NIU to rededicate Duke Ellington Ballroom

When the Holmes Student Center opened in the fall of 1962 – it was called University Center then – jazz legend Duke Ellington was enjoying a thriving career that would continue to flourish until his death.

Following the enormous sales of his “Ellington at Newport” album, recorded at his orchestra’s 1956 concert there, he embarked on an amazing period of studio recordings, world tours, numerous Grammy Awards, an Academy Award nomination and further forays into scoring for the legitimate theater stage.

Yet Ellington’s lasting connection to NIU – one that has endured nearly 30 years, and is known to many alumni and campus visitors – would come in the final two months of his celebrated life.

Ellington and his orchestra played the center’s ballroom March 20, 1974. Although he made two more stage appearances before succumbing to lung cancer and pneumonia two months later, the NIU show was his final “full” concert.

In 1980, students who ran the Holmes Center Board convinced members of the governing Board of Regents to name the ballroom in his honor. Mercer Ellington, Duke’s son and successor as bandleader, attended the ceremony.

Now, with an extensive $970,000 improvement project complete and the facility reopened, NIU will rededicate the Duke Ellington Ballroom.

Paul Ellington, Duke’s grandson and Mercer’s successor as bandleader, will attend and perform at Thursday’s ceremony during the annual fall NIU Jazz Ensemble concert. The jazz ensemble performs at 8 p.m. with guest artist Dennis Mackrel, a drummer who played with the Count Basie Orchestra in the mid-1980s.

Ellington will join the jazz ensemble on “Mood Indigo,” one of his grandfather’s most famous compositions, and will play the same grand piano his grandfather used here in 1974.

“What an honor it is for NIU to have Paul Ellington come for this tribute to his grandfather. I’m looking forward to hearing his words – and his talent on the piano,” NIU President John Peters said.

“The importance of that 1974 concert is known to everyone who passes through our student center, whether they pause to read the plaque or simply note the name at the ballroom doors.” FULL STORY

Eight-character passwords
to be enforced Nov. 10
In an effort to improve security, ITS will begin enforcing an eight-character password for login authentication to NIU’s network, including Windows, Novell, Unix, NT and MVS systems. It is recommended passwords be an alphanumeric combination of eight characters. --MORE

NIU instructor presents
one-woman show Nov. 5
NIU writing composition instructor Loren Hecht will perform a one-woman show of story, monologue and music at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the DeKalb Area Women’s Center. -- MORE

Missionary to speak Nov. 6
on Israeli occupation
The Rev. Sandra Olewine, a Methodist missionary fresh from years of service in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, on “Living Under Military Occupation – What Americans Need to Know about the Israeli Occupation.” --MORE

Borders to help scholarships for
NIU Community School of the Arts
Shoppers at the DeKalb Borders store this weekend – Friday, Nov. 7 through Monday, Nov. 10 – who present an NIU Community School of the Arts voucher at the cash register will help its scholarship programs. --MORE

Caregivers support group
holds biweekly meetings
A caregivers support group led by Ellen Parham, a professor in the School of Family, Consumer and Nutrition Sciences in the NIU College of Health and Human Sciences, meets biweekly at Family Service Agency of DeKalb, 14 Health Services Drive. --MORE

NIU Student Mediation Services
provides help resolving conflicts
The Student Mediation Services Office provides NIU students with free mediation services to assist in resolving personal disputes and conflicts. --MORE

--CLICK HERE