Concert, which features the Chorus, Chamber Orchestra and Band and will be held at the PAC Studio Theatre at the University of Illinois at Springfield campus on December 4, 2009, at 7:30 p.m.

For more information on the UIS Chorus or the upcoming performance contact Dr. Sharon Graf at 217/206-6240 or by e-mail at music@uis.edu.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Lunch-time Presentations at UIS

“Central Illinois: Patchwork of Creative Minds”, a thought provoking lunch time educational series examining creative expression that has flourished in the heartland of Illinois, will continue on October 21 at the University of Illinois Springfield with a hot lunch buffet available at 11:30 a.m. and program from 12 noon until 1:30 p.m.

The presentations October 21 will focus on “Springfield Public Garden Design: Historic and Modern”. Terri Cameron, master gardener and historic preservation advocate, will make a presentation entitled “Springfield's Early Park Design and Its Impact” that will examine Springfield’s early parks through archival photos, publications and Springfield Park District minutes. Diane Mathis, Director of Marketing and Development for the Springfield Park District, will speak on “Innovative Park Design”. She will preview Southwind – Springfield’s new universally accessible and environmentally friendly park.

There is a charge for lunch but the presentations are free and open to the public. The luncheon and presentations will be held in the University of Illinois Springfield Public Affairs Center (PAC) Conference Rooms C/D (level below the Sangamon Auditorium lobby). The cost for lunch is $20 and paid reservations are required for the luncheon by October 14, 2009. Pre-registration is also requested from those not purchasing the lunch who wish to attend the presentations.

The series will conclude with a session on Wednesday, November 18 that will focus on “Creative Images: Canvas and Glass”.

Find out how to register and get more information by visiting www.uiaa.org/uis, or contact the Office of UIS Alumni Relations at 217/206-7395 or alumni@uis.edu.

Monday, October 5, 2009

UIS raises pride flag as part of National Coming Out Week



The University of Illinois Springfield is celebrating National Coming Out Week on campus by showing its pride. A group of students, faculty and staff gathered in front of the Public Affairs Center to raise a rainbow-colored flag Monday, October, 5, 2009.

The first pride flag raising ceremony was held three years ago on campus and the celebration has been growing ever since. UIS Chancellor Richard D. Ringeisen issued a statement in support of the LGBTQ community at UIS calling them "important members of the entire university community."

“I think for an institution to display our pride flag so publicly is very important and it really says we’re not ashamed to have you here, we’re proud of you,” said UIS student Renee Rathjen.

“This is just another example of showing this is a very inclusive university that everyone has value to us,” said Ringeisen

The flag will fly over campus for the entire week.

Other National Coming Out Week Events:

Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Meet the Author, Dr. Pierceson Book Signing, 4:00pm PAC Lobby

Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Speak Out 1:00-5:00 UIS Quad

Friday, October 9, 2009
Safe Zone Training Phase 1 - 1:00-4:00 pm, PAC C/D (registrations reqd.)

For more information contact the LGBTQ Resource Office at 217/206-8316 or e-mail: LGBTQ@uis.edu.

"Crossing Lines" Film Screening

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield presents “Crossing Lines” film screening featuring Springfield native and filmmaker Indira S. Somani, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Journalism with Washington and Lee University.

WHEN: Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: University Hall Building (UHB) Room 2008 at UIS

ADDITIONAL INFO: “Crossing Lines” is about an Indian American woman’s struggle to stay connected to India after the loss of her father. Like most second-generation ethnic Americans, Indira Somani has struggled with identity issues, since her parents migrated to the U.S. in the 1960s. Being born and brought up in the U.S. Indira led an American life, but at home, her world was Indian because of her father’s immense love for India and Indian culture. This film takes you on a journey to India, where Indira visits her father’s extended family for the first time after his death. The film explores how Indira tries to stay connected to Indian culture and her extended family, despite the loss of her father. It is the story of how one daughter pays tribute to her father in all that he’s taught her about India, Indian culture and family.

Sponsored by: The Office of International Programs (UIS); The Capital Scholars Honors Program (UIS); The Indian Student Organization (UIS); Asian Indian Women’s Organization (Springfield)

For more information contact Jonathan GoldbergBelle, Office of International Programs at 217/206-8319.

Friday, October 2, 2009

BioBlitz at Emiquon Field Station

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield BioBlitz at Emiquon

WHEN: Saturday, October 10, 2009
(October 7th – Registration deadline)

WHERE: Emiquon Field Station

ADDITIONAL INFO: Each year members of the UIS community, as well as students from surrounding high schools and colleges, gather at Emiquon to do biological sampling. In other words--playing detective, trying to find different examples of the biological life that is present at Emiquon.

Space is limited to the first 80 participants who sign up, and will be asked to make a $10.00 cash donation on the day of the event to help defray the cost of the lunch and supplies.

For more information on times, transportation and to register for the event log onto: https://illinois.edu/sb/sec/1839369

The deadline to register is October 7, 2009.

If you have questions please contact Dr. Jim Bonacum at 217/206-6035 or Bonacum.James@uis.edu.