UIS Friday Night Star Parties resume in March

The University of Illinois Springfield’s popular Friday Night Star Parties will resume in March. Those dates include: March 17, 24 and 31. 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 Mars, the Moon, the Great Nebula in Orion and other double stars and star clusters when visible.

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 and 10 p.m.

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

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

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

UIS Speaker Series explores ways women can lead in traditionally male environments

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series and the UIS Women’s Center presents “Does Leadership Have a Gender?” featuring UIS alumna Samantha Drew Gordon. In this International Women’s Day presentation, Gordon will share her experiences as a leader and identify ways that women can lead in traditionally male environments.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Increasingly, women are rising to leadership roles in traditionally male environments. These women often find themselves struggling to be respected and taken seriously unless they resort to traditional aggressive leadership modalities. Gordon will offer suggestions on ways that women can lead and achieve respect.

As a student at UIS, Gordon was president of the Student Government Association her junior and senior years. Following graduation, she started her career working at a shelter for survivors of domestic violence, Sojourner Center in Phoenix. In 2008, she began working for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in Arizona as an organizer working to bring child care providers a living wage and a union. Over the last nine years at SEIU, Gordon has worked on various political campaigns, organizing initiatives, and helped build and implement a national leadership development program for the union. In 2015, Gordon moved to California as statewide field director of SEIU Local 1000.

Individuals with disabilities who anticipate the need for accommodations should contact the UIS Speaker Series Office at 217/206-8507 or speakerseries@uis.edu in advance.

This event is part of UIS Campus Safety Week and Women’s History Month. For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS Speaker Series to host "The U.S. Immigrant Population: Myths vs. Facts" panel discussion

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will explore “The U.S. Immigrant Population: Myths vs. Facts” during a panel discussion.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at 4 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Immigration has become a hotly contested political issue in the United States. The goal of this panel discussion is to dispel the myths associated with immigration and give the audience a clearer understanding of the subject.

The panel will explore the history of immigration to the United States and immigration policy. Participants will learn about the impact of immigrant workers on the U.S. economy, consumer prices, and associated human rights issues. The panel will also discuss how American culture has been influenced by immigrant populations.

Panelists include Adriana Crocker, UIS associate professor of political science; Anette Sikka, UIS assistant professor of legal studies and Yona Stamatis, UIS assistant professor of ethnomusicology.

Individuals with disabilities who anticipate the need for accommodations should contact the UIS Speaker Series Office at 217/206-8507 or speakerseries@uis.edu in advance.

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

UIS Lunch & Learn Series presents "Establishing Springfield – and the Horseshoe too!"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield’s Office of Advancement, Alumni SAGE Society, Chancellor’s Office and the Illinois State Historical Society presents “Establishing Springfield – and the Horseshoe too!” as part of the Lunch and Learn Series.

WHEN: Thursday, February 23, 2017, 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: Linda Garvert, retired staff member of the Sangamon Valley Collection at Lincoln Library, presents on the people, places and events which established Springfield. Howard Seidel, UIS executive chef, and Randy Williams, culinary instructor/food expert, share tales and ingredients which “cooked up” the legendary horseshoe sandwich and the program’s horseshoe buffet.

The cost for the hot buffet lunch and program is $23/per person. Reservations are requested, as seating is limited. A discounted series subscription is available for $60/per person.

Other upcoming Lunch & Learn events include “The Bears and the 'Gettes” on March 29 and “The Great Outdoors” on April 18. These lunch-time programs will stimulate thinking as they build upon the university's tradition of open and intelligent dialogue.

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

UIS students to hold Dance Marathon to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network

WHAT: Students at the University of Illinois Springfield will hold a Dance Marathon as part of a fundraising campaign for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) at HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital in Springfield. Members of the public are invited to participate.

WHEN: Friday, February 24, 2017 from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.

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

DETAILS: Participants can sign up for the Dance Marathon as an individual or as part of a team with a fundraising goal. Anyone is welcome to participate and can register online at www.dmuis.org or at the event. Participants pay a $5 registration fee and are asked to fundraise at least $20 by February 24.

The Dance Marathon will feature a DJ, a variety of performances by different organizations and food coordinating with the themes “Birthday”, “Luau”, “Mardi Gras” and “Olympics”.

Six local families who have benefited from the Children’s Miracle Network at HSHS St. John’s Hospital will share their stories starting at 4:30 p.m.

UIS students have been raising money for the campaign throughout the year. Last year, they raised $6,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network.

UIS Speaker Series presents "Literary Citizenship: Publishing, Writing, and Editing in 2017"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents “Literary Citizenship: Publishing, Writing, and Editing in 2017” featuring literary publisher, editor, and award-winning poet KMA Sullivan and poet Justin Phillip Reed.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at 7 p.m.

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

DETAILS: Sullivan and Reed will read from their new books of poetry and discuss literary citizenship and the publishing process in the 21st century. As the founder of YesYes Books, a leading independent press recognized nationally for its commitment to diversity, Sullivan will discuss how she sustains an equitable press and builds a social just literary community. As a writer published by YesYes books, Reed will discuss the editorial relationship from the writer’s standpoint. He will also discuss the creation of “The History of Flamboyance”, a collection which explores place and the black queer experience, among other topics.

Sullivan is the author of “Necessary Fire”, winner of the St Lawrence Book Award (Black Lawrence Press, 2015). Her poems have appeared in Boston Review, Southern Humanities Review, and elsewhere. She is the editor-in-chief of Vinyl Poetry and the publisher at YesYes Books. She holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Virginia Tech.

Reed’s first full-length book of poetry, “Indecency”, is forthcoming from Coffee House Press in 2018. His work appears—or soon will—in Best American Essays, Callaloo, The Iowa Review, The Kenyon Review, and elsewhere. He received his MFA at Washington University in St. Louis.

Individuals with disabilities who anticipate the need for accommodations should contact the UIS Speaker Series Office at 217/206-8507 or speakerseries@uis.edu in advance.

 This event is co-sponsored by the UIS College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Shelterbelt Reading Series. For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS Visual Arts Gallery exhibit "Safe Harbor: Work by Diaz Lewis" spotlights immigration reform

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery presents “Safe Harbor: Work by Diaz Lewis”. Diaz Lewis - the collaborative duo comprised of Alejandro Figueredo Diaz-Perera and Cara Megan Lewis - creates art that address themes of immigration and prompts social change. The exhibit, featuring their latest project, “34,000 Pillows”, will open with a reception on Thursday, March 2 and run through Thursday, April 13.

In conjunction with their exhibition reception, Diaz Lewis will present a UIS Engaged Citizen Common Experience (ECCE) lecture titled “Diaz Lewis: Artivism and Immigration Reform” on March 2 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium.

Their talk will center on “34,000 Pillows” which was developed in response to the Congressional “detention-bed mandate,” a statutory quota that enforces Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain at least 34,000 immigrants every day in over 250 private prisons and county jails across the country.

To materialize the human impact of the mandate, Diaz Lewis is creating a pillow to represent every designated bed and each immigrant detained as a result of the mandate. The pillows are comprised of articles of clothing donated by undocumented immigrants, prior detainees, and their allies. In an attempt to symbolically “buy back” the 34,000 beds for one single day, 100% of the funds raised from sales of the pillows are going towards alternatives to the bed mandate, and organizations whose efforts restore human dignity such as Human Rights Watch and Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants.

Immediately following the lecture, an exhibition reception will take place at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

“Safe Harbor: Work by Diaz Lewis” prompts participation from our campus community and beyond. “34,000 Pillows” is an open invitation to anyone who wants to contribute to the process by creating a pillow design, donating clothing, deconstructing clothing, or purchasing a pillow. Since the project’s inception in early 2016, over 300 students and individuals have participated in the project by bringing donations of materials and participating in the creation of pillow designs. A design workstation will be located directly outside of the UIS Visual Arts Gallery throughout the exhibition run and is open to the public. An ever-growing pile of pillows, the art installation translates a human experience that statistics alone cannot.

Diaz Lewis met in 2012 and worked across the divide between Cuba and the U.S. Now based in Los Angeles, their practice as artists and activists is fueled by deconstructing social processes and the symbols and politics behind them. In the selection of topics such as rhetoric, immigration or property rights, they dissect relevant themes from two distinct and often opposing angles. Recent exhibitions include “Home Land Security” For Site Foundation, San Francisco (2016); “Soul Asylum” Weinberg Newton Gallery, Chicago (2016); “A Dream Deferred” Aspect/Ratio, Chicago (2015); “Cul De Sac” Mission Gallery, Chicago (2015); and “The Other’s Voice” Rapid Pulse International Performance Art Festival, Chicago (2014). Diaz Lewis were most recently artists-in-residence at the Chicago Cultural Center at the end of 2016 with the support of the Joyce Foundation.

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 explores Black Lives Matter through the prism of Fredrick Douglass

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents “Black Lives Matter - Through the Prism of Fredrick Douglass”. The panel discussion will explore the Black Lives Matter Movement through the prism of Douglass' “West India Emancipation” speech of 1857.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at 6 p.m.

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

DETAILS: The event, as part of Black History Month, will highlight societal and legal institutional challenges that are faced today by African Americans. By illustrating their plight, this event hopes to build awareness to the struggles faced by at-risk populations in general, and African Americans specifically.

Panelists include Dorine Brand, UIS assistant professor of public health; Pastor Jerry Doss, lead pastor of Abundant Faith Christian Center in Springfield; Ty Dooley, UIS assistant professor of public administration and director of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program; Tess Dooley, UIS visiting instructor of legal studies; and Tiffani Saunders, UIS instructor of sociology and African-American studies.

This event is co-sponsored by the UIS Diversity Center and the UIS Departments of Legal Studies, African-American Studies and Public Health.

Individuals with disabilities who anticipate the need for accommodations should contact the UIS Speaker Series Office at 217/206-8507 or speakerseries@uis.edu in advance.

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

UIS town hall meeting to explore the implications of President Trump’s executive order on immigration

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will host a town hall meeting exploring the implication of President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration and refugees. The event is free and open to the public.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 7, 2017, from 5 to 6 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Public Affairs Center, Sangamon Auditorium Lobby

DETAILS: This town hall meeting will offer an opportunity for students and community members to learn more about how Trump’s recent executive order on immigration and refugees may affect themselves, their friends, and/or their families. Individual legal advice will not be given, but audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Panelists will include Anette Sikka, UIS assistant professor of legal studies; Deborah Anthony, UIS associate professor of legal studies; Lauren Myerscough-Mueller; UIS Illinois Innocence Project staff attorney; and Jonathan GoldbergBelle, UIS director of International Programs.

The event is sponsored by the UIS Diversity Center, Legal Studies Department and the Division of Student Affairs.

For more information, contact Sophia Gehlhausen, UIS Diversity Center program and outreach coordinator, at 217/206-6333 or sophia@uis.edu.

UIS, Junior League and United Way seek nominations for the annual Good as Gold volunteer awards

The University of Illinois Springfield, Junior League of Springfield, and the United Way of Central Illinois are seeking nominations for the 9th annual Good as Gold volunteer awards. The awards ceremony will be held on April 24, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. in the Sangamon Auditorium Lobby at UIS.

The awards recognize volunteers who use their time and talents to help improve the lives of others in the Springfield area. Over 40 awards will be given to Sangamon County community volunteers, organizations, and businesses.

Individuals and organizations can be nominated in several categories including Heart of Gold, Youth Volunteer, Organization of the Year and Distinguished Volunteer. The ceremony will also recognize UIS and/or LLCC faculty/staff members and students who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to service.

Businesses may apply for the Good as Gold Business Honor Roll. The honor roll recognizes businesses that have given back to our community thought direct service and charitable giving.

Over the past eight years, the ceremony has recognized hundreds of volunteers for freely giving their time and talents to make Springfield a better place to live and thrive.

Event details, descriptions of the awards categories, and the online nomination forms can be found at www.uis.edu/volunteer/communitypartners/goodasgold/. The nomination deadline is March 1, 2017.

For questions please contact, Mark Dochterman, director of the UIS Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center, at mdoch2@uis.edu or 217/206-8448.

UIS to host Career Connections Expo for students, alumni and community members

WHAT: The career centers at the University of Illinois Springfield and Lincoln Land Community College are excited to announce the 2017 Career Connections Expo. Community members, students and alumni from the two institutions and other colleges are invited to attend the free event.

WHEN: Thursday, February 16, 2017, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

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

DETAILS: The Expo is designed to help attendees make professional connections, find jobs and internships and explore career paths. For potential employers, it is a chance to disseminate pertinent information and to develop a pool of candidates interested in future opportunities, internships and summer openings as well as permanent employment.

Representatives from more than 100 employers are expected to be on hand. The event has an average attendance of more than 300 students, alumni, and community members.

Information for students, alumni and others: Pre-registration is not required, business-casual attire is required (NO jeans), and participants should bring copies of their resumes to the Expo.

Information for employers: Advance registration is required. Booth space will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is available online at www.uis.edu/career.

The expo is sponsored by MSF&W Consulting, Inc., OSF Healthcare, College Pro, Wise Equation Solutions Inc., and NPR Illinois (WUIS).

For more information, or to register, contact the Career Development Center at 217/206-6508.