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 Two familiar ingredients – the Chandelier Room and the Pheasant Room – are being stirred together and spiced with a new concept to offer a unique alternative to campus diners this fall.
Students from the School of Family, Consumer and Nutrition Sciences will move their operation from Adams Hall to the Holmes Student Center next month, leaving the buffet behind in favor of sit-down table service.
Chandelier Room fans will choose entrees from eight themed menus Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting Tuesday, Oct. 3, in the Pheasant Room.
Industry leaders who serve on the school’s hospitality administration board recommended the transformation to a sit-down restaurant, FCNS Chair Laura Smart said.
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 NIU physicists have devised a potentially groundbreaking theory demonstrating how to control the spin of particles without using superconducting magnets, a development that could advance the field of spintronics and bring scientists a step closer to quantum computing.
Spintronics, also known as spin electronics, is an emerging technology that looks to develop devices that exploit the quirky world of quantum physics, or physics at the incredibly small atomic level, particularly the up-or-down spin property of electrons. Conventional electronics utilize the charge of the electron. Spintronic devices would utilize both the spin and charge, achieving new functionality.
Scientists across the globe are racing to develop the spintronics field. It could revolutionize the computing industry with chips that are more versatile and exponentially more powerful than today’s most cutting-edge technology.
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 Lincoln Hall might soon become the first NIU residence hall to be equipped with automatic fire sprinklers.
The Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee recommended at its Sept. 7 meeting that the full NIU Board of Trustees approve spending $1.6 million for installation of the sprinklers.
This will be the first of many such projects as, under a bill signed into law in 2004, all college and university residence halls in the state must be equipped with automatic fire sprinklers by 2013.
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 Linda Anderson is more than familiar with the constant chatter, laughter and tears inherent with professional child care.
Anderson, associate director of NIU’s Child Development Laboratory, has worked in child care for 30 years and has even owned her own centers. She’s an expert in calming parents with separation anxiety, locating lost socks and shoes and smiling at 4-year-olds who proudly display their latest artwork.
“I think it’s in my blood,” Anderson said. “I love the realm of growth and development – watching them from 6 weeks old, the first time they roll over or take off crawling or walking, up through preschool, when they write their name or recognize a letter of the alphabet.”
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 NIU’s School of Family Consumer and Nutrition Sciences is one step closer to securing approval for a new master of science degree program after the Academic, Student Affairs and Personnel Committee recommended it for approval.
Under the proposal, which the committee endorsed Sept. 7, students can select from two specializations: family consumer sciences or apparel studies.
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 Students are accustomed to the pocketbook pinch that comes from buying textbooks and supplies at the dawn of each semester.
NIU faculty who require the purchase and use of student response systems, also known as “clickers” – new devices about the size and shape of a non-flip cell phone that allow students to communicate electronically with professors during class – don’t want to inflate those bills any more than necessary.
Accordingly, a group of professors has been meeting since the spring in the hopes of choosing a standard clicker for NIU.
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 NIU Communication Professor Laura Vazquez and one of her star students, senior Becca Berry, are joining forces with a well-known advocate for the homeless in an effort to raise the voice of homeless children nationwide.
Vazquez is producing educational training videos for Diane Nilan, a former Aurora shelter director who led efforts to pass state and later federal legislation protecting the rights of homeless children in public schools.
Last year, Nilan sold her home, took out a mortgage on an RV and embarked on an eight-month, cross-country odyssey, logging more than 20,000 miles in eight months. Along the way, she videotaped interviews with homeless children, teens and their parents in places not typically associated with homelessness: small towns, rural areas and affluent mid-sized cities.
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 The Northern Illinois University College of Engineering and Engineering Technology will showcase one of the most promising forms of alternative energy under development with a series of displays and events at NIU campuses from Friday, Sept. 22, through Wednesday, Sept. 27.
During that week, the college will host representatives from the Advanced Vehicle Development program at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., who will display and demonstrate a fuel cell-powered bus. The event was previously set for last spring but had to be rescheduled because of technical difficulties.
The week will include several opportunities to tour the fuel cell-powered bus and to learn more about this form of alternative energy.
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 NIU is preparing for an Irish invasion.
Nearly 100 scholars will visit campus from Thursday, Oct. 12, to Saturday, Oct. 14, for the 30th Annual Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Conference for Irish Studies (ACIS). The scholarly conference will focus on Irish literature, poetry, history, diasporas, politics and other topics.
“We’ll have scholars here from Ireland, France, Britain and Canada, as well as from throughout the United States,” conference organizer Sean Farrell said. “The American Conference is the largest Irish studies organization in the world, and this is the first time NIU has ever hosted one of its major events.”
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 About 550 local fifth graders have their marching orders.
The students, carrying the international flags of more than 100 nations represented at NIU, will be the centerpiece of the seventh annual Parade of Flags.
The parade will step off at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22, from the east side of Huskie Stadium. The NIU ROTC Color Guard and several members of the Huskie Marching Band also will take part in the parade.
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 Students interested in international study abroad programs and internships can get more information on available opportunities at the 14th annual Study Abroad Fair, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, in the Duke Ellington Ballroom of the Holmes Student Center.
The fair will feature informational booths on study abroad programs in about 65 countries. Students can meet with NIU faculty members who direct short-term study abroad programs worldwide. Students can also meet with representatives from several independent study abroad organizations working with the NIU Study Abroad Office to offer programs for which students may still earn NIU academic credit.
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 Female high school students interested in exploring career opportunities and learning more about the academic side of college life are invited to attend the 2006 Conference for Young Women, hosted by NIU from 8:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, at Holmes Student Center.
The 11th annual conference is geared for young women in their sophomore through senior years of high school and aims to introduce the students to a variety of career areas, including professions where women are historically under-represented.
“We live in a world where technological and social changes are creating new careers all the time. A woman today can combine physics and music in a career in concert hall acoustics or mix engineering and art designing visuals for cell phones,” said Amy Levin, director of the NIU Women’s Studies Program.
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 Read good news about – and send congratulations to – NIU's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center, Earl Shumkaer, Narayan Hosmane and Ioannis “Yanni” Sideris.
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The Office of Assessment Services is pleased to present the Fall 2006 issue of Toolkit, its quarterly “nuts and bolts” e-newsletter. Toolkit is specifically designed to assist the NIU community with practical assessment issues in a user-friendly format.
This issue features graduate alumni survey results; a look at criterion five from the Higher Learning Commission’s new accreditation criteria; and how to increase employer/external feedback. Also featured are excerpts from the Commission on the Future of Higher Education Report, which highlight findings and recommendations on transparency, accountability and assessment in higher education.
Back issues are posted on the Assessment Services Web site under Toolkit. Contributions to the newsletter are welcome at any time. The deadline for submitting articles for the next issue is Oct. 30.
The Operating Staff Council is seeking operating staff members to fill operating staff positions on university committees or commissions:
- Campus Security and Environmental Committee: two openings; a one-year term and a two-year term
- Parking Appeals Committee: three-year term
- Computing Facilities Advisory Committee: two-year term
- Presidential Commission on the Status of Minorities: three-year term
Operating Staff Council Committees:
- Personnel/Staff Development and Benefits Committee
- Elections Committee
- Public Relations Committee
- StaffFest Committee
Contact Sara Clayton sclayton@niu.edu or (815) 753-9526 to obtain the interest sheet form. Applicants will need their supervisors’ signatures (permission) to serve on any of these committees.
The NIU Philharmonic will celebrate composer Dmitri Shostakovich’s 100th birthday with an 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, concert.
The group will perform Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture” and “Fifth Symphony” as well as Mozart’s 23rd Piano Concerto, featuring Distinguished Teaching Professor William Goldenberg, a member of the piano faculty.
A pre-concert lecture begins at 7 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.
The Division of Student Affairs at NIU invites the campus and community to the grand opening of its Commuter and Non-Traditional Student Services from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at the office’s new location in Holmes Student Center Room 023.
The theme “There’s No Place Like Holmes” highlights the department’s efforts to create a “home away from home” for NIU commuter and non-traditional students. The event will feature food from vendors and dining centers in Holmes Student Center.
The department also is celebrating the opening of two student collegia centers. Both centers are equipped with refrigerators, microwaves, computer access and locker storage.
The department’s Web site features information tailored to the needs of commuters and non-traditional students and contains the car pool and the Places4Students databases.
For more information regarding Commuter and Nontraditional Student Services, call (815) 753-9999 or e-mail department director Troy Melendez at CommNonTrad@niu.edu.
Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, occurs this year on Monday, Oct. 2.
Jewish students may be absent that day from all classes, including evening classes, in observance, said David Sinason, faculty adviser for the Hillel Jewish Student Organization.
The Academic Advising Center will host the Exploring Majors Fair from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, in the Duke Ellington Ballroom.
The fair is designed for all students who want to find out more about majors, minors and other academic opportunities. They have the opportunity to speak with faculty members and staff from each of NIU’s academic units in a centralized location. Additionally, the program benefits departments by providing an opportunity to showcase particular majors, minors and programs to a wide variety of NIU students.
Faculty are urged to promote this event in their classes and whenever they speak with students. This event is for all students exploring their academic options and not just for those who are currently without a major.
Contact the Academic Advising Center at (815) 753-2536 for more information.
Learn the art of portraiture this fall in a fun new class offered by the NIU Community School of the Arts.
Portrait Drawing in Pencil and Pastel is a six-week class for ages 13 to adult. Students learn basic and advanced techniques of drawing portraits and self-portraits. The class also explores different styles of portraiture from realistic to expressionistic.
The class meets from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays beginning Oct. 7. Teacher Victoria Peel has taught many classes for the community school. She received her master’s of fine arts degree in painting from NIU, and has exhibited her work extensively.
Supplies are not included in the price, and a list will be provided at the first class.
The NIU Community School of the Arts offers a wide variety of art, music and theater classes and lessons for adults and children. Sponsored by NIU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, the programs are taught by NIU students, faculty and community artists.
For more information about these or any of the other offerings of the community school, contact Renee Page at (815) 753-1450 visit www.niu.edu/extprograms.
Join fellow Huskie fans at the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, to watch NIU take on Miami Ohio University on the big screen.
Enjoy giveaways, snacks, a halftime buffet and cash bar. Children will enjoy balloon animals, face painting and additional entertainment. The event is sponsored by Goose Island Brew Pub. Tickets cost $15; children 12 and younger are free when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
NIU’s Presidential Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity has limited travel funds available to help support faculty, staff and students who wish to attend conferences, workshops or seminars for the purpose of learning about or presenting scholarship on lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender topics.
Individuals requesting funds will be asked to submit a PCSOGI Request for Travel Support form, including a breakdown of costs and other sources of funding support. All travel must take place in the current fiscal year (July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007). The travel support form is available online and should be submitted via e-mail.
To apply for funds or for more information, contact Patricia Liberty Baczek at (815) 753-5428 or e-mail plb@niu.edu.
The Secretarial Advisory Council (SAC) is an advisory group of secretaries whose mission is to identify issues and/or concerns that impact the secretarial workforce at NIU.
The SAC is looking for someone to serve on the council to assist in developing ideas to support and promote the vital role of secretaries in the NIU community. Interested secretaries should contact Rose Miller in Human Resource Services at (815) 753-6033.
The University Women’s Club hosts its fall reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at the home of NIU President John and Mrs. Barbara Peters, 901 Woodlawn Drive.
The reception offers a chance to meet and greet women of the NIU community as the new year begins. Membership in the University Women’s Club is open to women who are employed at the university, the spouse of an employee, retirees or the spouse of a retiree.
All letters of nomination for the 2007 Presidential Teaching Professorships should be submitted to Earl Seaver, Vice Provost, Office of the Provost, Altgeld Hall 215, no later than Monday, Oct. 9.
Following receipt of a letter of nomination, the selection committee will invite each nominated faculty member to prepare materials in accordance with the published procedure. Only full professors with tenure and at least six years service at NIU are eligible for the award.
The Presidential Teaching Professorships were established in 1990 to recognize those outstanding teachers.
The procedure calls for a rigorous and thorough portfolio review including contacting former students. Recipients are named in the spring.
NIU’s Alumni Association is offering a New Year’s trip to Sicily and Rome from Dec. 27 through Jan. 5.
Celebrate the New Year in the “Eternal City” of the West and capital of Italy: Rome. With its mighty ruins, superb art and amazing Italian cuisine, Rome has attracted the world’s people for centuries. Visit the Vatican Museums, the Basilica of San Pietro, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, or relax at one of many luxurious cafes.
The cost is $2,599 per person, double occupancy; single supplement available. Optional side trips are an additional cost. For more information, or to place your reservation, call Pat Anderson at (815) 753-1512.
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