Danita Rountree Green speaking at the2019 Genocide and Human Rights in Africa and the Diaspora Conference

Friday, February 5, 2021

As part of Northeastern Illinois University’s celebration of Black Heritage Month, the Genocide and Human Rights in Africa and the Diaspora (GHRAD) Center will host its 7th annual conference featuring international speakers and experts in the field. Read about the conference and more upcoming events in this week’s edition of Noteworthy at Northeastern.

Around the Commons

GHRAD Center Conference

Northeastern’s Genocide and Human Rights in Africa and the Diaspora (GHRAD) Center will host the 7th annual Genocide and Human Rights in Africa and the Diaspora Conference on Feb. 11-12. It will be streamed on the GHRAD Center website, Zoom and Facebook. This free conference is open to the public and will feature global experts in genocide and human rights, specifically in Africa and the diaspora. This year’s keynote speaker will be Mark Mathabane, author of the award-winning book “Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa.” The featured speakers are Bonny Ibhawoh, a professor of Human Rights History and African History at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, and Edward Kissi, an associate professor in the school of Interdisciplinary Global Studies at the University of South Florida, Tampa.

And there’s more!

  • The University will be closed on Friday, Feb. 12, in observance of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
  • Professor of Mathematics Philip W. Gwanyama’s article “Alternate Solution Method to Richards Growth Equation and Application” has been published in Vol. 18, Issue No.1 (2021) of the International Journal of Engineering and Future Technology.
  • Associate Professor of the Mathematics Joseph Hibdon Jr. was featured on the Indigenous Mathematicians website. 
  • Northeastern’s Diversifying Faculty in Illinois (DFI) program is seeking applicants for the 2021-2022 DFI Fellowship. Applications are due by Feb. 12. 
  • The ChicagoCHEC Research Fellows Program is accepting applications for the 2021 summer cohort through Feb. 28. 
  • The Student Government Association is seeking Senators and Council of Clubs Representatives. Students interested in these positions should complete the SGA Interest Form.
  • Northeastern’s library 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.
  • Northeastern's SLAM Open Mic Poetry Club has been nominated for two Chicago Reader Best of Chicago 2020 Awards, for Best Virtual Open Mike and for Best Poetry Organization. Voting ends Feb. 8.

To do

Black Heritage Month

The Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs and the Black Heritage Month Committee invite the University community to celebrate Black Heritage Month 2021 by participating in a series of virtual events. Events began Feb. 1 with Harambee. Next week’s events include: 

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

study abroad fair

The Office of International Programs will host the second annual Study Abroad Fair that will take place virtually Feb. 8-12. For students, partner universities will present information about their institutions the experience of studying in their exchange programs. The fair also will host mini sessions that will explain the mechanics of how to study abroad (i.e., how to apply, financing a semester abroad, special scholarships, etc.). For faculty, the fair will run sessions about how to conduct a study tour, invite a visiting scholar, become a Fulbright scholar, and a COIL Hangout to promote cross-national classroom pairings. View the fair schedule. If you have any questions, please email international-programs@neiu.edu.

Super Bowl Prediction Challenge

NEIU Intramurals is kicking the year off with a Super Bowl Prediction Challenge! Submit your predictions response via the Super Bowl Prediction Challenge Google Form before 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, for your chance to win an NEIU Intramurals Champ T-shirt! No football knowledge is necessary. Questions can be directed to Mig Torres at mjtorres35@neiu.edu. 

Coming Next Week

Student Support Spotlight

Student Counseling Services

Self-care centers on our own wellbeing, but it can also be fun and supportive to join others who want to practice self-care too. Student Counseling Services recommends these articles for learning about safely practicing group self-care during the pandemic:

Student Counseling Services has 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.

Couple and Family Counseling

The Counseling and Wellness Center of the Department of Counselor Education is now accepting couples and families as clients. This free counseling service is offered to the University and community at large. The Counseling and Wellness Center is a training center for advanced graduate students in NEIU’s Couple and Family Counseling Program, under the direct and live supervision of an experienced faculty member within the Department of Counselor Education. The counselors-in-training provide couples and families with insightful help while the reflecting team assists these couples and families by highlighting their strengths. Space is limited during the Spring 2021 semester. Sessions will take place on Zoom due to COVID-19. Weekly sessions begin on Feb. 22 and run through the end of April, for a total of seven or eight consecutive sessions. These one-hour sessions will be available from 4-9 p.m. on Mondays. The counseling services are confidential and free. Sessions are recorded for training purposes. The recording is encrypted and destroyed after review. If you and your loved ones might benefit from our services, please contact Associate Professor Laura Tejada at ljtejada@neiu.edu for more information or to schedule a phone consultation.

Student Food Pantry

The Student Food Pantry has a new partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and will now be able to offer fresh fruits and vegetables in addition to canned and other non-perishable items. Due to COVID-19 regulations, the Student Food Pantry will continue its online ordering service through a new system and steps to complete orders are available on the Student Pantry website. Hours of operation are 1-4 p.m. Monday and Thursday. For questions, please contact Chris Maxwell at c-maxwell2@neiu.edu.

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