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 The National Science Foundation has awarded a $12.9 million Antarctic research grant to a consortium of five U.S. universities headed by NIU and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The grant supports an ambitious international effort to probe deeper than ever before into geological strata buried beneath the frozen sea to help scientists better understand contemporary global warming trends.
Dubbed ANDRILL, for Antarctic geological drilling, the project will be a focal point during International Polar Year (2007-09), a worldwide campaign of polar education and analyses.
“The Antarctic is like a global thermostat,” explained NIU geologist Ross Powell, who serves as a co-chief scientist for ANDRILL.
“The region is showing it can be extremely sensitive to climate change with the massive ice sheet interacting with the world's atmosphere and oceans to help maintain the world's current temperature distribution. When global temperatures warm past critical thresholds, the ice sheet melts, accelerating the warming effect. When global temperatures cool, the ice sheet expands, accelerating the cooling effect.” FULL STORY
 The $286.5 billion transportation bill signed into law by President Bush last week in Aurora includes $8.32 million to plan, design and build new roads on the west side of campus.
“We are very grateful to Speaker of the House Denny Hastert, and his staff, for their assistance in securing this funding,” NIU President John Peters said. “At a time when there is little or no money available from the state to help us plan and build for the needs of the future, this is most welcome.”
The money will be used specifically to design and build a road network and the accompanying infrastructure improvements – water lines and sewers, for example – that will allow the university to begin development of about 230 acres at the western edge of campus.
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 Tom Bough is not an NIU alum, but his on-campus interview for the Huskie Band director's job was a Homecoming of sorts.
As a member of the Rockford-based Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps in 1986 and 1987, the teenager from southwest Missouri and his contrabass horn took the field in competition inside Huskie Stadium.
“During the interview, they walked me onto the field. I looked up at the stands and, man, for a second, I was 18 again, with the hair and everything,” said Bough, the man NIU expects to continue and build on the Huskie Band's century-long tradition of excellence.
“Intercollegiate Athletics is very excited that Tom has joined the Huskie family as the director of athletic bands,” NIU Athletics Director Jim Phillips said. “We're very much looking forward to continuing the close relationship Athletics enjoys with the band program as it is a focal point for Intercollegiate Athletics.”
FULL STORY
 Read good news about – and send congratulations to – Paul Loubere and Dan Turner.
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New and returning members are eligible to register for FIT beginning Tuesday, Aug. 16. Registration takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day in Anderson Hall 127:
Tuesday, Aug. 16, returning members only
Thursday, Aug. 18, new members only
Friday, Aug. 19, open registration
The cost is $65. Call (815) 753-0335 for more information.
Founders Memorial Library's current lobby exhibition, "Behind the Scenes in the Library: The Cataloging Department," is on display through Aug. 31.
For more information, call (815) 753-9863.
The State of Illinois mileage reimbursement rate for the use of personal vehicles on official NIU business has been increased from 37.5 cents per mile to 40.5 cents per mile. This applies to travel that takes place on or after July 1, 2005.
The NIU travel voucher form has been updated to reflect this change. For more information, call (815) 753-1514
The David C. Shapiro Memorial Law Library has announced its hours for August and the fall semester.
The library is open from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, and 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21.
Fall hours begin Monday, Aug. 22. The library is open from 7:15 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 7:15 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and from noon to 11:30 p.m. Sundays.
Exceptions include Labor Day weekend (from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, and from 2 to 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5.) and the Thanksgiving recess (open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, from noon to 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, and closed in between).
The extended scheduled for final exams week begins Saturday, Dec. 3.
Call (815) 753-0505 for more information.
“Blue Collar” comedian Ron White, better known as "Tater Salad," will come to DeKalb at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, for an appearance at the Convocation Center.
Tickets are $40.25 for the general public and $35.25 for NIU students (limit two). Additional fees and charges may apply.
Buy tickets at the Convo box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, here or by phone at (312) 559-1212. For more information, call (815) 752-6800 or visit www.niuconvo.com.
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