A person gets their blood pressure checked by a health professional during Health Day Spring 2017

Friday, April 9, 2021

In this week’s edition of Noteworthy at Northeastern, read about the University’s new partnership with Heartland Health Centers to provide COVID-19 vaccinations for their current patients to help slow the pandemic. Also, the Nuevas Voces Ten-Minute Play Festival and Contest announced their October 2021 winners, the celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month continues, Stress-Free Zone activities continue throughout April, and Student Health Services provides some tips for self-care with art therapy! 

Around the Commons

HEARTLAND HEALTH CENTERS COVID-19 VACCINATION SITE

Northeastern Illinois University is allowing Heartland Health Centers to utilize part of the Physical Education Complex to provide COVID-19 vaccinations for its current 27,000 patients, many of whom live on the North and Northwest sides of Chicago. Though there is currently a limited supply of the COVID-19 vaccine and the doses are intended to go to existing Heartland Health Centers patients, the healthcare provider has created a vaccine survey form to allow non-Heartland Health Centers patients, including members of the Northeastern community, the chance to be put on a waitlist if they have extra doses or their supply increases. “As a public university that serves a significant amount of populations hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Northeastern Illinois University is dedicated to stopping the spread of COVID-19; not just at our University, but in the neighborhoods in which our students and employees live and work,” President Gloria J. Gibson said. “In allowing Heartland Health Centers to utilize part of our gymnasium to host their mass vaccination site, we are hopeful that more people will be inoculated and this pandemic will subside soon. Whether our students and employees are currently eligible to be vaccinated through Heartland or elsewhere, we strongly encourage all who are eligible to talk to their physicians and get the COVID-19 vaccine if they are able.” More information about vaccination sites throughout the city can be found in this week’s COVID-19 Task Force update. 

NUEVAS VOCES 

The winners of the October 2021 Nuevas Voces Ten-Minute Play Festival and Contest have been announced. They are: 

  • 1st Place, $250: Alex Chicas (B.A. ’20, Communication, Media and Theatre) for “Oh Snap!”
  • 2nd Place, $200: Wyn Thomas (greater community) for "Scared"
  • 3rd Place, $150: Mara Galeno (current undergraduate, Communication, Media and Theatre major, Marketing minor) for "The Better Life" 

Additionally, three honorable mention prizes have been announced, each with a $50 prize. These awards go to:

  • Brenda Gilmore (greater community) for “Holiday Plans”
  • Mary Kroeck (M.A. ’16, Communication, Media and Theatre) for “6 Feet”
  • Zaria McDonald (current undergraduate English major, Theatre minor) for “The Right Decision”

The Nuevas Voces Playwriting Contest and Festival was founded by Northeastern alumnus and former professor Jim Blair to create a platform for new playwrights at Northeastern and throughout Chicago. The top three plays will be produced by Stage Center Theatre. Sign-up is now open for the 6th Annual Nuevas Voces 2022, and contest submissions are now being accepted..

FALL 2021

On March 11, President Gloria J. Gibson issued a statement regarding return to campus plans for Fall 2021. This week, President Gibson released a video restating her message. “I am very pleased to announce we plan to resume in-person classroom instruction when NEIU’s fall semester begins on Aug. 23,” Gibson said. More information will be shared as plans are finalized.

Noteworthy Survey

In an effort to ensure the University community is able to stay up-to-date with information and events taking place at NEIU, the Division of Marketing and Communications would like you to take a brief survey about Noteworthy at Northeastern. We are particularly interested in learning when you are more likely to read these updates. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

And there’s more!

  • The University has extended the Spring 2021 withdrawal deadline to 11:59 p.m. Saturday, May 8. 
  • Registration for Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 is now open. 
  • The NEIU Libraries 8th Annual Awards for Excellence in Research submissions are open until 11:59 p.m. April 11.
  • Online voting for the 2021-2022 Student Government Association Elections will be held from April 10 at 8 a.m. through April 17 at 4 p.m. Please read the candidate bios and cast your votes. 
  • The Student Government Association is seeking senators and Council of Clubs representatives. Students interested in these positions should complete the SGA Interest Form.
  • NEIU Libraries is seeking student submissions for “Sheltering in Place: NEIU Archives COVID-19 Documentation Project.” All current Northeastern students as well as alumni who were students during the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 terms are encouraged to submit pieces to the archive. 
  • Northeastern’s student media organizations are currently recruiting students. Any students interested in participating can fill out the NEIU Student Media Interest Form. Additionally, the Northeastern Programming Board and Student Government Association are hiring student workers. Students interested in any of these opportunities can contact Student Media Coordinator Dennis Sagel at drsagel@neiu.edu for more information.

To do

APIDA Heritage Month

The Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs invites the University community to celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month 2021 by participating in a series of virtual events. 

To view the complete schedule and sign up for more events, visit the 2021 APIDA Heritage Month website.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Over the past 20 years, Sexual Assault Awareness Month has advanced awareness and prevention of sexual violence. This April, Northeastern’s K(NO)W More project is promoting new efforts to offer support for survivors of sexual violence and students in distress, including the creation of a new online resource, the Red Folder. The goal of this resource is to help individuals recognize indicators of distress, respond appropriately and refer the student for assistance. The Red Folder has a directory of counseling and support resources available to students who are in distress, including a 24-hour emergency hotline.

Upcoming Events

In the Media 

  • Professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Educational Inquiry and Curriculum Studies Erica Meiners’ book “The Feminist and the Sex Offender: Confronting Sexual Harm, Ending State Violence” was recently reviewed in Reason, and an interview with her and co-author Judith Levine is in Dissent.
  • Professor Emeritus of Economics Ed Stuart was interviewed on the eBiz chat podcast discussing macroeconomics of 2020 and 2021. 
  • Stuart was also a guest speaker for APICS-Chicago’s Economic Outlook Update Series on April 1 and is scheduled to be a guest speaker for their upcoming events on April 15 and April 29. 

Student Support Spotlight

Stress-Free Zone

Northeastern students and employees are invited to enjoy Stress-Free Zone activities from 3-4 p.m. every Tuesday in April via Zoom. El Centro, in collaboration with Student Health Services, Student Counseling Services, Campus Recreation and Student Leadership Development, will offer a variety of ways to relax as we come to the end of the semester. This week, Sleep Hygiene and Hand Reflexology were discussed. 

Upcoming workshops:

  • April 13: Zumba
  • April 20: Chair Yoga
  • April 27: Self-Care Corner: Pause for Play

Students who attend will have a chance to win prizes at each session and can pick up a self-care package at a later date. 

Self Care: Art Therapy

One method of self-care that can have a relaxing effect and even decrease anxiety, is art therapy. You do not have to be artistic. You can engage in various ways like compiling a collage or making a scrapbook. Art therapy is also family friendly, so everyone can participate in this form of self care! Check out these recommendations from Student Counseling Services to get started:

Student Counseling Services has also provided some tips for helping individuals manage anxiety and worry they may be feeling, and listed some important resources. Students are welcome to contact Student Counseling Services to set up an appointment to talk either by phone or their online platform for teletherapy. To access NEIU’s Student Counseling Services, call (773) 442-4650 or send an email to counsect@neiu.edu between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, students may also reach a counselor for more urgent consultation by calling the main number and pressing “2” during the outgoing message.

More resources for students can be found on the Keep Learning website and the COVID-19 Student FAQ page. 

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Top photo: A participant meets with a medical professional at a Northeastern Health Fair in Spring 2017.