In Brief

NIU Information Technology Services cracks down on file-sharing activity

The advent of peer-to-peer (P2P) technology combined with new utilities to facilitate file-sharing activity is causing hardship to NIU's network.

The problem is not unique to NIU, but is a worldwide issue wherever a shared network resource exists. The issue has been growing as awareness increased, and new utilities are made available. The (often) benign function of downloading mp3s shares the same technology that allows hackers to abuse university resources by opening a door for them. NIU Information Technology Services (ITS) is obligated to help protect the university (including the students) from litigation surrounding the abuse of the network.

In the weeks following the semester start-up, P2P activity was draining in excess of 60 percent of the network bandwidth. At that same time, NIU received more than 100 "cease and desist" notices from third-party governing institutions hired to protect the rights of the music and film industries. It was necessary for ITS to take action.

The tools ITS is using to manage the problem are as relatively new as the problem itself. ITS is using them to shape network traffic in an attempt to facilitate the business of education. In the process of shaping, it has been necessary to interrupt some functions that students had been enjoying, such as mp3 downloading from the Internet.

NIU's goal is to allow P2P activity and still maintain a secure and viable network for all to use. ITS staff regrets any inconvenience customers experience as they try to efficiently manage NIU's network. Your patience and understanding is appreciated.

For more information about file sharing, please read the "Facts about File Sharing" brochure available in student residence halls, or from the ITS Customer Support Center, 120 Swen Parson Hall.

WNIJ news director to speak on All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

Susan Stephens, news director at WNIJ Northern Public Radio, will speak from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

All NIU women - students, faculty, and staff - are invited for a good talk, good food and good company. This is a chance to meet new people, see women you'd like to know better, and gain the support a network of contacts can provide.

The speech will take place in Chandelier Room B in Adams Hall. Cost is $7 per person, or $6 for students. Reservations are required by Oct. 29. Call 753-9614.

Stephens' project, for the Midway Village and Museum Center in Rockford, focuses on the women who played baseball professionally in the 1940s and '50s. Most played for the Rockford Peaches, and all were members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The league was featured in the movie "A League of Their Own," the 1992 Penny Marshall film starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis.

The event is sponsored by the NIU Presidential Commission on the Status of Women: http://www.niu.edu/women/pcsw.

Borders vouchers benefit NIU Community School of the Arts

The NIU Community School of the Arts has shopping vouchers for the DeKalb Borders store. Call 753-1450 to receive a voucher through campus mail.

Redeem the voucher the weekend of Nov. 8-10 at Borders. Fifteen percent of the money you spend will be returned to the NIU Community School of the Arts to support the scholarship programs. The NIU Community School of the Arts has two scholarship programs (one for talent and one for need), and has raised nearly $50,000 since 1993 to support students with awards.

Students and teachers from the program will be performing in the Borders café from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. For more information about the NIU Community School of the Arts or about the scholarship programs, visit www.vpa.niu.edu online.

Oak Crest residents tour NIU campus

A group of 35 residents of Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center enjoyed a tour of the NIU campus Thursday, Oct. 3, sponsored by the College of Education Development Office. Sally Stevens, retired administrative secretary to six NIU presidents and an Oak Crest resident, helped to organize the tour.

Led by tour guides Chris Porterfield and Dan Turner, assistant directors of Orientation, the group viewed many NIU buildings from their bus and made their first stop at Barsema Hall, where they heard from College of Business Dean David Graf. After lunch at the Pheasant Room, the visitors made their way to the Milan Township One-Room School. Jim Johnson, a retired NIU professor, gave the presentation.

    
Gordon Bird and Lynn Heagy,         Chris Sorensen, dean of the College
residents of Oak Crest, examine      of Education, speaks with Oak Crest
readers in the Milan Township         resident Bill Froom about the Milan
One-Room School.                           Township One-Room School.

Field Museum curator to speak in Sycamore

Dr. Bruce Patterson, MacArthur Curator of Mammals at the Field Museum in Chicago, will speak in Sycamore on the "Man-eating Lions of Tsavo National Park and other East African Adventures."

Patterson's speech is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at Carl's Fargo Restaurant, 355 W. State St. in Sycamore. This free program is presented by the board of the Midwest Museum of Natural History.

Tsavo National Park is famous for its man-eating lions. There, a century ago, two lions terrorized railway crews, eating 135 people before engineer Col. J.H. Patterson killed them.

Patterson (no relation to the Colonel) and his colleagues have investigated the story, including forensic studies on the man-eaters' remains, historical investigations into 19th century East Africa and field surveys of lions in Tsavo today. He recently has completed a book exploring why these lions killed so many people, why they were without manes, and whether they were larger and more aggressive than other African lions.

His book is being published by McGraw-Hill.

Patterson is also a member of the advisory team for the Midwest Museum of Natural History, a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization. The volunteer museum board is nearing its capital campaign goal to renovate the Sycamore Community Center, which will showcase a private collection of taxidermy animals from North America and Africa donated by the Schelkopf family.

For more information, call the Midwest Museum of Natural History at 895-9777.

Colleges against Cancer to sponsor Relay for Life

NIU's Colleges against Cancer is sponsoring Relay for Life, an American Cancer Society fundraiser, in April at the Office of Campus Recreation.

Relay for Life is one of the American Cancer Society's primary money-raising and educational events, held once a year in communities throughout the country. Relays are made up of 10-member teams, each of whose members is responsible for raising $100 for the American Cancer Society.

The relay is an overnight event, with food, activities, entertainment, games and cancer information in a festive atmosphere. At least one member of each team is supposed to be on the relay track at all times.

This year, in addition to student teams, Colleges against Cancer would like to have at least one faculty/staff team. Anyone interested should contact Mary Cozad, of the Department of Foreign Languages, at 753-6448 or 756-9908.

Alumni Association seeks award nominations

The Alumni Association is seeking nominations for its 2003 Alumni Awards Program. The program recognizes graduates who have achieved national, regional or statewide prominence either in their professional fields or through their involvement in civic, cultural or charitable activities. The nomination deadline is Dec. 10, 2002. For more information, or to request a nomination form, contact the Alumni Association at 753-1452 or e-mail alums@niu.edu. Visit www.myniu.com to learn more about the Alumni Awards Program and view previous recipients. Individuals may be nominated for the following awards:

• The Distinguished Alumni Award. The most prestigious award given by the Alumni Association, the Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to an alumnus from any of the seven colleges.
• F.R. Geigle Service Award. This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service and commitment to the best interests of NIU. This award may be given to non-alumni.
• Outstanding College Alumni Awards. Seven Outstanding College Alumni are chosen to represent the university's seven colleges, highlighting the diverse disciplines of a comprehensive university.
• Outstanding Young Alumni Award. This award is presented to an alumnus who received his or her undergraduate degree from NIU within the past 10 years.

10/21/02