Annual Holiday Stars Project benefits Central Illinois Foodbank

The Holiday Stars Project, a campus-wide service initiative giving focus to the University of Illinois Springfield’s efforts to make a difference in the local community during the holiday season, is celebrating another successful year.

Volunteers helped collect 8,366 pounds of food, which will be donated to the Central Illinois Foodbank. On Halloween night, seventeen student groups went door-to-door collecting canned food from the Springfield community. The rest of the food was collected during a campus-wide drive during the month of November.

In 2008, a campus-wide committee created the Holiday Stars Project. It is designed to be a tradition on campus, which strengthens our community efforts during the holiday season.

The Central Illinois Foodbank distributes nearly 8 million pounds of food annually to over 160 food pantries, soup kitchens, residential programs and after-school programs in a 21 county region. The foodbank is a member of Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization, and is a United Way certified agency. More information is available at www.centralilfoodbank.org.

For more information on the UIS Holiday Stars Project, contact Brittany Elder, volunteer services coordinator, by email at belde2@uis.edu.

UIS Visual Arts Gallery holds annual auction & benefit

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery will hold its annual auction and benefit, which will start on Mon., Dec. 5 and end on Thurs., Dec. 8. A closing reception, along with final bidding, will take place on Dec. 8 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

This annual fundraising event will feature an extraordinary range of work by artists who are celebrated locally and nationally. Local artists Felicia Olin, Thom Whalen, Chris Britt, Bob Sill, Mike Miller, and Betsy Dollar are among the list of artist donors, and the list goes on to include artists that range from emerging to established.

Auction items will include photographs, ceramics, sculpture, paintings, and works on paper, as well as some miscellaneous items, such as a custom printing package donated by Miles Ahead Productions and theater tickets donated by the UIS Theater Department. Proceeds from the annual UIS Visual Arts Gallery Auction and Benefit will support gallery programming throughout the year.

“This art auction is a chance for anyone to acquire a unique work of art and, at the same time, support visual arts in the Springfield community,” said Shane Harris, the UIS Visual Arts Gallery director and assistant professor. “We feel honored and grateful for the generous donations from artists and overall community and campus support.”

The Dec. 8 reception will include complimentary refreshments as well as offer final bidding for auction items. Also enjoy festive holiday music performed by the UIS Chorus from 5:00-5:30 p.m., and the Chamber Ensemble from 5:40 to 6:10 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

The UIS Visual Arts Gallery is centrally located on the UIS campus in the Health and Science Building, room 201 (HSB 201). Gallery hours are Mon. through Thurs., 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, please visit the UIS Visual Arts Gallery website at www.uis.edu/visualarts/gallery, or contact the gallery by phone at 217/206-6506 or email gallery@uis.edu.

World AIDS Day panel to feature HIV positive individuals

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will host an informational panel as part of World AIDS Day. The panel will feature HIV positive individuals, who will share their stories about living with the virus.

WHEN: Thurs., Dec. 1 from 4 to 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Worldwide, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death and disease for women 15-49. Of the 1 million people with HIV in the United States, 1 in 4 don't even know they have it and almost 70% of these living with HIV are people of color. Overall, 50% of all gay black men are HIV positive and 78% of all black women infected with HIV contract it through heterosexual contact.

Jonna Cooley, Ph.D., executive director of The Phoenix Center will serve as moderator of the panel. The Phoenix Center serves as Springfield's LGBTQ Community Center providing high quality HIV/AIDS prevention and education to the community as a whole.

The panel discussion is being sponsored by the UIS Diversity Center & LGBTQ Resource Office, the Illinois Department of Public Health Center for Minority Health Services, the Springfield Urban League, Brothers and Sisters United Against HIV/AIDS, and The Phoenix Center.

For more information, contact Kerry Poynter, director of the UIS LGBTQ Resource Office at 217/206-8316 or email kpoyn2@uis.edu.

UIS Lunch & Learn Series presents "Landscapes of Memory: The Civil War as Illinois History"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Alumni SAGE Society will host “Landscapes of Memory: The Civil War as Illinois History” as part of its annual Lunch and Learn Series.

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center (PAC) Restaurant, located on the lower level of the PAC on the UIS campus.

DETAILS: During the Civil War, the state of Illinois was a pivotal resource for war efforts. More than 250,000 Illinoisans served in the Union army. The state's geographic location, railroads and proximity to rivers made it ideal for housing military supplies and sites for important "brown water" navy yards. POW camps and prisons dotted the state, processing thousands of captive Confederate soldiers. Illinoisans such as Lincoln, Grant and Logan played prominent roles in the war.

Historians and authors Robert Girardi and Carl Volkmann will share perspectives on Civil War memorials and POW Camps in Illinois.

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

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

Auditions & crew interviews set for UIS Theatre's production of Sam Shepard's True West

The Theatre Program at the University of Illinois Springfield will hold open auditions and crew interviews for the second production of its 2011-2012 season – Sam Shepard’s True West - on Thurs., Dec. 1 and Fri., Dec. 2 in the Visual and Performing Arts Building (VPA) Room 170, located the east side of the UIS campus. Parking is available in Lot A. Crew interviews begin at 6 p.m. on both nights; auditions begin at 7 p.m. on both nights.

Auditions will consist of “cold readings” from the script; prepared monologues are welcome, but not mandatory. Resumes are appreciated, but are not required. Scripts are available for check-out at Brookens Library. The three available roles are Austin (an aspiring screenwriter), Saul (a Hollywood producer), and Lee & Austin’s mother. In this "Faculty Showcase" production, the role of Lee will be played by Associate Professor of Theatre, Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson.

Those interested in working on the production team (props, costumes, dramaturgy, running crew, sound or light board operator, assistant stage manager, etc.) will be asked to fill out a crew application form and meet briefly with the director.

True West explores the challenging and volatile relationship between brothers Austin and Lee, an unsavory drifter. Austin's attempt at creating his own screenplay to pitch to a Hollywood producer gets undermined by Lee's conman tactics, and the two brothers find themselves in a battle of wills with high stakes.

UIS Assistant Professor of Theatre Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson will direct. Production dates are Feb. 24-26 and March 1-3, 2012. 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 $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens (65 or older with a picture I.D.), $8 for UIS Faculty/Staff and $6 for UIS students with a valid i-card. Please note that a $2 service charge, not included in the prices above, from Sangamon Auditorium will be added to each ticket price, at the time of purchase, for those who walk up to the UIS Ticket Office to buy their tickets. For those who buy over the phone with a credit card or buy online, an additional $3 is added (for a total of $5 as a service charge per ticket).

For more information about auditions, the play, or helping behind the scenes, contact Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson at 217/206-8307 or mthom1@uis.edu. You may also visit the Theatre Program’s website at www.uis.edu/theatre.

Students invited to have "Chocolate with the Chancellor"

WHAT: University of Illinois Vice President and UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch, along with the UIS Student Government Association (SGA), will host the first-ever “Chocolate with the Chancellor” event.

WHEN: Wed., Nov. 30 from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m.

WHERE: Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room

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

Koch hopes the forum will help to create an ongoing open exchange of ideas as she answers questions and addresses concerns. The idea is to make the campus’ top leader more available to students in a comfortable environment.

The forum is the result of a sit down meeting between SGA members and Chancellor Koch. For more information, contact Erin Wilson, SGA president by email at ewils4@uis.edu.

International Student Festival celebrates cultural diversity

The University of Illinois Springfield celebrated its rich international and cultural diversity with an evening of exhibits, artistic performances, food tasting, and more on November 11, 2011.

It was all part of the 34th annual International Student Festival, the longest running student initiated festival on campus, which this year focused on the theme “Explore Folklore”.

“It draws people’s attention to the diversity that we do have around here. It’s not just a small community with one kind of person it’s actually a lot of variety different types of people with different backgrounds,” said Cassie Bernardi, UIS International Student Services graduate assistant.

The festival was not only open to students, faculty, and staff, but members of the Springfield community, who came to enjoy the traditional festival. International students also enjoyed sharing their culture and learning about others.

“We don’t get to see this back at home, so organizing this type of fest gives us new ideas and we can share our ideas,” said Sanjay Kumar, an international graduate student majoring in Management Information Systems.

The festival featured professional storytellers performing their craft as part of the folklore theme. Participants shared music and tales from around the globe during the cultural exchange.

For more information on services for International Students and programs, please visit www.uis.edu/International/.

UIS Assistant Professor of Visual Arts brings interactive Snapshots exhibition to campus

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery proudly presents Snapshots, an exhibition of work by UIS Visual Arts Assistant Professor Shane Harris.

WHEN: The exhibition will be on display Nov. 10-Dec. 1, 2011. An opening reception will take place on Nov. 17 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

WHERE: The UIS Visual Arts Gallery is centrally located on the UIS campus in the Health and Science Building, room 201 (HSB 201).

DETAILS: Shane Harris explores the concepts of play, intimacy and relationships with the exhibition Snapshots. This interactive installation offers the audience a rare opportunity to handle and play with a variety of small-scale sculptural pieces and create their own “snapshots”. The backdrop for this engaging visual playground will include digital prints and mixed media sculptures.

Harris, an Illinois native, has exhibited nationally and has received awards and acclaim for his work. He develops small-scale objects to communicate, on an emotional and personal level, with his viewers. “I use small scale to represent not only physical intimacy but emotional intimacy as well. I have always liked small objects that carry a powerful meaning,” said Harris. Harris partners his objects with digital images that he has staged, using his small-scale objects as subjects themselves. “Similar to the impact of looking at a photo album, which can evoke memories and feelings, looking at my abstract objects arranged in an intimate picture can also evoke or trigger an emotional response.” To learn more about Shane Harris and his work, visit his website at http://shaneharrisceramics.com.

The artist will be present throughout the opening reception to engage with the audience and to also present a brief artist talk that addresses his work and concepts. Complimentary refreshments will be provided. This event is free and open to the public.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on Snapshots and future exhibitions, please visit the UIS Visual Arts Gallery website at www.uis.edu/visualarts/gallery, or contact the gallery by phone at 217/206-6506 or email: gallery@uis.edu.

Scholarship Luncheon connects students and donors

The University of Illinois Springfield honored scholarship donors and gave them a chance to meet the students they support during an annual luncheon on Nov. 9, 2011.

Almost 250 people attended the celebration in the Sangamon Auditorium lobby, including senior Business Administration major Fred Jackson.

“You usually just see a name on a piece of paper and it’s actually nice to meet and get to talk to the donors,” said Jackson.

He would be paying off student loans for years if it were not for the Albert and Mozelle Narcisse Scholarship. The scholarship is one of more than 170 awards available to UIS students.

“It means a great deal. I don’t have to worry about paying for tuition or having to get a student loan,” he said.

Graduate student Holly Fowler was toying with the idea of returning to school before she applied for a scholarship.

“I applied for a scholarship and I got one, so I decided that was a good enough reason to remove some of that financial barrier and come back to school,” said Fowler.

The guest speakers at this year’s celebration were Carol and Clark Esarey, who recently established the Carrie Gibson Esarey and Dorthy Neland Scholarships for women and single mothers.

“There’s just no better way that we can think of to honor our mothers, who were both absolutely champions of education,” said Clark.

Associate Chancellor of Development Vicki Megginson announced a renewed scholarship push during the luncheon. As part of Access Illinois: The Presidential Scholarship Initiative a fund-matching program is being established. The University will work to match gifts and endowments and direct that money towards unrestricted scholarships.

“When one invests in a scholarship for students you’re not only investing in this student in this moment in time, but all of the things that student may become in their future,” said Megginson.

UIS Music program presents Fall Showcase Concert

WHAT: For a musical tour near and far, UIS students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend the UIS Music Fall Showcase Concert.

WHEN: Fri., Nov. 18, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Sangamon Auditorium, UIS

DETAILS: The event will feature music from a variety of countries, cultures and historical periods. Highlights include Egyptian and Celtic inspired pieces, Swahili language, sounds of October, German atonal music, and a song from Queen.

Sangamon Auditorium doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the evening music begins at 7:30. The performance is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

The Chorus, under the direction of Melinda Pitt Kaye, will open the Showcase with music of Christopher Tin: “Baba Yetu.”

Directed by Dr. Abigail Walsh, the Chamber Ensemble will perform selections including “Egyptian Legacy” by Soon Hee Newbold and “The Creation of Stonehenge” by Jeremy Woolstenhulme.

Finally, Dr. Walsh will lead the Band through selections including Eric Whitacre’s “October,” and Vasilij Agapkin’s "A Slavic Farewell."

Donations are welcome and will be used to benefit the UIS Music Student Merit Award. This year’s awards will be presented at the Fall Showcase.

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 Ensemble may contact Dr. Sharon Graf by emailing music@uis.edu or calling 217/206-6240.

UIS host 34th annual 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 34th Annual International Student Festival with the theme “Explore Folklore”.

WHEN: Friday, November 11, 2011 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

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

DETAILS: For over 30 years the University of Illinois Springfield family has celebrated its rich international and cultural diversity with the annual International Festival. Friends from the greater Springfield community will be joining UIS students, faculty, and staff to share a day of cultural games and 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 admission. We will also have professional storytellers performing their craft to fully embrace the folklore theme. They will be luring us in with music and tales from cultures from around the globe.

Be sure to pick up a program as you enter, so that you can find your way to the exhibits, cuisine, and performances in which you are most interested. Plan to spend some time getting to know people you have never met before, literally from every part of our world!

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

Political Art and the Public Sphere presents "La Commune" film screening and discussion

WHAT: The Political Art and the Public Sphere (PAPS) series presents a screening of the film “La Commune”, which will be followed by a group discussion.

WHEN: Monday, November 14, 2011 at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: “La Commune” was the name of the French revolutionary government established by the people of Paris in 1871. On March 17 and 18, Parisians led an uprising against the national government, which fled the capital and reestablished itself in Versailles. The radicals established a government in Paris that became known as the Commune of 1871, whose members were known as the Communards. Most Communards were followers of Louis Blanqui, a revolutionary held prisoner in Versailles by the head of the National Assembly. Other Communards supported the form of socialism expounded by the French philosopher Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. Some were supporters of the ideas of Karl Marx.

In “La Commune”, we travel back in time to 1871. A journalist for Versailles Television broadcasts an “official” view of events while Commune Television is set up to provide the perspectives of the Paris rebels. On a stage-like set, more than 200 actors interpret characters of the Commune.

The PAPS series is a monthly event on the UIS campus featuring a showing or a performance of some kind of “political art,” followed by an hour or two of group discussion. Each of the three installments in the fall 2011 series will focus on Peter Watkins. Watkins (born 1935) is an English film and television director. Watkins is known for his political statements about film and television media. All events are free and open to the public.

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

UIS Diversity Center presents a performance by the musical group Autumn's Child

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Diversity Center will host a performance by the instrumental music group Autumn’s Child. The group will play a mix of folk, jazz, classical and world music.

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 from 9 to 10:30 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Autumn’s Child promises to take you on "a soul's journey filled with wonder and grace and an abundance of groove." Now in its 16th year, the St. Louis based group was founded by Mark Holland in 1995. He is known for his amazing performance on the Native American style flute. Other members of the group include Tracy Andreotti, Billy Engel and Ali Soltanshahi. The group has recorded 16 albums, the most recent being “Balanced”, which was released in October 2010.

Holland uses a musical approach he calls “global Chamber Music”. “In addition to plenty of original material by Holland and the band, you'll also hear everything from reinterpretations of songs by the likes of the Moody Blues as well as a version of Jim Pepper's ‘Witch-Tai-To,’ a jazz composition based on an American Indian chant.” – St. Louis Beacon

The performance is FREE and open to the public. For more information on the group, visit www.autumnschild.com.

Questions about the performance can be directed to Jeannie Capranica, Diversity Center program manager at 217/206-6584 or by email at jjone1@uis.edu.

Speakers Series presents "Agora" film screening and panel discussion

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents a film screening and panel discussion of “Agora”. The panel will feature three UIS History Department faculty members: Kristi Barnwell, David Bertaina and Elizabeth Kosmetatou.

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011 at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: “Agora” is a historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning a slave who turns to the rising tide of Christianity in the hopes of pursuing freedom while also falling in love with his master, the famous female philosophy professor and atheist Hypatia of Alexandria.

Kristi Barnwell is an assistant professor of modern Middle East. Her current research projects focus on the impact of Arab nationalism in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf and on the period of British military withdrawal from the Persian Gulf and state formation in what became the United Arab Emirates in 1971. Non-research areas of interest include feminism in Islam, Islamic reform movements, and tourism in the Middle East.

David Bertaina is an assistant professor of comparative religion. His areas of interest include the intellectual, social and religious history of the late antique and medieval Middle East. He is specifically interested in medieval encounters between Muslims and Christians, especially in Arabic and Syriac dialogue literature and the how these texts framed the construction of identity during the Umayyad and Abbasid Empires.

Elizabeth Kosmetatou is an assistant professor of ancient history. She specializes in Greek and Roman history, especially in the Classical and Hellenistic period. Her interests include the study of inscriptions (epigraphy), archaeology, numismatics, ancient sports, ancient and modern political theory, and Political Psychology.

For a list of other ECCE Speakers Series events and more information, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries.

UIS Graduate and Professional School Fair to be held on Nov. 3

WHAT: The UIS Career Development Center is sponsoring the fourth annual UIS Graduate and Professional School Fair.

WHEN: Thursday, November 3, 2011 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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

DETAILS: This event will bring graduate and professional schools from Illinois and the Midwest to the UIS campus. The purpose of the event is to connect UIS students, alumni and community members with representatives of higher educational institutions from many disciplines and to gain information on graduate school options, degree programs, and the graduate application process.

The event will allow attendees to meet many representatives and gain valuable information in a short amount of time for better overall preparedness in future graduate and professional degree programs. In order to maximize exposure to graduate school recruiters and their resources, the event will be open to the community.

For more information, contact Angela Evans in the UIS Career Development Center at 217/206-6508 or aevan01s@uis.edu.

Speakers Series presents "Who Cares? Why We Should Care About Those Who Care"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “Who Cares? Why We Should Care About Those Who Care”. The event will feature Eileen Boris, Hull Professor and Chair of the Department of Feminist Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she directs the Center for Research on Women and Social Justice.

WHEN: Wed., Oct. 26, 2011 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Sangamon Auditorium lobby, located on the second floor of the Public Affairs Center (PAC)

DETAILS: Shedding light on the themes from the book and film "The Help", Professor Eileen Boris will address work central to the maintenance of daily life, what feminist theorists call reproductive labor. How did we come to a system of care that relies upon the minimum wage labor of immigrant and U.S. born women of color and the unpaid labor of wives, mothers, and daughters? What are the bonds of care, how do we pay for such labor, and what is our responsibility to care about those who care? Boris argues that we must revalue reproductive labor and offers ways this can be accomplished.

An interdisciplinary historian, she specializes in women’s labors in the home and other workplaces and on gender, race, work, and the welfare state. Her forthcoming book on the how home care workers, mostly women of color, became the new face of the labor movement brings together concerns of the home as workplace, the valuing of women’s labors, the connection between public and private, the ways that state policy reinforces inequality, and the failure of welfare reform.

This event is co-sponsored by the UIS Women and Gender Studies Department and Sociology /Anthropology Department. For a list of other Speakers Series events, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries.

Wepner Symposium on the Lincoln Legacy and Contemporary Scholarship

The University of Illinois Springfield Political Science Department presents the second Wepner Symposium on the Lincoln Legacy and Contemporary Scholarship, to be held Oct. 21-23, 2011. Portions of the symposium will take place at UIS, the Old State Capitol, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

The event brings together scholars with diverse intellectual backgrounds, from political science to history and economics, and also seeks to bridge the gap between K-12 and university education. This year's theme, marking the Civil War's sesquicentennial, is "The Civil War: Causes, Conduct, and Consequences". All events are free and open to the general public.

Events begin on Fri., Oct. 21 in the Public Affairs Center Restaurant on the UIS campus. The opening session focuses on “Causes of the Civil War”, which runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The discussion will feature Paul Poast of Rutgers University, a political scientist with a background in economics and international relations who will be presenting a paper that argues Lincoln’s decision to use force was motivated by a desire to preempt British recognition of the South.

Day two of the Wepner Symposium begins on Sat., Oct. 22 at 9 a.m. at the Old State Capitol in downtown Springfield. The morning theme will focus on “Conduct of the Civil War – Lincoln’s Presidency” and will run until noon. The discussion will feature Fred Greenstein, an Emeritus professor from Princeton University and a preeminent senior scholar on the American presidency. He will speak about an upcoming chapter in his new book, which applies his presidential leadership model to Lincoln’s tenure. Chad Newswander, an assistant professor of political science at the University of South Dakota whose research focuses on presidential protection will speak next. Newswander will be discussing the security problems of the Lincoln presidency. Following Newswander, Stewart Winger, an associate professor of history at Illinois State University, will deliver a talk on Lincoln’s leadership on the issue of race, slavery, and whether African Americans could live as free citizens in the United States. Thomas Schneider, an assistant professor and director of political science at the University of Saint Francis will deliver the final morning presentation on the issue of African American colonization during the Civil War.

Following lunch, the afternoon topic turns to “Conduct & Consequences of the Civil War” from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in downtown Springfield. The afternoon will begin with a discussion led by Shamira Gelbman, assistant professor of politics and government at Illinois State University, who will discuss post-Civil War racial politics in comparative context against the case of the Boer War and its aftermath leading up to the apartheid era, from which Nelson Mandela emerged. The next talk by Richard Lawrence Miller, author of the Lincoln and His World book series, will discuss the role of mercenaries in the battle between pro-slavery and free labor forces in Kansas just before the Civil War. Next, Matthew Holden, Jr., Wepner Distinguished Professor in Political Science at the University of Illinois Springfield will offer some semi-formal comments on three points. Those points: (1) What did the Civil War produce?; (2) What does the Civil War mean for contemporary politics?; (3) What do Civil War studies mean for contemporary political science? The final roundtable will be led by Dave Robertson, professor of political science at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who will review the lessons learned from the symposium and their impact on undergraduate education and K-12 education.

For more information on the Wepner Symposium, contact Gene Giannotta at 630/329-7516 or email ggiannot@uis.edu. You may also visit the event's Facebook page.

Rebecca Skloot, the bestselling author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks to speak at UIS

WHAT: Rebecca Skloot, the author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, is coming to the University of Illinois Springfield this fall.

WHEN: Wed., Nov. 9, 2011 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Sangamon Auditorium, UIS

DETAILS: In her bestselling book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2010), Skloot tells the story of a young black woman who died of cervical cancer in 1951—and left behind an inexplicably immortal line of cells known as HeLa. Skloot spent more than ten years researching Henrietta Lacks, whose cells—harvested without her knowledge or consent—contributed to scientific advancements as varied as the polio vaccine, treatments for cancers and viruses, in-vitro fertilization and the impact of space travel on human cells. Part detective story, part scientific odyssey, and part family saga, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks raises fascinating questions about race, class and bioethics in America.

The book, currently being made into an HBO movie by Oprah Winfrey and Alan Ball, is a The New York Times bestseller and is the winner of numerous awards. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was featured on over 60 critics’ best of the year lists and was chosen by Amazon as its book of the year for 2010.

Skloot’s Sangamon Auditorium presentation is FREE and open to the public. Tickets will be issued through the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office by calling 217/206-6160. A book signing will follow the lecture.

The appearance is sponsored by The Friends of Brookens Library, Memorial Medical Center, The Illinois Humanities Council, and the UIS Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series.

For more information, contact Janelle Gurnsey, UIS Brookens Library at 217/206-8451 or email jawillia@uis.edu.

Political Art and the Public Sphere presents "The Gladiators" film screening and discussion

WHAT: The Political Art and the Public Sphere (PAPS) series presents a screening of the film “The Gladiators”, which will be followed by a group discussion.

WHEN: Monday, October 17, 2011 at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: In "The Gladiators" (1969), Peter Watkins’ applies his “false documentary” style to what could be called “political science fiction.” The story takes place in the near future. To maintain international and internal security and to divert warfare, the UN organizes a series of military games, which are often fought to the death. Based on the gladiatorial games of ancient Rome, these are called the “International Peace Games.” ‘The competitions are broadcast on global television via satellite, complete with sponsors and commercials. The film follows Game 256, which is being ‘played’ in the International Peace Game Center near Stockholm. The officers watching the game try to eliminate players from opposing teams who reach out to each other when they decide that such forms of communication could be the gravest threat of all to the stability of the existing world system.

Watkins (born 1935) is an English film and television director. Watkins is known for his political statements about film and television media. He has written extensively about problems in television news and the dominance of the Hollywood style he refers to as “the monoform.”

The PAPS series is a monthly event on the UIS campus featuring a showing or a performance of some kind of “political art,” followed by an hour or two of group discussion. Each of the three installments in the fall 2011 series will focus on Peter Watkins. All events are free and open to the public.

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

UIS Lunch & Learn Series presents "Landscapes of the Judicial System: Conviction - Guilty or Innocent?"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Alumni SAGE Society will host “Landscapes of the Judicial System: Conviction - Guilty or Innocent?” as part of its annual Lunch and Learn Series.

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center (PAC) Restaurant, located on the lower level of the PAC on the UIS campus.

DETAILS: Guilt or innocence – either can result in conviction. The Downstate Illinois Innocence Project (DIIP) was founded at UIS to address the nature and severity of conviction of the innocent. DIIP engages students, lawyers, and legal experts to exonerate the innocent and educates the public as it seeks reform of the criminal justice system. Problems and possible reforms of a criminal justice system that results in conviction of the innocent will be shared, along with past case experiences.

Larry Golden, emeritus professor for political science and legal studies, and Bill Clutter, private investigator and DIIP Director of Investigations, will present a provocative discussion of the complexities of guilt, innocence and conviction.

Lunch for the Oct. 28 session is complimentary; however reservations are required one week prior to the event.

Other upcoming Lunch & Learn events include “Landscapes of Memory: The Civil War as Illinois History” on Dec. 8. The cost for the Dec. 8 luncheon is $20/person and reservations are required.

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

Homecoming and Family Weekend 2011 events

The University of Illinois Springfield is celebrating Homecoming and Family Weekend the week of October 10 through 15, 2011. The theme of Homecoming Week 2011 is “We Bleed Blue”. The following is a partial list of events. To view a full list of Homecoming activities, including athletic events, visit www.uis.edu/homecoming.

Mashed Potato Sculpting

WHAT: The UIS Office of Student Life will hold its ever popular Mashed Potato Sculpting contest. Students will use spuds to create displays based on the homecoming theme “We Bleed Blue”.

WHEN: Thursday, October 13, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center, Food Emporium Patio (Rain location: PAC Concourse)

DETAILS: UIS Food Service prepares 25 pounds of “extra stiff” potatoes which students use for sculpting. Students decorate the mashed wonders with everything from food coloring to glitter. Volunteers judge each design on creativity and theme.

Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series: “Lincoln and the Civil War”

WHAT: “Lincoln and the Civil War” is the theme of the 9th Annual Lincoln Legacy Lecture at the University of Illinois Springfield.

WHEN: Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 7 p.m.

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

DETAILS: The speakers will be Michael Burlingame, Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS, and Lucas E. Morel, Lewis G. Term Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University. Cullom Davis, Emeritus Professor of History, will serve as moderator. The event is free and open to the public; no reservation is required.

UIS Homecoming Parade

WHAT: The parade is an annual tradition of Homecoming at Illinois Springfield. We hope you come out to enjoy the festivities, the UIS band and much more!

WHEN: Friday, October 14, 2011 at 4:15 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Campus – The parade will start in parking lot C-north and end in parking lot G south of the University Hall Building.

DETAILS: Participation in the parade is open to student organizations, athletic teams, residence halls, campus departments, businesses and non-profit organizations. Great prizes are awarded to student organizations and community entries.

UIS Homecoming BBQ

WHAT: The UIS Student Activities Committee (SAC) will host its annual BBQ following the parade.

WHEN: Friday, October 14, 2011 from 4:45 to 7:15 p.m.

WHERE: South Quad near the University Hall Building

DETAILS: Come join us for food, drinks, and fun. Students don't forget to bring your I-card! The cost for non-students is $5.

Homecoming 5K Run/Walk

WHAT: The Department of Recreational Sports at UIS is hosting the 3rd annual Homecoming 5K Run/Walk. The race is open to all UIS students, faculty, staff and community members.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 2011 with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. and the race starting at 9 a.m.

WHERE: The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) at UIS

DETAILS: The cost to enter the 5K is $25 until Oct. 15 and $30 the day of the event. Registration forms can be found at the Rec Sports office in TRAC or can be downloaded from the Rec Sports website at www.uis.edu/recsports/.

“Through the Decades” Luncheon

WHAT: The UIS Office of Alumni Relations will host a “Though the Decades” Luncheon featuring alumni from the 1986 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship team.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Sangamon Auditorium Lobby, 2nd Floor Public Affairs Center

DETAILS: This year marks the 25th anniversary of the national championship victory. The luncheon program will feature team members and coaches of the era who will share stories and reminisce on Prairie Stars athletics and life at the University. Business casual attire is suggested. The cost is $10/person.

U-Help, I-Help Springfield Service Event

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center and Office of Alumni Relations is hosting the annual Homecoming U-Help, I-Help Springfield Service Event.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: St. Joseph’s Home (3306 South 6th Street Road, Springfield)

DETAILS: Students will be volunteering to help serve residents lunch. They will also be spending time with the seniors and helping them get to different activities that will be going on at the home.

UIS Students vs. UIS Alumni/Faculty/Staff BB Game

WHAT: Students will face off against Alumni/Faculty/Staff in an annual tradition designed to foster teamwork.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) at UIS

To view a full list of Homecoming activities visit www.uis.edu/homecoming.

UIS theatre presents I Hate Hamlet

The Theatre Program at the University of Illinois Springfield will debut its 2011-12 season with the play I Hate Hamlet by Paul Rudnick, opening Friday, Oct. 28. Six performances will be presented in the Studio Theatre, on the lower level of the Public Affairs Center at UIS - on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Oct. 28, 29, and 30, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Nov. 3, 4, and 5. All shows will begin at 7:30 p.m., except the Sunday performance (Oct. 30), which will begin at 2 p.m.

A young and successful television actor relocates to New York, where he rents a marvelous, gothic apartment. With his television career in limbo, the actor is offered the opportunity to play Hamlet onstage, but there's one problem: He hates Hamlet. His dilemma deepens with the entrance of John Barrymore's ghost, who arrives intoxicated and in full costume to the apartment that once was his. The contrast between the two actors, the towering, dissipated Barrymore whose Hamlet was the greatest of his time, and Andrew Rally, hot young television star, leads to a wildly funny duel over women, art, success, duty, television, and yes, the apartment.

The Village Voice hails the play as "fast-mouthed and funny...It has the old-fashioned Broadway virtues of brightness without pretensions and sentimentality without morals," while the New York Times call it “unapologetically silly and at times hilarious...affectionately amusing about the theatre."

UIS Associate Professor of Theatre Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson directs. The cast includes UIS alumnus Ben Beams playing "Barrymore," student Tommy Caldwell playing "Andrew," student Shandi Brown playing "Felicia," student Jillian Risinger playing "Deirdre," and student Dwight Langford playing "Gary," with community member McKenzie Ward playing "Lillian."

Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens (65 or older with a picture I.D.), $8 for UIS Faculty/Staff and $6 for UIS students with a valid i-card*. Tickets are now available at the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office, located on level two of the Public Affairs Center. Purchase tickets in person, by phone at 217/206-6160 or 800/207-6960 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.uis.edu/theatre. Tickets will also be available at the ticket office on the day of the performance, beginning 90 minutes before curtain time. *Please note that a $2 Sangamon Auditorium “Stage Operating Surcharge” is added to all tickets purchased, and for mail and phone purchases, an additional $4 service fee is added. On-line tickets are assessed a convenience fee by Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office based on ticket price.

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

CAP Honors Program alumni inspire current students

Alumni from the Capital Scholars Honors Program at the University of Illinois Springfield returned to campus on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 to speak with current students about how the program benefited them.

“(The alumni) are connecting their interdisciplinary coursework and the work they did in the honors program with their careers,” said Karen Moranski, UIS associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education.

Among the returning students was Blair Brown, the first CAP Honors alumna to earn a doctorate degree. Blair graduated from UIS in 2006 and went onto earn a doctorate in Psychology. She now works at a behavioral hospital doing individual, group and family therapy, along with other evaluations.

“I don’t know that the road would have been so easy for me if it weren’t for the CAP Honors Program,” said Blair.

The CAP Honors Program is a four-year baccalaureate experience open to a small number of highly qualified college students. Focusing on the student's total growth in the personal, academic, social, and civic arenas, the CAP Honors Program features interdisciplinary and collaborative learning and is designed to develop student talents through small classes that encourage lively exchange between students and professors.

“The students need to understand the value of this particular kind of curriculum. It’s not a curriculum other college students may experience,” said Moranski.

Chris Wyant, a 2006 graduate of the program now teaches high school English. While he didn’t always understand the extra work and requirements of the CAP Honors Program, he’s now realizing the benefits.

“I think the challenge of it allowed me to become more used to the challenging work environment and constantly being forced to think things through and really think in a complex way about things,” said Wyant.

Other alumni who participated included Carly Hawkins ’05, Samantha Kruse ’10 and Anna Van Voorhis ’10.

For more information on the Capital Scholars Honors Program and for requirements, visit their website.

UIS Lincoln Legacy Lectures will examine "Lincoln and the Civil War"

WHAT: The 9th annual Lincoln Legacy Lectures, presented by the University of Illinois Springfield, will discuss “Lincoln and the Civil War.” The lectures, and a reception and book signing that will immediately follow, are free and open to the public. No reservation is required.

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 at 7 p.m.

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

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

This year’s featured speakers are Dr. Michael Burlingame, Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS, and Dr. Lucas E. Morel, Lewis G. John Term Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University. Program moderator Dr. Cullom Davis is Professor Emeritus of History at UIS.

Burlingame’s lecture will focus on “Lincoln as the Indispensable Man: The Central Role of His Leadership in Determining the Outcome of the Civil War." Morel’s lecture will reflect on “War and Remembrance in Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address.”

Burlingame is the author of a new book on Lincoln and the Civil War (Southern Illinois University Press, 2011) and of the award winning, two-volume biography, Abraham Lincoln: A Life (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008). Morel is the author of Lincoln’s Sacred Effort: Defining Religion’s Role in American Self-Government (Lexington Books, 2000), and editor of Ralph Ellison and the Raft of Hope: A Political Companion to “Invisible Man” (University Press of Kentucky, 2004).

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

Seating in Brookens Auditorium is limited; however overflow seating will be available in 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 217/206-7163.

"Road to Reality" at UIS teaches students a lesson about driving drunk

A University of Illinois Springfield student is leading a push to educate high school and college students about the dangers of drinking and driving and texting behind the wheel.

Sophomore UIS Biology major Brandon Valerio organized the first ever “Road to Reality” at UIS. The event started with a party, followed by the mock car crash with EMS first responders rushing into action. Next, family members are shown visiting the deceased, which was followed by a mock trial of the teenage drunk driver.

“You can have people come talk to you about it and they can try and say drunken driving is bad, but until you see it first hand for yourself it really doesn’t impact you all the much,” said Valerio.

He’s hoping “Road to Reality” can help change that by sending a strong message to young adults about getting behind the wheel drunk.

For Gillespie High School student Alexis Burns, drunken driving hits close to home. A drunken driver killed her uncle. That’s one of the reasons why she decided to volunteer as an actor for the mock crash.

“I think it’s important to get the message across because the consequences really are there,” she said.

A number of high school and UIS student volunteers helped play the part of victims. Participants also got to hear from Danny Hicks, a real DUI crash survivor.

“I just really hope this drives home the message that really awful things will happen if you drive drunk,” said John Stewart, a freshman UIS International Studies major who volunteered.

Valerio plans to continue his push to stop teens from getting behind the wheel drunk and hopes students leave thinking about the painful images they witnessed.

UIS hosts "Road to Reality" to teach high school students about drunken driving and texting

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Counseling Center is co-sponsoring a “Road to Reality” mock car crash and courtroom trial for students at four local high schools. The goal is to educate students about the consequences of driving drunk and texting, before homecoming.

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 30, 2011 at 11 a.m.

WHERE: The event will start in the University Hall (UHB) lobby on the UIS campus and feature scenes throughout the lower level of the building. The mock crash will take place in front of Lincoln Residence Hall (LRH), on Vachel Lindsay Drive. Scenes will continue inside LRH, before returning to UHB.

DETAILS: Groups of participants will walk through different scenes, highlighting a bad decision to drink or text while driving. The event starts with a party, followed by the mock car crash with EMS first responders rushing into action. Next, family members are shown visiting the deceased, which is followed by a mock trial of the teenage drunk driver.

Students from Gillespie, Sacred Heart-Griffin, Springfield Southeast, and Riverton High Schools are expected to attend, with a number of high school and UIS students serving as actors and volunteers. Danny Hicks, a DUI crash survivor will also speak to the students. Following the event, an information fair featuring insurance and healthcare agencies will take place.

“Road to Reality” is being organized by UIS student Brandon Valerio, a Gillespie High School alumnus. Other participants include Valerie Gebhardt, UIS alcohol & drug prevention coordinator and members of Gillespie High School’s MPACT’D (Miners Preparing And Caring for Teen Driving), as well as local first responders from the UIS Police Department.

This event is also open to all UIS faculty, staff, and students. Members of the general public who wish to attend should contact Brandon Valerio at 217/899-0739 prior to the event.

UIS Visual Arts Gallery presents artist Helen Hiebert as part of the citywide "Partners on Paper" exhibit

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery presents paper artist Helen Hiebert as part of the citywide exhibition “Partners on Paper”, hosted in collaboration with the Illinois State Museum, the Prairie Art Alliance, the Springfield Art Association and Robert Morris College.

The exhibition will take place Oct. 3–Nov. 3 in the UIS Visual Arts Gallery, centrally located on the UIS campus in the Health and Science Building (HSB 201). Gallery hours are Mon.-Thurs. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A reception will be held on Oct. 21 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the gallery. A workshop featuring Hiebert will take place at the Springfield Art Association (700 N. 4th St., Springfield) on Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Hiebert’s work explores all aspects of paper, testing its strength both symbolically and physically. In 2008, Hiebert produced the film, Water Paper Time, detailing her sculptural uses of paper. She is the author of three books on papermaking, has produced commercially successful decorative paper lamps and teaches papermaking classes at her studio in Portland, Oregon.

This show will feature her celebrated work, The Mother Tree. She first exhibited the life-size handmade paper dress in 2010 as part of the Portland Building's Installation Space program funded by the Oregon Regional Arts & Culture Council. Single strands of crocheted thread extend from the bodice of the dress; as the strands cascade to the floor they turn into roots, symbolizing the mother as a provider and nurturer.

For more information contact the gallery at 217/206-6506 or email gallery@uis.edu. Find the gallery online at www.uis.edu/visualarts/gallery.html or visit the Partners on Paper Website/Blog at blogs.uis.edu/partnersonpaper/.

Speakers Series presents "Adam's Gift"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents a discussion with Jimmy Creech. The event, entitled “Adam's Gift: A Memoir of a Pastor's Calling to Defy The Church's Persecution of Lesbians and Gays”, is part of Queertober LGBTQ Awareness Month at UIS.

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011 at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center (PAC), Conference Rooms C/D, on the lower level

DETAILS: Jimmy Creech, a United Methodist pastor in North Carolina, was visited one morning in 1984 by Adam, a longtime parishioner whom he liked and respected. Adam said that he was gay, and that he was leaving The United Methodist Church, which had just pronounced that “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” could not be ordained. He would not be part of a community that excluded him. Creech found himself instinctively supporting Adam, telling him that he was sure that God loved and accepted him as he was. Adam’s Gift is Creech’s inspiring first-person account of how that conversation transformed his life and ministry.

Adam’s visit prompted Creech to re-evaluate his belief that homosexuality was a sin, and to research the scriptural basis for the church’s position. He determined that the church was mistaken, that scriptural translations and interpretations had been botched and dangerously distorted. As a Christian, Creech came to believe that discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people was morally wrong. This understanding compelled him to perform same-gender commitment ceremonies, which conflicted with church directives. Creech was tried twice by The United Methodist Church, and, after the second trial, his ordination credentials were revoked. Adam’s Gift is a moving story and an important chapter in the unfinished struggle for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil and human rights.

The event includes a question/answer session discussion, opening remarks from Chancellor Susan Koch, book signing and catered reception. Students must attend the presentation and discussion to receive credit for this event.

This event is co-sponsored by the UIS LGBTQA Resource Office, UIS Office of Undergraduate Education, Student Government Association, and Diversity Center. For a list of other Speakers Series events, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries. For a list of other Queertober events, visit www.uis.edu/lgbtq.

Karl Scroggin wins 2011 CARE Award

Karl Scroggin, broadcast music specialist for WUIS radio, was honored with the 2011 Chancellor’s Award to Recognize Excellence in Civil Service during a September 22, 2011 luncheon.

Chancellor Susan J. Koch presented Scroggin with the award. Scroggin’s nomination form describes him as someone who is committed to his audience and the university. His nominator went on to say he works with “passion and zest” and “brings an optimistic attitude to the work environment.”

Scroggins has worked for WUIS since 1977 and is the host of “Classics with Karl Scroggin”, which can be heard Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Scroggin is known for his baritone voice, quiet demeanor, and widespread respect throughout the classical music community.

The award was handed out as part of the 5th annual Civil Service Appreciation Day, which honors the approximately 320 civil service employees at UIS for all of their hard work and dedication. This year’s celebration included a variety of door prize drawings.

In a special recognition during the event, the Staff Scholarship at UIS was renamed in memory of Mike Love. Love was a former UIS employee who was very passionate about the scholarship. Love’s family was presented with a special plaque of recognition. The Staff Scholarship was started in 1995. A total of 23 people have received the scholarship, with a total payout of $27,000.

Other Civil Service employees nominated for the award include:

Brenda Allan, Administrative Clerk, Center for State Policy and Leadership
Lori Atkinson, Admissions and Records Officer, Admissions
Amanda Baughman, Police Officer, Campus Police
Steve Dykema, TV Director/Producer, Office of Electronic Media
Patti Forgas, Customer Service Representative, OBFS
Sue Gibbons, Press Technician Assistant, Service Enterprises
Grant Johnson, Event Administrator, Conference Services
Brian Kroenlein, Catering Supervisor, Food Services
Charlene Lambert, Administrative Assistant I, Office of the Chancellor
Steve Marvel, Building Services Supervisor, Building Services
Normajean Niebur, Office Support Specialist, Criminal Justice
Lori Pinney, Human Resources Assistant, Human Resources
Marcia Rossi, Office Administrator, Library Administration
Patricia Ruestman, Office Support Specialist, Development
Bev Weddle, Office Administrator, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The winner of the CARE award receives $500, plus a $500 donation made to the campus organization of his or her choice.

Lunch & Learn presents "Landscapes of the Public: Jens Jensen - Native Landscape Architecture"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Alumni SAGE Society will host “Landscapes of the Public: Jens Jensen – Native Landscape Architecture” as part of its annual Lunch and Learn Series.

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center (PAC) Restaurant, located on the lower level of the PAC on the UIS campus.

DETAILS: Jens Jensen was one of the most influential designers to popularize native gardens. He showed that beautiful gardens can have native species, and appear in their respective places as they would without human integration or involvement. Jensen summed up his philosophy by saying: "Every Plant has fitness and must be placed in its proper surroundings so as to bring out its full beauty. Therein lies the art of landscaping". His legacy can be seen today in major parks in Chicago and at Lincoln Memorial Garden in Springfield.

Sue Massie, a 35+ year veteran of landscape architecture, preservation and restoration, and Jim Matheis, a 30+ year veteran and current executive director of Lincoln Memorial Gardens, will discuss Jensen’s work.

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

Other upcoming Lunch & Learn events include “Landscapes of the Judicial System: Conviction - Guilty or Innocent?” on Oct. 28 and “Landscapes of Memory: The Civil War as Illinois History” on Dec. 8. A discounted series subscription is available for $35/person.

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

ECCE presents "Latinas and Latinos in Illinois and the Midwest"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents a discussion entitled “Latinas and Latinos in Illinois and the Midwest: Demographics and Transformations” as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011 at 7 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Now that the Census 2010 results are in, we know that there are more Latinas/os in more parts of the United States than previously estimated. What impact is this demographic shift having on society, economics, and politics in the Midwest and Illinois? We will learn about the social transformations generated by the largest minority group today (16% of the U.S. and Illinois populations) from Jorge Chapa.

Dr. Chapa, born in Monterrey, Mexico and raised in Chicago, is a Professor of Government & Public Affairs, Sociology and Latina/Latino Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and coauthor of Apple Pie and Enchiladas: Latino Newcomers in the Rural Midwest. He also served as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Director of the Graduate Opportunity Program at UT Austin. In the first three years of his appointment, the proportion of Latinos entering graduate programs increased by 25% and the African American proportion increased 15%. In the fourth year, the Hopwood decision ended race-conscious affirmative action in Texas. In response, he along with other professors and legislators formulated the Texas Top Ten Percent Plan.

Chapa received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology as well as his M.A. in Demography from the University of California, Berkeley. He has scores of publications reflecting his research focus on policy issues pertaining to Latinos and other groups with low incomes and educational levels. Apple Pie and Enchiladas was nominated for the Senior Book Award of the American Ethnological Society.

This event is co-sponsored by the Sociology/Anthropology Department & the UIS Organization of Latin American Students. For a list of other Speakers Series events, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries.

PAPS presents "The War Game" film screening and discussion

WHAT: The Political Art and the Public Sphere (PAPS) series presents a screening of the film “The War Game”, which will be followed by a group discussion.

WHEN: Monday, September 19, 2011 at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Banned by the BBC for being too disturbing, Peter Watkins’ documentary-style drama imagines the devastating effects of a nuclear attack on a small town in England, “collateral damage” from an all-out war between the USSR and the United States. Despite being a work of fiction, the film won the 1967 Best Documentary Oscar. Written, directed, and produced by Peter Watkins for the BBC, it caused controversy within the BBC and the British government and was withdrawn from television transmission in 1965. The Corporation said that “the effect of the film has been judged by the BBC to be too horrifying for the medium of broadcasting.” It wasn’t shown on British television until 1985.

Peter Watkins (born 1935) is an English film and television director. Watkins is known for his political statements about film and television media. He has written extensively about problems in television news and the dominance of the Hollywood style he refers to as “the monoform.”

The PAPS series is a monthly event on the UIS campus featuring a showing or a performance of some kind of “political art,” followed by an hour or two of group discussion. Each of the three installments in the fall 2011 series will focus on the works of Peter Watkins, providing a forum for discussing his political content and methods. All events are free and open to the public.

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