Fall is definitely in the air. Just like the change in seasons, wonderful changes are happening at Northeastern Illinois University! This week, the University named a new Vice President for Enrollment Management. There are also a lot of events to celebrate the season and Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month. Read about all this and more in this week’s Noteworthy at Northeastern.
Around the Commons
Northeastern Illinois University names Kimberley Buster-Williams its new Vice President for Enrollment Management
After an extensive national search, Northeastern Illinois University has named Kimberley Buster-Williams as its new Vice President for Enrollment Management. She will start on Jan. 3, 2022. Buster-Williams is a nationally respected strategic enrollment management practitioner with nearly 30 years of experience as a university administrator, enrollment management leader, researcher and author. Her enrollment management teams have received national awards such as the Council for Advancement and Support of Education Circle of Excellence Award and Social Media Strategy Award.
Free Britney, Free Them All: Britney Spears and the History of Guardianship
Assistant Professor of History Ashley Elrod and Social Sciences Librarian Edward Remus presented a virtual event to discuss the complexities of guardianship in the U.S. The talk centered on Britney Spears, who had been under guardianship since 2008, when a California judge appointed Spears’s father as conservator over the pop star’s personal life and finances. The presentation placed Spears’ situation in context of historical guardianship laws that date back to ancient Rome. Over the last 50 years, activists, journalists, legal experts and senators have called for an overhaul of traditional guardianship models due to some of the same problems that we see represented in Spears’s case. An estimated 1.3 million people and $50 billion in assets are under guardianship in the U.S.
LGBTQ+ History Month
October is LGBTQ+ History Month. NEIU Libraries has created a virtual display of books, streaming media and online collections. Students, faculty and staff can request materials from the library to learn more about the cultural significance of this month, recognize important moments in the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and celebrate important roles LGBTQ+ people have taken in creating the social, legal and political worlds we live in today.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In light of the heightened isolation experienced by many domestic violence survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial—now more than ever—that we advocate for awareness around this issue. Northeastern’s K(NO)W More campaign developed the Red Folder as a resource for survivors of sexual violence and other students in distress. The Red Folder offers a directory of counseling and support resources available for students, including a 24-hour emergency hotline. This guide will help individuals recognize indicators of distress, respond appropriately, and refer the student for assistance. K(NO)W More is a partnership between many departments throughout the University and community providers that help those impacted by sexual violence. Please visit the K(NO)W MORE website for more information.
And there’s more!
- Professor of Political Science and Jewish Studies Ellen Cannon participated in the 11th Annual Midwest Diplomatic Marathon sponsored by the American Jewish Committee. Cannon addressed the issues of growing antisemitism and extremism with the Counsel Generals of France, Argentina and Israel.
- Show your Golden Eagle pride with a free NEIU lawn signs! Signs are available at the NEIU Welcome Desk on Main Campus on a first come, first served basis.
To do
Happy Halloween!
Check out our Instagram page on Halloween night for a special treat!
Día de los Muertos
Northeastern Illinois University invites the University community and general public to participate in a series of events for Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. With roots in Mexico, Día de los Muertos is commemorated throughout Latin America and is a celebration of life and death.
- Student Leadership Development will host their annual NEIU Memorial Tree remembrance ceremony to recognize those who have had their names added to the tree this year. The ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 1 in the Student Union outside of Room 124. The event will also be livestreams on the SLD Featured Events webpage.
- The Center for College Access and Success’ CenterSpace, located at El Centro, is now open to the public and is excited to announce the return of their popular in-person Day of the Dead workshop series. On Nov. 2 they will host a free “Calaca” Frida-inspired Tote Bag workshop that is free for current NEIU students, staff and employees. Sign-up is required. Please visit their Workshops page for public programs and register online for their programs. Space is limited. Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs) for educators are available.
Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month
The Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs has planned a series of events in celebration of Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month, which begins Nov. 1. Next week’s events include:
- Songs and Celebrations with Shki Bmaadzi Drum Group, 4:30 p.m. Nov. 3
For a complete list of events, please visit the Pedroso Center webpage.
Coming next week
- Biology Research Seminar with Dr. Emina A Stojkovic, 3 p.m. Nov. 2
- Hey, Let’s Talk: The Experience of the Minoritized Doctoral Student: A Candid Conversation, 5 p.m. Nov. 3
- STEM Internship Workshop, 3 p.m. Nov. 4
- Piano Studio Showcase, 3:05 p.m Nov. 4
- Faculty Recital: Katherine Petersen, Soprano, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4
- Fall Dance Concert, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5
View the NEIU events calendar for additional information on all upcoming events.
COVID-19 update
During the week of Oct. 20, 2021, three students reported positive COVID-19 tests. One student was on campus. Since March 2020, a total of 65 employees and 313 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 CDC guidelines as we ensure proper protocols and preventative measures are in place for the health and safety of our students and employees.
Vaccine clinics
Northeastern has partnered with the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide on-campus COVID-19 vaccine clinics. The clinics are free and open to everyone age 12 and older for first or second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to be vaccinated. Pfizer and Janssen (J&J) vaccines will be available. Boosters will be available to eligible recipients who completed their initial Pfizer series at least six months ago. Please bring your vaccination card.
Other COVID-19 updates
- SHIELD Illinois COVID-19 testing is available for NEIU students, employees and community members on the Main Campus. Testing is also currently available for NEIU students and employees at the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies and El Centro.
- As part of Northeastern’s Vaccine Incentive Program (VIP), all students and employees who have completed and submitted their COVID-19 attestation or exemption forms can stop by Village Square to pick up a free NEIU keychain and a $5 gift certificate to Fooda or Café Descartes Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-noon, Wednesdays from noon-1 p.m. and Thursdays from 3-4 p.m. through the first week of November. VIP gifts will also be distributed at CCICS on Wednesday, Nov. 3 beginning at 1 p.m.
- The VIP full tuition scholarship will be awarded on Nov. 11. A student name will be pulled from all of the COVID-19 attestation forms that were submitted. The winner will be notified via Nmail.
- COVID-19 attestation or exemption forms and COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Students and COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Employees can be found on the University website.
Stay up-to-date on everything regarding COVID-19 updates by visiting the Return to Campus website.
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