In response to recent confusion, NIU Ombudsman Tim Griffin reports that the Office of the Ombudsman still exists. It has not been closed and its name has not been changed.
The Office of the Ombudsman continues to serve students, faculty and staff from its office in the Holmes Student Center, Room 601. Call (815) 753-1414 for more information.
On the menu at Ellington’s this week: The Italian Vineyard is scheduled for Tuesday, Crumpets takes over Wednesday and Steel Drum Café concludes the week Thursday.
New this semester is the option to enjoy wine with your meal. One red and one white wine choice will be available with meal service. Wine will be selected for the menu based on wine-and-food pairings made by the students. Wine selections will range from $4.50 to $6.50 per glass.
The Italian Vineyard features Italian skewers or minestrone soup for starters, chicken cacciatore or roasted vegetable lasagna for entrees and cheesecake tart or tiramisu for dessert.
Crumpets features barley cheese soup or spinach and pear salad with sherry and Stilton cheese for starters, beer-battered tilapia with roasted red-skinned potatoes or vegetarian shepherd’s pie for entrees and mixed berry trifle or apple cobbler a la mode for dessert. Each table also will be served fresh-baked blueberry, raspberry white chunk and apple cinnamon scones with raspberry jam, apple butter and freshly prepared whipped butter.
Steel Drum Café features sunny coconut shrimp or crunch corn fritters with lemon cumin yogurt for starters, spicy Jamaican jerk chicken with pineapple rice or “moros y cristianos” (Cuban-style black beans and rice) for entrees and refreshing key lime pie parfait or fresh cool breeze fruit cocktail for dessert.
Seating is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with service until 1 p.m. The cost is $9 per person. Ellington’s is located on the main floor of the Holmes Student Center. Call (815) 753-1763 or visit www.ellingtons.niu.edu to make reservations.
The campus community is invited to Open House Days at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center to kick off LGBT History Month in October.
Visit the LGBT Resource Center in person or at their online open house between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, through Friday, Oct. 3. Visitors can stop by in person at Holmes Student Center 706 to make pride jewelry and learn about the center, or they can visit online through the “NIU LGBT Resource Center” Facebook group to talk with resource center staff members and take a virtual tour.
LGBT History Month will continue throughout October with discussions, the popular “Do Ask, Do Tell” sticker day, the LGBT Studies Third Thursday series and more. The month will conclude with the annual Creating Community fall reception Thursday, Oct. 30.
Full details about these and all other events are available by calling (815) 753-5428, e-mailing lgbt@niu.edu or visiting the LGBT Resource Center Web site at http://www.niu.edu/lgbt/resourcecenter/news/index.shtml
NIU will offer free flu shots to any full- or part-time faculty or staff with health care coverage through one of the State of Illinois Health Care Plans, including the HMO. Retired employees and survivors with State of Illinois health care coverage, not yet eligible for Medicare, also are eligible.
Flu shots will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, in the Duke Ellington Ballroom of the Holmes Student Center and again from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13.
Participants must present a state health insurance card and NIU OneCard ID to receive a free flu shot. Adult dependents and others also can receive flu shots at a cost of $35 each. Flu shots for children younger than 19 must be received at the DeKalb County Health Department.
For more information, call (815) 753-9191.
NIU’s Civic Leadership Academy begins its 2008-09 programming season Thursday, Oct. 9.
“Fundamentals of Economic Development and Land Use Planning: Conflicting or Parallel Goals – Exploring the Role of Government” will present insights into economic development and the role governments increasingly play in this critical piece of community health.
Recent trends and debates in approaches, tools and the relationship between land-use decisions, planning, zoning and other regulatory frameworks also will be covered.
The workshop will provide participants with key concepts and models of economic development and land use planning which, coupled with realistic expectations and strategies, will equip participants with a foundation for supporting their own existing economic development strategies or to implement changes where needed.
Co-presenters are Bob Gleeson, director of Center for Governmental Studies and associate director of Regional Development Institute; Mike Peddle, associate professor of public administration; and Roger Dahlstrom, assistant director and senior research associate for the Center for Governmental Studies.
Registration and more information about CLA workshops are available online.
The University Women’s Club of NIU will hold its annual fall open house from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the home of President and Mrs. Peters, 901 Woodlawn, DeKalb.
The University Women’s Club invites every woman associated with the university, whether she is a current or retired faculty or staff member, or the wife of a current, retired or deceased faculty or staff member, to join this long-standing organization of NIU women.
Meet people with a common interest in NIU, participate in distinct interest groups, enjoy social events and support the club’s philanthropic endeavor of providing scholarships to deserving NIU women students.
The Greater Kishwaukee Area Concert Band will present “Going Through Europe” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, which is accessible to all. Conductor John Hansen has selected music from different parts of Europe for this free “tour.”
Open to anyone age 18 and older who has played a wind or percussion instrument in the past, this all-volunteer band requires no auditions. Rehearsals are held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday evenings in the Huntley Middle School band room in DeKalb.
For more information, call (815) 825-2350 or (815) 899-4867.
NIU’s Supplier Diversity Networking Fair 2008 will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Oct. 1, in the Duke Ellington Ballroom of the Holmes Student Center.
The fair presents business enterprises owned by minorities, females and/or persons with disabilities exhibiting their commodities, supplies and services to NIU faculty, staff and student organization officers. More than 50 diverse businesses will be represented at the fair.
Services and products offered by these vendors include catering, advertising, printing services, marketing/promotional services and much more. Compare and sample a wide variety of products and services in a low-key, non-pressured setting.
There is no cost to attend the fair. A free brunch buffet will be served throughout the morning.
Register in advance by e-mailing bep@niu.edu or register at the door. For more information, call Tara Mitchell at (815) 753-1649 or e-mail questions to bep@niu.edu.
The NIU Division of International Programs is seeking nominations for two awards that will be presented this fall during the annual International Recognition Reception.
The “Outstanding International Educator Award” honors an NIU faculty or staff member who has contributed significantly toward international education at the university. The Division of International Programs for the first time this year will recognize the award recipient with a travel reimbursement of $500.
The 2008 award recipient will have made sustained contributions to the enhancement of international education at NIU through teaching, research, public service and student-service efforts.
Joseph Grush, vice provost for resource planning, will speak at this year’s International Recognition Reception, which will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, in the Holmes Student Center Sky Room.
The second major honor, the award for Outstanding Contribution to International Education at NIU, recognizes the academic unit or support unit that made the most significant contribution toward international education on campus during the last academic year. Last year, the award was won by the Department of Political Science; Marketing Professor Dan Weilbaker was recognized as the Outstanding International Educator.
The deadline for this year’s award nominations in both categories is Friday, Oct. 17.
More information on the awards and nomination forms is available online or by calling Sara Clayton at (815) 753-9526.
Northern Public Radio (89.5 WNIJ) invites participation in its fall membership campaign, scheduled for the week of Oct. 17 to Oct. 24.
A growing percentage of the station’s annual budget comes directly from listener-members and local business support.
Those who wish to volunteer some time answering pledge calls at the DeKalb studio, 801 N. First St., can contact Diane Drake at ddrake@niu.edu for available shifts.
Northern Public Radio is the broadcast service of NIU.
Female high school students interested in exploring career options and learning more about the academic side of college life are invited to attend the 2008 Conference for Young Women, hosted by Northern Illinois University from 8:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, at the Holmes Student Center.
Now in its 13th year, this popular conference has been praised by many participants with varied interests and backgrounds.
The conference introduces young women in their sophomore through senior years of high school to a variety of career areas, including professions where women have been historically underrepresented, and provides opportunities to interact with successful women faculty and NIU students.
This year’s conference includes a panel discussion on career opportunities for women; presentations by faculty on topics related to women’s collegiate experiences and career options; tours of the NIU campus; and lunch with NIU faculty, professionals and students. Conference speakers will focus on career opportunities in fields ranging from computer programming and politics to law enforcement, sports training and business management.
“I received information on the 2008 Conference for Young Women, and I think it is a wonderful event,” said Candace Gardner, mother of two former conference participants. “The campus experience was very inspiring for my two older daughters as they were leaving high school and searching for life direction.”
The conference is sponsored by the NIU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Women’s Studies Program. Registration is available online or by calling (800) 345-9472.
The registration fee is $43. Limited scholarships are available. For additional information, call (815) 753-1038.
Nominations are being sought for NIU’s 2009 Presidential Research Professorships, which recognize outstanding accomplishment and future potential in academic research or creative artistry.
Faculty members may be nominated, or may initiate their own candidacy, by submitting letters of nominations or self-nominations to James Erman, interim vice president for research, by Monday, Oct. 20.
The nomination and self-nomination letters must include the candidate’s qualifications in accordance with the award specifications. Four complete sets of application materials must then be submitted to Erman’s office by Monday, Nov. 10.
Up to three new Presidential Research Professors are designated each year. Upon appointment, each award recipient will receive a base-salary increment of $2,000.
Additionally, a grant of $5,000 will be provided during each year of the appointment, provided the recipient remains a full-time NIU faculty member. The grant money is to be used for scholarly activities. Award recipients also receive one semester of release from teaching and other non-research responsibilities.
More detailed information on the award and on the call for nominations can be found at www.niu.edu/provost/awards/prp.shtml.