While Northeastern Illinois University is shutting down for Spring Break, there are plans in the works for all kinds of educational and cultural events later this month. Get the latest on some high-profile speakers, a new video series with the president and two alumni who are making news with a former Chicago Bears star.
Around the Commons
Green Business Conference
Best-selling author, producer, broadcaster and Northeastern alumnus John St. Augustine will be joined by legendary broadcaster Bill Kurtis to deliver the keynote address during the Green Business Conference on April 4. St. Augustine and Kurtis are partners on “Earth Matters,” a series of one-minute vignettes on environmental issues that airs on WCPT-AM/FM in Chicago. The keynote by St. Augustine and Kurtis will focus on issues related to the ripple effect of climate change on water, land and species. It will serve as the latest installment of the NEIU Alumni: All Access series, which demonstrates the lifelong value of a Northeastern degree from the perspective of some of the University’s most successful and inspirational alumni.
Ask the President
In a new video series, Interim President Richard Helldobler answers questions about resources for undocumented students, the travel ban and why he decided to come to Northeastern. Stay tuned for more!
Book and essay awards
Professor of History Emeritus Steven Riess had two essays selected to appear in the Journal of Sport History’s retrospective selection of the best articles from each of the publication’s first 20 years of publication. The winning essays were “The Baseball Magnate and Urban Politics in the Progressive Era: 1895-1920” from the spring of 1974 and “Power Without Authority: Los Angeles' Elites and the Construction of the Coliseum” in 1981. Additionally, “(Re)Presenting Wilma Rudolph,” a book in the “Sport and Entertainment” series edited by Riess, won the 2016 North American Society for Sport History Book Award for for the best historical monograph in sport history.
James Carville and Mary Matalin
The Auditorium was filled to capacity for the first Daniel L. Goodwin Distinguished Lecture Series event on Feb. 2. James Carville and Mary Matalin discussed President Donald Trump’s first two weeks in office, local politics, education and much more during the 90-minute event that was moderated by alumnus Thomas Corfman. Noting Northeastern’s national rankings, Carville said: "This university is really remarkable. If you want value and you want something that works, this university is doing a great job." Watch for yourself!
And there’s more!
- Due to the state budget impasse, Northeastern will be closed during Spring Break from March 19-26.
- Great Value College ranked Northeastern 47th in the country for adult education. Late last year, Washington Monthly ranked Northeastern 32nd on the list of four-year universities.
- The Mini-Kane Mini-Golf event on March 15 raised $150, all of which will go toward Kane scholarships. The event was a mini version of the annual Chuck Kane Scholarship Golf Event taking place this summer.
- The Office of Community and Professional Education has added several non-credit programs this spring.
- The University Police Department has posted a new page and photos about its history on the University website.
- The Philadelphia City Council presented Heshimu Jaramogi (B.A. ’79 Political Science) with a Philadelphia Living Legends Award during Black History Month.
In the media
A handoff from Matt Forte
Northeastern alumni Omar Moore (M.A. '12 Educational Leadership) and LaShaun Jackson (M.A. '99 Counseling) were featured by the Sun-Times for the work with at-risk students. This weekend, their CIRCLE Foundation Fundraiser Gala will be hosted by former Chicago Bears star Matt Forte. “We both live in the community, not far from many of our students,” Moore told the Sun-Times. “We think just seeing two black men who actually made it out and achieved some level of success, who are not drug dealers or rappers, but made it out with their own tenacity and gumption, is one way of showing them those options.”
Also in the media ...
- Project Exploration, which provides science, technology and engineering programs for underrepresented youth, published an interview with Angelina Jaimes (B.A. ’15 Psychology), who serves as the STEM facilitator for Sisters4Science.
- History UK’s debut podcast, titled “History of Hustling,” featured Professor of History Emeritus Steven Riess as a guest.
To do
Domestic violence panel
Assistant Professor of Social Work and Women’s and Gender Studies Milka Ramirez will moderate a panel discussion titled Transgender Domestic Violence: Developing New Strategies to Assist Survivors. The presentation, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on March 29 in the Golden Eagles Room, will explore the unique nature of domestic violence in the relationships of transgender people and emerging approaches to improving victim services. The panel will feature three leading experts on transgender domestic violence: Assistant Professor of Justice Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies Adam M. Messinger, who also is the author of “LGBTQ Intimate Partner Violence: Lessons for Policy, Practice, and Research;” FORGE Executive Director Michael Munson, and Center on Halsted Anti-Violence Project Director Jessica Punzo.
‘The Vagina Monologues’
Mary Kroeck (M.A. ’16 Communication, Media and Theatre) will direct a charity performance of “The Vagina Monologues” featuring students, alumni and employees to take place at 7 p.m. on March 30 in Alumni Hall North. Tickets are $5 for students or $10 for the general public. A limited number of "pay what you can" tickets will be available at the door. The evening will also include an art auction featuring artists who have work hanging in the library for HERstory Month. All proceeds will go to Planned Parenthood of Illinois.
Mark your calendar!
- Thursday Night Live: Multi Vitamina, 10 p.m. March 23, Student Lounge
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Do you have a story tip? Let the public relations office know!
Mike Hines, Director of Public Relations, m-hines@neiu.edu, (773) 442-4240
