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

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to register now for booth space at the 2017 Career Connections Expo at the University of Illinois Springfield. The fair will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2017, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on the UIS campus.

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

The Career Connections Expo is intended to bring students, alumni, community members, and employers together to discuss career opportunities and build professional connections. Local businesses who are recruiting candidates for full-time or part-time jobs and internships are invited to participate in the event. The event has an average attendance of over 400 students and alumni.

Booth assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served response basis. Employers are encouraged to register as soon as possible as space is limited. The deadline to register is February 6, 2017 at 5 p.m.

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

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

UIS Music Program presents Fall Showcase Concert

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Music Program presents its Fall Showcase concert featuring performances by the UIS Chorus, UIS Chamber Orchestra and UIS Band. The performance is free and open to the public.

WHEN: Friday, November 18, 2016, at 7:30 p.m.

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

DETAILS: The event will feature a wide array of music including pieces by Johannes Brahms, Johann Sebastian Bach, Jim Swearingen, Henry Filmore and more.

The UIS Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology Yona Stamatis, will lead the program with Brahms’s “Hungarian No. 5”. Other pieces include “Waltz No. 2” by Dmitri Shostakovich and “The Typewriter” by Leroy Anderson, in which Stamatis plays the typewriter with the orchestra while guest conductor Matthew Sheppard takes the baton.

Directed by Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology Sharon Graf, the UIS Chorus will perform an arrangement of “Blackbird” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and “Psalm 50” by Ernani Aguilar. Two acapella groups will perform arrangements of “Irish Lullaby” by Alice Rose Denny and “Build Me Up Buttercup” by Tony McCauley and Michael D’Abo.

The UIS Band will end the program under the direction of Applied Music Specialist, Abigail Walsh, starting with Robery Sheldon’s “Danzas Cubans”. Other works include a programmatic work entitled “The Last Centaur” by Rossano Galante and “At Dawn They Slept (December 7, 1941)” by Jay Bocock. The concert will conclude with Henry Filmore’s "Americans We”.

Donations are welcome and will be used to benefit the UIS Music Student Merit Award. The UIS Music program began in 2001 and is comprised of students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as Springfield community members, all with a variety of skill levels.

Anyone who is interested in joining the UIS chorus, band or chamber orchestra may contact Abigail Walsh at 217/206-7549 or music@uis.edu.

UIS Visual Arts Gallery to hold silent auction fundraiser

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery will hold its annual silent auction fundraiser starting on November 28, 2016.

The auction offers a wide range works donated by local and regional artists. Ceramics, photography, glass, painting, drawing, mixed media works and more will have a presence at the auction. The event serves anyone hoping to acquire new, original works of art, or unique gifts as the holidays approach.

Bidding begins on November 28 and a closing reception, along with final bidding, will take place on December 1 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the Visual Arts Gallery, room 201 in the Health and Science Building on campus. All events are open to the public.

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

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

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

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

UIS to celebrate National Distance Learning Week

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Center for Online Learning, Research and Service (COLRS) will host an excellence reception honoring its fastest growing student population during National Distance Learning Week, November 7-11, 2016.

WHEN: Thursday, November 10, 2016 from 10 a.m. – Noon

WHERE: Public Affairs Center Restaurant, located on the lower level

DETAILS: Join UIS online faculty and students as they celebrate National Distance Learning Week with a reception and recognition program.

Learn the history of how UIS has been a leader in online and blended learning degree programs for the over the past 15 years. The reception will include highlight the first two UIS online programs, Management Information Systems and Educational Leadership. Faculty will share thoughts of program growth and information for teaching and learning in an online environment.

UIS Associate Vice Chancellor for Online Learning Ray Schroeder will be honored for his distinguished accomplishments and national awards received in 2016.

Currently, 30.7% of UIS students are enrolled in online degree or certificate programs. That is a 4.3% increase from the Fall Semester 2015. UIS online students reside in 46 states within the United States, and nine foreign countries.

Additional activities for National Distance Learning Week include a faculty panel discussing the design of online courses. The faculty panel will take place on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 from Noon – 1 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center (PAC E) and those interested are invited to attend.

For more information on National Distance Learning Week activities, contact Vickie Cook, Director, Center for Online Learning, Research and Service at 217/206-7317 or visit www.uis.edu/colrs/.

UIS Speaker Series presents a screening and discussion of "Black Power: The Cry of Jazz"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents, “Black Power: The Cry of Jazz,” a documentary film and discussion.

WHEN: Monday, November 14, 2016, at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: “The Cry of Jazz” is a 1959 documentary film by Ed Bland that connects jazz to African American history. It has been credited with predicting the urban riots of the 1960s and 1970s. In 2010, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant.” The Library of Congress calls the film “historic and fascinating,” one that “comments on racism and the appropriation of jazz by those who fail to understand its artistic and cultural origins.”

The discussion following the film will focus on how culture and artistic history have depended upon the racist appropriation of the creative work of impoverished and marginalized peoples.

The film presentation and discussion will be moderated by Associate Professor of Political Science Richard Gilman-Opalsky, Ph.D., and Kamau Kemayo, Ph.D., associate professor of African American Studies at UIS.

Gilman-Opalsky hosts a series called Political Art and the Public Sphere, which encourages everyone to consider how “political art” raises provocative social and political questions.

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

UIS Speaker Series presents a screening and discussion of "Shakespeare Behind Bars"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents “Shakespeare Behind Bars”, a documentary film by Curt Tofteland about the creative process and power of art to heal and redeem. A discussion will follow the screening.

WHEN: Monday, November 7, 2016, at 7 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Studio Theatre, Lower Level of the Public Affairs Center

DETAILS: The film documents Shakespeare’s final play, “The Tempest”, as told from the ultimate venue of confinement – prison. The result is an extraordinary story about the power of art to heal and redeem, in a place where the very act of participation is human triumph and a means of personal liberation.

“Shakespeare Behind Bars” depicts inmates who cast themselves in roles reflecting their personal history and fate. Their individual stories, including information about their heinous crimes, are interwoven with the plot of “The Tempest” as the inmates delve deeply into the characters they portray while confronting their personal demons.

Curt Tofteland brings 38 years of professional theatre experience to his current role as a freelance theatre artist – director, actor, producer, playwright, writer, teacher, program developer and prison arts practitioner. Tofteland is the founder of the internationally acclaimed Shakespeare Behind Bars program, now in its 21st year of continuous operation.

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

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

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield students will be going door-to-door on Halloween night collecting canned goods for the Central Illinois Foodbank. The goal is to collect more than 10,000 pounds of food. 

WHEN: Monday, October 31, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. 

WHERE: Various Springfield neighborhoods (call for specific details)

 DETAILS: A total of 18 teams, consisting of nearly 175 students, have registered for the annual Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods drive. The teams have been assigned specific neighborhoods to collect non-perishable food items.

Earlier this month, the teams canvassed the neighborhoods and distributed door hangers that explained the project. Collected items will be weighed and prizes will be awarded to the teams that collect the most food.

The Central Illinois Foodbank distributes over 9 million pounds of food annually to over 150 food pantries, soup kitchens, residential programs and after-school programs in a 21 county region.

Kids at the UIS Cox Children’s Center also went trick-or-treating on campus this past week to collect nonperishable food items for the new UIS Cares Food Pantry, which is open to all UIS students in need.

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

Media Coverage: To arrange media coverage on the day of the event, please contact Mark Dochterman at 225/921-9398.

UIS presents the 39th annual International Festival

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield invites the Springfield community to join us for the 39th annual International Festival. UIS students, faculty, and staff and our guests will share an evening of cultural exhibits, artistic performances, food tasting and more. This year’s theme is the "World as One: Uniting Peoples and Cultures.” Admission is free.

WHEN: Friday, November 4, 2016, from 5-8 p.m.

WHERE: The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC), located on the south side of the UIS campus. Parking is available in lot F and I, located next to TRAC. A map of the campus is available at www.uis.edu/maps/.

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

Countries and organizations that will be represented include several African nations, Asian nations, India, Peru, Ireland, Scotland, the nations of the Middle East and more. Guests will have a chance to sample delicious ethnic dishes from many of the counties represented.

Guests are invited to pick up a program as they enter so they can find their way to the many exhibits, food tastings, and performances. Guests can also participate in a special event, “World as One: Handprint,” which will be held in the TRAC multipurpose room. Come join us and spend some time getting to know people from every part of the world!

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

UIS Speaker Series presents "Radical Presence: Black Faces, White Spaces and Other Stories of Possibility"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents the Sustainability Week Keynote Lecture, “Radical Presence: Black Faces, White Spaces and Other Stories of Possibility.”

WHEN: Thursday, November 3, 2016, at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Professor Carolyn Finney argues that the legacies of slavery, Jim Crow and racial violence have shaped our cultural understandings of the “great outdoors” and determined who should and can have access to natural spaces.

Finney’s lecture will explore environmental narratives and their relationship to race, identity and decision making. Her recent book, “Black Faces, White Spaces,” explores the role of memory and identity in influencing African American environmental participation, and the general disconnect between African American environmental professionals and their white counterparts regarding perceptions of exclusion and racism. To envision a path forward, she highlights the work of African American environmentalists while exploring issues of identity, visibility and the concept of home.

Finney is an assistant professor of geography at the University of Kentucky. Her research explores how issues of difference impact participation in decision-making processes designed to address environmental issues.

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

UIS Speaker Series presents “Social Justice Activism: A Hallmark of Democracy” discussion and workshop

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents “Social Justice Activism: A Hallmark of Democracy,” a panel discussion and workshop focusing on developing the leaders of tomorrow.

WHEN: Friday, October 28, 2016, from 1 to 4 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Public Affairs Center – Room G

DETAILS: The panel discussion and workshop will explore social justice activism as a leadership model and knowledge framework and practice that has played and continues to play a significant role in advancing and developing our democratic ideas, principals, and policies by promoting active engagement in the civic and democratic life of our nation and communities.

This two-part forum includes a panel discussion lead by prominent scholars and activists in the field of social justice activism. The panel will examine social justice activism and its historical, political, economic and social impact on American Life. Panelists include Lara Trubowitz, an emeritus professor at Northwestern University; Larry Golden, UIS emeritus professor and founding director of the Illinois Innocence Project; Teresa Haley, president of the NAACP Illinois State Conference; Pauline Kayes, feminist social activist; Magic Wade, UIS assistant professor of political science; and Kerry Poynter, interim director of the UIS Diversity Center.

The second part of the forum features a “Tools for Change” workshop, which draws insights and lessons from effective social justice movements and activists. Workshop participants will learn how to organize, strategize, plan and implement effective social justice campaigns.

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

UIS Lincoln Legacy Lectures to examine reconstruction and the struggle for equality

The 14th annual Lincoln Legacy Lectures presented by the University of Illinois Springfield will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, 2016 in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library at UIS.

This year’s topic is “Lincoln and Reconstruction: America’s Struggle for Equality.” The lectures, and a reception and book signing that will immediately follow, are free and open to the public. No reservation is required.

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

This year’s featured speakers are Allen C. Guelzo, the Henry R. Luce Professor of the Civil War Era at Gettysburg College, and Brooks D. Simpson, Foundation Professor of History at Arizona State University. Michael Burlingame, Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS, will give opening remarks on “Lincoln’s Changing Thoughts on Reconstruction,” and serve as moderator.

In the first lecture, Guelzo will describe “Reconstruction as a Bourgeois Revolution.” In the second lecture, Simpson will explore “Abraham Lincoln and Reconstruction: Did Booth’s Bullet Change History?” The speakers will discuss the contemporary implications of their lectures at the beginning of the Q & A session.

All three speakers are the authors of prize-winning books. Guelzo is the author of “Fateful Lightning, A New History of the Civil War and Reconstruction” (Oxford University Press, 2012). Simpson is the author of “The Reconstruction Presidents” (University Press of Kansas, 2009). Burlingame is the author of the two-volume biography, “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” (Johns Hopkins University Press, paper, 2012).

The Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series is sponsored by the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership, in cooperation with the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies. Cosponsors of this year's event include the Abraham Lincoln Association, Brookens Library John Holtz Memorial Lecture, Engaged Citizenship Speaker Series, Gobberdiel Endowment, Illinois State Historical Society, Illinois State Library, Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition, NPR Illinois, Springfield Branch of the NAACP, UIS Colleges of Education and Human Services, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Public Affairs and Administration and the UIS Office of Advancement.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. Seating in Brookens Auditorium is limited; however overflow seating will be available in the Public Affairs Center, Level 1, Conference Rooms C/D and G, where the audience can watch a large-screen live video feed. 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 or visit http://go.uis.edu/LincolnLegacyLecture.

The UIS Visual Arts Gallery presents "Mirror|Mirror" by alumni Stanley Bly and Amanda Greive

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to present “Mirror|Mirror”, a two-person and collaborative exhibition that features UIS alumni Stanley Bly of Springfield and Amanda Greive of Edinburg. The exhibit will open on Thursday, October 27, and run through Thursday, November 17. A reception for this exhibit will take place on Thursday, October 27, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Bly and Greive divergently approach depiction and storytelling through figurative painting, though “Mirror|Mirror” brings these differences together in reverence towards each artist's work. This is pronounced by the inclusion of two portraits -- a portrait of Bly painted by Greive, and a portrait of Greive painted by Bly -- and a collaborative installation that the artists developed together for this exhibit.

Bly was born surrounded by Midwestern iconography and was taught early on of "the fruits of our labors." This ethic became engrained into Bly's imagery, and also into others work that he finds himself attracted to. "I was talking with a close friend one night. We were talking about old things, like mythology, archetypes, Shakespeare, and how these stories repeat themselves over and over,” said Bly. His affinity for a retelling can be seen through his love of mythology and art history, all painted with a feel for the blue-collar conundrum.

Greive’s hyper-realistic compositions reference both classical and contemporary symbolism and iconography. While the primary motivation behind her work is to tease out the nuanced emotions embedded within the human condition and to confront isolation and anxiety born of gender-based stereotypes, she also looks to comment on the contradiction between creating realistic imagery and portraying emotional rawness, as well as the uncompromised truth in the imagery portrayed versus its symbolic ambiguity. Her work has been exhibited at a number of galleries and venues, both regionally and nationally.

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

UIS Speaker Series presents "The Townshend Moment: How Two Brothers Started an Age of Revolution"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series, University of Notre Dame Hesburgh Lecture Series and the Notre Dame Club of Central Illinois present “The Townshend Moment: How Two Brothers Started An Age of Revolution.”

WHEN: Thursday, October 27, 2016, at 7 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Patrick Griffin, a professor of history at the University of Notre Dame, will lead a discussion exploring the relationship between imperial reform and revolution in the eighteenth-century British Atlantic world. He will focus on the lives and experiences of two brothers: George and Charles Townshend, who tried to transform relations between Ireland, America and Britain in 1767, leading to political upheaval in both Ireland and the American colonies. The talk will examine the brothers’ colorful background, their vision for empire and how their ideas led people to provinces far away to imagine new political futures.

Griffin was named the Madden-Hennebry Professor in 2008 and is currently the chair of the University of Notre Dame History Department. His work explores the intersection of colonial American and early modern Irish and British history, focusing on Atlantic-wide themes and dynamics.

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

UIS Illinois Innocence Project Exonoree Teshome Campbell to speak at UIS

The Illinois Innocence Project (IIP), based at the University of Illinois Springfield, will host its most recent exonoree, Teshome Campbell, for an informational talk on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the UIS University Hall Building, Classroom 3080.

Teshome Campbell spent 18 years of his life in prison for a Champaign murder he did not commit.

In January 2016, Campbell became IIP’s most recent exonoree and walked away from the Danville Correctional Facility a free man.

Campbell will share his story with the public and explain how ineffective counsel, erroneous eyewitness identification and incentivized witnesses shaped his wrongful conviction.

Campbell will be available for media interviews from 5-5:30 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center (PAC) Atrium or in the office of the Illinois Innocence Project (PAC 429).

The Illinois Innocence Project is dedicated to releasing innocent men and women imprisoned in Illinois for crimes they did not commit.

For more information on the Illinois Innocence Project contact Larry Golden at 217/206-6569.

UIS Speaker Series presents The Legacy Wall: LGBT History Exhibit

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series, LGBTQA Resource Office, Diversity Center, College of Public Affairs and Administration and UIS Departments of Women & Gender Studies, History and Political Science are proud to host the opening of The Legacy Wall: LGBT History Exhibit.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 5, 2016, at 7 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Public Affairs Center Concourse

DETAILS: The Legacy Wall is a one-of-a-kind traveling exhibit filled with photographs and biographies of 125 LGBT people well-known in the realms of politics, the arts, religion, sports and social activism. The project pays tribute to the contributions of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender individuals throughout history. The wall is designed to share the often-hidden LGBT lives to foster a culture of respect and appreciation for diversity.

Founder and Executive Director of The Legacy Project, Victor Salvo, is a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign alumnus, who has also been inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. UIS Assistant Professor of History Holly Kent and Political Science Professor Jason Pierceson will help kick-off the celebration.

The opening celebration for the exhibit also kicks off a month of LGBT activities honoring Queertober. Find out more about these activities at www.uis.edu/lgbtqa/programs/queertober.

The Legacy Wall will be on display from October 3-15 in the PAC Concourse.

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

UIS Illinois Innocence Project honors International Wrongful Conviction Day

WHAT: The Illinois Innocence Project (IIP), based at the University of Illinois Springfield, will host one of dozens of events throughout the world recognizing International Wrongful Conviction Day. The public is invited to a screening of the recently released documentary “Bloodsworth: An Innocent Man”.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 4, 2016, from 6 to 8 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Student Life Building, 2380 Theodore Dreiser Lane (Multipurpose Room)

DETAILS: In 1985, Kirk Bloodsworth was sentenced to die in a Maryland penitentiary for the brutal rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl. A crime he did not commit. The film chronicles Bloodsworth’s path to win his freedom in 1993, making him the first death row inmate exonerated by DNA evidence.

Bloodsworth was the featured speaker at the 2016 Illinois Innocence Project Defenders of the Innocent Event. IIP will honor him with the film screening as well as with a visual display on campus recognizing the 1,884 exonerations that have occurred in the United States and 175 from Illinois.

According to the Illinois Innocence Project, Illinois exonerees have lost a total of 1,831 years of their lives. An overwhelming majority of them are minorities.

International Wrongful Conviction Day began three years ago with the Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted. The day is designed to recognize the tremendous personal, social and legal costs associated with wrongful criminal convictions. To date, seven nations participate with events designed to inform and educate the international community on the causes, consequences and complications associated with wrongful criminal convictions.

For more information on the Illinois Innocence Project – Wrongful Conviction Day events, contact Lauren Myerscough-Mueller at 217/206-6051. You can also visit the website at www.uis.edu/illinoisinnocenceproject.

UIS Speaker Series presents a screening and discussion of "Public/Private Subversions"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents “Public/Private Subversions” featuring documentary footage of art-activist Kyle Magee. The screening will be followed by a group discussion.

WHEN: Monday, October 3, 2016, at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Kyle Magee was an Australian university art student before becoming a peculiar kind of art-activist; placing paper over advertising in broad daylight in populated urban spaces. He has done so for ten years as a protest against privatizing public spaces and the commercialization of media, and is regularly arrested for his activism.

“Public/Private Subversions” presents documentary footage of Magee’s activism and includes conversations with commuters, shoppers, children, policemen along with a message for the judiciary. He is committed to repeating his protest indefinitely and views his actions as practical interventions against outdoor advertising and unsolicited for-profit advertising.

The presentation and discussion of documentary footage of Magee’s activism will be moderated by Associate Professor of Political Science Richard Gilman-Opalsky, Ph.D., who hosts a series called Political Art and the Public Sphere, which encourages everyone to consider how “political art” raises provocative social and political questions.

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

UIS Lunch & Learn Series presents "Local Beans and Brew: Craft Beer and Chili"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield’s Office of Advancement, Alumni SAGE Society, Chancellor’s Office and the Illinois State Historical Society presents “Local Beans and Brew: Craft Beer and Chili” as part of the Lunch and Learn Series.

WHEN: Friday, October 7, 2016, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Brent Schwoerer, the founder/owner and brewer of Engrained Brewing Company, will discuss the history of craft beer making and microbrewing. Executive Director of the Illinois State Historical Society William Furry will present on the history and culture of chili.

The cost for the hot buffet lunch and program is $23/per person. Reservations are requested, as seating is limited. 

Other upcoming Lunch & Learn events include “Women's Speak: The Emergence of Power and Influence of Women” on November 16. These lunch-time programs will stimulate thinking as they build upon the university's tradition of open and intelligent dialogue.

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

UIS to celebrate its 20th annual homecoming weekend

The University of Illinois Springfield invites students, faculty, staff, alumni and the local community to celebrate our 20th annual Homecoming Weekend on October 7 & 8. Highlights include the Homecoming Parade (Friday, Oct. 7 at 4:30 p.m.) followed by UIS Men’s and Women’s Soccer vs. Drury University. A free fireworks show will follow the game. To view a full list of Homecoming activities, visit www.uis.edu/homecoming/.

UIS Homecoming Parade 

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

WHEN: Friday, October 7, 2016, at 4:30 p.m.

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

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

UIS Prairie Stars Men’s and Women’s Soccer 

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

WHEN: Friday, October 7, 2016, – The women’s game begins at 5 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Kiwanis Stadium at UIS

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

UIS Prairie Stars Volleyball

WHAT: The NCAA Division II women’s volleyball team will play St. Joseph’s College on Friday and the University of Indianapolis on Saturday in two homecoming appearances.

WHEN: Friday, October 7, 2016, at 7 p.m.
            Saturday, October 8, 2016, at 2 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Admission to the games is $6 for adults and children are $3. UIS students, faculty and staff are free with a valid iCard.

Prairie Stars Athletics Hall of Fame Induction 

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

WHEN: Saturday, October 8, 2016, reception at 6 p.m., ceremony at 7 p.m.

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

DETAILS: The 2016 class includes the 1993 men's soccer National Championship team, George Lidster (men's soccer), Audra (Roach) Wyant (volleyball), Manny Velasco (men's tennis), and Bob and Vickie Spencer (Friends of Prairie Stars).

Guests must preregister for the reception in TRAC. For $25, guests can enjoy beer & wine along with hors d'oeuvres. Child 10 and under are free. To register, contact Paul Kabbes at pkabb2@uis.edu or 217/206-8547.

UIS to unveil new Shakespeare Garden, marking the 400th anniversary of the writer's death

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will unveil a new Shakespeare Garden on campus, marking the 400th anniversary of the poet and playwright’s death in 1616. The themed garden will features plants often mentioned in William Shakespeare’s work.

WHEN: Thursday, September 29, 2016, at 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Campus between Brookens Library and the Police Station

DETAILS: William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. The Bard often used plants and gardens as metaphors for life, with many important scenes taking place in garden settings. For example: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” is a frequently referenced line spoken by Juliet to her lover, Romeo, in Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet”.

The Shakespeare Garden, made possible by an award from the University of Illinois’ Chester Fund, will include signs near each plant with the relevant quotation and reference to the appropriate play or poem, as well as a fountain, walkways, and benches.

The centerpiece of the Garden is a life-sized bronze sculpture of the Bard himself, titled “Shakespeare,” by renowned sculptor Gary Lee Price. The sculpture depicts Shakespeare relaxing on a garden bench – an open invitation for visitors to sit beside him for a chat or a photo.

Other Shakespeare events happening on campus include, the UIS Theatre production of “Macbeth”, which will be presented October 28 – 30 and November 3 – 6 in the UIS Studio Theatre. Tickets are available through the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office.

Jane Elliott, creator of the famous blue eyes/brown eyes exercise, to speak at UIS

Photo Courtesy: California State University, San Bernardino

WHAT: Activist and educator Jane Elliott, creator of the well-known blue eyes/brown eyes exercise, will present “Power, Perception and Prejudice” at the University of Illinois Springfield.

WHEN & WHERE:
Friday, September 16, 2016
Students, Faculty & Staff: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., PAC Studio Theatre
General Public: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., PAC Conference Rooms C/D
A book signing will follow the 5:30 p.m. event.

DETAILS: A passionate public speaker against discrimination, Jane Elliott is considered to be the forerunner of diversity training and has been recognized worldwide as an impactful and tireless advocate for equity among all people. A recipient of the National Mental Health Association Award for Excellence in Education, Elliott exposes prejudice and bigotry, which she calls “an irrational class system based upon purely arbitrary factors.”

In response to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. over thirty years ago, Elliott devised the controversial and startling, blue eyes/brown eyes exercise. This, now famous, exercise labels participants as inferior or superior based solely upon the color of their eyes and exposes them to the experience of being a minority.

During the “Power, Perception and Prejudice” presentation, Elliott uses audience members and visual aids to help us to recognize, identify, and appreciate the differences on which power is assigned, and some of the ways in which we are conditioned to develop some of our perceptions.

All presentations are free of charge.  

UIS Visual Arts Gallery presents “Reserved For Loitering” by artist Paul Shortt

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery presents “Reserved For Loitering”, a multi-media exhibition from Washington, D.C.-based artist Paul Shortt. Loitering is defined as standing or waiting around idly without apparent purpose, but this project attempts to recontextualize the act of loitering.

The exhibit will open on Thursday, September 22 and run through Thursday, October 20. Shortt will present a UIS Engaged Citizen Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series lecture and workshop titled “How To Loiter” on September 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium. Immediately following the lecture and workshop, an exhibition reception will take place at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The lecture and workshop will explore the issues surrounding loitering and how it affects public space and individuality. All events are free and open to the public.

Paul Shortt received his MFA in New Media Art from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his BFA in Painting from the Kansas City Art Institute. He has been in numerous group shows in D.C., Chicago, Kansas City, and New York City. His works engage the public in physical interactions and conversation that examine everyday experiences and cultural norms often in humorous ways through video, sculpture, books and public art.

Shortt has spoken about his work at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, China and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Missouri. He has been written about in Hyperallergic, The Washington Post, Bmore Art and Review Magazine. In 2015, he launched a project called "Reserved For Loitering," which examines and reimagines loitering across the U.S. Shortt is currently based in Washington, D.C., and is the New Media Curator for Arlington Cultural Affairs.

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

Share your political memorabilia with the UIS History Harvest at the Old State Capitol

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Department of History is inviting members of the public to bring and share any and all political memorabilia during a History Harvest at the Old State Capitol. Students will photograph, scan and record the stories behind the items in an effort to document the way that people in central Illinois have participated in elections.

WHEN: Saturday, October 22, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Old State Capitol, 1 SW Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield, IL

DETAILS: UIS students are asking people to share campaign literature, brochures, letters, photographs, diaries, buttons and bumper stickers related to the democratic process. Digital copies of the items made during the event will be included in an online exhibit and catalog. Participants will also have an opportunity to tell the ‘harvesters’ the stories behind the objects.

History Harvest offers the opportunity to “put yourself in the historical record.” By collecting information on the memories of the local electorate, the project will provide a unique insight into how ordinary citizens in central Illinois have participated in and remembered the democratic process. Items from both the recent and distant past are welcome.

Students from UIS Assistant Professor of History Devin Hunter’s undergraduate public history class and UIS Assistant Professor of History Kenneth Owen’s graduate history and digital media class will lead the effort to digitize items for the online digital exhibit.

 For more information, visit www.uis.edu/history/historyharvest/ or contact Devin Hunter at 217/206-7432 (dhunte2@uis.edu) or Kenneth Owen at 217/206-7439 (kowen8@uis.edu).

UIS Speaker Series to screen and discuss the film "14: Dred Scott, Wong Kim Ark & Vanessa Lopez"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents a screening of the documentary film “14: Dred Scott, Wong Kim Ark & Vanessa Lopez”. A discussion moderated by film director Anne Galisky will follow the screening.

WHEN: Monday, September 19, 2016, at 4 p.m.

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

DETAILS: The film explores the recurring question about who has the right to be an American citizen and examines the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment. The story is told through the lives of three ordinary and extraordinary American families who courageously challenged the powerful status quo. Descendants of Dred and Harriet Scott and Wong Kim Ark tell the stories of how their ancestors fought all the way to the Supreme Court and changed American History. Rosario Lopez and her daughter Vanessa are both activists in the immigrants' rights youth movement. It is the citizenship of millions of children like Vanessa Lopez, born in the United States to undocumented parents that is at stake now.

Galisky is co-founder of Graham Street Productions, which produced the documentary. Galisky also directed the feature-length documentary film, “Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth”. She founded and operated Small World Builders, a building construction company, for fifteen years before directing films. She earned a master’s degree in history with her research on the Japanese Internment, included in the Internment Memorial at the Expo Center in Portland, Oregon.

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

UIS Speaker Series presents "Hispanic Americans: Civil Rights, Social Justice and the Legal System - Where Policy Meets Practice"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents “Hispanic Americans: Civil Rights, Social Justice and the Legal System - Where Policy Meets Practice” as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. The featured speaker will be attorney Reggie Koch, managing partner of the Koch Law Firm of central Arkansas.

WHEN: Thursday, September 15, 2016, at 7 p.m.

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

DETAILS: This talk will highlight societal and legal institutional challenges that are faced today by Hispanic Americans. By illustrating their plight and the successful litigation outcomes that can occur, this event hopes to build awareness to the struggles faced by at-risk populations in general, and Hispanic populations specifically.

A large part of Koch’s practice deals with employment discrimination, issues of social justice and civil rights. Koch and his staff also network with attorneys abroad, especially in Mexico, to ensure that their clients' interests and rights are protected internationally as well as domestically. Koch studied Spanish and International Studies prior to studying law at the William H. Bowen School of Law in Little Rock, Arkansas. He also studied at the University of Arizona at Tucson and the University of Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico. He was presented with the Marco Polo Award for Excellence in International Studies. His work experience includes a fourteen-year career in law enforcement and a position with the Secretary of Public Security in Jalisco, Mexico, where he studied Mexican culture and trained Mexican police officers.

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

UIS Friday Night Star Parties return in September

The University of Illinois Springfield’s popular Friday Night Star Parties will resume the Friday after Labor Day and run through the end of October. Those dates include: September 9, 16, 23, and 30 and October 7, 14, 21 and 28. Friday Night Star Parties are held from 8 to 10 p.m., weather permitting, at the UIS Observatory on the roof of Brookens Library.

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

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

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

Star Parties may be canceled for cloudy weather. Questions about whether the weather is suitable for viewing should be directed to 217/206-8342 at 7 p.m. on the evening of the Star Party. Participants may also follow the UIS Observatory on Twitter  for updates.

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

UIS Speaker Series presents "Truth Telling: Promoting Healing, Change, and Joy for the Movement!"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series present “Truth Telling: Promoting Healing, Change, and Joy for the Movement!” This multi-media event brings together musical artists and peace and justice professors to promote healing, change, and joy for the current civil rights movement.

WHEN: Friday, September 9, 2016, at 3 p.m.

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

DETAILS: This event will feature David Ragland, professor of peace and conflict at Juniata College, founding member and co-director of the Truth Telling Project and a Peace and Justice Studies Association board member; Cris Toffolo, professor and chair of the Justice Studies Department at Northeastern Illinois University and a founding member of The Truth Telling Project; and Steff Reed, a Grammy award-nominated music educator, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music and film producer and anti-violence Black Lives Matter activist.

The Truth Telling Project aims to use truth telling as a tool for racial justice. Ragland will discuss the Truth Telling Project's work and share documentary footage of truth telling panels held in Ferguson. Toffolo will address the role this work can play in community engagement workshops beyond Ferguson and report on her first-hand experience of how facilitated discussions around the truth telling panel hearings can shift opinions and inspire civic engagement. Reed will bring truths directly to the audience through the power of art.

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

UIS Theatre to hold open auditions for upcoming performances of Shakespeare’s "Macbeth"

The theatre program at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS Theatre) will hold open auditions and crew interviews for their upcoming production of “Macbeth” on Monday, Aug. 29 and Tuesday, Aug. 30, in The Studio Theatre at UIS.

Crew interviews will begin at 6 p.m., followed by auditions at 7 p.m. both nights. The roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will be played by theatre faculty members Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson and Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson, all other roles are available.

Roles and crew positions are open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Roles are available for 10 women, 21 men, three boys and five others, which could be played by men or women. Callbacks may occur on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

In honor of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, UIS Theatre is proud to produce this showcase. “Macbeth” is one of the world’s most famous plays, exploring the dark side of ambition. The story is filled with ghosts, witches, murder, suicide, guilt, prophecy and supernatural power, conveyed in some of Shakespeare’s most memorable language.

“Macbeth” will feature special guest theatre artists, Bill Kincaid (director), D.C. Wright (fight choreographer) and Katie Eickhoff (costume designer). It will run October 28-30 and November 3-6.

For more information on the production, contact Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson at 217/206-6613 or ethib1@uis.edu. You can also visit the UIS Theatre website at www.uis.edu/theatre.

UIS Visual Arts Gallery presents “Avez Vous un Crayon?” by St. Louis artist Lyndon Barrois Jr.

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to present “Avez Vous un Crayon?” by St. Louis-based artist Lyndon Barrois Jr. The exhibit will open on Thursday, August 25, 2016, and run through Thursday, September 15. A reception for the exhibit will take place on Thursday, September 1 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

The passing of Prince prompted a personal and critical observation of his life and work. “Avez Vous un Crayon?” borrows a line of dialogue from the 1986 film “Under the Cherry Moon” for its title, and will explore the surreal and metaphoric gestures of Prince to produce an installation of drawing, painting, and sculpture. Prince stands as a radically progressive figure, blurring the distinctions between race, sexuality, genre expression and the spiritual and secular. The title translates to “Do you have a pencil?”, reflecting what Prince has written into history: he constructed his existence on his own terms, with a kind of liberated nature that we all can draw from.

Lyndon Barrois Jr. lives and works in St. Louis. Recent solo exhibitions include “Of Color”, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, “For the Benefit of Man”, Garwood Gallery, Western Illinois University, Macomb (2015), and “Float”, Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts, St. Louis (2014). Group exhibitions include “You Are Looking Good, A Real Good Looker”, Chicago Artist Coalition, Chicago (2016), “A Donkey is a Lion, and Insecticide, A Message from God”, Blackburn 20/20 Gallery, New York (2015).

Barrois Jr. has also been the recipient of numerous grants and fellowships, from the Desert Space Foundation, the Gateway Foundation, Regional Arts Commission and the Kittredge Fund. He received his MFA from the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Art at Washington University in St. Louis. He has been a teaching artist at Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago, and has served as adjunct faculty member in drawing and design at Washington University in St. Louis, and Webster University, respectively. He is currently the Museum Educator at Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.

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

UIS to hold inaugural Prairie Stars 5K run/walk

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Department of Campus Recreation will hold the inaugural Prairie Stars 5K run/walk. The event is open to UIS students, faculty, staff and community members.

WHEN: Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on the UIS campus

DETAILS: The Prairie Star 5K is being held in conjunction with Welcome Week, which marks the first week of fall semester classes at UIS.

The race will begin outside of The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) and go north along scenic University Drive before entering the heart of campus. The race will end near TRAC on Eliza Farnham Drive.

The cost to register is $5 for UIS students, $10 for campus recreation members and $15 for faculty, staff and community. Registration is available online at www.uis.edu/campusrec/.

The deadline to register for the race and be guaranteed a t-shirt is Wednesday, August 24 at 9 a.m. Participants may also register on the day of the race from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., however they are not guaranteed a t-shirt.

For more information, contact Alexandria Cosner, UIS assistant director of fitness and wellness, at 217/206-8400 or acosn2@uis.edu.

UIS partners to hold Perseid meteor shower viewing at Lincoln Memorial Garden

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield is partnering with Lincoln Memorial Garden and the Sangamon Astronomical Society to give members of the community a chance to view the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.

WHEN: Friday, August 12, 2016 from 8 to 11 p.m.

WHERE: Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lakeshore Drive, Springfield

DETAILS: The Perseid meteor shower is well known for producing frequent bright meteors annually during the second week in August.

John Martin, UIS associate professor of astronomy-physics, and members of the Sangamon Astronomical Society will be on hand to guide observing of the meteors as well as the planets Mars and Saturn.

The viewing will take place in the Cawley Medow at Lincoln Memorial Garden. Participants should dress appropriately for the temperature and may want to wear bug repellant since the event is outdoors.

This event may be canceled due to clouds or rain. The status of the viewing can be checked by calling the UIS Astronomy Department at 217/206-8342 after 6 p.m. on the night of the event. The UIS Observatory will also provide updates on Twitter @UISObservatory.

For more information, contact John Martin, UIS associate professor of astronomy-physics, at 217/206-8342 or jmart5@uis.edu.

UIS Theatre program announces 2016-17 season

University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) Theatre is excited to announce its production lineup for the 2016-17 academic year. In fall 2016, the program will present Shakespeare’s "Macbeth". The spring 2017 production will be "Almost, Maine" by John Cariani.

"Macbeth" will be performed seven times, Oct. 28-30 and Nov. 3-6, 2016, in the Studio Theatre, lower level of the Public Affairs Center. Bill Kincaid, professor of Theatre at Western Illinois University, is the guest director; D.C. Wright, associate professor of Theatre at Western Illinois University, is the guest fight choreographer; Katie Eickhoff, adjunct instructor of Theatre at Lincoln Land Community College, is the guest costume designer; and Dathan Powell, UIS assistant professor of Theatre, is the scenic design/technical director. The roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will be played by UIS Theatre faculty members Eric and Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson.

Open auditions/crew interviews will be held Aug. 29-30, 2016 in The Studio Theatre. Callbacks will take place on Aug. 31. Auditions and crew positions are open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Check www.uis.edu/theatre for times and information. Some of the crew positions available include stage management, props master, costume crew, sound designer, lighting crew and set construction.

"Macbeth" is one of the world’s most famous plays, with an aura of mystique and superstition surrounding even its title. The story explores the dark side of ambition, as the royal couple climb to power and then struggle to maintain it. Ghosts, witches, murder, suicide, guilt, prophecy, and the supernatural power of fate hang over the play, conveyed to the audience in some of Shakespeare’s most memorable language. Come see why Shakespeare’s work continues to affect us and hear how his view of the world lingers to this day.

The spring production, "Almost, Maine" will be performed April 7-9 and 13-15, 2017 in the Studio Theatre, located on the lower level of the Public Affairs Center. UIS Associate Professor of Theatre Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson will direct with scenic design by UIS Assistant Professor of Theatre Dathan Powell. Open auditions/crew interviews will be held Jan. 22-23, 2017 in The Studio Theatre. Callbacks will take place on Jan. 24. Auditions and crew positions are open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Check www.uis.edu/theatre for times and information.

 “On a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost’s residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Knees are bruised, Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend – almost – in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.” – From Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

Ordinary people experience life’s greatest force – love – in funny, awkward, bittersweet, and redeeming ways. A particular time in a wondrous place changes the lives of all involved and reminds us that moments shared by two people are the times when we can be the most transformed.

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

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

UIS to hold a "We Are Orlando" candlelight vigil in remembrance of shooting victims

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Diversity Center and LGBTQA Resource Office will hold a “We Are Orlando” candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the June 12, 2016, terrorist attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 5 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Public Affairs Center, Conference Rooms C/D

DETAILS: UIS students, faculty and staff will hold a candlelight vigil in response to the largest mass shooting in U.S. history, an attack against minorities including the LGBT and Latino/Hispanic communities.

Attendees will be encouraged to briefly share their thoughts. Victim names will be read, candles will be lit in their honor and a moment of silence will be held. Candles will be provided for all attendees.

For more information, contact Kerry Poynter, interim executive director of the UIS Diversity Center and director of the UIS LGBTQA Resource Office, at 217/206-6333 or kpoyn2@uis.edu.

Camp Invention, summer program fostering creativity and problem-solving, returning to UIS

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will host Camp Invention, the nation’s premier summer enrichment day camp program that is supported by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. The week-long day camp for students entering grades one through six fosters innovation and creativity while also building self-esteem, teamwork, persistence and goal-setting skills.

WHEN: June 20-24, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Campus (Founders & University Hall)

DETAILS: Camp Invention, not only encourages inventive young minds through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in a fun and creative atmosphere, it also incorporates outdoor activities. Students experience winning, success and victory, along with an adrenaline rush that comes with competition among students and successful completion of challenging projects.

Camp Invention provides a great opportunity for inventive young minds to exercise their creativity and use their imagination in ways they don’t normally get to – through real-world problem-solving challenges, they build things, take things apart, and explore different types of technology.

This year’s Camp Invention curriculum is called Epic™ and was inspired by some of our nation’s most brilliant minds including experienced educators, Inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame and members of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Parents are asked to register their children using the online form at www.campinvention.org. UIS employees may use the promo code "HOST" for a $30 discount.

The Springfield program will be led by Harshavardhan Bapat, UIS associate professor of chemistry. For more information on Camp Invention, contact Bapat at 217/206-7744 or hbapa1@uis.edu.

Girl Tech to teach middle schoolers about technology

WHAT: Join the University of Illinois Springfield’s Computer Science Department for two days of fun exploring technology during Girl Tech 2016.

WHEN: Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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

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

Highlighting the sessions this year is the opportunity for girls to play NASA/NSF’s Selene game. Selene challenges players to learn the major geologic processes scientists believe formed the modern Moon. Players construct their own virtual moon and then pepper it with impact craters and flood it with lava. New technology will include basic circuit design while creating an LED illuminated photo frame.

Girls will also get the chance to use a 3D-pen to create their own 3D sculpture or jewelry and print it using a 3D printer. They will also create their own computer games with by using the program Scratch. Girls will use hi-tech design tools to create a Girl Tech 2016 t-shirt to take home.

The registration fee is $30 per girl, which covers lunch both days, snacks and a participation t-shirt. To be eligible to participate, the girl must be entering 7th, 8th or 9th grade in the Fall of 2016. For more information about the camp and to register visit, http://csc.uis.edu/girltech/. The registration deadline is Friday, June 3, 2016.

For more information, contact Lucinda Caughey, camp coordinator and UIS Computer Science instructor, at 217/206-8336 or lcaug2@uis.edu.

UIS to unveil statue of young Abraham Lincoln

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will unveil The Young Lawyer, a 6' 4" statue of Abraham Lincoln sculpted by renowned artist George Lundeen. The statue will be located on the UIS quad west of the colonnade.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 10, 2016, at 11 a.m.

WHERE: UIS quad, between University Hall and the Public Affairs Center

DETAILS: The unveiling celebrates the addition of a new Lincoln-centered landmark at UIS, home of the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair for Lincoln Studies and the annual Lincoln Legacy Lectures, and the seminal host of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln.

Sculptor George Lundeen specializes in detailed, highly polished bronzes of subjects, such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. He also created the popular sculptor of Red Grange that sits outside Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. His commissioned work can be found in private and corporate collections across the country.

The statue was made possible by the John N. Chester Estate Fund, an endowed gift fund created with the intent of adding to the attractiveness of the University of Illinois campuses.

Before the unveiling, Chancellor Susan J. Koch will share a few remarks, as well as University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen and the artist. Guests will also hear from UIS student Faith Hook, Abraham Lincoln Association President Kathryn Harris, and Michael Burlingame, Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS.

The event will be hosted by the UIS Office of Advancement. A reception will follow the remarks and unveiling. The event is free to all attendees. The dress code is casual/business casual.

Ten UIS students to present at U of I Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol

Ten students from the University of Illinois Springfield will present their work at the third annual University of Illinois Undergraduate Research Day at the Illinois State Capitol on Thursday, May 5.

The students will display their research from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the first floor South corridor of the Capitol building. Students will be making poster presentations about their research and answering questions from lawmakers and the public.

UIS students will join their peers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses. Students were selected in a competitive process by the Undergraduate Research Steering Committee.

Chemistry major Ashley Hollinshead will present research on optimizing the freshwater denitrification process in heterotrophic bacteria using iron nanoparticles, history major Kendra Baber will discuss the destruction of museums and archeological sites by ISIS, biology major David Seidel will explore if geographic ranges can predict seedling success in tallgrass prairie restorations, and art major Zachary Landes will showcase his original installation “Take it, Don’t leave it”.

John Johnson, a chemistry major, will present research entitled “A Novel Approach to the Investigation of Solenopsins Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Tandem and High Resolution Mass Spectrometry”, art major Tyler Phibbs will exhibit his original artwork called “Cheromerican Warrior”, and psychology major Ashley Park will explore the relationship between poverty and adolescent substance abuse in Illinois.

Psychology major Jacob Eikenberry will present on the effects of workplace incivility and grit on burnout in domestic violence program employees, social work major Jennifer Hickey will discuss the need for Illinois to fund autism support and awareness programs, and sociology/anthropology major Michael Lotspeich will present his research regarding understanding inter-community conflict to building construction in a rural, consolidated local education agency.

The event is co-sponsored by the UIS Undergraduate Research Support Program and the UIS Chancellor’s Office. For more information, contact Keenan Dungey, UIS associate professor of chemistry and director of undergraduate student research, at 217/206-7345 or kdung1@uis.edu.

UIS to break ground on first-ever student union building on campus

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will break ground on its first-ever student union building, a $21.7 million project. University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen will be joined by UIS Chancellor Susan Koch, and Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder for the groundbreaking ceremony.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: UIS South Quad – Parking available in the University Hall or TRAC lots

DETAILS: The two-story, 50,000-square-foot facility will anchor the campus’s south quad, providing campus dining services, a coffee shop, a ballroom with seating for up to 450 people and a Student Leadership Center that will house student government, volunteer offices and workspaces for student organizations. The facility is scheduled to open in January 2018.

More than $5.3 million in gifts have been raised and officials say they will meet their $8 million fundraising goal before the facility opens. The remaining $13.7 million will be paid through campus funds and a construction fee that students approved in a 2012 referendum.

The new facility will fill a void that has grown since UIS became part of the University of Illinois system in 1995. The campus originally catered to upperclassmen and graduate-level students, but is now a traditional four-year school without the central gathering place for students.

William Brothers Construction Inc. of Peoria will be the general contractor for the project. Subcontractors include E.L. Pruitt Co. of Springfield, Commercial Mechanical Inc. of Dunlap and Foster Jacob Electric Inc. of Peoria. Dewberry Architects of Peoria and Workshop Architects of Milwaukee, Wisconsin developed design plans for the new facility.

For more information, contact Derek Schnapp, UIS director of public relations, at 217/206-6716 or dschn3@uis.edu.