NIU plays role in regional economic transformation

Northern Illinois University is a key player in two projects that hold promise for transforming the economic landscape of north-central Illinois.

Both projects - one in Rockford focusing on reviving manufacturing industries there, the other in Belvidere seeking to develop and market new agricultural-based products - will rely heavily upon resources and innovative thinkers from NIU.

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Two NIU faculty members whose research and books have garnered international attention have been named as the 2003 Presidential Research Professors.

President John Peters will formally recognize history professor Christine Worobec and professor William Baker, who holds a joint appointment with University Libraries and the Department of English, at the first-ever Convocation for Academic Excellence. The event will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 13, in the Duke Ellington Ballroom of the Holmes Student Center.

Given out annually since 1982, the Presidential Research Professorship is the university's top recognition for outstanding research.

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To erase hunger from the map, the Northern Illinois Food Bank first needed, well, a map.

So when the food bank set out recently to identify population pockets of greatest hunger need, it turned to Northern Illinois University mapping experts for help.

Cartographer Lenny Walther and research scientist Phil Young, both faculty in NIU's Department of Geography, volunteered to create a map illustrating varying hunger needs by township in the northern Illinois region. The completed map allows food bank planners to identify quickly the proximity of pantries and distribution sites to needy areas.

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Focusing on a theme of volunteerism, NIU has scheduled 17 events to coincide with the celebration of Women's History Month in March.

The NIU Women's Studies Program, together with various co-sponsors, is pleased to bring attention to important women's issues. Volunteerism encompasses the lives of women in various arenas, including community support, activism in the pursuit of social justice, dedication to home and family, and the balancing of career and family.

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The NIU Office of Public Affairs is seeking faculty who are willing to reply to media queries on topics related to the ongoing conflicts with Iraq and North Korea.

The Office of Public Affairs would like to know your relevant area of expertise. Members of the media frequently contact us in search of professors whose insights can help bring perspective and balance to breaking news.

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Wireless network access is now available in most residence halls, and many public areas on the DeKalb NIU campus.

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Note to readers
Northern Today, the online faculty-staff newsletter of Northern Illinois University, has launched a new e-mail today that offers a graphic version of the publication.

We'd like to know what you think. Did this enhance your readership of Northern Today? Did you experience any difficulties opening the e-mail or the files? Please drop us a note at northerntoday@niu.edu.

Women's Alliance sponsors
'Vagina Monologues'
Women's Alliance, an activist and education group on campus, will sponsor a production of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues" to benefit the Safe Passage shelter. NIU theater students will perform, directed by theater student Colleen Mosher for her senior project. --MORE

Friends of NIU Libraries to host author
Former DeKalb resident Richard Powers will read from his second novel, "The Time of Our Singing," at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, in the Staff Lounge on the lower level of Founders Memorial Library. --MORE

Applications invited for
2003 Multicultural Curriculum Transformation Institute
The Office of the Provost and the Provost's Task Force on Multicultural Curriculum Transformation are pleased to announce NIU's 10th annual Multicultural Curriculum Transformation Institute, to be held May 13 through 21. --MORE

NIU to host conference on race, children
NIU will host a conference on the issue of race as it relates to young children from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, in the Holmes Student Center.

The conference, titled "The Other 3 Rs: Reality, Racism and Respect," is being offered free of charge for students studying for careers in teaching, educators, day care providers and all others with an interest in the young child. The event hosts are the NIU Early Childhood Studies Program Steering Committee and the NIU Early Childhood Studies Professional Advisory Committee. --MORE

Institute for Learning in Retirement announces 'Brown Bag' series
The lecture series takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays. --MORE

Apple Computers representatives
to visit campus
Information Technology Services Customer Support Services is pleased to welcome representatives from Apple Computers, Inc from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, in Room 405 of the Holmes Student Center. The representatives from Apple will provide an overview of the latest hardware and OSX, including the most recently developed tools. --MORE

Designing universally accessible Web resources utility CD now available from ITS
Those who missed Jon Gunderson's Jan. 10 workshop might wish to have the compact disc he shared during the workshop. The CD provides several helpful utilities, templates, alternative browsers, accessibility checkers, Dreamweaver extension and links to important accessibility resources on the world wide web. --MORE

CAB sponsors trip to Mall of America
The bus leaves at noon Friday, March 28, from the east side of the Holmes Student Center. The transportation cost for students is $19 and $22 for general public, payable in the CAB office, Campus Life Building 160. Anyone interested in attending must sign up by Friday, March 7. --MORE

Deadlines set for Fiscal Year 2003 requests
Fiscal Year 2003 will soon be closing and cut-off dates must be established. These dates are mainly pertinent to FY2003 orders using General Revenue funds, but the same dating conventions are followed for orders using other fund sources. Please keep in mind that the last quarter of the fiscal year is the busiest for Procurement Services and the Accounting Office, with their departments simultaneously preparing to close out FY2003 and processing, bidding and issuing orders for FY2004. --MORE

ITS offers self-service password reset
ITS is pleased to announce the availability of an online, self-service password management tool, WebFoyer. Whether you want to change or reset your Novell network password, one visit to www.webfoyer.niu.edu will allow you to accomplish the task. --MORE

Costa Rica photo exhibit on display
A photography exhibit of images of Costa Rica is open to the public at The House, 263 E. Lincoln Hwy. The show will be on display for about six weeks, and the images are available for purchase. --MORE

Unity in Diversity seeks 2003-04 theme
The NIU Unity in Diversity Steering Committee is accepting submissions for its annual Theme Contest.

The winning entry will receive $100 (possibly subject to taxes) and will be used on campus during the next academic year to promote diversity awareness on campus. The theme will be used in the design of the annual Unity in Diversity poster, which will be professionally printed and distributed throughout campus, and also will be framed and mounted as part of the permanent UID poster collection display in the Holmes Student Center. --MORE