As Northeastern Illinois University nears the end of the spring semester, the University community showed its pride on social media while helping bring attention to the Student Emergency Fund. Read about the fund that is bringing much-needed financial support to students during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, student and faculty publications, upcoming virtual events, ongoing PPE efforts and more in this edition of Noteworthy at Northeastern.
Around the Commons
#ProudToBeNEIU
The Division of Institutional Advancement hosted the annual #ProudToBeNEIU fundraiser via social media on April 23. The goal of this year’s campaign was to highlight the Northeastern community as well as encourage giving to the Student Emergency Fund. To date, the Student Emergency Fund has awarded $42,485 to 157 Northeastern students.
"I would like to thank all the donors for helping NEIU students during these hard times,” one award recipient said. “I am a student myself who received emergency funds. I am grateful for all the help and money I received as with it I was able to afford to pay rent, bills and food. … With the help of the funds, I was able to afford the basics. I hope other students will be able to receive some type of assistance."
You can still share why you’re #ProudToBeNEIU on social media! Please visit the Student Emergency Fund website to learn how to apply for assistance or donate.
Climate and culture survey ending Monday
As part of its efforts to embrace a culture of inclusion, Northeastern is evaluating its living, learning and working environment with a climate and culture survey that runs through 11:59 p.m. April 27. (See the breakdown of participation on the NEIyou site.) When the survey closes, the resulting assessment will allow NEIU to improve its campus climate by addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities identified in the assessment. All students and employees are encouraged to take the anonymous survey and then enter an awards drawing.
And there’s more!
- Linguistics master’s student Erica Lederman published an article titled “‘Context, gestures, and smiles’: investigating linguistic and cultural attitudes in Rick Steves’s European phrasebooks” in the Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change.
- Assistant Professor of Linguistics Ariana Bancu presented a paper titled "Category-specific coordinating conjunctions in a Germanic language" at the North American Research Network in Historical Sociolinguistics 2020 Research Incubator. The conference was supposed to take place in Lexington, Ky., but it was held over Zoom instead.
- Assistant Professor of English Ryan Poll published an article titled “Why Boccaccio's 'The Decameron' Can Help Guide Us Through COVID-19” on PopMatters.
- The Black Student Success Committee has created the Black Student Professional Member Fees Initiative, which will accept applications through 11:59 p.m. May 15.
- The library is seeking student applicants for the 7th Annual Awards for Excellence in Research. The deadline to apply is May 1.
Events at home
Though its buildings are locked, Northeastern has adapted by creating remote events.
- Study Group via Google Hangouts, April 27, 10-11 a.m. Please use the Virtual Study Groups form to register and learn more.
- Virtual Presentation: Transferring to NEIU’s Teacher Education Programs, April 27, Noon-1 p.m.
- Virtual Presentation: Transferring to NEIU’s Psychology Major, April 28, 1-2 p.m.
- Stress-Free Zone via Google Hangouts, April 28, 6-7 p.m. Please use the Pedroso Center Stress-Free Zone form to register and learn more.
View all of Northeastern’s future events at neiu.edu/events. Please email public-relations@neiu.edu to submit events for consideration in future editions of Noteworthy at Northeastern.
In the media
- The Daily Herald and Chicago Tribune reported on the continued efforts of Northeastern and other institutions to create face shields for area medical personnel. Art faculty members KT Duffy, Nate Mathews and Ali Seradge were joined in this effort by former NEIU Art Instructor Juan Fernandez and Eric Fuentes, who is the makespace coordinator at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and adjunct instructor at Elgin Community College.
Alumni leaders
The Alumni Association has launched a webpage to share stories about the work Northeastern graduates are doing related to COVID-19.
This week’s featured alumni leader is Sumayh Aldakeel (M.S. ’17 Biology). Aldakeel is currently working with the Saudi CDC conducting whole genome sequencing on COVID-19 positive cases in Saudi Arabia. Her team, lead by Dr. Albarrag, published the genome sequence last month, which is now available on GISAID and Nextstrain. “Whole genome sequencing of the entire virus is essential to pinpoint the transmission pattern, evolution occurrence and vaccine development,” Aldakeel said. “Sharing the sequence data helps to build a public database for the scientific community to facilitate research aiming to combat and understand the virus. NEIU provided me with mentorship and resources to be a scientist ready to contribute to research globally.”
Those interested in sharing are encouraged to complete the COVID-19 Stories form.
Student Support Spotlight
Alumni Association
Northeastern’s Alumni Association hosted drive-through food drop-offs on April 13 and 23 to support the University’s Student Pantry. The pantry has altered its delivery of services due to COVID-19. Students are now able to order food online. A food donation bin has also been placed at the University Police station to collect needed items as other drop-off locations are now closed. Anyone wishing to make monetary contributions are encouraged to do so through the Student Emergency Fund. Student Pantry questions may be directed to Christopher Maxwell at c-maxwell2@neiu.edu.
Follow Northeastern on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter! Do you have a story tip? Let the Office of Public Relations know at public-relations@neiu.edu.
