Northeastern Illinois University’s Genocide and Human Rights in Africa and the Diaspora (GHRAD) Center will host their 8th annual conference next week, featuring presenters from all around the world. Two professors recently published books, in-person campus tours are back and there’s a new alumni referral program to help students waive their application fee! There are lots of other events happening on campus next week and other news to catch up on in this week’s Noteworthy at Northeastern!
Around the Commons
8th Annual Genocide and Human Rights Research Conference
Northeastern Illinois University’s Genocide and Human Rights in Africa and the Diaspora (GHRAD) Center will host the 8th annual Genocide and Human Rights in Africa and the Diaspora Conference on March 3 and 4. It will be streamed via Zoom and advance sign-up is requested. The conference will feature global experts in genocide and human rights, specifically in Africa and the diaspora. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Mahmood Mamdani, who is the Herber Lehman Professor of Government at Columbia University and is an expert in the field of African history and politics. The featured speaker is Dr. Léonce Ndikumana, Distinguished Professor of Economics and director of the African Development Policy Program at the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Abolition. Feminism. Now.
Professor of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Educational Inquiry and Curriculum Studies Erica R. Meiners has co-authored a new book titled, “Abolition. Feminism. Now.” The book and its co-authors, who include activist and scholar Angela Davis, have been featured in varied news outlets including Boston Review and Truthout.
Straw Man Arguments
Coordinator and Advisor of Philosophy John Casey has co-authored “Straw Man Arguments: A Study in Fallacy Theory” with Scott Aikin.
In-person campus tours are back!
While we love our new 360 virtual tour and photo tour, there’s nothing like coming to campus and experiencing our community firsthand. Main Campus tours are currently available from 4-5 p.m. on Thursdays. Tours of El Centro, the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (CCICS) and the University Center of Lake County are also available by appointment. Contact elcentro@neiu.edu or (773) 442-4080 to schedule an appointment at El Centro. To schedule a tour of CCICS, contact ccics@neiu.edu or (773) 268-7500. For University Center of Lake County please contact tsteps@neiu.edu or (847) 665-4173. El Centro will host an Open House from 4-7 p.m. March 9.
Application Assistance
At Northeastern Illinois University, our mission is you! That’s why, if you’re ready to apply, the NEIU Alumni Association wants to waive your application fee! Use code ALUMREF (all caps) to save $30. If you’re not ready to take that step just yet, that’s okay! Create a custom online viewbook, learn more about our programs and apply when you’re ready. Remember, if you’re a first-time, full-time student and meet eligibility requirements, you could receive four years of tuition assistance with the NEIU For You scholarship! NEIU For You also offers some tuition assistance for transfer students. With our more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and over 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure and endorsement programs, there are a lot of opportunities for you to earn your degree. We aim to help you break barriers, not your bank account.
And there’s more!
- Professor of Political Science and Jewish Studies Ellen Cannon gave a presentation titled, “American Higher Education Pedagogy: The Role and Absorption of Soviet Propaganda in the Normalization of Antisemitism and Antiziononism” on Feb. 21. The webinar was part of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism & Policy’s (ISGAP) “Historical Tropes in Contemporary Antisemitism International Seminar Series.” Cannon has organized, moderated and served as a panelist for the series.
- Nominations are now being accepted for the inaugural President’s Inclusive Excellence Awards to honor one student, alumnus and a member of the faculty and staff for significant achievements in advancing the University’s goals in the areas of equity, diversity and inclusion. Please submit nominations by 11:59 p.m. March 21.
- Registration for the Second 8-Week Term of the Spring 2022 semester runs through March 18. If you’ve already been admitted to NEIU, it’s not too late to complete your registration for the Second 8-Week Term of the Spring 2022 semester!
To do
The Black History/Heritage Month Committee, Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs and African and African American Studies Program conclude their celebration of BlackHistory/Heritage Month 2022 this week. The Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, in collaboration with Student Leadership Development, will present a virtual screening of “Southside with You,” a biographical film about young Barack and Michelle Obama, at noon Feb. 28. The NEIU Libraries: Black History/Heritage Month virtual book display will also remain posted beyond the month of February.
Stage Center Theatre presents “Babel”
The Department of Communication, Media and Theatre’s (CMT) Stage Center Theatre (SCT) presents “Babel,” by Jacqueline Goldfinger, directed by CMT faculty member Dan Wirth, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24-26 and March 2-4; and 2 p.m. March 5. In the not-so-distant and not-too-dystopian future, science protects society against further damage from environmental and social conflict. This new play that swept the nation via the National New Play Network in 2019 begs the question: “How far will we go to perfect being human before we realize we’ve lost our humanity?” Capacity is limited and tickets must be reserved in advance for in-person attendance. Tickets are free for current NEIU students, faculty and staff with valid NEIU ID at the Welcome Desk on the Main Campus or at tix.com. No walk-up tickets will be available the day of the performance. Please review COVID-19 protocols prior to booking and attendance. Performances on Feb. 26 and March 5 will be live streamed through Broadway On Demand Showshare. Current NEIU students and employees received a coupon code for the live stream via Nmail. Questions and concerns should be sent to both SCT Managing Director Sarah Fabian at sj-fabian@neiu.edu and SCT Artistic Director Adam Goldstein at a-goldstein@neiu.edu. “Babel” is presented by special arrangement with Gurman Agency, LLC.
Coming next week
- Book Talk with William D. Adler: “Engineering Expansion: The U.S. Army and Economic Development, 1787-1860,” 6 p.m. Feb. 28
- Junior Recital: Mohammad Abdelrahman, Piano, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28
- Ruth Page Dance: Behind the Curtain: Pink Nights Never End, 3:05 p.m. March 1
- Chicago Film Society Presents “I Saw What You Did,” 7:30 p.m. March 2
In the Media
Afghan Refugee Support
Northeastern Illinois University President Gloria J. Gibson and two students who are part of the Afghan Transition Program were featured on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight.” If you have the means to help support these students through monetary or in-kind donations, please visit the Afghan refugee support page or contact Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations John “JB” Butler at jb-butler@neiu.edu or (773) 442-4219.
COVID-19 update
From Feb. 16-23, 2022, three students and one employee reported positive COVID-19 tests. One of the students was on campus. Since March 2020, a total of 131 employees and 409 students have self-reported to the University that they tested positive for COVID-19. Employees and students who feel sick should stay home. If you test positive for COVID-19, students should immediately notify Student Health Services, and employees should notify their supervisors and the Office of Human Resources. Additionally, faculty and staff are required to report positive and presumptive student COVID-19 cases and exposures to Student Health Services. When someone who has been on campus tests positive, Northeastern works with the Chicago Department of Public Health to determine the appropriate response, which differs greatly depending on the situation. We continue to follow Chicago Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines as we ensure proper protocols and preventative measures are in place for the health and safety of our students and employees.
Student Health Services is currently verifying COVID-19 vaccination information for students and employees for this term. Data will be released in the coming weeks. It is expected that all students and employees will show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or testing in compliance with the current NEIU COVID-19 vaccination policy by Feb. 28, 2022. Noncompliance may result in disciplinary actions.
Other COVID-19 updates
- Face masks are still required in all indoor public spaces at all NEIU locations.
- The NEIU COVID-19 Interim Policy will remain in effect through the Spring 2022 semester.
- Campus vaccination clinics and SHIELD Illinois COVID-19 testing are open and available for NEIU community members and the general public.
- The federal government is offering free at-home COVID-19 tests through the U.S. Postal Service.
- Free KN95 masks are available at City of Chicago alderman offices. It is recommended that residents call their alderman’s office first to ensure they have supplies. Walgreens and CVS locations will also begin distributing free N95 masks provided by the federal government.
- The Illinois Department of Public Health will also distribute 225,000 free at-home COVID-19 tests to residents in vulnerable communities through Project Access Covid Tests (Project ACT). Tests are available on a first-come, first-served basis to residents in specific Illinois ZIP codes.
- Northeastern has free surgical, KN95 and/or N95 masks available for students and employees. Masks have been distributed to offices and classrooms and are also available at the Welcome Desk at the Main Campus, the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies and El Centro.
Stay up to date on everything regarding COVID-19 by visiting the Return to Campus website.
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