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In an effort to conserve resource dollars, Eastern Illinois University will once again close selected buildings and offices from noon on Fridays until Monday mornings during the summer months.

The affected time period begins Monday, May 7, and ends Friday, Aug. 10.

Building/office exceptions include, but may not be limited to, the President’s Office, Booth Library, Financial Aid, University Police, the Renewable Energy Center and the Office of Admissions, which plan to keep normal working hours.

All university offices must be open to the public between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and between 8 a.m. and noon on Friday.  Administrative offices (and others where possible) will remain open during the lunch hour (Monday through Thursday).

By ending the work week at noon on Fridays, the university can increase temperatures in all vacant offices and other work environments to allow energy savings for two and one-half days per week.

Employees will be required to work their regularly scheduled number of full-time hours during the four-and-a-half-day work week.  Classes scheduled to meet on Friday afternoons and/or weekends will be relocated to buildings where the air conditioning will remain on.

During weeks in which a holiday is observed (Monday, May 28, for Memorial Day and Wednesday, July 4, for Independence Day), offices will return to regular business hours (7.5 hours per day), including Fridays.

Regular hours will resume on Monday, Aug. 13, for the 2012-2013 school year.

Nearly 1,700 graduating students plan to participate in commencement ceremonies at Eastern Illinois University on Saturday, May 5.

Ceremonies will take place at 9 a.m., noon, 3 and 6 p.m. in Lantz Arena.  Guest tickets are required for admission.

Students from the College of Sciences will march in the morning ceremony, the College of Arts and Humanities and the School of Continuing Education at noon, the College of Education and Professional Studies at 3 p.m., and the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences at 6.

Students from the Graduate School will walk with their respective colleges.

EIU President William Perry will preside over the ceremonies.  Edward M. Hotwagner, student body president, and Andrew S. Methven, chair, EIU Faculty Senate, will also address the graduates.

Representing Eastern’s Board of Trustees will be Roger Kratochvil (9 a.m.), Robert Webb (noon), Joseph Dively (3 p.m.) and Jarrod Scherle (6 p.m.).

Each ceremony will feature a special guest speaker who will present the official commencement address.  Nancy Elwess, EIU alumna (’76) and associate professor/molecular biologist from SUNY Plattsburgh, will speak at 9 a.m., while Robert Corn-Revere, EIU alumnus (’77) and an attorney specializing in First Amendment and communications law, plans to speak at both the noon and 3 p.m. ceremonies.  William Keiper, EIU alumnus (’72) and founder/chairman of FirstGlobal Partners, will address students during the 6 p.m. ceremony.

At noon, special recognition will be given to Bailey K. Young, professor of history, who was named the 2012 recipient of Eastern's Distinguished Faculty Award.  This award is presented annually by the Faculty Senate to a full-time faculty member who has excelled in teaching, professional research/creative activity and service.

Additionally, three honorary degrees will be presented at this year’s ceremonies.  Astronomer Robert E. Holmes Jr. will be presented with an honorary Doctorate of Science at 9 a.m., while Corn-Revere and Julie Nimmons, EIU alumna (’77) and former member of the EIU Board of Trustees, will receive an honorary Doctorate of Laws and Doctorate of Public Service, respectively, at noon.

Commencement marshals lead the procession while carrying the university mace inscribed with past marshals' names.  This spring's commencement marshals are as follows:

• Peter G. Andrews, chair and professor, mathematics and computer science, representing the College of Sciences during the morning ceremony.  Andrews has been a member of Eastern’s faculty since 1992. 
• Marilyn J. Coles, professor of music, representing the College of Arts and Humanities during the noon ceremony.  Coles has been a member of Eastern’s faculty since 1988.
• Phyllis T. Croisant, professor, kinesiology and sports studies, representing the College of Education and Professional Studies during the 3 p.m. ceremony.  Croisant has been a member of Eastern’s faculty since 1984.
• Norman A. Garrett, professor, School of Business, representing the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences during the 6 p.m. ceremony.  Garrett has been a member of Eastern’s faculty since 1990.

Faculty marshals are given the honor of carrying the college banner for their respective colleges.  This spring's faculty marshals are as follows:

• 9 a.m. – Ahmed S. Abou-Zaid, Graduate School and College of Sciences; Leo P. Comerford, College of Sciences.
• Noon – Patricia K. Belleville, Graduate School and College of Arts and Humanities; Mary Caroline Simpson, College of Arts and Humanities; Richard E. Cavanaugh, School of Continuing Education.
• 3 p.m. – Stephen E. Lucas, Graduate School and College of Education and Professional Studies; Rebecca J. Cook, College of Education and Professional Studies.
• 6 p.m. – Deborah A. Woodley, Graduate School and Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences; Vicki A. Hampton, Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences.

Kara Butorac, an accounting major from Bloomington, will serve as the Honors College banner marshal during the first three ceremonies; Margaret Messer, director of Honors Student Affairs, will serve as marshal at the 6 p.m. ceremony.

Since its inception in 1953, the Eastern Illinois University Foundation has been dependent upon the generosity of its members and volunteers to fulfill its mission of support to the university.

And, since 1993, the foundation has formally presented the Outstanding Philanthropist Award. In 1997, this award was renamed the Burnham and Nancy Neal Philanthropy Award in appreciation of the Neals' leadership, support and dedication to Eastern and the foundation.

The award is given to individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a sincere dedication and commitment to the financial, academic and cultural well-being of EIU. The critical support and sustaining financial commitments provided by these distinguished philanthropists are essential to the future of the university and the students it serves.

Helen Krehbiel-Reed, left, and Janet Fraembs

Helen Krehbiel-Reed of Charleston and Joan B. Stough of Houston, Texas, have been named the EIU Foundation's Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year for 2011. The two were recognized during the foundation's Legacy Celebration.

Helen Krehbiel-Reed retired in 1998 as an associate professor of music education at Eastern, where she taught courses in the fundamentals of music and elementary music methods for elementary education majors.

While at Eastern, she was also the coordinator for music student teachers, coordinator for the music education area of the Department of Music, and adviser for the EIU chapter of Illinois Collegiate Music Educators.

Krehbiel-Reed began her higher education career at EIU in 1988. Previously, she taught in the public schools of Illinois and Kansas. As a music specialist, she worked in both K-6 and K-12 settings for a total of 11 years. When district budget cuts included the entire elementary music program, Krehbiel-Reed became a classroom teacher, first in first grade, then in third grade. Music is still a focus of her life, as she is active in playing church music and piano duets for groups in the area. She also enjoys volunteering and working with several local charities.

In 1985, Krehbiel-Reed established the Eugene B. Krehbiel Scholarship for students who are enrolled in either the Pre-Medical Studies Program or the Biological Sciences-Animal Studies Program with the intent of pursuing graduate-level studies. In 2003, she established the Helen J. Krehbiel Music Education Scholarship for students enrolled in the Music Education Program with the intent of pursuing a career in music education.

In 2005, she received the Graduate School Alumni Award. She is an active supporter of the Eastern Symphony Orchestra and the Tarble Arts Center.

She and her husband, John, have six children: Sharon Staley, Cathie Reynolds, Rick Reed, Tim Krehbiel, Rod Krehbiel and Jeff Krehbiel.

Joan B. Stough, a good friend of the university, is a geologist/paleontologist who has contributed much to the field of science. Stough dedicated her 2011 Outstanding Philanthropist Award in memory of her longtime friend, Marion Webb.

In 2009, Stough established the Marion Railsback Webb Foreign Language Scholarship. Webb had long ties to EIU, starting with her father, Ora Railsback, who came to EIU in 1924 and was its first physics teacher. Webb graduated from Eastern Illinois State Teachers College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She received her master’s degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado and her Ph.D. in Spanish from Ohio State University.

Webb dedicated 40 years of her life to teaching and education. For the last 23 years of her career, she taught at Houston Baptist University, from which she retired as a Distinguished Professor in Spanish. Webb has received many honors, including studies at the National University of Chile as a Fulbright Scholar, the Yale University Award for Outstanding Secondary Teaching, the Piper Award for Outstanding College Teaching in Texas, the Award for Outstanding College Teaching and Leadership from the Sears Foundation, Texas Foreign Language Association Spanish Teacher of the Year, and Outstanding Teaching Awards and Faculty Woman of the Year from Houston Baptist University.

Webb co-authored many publications for practical applications, including “Communicating in Spanish for Medical Personnel.” Throughout her career, in addition to teaching a language, she taught her students appreciation for the culture. In all of her endeavors, she followed her father’s example by providing practical help in the service of others.

Accepting the award in memory of Marion Webb was her sister, Janet Fraembs of Charleston.

Eastern Illinois University is one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada, according to The Princeton Review.

The well-known education services company selected EIU for inclusion in the just-released second annual edition of its free downloadable book, “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition.”

Created by The Princeton Review in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, the guide is the only free, comprehensive guidebook profiling institutions of higher education that demonstrate a notable commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.  The Princeton Review chose the schools for this guide based on a survey of administrators at hundreds of colleges that the company polled in 2011 about their school's sustainability initiatives.

“It is an honor to be recognized as a university leader in green,” said Ryan Siegel, EIU’s campus energy and sustainability coordinator.  “This recognizes Eastern's commitment to being green in all aspects of operations from curriculum to facilities.

“Our Renewable Energy Center has allowed the university to make a large leap forward and to set itself apart from other universities in the country.  The new Center for Clean Energy and Education is allowing walls between departments to fall, bringing a collaborative and well-rounded approach to education as Eastern prepares students for the future.

“We look forward to a positive future where we educate students that being green makes economic sense and includes being a good steward of the resources provided,” he added.

Released this week, just days prior to the April 22 celebration of the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, the guide has profiles of the colleges that provide application information, plus facts, stats and write-ups reporting on the schools' environmentally related policies, practices and academic offerings.

Eastern’s profile reads, in part, that “With all of its sustainability initiatives coming to fruition, Eastern Illinois University is proving why it was ‘green before it became a buzzword.’”

Also, since Eastern implemented its recycling practices, "more than a million pounds of waste have been diverted from landfills each year for the past 12 years, while cutting yearly waste production from 4.1 million pounds to 3.2 millions during that same span.”

The profile also mentions EIU’s commitment to planting and maintaining trees, performance contracts that have cut energy and potable water consumption, recycling programs in every building across campus, and the use of green certified cleaning products.

Additionally, the profile mentions the university’s recently completed Renewable Energy Center, which utilizes biomass gasification and replaces the coal plant that had fueled the campus for nearly 80 years.

"The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition" guide can be downloaded for free at http://www.princetonreview.com/green-guide and http://www.centerforgreenschools.org/greenguide.

The Princeton Review first created this one-of-a-kind resource for college-bound students in 2010 with the U.S. Green Building Council, which is best known for developing the LEED standard for green building certification. In Fall 2010, USGBC launched its Center for Green Schools (www.centerforgreenschools.org) to increase its efforts to drive change in how campuses and schools are designed, constructed and operated so that all educational facilities can enhance student learning experiences.

"College-bound students are increasingly interested in sustainability issues," said Robert Franek, senior vice president/publisher, The Princeton Review.  "Among 7,445 college applicants who participated in our 2012 College Hopes & Worries Survey, nearly seven out of 10 (68 percent) told us that having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the school.

"Together with USGBC, we are pleased to make this free resource available to all students seeking to attend colleges that practice, teach and support environmentally-responsible choices.  To that end, we highly recommend the terrific schools in this book."

Eastern Illinois University is one of 115 colleges and universities to achieve Tree Campus USA status for 2011.

The Tree Campus USA program, a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, gives national recognition "for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship."

To be eligible for the distinction, a school must have a campus tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan with dedicated annual expenditures, involvement in an Arbor Day observance, and a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body in sustainable efforts.

For details on EIU's sustainability efforts, see http://www.eiu.edu/sustainability.

The Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees elected new officers at its meeting Friday.

Elected to one-year terms in their leadership positions were Roger Kratochvil of Mt. Olive, chairman; Leo Welch of O'Fallon, vice chairman; Joseph Dively of Charleston, secretary; and Rene Hutchinson of Chicago, member pro tempore.

Kratochvil and Welch were appointed to the EIU Board of Trustees in August 2004. Dively and Hutchinson joined the board in October 2011.

Roger Kratochvil of Mt. Olive, chairman

Kratochvil is retired from the Mt. Olive school system, where he served 24 years in various capacities, including athletic director, guidance counselor and coach for the baseball, basketball and football teams. Kratochvil was inducted into the Illinois Coaches Hall of Fame in 1981 and the EIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. Following his teaching career, he served as principal of Mt. Olive High School. In addition, he has worked with the St. Louis Cardinals for more than 20 years.

Kratochvil's community service includes serving as president of the Mt. Olive Academic Foundation, vice president of the Macoupin County Housing Authority, and a member of the Advisory Committee for Lincoln Land Community College.

He received his bachelor's degree in education from EIU in 1960, his master's degree from Southern Illinois University in 1966, and his master of educational administration degree from the University of Illinois–Springfield in 1984.

Leo Welch of O'Fallon, vice chairman

Welch was a biology teacher at ROVA High School in Oneida prior to becoming a professor of biology at Southwestern Illinois College, where he currently serves as professor emeritus. Welch has participated in many professional societies, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute for Biological Sciences, the Illinois State Academy of Sciences and the St. Louis Academy of Sciences.

Welch received the 1991 Excellence in Teaching Award from Emerson Electric for outstanding achievement for higher education in the metropolitan St. Louis area.

Welch, who obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees from EIU, went on to receive a specialist in education degree from Southern Illinois University.

Joseph Dively of Charleston, secretary

Dively is president of First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust (Mattoon), with a business career that includes serving as a senior vice president for Consolidated Communications and in sales and management roles with IBM and Caterpillar.

A Charleston native, Dively has served EIU as president of the Alumni Association, chairman of the Business School Advisory Board, and a member of both the EIU Foundation Board and the Panther Club. He has been an active member of the business community, serving as chairman of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, president of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System, and on the board of the U.S. Telecom Association. He currently serves on the board of directors for First Mid-Illinois Bancshares Inc.

Dively, who received his bachelor's degree in business from EIU in 1981, was presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2003.

Rene Hutchinson of Chicago, member pro tempore

Hutchinson has been with Allstate Insurance since 1986, working in various areas of the company, including finance, underwriting, agency sales and compliance.

Hutchinson has served on the EIU Alumni Association's Board of Directors since 2003. He is an active member of the community, speaking to Chicago area high school students regarding the importance of education.

Hutchinson received his bachelor's degree in business from EIU in 1974.

Nineteen Eastern Illinois University faculty members have been awarded tenure, effective with the 2012-13 academic year.

The EIU Board of Trustees approved the list Friday.

Tenure, awarded in an academic department, connotes a relationship of continuing commitment between the university and a faculty member.

Generally, in order to qualify for tenure consideration, a faculty member must complete a probationary period and demonstrate progressive achievement and effectiveness in three areas of evaluation: teaching/performance of primary duties, research/creative activities, and service. Among these three areas, teaching/performance of primary duties is given the most consideration.

This year's recipients of tenure are as follows:

• Wesley D. Allan, psychology;
• Lola A. Burnham, journalism;
• Ahmed S. Abou-Zaid, economics;
• David J. Boggs, business;
• Barbara S. Carlsward, biological sciences;
• Irene S. Coromina, foreign languages;
• Carrie Dale, early childhood, elementary and middle level education;
• M. Eugenia Deerman, sociology and anthropology;
• Christiane K. Eydt-Beebe, foreign languages;
• Jill Fahy, communication disorders and sciences;
• Luminita Florea, music;
• Mark S. Kattenbraker, kinesiology and sports studies;
• Eunseong Kim, journalism;
• Jeannie Ludlow, English;
• David Wayne Melton, technology;
• Kamlesh Parwani, mathematics and computer science;
• Gopal R. Periyannan, chemistry;
• Luke Joseph Steinke, technology; and
• Larry R. White, business.

From Bob Martin, vice president for university advancement at Eastern Illinois University:

Eastern Illinois University has lost a great friend with the passing of Burnham Neal. On behalf of the entire EIU community, I express sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Mr. Neal, whose overwhelming generosity made a positive difference in so many lives.

Mr. Neal and his late wife, Nancy, were among the biggest financial supporters in the university's history. In fact, the Neals were so representative of the spirit of leadership, dedication and generosity that EIU named its annual Philanthropy Awards after them in 1997. Mr. Neal received an honorary Doctor of Public Service from EIU in 2003.

The Neal family's biggest and most prominent gift to EIU was the $2 million Neal Welcome Center, which has greeted visitors entering Charleston from Illinois Route 16 and Interstate 57 since 2002. It also houses offices for the EIU Foundation and the Office of Philanthropy.

As an astute businessman, Mr. Neal recognized the importance of EIU to Charleston and the surrounding region, knowing that his contributions would have a significant return on investment in the form of enhancing the quality of life of the residents of east-central Illinois. The impact of his gifts is incalculable, and we will always be grateful for his forward-thinking generosity.

The federal judge who presided over both trials of Rod Blagojevich plans to present a talk on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

However, U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel will probably refrain from talking specifics about the 2011 case that led to the former Illinois governor’s 14-year incarceration in a Colorado federal prison.  That case, under appeal, is still open.

Instead, Zagel, who has served as a U.S. district judge since 1987, will speak more generally on “The Breach of Public Trust.”  James Burns, a former top federal prosecutor from Chicago, will also be in attendance.

A question-and-answer session will follow Zagel’s talk.

Admission to the presentation, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 19, in the Recital Hall of Eastern’s Doudna Fine Arts Center, is free and open to the public.

Zagel, who received his law degree from Harvard University in the 1960s, began his career as an assistant state’s attorney in Cook County.  As such, he assisted in the prosecution of mass murderer Richard Speck.

He later served as assistant attorney general for the state of Illinois (1969-1977); executive director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Commission (1977-79); director of revenue, state of Illinois (1979); and director of the Illinois State Police (1980-1987).

In addition to a number of legal books, Zagel has had one novel, “Money to Burn,” published (2002), and he has made cameo appearances in the movies “Music Box,” with Jessica Lange, and “Homicide,” starring Joe Montegna.

This event is being co-sponsored by EIU's College of Sciences and the Public Policy Institute.

Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar will return to his alma mater as the next speaker in his own lecture series.

His student-oriented presentation -- “Unobstructed Views:  Lessons Learned from Charleston to Springfield” -- will address how his education and experiences at Eastern Illinois University helped him achieve the success he has had in life.

The talk, to begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center Lecture Hall, will be followed by a reception in the Doudna concourse. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend.

Edgar and his wife, Brenda, demonstrated their continuing support for their alma mater by establishing the Edgar Speaker Series in 2007.  Working in conjunction with the EIU Foundation, the couple finalized details for a gift which provides for at least one speaker a year.

The series focuses primarily on state government, and addresses current issues in state government and historical implications.

"I always thought that a person learns both in and outside the classroom," Gov. Edgar said at the time the lecture series began. "I know I particularly enjoyed the lectures I heard as a student here at Eastern. They certainly enhance learning opportunities for students, as well as for the entire community.

"Charleston's a great place, but it's not a large city," he continued, recalling that as a high school student and city resident, he took advantage of learning opportunities -- such as lectures -- that were open to the public. "This series will benefit the community, as well as the students of the university."

The Edgars personally launched the speaker series during the 2007-2008 school year, with the governor speaking in the fall and Brenda Edgar taking her turn behind the lectern in the spring.

Other speakers have included Mike Lawrence, Edgar’s former press secretary and senior policy adviser; historian and biographer Richard Norton Smith; author/reporter James L. Merriner; Washington Post columnist Dan Balz; and David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Prior to being inaugurated as Illinois' 38th governor in January 1991, Edgar spent more than 30 years in state government, including terms as both a state representative and as secretary of state. Previously, however, he was enrolled at Eastern where he majored in history and minored in political science. He was extremely active in the university's student government, serving as student body president his senior year (1967-1968).

He was named an Eastern Illinois University Distinguished Alumnus, the highest honor the Alumni Association can bestow upon a former student, in 1982.

It was also at Eastern that he met fellow student Brenda Smith of Anna, Ill. The two married while still students at the university, and Mrs. Edgar put her own education on hold while supporting her husband's political career and raising the couple's two children.

In the 1990s, while serving as Illinois' First Lady, Brenda Edgar contacted Eastern to see what would be needed to complete her degree. Working with the School of Continuing Education, she finished her coursework and received what is now known as the bachelor of arts degree in general studies during commencement ceremonies in May 1998.

Within months, Mrs. Edgar, in conjunction with Ronald McDonald Charities, had established the Brenda Edgar Scholarship for Women, to be awarded to returning adult female parents over the age of 25.

In addition, the Edgars have donated a number of papers and artifacts from Gov. Edgar's years in state government to the university.

The newly named dean of Eastern Illinois University’s College of Sciences, Harold Ornes, wants to play an active part in helping students reach their destinations in life.

“One of my hobbies is piloting an aircraft,” said Ornes.  “Perhaps a metaphor for our future together would be to think of the College of Sciences as an airplane and the faculty, staff, and administration as the flight crew.

“Our job would include studying, understanding and utilizing the complex systems of power, structure, navigation and communication to achieve optimal, efficient and sustainable performance of these systems to get the crew and passengers to our destination safely with joy and enthusiasm for the next destination,” he added.

“While higher education is not exactly the same as airline customers purchasing tickets, EIU is certainly of a size and configuration that has proven itself by delivering high quality educational experiences that prepare students for a lifetime of unlimited destinations.  I look forward to being a part of the flight crews at EIU.”

Ornes, who has served as the dean of Winona (Minn.) State University’s College of Science and Engineering since June 2008, will assume his new duties as EIU’s COS dean on July 1.  He replaces Mary Anne Hanner, who retired in 2011.

EIU Provost Blair Lord noted that Ornes was selected after a national search which elicited substantial interest.

"The pool of potential candidates was among the richest and most accomplished we have seen for such searches," he said.  "Dr. Ornes was very positively received by all constituencies, and I look forward to working with him to assist the college in reaching new levels of excellence."

In addition to his current administrative duties, Ornes has served as dean and a professor of biology in the College of Science and Engineering at Southern Utah University, and as a professor of biology and department chair, Department of Biology and Geology, at the University of South Carolina, Aiken.

He earned two bachelor’s degrees (zoology and botany) and a master’s degree (biology) from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University), Kirksville, and his Doctor of Philosophy (majoring in aquatic plant biology) from Iowa State University, Ames.

The fifth annual Kick Butts Day 5K run/walk and community picnic are to be held at Morton Park on Saturday, April 14.

The run/walk will begin at 9 a.m., and the picnic will directly follow.

Both events are sponsored by Eastern Illinois University's Health Service and Student Community Service to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco use, encourage smoking cessation and encourage an overall healthy lifestyle

Registration for the 5K is $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12. The fee includes a T-shirt, food and beverages. To guarantee a T-shirt, please register by March 26. Walk-up registration will also be available.

The registration form is available online at http://www.eiu.edu/herc/kickbuttsday.php.

For more information, please contact Catherine Bocke in the EIU Health Service at herc-pr_marketing@eiu.edu or 581-7786.

Eastern Illinois University recently recognized more than 250 of its employees for continuous years of service. 

A luncheon was held in recognition of university employees with continuous years of service in five-year increments. Those employed at EIU for five years were eligible for a certificate; those with 10 or more years of service were honored with both a certificate and a pin.

The following were honored for their years of service:

30 Years -- Lisa M. Childress, Rosalie Herrington, Michael B. Hubbartt, Jeri Matteson-Hughes, David Raybin, Gail Richard, Timothy A. Shonk, John A. Whisler and Erma J. Williams.

25 Years – Sirus Aryainejad, Lew Ayers, Lucy A. Campanis, David Carpenter, John L. Coffey, Linda A. Coffey, Terry M. Collins, Craig M. Eckert, Paula J. Embry, Cathy L. Gray, Theresa A. Green, Marjorie Hanft, William C. Hine, Diana S. Ingram, Belayet H. Khan, Stephen R. Lane, Mary Leonard-Cravens, Janet T. Marquardt, Kay E. McElwee, David G. McGrady, Linda L. Moore, Charles E. Nivens, Mary L. Russell, Sue Sallee, Deanna S. Smith, Richard A. Sylvia, Michael Watts and Deborah Woodley.

20 Years – Cathy J. Ashmore, John E. Bailey, Lorraine Baker, Linda K. Barter, Steven R. Calhoun, Ronald Cassiday, Henry H. Davis, Lynette Drake, Samuel W. Fagaly, Russell E. Gruber, Lennie K. Heddins, Susan D. Kohn, Allen K. Lanham, Catherine M. Lentz, Peter P. Liu, Ronald B. Mason, Jeanna K. McFarland, Danny R. Milburn, Kelly P. Miller, James W. Morecraft, Kelly Partenheimer, Joanne Roach, Daniel J. Sheeran, Toni Whitley, Keith Wilson, David W. Wolski and Mary Yarbrough.

15 Years – Kay Amyx, Lawrence D. Auchstetter, Audrey A. Bachelder, Patricia K. Belleville, Julie A. Benedict, Tristum M. Bennett, Caridad F. Brito, Douglas E. Buell, Bryan K. Callaway, Mitchell H. Coe, Ralph C. Embry, Janet L. Fopay, Reggie L. Galey, Kenneth F. Gerhardt, Melissa K. Gordon, Martha L. Hackler, Kathryn A. Hussey, David W. Jobe, Gloria E. Keener, Deanna L. Kelly, Sandra L. King, Sonna L. Lawrence, Gregory J. Lee, Johnny B. Morton, Rose Myers-Bradley, Britto P. Nathan, Jyoti Panjwani, Jennifer A. Porter, Jennifer S. Reed, Steven J. Scher, Ellen Shupe, Richard D. Staley, Paul V. Switzer, Jo Anne Thill, Philip C. Thompson, Gordon C. Tucker and Robert A. Zordani.

10 Years -- Missa E. Anderson-Cook, Ke'an S. Armstrong, Sherri L. Arnholt, Jeffrey S. Ashley, Michael W. Babcock, Jeffrey M. Bailey, Joseph M. Beals, Rhonda S. Bence, Michael L. Boorom, Carol A. Boroughs, Sandy Bowman, Cindy W. Boyer, Dagni A. Bredesen, Peggy A. Brown, Lola A. Burnham, William B. Burnside, Daniel J. Carter, Rose M. Clapp, Melissa D. Coleman, Michael W. Cornebise, Deborah D. Cunningham, Jose R. Deustua-Carvallo, Cindy M. Diehl, Jeffrey A. Duck, Maria A. Dust, Pamela R. Ealy, Patrick C. Enstrom, Scott E. Erwin, Michael C. Fowler, Ann H. Fritz, John E. Fugate, Evgeny Gordon, Bradley J. Green, Tonya L. Green, Christopher Hanlon, Stephen M. Hayward, John G. Henderson, Mary B. Hennig, Jamie L. Huckstead, Mark A. Hudson, Tracey S. Hutchison, Nenad Ilic, Dennis B. Jackson, Gary J. Jensen, Colleen N. Kattenbraker, James L. Kestner, Marshall B. Lassak, Blair M. Lord, Daiva Markelis, Linda K. Marrs-Morford, Rodney K. Marshall, Randy G. McCammon, Allen C. McCowan, Francine P. McGregor, Scott J. Meiners, Christopher J. Mitchell, Mary Jo Montgomery, Kimberlie A. Moock, Kathleen A. O'Rourke, Rebecca A. Peebles, Sean A. Peebles, Joan Peters, Vicki M. Phillips, Lee Ann Price, Stacey L. Ruholl, Kelly A. Runyon, Shijuana M. Shannon, Brian C. Sowa, Shannon F. Storm, James L. Thomas, Marsha L. Toner, Edward M. Treadwell, Bryan D. Walden, Penny S. Walk, James A. Wallace, Sandra K. Wheeler, Diane E. Wilke, Julie A. Wilson, Christina S. Yousaf and Douglas A. Zuhone.

5 Years – Sid J. Acord, Aaron B. Allison, Bettina T. Becker, Sherry M. Beech, Thomas A. Blair, David J. Boggs, Bernard Borah, Paul D. Brown, Robert N. Calhoun, Lisa E. Canivez, Robyn B. Carr, David J. Closson, Bethany M. Craig, James D. Craig, David M. Crockett, Nancy J. Crone, Juanita C. Cross, Carrie M. Dale, Mai T. Dao, John Dively, Patrick D. Duzan, Angela R. Eubank, Christiane K. Eydt-Beebe, Candace R. Flatt, Chelsea L. Frederick, Gary M. Fulk, Robert M. Goble, Carrie E. Gossett, Gabriel J. Grant, Daniel U. Hagen, Amanda L. Harmon, Gregory E. Harris, Janet L. Harris, Jennifer Hess, Patricia A. Hood, Justin T. Hubbartt, Jonathan J. Hunt, John B. Hutchinson, Sandra L. Ibbotson, Diane H. Jackman, Jana M. Johnson, Michelle L. Jones, Eunseong Kim, Cay A. Kolling, Joseph J. Landeck, Gary M. Laumann, Cherie B. Lehman, Warren K. Lilly, Stephen E. Lucas, Felicia Y. Magee, Gishanthi P. Marasinghe, Paul A. McCann, Bradley L. McElravy, David W. Melton, Richard L. Moser, Michael A. Mulvaney, Jeffrey L. Oetting, Rachel D. Panepinto, Lindsay N. Partlow, Dee M. Pepperdine, Gopal R. Periyannan, Justin R. Perry, Jerry C. Rankin, Deborah D. Reifsteck, Eric N. Repp, Angelyne M. Rhoads, Kathryn Rhodes, Joel E. Richardson, Jeffrey R. Sanders, Yun Sanders, David L. Schmidt, Brian S. Shull, Jenifer D. Shupe, Ryan W. Siegel, Denise S. Smith, Magie Smith, Stacy J. Smith, Steven D. Steele, Brion M. Storm, Stephen A. Stumeier, John P. Taylor, Sandra L. Thiele, Quacy M. Timmons, Tina K. Veale, Johna Von Behrens, Heather K. Webb, Robert E. West, Larry R. White, Yolanda V. Williams, Christopher J. Wojtysiak, Marjorie G. Worthington, Westley N. Wright, Barbra D. Wylie and Angela M. Yoder.

Shown at right, from left to right, are Rosalie Herrington, Gail Richard, David Raybin and Jeri Matteson-Hughes.

Shown below, from left to right, front row, are Sue Sallee, Mary Russell, Diana Ingram, Deanna Smith and Lucy Campanis.  Back row: Linda Coffey, Mike Watts, Belayet Khan, William Hine, Steve Lane, Paula Embry, Cathy Gray and Deborah Woodley.

When Gary Fritz headed to South America last year to document the ramifications of Piedra Roja, Chile's 1970 version of Woodstock, he simply wanted to preserve the history of the pivotal festival that he had helped organize as a teenager.

Fritz, a biological sciences professor with little filmmaking experience, had no idea the resulting documentary would resonate so deeply with Chileans that it would even be chosen over a Martin Scorsese movie for film festival honors.

Fritz's film, "Piedra Roja," is a two-hour, close-up look at how the festival profoundly affected Chilean society during a time of social and political upheaval -- the inception of Salvador Allende's socialist government and the subsequent military coup d'etat.

Emotional interviews with some of the festival's organizers illustrate how their involvement with the festival changed the courses of their lives as they dealt with backlash from both conservative Chileans and outraged government forces.

Fritz spent 40 days in Chile filming interviews with people who had been involved with the festival. At the time, he planned to simply submit the resulting footage to the Chilean national archive. But he soon realized the story needed to be seen more widely.

He submitted it to the IN-EDIT International Film and Music Documentary Festival in Santiago, Chile, which chose it -- over Martin Scorsese's film on George Harrison -- as its inaugural film in December. In January, it was shown in the Festival of the Arts in Valparaiso, Chile. Fritz plans to continue with the film festival circuit.

Eastern Illinois University continues to prepare more undergraduates who go on to earn doctoral degrees than any other master's college/university in Illinois, according to a recent National Science Foundation survey.

In addition to ranking first in the state, EIU ranks in the top 5 percent nationwide, as it has for several years.

"A great indicator of an undergraduate institution's quality is the success of its graduates in doctoral programs, and it comes as no surprise to us that our alumni continue to excel in academic endeavors at every level," said EIU President William Perry. "We are pleased that the figures confirm the success of EIU's excellent integrated-learning experience."

The results of the recent Survey of Earned Doctorates -- a federal agency census conducted annually by the National Organization for Research -- indicate that many Eastern graduates continue their education by seeking doctorates and achieving other educational goals.

The survey reports that 227 EIU graduates obtained doctoral degrees in the years 2000 through 2009. This means that as a baccalaureate-origin institution, Eastern ranked No. 1 among 22 master's colleges and universities within Illinois, and No. 35 among 560 master's colleges and universities in the United States, for that 10-year time period.

Only schools with 10 or more recipients were included in the study.

The SED gathers information annually from 45,000 new U.S. research doctorate graduates about their educational histories, funding sources and post-doctoral plans. Only recipients of research doctorates were included in the survey. Therefore, recipients of professional degrees, such as medical doctors, veterinarians, dentists, attorneys, etc., are not included.

The SED survey is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Eastern Illinois University’s Board of Trustees on Friday approved the smallest percentage increase in new resident student tuition at EIU in 11 years.

The one-time increase for new students subject to EIU's resident tuition rate is from $269 to $279 per semester credit hour, and this rate is fixed by state law for at least four years of continuous enrollment.

The one-time increase of 3.7 percent is half the 7.4 percent increase in the CPI-U (CPI-Urban) Midwest over the past four years.  According to EIU President Bill Perry, "Past CPI increases do not predict future CPI increases, but they do give us a trend line that influences our thinking regarding tuition increases.

“Whether you consider the effect of the one-time tuition increase on a four-year basis or on equivalent annual bases, the impact is much less than the historical cost of living increase and likely future CPI increases. Paying attention to CPI data is one way we are being respectful of our students' individual or family financial situations in setting tuition."

No new fee increases were proposed at Friday’s meeting.  However, previously approved staged fee increases were presented for confirmation.

University officials consider a number of factors, such as the potential level of state funding, estimated increases in financial obligations, projected enrollment, Consumer Price Index data, and the impact of previously implemented cost containment measures, before determining a tuition recommendation to the board.

“We proposed to our Board of Trustees a tuition rate that enables continued investment in the quality of our programs, while maintaining our commitment to affordability and access to a university education second to none,” Perry said.

“We are a top-performing comprehensive university with virtually the most affordable tuition and fees in the state.  The board's action today confirms our historical and ongoing commitment to affordability, accessibility, and excellence."

A team of Eastern Illinois University students made a respectable showing, coming in third only behind Princeton and Harvard in the International District Energy Association’s first campus energy video contest.

A video produced by Keith Sutterfield of Effingham, Wesley Smith of Chicago and Bobson Mercier of Ft. Myers, Fla., was chosen over entries from New Hampshire’s Dartmouth College, Texas A&M and the University of Connecticut.

“We congratulate these students in bringing EIU into the same league as the Ivy League schools in the nation,” said Ryan Siegel, EIU’s campus energy and sustainability coordinator.

Gary Reed, director of Facilities Planning and Management, formally accepted the award on behalf of the students during the association’s annual Campus Energy Conference, held earlier this month in Washington, D.C.  The award included a framed certificate and a cash prize of $100.

“Congratulations to the students and their advisory support staff in the Center for Academic Technology Support (CATS) for this great effort and the resulting award,” Reed said.  “This is yet another testimony of the dedication to efficient and environmentally responsible operations supported by the EIU campus community.

“This particular award reflects on our students’ appreciation for the efforts toward sustainability demonstrated through continuous improvements in campus operations and infrastructure.  The EIU example continues to be a leading model in energy use optimization and environmental responsibility.”

The video competition was sponsored by the IDEA to promote student engagement in distributed energy concepts and applications.  Student submissions were judged by the IDEA board for content and communications effectiveness in delivery of the focal message.

Sutterfield said that, while none of the three students had a lot of knowledge about Eastern’s Renewable Energy Center, they thought it would make a great subject for a video.  The three men compiled a list of people who were involved with the plan and contacted them about interviews.

“The whole process took several weeks to complete,” he said.

He commended Michael Babcock, a graphic designer with CATS, who “served as a great mentor to us all.”

The EIU video can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9_iZcd0YJA&list=UUcii8ZN-2lH9Dy2yL9Q3E7A&index=1&feature=plcp.

The Eastern Illinois University School of Business' Holley Ethics Awareness Week will include two March 6 lectures by "Accounting Watchdog" writer Francine McKenna.

McKenna's writings have appeared in the Financial Times, Boston Review, American Banker, Columbia Journalism Review, Accountancy Age and Accountancy Magazine. She also has a website that covers the accounting industry and columns on Forbes.com ("Accounting Watchdog") and American Banker ("Accountable").

The first presentation, “Who Will Slay the Dragon? Penn State and College Football: How an ‘Ethical’ Institution Dropped Its Sword and Shield,” begins at 3:30 p.m. The second, “Stay on Your Feet: How ‘New Hires’ Can Successfully Negotiate the Slippery Ethical Slopes of the Workplace” is at 7 p.m.

Both of McKenna’s presentations -- which are free and open to the public -- will be in the Roberson Auditorium, Lumpkin Hall 2030.

In addition, presentations from the Holley Ethics Awareness Week Essay Contest participants will take place at 7 p.m. March 7 in the Roberson Auditorium. The public is invited to attend.

The essay contest is open to EIU students who are either undergraduates in the School of Business or graduate MBA students. For full contest rules and details, visit http://www.eiu.edu/business/ethicsessaycontest.php.

Holley Ethics Awareness Week is co-sponsored by the School of Business and Beta Gamma Sigma.

For more information, contact Jaime Hendrix at 581-2627 or jahendrix@eiu.edu.

Survivors of the 1942 Bataan Death March could not have envisioned anyone voluntarily making the grueling 26.2-mile journey.

But 70 years later, thousands of active and retired military personnel, as well as civilians, are in training to do just that. And a group of student veterans from Eastern Illinois University plan to be involved. Michael Ruybal, EIU’s coordinator of Veterans and Military Personnel Student Services, said he and six others plan to participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March (http://www.bataanmarch.com/), held annually across the rugged desert terrain of the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. This year’s commemoration, to take place March 25, will mark the second consecutive year of EIU’s involvement.

Shown, from left to right, front row, are Shannalee Karrick of Ashmore and Anna Boehlefeld of Davis; from left to right, back row, are “Gus” Lamezyk of Radom, DeNel’ Howery of Charleston, Greg Schoonover of Sullivan, Tommy Hamilton of Carbondale and Michael Ruybal, EIU coordinator of Veterans and Military Personnel Student Services.  Not pictured is Michael Bird of Villa Grove.

The seven prospective marchers are all members of the Black Knights of the Embarras, a veterans group first established on Eastern’s campus in 1952 by students returning from the Korean War. According to Ruybal, the Black Knights wanted to participate in this year’s memorial march in order to “pay respect and honor a former EIU professor of history and Veteran Services director, William D. Miner.”

Miner, who died in 1998 at the age of 83, was a veteran of World War II and a survivor of the Bataan Death March. He was an Army veteran and prisoner of war for 39 months during World War II.

The Black Knights will also be marching in honor of EIU alumnus and fellow Black Knight Dave Peontek, whose father, Henry William Peontek, was a Bataan survivor. “Mr. Peontek, who passed in 1994, suffered from severe PTSD, having nightmares nightly of his Japanese captors attempting to execute him and his fellow soldiers,” Ruybal said.

The Bataan Memorial Death March, which began in 1989, honors those World War II heroes who were responsible for the defense of the islands of Luzon, Corregidor and the harbor defense forts of the Philippines. On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of Americans and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces, and were forced to march for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died.

Since its inception, the Bataan Memorial Death March has grown from about 100 to thousands of participants from across the United States and several foreign countries. Some participate in the full 26.2-mile march, enabling them to experience, in part, what soldiers endured during their long forced trek through the Philippines; others participate in a smaller, less intense 14.2-mile version.

“I’m hoping our participation will continue to build ‘esprit de corps’ within the veterans program here at Eastern,” Ruybal said. “The event builds team work, collaboration and personal pride, along with self accomplishment for the individuals.

“But, most importantly, it is an activity for veterans to take part of, in remembering those who came before us and, in some cases, made the ultimate sacrifice for this nation. We do this to remember and to pay respect,” he added.

In addition to Ruybal, this year’s prospective marchers include men and women ranging in age from their twenties to their fifties, and representing all branches of the U.S. military: Anna Boehlefeld, Davis; Shannalee Karrick, Ashmore; DeNel’ Howery, Charleston; Michael Bird, Villa Grove; August Lamezyk, Radom; and Greg Schoonover, Sullivan.

The Black Knights are currently in the process of raising the $7,000 it will take to get this year’s participants to New Mexico and pay for room/board and registration costs. Anyone wishing to contribute may do so by sending a check made payable to the Black Knights, care of Michael Ruybal, Veterans Services, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Ave., Charleston, Ill. 61920.

Additionally, a fund-raising pancake breakfast will be served from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Charleston VFW, 1821 20th St. The cost is $5 per individual. Tickets may be purchased in advance through EIU’s Veterans Services or at the door.

Questions? Contact Ruybal at 217-581-7888.

"EI&U: The Campaign for Eastern," the largest fundraising effort in Eastern Illinois University's history, has surpassed its $50 million goal more than two years ahead of schedule.

A total of $53.1 million has been secured, fitting for a campaign with the theme "Expect Greatness," which was publicly launched in October 2010 with a goal of raising $50 million by July 2014.

"When we began the 'Expect Greatness' campaign, I fully believed we would reach our goal, not only because Eastern touches so many lives, but also because giving back is the Eastern way," said EIU President Bill Perry.

"What has been a pleasant surprise is the speed at which our supporters have responded to our call for assistance. The challenging economy has made charitable dollars more precious than ever, but our alumni and friends have proven that Eastern is a priority to them. We're very grateful."

Part of the campaign's success stemmed from a huge response to its "Fund for the Future" component, in which people commit planned gifts. The goal for this area was $12 million, but $19.4 million has been secured.

The campaign received an influx of support from many people who believe in the university's mission, with alumni chief among them, said Robert Martin, vice president for university advancement.

"The most meaningful part of reaching our goal in such an impressive manner is seeing that the Eastern experience meant so much to our alumni," Martin said. "We touched their lives in such significant ways that they were more than willing to invest their own funds in keeping Eastern's tradition of excellence alive for current and future students."

Faculty and staff donations were up in the past fiscal year as well, with the percentage of employees donating increasing 75 percent from the previous year. Seventeen departments and offices had 100 percent participation.

The contributions received will allow EIU to remain a first-class institution while keeping tuition affordable for students, Perry said.

The campaign focuses on four priorities: students (funding scholarships); faculty and staff (attracting and retaining world-class faculty, as well as supporting research, creative projects and service activities); capital improvements (including building a new science center, courtyard spaces and a Lantz Arena gateway); and programs (including developing centers that would focus on specific subjects, with possibilities such as autism, entrepreneurship and innovation, ethics, financial health, geographic information systems and remote sensing, humanities, student community service and wellness).

Martin expressed deep appreciation to the members of the "EI&U" campaign Steering Committee: Chairperson Julie (Humphrey) Nimmons of Litchfield; Timothy L. and Vickie (Krupp) Burke of Evanston; Max and Mary Cougill of Charleston; Judy A. Ethell of Chesterfield, Mo.; Bob Glover of Chicago; Robert A. Ingram of Durham, N.C.; Charles Keller of Effingham; Jeffrey P. Knezovich of Naperville; Herbert and Jane Lasky of Ashmore; Richard A. Lumpkin of Mattoon; Carl T. Mito of Arlington Heights; Tony Romo of Dallas, Texas; Paul L. Snyder of Oro Valley, Ariz.; and Charles W. Witters of Las Vegas, Nev.

For more information about the campaign, please contact Karla Watson, assistant vice president of university advancement, at kjwatson@eiu.edu or 217-581-3315, or visit the "EI&U: The Campaign for Eastern" website at www.iameiu.com.

Representatives from school districts from across Illinois, as well as other states and countries, will be seeking new employees at the upcoming Mid-America Educators' Job Fair at Eastern Illinois University.

The public is invited to the free job fair, which is set for 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, in the MLK Jr. Union's Grand Ballroom. It is sponsored by EIU Career Services.

A list of participating schools and available jobs in teaching, school administration and special services is available online at http://www.eiu.edu/careers/maejf.php.

Professional dress is required. Those attending should bring several copies of their resumes.

For more information, please contact coordinator Diane Smith at dksmith2@eiu.edu or 217-581-8423.

The EIU Dancers will present four stagings of their 31st annual spring performance, "Alive on the Inside," Feb. 16-18.

Shows are set for 7 p.m. Feb. 16; 7 p.m. Feb. 17; and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 18, all in The Theatre of the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Antoine Thomas, the director of the EIU Dancers, said the performance is a celebration of different genres of dance, allowing the dancers to showcase their range of talents.

"We look at exploring all types of dance, including jazz, lyrical, modern, ballet and hip-hop, and for the first time ever, we will be performing stomp and Bollywood pieces this year as well," Thomas said.

The performance will consist of 18 dance pieces, and the type of music featured will be as diverse as the types of dance represented, Thomas said.

Tickets, $5 each, are available to the public at the Doudna Box Office, which can be reached at 581-3110. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.doudnatix.com.

The EIU Dancers are sponsored by the kinesiology and sports studies department, the theatre arts department and the DanceLife Center.

For more information, contact Antoine Thomas at 581-8397 or arthomas@eiu.edu or visit www.eiu.edu/eiudancers.

Readers of Roxane Gay’s book, “Ayiti,” shouldn’t expect to read about the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

“I’m sure I’ll write something about it in the future,” she says.  “Once I know what it means.  I haven’t yet figured it out.”

Instead, “Ayiti” (the Haitian Creole name for Haiti) examines “what it means to be Haitian” through a collection of short stories and essays.  Some of the selections date back nearly a decade, says Gay, whose parents are Haitian by birth.  In “Ayiti,” she writes about people who “are still in Haiti, those who have left and some who tried to return.”

The book is a very personal collection of work, which made it particularly meaningful to the author when “Ayiti” was named one of the National Book Critic Circle’s “Small Press Highlights of 2011” (http://bookcritics.org/blog/archive/small-press-highlights-of-2011).

“It meant a lot, both personally and professionally,” Gay said.  “It’s given the book a level of attention that it wouldn’t have otherwise received.”

That attention came through a succession of personal contacts.

“Ayiti” was published in October 2010 by Artistically Declined Press.  The publisher – a personal acquaintance of hers – likes Gay’s writing.  “He approached me and I sent them the ‘Ayiti’ manuscript which they liked and accepted,” Gay said.

Another friend, who had bought a copy of the published work, liked it so much that she shared it with Rigoberto Gonzalez, who serves on the executive board of directors of the National Book Critics Circle.  In mid-December 2011, he included “Ayiti” as one of only 12 books on his annual “Small Press Highlights” list.

In introducing “Ayiti” on his list, Gonzalez wrote, “In this brief but powerful collection of stories (most no longer than three pages), Haitians navigate their beleaguered homeland or their adopted country (the U.S.) as immigrants, refugees, and undocumented border crossers pining for their loved ones left ‘kneeling in a bed of sand and bones’ in one of the world’s poorest nations.  Gay doesn’t shy away from critique, showing how Haiti’s misfortunes appeal to the exploitative foreign media and well-meaning though condescending outsiders: ‘Then the world intruded. It always does.’”

Gay, an assistant professor of English at Eastern Illinois University, is accustomed to having her work published.  She regularly has work seen in such periodicals as American Short Fiction, Indiana Review, Cream City Review, Black Warrior Review, Noon, Salon and The Rumpus, and has recently been published in two anthologies --  “News Stories From the Midwest 2011” and “Best Sex Writing 2012.”

“Ayiti,” however, is her first published book.  She’s currently working on a novel based on a short work of fiction – Things I Know of Fairy Tales – found in that book.

Eastern Illinois University will be in the national spotlight when one of its Presidential Scholars competes for $100,000 on the "Jeopardy! College Championship" on Feb. 2.

Anne Rozek, a junior from Cary, was one of 15 students from throughout the nation chosen for the game show, putting EIU on the same stage as schools including Duke, Harvard, Stanford and Columbia.

Rozek, who can't discuss how she fared on the show until after it airs, said the entire experience was surreal.

It all began with the encouragement of a family friend who was once a five-day "Jeopardy!" winner and competitor in the show's Tournament of Champions.

So, during spring break in March, Rozek and her older sister each took the online test.

"We had to take it at our local McDonald's because we only have one ethernet connection in my house, so that was interesting," Rozek said.

She did so well that in May, she was one of 300 people invited to audition in person. She traveled to Kansas City, Mo., to take another test, complete a personality interview and play a mock round of "Jeopardy!" complete with buzzers.

In early December, she received the call that she'd made the final cut and would travel to Los Angeles in early January. She "sort of kept it on the down-low," but that changed when her mom, Jane -- an EIU graduate -- came to campus to pick her up for winter break.

"She literally marched into President Perry's office and said, 'This girl's gonna be on "Jeopardy!" so I think you need to do something about that,'" Rozek recalled with a mixture of amusement and embarrassment. "He was just like, 'Well, I guess we need to set you up with some stuff, then!'"

The timing of her "Jeopardy!" invitation -- just before final exams -- added even more stress to a time already filled with extensive studying. She devoted one or two hours per day, "but nothing too extreme," to studying for the show.

Her "Jeopardy!" preparation included studying books with a wide range of facts, like "The World Almanac," and books geared toward specific subjects that the geography major felt weren't her strong suits, including "Literature for Dummies" and "Art History for Dummies." She also surfed the Web for information and, of course, watched "Jeopardy!"

"I'm a nerd. I watch it pretty much every weekday that it's on, or at least I try to," Rozek said. "That's something that I found I had in common with the other contestants. We found that we could all literally talk about 'Jeopardy!' players by name, and how many days they'd been on, and who annoyed us, and who we wanted to do well."

Her father, Dan, accompanied her to Los Angeles for the taping, and her mom opted to stay back home in Cary.

"My mom would have been a nervous wreck," Rozek said with a smile. "We would have been going crazy, with the two of us feeding off each other's nervous energy, and it probably would not have been good."

The filming process was a long, tiring ordeal, Rozek said, explaining that the 20-mile car ride from the hotel to the studio took an hour, followed by more than five hours of signing paperwork, getting hair and makeup done, filming a short interview for the show's website, taping promos, and playing two practice games in the studio "just to sort of get a feel for things."

"About 15 minutes before you're set to start taping, they'll walk into the green room where the contestants are and be like, 'OK, you three -- you're up, you have to go,'" Rozek said. "So it's really nerve-wracking, just sitting back there wondering when you're going to go and who you're going to play against and what they're going to ask."

Then, she walked to the place most "Jeopardy!" fans can only dream of seeing in person.

"Standing behind the podium and seeing the lights and the board -- it was crazy. It was absolutely insane," she said.

Rozek enjoyed meeting host Alex Trebec, and she appreciated his use of funny anecdotes to break the tension during the match, "because we were all nervous as could be."

And what about those buzzers that contestants always seem to blame for their "Jeopardy!" woes?

"They aren't pretending that their buzzers aren't working correctly," Rozek said. "Those buzzers are tricky, let me tell you. They are not easy."

Now, the hard part is keeping the outcome under wraps. Word of her "Jeopardy!" experience has been making its way through campus, though, and it has already brought some perks, including an invitation to meet EIU alumnus Tony Romo (now famous as the Dallas Cowboys' quarterback) at the EIU Athletic Director's Gala on Feb. 14.

But for the most part, she's kept to her regular schedule, which is full of classes, two on-campus jobs and extracurricular activities (including leading campus tours for prospective students) -- and, of course, watching "Jeopardy!"

Rozek will appear on "Jeopardy! College Championship" on Thursday, Feb. 2. In Charleston, the show airs at 4:30 p.m. on WAND, and 6:30 p.m. on WTWO.

“That’s Goodness” -- the third annual David F. Tanner Benefit Concert for EIU Jazz Studies -- has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, in Eastern Illinois University’s Grand Ballroom, located in the MLK Jr. Union.

Funds generated will become part of the David Frank Tanner/Ronald Eugene Gholson Endowed Fund Celebrating the Goodness of Music, established through the EIU Foundation for the benefit of students participating in EIU's jazz studies program.  Funds will be used for, but are not limited to, the purchase of music, instruments, equipment, performance clothing, etc.; travel for faculty and/or students to competitions, conferences, concerts, etc.; recording of music performances/recitals, etc.; and student scholarships.

Admission to the event, which will feature music by EIU jazz students, the Sawyer Brothers, Moon Dogs, and The Men of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, is $10 for the general public and $5 for students.  Tickets may be purchased in advance at What’s Cookin’ or at the door the night of the performance.

Frank Tanner "lived his all too short life with a heart filled with music," according to close friend Ron Gholson.  “He often said, ‘I wish I could make music.’”

“Here on earth, David never believed or dreamed his life could be celebrated or that it would be celebrated with music just for him,” Gholson continued.

Tanner passed away on Jan. 26, 2009, just four days shy of his 45th birthday.  And Gholson, feeling the need to establish some sort of memorial in honor of his good friend, turned to music.

"I want this fund to help fulfill (Tanner's) dream of making music, that that dream might come to allow others to experience the 'goodness' of music in their lives," Gholson said.  "The dedication of music in his honor and the celebration of his life was never, ever a dream David Tanner dreamed.  Following his death, that celebration became my dream for him."

For information, phone 217-348-0666.

Eastern Illinois University's Board of Trustees on Friday approved an increase in room and board rates for students living in EIU housing during the 2012-2013 school year.

Students living in EIU's residence halls and Greek Court will see increases of $128 to $145 per semester (a 3.25 percent increase), depending on the chosen meal plan. Room and board rates will range from $4,069 per semester for the 7 Plus Meal Option to $4,587 for the 15 Plus Meal Option.

Four meal plan options each permit students a specified number of dining center meals per week; a specified number of “Dining Dollars” that can be used to buy additional meals in any dining center; to make purchases at Eastern's Food Court, Java B&B and Panther Pantry in the MLK Jr. Union and at the university's two residence hall convenience centers; and to provide dining center meals to guests.

Students living in one of the 148 University Apartments (designed primarily to meet the needs of student families and single graduate students) will also see increases in rates.  The plan calls for increases of $13 or $14 a month, with rent ranging from $435 to $488, depending on the type of apartment being rented (one-bedroom, efficiency or super efficiency).  All utilities are included in their rent.

Rate increases will also affect students living in University Court, a 146-unit university-owned apartment complex for sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students. Rates for students there will range from $2,412 to $2,943 per semester, depending on the type of apartment being rented.

According to Mark Hudson, Eastern's director of Housing and Dining Services, approximately 35 percent (or approximately 4,000 students) of Eastern's student body resides in university housing.  And, he added, surveys among those residents indicate that "students really feel like they get a good return on their investment.

“And we work hard to make sure they continue to feel that way," he added.

Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, said he is pleased that the university is able to offer its lowest increase in Eastern’s housing rates in 20 years.

“We try everything we can to economize while providing the best service possible to our students,” he added.  “We take a careful look at our needs, including fixed costs such as utilities, as well as employee wages and food costs.  We also consider the best ways with which to maximize our resources.”

In addition to the routine maintenance performed annually in all residence halls, Eastern continues to concentrate on on-going multi-year projects.  By the end of Summer 2012, for example, the university will have finished adding sprinkler systems in all residence halls.

Additionally, Hudson said, Eastern is adding wireless internet access to all residence rooms.  “Well over half of our rooms will have it by the end of the summer,” he said.

A routine class assignment recently earned an Eastern Illinois University student top honors in a statewide radio production contest - and a few extra spending dollars, to boot.

Korey Adkins, a senior communication studies major from Mattoon, was one of more than two dozen students in Mike Bradd's "Broadcast Announcing" class, assigned the task of producing a radio public service announcement promoting the Cell Phones for Soldiers Project.  The project encourages the public to donate their old cell phones, which are then converted into calling cards that are distributed to military members serving around the world.

"It was a class assignment first and foremost," Adkins said.  "But we were given the option of submitting it into the contest."

That contest - the Fall 2011 Best New Ad Radio Competition -- is a partnership between education and business communities.  Companies assign projects in which students are challenged to create the "Best New Ad."  This year's competition challenged students from around Illinois to produce radio public service announcements promoting the Cell Phones for Soldiers Project.

Upon receiving the assignment, Adkins began by researching the organization, identified his target audience, then wrote the copy and chose the music/sound effects he wanted to use.

"It took a few attempts," he admitted, noting that he wrote three or four different scripts before he was satisfied with his work.  In fact, he developed the version he was happiest with the very day the assignment was due in class.

His hard work and dedication paid off.

A few weeks later, Adkins was notified that his 30-second radio spot was chosen from among 33 entries collected from more than 22 colleges and universities.  In addition to the first-place prize of $300, Adkins may have his radio PSA used by Cell Phones for Soldiers during its 2012 national campaign.

(His project can be heard at http://www.bestnewad.com/ProjectModule/viewsubmission.php?file=1320998489_
.mp3<http://www.bestnewad.com/ProjectModule/viewsubmission.php?file=1320998489_.mp3&assignid=37&catid=3&mem_id=1840&subid=823>&assignid=37&catid=3&mem_id=1840&subid=823.)

Adkins, who has gained practical experience by working at Hit-Mix 88.9 (WEIU Radio) for the past three years, has also been enrolled in several radio classes as part of his major.  And he's enjoyed the experience, he says.

"However, I haven't really committed myself as to what I'll be doing after graduation," he said.  "But this award affirms that I can do well at radio production should that be what I choose to pursue."

Bradd, too, was pleased with the announcement of his student's award.  The news was especially pleasing, given that it's the second consecutive semester in which an EIU student has been a finalist in a Best New Ad contest. In Spring 2011, Monica Becker of Bartlett, Ill., was a finalist for her radio public service announcement promoting the Donate Life Illinois organ donation program.

"We're fortunate to have some pretty talented students enrolled here at EIU," Bradd said.

Nearly 500 graduates plan to participate in Eastern Illinois University's Fall 2011 commencement ceremonies, scheduled to take place Saturday, Dec. 17, in Lantz Arena.

Ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.  Guest tickets are required for admission.

Graduating seniors from the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences and the College of Arts and Humanities will march in the morning ceremony, while students from the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Sciences and the School of Continuing Education (Bachelor of Arts in General Studies Degree) will march in the afternoon.  Graduate students will march with their respective colleges.

President William L. Perry will preside over the ceremonies.  Music will be provided by the EIU Wind Symphony.

Carl Mito, Eastern alumnus and managing director, Oppenheimer & Company, Chicago, will present the “Charge to the Class” during the morning ceremony, while Donna K. Martin, a graduate of Eastern now serving as CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, will speak in the afternoon.

Also addressing graduates will be Faculty Senate Chairperson Andrew Methven and Student Body President Edward Hotwagner.

Representing Eastern's Board of Trustees will be Jarrod Scherle of Red Bud at 10 a.m. and Robert Webb of Mattoon at 1 p.m.

Traditionally, a commencement marshal leads the commencement procession while carrying the university mace, a symbol of honor accorded a faculty member.  The commencement marshal for the 10 a.m. ceremony will be Andrew McNitt, who, as a professor of political science, will represent the Graduate School.  Representing the School of Continuing Education at 1 p.m. will be Reed Benedict, professor of sociology/anthropology.

An EIU tradition also allows faculty members the honor of carrying the college banner for his/her college during the procession.

This year's faculty marshals for the morning ceremony are Jacquelyn Frank, assistant professor, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, representing the Graduate School and the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences; Richard Wilkinson, associate professor, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, representing the LCBAS; Newton Key, professor of history, representing the Graduate School and the College of Arts and Humanities; and Charles Titus, professor of history, representing the CAH.

This year's faculty marshals for the afternoon ceremony are Carrie Dale, assistant professor of early childhood, elementary and middle level education, representing the Graduate School and the College of Education and Professional Studies; Nick Osborne, associate professor in educational leadership, representing the CEPS; Kraig Wheeler, professor of chemistry, representing the Graduate School and the College of Sciences; Jonell Comerford, professor of mathematics and computer science, representing the COS; and John Willems, professor in the School of Business, representing the School of Continuing Education.

Angelica Bradley, a biological sciences major from Teutopolis, will serve as Honors College banner marshal during both ceremonies.

Additionally, Kathlene S. Shank, who was selected as EIU’s 2011 Luis Clay Mendez Distinguished Service Award recipient for her contributions to the university, the field of special education and the local community, will be formally recognized at Saturday’s 1 p.m. ceremony.  Shank, who joined the special education faculty in 1970, has been instrumental in organizing the Area 9 Special Olympics. Every spring, she recruits and organizes more than 700 volunteers (faculty, staff and students) for the annual Special Olympics and every fall for the Special Olympics Family Fun Festival.

The award honors the memory of Mendez, an EIU professor in Spanish who died in 2003.

The process of recovering Eastern Illinois University chemistry labs that were the target of vandalism over the Thanksgiving holiday continues.

The safety of students, faculty and staff, continues to be the top priority in the process of returning the labs to operational status, and the labs remain closed to the public. Cleanup is being handled by chemistry faculty and EIU facilities employees who are trained in the handling of hazardous materials.

Doors to the affected laboratories and to the building have been re-keyed. The University Police Department, which is conducting the investigation into the vandalism, has increased patrolling of the interior and perimeter of the building.

The damage to laboratory equipment was considerable and is still being assessed by university faculty and administrators. Preliminary estimates indicate that the value of the damaged equipment exceeds $100,000, according to William Weber, vice president for business affairs at the university.

In addition, some chemical samples and other materials from faculty and student research projects were ruined during the vandalism. The materials represent months, and in some cases years, of research work by faculty and students.

The university is in the process of filing an insurance claim for the damage. The process of inventorying and storing damaged equipment continues, and insurance claim adjusters are expected to be on campus to review the damages within a week.

Anybody with any information that may assist law enforcement is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-345-8488, text "crimeleads" to 274637, or call the EIU Police Department at 217-581-3212.

Police are asking anybody with information about last week's vandalism of the Physical Science Building at Eastern Illinois University to provide tips to assist in the investigation.

The damage to chemistry labs was discovered early Friday afternoon. Anybody who has any information that might assist law enforcement is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-345-8488, text “crimeleads” to 274637, or call the EIU Police Department at 217-581-3212.

The investigation has been assisted by the Charleston Police Department (not the Illinois State Police, as was previously reported).

The damage to laboratory equipment was considerable and is still being assessed by university faculty and administrators, according to William Weber, vice president for business affairs at the university.

The process of recovering the building and returning to normal operations started Friday night and is ongoing. Any hazardous materials in the building remain secure and do not pose any danger to the public.

Â	David Raybin, an EIU English professor, has been named Illinois Professor of the Year.

Eastern Illinois University's David Raybin has been named the 2011 Illinois Professor of the Year by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

The U.S. Professors of the Year program is the only national program to recognize excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentoring. This year, 27 state winners were selected from nearly 300 top professors in the United States.

Raybin was honored at an awards luncheon today at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. A ceremony will be held on the EIU campus in January.

Raybin, who joined the EIU Department of English in 1981, teaches courses at all levels. He has received numerous EIU awards, including nine Faculty Excellence Awards, the Dean’s Award for Service to Continuing Education, and the Distinguished Honors Faculty Award. He has also served as the Faculty Laureate, and in 2011, he was named EIU's Distinguished Professor, the university's highest award of excellence.

"My guiding philosophy is to strive to engage every student in the room and to assume the best in each one," Raybin said. "I have never wavered from my commitment to treating each class as a group of individual learners. It is because I try to motivate each student that I am able to be successful. It is why I love to teach."

Since 2001, he and his wife, fellow medievalist Susanna Fein, have served as co-editors of The Chaucer Review, the leading journal in the field.

In 2008 and 2010, Raybin and Fein were awarded major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities to direct four-week Summer Seminars for School Teachers on Chaucer’s "Canterbury Tales" in England. The grant has been awarded again for 2012.

Raybin's collaboration with the Illinois Humanities Council has spanned two decades, during which he has organized of the annual EIU Literature Conference, in which 50-100 teachers discuss great books and writers; directed two intensive weekend seminars on Chaucer, one for school teachers and the other for librarians; and served as a consultant at external reviews of IHC educational activities.

"There are those who call college an escape from the 'real world,'" Raybin said. "I disagree, ardently. I protest against a definition of the real that sees the only practical life as entailing a deadening job from which one comes home to slouch before a screen.

"I embrace an alternative vision of a reality in which one's mind is active and engaged: absorbed in a freely chosen task, devoted passionately to a cause, fascinated by an idea, bewitched by a good book.

"My students’ four years of college may well engender the most real experiences of their lives, from the deliciously intoxicating to the horrendously depressing, with all the shades in between. The value in a collegiate experience lies in how one approaches these years. My classroom instructs students to approach education with intensity and joy."

A current student, Katelyn R. Pfaff, praised Raybin "as not only an outstanding professor but as a warm, charismatic, intelligent human being who has made an irreversible impact on my life."

"Everything is subject to discussion and question, and the positive, creative attitude with which he encourages his students to approach literature is life-changing," Pfaff said. "His excitement for the material we read and discuss is overwhelming and we cannot help but get sucked into his whirlwind of passion and fun. It is in this whirlwind that I have learned to be scholarly yet passionate, professional yet open minded."

Amanda Veale, a former student who graduated with an English degree from EIU in 2009, said Raybin "offers his knowledge through lively discussions, the kind of electric discourse that extends beyond the classroom, into the life of the hallways and dormitories, and into the passions and pursuits of students long after the semester’s end."

Ruth Hoberman, a colleague of Raybin's for two decades, said he is "quite simply, the most talented, dynamic, and challenging teacher I know."

"They (students) love him because he is challenging, and because he’ll go to amazing lengths to involve students in the learning process," Hoberman said. "Just a few months ago one told me she wasn’t all that crazy about medieval literature, but she just had to take another class with Dr. Raybin.

"As chair of the Department Personnel Committee for five years, I frequently saw Dr. Raybin’s student evaluations: they are invariably at the very top of the scale. Students repeatedly use words like 'growth,' 'stretching,' and 'challenging' to describe their experiences in his classes."

For more information on Raybin's accomplishments, please see http://www.eiu.edu/english/faculty.php?id=draybin.

The community is invited to learn more about health topics, as well as local and statewide health resources, at the 14th annual Health Fair at Eastern Illinois University on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

The free event, set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center, is to feature many vendors from EIU, Charleston community and beyond. Games will be available, and door prizes will be awarded.

The Health Fair, sponsored by EIU's Health Service and Health Education Resource Center, provides an opportunity for vendors to raise awareness of their organizations, as well as an opportunity for attendees to gain a greater understanding of their personal health and where they can go to increase their health and wellness.

For more information, contact Catherine Bocke at herc-pr_marketing@eiu.edu or 217-581-7786, or see the website at http://www.eiu.edu/herc/healthfair.php.

Eastern Illinois University Student Community Service has planned several activities for the "30 Days of Change: EIU Fights Hunger" campaign throughout November.

The campaign is motivated by local statistics: The Coles County poverty rate is above 19 percent, and according to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, which serves a 14-county area, one in six people may not have food for dinner tonight.

• Freeze Out Hunger, a new 2-mile fun trail run on the Panther Trail (around the Campus Pond), is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6. Registration is $10, and all proceeds will go to the Charleston Food Pantry, which can purchase $10 worth of food with each dollar it receives. Walk-up registration is welcome.
• Canned goods will be used to create sculptures in the Canstruction contest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7. All canned items will be donated to the Charleston Food Pantry. See http://www.eiu.edu/volunteer/30days/nov7.php for contest rules.
• Learn how today's economy is affecting those struggling to feed their families in "The Hunger Shames," a lecture by Lisa Taylor, an assistant professor in the EIU School of Family and Consumer Sciences, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, in 7th Street Underground, MLK Jr. Union.
• During the Good Neighbor Can Collection, students will collect nonperishable food items from homes on Sixth and Seventh streets (from Lincoln to Harrison avenues) from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12; and on Fourth Street (from Lincoln to Harrison avenues) from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13.
• Students will volunteer with area Peace Meal programs during the week of Nov. 14.
• Each Wednesday in November, each person who takes a nonperishable food item to the EIU Bookstore in the MLK Jr. Union will receive a discount on that purchase. Donations will go to the Charleston Food Pantry.
• The Hunger Challenge encourages people to attempt a week of spending only $6.67 per day -- the amount of money federal assistance provides for food -- while following the guidelines of the assistance program. See http://www.eiu.edu/volunteer/30days/hungerchallenge.php for details.
• Food collection boxes with the "30 Days of Change" logo will be placed around campus through the end of the month.

For more information about these and other "EIU Fights Hunger" events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/volunteer.

The Eastern Illinois University School of Business will host a presentation on green jobs and a panel on franchising as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nov. 14-18.

• "Which Green Jobs Look Promising for Rural Illinois?" will be presented by John J. Gruidl, professor of economics in Western Illinois University's Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs, at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15.

• "The Ins and Outs of Franchising: What You Need to Know" panel discussion is set for 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16. Moderated by Steven C. Michael, professor of management at the University of Illinois, the panel will include William M. Guzik, executive vice president and CFO, Midas International; Cassandra L. Karimi, assistant attorney general (Franchise Bureau), State of Illinois; Kevin Traub, franchisee, Dairy Queen International; Doris A. Carter, franchise attorney, Carter & Tani Attorneys at Law, Wheaton; and John Inyart, mayor of Charleston and Midas International franchisee. A reception with an opportunity to meet the panelists will follow in the Lumpkin Hall Student Lounge.

Both the presentation and the forum, which are free and open to the public, are to be held in Lumpkin Hall's Roberson Auditorium (Room 2030). Business casual attire is requested.

Parking is available in the lot immediately northwest of Lumpkin Hall; a map can be found here.

For more information, contact Marko Grunhagen, Lumpkin Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship, at mgrunhagen@eiu.edu or 217-581-6906.

A Veterans Day program is set for 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in front of Eastern Illinois University's Old Main.

Community residents are invited to join a host of individuals and groups, including the Student Veterans of Eastern and other student, staff and faculty veterans.

Among those scheduled to speak are faculty veteran LTC Stephen Knotts, student veteran August Lamczyk and EIU Provost Blair Lord. Ann Boehlefeld, an EIU student veteran, will join Lord in the wreath presentation. Narration will be provided by Cadet Robert Hale.

The National Anthem will be sung by EIU student Gina Marcin, the three-volley salute will be performed by the EIU ROTC Panther Battalion, and "Taps" will be played by EIU student Spencer Powell.

In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved inside the building.

A panel of Eastern Illinois University faculty and staff will discuss the government's role in the current economic crisis on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

The panel discussion, "Government and the Economy: Does Government Have a Role?" is to begin at 4 p.m. in the Lumpkin Auditorium (2030 Lumpkin Hall).

Panelists will be Jeanne Dau (Business Solutions Center, Lumpkin School of Business and Applied Sciences); Teshome Abebe (economics): Ed Wehrle (history); Kevin Anderson (political science); and Michael Gillespie (sociology/anthropology). Jason Waller (philosophy) will serve as the moderator.

The audience will have the opportunity to ask questions.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by University Professionals of Illinois and the Faculty Senate.

When Eastern Illinois University's Board of Trustees meets in November, it will do so with some continuing and some new members.

On Monday, Gov. Pat Quinn made a number of appointments to the state's more than 320 boards and commissions. His action included the reappointment of two individuals and the addition of four new members to the EIU board.

All the appointments are temporary until approved by the Illinois Senate.

Robert Webb of Mattoon and Roger Kratochvil of Mt. Olive will continue to serve, having first been appointed in 2004. Webb, a former president of Lake Land College, currently serves as the BOT's chair. Kratochvil, a former teacher/principal at Mt. Olive High School, is vice chair.

New appointees include the following:

William Dano III of Oswego, who has more than 20 years of business experience in sales management for Extreme Networks, Avaya, Fujitsu, Lucent Technologies and AT&T;

Joseph Dively of Charleston, who is president of First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust and a former chairman of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce;

Kristopher Goetz of Lombard, who is operations director at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago; and

Rene Hutchinson of Chicago, who has worked at Allstate Insurance Company, Northbrook, for nearly 30 years.

These six men join Leo Welch of O'Fallon, whose existing term expires in January 2013, and Jarrod Scherle of Red Bud, who is serving as Eastern's 2011-12 student representative to the board.

"EIU enjoys a strong working relationship with the board," EIU President Bill Perry said. "We look forward to continuing that relationship with the board as newly appointed."

Three of the new appointees - Dively, Goetz and Hutchinson - are already well acquainted with Eastern's campus, having graduated from the university. Both Dively and Hutchinson are also former presidents of EIU's Alumni Association's Board of Directors.

"I'm proud to be an Eastern alumnus and find it rewarding to have been able to serve the university in a variety of positions over the years," Dively said.

Noting the strategic planning process and major fundraising campaign taking place on campus, he added, "This is an especially exciting time to be joining the board."

Hutchinson also expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to serve on the board.

"I am looking forward to serving as a member of the Board of Trustees," he said. "It will be a great honor to continue to support Eastern Illinois University and make EIU the great institution that it is."

Webb, who recognized retiring trustees Julie Nimmons of Litchfield and Bill O'Rourke of Springfield, said both individuals had made significant contributions to the university during their tenure on the board.

"Each member of the board brings a set of special skills, experience and background to assist the group as a whole," he said.

Nimmons, who was named to the board in April 2001, currently serves as chairwoman of Eastern's "Expect Greatness" $50 million capital campaign.

"And we're close to achieving our goal," Webb said. "It is my hope that Mrs. Nimmons will continue her work toward that effort."

O'Rourke, who has served as a trustee since June 2005, worked for seven years as the executive assistant to the general manager for City Water, Light and Power in Springfield. The special knowledge and skills he gained were of great value to the board as Eastern planned and constructed its newly operational Renewable Energy Center, Webb said.

Representatives from school districts throughout Illinois and beyond will be seeking new employees at the upcoming Fall Education Job Fair at Eastern Illinois University.

Anyone who is or will be qualified for the positions offered is invited to the free job fair, which is set for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, in the MLK Jr. Union's Grand Ballroom. It is sponsored by EIU Career Services.

School district representatives will be seeking candidates for teaching, administrative and support services positions.

A list of participating schools and available jobs is available online.

Professional dress is required. Attendees are encouraged to bring a supply of resumes. The website provides more tips for making the job fair a success.

For more information, contact Jennifer Peterson, the EIU career counselor who is coordinating the event, at 581-7073 or japeterson@eiu.edu.

A four-person on-site evaluation team representing the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication has recommended that the EIU Department of Journalism be reaccredited.

During the campus visit Oct. 9-12, the evaluation team inspected facilities and equipment; visited classes; and met with faculty members, students, administrators and representatives from other university departments.

In preparation for the visit, journalism faculty members prepared a comprehensive self-study sent to each member of the evaluation team, according to James Tidwell, chair of the department.

The self-study and the evaluation team's work centers around nine standards: mission, governance and administration; curriculum and instruction; diversity and inclusiveness; full-time and part-time faculty; scholarship: research, creative and professional activity; student services; resources, facilities and equipment; professional and public service; and assessment of learning outcomes.

The team found the department in compliance with all nine standards.

The report will now go to the ACEJMC Accrediting Committee when it meets April 17-18 in Chicago. Final approval rests with the full council when it meets April 27-28 in Washington, D.C.

Tidwell said the process takes place every six years. The EIU program was first accredited in 1982 and reaccredited in 1988, 1994, 2000 and 2006. ACEJMC currently accredits 111 programs in journalism and mass communications.

The site team's report praised the faculty members for significantly increasing their level of research/creative activity since the last accrediting visit in 2005, according to Tidwell. He said the report noted several other strengths of the program:

• "Students, faculty and others on campus all praise the warm and close relationships between faculty and students and the way that relationship enhances learning."
• "Assessment practices are firmly established, and the faculty uses the assessment results to change and improve classes and the overall program."
• "The unit does an admirable amount of service work, including its support of scholastic journalism throughout the state of Illinois and the nation."
• "Students have many opportunities for working on award-winning campus media."
• "Facilities are better than those at many larger schools. The campus continues to invest technology resources in the unit."

ACEJMC is made up academics from a number of educational organizations, along with members representing such groups as the American Society of News Editors, the Newspaper Association of America, the Radio-Television Digital News Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Public Relations Society of American and the American Advertising Federation.

Ann Brill, dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas, was chair of the EIU site team. Other members were Phillip Jeter, chair of the Department of Mass Communications at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina; Charlyne Berens, associate dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and Merrill Rose, an independent communications consultant in New York City.

Recipients of the Eastern Illinois University Alumni Association's 2011 alumni awards will be honored Saturday, Oct. 22, in conjunction with Homecoming activities.

Distinguished Alumni Awards will go to Larry Closson '74 of Springfield; Will Keiper '72 of Paradise Valley, Ariz.; Gregg Kirkland '83 of Edwardsville; Keith Kohanzo '69, '71 of Charleston; and Ron Woods '86 of Milwaukee, Wis.

The Outstanding Young Alumnus Award will go to Jake Byrne '07, '09 of Long Island City, N.Y. In addition, Tim '71, '72 and Vickie Burke '72, '75 of Evanston will receive the Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award, and Craig Lindvahl '79 of Effingham will receive the Distinguished Educator Award.

For biographies of the award winners, please visit http://www.eiu.edu/alumni/awards.php.

Established in 1973, the Distinguished Alumni Award is the most prestigious award bestowed by the Alumni Association. It is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves in either academic or literary fields, business, public service and/or service to the university, and who, through their accomplishments and service, have brought prestige to their alma mater. Past recipients have included an Illinois governor, Oscar-nominated actors, an NFL head coach, a nuclear physicist, CEOs, educators at all levels and many others.

First presented in 1988, the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award is presented to alumni who are 35 or younger and have excelled in new careers and/or public service.

The Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award, established in 1988, is presented to alumni who have repeatedly displayed outstanding voluntary service to the university. In 2007, the name was changed to the Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award in honor of Eastern's retiring president, who held a variety of administrative positions at EIU for more than 40 years.

Established in 2004, the Distinguished Educator Award is presented to alumni who have distinguished themselves in the field of K-12 education.

Award recipients will be honored at a dinner, set to begin with a 6 p.m. social hour, on Saturday, Oct. 22, in the Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union. Dinner will follow at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person. A portion of the dinner price will support the Legacy Scholarship Fund. To order tickets, please contact the EIU Alumni Association at 800-ALUM-EIU or alumeiu@eiu.edu.

Dann Gire

Charleston native Dann Gire, longtime film critic for the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, will be honored Friday, Oct. 21, as the 2011 Journalism Department Alumnus of the Year.

"Dann has established himself as one of the premier journalists in the Midwest and has been a great supporter of our program over the years," said department chair James Tidwell. "Anytime we call on him to speak at an event on campus or in other parts of the state, Dann always says 'yes.' He's a heck of a speaker and a great film critic."

Gire is a featured speaker each year at the Embarras Valley Film Festival sponsored by EIU.

Gire will be honored at a noon luncheon Friday, Oct. 21. Tidwell said Gire also will be a guest speaker in several journalism classes the day before.

Tidwell noted that although Gire graduated from EIU before a journalism major was established in 1975, "We've always thought of him as one of our own" because of his extensive experience with the school's student newspaper, The Daily Eastern News. He served as sports editor, photography editor and co-editor-in-chief of the DEN.

A recipient of the alumni award must be a graduate of EIU with a journalism major or with significant student media experience during his or her collegiate days, according to Tidwell.

Gire earned a bachelor's degree in speech communication with a journalism minor in 1974 and earned a master's degree in speech communication in December 1975.

Madeleine Doubek, executive editor of the Daily Herald and a 1985 EIU journalism graduate, said Gire, despite being a "bigwig" movie critic, began filling in on a general assignment weekend rotation a few years ago when the paper started facing staffing challenges.

"He covers breaking news and crime with gusto," she said. "Not many bigwigs would do the same. He's a gem I've been honored to know."

Retired journalism professor John David Reed said Gire was one of the first students he met when he came to Eastern in August 1972 as adviser to the Eastern News.

"He was a scrawny, wiry - and wired - shooter (photographer)," Reed said. "And he learned all the great newspaper photographer habits - super work ethic, ceaseless nose for news, creativity in pursuit of same, absolute dedication to the task, perfect understanding of the most basic rule of newsgathering: You have to be there. Those qualities have served him well during a commendable career as a journalist, of course."

Reed said he was not surprised that Gire would distinguish himself as an outstanding writer and eminent critic of film.

"I watched him bug his editors about running his movie reviews, immerse himself in the art through such venues as the Eastern Film Society," Reed said. "And he excelled, right there in The Daily Eastern News."

After graduating from Eastern with bachelor's and master's degrees in speech communication, Gire joined the Daily Herald in 1975. There, he has held positions of government reporter, crime reporter, metro reporter (assigned to the Cook County Criminal Courts), and film critic on the features staff.

He has served as the newspaper's film critic for 33 years. He's also a contributing critic for "Ebert Presents at the Movies" on PBS.

In addition to his full-time work as a journalist, Gire teaches journalism at Aurora College. He previously taught journalism and advised the student newspaper at William Rainey Harper College in Palatine.

"What pleases me most about Dann is his dedication through his adjunct teaching to the concept of service to others, of passing it forward, that lies at the heart of journalism," Reed said. "As this alumni award attests, Dann has earned a hearty KUDOS from all of us who care about the profession."

Gire has won the Peter Lisagor Award for Exemplary Journalism in Arts Criticism seven times. He has also won awards from the Association of Sunday and Feature Editors, The Associated Press, and other journalism organizations.

He is the president and a founding director of the Chicago Film Critics Association, a nonprofit organization with charitable and educational goals. He wrote the organization's ethics code and founded the group's Zappa Committee charged with monitoring First Amendment violations against filmmakers and recommending responses to those violations.

Gire worked as film critic at Chicago's Fox TV news from 1988 to 1991, and for four weeks this summer contributed film critiques for CBS Chicago's "Monsters and Money in the Morning" TV news program.

He is married to Peggy (Burke) Gire, a longtime music teacher in Schaumburg District 54. They have two daughters. Both Gires are graduates of Charleston High School. Dann is the son of Charleston residents Jim and Donna Gire. Peggy's parents, Tom and Elaine Burke, are deceased. Tom Burke was a longtime Coles County judge.

Eastern Illinois University will celebrate Homecoming 2011, "Greatness in Blue," with a variety of events incorporating the community throughout the week of Oct. 17.

Of particular community interest in this year's Homecoming are the coronation on Monday; Family Fun Night on Thursday; many Saturday events that include a pancake breakfast, 2.5K race, parade and football game; and daily "Greatness in Giving" service projects.

Local businesses are encouraged to join in the fun by participating in "Paint the Town Blue," which encompasses a wide range of activities, including window-painting and displays, "Billy's Bucks" food discounts and specials, marquee signage, yard signs and more.

The week's events will begin with the "Royal Blue" Coronation of the EIU Homecoming Court at 7 p.m. Monday in McAfee Gymnasium.

Family Fun Night, with the theme "Big Blue Playground," will include activities for all ages, including bingo, carnival games, inflatable games, prizes and refreshments. It will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday on the South Quad. In the case of inclement weather, activities will be moved to the MLK Jr. Union.

The 12th annual pancake breakfast sponsored by the Charleston Rotary Club and EIU will take place from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday in the parking lot of Domino's Pizza, at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Seventh Street. The menu includes pancakes, sausage, milk and coffee. Proceeds will support local Rotary projects.

The 12th annual EIU/Charleston 2.5K (1.5-mile) Homecoming race will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday. Runners/walkers will begin at the corner of Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue, make their way north on Seventh Street to the Charleston Square, then return to EIU's Old Main via Sixth Street. The entry fee is $10; register by Oct. 15 to receive a T-shirt. Awards will be given in run, walk and wheelchair categories. McDonald's will provide gift packs to all participants. Prizes will be given for best full-body costumes. To register, see http://www.eiu.edu/homecoming/race.php.

The Homecoming parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The parade, now in the third year of its new route, will begin at the intersection of Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue, travel north to Monroe Avenue, west on Monroe to Sixth Street, south on Sixth, west onto Polk Avenue, and south on Division Street to Grant Avenue (aka Panther Way), winding up at the tailgate area at O'Brien Stadium.

As the parade route includes Charleston's Morton Park, community members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for a safe and relaxing view of the parade. Family-oriented Homecoming activities will again be provided at the park, including a bounce house, face-painting and EIU cutouts for photo opportunities.

In preparation for the football game, fans are invited to arrive early and show their Panther Pride at this year's Football TailGREAT and Alumni Tent City, with activities beginning at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. All of EIU's colleges will be represented at this tailgating event south of O'Brien Stadium, which will feature a performance by Jason and the Haymakers, a country band that includes two EIU alumni. Free popcorn, freebies and a Kids' Zone are also scheduled. There is no cost for the tailgating activities.

The Homecoming football game, in which the EIU Panthers host Ohio Valley Conference rival UT Martin, will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets may be purchased the day of the game at O'Brien Stadium at a cost of $15 for adults, $13 for EIU staff, $7 for high school students and $5 for ages 4 through middle school. EIU students will be admitted free with their Panther Card ID.

The EIU Alumni Association will honor nine alumni at the Alumni Awards dinner Saturday evening, with a social hour at 6 p.m, and dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be obtained by calling 217-581-6616. For details on the award winners, please see http://www.eiu.edu/alumni/awards.php.

Throughout the week, EIU students will be volunteering their time to help with "Greatness in Giving," a series of community-service projects. A winter clothing collection will be held all week. In addition, each weekday will feature a particular activity, including collecting canned food; creating cards for hospice patients; collecting athletic shoes for recycling; and writing cards and creating keychains for local children involved with the Department of Children and Family Services.

The week will end with Trash Bash at 1 p.m. Sunday. Volunteers will meet at Old Main to pick up garbage left behind during Homecoming festivities.

For details on all these and all Homecoming events, please see the new website at http://www.eiu.edu/homecoming. The site also offers a Homecoming history page, a photo gallery, a ringtone of the Eastern State March and EIU-themed desktop wallpaper.

Eastern Illinois University and Honeywell today unveiled the school's Renewable Energy Center, one of the largest university biomass installations in the country, as part of a grand opening ceremony held on campus for students, faculty and the broader Charleston community.

The REC is a 19,000-square-foot steam plant that will provide heat for buildings and classrooms across the university grounds. It is driven by two large biomass gasifiers - the first application of this technology in Illinois and the surrounding region - that use wood chips from forest residue for fuel.

By switching to a renewable energy source, EIU will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 20,000 metric tons, which is equivalent to removing more than 3,600 cars from the road, according to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The new plant is one piece of a comprehensive energy- and environmental-conservation program that also includes a variety of upgrades to other university facilities and infrastructure. The product of close collaboration between EIU and Honeywell, the program is expected to cut energy use on campus in half and carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent.

The facility will more than pay for itself through the projected $140 million in energy savings over the next two decades - savings that are guaranteed through a 20-year performance contract with Honeywell.

The facility will also have a major educational benefit. The REC's dedicated classroom space and advanced technology displays are helping the university develop a Center for Clean Energy Research and Education (CENCERE) to provide EIU students and faculty extensive opportunities for clean-energy research. The university also offers a new academic minor in sustainability and is in the process of adding a master's degree in renewable energy.

"This facility is a symbol of Eastern Illinois University's commitment to our campus and environment, and demonstrates our willingness to take a progressive step toward sustainability," said Bill Perry, president of Eastern Illinois University.

"Operating our campus with a renewable resource allows us to show that cleaner energy options are both practical and fiscally responsible. This will not only impact our operations, but permeate into our curriculum as well."

To heat the campus, a material-handling system at the plant delivers wood chips to the biomass gasifiers where they are broken down in a heated, oxygen-deprived chamber, creating a synthetic gas that burns similar to natural gas. The gas is then used to fire high-efficiency boilers, which results in more complete combustion and lower emissions, and gives EIU a carbon-neutral solution for heating its facilities.

The gasifiers will consume an estimated 27,000 tons of wood per year, replacing the more than 10,000 tons of coal burned annually by EIU's existing plant, which will be decommissioned and repurposed for other university needs.

The REC also features a back-pressure turbine that is powered by superheated steam from one of the boilers to generate electricity, as well as two ground-mounted solar arrays. The turbine and arrays will provide other sources of renewable energy for the university and generate almost 3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year - enough to power 250 homes on average.

Along with the steam plant, the broader, $80-million program with Honeywell includes energy- and water-efficiency upgrades across campus. EIU financed the work and is using the subsequent savings to pay for the improvements. As a result, the program will not place a burden on the university's budget, or require additional taxpayer dollars or student fees.

"EIU is now one of the leading examples of what's possible when an organization takes a long-term, strategic approach to energy and the environment," said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. "We worked closely with the university to define its needs as an institution and tailor a program to help meet its goals. This is innovation with a clear purpose in mind, and the entire campus and community benefits as a result."

The Eastern Illinois University Department of Journalism will host four representatives from the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Oct. 9-12 as it seeks national reaccreditation.

In preparation for the visit, journalism faculty members prepared a comprehensive self-study that has been sent to each member of the evaluation team, according to James Tidwell, chair of the department.

The process takes place every six years. The EIU program was first accredited in 1982 and reaccredited in 1988, 1994, 2000 and 2006. ACEJMC currently accredits 111 programs in journalism and mass communications.

"We think national accreditation is very important," Tidwell said. "It demonstrates that we meet strict standards for journalism education established by knowledgeable academics and media and public relations professionals. It makes it easier to sell our program to potential students and their parents and to promote our students with potential employers."

While on campus, the site team members will inspect facilities and equipment; visit classes; and meet with faculty members, students, administrators and representatives from other university departments. The team will present its report and recommendations to EIU President William Perry on the last day of their visit.

The site team report will then be considered by the ACEJMC Accrediting Committee at its meeting in Chicago in March. The entire council will make the final decision when it meets in Washington, D.C., in April.

The council, along with its accrediting committee, is made up academics from a number of educational organizations, along with members representing such groups as the American Society of News Editors, the Newspaper Association of America, the Radio-Television Digital News Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Public Relations Society of American and the American Advertising Federation.

Tidwell said the accreditation process focuses on nine standards established by ACEJMC: mission, governance and administration; curriculum and instruction; diversity and inclusiveness; full-time and part-time/adjunct faculty; scholarship: research, creative and professional activity; student services: resources, facilities and equipment; professional and public service; and assessment of learning outcomes.

Ann Brill, dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas, is the chair of the EIU site team. Other members are Phillip Jeter, chair of the Department of Mass Communications at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina; Charlyne Berens, associate dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and Merrill Rose, an independent communications consultant in New York City.

Eastern Illinois University will host several events as part of its monthlong symposium "A Futuristic Look Through Ancient Lenses: Ancient Egypt."

The symposium, which will take place from Oct. 6 through Nov. 2, will illustrate how today's scholars have utilized clues left by ancient Egyptians that provide insight into the lives and achievements of ancient Egyptians, and helped Egypt to become the superpower of its time.

The symposium is made possible through the combined efforts of the School of Technology, the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, and Booth Library.

The opening reception will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, in the West Reading Room of Booth Library. At 7:30 p.m., James Hoffmeier of Chicago will present "But How Did Ancient Egyptians Really Build that Great Pyramid?"

Producers of the series -- Wafeek Wahby, a professor in the School of Technology; and Allen Lanham, dean of Library Services -- aim for the symposium to be enjoyed by the university and regional communities.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call 217-581-6061.

The complete schedule follows. Events will be held in Booth Library's Witters Conference Room (Room 4440), unless otherwise noted.

• Thursday, Oct. 6, in the West Reading Room, Booth Library: 7 p.m., opening reception; 7:30 p.m., "But How Did Ancient Egyptians Really Build that Great Pyramid?" by James Hoffmeier.
• Friday, Oct. 7, in the Charleston/Mattoon Room, MLK Jr. Union: 11 a.m., "Modern Satellite Imagery and Geophysics Technologies Reveal Ancient Secrets," by James Hoffmeier.
• Monday, Oct. 10: 11 a.m., "A Biblical Perspective of the Ancient Egyptian Religions" by Andrew Robinson and Ryan McDaniel; 1 p.m., "Physical Landscapes of Ancient Egypt" by John Paul Stimac; and 2 p.m., "Make No Mistake: Documenting Life since the Ancient Egyptians" by Allen Lanham.
• Tuesday, Oct. 11: 1 p.m., "Myths About Ancient Egyptian Myths!" by Bonnie Irwin.
• Wednesday, Oct. 12: 11 a.m., "Ancient Egyptian Woman" by Christina Yousaf and Kaninika Bhatnagar, and "Contrasts between Experiences of Ancient Egyptian Children and Parenting and Contemporary Families" by Frances Murphy and Michelle Meadows; 7 p.m., "Philosophy and Practice of Medicine in Ancient Egypt" by Kip McGilliard.
• Thursday, Oct. 13: 10 a.m., "Ancient Egyptian Archives" by EIU archivist Robert Hillman; 11 a.m., "Tourism, Textiles, Finance, and Food: Ancient Egypt Then and Now" by Betsy Pudliner, Katherine Shaw, Axton Betz and Kathy Rhodes.
• Monday, Oct. 17: 2 p.m., "The 'Roll' of Rock Solid Imagery of Early Egypt" by Beverly Cruse.
• Monday, Oct. 31: 11 a.m., "Technology of Medicine in the Age of the Pharaohs" by Thomas Hawkins; 4 p.m., "How Natural Forces Affected Egyptian Culture" by Alan Baharlou.
• Tuesday, Nov. 1: 1 p.m., "A 21st Century Look at Ancient Egyptian Architecture" by David Finnigan.
• Wednesday, Nov. 2: 3 p.m., "Bringing the Sky Down to Earth: Astronomy in Ancient Egypt" by David Linton; 6 p.m. in McAfee Gymnasium, "Ancient Egyptian Sport and Dance" by Scott Ronspies, with music by the EIU Pep Band under the direction of R. Alan Sullivan.

James Tidwell

Lola Burnham

Two Eastern Illinois University journalism professors will be honored at the 90th Annual National College Media Convention in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 26-30.

James Tidwell, chair of the department, will be inducted into the College Media Advisers Hall of Fame, and Lola Burnham, editorial adviser to The Daily Eastern News, will receive a four-year college newspaper Honor Roll Adviser Award from the organization.

The Honor Roll award is presented to a CMA member who has fewer than five years' experience in college media advising and has provided distinguished service to his or her students and profession.

Burnham, an assistant professor of journalism, has been the editorial adviser to The Daily Eastern News since fall 2008.

One nomination letter stated that Burnham deserved the award "because of her work with CMA, her strong advising and her commitment to college media development in the state." The letter also noted, "As an adviser, Lola practices her duties using the CMA Code of Ethics. She critiques the paper after it comes out, and she works with the staff to provide training, leadership and mentorship."

CMA Hall of Fame inductees must have contributed to college journalism education for 20 years or more while being active members of CMA. The award recognizes longtime members who have contributed to the betterment and value of student media programs of both the campus and nation. It also pays tribute to members who have devoted extensive service to CMA by serving in leadership roles and presenting programs and sessions at conventions.

Tidwell, a CMA member since 1975, served as student newspaper adviser at Tulsa (Okla.) Junior College and Indiana University Southeast before joining the EIU faculty in January 1987.

Tidwell, who serves as legal adviser to EIU's student media, has presented well over 100 legal sessions at college media conventions and workshops and has served as chair of the CMA Weekly Newspaper Committee, the Research Committee and the Media Law Committee.

"If ever there was a stalwart of CMA, Tidwell would be that person," wrote Mark Witherspoon of Iowa State University in his nomination letter. "He has been steadfast in his support of CMA for decades, and he has shown his support in so many ways.

"He has been a mentor and confidant to many advisers throughout the years, and I am grateful to be included in that group of advisers. Every time I call on him with questions, usually legal in nature, he always provides me with thoughtful and helpful answers in a timely manner."

Another nominator, Mark Goodman former director of the Student Press Law Center now at Kent State University, noted that he has known Tidwell since 1985.

"James was then and remains today a tireless supporter of college and high school journalism and defender of media advisers in need," Goodman wrote.

"I couldn't begin to count how many sessions he has given at CMA conventions over the years, but my guess is that he may well have broken some organization record. And not only were his sessions numerous, they were uniformly substantive and useful.

"I recall dozens of (legal) sessions that James and I presented together where his advice was accurate, practical and often funny. One of the things I like best about James is that he doesn't take himself too seriously. The First Amendment, on the other hand, he is passionate about, and his work with CMA has always reflected that."

Tidwell has previously won two other awards from CMA: the 1998 Louis E. Ingelhart First Amendment Award for extraordinary, long-term contributions in support of the First Amendment; and the 2010 Reid H. Montgomery Distinguished Service Award, given to a person, corporation or institution for extraordinary contributions to journalism or student media advising.

Three other past and present EIU journalism faculty members have been inducted into the CMA Hall of Fame: retired professor David Reed (1996), and current professors Les Hyder (1997) and John Ryan (2008).

Freshmen and new transfer students who anticipate attending Eastern Illinois University in the fall of 2012 will have the opportunity to apply for a new scholarship.

"We're pleased to help students with a resource that makes earning a degree more affordable for Illinois students," stated Eastern President William Perry.

The Panther Promise Scholarship will provide up to $2,500 per year for eligible students. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years if students maintain satisfactory academic progress. The scholarship can be added to other scholarships and grants in the students' financial aid packages.

To be eligible, students must file a FAFSA form and be first-time freshmen or first-time transfer students at EIU in the fall of 2012. Students must also meet income requirements to be eligible. The Panther Promise is available to students from households with an annual income ranging from $33,000 to $67,000. Numerous scholarships and grants remain available for students from households in other income ranges.

"Accessibility and affordability are at the core of the Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success. The Panther Promise Scholarship creates an additional resource for students who need assistance paying for college," Perry added.

Students or parents who are interested in learning more about the Panther Promise Scholarship may contact the EIU Office of Undergraduate Admissions toll free at 877-581-2348.

Eastern Illinois University's "EI&U: The Campaign for Eastern" fundraising effort has been successful due to an influx of support from many people, including the university's own faculty and staff.

The percentage of employees who donated to EIU in the past fiscal year increased 75 percent from the previous year, and 17 departments and offices had 100 percent participation, said Michelle Payne, director of EIU's Annual Fund.

Donations were received from 35 percent of EIU's work force, up from 20 percent the previous year.

"Our goal in getting the faculty and staff more involved in the campaign was not focused on dollar amounts, but rather on simply increasing participation," said Bob Martin, vice president for university advancement.

"Our faculty and staff go above and beyond every day, and it's wonderful to see so many go a step further by investing their own hard-earned funds in the future of Eastern Illinois University."

As part of the campaign, some employees served as team captains in their respective areas on campus. Their leadership helped secure the increase in employee participation, including 122 first-time donors.

Offices and departments that had 100 percent employee participation were Alumni Services, Benefits, Campus Recreation, Civil Rights, Counseling and Student Development, Educational Leadership, Employee and Labor Relations, General Counsel, Internal Audit, Philanthropy, Payroll, Philosophy, President’s Office, Research and Sponsored Programs, Vice President for Student Affairs, Vice President for University Advancement and WEIU.

An additional 13 departments had more than 70 percent participation.

Overall, since its public launch in October, "EI&U: The Campaign for Eastern" has secured 92.8 percent, or $46.4 million, of the $50 million goal. It is the largest fundraising effort in EIU's history.

"EI&U: The Campaign for Eastern" focuses on four priorities: students (funding scholarships); faculty and staff (attracting and retaining world-class faculty, as well as supporting research, creative projects and service activities); capital improvements (including building a new science center, courtyard spaces and a Lantz Arena gateway); and programs (including developing centers that would focus on specific subjects, with possibilities such as autism, entrepreneurship and innovation, ethics, financial health, geographic information systems and remote sensing, humanities, student community service and wellness).

For more information on "EI&U: The Campaign for Eastern," please see www.iameiu.com or call 217-581-3313.

Eastern Illinois University has moved up in the U.S. News & World Report's annual ranking of higher education institutions.

EIU is ranked 51st among all Midwestern universities offering a full range of undergraduate degrees and some master's degree programs. The region encompasses Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Among public universities on the list, EIU ranks 12th in its class in the 12-state region (up from 14th last year). Among Illinois public universities, EIU ranks second (up from third last year).

The rankings - part of the magazine's 2012 edition of "Best Colleges" - are based on schools' academic reputations, student selectivity, faculty resources, graduation and retention rates, financial resources and alumni giving.

The numbers reveal EIU's focus on personal attention. For example, the student-faculty ratio remains 16:1, and only 3 percent of all classes have 50 or more students.

In addition, EIU continues to tout the highest freshman retention rate and the second-highest graduation rate among all Illinois public universities in its class.

"Eastern Illinois University continues to move forward despite the financial obstacles in our way, and that says a lot about our faculty and staff, our students, and the many alumni and friends who believe in and support our mission," said EIU President Bill Perry.

"While I'm proud of our higher ranking, I'm more proud of the manner in which each facet of the university continues to move forward. The emphasis always has been and continues to be integrating students' academic and personal experiences, and I'm happy to see the statistics reflect positively on that.

"Ultimately, it's not numbers that convince people that they belong at EIU - it's the excellent academic programs and the personal connection they find here. That speaks volumes about the EIU experience."

Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, praised the commitment of the faculty to the university's mission.

"Assuring the superior quality of the Eastern educational experience remains the overriding focus of our faculty," Lord said. "Their commitment to our students' academic and personal development makes Eastern the first and best choice for many prospective students."

When His Excellency, Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaid'ie, Iraqi ambassador to the United States, visits the campus of Eastern Illinois University, he intends to thank local veterans and their families for their service.

A formal presentation in which he will talk about the future of Iraq and the Mideast, begins at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, in Dvorak Concert Hall, located in the Doudna Fine Arts Center. A question-and-answer session will take place immediately afterward. Admission is free and open to the public.

The Charleston High School Band is scheduled to perform both the U.S. and Iraqi national anthems as part of the event.

Prior to his formal talk, however -- from 6:15 to 7 p.m. -- the ambassador plans to meet with veterans, personally shake their hands and offer them the Iraqi people's thanks. All those who have served in Iraq, along with their families, are welcome to attend, with seating available on a first-come, first-seated basis.

Prior to becoming ambassador to the U.S. in 2006, Sumaid'ie previously served as Iraqi ambassador to the United Nations (2005-2006) and was Iraqi secretary of homeland security, working with the U.S. military to train and supervise Iraqi police, in 2004.

His background is as an electrical engineer. He served on the Baghdad Electricity Board and with the Iraqi Petroleum Company until 1973. He then lived in the United Kingdom and China, engaged in opposition to Saddam Hussein's Baathist regime from 1973 to 2003.

Other related events scheduled to take place in connection with Sumaid'ie's EIU visit are two panel discussions planned for earlier in the day. "Uprisings in the Arab World," featuring Mohamed Zabarah, former EIU student from Yemen; Asef Bayat, Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Illinois; and Nash Naam, an Effingham physician who is a native of Egypt, will begin at 1 p.m.

At 3 p.m., Bassam Yousif, professor of economics at Indiana State University; Hadi Esfahani, South Asia and Middle East Studies, University of Illinois; and Max Kashefi, professor of sociology at Eastern, will discuss "Arabs and the Outside World."

Both discussions will take place in the Charleston/Mattoon Room, located in Eastern's MLK Jr. Union.

The day's events are being sponsored by the Public Policy Institute of Eastern Illinois University, the College of Sciences, the College of Arts and Humanities, the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, and the city of Charleston.

The gateway to Eastern Illinois University will be transformed into a sea of red, white and blue as the institution commemorates the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania.

Volunteers from ROTC, the Student Veterans of Eastern and others will honor the 2,975 victims by placing flags on the lawn directly in front of Old Main (the "Castle"). According to Lt. Col. Stephen Knotts, there will be 2,603 U.S. flags and 372 foreign national flags in place from Friday through Sept. 16.

"Not many realize that over 10 percent of the people killed that day were from other countries," he added.

According to Knotts, the university and local communities will see the display of flags, each measuring 12 inches by 18 inches and standing a foot apart, as a remembrance of what happened that fateful day.

Other commemorative activities include a 9/11 Tribute Community Dinner and a 9/11 Memorial, both scheduled to take place Sunday and both open to the general public.

Live entertainment, a bounce house, silent auction and free food will highlight the community dinner being held at the Coles County Fairgrounds. Entertainment begins at 4 p.m., with food being served from 5 to 7 p.m. The event will end with a moment of reflection.

According to Rachel Fisher, director of Student Community Service, pulled pork, sides, dessert and drinks will be available for 200 people - first come, first served.

"This is an event that we've wanted to do for several years and that we want to become an annual fall happening," Fisher said. "It's an event that helps us celebrate our community and, in this instance, celebrate our emergency responders who wake up every morning knowing that it could be another 9/11."

The 9/11 Memorial will begin at 7 p.m. in the University Ballroom, located in the MLK Jr. Union, and will feature comments from local police and firefighters.

"We will reflect on the day and receive encouragement on how to build forward with hope and kindness," Fisher added.

Additional activities/events scheduled for the coming week (Sept. 12-16) include the following:

• A 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, University Ballroom.
• Day of Service, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, featuring various opportunities for the campus and surrounding community members to engage in service activities. See http://www.eiu.edu/volunteer/ for details.
• First Aid Workshop: Basic First Aid, 1 p.m. Monday, Library Quad.
• Screening of "United 93," followed by a panel discussion titled "Mediated Images, Memory and 9/11," 6 p.m. Monday, Doudna Lecture Hall. Panelists to include Marita Gronvall, Carrie Wilson-Brown and Rick Jones, all from Eastern's Department of Communication Studies.
• First Aid Workshop: Patient Carries and Safe Evacuations, 1 p.m. Tuesday, Library Quad.
• "Free Speech in Times of War" - a panel discussion, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Doudna Lecture Hall. Panelists to include EIU faculty members Jon Coit, history; Stephen Knotts, military science; James Tidwell , journalism; and Karen Swenson, political science.
• First Aid Workshop: Fire Suppression and Fire Extinguisher Operation, 1 p.m. Wednesday, Library Quad.
• "Post 9-11 Political and Social Implications" - a panel discussion, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Doudna Lecture Hall. Panelists to include Rich Wandling, political science; Muhammad Rizwan, graduate student in technology from Pakistan; and Lt. Col. (retired) Laurence Sefren, former chair of Eastern's Military Science Department.
• First Aid Workshop: Simple Treatment of Shock, 1 p.m. Thursday, Library Quad.
• First Aid Workshop: Splinting Injuries, 1 p.m. Friday, Library Quad.
• Free Speech Open Mike and Wall, all-day event on Friday, Library Quad. Hosted by the Journalism Department.

In addition, EIU's Booth Library will host exhibits of front pages from newspapers around the world from 9/11 and the capture of Bin Laden, 9/11 materials appropriate for children, and library resources related to the Constitution.

Fall 2011 enrollment is down at Eastern Illinois University.

"That Eastern has a decline in enrollment is a concern, and we're working hard to reverse the trend," said Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

It is still believed that the economy is keeping some students close to home for the first two years of their higher education.

"We know that economic conditions are making it difficult for some families to afford to send their children to a university," Lord said.

Currently, 82 percent of Eastern students receive some sort of financial aid. Thirty percent of those are not expected to receive any substantial financial assistance from their families. This is up from 16 percent two years ago.

"We know that more and more students are beginning their college careers by attending their local community colleges and taking the general education courses that will later be required of them to graduate from a university such as Eastern," Lord added.

Enrollment numbers reflect an on-campus enrollment of 10,036 and an off-campus count of 1,142 for a total of 11,178. A year ago, the number of students taking on- and off-campus classes was 10,511 and 1,119, respectively, for a total enrollment of 11,630.

A breakdown of Eastern's 9,657 undergraduate students (down from 9,970 last year) is as follows (with Fall 2010 figures in parentheses): freshmen, 2,114 (2,262); sophomores, 1,814 (1,908); juniors, 2,431 (2,551); and seniors, 3,298 (3,249). The number of new transfer students rose slightly from 1,147 in Fall 2010 to 1,150.

Graduate students number 1,521, a decrease from last year's 1,660. Female students again outnumber male students - 6,612 to 4,566.

EIU officials are pleased that minority student enrollment continues to be strong; minority students now make up 19.05 percent of total enrollment, up from 16.52 percent in 2010. There are 2,129 currently enrolled, up from 1,922 last fall.

Numbers reflect the following: black, 1,504; Hispanic, 379; Asian, 96; American Indian/Alaskan Native, 33; Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 5; and those listing two or more races, 112.

"We're very pleased with the diversity of our student population," Lord said. "It affects not only the Eastern Illinois University campus, but the Charleston community as a whole, in a very positive way."

In addition, the number of international students attending the university stands at 149, a slight decrease from 152 in Fall 2010.

The American poet Mary Oliver once wrote(1):

" I like to say that I write poems for a stranger who will be born in some distant country hundreds of years from now."

Today, we together, faculty and staff, are like the poet Mary Oliver -- we are creating something for the future. We are not writing poetry together, but we are building a university together: We are building a university for a student we do not know, who will be born this year, somewhere in the world. Unlike Mary Oliver, who will not be present for her reader hundreds of years from now, many of us will be here for our student 18 or so years from today. We must plan for that student. We must do so with the passion brought by poet to verse, but realize our poetry of university building is in continual revision around important academic constancies. Those constancies, upheld by the faculty, fuel my optimism for EIU's future.

In this year before us, we are engaged in a strategic planning process. We began in January and have seen emerge from dozens of focused discussions six themes of importance. After significant work to occur this fall, we will present a plan to the Board of Trustees in January of 2012. I will say more about the plan in a few moments. But first, I will comment on planning in general.

Robert Heilbroner's book, "The Future as History," speaks in many ways to one who wishes to plan. Heilbroner writes about the philosophy of optimism and says the following(2) :

"At bottom, a philosophy of optimism is an historic attitude toward the future -- an attitude based on the tacit premise that the future will accommodate the striving we bring to it."

That is the philosophy we bring to our planning process. Surely, we scan the current environment and trends, but we do not accept the premise that we are on a rudderless raft in, say, the Mississippi River. We do accept the premise that we sail in a vessel with tiller and means of propulsion in a body of water with natural limits. We can move across or even against the current if we plan to do so. In planning we may even suppose we will improve or add to our ship to enable even more possible destinations. Also, while we know that history influences our future, we do not accept the premise that history determines our future.

Imagine those faculty and staff who have gone before us in the history of Eastern Illinois University. Could Livingston Lord, president of a newborn normal school, and the faculty and staff at that time have anticipated the Great Depression, the ACT and SAT, online learning, cell phones, Facebook, texting, tweeting, the GI Bill, or Eastern growing to more than 10,000 students? They had to deal with the history they knew and had to plan to grow and change in the context of emerging historical currents. I would say they, and those who followed them, worked with a philosophy of optimism, and it has paid off.

Today when we plan, we have to ask ourselves what is possible and what is impossible given the current state of the university, society and historical forces. Heilbroner has something to say about this, as well(3).

"But the fact that the main direction of historic movement is too deeply rooted to be turned aside does not mean that our future is therefore caught in a deterministic vise. It is not just necessity, but a mixture of necessity and freedom which, as always, confronts us as a condition of historic existence. If the idea of the future as history tells us what is not "possible" for our kind of society to do, it also makes clear what is possible."

We are engaged in planning as optimists, carefully gauging the possibilities for EIU.

Our strategic planning has been led by a steering committee, co-chaired by Professor Assege Haile-Mariam of the Department of Psychology; Bill Weber, professor of economics and vice president for business affairs, and Ken Baker, director of Campus Recreation. The committee is large, and the majority of the membership are faculty members. You can access the current status of the planning process with one click on the "Collaborative Strategic Planning" button near the bottom of our main webpage. There you will see that this process has involved hundreds of individuals in dozens of meetings facilitated by the steering committee. The steering committee has found six areas of strategic importance to have emerged. They are, in alphabetical order:

• Academic Excellence
• Campus and Community Life
• Emerging Technologies
• Financial Sustainability
• Global Competition and Changing Demographics
• Marketing and Communication

Concept papers for these areas have been developed by the committee and those papers will be posted on the strategic planning website next week. A vision conference will be held in late September. After subsequent work and communication with the campus, the plan will be shaped for presentation to the Board of Trustees. In the spring, we will make initial investments in selected objectives in the plan. I thank the steering committee for bringing the planning process to its current stage.

Strategic planning is only one of several developments for our campus this coming year. I also note the following:

I take every opportunity to tell our students that they have chosen a university that offers an educational experience second to none -- an educational experience designed and carried out by you, the faculty. I encourage your enthusiasm in your teaching and research. The manner of Chaucer's clerk, "And he would gladly learn and gladly teach(4)," provides great advice. Your enthusiasm, the " gladly," will capture the imagination of your students and change their lives. And changing lives is at the heart and soul of our calling to higher education. Let us resolve to change the lives of our students this year, with our expertise and enthusiasm. Thank you.

References

• (1) Oliver, Mary. A Poetry Handbook . New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1994. 110.
• (2) Heilbroner, Robert L. The Future as History . New York: Grove Press, Inc., 1961. 17.
• (3) Heilbroner, Robert L. The Future as History . New York: Grove Press, Inc., 1961. 186-187.
• (4) Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales . Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1963. 25.

The School of Business at Eastern Illinois University has maintained its business and accounting accreditation by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).

AACSB accreditation is the mark of quality distinction most widely sought after by business schools. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees in business and accounting.

Only 633 schools of business, or less than 5 percent worldwide, have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education. Only 177 of those have earned specialized accreditation for their accounting programs.

To maintain accreditation, a business program must undergo a rigorous internal review every five years, at which the program must demonstrate its continued commitment to the 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, and interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs.

To realize accounting accreditation, an institution must first earn or maintain AACSB International business accreditation. In addition to developing and implementing a mission-driven plan to satisfy business quality standards, accounting accreditation requires the satisfaction of an additional set of 15 standards that are specific to the discipline and profession of accounting.

"It takes a great deal of self-evaluation and determination to earn and maintain AACSB business and accounting accreditation," says Jerry Trapnell, vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International.

Blair Lord, EIU provost and vice president for academic affairs, added, "While not unexpected, it is gratifying to see this recognition by the AACSB of the quality of our business programs. The School of Business has a rich history of offering excellent programs to our students, and the faculty and school leadership worked hard to display this excellence through the maintenance of accreditation review."

Mahyar Izadi , dean of the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, said, "We owe much appreciation to the AACSB for once again recognizing the exceptional quality of our faculty and the excellence these dedicated professionals bring forth to the students we serve.

"Whether in the classroom, or through independent research projects, internships, participation in recognized student organizations or study abroad programs, our students continue to avail themselves of the quality academic programs our School of Business provides."

Cheryl Noll, chair of the School of Business, realizes that the commitment to this process includes all of the faculty and staff in the school, and recognizes their significant work.

"We have excellent programs because of the dedicated faculty and staff," she said. "This designation of excellence would not be possible without their commitment to the continuous improvement process and to the AACSB standards for both business and accounting programs. As a result, we are able to recruit students with high expectations for a quality learning environment, and we graduate students who are fully prepared. "

The EIU School of Business offers six undergraduate majors, five minors and an MBA program. There are approximately 1,300 declared undergraduate business majors and 97 MBA degree candidates. Undergraduate majors offered include accountancy, finance, management, management information systems and marketing. A business administration major is also offered at an off-campus location.

Minors are offered in business administration, information systems, entrepreneurship, accounting and finance. Also offered in the School of Business are a master of business administration with research option, a master of business administration with applied management option, and a master of business administration with an accountancy concentration.

To learn more about EIU's School of Business, visit http://www.eiu.edu/business/. Or, to learn more about AACSB International accreditation, visit the accreditation section of the AACSB International Web site at http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/.

A familiar face will be at the helm of Eastern Illinois University’s Center for Academic Technology Support as the new school year begins.

John G. Henderson has accepted the appointment of assistant vice president for academic affairs for technology – a position he has held on an interim basis since November 2010. He replaced Michael Hoadley, who resigned from the position.

“Mr. Henderson's many years of experience with academic applications of technology make him an excellent leader for the Center for Academic Technology Support at this time,” said Blair Lord, vice president for academic affairs.

“The field of candidates from which he was chosen was a very strong one, but after careful analysis, I felt Mr. Henderson would best be able to build on and sustain the excellent record of service already established by CATS.

“I also wish to recognize his fine service during his year as interim director. I look forward to working with Mr. Henderson to enhance further CATS as a resource to the academic division and the campus.”

Henderson, who came to Eastern as director of User Services in 1998, has also served as acting director of Client Services and director of Instructional Technology Support Services for CATS.

CATS is committed to supporting and promoting all academic departments in the use of information and communication technologies for teaching and learning at EIU. The unit’s many services include assistance with and development of Web and mobile applications and websites, as well as providing graphic design services, video production, academic technology training, lab space and equipment checkout.

As a professor of history at Eastern Illinois University, David Smith has taught all levels of students - freshmen and graduate students, majors and non-majors even adult learners.

And he likes that varying interaction, especially when a student of whatever age comes into the classroom excited and ready to learn.

"My favorite student is a student who is fully engaged," Smith said. "It doesn't matter if the student is strong academically or struggling, if he or she is willing to keep thinking, working, questioning, I'm excited to be alongside, offering whatever guidance I can."

It is, in part, his ability to instill excitement and enthusiasm into reluctant learners that earned Smith the recognition as Eastern's 2011-2012 Faculty Laureate -- an honor presented by the Council on Academic Affairs. As such, and in addition to his duties as a full-time faculty member, Smith will spend the coming school year as the university's official spokesperson on the importance of a general/liberal education.

His first opportunity will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 19, when he delivers the keynote address at this year's Convocation, a welcoming ceremony for incoming students.

Lisa Cerny, a former student of Smith's, indicated he has "a gift of storytelling, bringing life to history in every lecture."

"I had to consciously make myself take notes in his classes, because I got so wrapped up in listening!" she said. "He infuses enthusiasm for his subject matter with his sense of humor."

In addition, "Dr. Smith never just tells stories, however; he asks students to dig deep into the stories to divulge a larger meaning. His ability to present history as a narrative draws students into history."

Smith, himself, affirms that his mission is not to teach students what to think about the past, but, rather, how to think about the past.

"It is quite apparent that Dr. Smith not only enjoys history but teaching his students to use historical thinking," Cerny continued. "(He) revels in seeing the light bulb of understanding in his students."

"History begins with stories," Smith said, "but not simple little morality tales.  They are stories filled with contradictions and surprises.  And those contradictions and surprises are a great place to begin asking questions. Why did that person do something that seems so absurd?  Was it absurd to him or her?  Why did he or she think in those ways?  Why does the world make sense to them in those terms?

"It seems ludicrous to us to accuse someone of witchcraft when a cow stops giving milk, even to torture and execute that person.  But it made perfect sense to many people in the sixteenth century.  Students often begin by thinking, 'Well, the person making an accusation of witchcraft wasn't using logic,' but, of course, that person was using logic.  His or her logic, however, was based on very different foundations and assumptions than our logic.

"It is very exciting to see students start to look at documents as portals on to entirely different ways of thinking and then begin to analyze those documents to understand the culture and society behind them."

Cerny added that Smith teaches students "how to critically analyze sources to develop theories of our own. He utilizes the teaching technique of scaffolding to first show students how to use these sources and gradually guiding us students to dissect the sources ourselves. He presents history in a way that encourages students to truly think for themselves."

Another former student, Ian Nelk, heard about Smith before even beginning coursework at EIU.

"Many friends had spoke of (Smith's) ability to engage students in historical thinking," he said. "Most of these friends were not history majors, but (yet they) developed an interest in many of the subjects highlighted by Dr. Smith.

"He is able to teach history in such a way that not only keeps students' attention but, whether they know it or not, subtly imparts deeper aspects on history and historiography that they might not be able to grasp otherwise," Nelk said.

Mary Anne Hanner has experienced many emotional moments in her long and distinguished career at Eastern Illinois University, but it's the thought of her first day as an EIU student in 1968 that still makes her misty-eyed.

"The first day I drove here as a student, I felt very special -- very privileged to have the opportunity to go to school," she said. "The first day I drove to work here, I thought of how privileged I am. I get teary thinking about it."

More tears are likely to fall as she leaves campus on June 30, as her retirement ends a phase of her EIU affiliation that has included earning two EIU degrees, teaching as a faculty member, and ultimately serving as dean of the College of Sciences.

Growing up in a large family in rural Oakland, Hanner always knew she wanted to be a teacher. Her high school guidance counselor first steered her toward speech-language pathology. Hanner was familiar with the field through family members' experiences.

After graduating as valedictorian of her Oakland High School class, Hanner began summer courses at EIU. Her first class was held on the second floor of Old Main -- the same floor that now houses her office.

She graduated from EIU in 1972 and became the speech-language pathologist for the Altamont and Beecher City school districts. After earning her master's degree in 1974, she began teaching in the Arcola school district.

Hanner had no plans to leave the K-12 school setting until she received a call from former EIU classmate Jill Nilsen, who encouraged Hanner to look at an opening on the EIU faculty.

So, in 1981, Hanner headed back to her alma mater as an assistant professor, a position that allowed her to continue to deal with school-age children while molding future professionals in a clinical setting.

At the same time, she served as student teaching coordinator, giving her the opportunity to travel to area schools to oversee EIU students' work in the classrooms while interacting with her professional colleagues.

"Teaching all of those prospective professionals in the classroom, and sharing the enthusiasm and commitment for speech-language pathology, was just a joyful thing to do," Hanner said, adding that she still sees many of them at conferences and other professional events.

Since she began her career, the speech-language pathology field has become more complex, and Hanner evolved with it. At the encouragement of her department chair, she taught a voice and voice disorders course that opened new professional opportunities and proved very rewarding.

Some of the biggest highlights of her career were quiet milestones -- "those moments that nobody knows about except the client and the students working and me, when we used therapy that was especially effective," she said.

Hanner first moved into an administrative role in 1985, when she was named director of EIU's Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

She earned her doctorate from Indiana State University in 1994 and continued to climb the EIU administrative ladder when she was named chair of the department in 1997. That was "the golden time" of her professional life, she said, because as department chair she was teaching and interacting with students and faculty every day.

So, when she was asked in 2000 to consider becoming the dean of the College of Sciences, she was taken off-guard.

"That was not on my radar," Hanner said.

But she accepted the challenge, and looking back at the past 11 years, she is proud of the professional growth she experienced and what the College of Sciences has accomplished under her guidance.

During her tenure, the College of Sciences has experienced a proliferation of faculty-mentored research; an increase in study abroad participation; the addition of honors programs for every major in the COS; a rise in funding for increasingly vital areas such as equipment and computer labs; an increase in student involvement through the Student Advisory Board; and the establishment of mentoring programs for women and minorities.

"I've done things I didn't know I would be able to do," she said. "Not on my own, certainly, but because there were a lot of great people around to help along the way. With great collaborators, it's so much easier to get things done.

"We have just been able to provide so many more opportunities for our departments and our faculty," she said, giving credit to partnerships with departments, other deans, the "incredible" faculty and Provost Blair Lord, who in turn praised Hanner's contributions.

"During her 10-plus years in the COS dean's office, Dr. Hanner effectively promoted the quality of her college, advanced its programs, managed its substantial budget during difficult times, solved personnel challenges, and gave wise and thoughtful counsel to me and her colleague deans," Lord said.

"Her skill, wisdom and humor added enormously to the effectiveness and smooth functioning of my administrative team. I will miss her and so will Eastern."

Although she's now more removed from the therapy side of her profession, her contribution to the field lives on, especially through publications such as the Language Processing Test she co-authored with EIU colleague Gail Richard in 1985. The materials are now in their third editions and still regularly and frequently used by professionals.

She has also given back to the field through performing extensive committee work at the state and national levels.

She plans to continue to serve as a reaccreditation site visitor for the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, while also continuing to provide independent accreditation consulting services.

As she reflects on a list of accomplishments, service and awards that fill several pages, Hanner expresses gratitude for the opportunities she's been provided.

"I'm very fortunate to have had a fulfilling career at a university 20 miles from my hometown," she said, adding that having her family close by allowed her, as a mother of two, to "do some things in my career that I would not have been able to do."

She also praised her husband Dale, her high school sweetheart with whom she just celebrated 40 years of marriage, "who is very tolerant of my very busy schedule."

He shouldn't expect her calendar to free up too much, though, as she plans to increase her volunteer activities with the area Catholic Charities and CASA organizations. She serves as a board member for both.

She's also looking forward to being able to see more of her five grandchildren and their school events, soccer games and ballet recitals.

Although there is some uncertainty about what the future may hold, she is looking forward to new challenges.

"I just keep thinking about all the good times behind me," Hanner said. "There have been other times in my life I haven't been sure what lie in front of me, and it turned out to be a great adventure."

Nearly 60 Eastern Illinois University employees recently were recognized as faculty/staff members who have retired or plan to retire during the 2010-2011 school year. They include, from left to right, sitting - Janice Spraker, Roann Kopel, Valerie Leonard, Jennifer Hagerstrom, Gwen Little, Mary Anne Hanner and Beverly Findley; from left to right, second row, Joycelynn Phillips, Carl Lorber, David Arseneau, Thomas Coffey, Carolyn Woolever, Cheryl Hawker, Kay Woodward and Patricia Fewell; and, from left to right, third row, Charles Phillips, David Beals, Timothy Mills, James Havey, Thomas Genders and Charles Eberly.

Those not shown are Katherine Bartel, Marla Belden, John Bishop, Marie Black, Robert Black, Forrest Chism, Mary Cobb, Richard Crome, Alberta Darling, Donnie Davis, Linda Davis, Jean Dilworth, Jerry Edwards, Michael Farris, Mary Garrett, Harold Green, Samuel Guccione, Vincent Gutowski, Joseph Heumann, Mary Hinthorn, Mary Hubbard, James Ivey, John Kilgore, Clarence Kimball, Lloyd Leonard, Sue Nees, Thomas Philpott, Annette Samuels, William Searle, Tonicia Smith, Richard Smyser, Anita Swart, Michael Turner, Daniel Wagoner, Barbara Walker and Rubytine Wells.

Eastern Illinois University is reaching out to the Charleston-area community for its assistance in making Project Hero a rousing success.

Since the spring, students, faculty and staff have properly folded and placed in small bags 8½- by 11-inch American flags. Many individuals also wrote brief messages, thanking an unknown serviceman for his/her bravery and service.

According to Michael Ruybal, EIU's veterans service coordinator, those flags and messages will soon be sent to men and women in the Armed Forces here in Illinois and to the units they are deployed with overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. His goal, he says, is to send 1,000 "care packages," each measuring 6 inches long, 4 inches wide and 4 inches high.

"No, that's not very big," Ruybal affirms. But the retired serviceman, who spent 13 years in active duty in the U.S. Army, knows by experience just how much the simplest kindness from home can raise a soldier's morale.

The flags, he added, will be small enough for the recipients to easily carry in their pockets or packs with their military gear.

In addition, the care packages will randomly contain other small "comfort" items, not readily found in those areas in which many servicemen are deployed. Suggested items include, but may not be limited to:

• Small bags of candy, including jelly beans
• Small bottles of foot powder
• Baby wipes
• Small toys that can be given to children (e.g., Hot Wheels, plush animals, stress balls, etc.)
• Packets of instant coffee
• Small bags of potato chips
• Instant drink packages that are already sweetened
• AA-cell Alkaline batteries
• Eye wash/drops for flushing dust and sand out of the eyes
• Hot sauce (e.g., Tabasco, Red Devil, etc.). Small bottle placed in doubled zip-lock bags.
• Sunflower seeds
• Peanuts
• Small bags of beef jerky/Slim Jims

"These care packages will brighten the day of any man or woman who proudly and humbly serves our country," Ruybal said. "Something as simple as a cup of instant coffee or a bag of candy puts a big smile on their face."

Additionally, each package will contain a message from EIU, thanking the recipient for his/her service and welcoming them to look at Eastern as a source for higher education.

These collection boxes, designed by Michael Ruybal, stand awaiting donations from area residents for Project Hero.  The boxes can be found at Rural King, Wal-Mart, Starbucks and in Old Main (the "Castle") on EIU's campus.

"I'm not sure what the outcome will be," Ruybal said, commenting on the packages' use as a recruiting tool. "But at least we're letting them know that Eastern supports them while they're out in the field and that we'll continue to support them here in our community."

The 36-year-old said he plans on sending the 1,000 care packages out near the end of June. That leaves only two weeks, he added, to finish collecting donations and getting the packages ready for delivery.

Currently, donation boxes are set up in four different locations in Charleston : Rural King, Wal-Mart, Starbucks and Old Main (the "Castle), Room 1211, on Eastern's campus.

"I know not everyone can give 1,000 of any given item," Ruybal said. "I'd just like to ask folks who are out and about shopping over the next couple of weeks to please keep our troops in mind."

In addition to any personal notes of encouragement the public may like to include to a random serviceman, monetary donations are also being accepted to help defray the costs of supplies. Checks, made payable to the Student Veterans of Eastern, can be sent in care of the Financial Aid Office, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Ave., Charleston , IL 61920.

Shown from left to right, are: front row -- Robert Martin, vice president for university advancement (accepting on behalf of the Florence Ballenger Estate); and Herbert Lasky. Back row -- Garry and Janet Ernst; Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs (accepting on behalf of Louise Boewe and Barbara Roberts); and Timothy Gover, mayor of Mattoon (accepting on behalf of Carol Richardson).

Since its inception in 1953, the Eastern Illinois University Foundation has been dependent upon the generosity of its members and volunteers to fulfill its mission of support to the university.

And, since 1993, the foundation has formally recognized and honored its volunteers and donors. In 1997, these awards were renamed the Burnham and Nancy Neal Philanthropy Awards in appreciation of the Neals' leadership, support and dedication to Eastern and the foundation.

These awards are given to individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a sincere dedication and commitment to the financial, academic and cultural well-being of EIU. The critical support and sustaining financial commitments provided by these distinguished philanthropists are essential to the future of the university and the students it serves.

This year, the EIU Foundation is pleased to recognize the following Outstanding Philanthropists:

Florence Coles Ballenger Estate. Florence Coles Ballenger, an alumna of Eastern Illinois State Teachers College with a two-year diploma in 1925, went on to become a distinguished educator in Chicago and Florida schools. She retired in 1976 at the age of 70 after a dedicated career in teaching. She and her husband, William, never had children. Of the $1.2 million given to EIU from her portion of their estate, $250,000 was used to name the Coles Ballenger Teachers Center in Booth Library. The remaining $1 million of her estate gift is being used to support faculty development activities linked to improvement of teaching and learning.

Louise E. Boewe of Easton, Pa., has a planned gift that will establish the John and Louise Boewe Scholarship for Eastern students who are graduates of Edwards County High School. Boewe attended Eastern for two years in 1953 and 1954. She later graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in elementary education, and worked as an executive assistant at Arthur Anderson.

Garry E. and Janet E. Ernst of Charleston, Ill., have planned an estate gift for the support and enhancement of the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences and for the Dr. Garry E. Ernst and Janet E. Ernst Endowment, providing scholarships for either first-generation college students or for students who plan to pursue a career as school speech-language-hearing pathologists. The Ernsts met while at Eastern and both graduated in 1963 - Garry with a degree in chemistry and Jan with her degree in CDS. Garry went on to graduate from the University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine and spent most of his career as sole proprietor of a veterinary practice in Panama City, Fla. Jan went on to graduate with a master's degree in speech pathology and spent her career as a teacher. The Ernsts speak about how EIU was the "foundation" for their success in both their careers and in life.

Herbert and Lynette Jane Lasky of Ashmore, Ill., have established a fund to enhance the Honors Program and have funded several endowments, two competitive writing awards for students in the History Department, and a competitive writing award for students in biological sciences. They have established a planned gift for the President's Research Fund, to foster, stimulate and strengthen undergraduate research activities conducted by faculty members, with a primary goal of enhancing the likelihood that their research will be competitive for external funding. In addition, the Laskys continue to support the fine arts, recently gifting a harpsichord to the Music Department. They established the Lasky Seminar in Early History, and are pursuing an initiative for campus beautification and the Renewable Energy Center. Herb is dean emeritus of the Honors College and professor emeritus of history, while Jane is professor emeritus, Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Humanities.

Carol Richardson of Scottsdale, Ariz., has established a planned gift which will leave an unrestricted gift to be used for the university's greatest needs as determined by the president of the university. Carol Mocella Richardson graduated from Eastern in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in education; she is one of five Mocella family members to graduate from EIU. Richardson is active in EIU activities in the Phoenix/Scottsdale region, hosting EIU alumni receptions each winter.

Barbara Roberts of Lakewood, Calif., has established a planned gift for a scholarship for children from farm families who have financial need and who graduated from high schools in Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Clark, Cumberland, Shelby or Moultrie counties. Roberts is a 1949 art education graduate and a retired counselor with the Long Beach school system. She is a lifetime member of the EIU Alumni Association.

One donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, also received an Outstanding Philanthropist award for 2010 for her planned gift that will establish an endowment in memory of her late husband for students majoring in business. After receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees from EIU, he worked 35 years for the IRS and as a service manager for a nationally known asset management and financial planning firm. He was a member of the EIU Foundation and served two terms as president of the Alumni Association board.

At noon on Saturday, May 7, three members of the Walter Zukowski family from Peru, Ill., will participate together during a Spring 2011 commencement ceremony at Eastern Illinois University. Nancy, the mother, and daughter Abigail, 27, both are set to receive their bachelor of arts in general studies degrees, while son Will, 23, will receive his degree in mathematics.

The family's successful association with Eastern Illinois University began with another daughter, Emily, who earlier found her niche at the Charleston campus, who earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and her master's degree in counseling at EIU, and who is now working as a full-time high school counselor, department chair and track coach in Washington, Ill.

When asked if she would recommend her students to EIU, she responded, "Oh, gosh, yes!"

***

Shown, from left to right, front row, are Abigail and Emily Zukowski; second row, Will, Nancy, Walter, Wally, Amy and Lucas Zukowski.

If Bill Addison hadn't answered the departmental phone when it rang, things might have turned out very differently for the Zukowski family.

"I was looking for a place to transfer - a school closer to home and family," said psychology major Emily Zukowski, an Illinois resident then attending the University of Hawaii.

"I started making some calls and it must have been pushing about 5 at night when I called Eastern (Illinois University). All the office staff had already gone home, and Dr. Addison (former chair of the psychology department) was the one who answered the phone.

"He was so passionate in his responses. He sold me on the program."

Emily began her studies at Eastern and happily finished her undergraduate degree two years later. Although admitted to the Graduate School with thoughts of getting her master's degree in counseling and student development, she decided, instead, to attend law school.

"I did it mostly for my dad, who's an attorney," she said. "I think he wanted someone to carry on the business and I was the only one (of the family's four children) who was even slightly interested."

But after one semester, Emily was back at Eastern. "Law school just wasn't for me," she said.

To supplement her income, Emily applied, and was accepted, for a graduate assistantship with Eastern's School of Continuing Education. She began working specifically for Kaye Woodward and the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies Degree Program, a program designed for nontraditional working adults.

Emily's job duties included phone calls to people who had earlier inquired about the BGS program, but who had never followed up. And as she talked to these people - many of which who, due to life's circumstances, had given up their dreams for a bachelor's degree - one individual near and dear to Emily's heart came to mind.

"I knew Mom wanted her degree," Emily said.

Years before, Nancy Zukowski had received her associate's degree in secretarial science, as well as some advanced secretarial training. Like many other wives, however, she willingly gave up her dream for a bachelor's degree and began working as her husband, Walter, attended law school. Today, she works for him at his own practice in Peru.

"Emily called me up one day and said, Hey, Mom, what do you think?'" Nancy recalled. "She knew I had never finished my bachelor's degree, even though I was always pushing the kids to get theirs."

Nancy, who's in her fifties, submitted her application to the BGS program, but didn't tell her husband. "I guess I was afraid of rejection, of failure," she said. "I didn't want to tell him until I knew for sure."

So when she received notification of her acceptance, "I was speechless. It was overwhelming," she added. And Walter's reaction was a pleasant one.

"He was surprised and, I think, proud that I had done something like this on my own."

Nancy began her online classes, taking mandatory courses in mathematics, sciences and the humanities. She chose her courses carefully. When expecting her first grandchild, for example, she enrolled in a child psychology course that examined children's development from birth through age 12.

A course on the history of Chicago allowed her a different take on the city she frequently visits, and while learning about the Illinois/Michigan Canal, Nancy said, she and Walter actually went to some of the sites she was learning about, e.g., the Lockport Dam.

"My husband and I have gone on some incredible dates as a result of all of this," Nancy said excitedly. "And I've certainly learned to look at things in a different dimension."

Abigail Zukowski, Emily's twin sister, had attended classes at Florida Gulf University and the University of Kentucky with a focus on business. But the time came, she said, when "making money became more important than getting her degree."

And currently dividing her time between Illinois and Louisville, Ky., where she works for a woman who raises horses and writes children's books, Abigail was reluctant to commit to semesters on a college campus.

"But I wanted to get my bachelor's degree," she added. "And I got so much positive feedback from Mom about the BGS program. I decided to go for it."

Abigail wasn't sure what online learning would entail, but found she really enjoyed taking courses via her computer. Like her mother, she received her textbooks via mail, and the time she's actually had to spend on and traveling to the EIU campus has been minimal.

Both Abigail and Nancy say they could not have completed their journeys without the support of family. "They were so concerned about me," Nancy said. "This has pulled us all closer."

Son Will, a mathematics major, even mentored his mother as she struggled through some of her math classes - an experience he laughingly describes as positive and "at times, frustrating."

As for his own educational experience at EIU, he has only positive things to say.

"I checked out Eastern on my father's recommendation, which was based on my sister's (Emily) experience here," Will said.

"I had already attended two junior colleges, been to California and back, and was attending the University of Illinois. Compared to the other places I had been, I no longer felt like a number; I felt like I was part of a neighborhood. Professors asked us to call them by their first names. We were given their direct phone numbers.

"And when I arrived in the spring of 2009, I had no problem at all with the transfer of my credits," he added.

He is now working as a mathematics teacher at University High School in Normal. He actually finished his degree work in December, but opted to wait until the spring ceremonies so that the family could walk across the commencement stage together.

Will said graduation day will be known as a day for a Zukowski family celebration. And perhaps none will be celebrating as enthusiastically as the family's patriarch, Walter, who went to bed alone many nights while Nancy stayed up to study.

"He's had to endure so many changes," Will said, chuckling. "We've all changed our minds so many times."

Emily agreed. "Dad's always been really supportive of education. But above and beyond that, he's been so wonderfully supportive and interested in what we kids do.

"I know that when he was young, he did a study abroad in England himself. I guess he realizes moving around can be a pretty cool part about being young."

Michael Cornebise, chair of Eastern Illinois University's Department of Geology/Geography, has received the Distinguished Geographer Award from the Illinois Geographical Society.

The award recognizes Cornebise's contributions to the IGS, as well as his efforts to advance geography in Illinois.

Specifically, the awards committee cited Cornebise's work as editor of the IGS journal (The Bulletin) for the past three years, his work as president of the organization this past year, his organization of IGS's 2007 annual meeting in Charleston, and his record of publications and awards received at EIU.

Cornebise began teaching at EIU in 2000. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Colorado, his master's degree from Louisiana State University, and his doctorate from the University of Tennessee.

In an effort to conserve resource dollars, Eastern Illinois University will once again close selected buildings and offices from noon on Fridays until Monday mornings during the summer months.

The affected time period begins Monday, May 9, and ends Friday, Aug. 12.

Building/office exceptions include, but may not be limited to, the President's Office, Booth Library, Financial Aid, University Police, the Steam Plant and the Office of Admissions, which plan to keep normal working hours.

All university offices must be open to the public between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and between 8 a.m. and noon on Friday. Administrative offices (and others where possible) will remain open during the lunch hour (Monday through Thursday).

By ending the work week at noon on Fridays, the university can increase temperatures in all vacant offices and other work environments to allow energy savings for two and one-half days per week.

Employees will be required to work their regularly scheduled number of full-time hours during the four-and-a-half-day work week. Classes scheduled to meet on Friday afternoons and/or weekends will be relocated to buildings where the air conditioning will remain on.

During weeks in which a holiday is observed (Monday, May 30, for Memorial Day and Monday, July 4, for Independence Day), offices will return to regular business hours (7.5 hours per day), including Fridays.

Regular hours will resume on Monday, Aug. 15, for the 2011-2012 school year.

Approximately 1,500 graduating students plan to participate in commencement ceremonies at Eastern Illinois University on Saturday, May 7.

Ceremonies will take place at 9 a.m., noon, 3 and 6 p.m. in Lantz Arena.  Guest tickets are required for admission.

Students from the College of Sciences will march in the morning ceremony, the College of Arts and Humanities and the School of Continuing Education (Bachelor of Arts in General Studies Program) at noon, the College of Education and Professional Studies at 3 p.m., and the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences at 6.

Students from the Graduate School will walk with their respective colleges.

EIU President William Perry will preside over the ceremonies.  Michelle Murphy, student body president, and John Henry Pommier, chair, EIU Faculty Senate, will also address the graduates.

Representing Eastern's Board of Trustees will be Leo Welch and Christine Anderson (9 a.m.), Roger Kratochvil and Bill O'Rourke (noon), Robert Webb (3 p.m.) and Julie Nimmons (6 p.m.).

Each ceremony will feature a special guest speaker who will present the official commencement address.  Julie Lupien, EIU alumna ('81) and executive director of From Mission to Mission, a national organization that provides assistance to international missionaries, will speak at 9 a.m., while Thomas S. Johnson, a Rockford, Ill., attorney, plans to speak at noon.  Rodney P. McClendon, vice president for administration at Texas A&M University, will address students during both the 3 and 6 p.m. ceremonies.

Special recognition will be given to David Raybin, professor of English, who was named the 2011 recipient of Eastern's Distinguished Faculty Award.  This award is presented annually by the Faculty Senate to a full-time faculty member who has excelled in teaching, professional research/creative activity and service.

In addition, Aurora native and EIU alumnus Stephen A. Gosselin - business leader, philanthropist and volunteer - will be presented with an honorary degree.

Commencement marshals lead the procession while carrying the university mace inscribed with past marshals' names.  This spring's commencement marshals are as follows:

• Mary Anne Hanner, dean, College of Sciences , representing the College of Sciences during the morning ceremony. Hanner is retiring from EIU on June 30 after 30 years as a faculty member and administrator.
• Richard K. Crome, associate professor of foreign languages, representing the College of Arts and Humanities during the noon ceremony. Crome has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1987.
• Beverly Findley, professor of educational leadership, representing the College of Education and Professional Studies during the 3 p.m. ceremony. Findley has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1991.
• Carla S. Honselman, assistant professor, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, representing the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences during the 6 p.m. ceremony.  Honselman has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 2007.

Faculty marshals are given the honor of carrying the college banner for their respective colleges.  This spring's faculty marshals are as follows: 9 a.m. - Assege HaileMariam, Graduate School and College of Sciences, and Mahmoud Kashefi, College of Sciences; Noon - Marilyn Coles, Graduate School and College of Arts and Humanities, Dwain Naragon, College of Arts and Humanities, and Craig Eckert, School of Continuing Education; 3 p.m. - Brent Walker, Graduate School and College of Education and Professional Studies, and Charles Eberly, College of Education and Professional Studies; and 6 p.m. - David Boggs, Graduate School and Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, and Thomas McDonald, Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences.

Ethan L. Ingram, a mathematics major from Toledo, will serve as the Honors College banner marshal during all four ceremonies.

At the recommendation of President William Perry, Eastern Illinois University's Board of Trustees on Monday approved a 5.9 percent increase in the resident tuition rate for new undergraduate students.

EIU's resident tuition rate will increase from $254 to $269 per semester credit hour for students entering the university during the 2011-2012 school year. This means that those with an average 15-course load will pay $4,035 per semester.

Incoming resident undergraduate students will be able to lock in the new tuition rate for four continuous academic years, as provided by the state's "Truth in Tuition" law. The proposed rate increase is the smallest percentage increase since "Truth in Tuition" was implemented in the 2004-05 academic year.

The new tuition rate also applies to all resident graduate students attending the university.

The locked-in per-semester-hour tuition rates for returning in-state undergraduate students are as follows (according to the year students entered EIU): 2008-2009, $218; 2009-2010, $239; and 2010-11, $254.

No new fee increases were proposed at Monday's meeting.  However, previously approved staged fee increases were presented for confirmation.

University officials consider a number of factors, such as the likely level of state funding, estimated increases in financial obligations and the impact of previously implemented cost containment measures, before determining their tuition recommendation to the board.

"We proposed to our Board of Trustees a tuition rate that enables investment in the quality of our programs, while maintaining our commitment to affordability," Perry said. "We continue our strong stewardship of state funds and student tuition and fee funds by being efficient in our operations and providing program excellence."

Twenty Eastern Illinois University faculty members have been awarded tenure, effective with the 2011-12 academic year.

The EIU Board of Trustees approved the list based on the recommendation of the university's president.

Tenure, awarded in an academic department, connotes a relationship of continuing commitment between the university and a faculty member.

Generally, in order to qualify for tenure consideration, a faculty member must complete a probationary period and demonstrate progressive achievement and effectiveness in three areas of evaluation: teaching/performance of primary duties, research/creative activities, and service. Among these three areas, teaching/performance of primary duties is given the most consideration.

This year's recipients of tenure are Milton Allen, music; Kevin Anderson, political science; Rick D. Anderson, mathematics and computer science; Marko Grunhagen, business; R. Lance Hogan, technology; Donald H. Holly Jr., sociology/anthropology; Vanesa Landrus, foreign languages; Heidi A. Larson, counseling and student development; William F. Lovekamp, sociology/anthropology; Sham'Ah Md-Yunus, early childhood, elementary and middle level education; Letitia Lehua Moffitt, English; James M. Novak, biological sciences; Kiran Padmaraju, early childhood, elementary and middle level education; Grant Coleman Sterling, philosophy; Lisa M. Taylor, family and consumer sciences; Charles C. Wharram, English; Peter S. Wiles, mathematics and computer science; Jeffrey M. Willardson, kinesiology and sports studies; Melody L. Wollan, business; and Jie Zou, physics.

Coarsely shredded documents containing names and Social Security numbers of people who were employed at Eastern Illinois University in 2002 have been inadvertently released through improper disposal of the records.

EIU officials are still in the process of determining which years' information was made available; at this point, only records from 2002 are known to be affected. People who have been determined to be at risk will be notified once that determination is made.

EIU officials are working quickly to reach out to employees by e-mail, setting up a toll-free telephone hotline, and by procuring credit-monitoring services for affected employees. When arrangements are finalized, affected employees will be notified via e-mail and/or a university website.

In the meantime, those who might be at risk might find it useful to visit the Illinois Attorney General's website with identity-theft information: http://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/hotline.html.

The university was notified by the Coles County Sheriff's Department at 10 a.m. Friday that shredded records had been dumped alongside a roadside. Contents of the bag were collected.

On Monday, a student worker in EIU's Records Management told a supervisor that he had taken that bag, as well as an additional bag, for use in a prank.

EIU employees collected contents of the additional bag during a thorough search.

EIU officials continue to investigate the incident.

Although the university's paper records disposal procedures follow state guidelines, it is instituting additional procedures to prevent such an incident from occurring in the future.

The Eastern Illinois University Choral Ensembles and Percussion Ensemble will join forces to present works that span the globe in their "Multi-Cultural Concert" in the Doudna Fine Arts Center on Friday, April 29.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall. A variety of cultures will be represented, including African-American, Cuban, African, Far Eastern, Eastern European, Jewish and Latin American.

The concert is a collaboration between the Concert Choir (directed by Sergei Pavlov), the University Mixed Chorus (directed by Janet McCumber), and the Percussion Ensemble (directed by Jamie Ryan).

Each ensemble will present a set of pieces, and the concert will culminate in a combined number featuring all three ensembles.

Admission is $5 for the general public and $3 for seniors, EIU employees and students. Advance tickets may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

The Eastern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble will present a wide variety of jazz in its April 28 concert, which will feature many excellent student soloists.

The concert is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Theatre.

Among the selections are fresh arrangements of well-known standards including Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “One Note Samba,” as well as big band treatments of guitarist Pat Metheny’s “The Gathering Sky,” Chick Corea’s “La Fiesta” and Steely Dan’s “Black Friday.”

Other traditional and contemporary pieces for big band to be performed include the music of Bill Holman, Ernie Wilkins, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.

The EIU Jazz Ensemble is directed by Sam Fagaly.

The group's most recent CD, “Three O’Clock Downbeat,” will be available for purchase at the concert.

The group has received numerous awards, including Outstanding Ensemble and Solo Performance citations at the Notre Dame and Elmhurst College jazz festivals, as well as Downbeat magazine's prestigious "DB" award.

The group has been featured at many conferences and festivals, including the Illinois Music Educators Association conference and the International Association for Jazz Educators convention.

Each year, the EIU Jazz Ensemble performs with special guest artists, which have included legendary figures including Mel Torme, Dizzy Gillespie, Diane Schuur and Joe Williams.

Admission will be $5 for the general public and $3 for senior citizens, EIU employees and students. Advance tickets may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at www.eiu.edu/doudna.

This program is presented by the EIU music department in cooperation with the Doudna Fine Arts Center; both are divisions of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities.

An Eastern Illinois University filmmaking team's documentary about the BP oil spill will make its big-screen and television debuts to mark the one-year anniversary of the Gulf Coast disaster.

The big-screen premiere of "Returning to Paradise: Voices of the Human Spirit" will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 17, in Buzzard Auditorium in EIU's Buzzard Hall. Filmmakers will be present to discuss the project.

The one-hour documentary will then air on WEIU-TV at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 20 -- a year to the day after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil-drilling rig.

"Returning to Paradise: Voices of the Human Spirit," co-directed by EIU faculty member Cameron Craig and EIU student Zach Nugent, documents the impact the BP oil spill disaster had on a handful of residents along the Gulf Coast, particularly in Dauphin Island, Ala.

The endeavor, which they dubbed the Gulf Ecological and Human Disaster Project, was a chance to see first-hand what was being reported on many media outlets. What the team members found during their June trip changed their perceptions.

In addition to interviews with Gulf Coast residents, the film includes insights from members of the Earth Scan Laboratory at Louisiana State University. It also includes footage from a flight provided by the Alabama Civil Air Patrol, giving the team an aerial look at the impact of the oil spill around Mobile Bay.

The team returned to the Gulf Coast in February to get a look at the progress made in the months after the oil spill.

In addition to creating the documentary, the team has gathered footage for faculty members to use in their courses and spoken to local schools and community groups about their findings.

The film was produced by Tempestas et Caelum Productions, which geographer and climatologist Craig created to provide opportunities for EIU students to explore environmental issues.

Students participating in the film's production were Zach Nugent of Sheridan, a regional Emmy-winning reporter for WEIU-TV's "News Watch"; Michael Gismondi of Buffalo Grove, a WEIU-TV weather forecaster; A.J. Schubert of Charleston, then a graduate assistant in EIU's Center for Academic Technology Support; Bobson Mercier of Haiti, a graduate assistant in CATS; and John DeMatteo of Orland Park, from the EIU WeatherCenter.

For more information on the documentary, including a preview of the film and segments of WEIU-TV news reports that used footage from the trips, see www.tcpfilms.com.

There's so much going on politically that David Yepsen wants to keep his options open.

"2011 Political Overview," he said, announcing the title of his April 14 lecture on the campus of Eastern Illinois University. "Gives me room to maneuver between both state and national politics."

Yepsen, who enjoyed a 34-year career with the Des Moines Register, serving as the paper's chief political writer, political editor and political columnist before becoming director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, in 2009, will be the seventh presenter in EIU's Edgar Lecture Series. Admission to his presentation, set to begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in the Tarble Arts Center Atrium, is free and open to the public.

The featured speaker said he looks forward to his time at EIU, as events such as this frequently bring out attendees who "are pretty politically sophisticated themselves.

"I allow for a question-and-answer period," Yepsen said. "Those in themselves can lead to some really good political debates!"

The Edgar Lecture Series, established in 2007 by former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar and his wife, Brenda, demonstrates a continuing support by the Edgars of their alma mater. The series allows the university to host two speakers a year -- one in the fall and one in the spring. The lectures frequently focus on state government and address current issues and their historical implications.

The Edgars personally launched the series, with the former governor speaking in Fall 2007 and Mrs. Edgar taking her turn behind the lectern in Spring 2008.

Yepsen, a native of Jefferson, Iowa, and a 1972 graduate of the University of Iowa, did graduate work in journalism and mass communication at Iowa State University and, in 1985, earned a master's degree in public administration from Drake University.

In 1989, he was a fellow at the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. In 2008, he was a fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard where he led a study group on the nation's presidential selection processes.

Prior to joining The Register and Tribune in 1974, Yepsen worked for two years as a reporter for the Quad City Times in Davenport, Iowa. During his newspaper career, he covered a variety of beats including police, city hall, courthouse and the Iowa Statehouse. In 1977, he became a statehouse reporter for the Register and chief political reporter in 1983. In 1994, he was named political editor and, in 2000, became the Register's full-time political columnist.

He was a regular panelist on Iowa Public Television's weekly "Iowa Press" news interview program for more than 30 years. Yepsen has also appeared on a variety of national radio and television programs commenting on Iowa politics and the presidential caucus campaigns in the state.

In November 1994, the American Political Hotline named Yepsen one of " America 's best political reporters outside the Beltway." In 1997, the Washingtonian Magazine named him one of the "best Washington reporters who doesn't live in Washington " and, in 2000, Brill's Content magazine named him to their list of "all-star" political writers.

In 1999, veteran political reporter Jack Germond wrote Yepsen "is one of the premier political writers in the country." Yepsen served on the national advisory board for the start of "stateline.org," an Internet publication started by the Pew Foundation to improve coverage of state governments.

In his book about his 1988 presidential race, the late Illinois Sen. Paul Simon praised Yepsen's objectivity.

"Every four years the chief political reporter for the Des Moines Register becomes the most important reporter in the nation," he said. "It is a position that could cause vanity and abuse. To his credit, David Yepsen handled this position with sensitivity and balance. And he worked hard."

Two Eastern Illinois University School of Business faculty members, Marko Grünhagen and Richard Flight, recently delivered a week-long economic development workshop in Erbil, Iraq.

Working in concert with the U.S. Department of State, the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Kurdish Textile Museum, Grünhagen and Flight assisted the museum and six other local agencies in their business planning and development process.

Realizing the need for economic stability and cultural preservation, the Kurdistan Regional Government of northern Iraq seeks to promote local tourism and commerce through state- and non-state-funded businesses.

The Kurdish Textile Museum, a nongovernmental organization in Erbil, Iraq, is focused on the cultural preservation of hand-woven textiles such clothing and ornamental rugs. Their current activities include the operation of the museum and preservation of historical artifacts as well as the teaching of traditional weaving as a craft-form to local women.

"Economic stability through local commerce and the maintenance of cultural heritage is important to all people," Flight said.

"Furthermore, the desire to promote one’s history through art as the Kurdish Textile Museum does reflects the pride and progress the people of this troubled area of the world have made."

Using the Textile Museum as the case study, the training included an intense five-day workshop designed to teach techniques required to develop a successful marketing strategy and create a viable three-to-five-year business plan for any nonprofit or for-profit business.

The workshop attendees plan to transfer what they learned to other small-business owners by hosting their own workshops and training sessions.

“Our ability to impact these organizations will hopefully extend throughout the region," Grünhagen said.

"One business's success will benefit others and, in effect, spread to the whole region. Ideally, participants of this workshop will start an economic chain reaction which ultimately helps everyone. Ultimately, this is true economic development assistance."

Godson C. Obia, associate dean of the College of Sciences and professor of geography at Eastern Illinois University, will assume the role of interim dean when Mary Anne Hanner retires, effective June 30, 2011.

"Dr. Obia brings a wealth of experience in the dean's office, as well as a distinguished record as a faculty member," said Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "He knows the college well, its recent history, its programs, as well as its members. I look forward to working with him in the coming year to lead the college and be an effective member of the Academic Affairs leadership team."

Obia, who has been at EIU since 1994, has more than 22 years of college teaching and administrative experience, including 10 years as associate dean. Before coming to EIU, he taught for seven years at the University of Nebraska, Kearney, where he reached the rank of associate professor and earned tenure before moving to his current position.

He earned tenure and was promoted to full professor before he moved into administrative duties as associate dean at Eastern. He has received achievement and contribution awards for teaching, research and service at EIU, and a teaching excellence award from the Association of American Geographers. He served on Eastern's Council on Academic Affairs before joining the dean's office.

"I consider it an honor to be called upon to serve Eastern in the capacity as interim dean of the College of Sciences," Obia said. "I am looking forward to working with our excellent faculty and staff to sustain a dynamic learning environment that prepares our students to become responsible global citizens. I feel fortunate to be asked to lead the college at a time of great strategic interest in constructing a new science building and renovating existing science facilities."

Obia holds his bachelor's degree from the University of Nigeria, a master's from the University of Toronto, and a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. He has taught courses in environmental, economic, world regional, cultural and African geography, as well as an interdisciplinary course on global threats and problems.

Obia also has conducted and presented research on topics such as farm bankruptcy, brain drain and African development, African agricultural development, rural land use and development, environmental resource management and watershed management. He has published the results of his research in journals and books such as Small Farm Advocate, Journal of Third World Studies, Papers of the Applied Geography Conferences, Platte Valley Review, Platte River Atlas, Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century African History, Proceedings of the Small City and Regional Development, Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa, and Beyond the Veil: Some Misconceptions About African Development.

He is a member of several professional and civic organizations, including the Association of American Geographers and the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences. He and wife, Nnenna, have four children.

Lord said the university will conduct a national search for a permanent dean in the coming academic year.

The Eastern Illinois University Department of Theatre Arts will present "Noises Off," a comedy about an acting troupe's outrageous behind-the-scenes antics.

Five performances -- 7 p.m. April 15, 16, 18 and 19, as well as 2 p.m. April 17 -- will be staged in The Theatre of the Doudna Fine Arts Center on the EIU campus.

This classic backstage farce by Michael Frayn follows a hapless acting troupe during the course of a disastrous provincial tour.

Complete with slamming doors, sexual dalliances, confusions and errant plates of sardines, the actors prove that whatever can go wrong – both on stage and off – most certainly will.

"The most dexterously realized comedy ever about putting on a comedy," said a review in The New York Times. "A spectacularly funny, peerless backstage farce. This dizzy, well-known romp is a festival of delirium."

The play, produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc., is directed by Jeffrey Tangeman. Set and light design is by David Wolski, and costume design is by Karen Eisenhour.

Tickets -- $12 for the general public; $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees; $5 for students -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

The Eastern Illinois University Wind Symphony and Concert Band will offer something for all ages in its "Celebration Concert" on Friday, April 15.

The free concert is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall in EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The Wind Symphony and Concert Band are conducted by Barry L. Houser. Three graduate student conductors -- Patrick Rheingruber, Sarah Todd and Chris Mroczek -- will each conduct a selection, as well.

The program is comprised of several works: "Persistence" by Richard Saucedo; "A Basque Lullaby" by Dan Forrest; "Undertow" by John Mackey; "Overture to Candide" and "Slava" by Leonard Bernstein; "DreamCircus" by Rob Deemer; "Cartoon" by Paul Hart; "Wild Nights!" by Frank Ticheli; and "The Circus Bee March" by Henry Fillmore.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, call 217-581-3110 or visit www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Charleston Middle School life science teacher Kim Sherwood will be honored for her teaching excellence with an award from the Eastern Illinois University chapter of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society.

Sigma Xi's Excellence in High School and Middle School Science and Mathematics Teaching Award goes to high school or middle school science or mathematics teachers who demonstrate excellence in teaching, actively involve students in critical thinking and problem-solving, actively involve students in the learning process, and teach an appreciation for science and mathematics.

As a middle school life science teacher at Charleston Middle School since 2001, Sherwood has promoted inquiry learning and critical thinking in her classroom. Her problem-solving mystery lessons were highlighted in the Mattoon Journal Gazette/Charleston Times-Courier this past fall.

Sherwood received her bachelor's degree in biological science, teacher's certification and master’s degree in educational administration, all from EIU. She and her family reside in Charleston.

Sherwood is to be presented with the 2011 award plaque and stipend during a short Sigma Xi EIU chapter meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 7, in the University Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union. The public is welcome.

The evening will conclude with a lecture, “In Silico Experiments Provide Insight into Cancer Progression Mechanisms (P,G,S),” by Dr. Alissa Weaver, an associate professor of cancer biology and pathology at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

Mahyar Izadi has been chosen as permanent dean of Eastern Illinois University's Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, effective July 1.

The former chair of Eastern's School of Technology has served as interim dean since Fall 2010, replacing Diane Hoadley, who accepted the role of dean of the College of Business at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire.

"I am pleased to announce that Dr. Mahyar Izadi has agreed to serve as the next dean of the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences," said Blair Lord, vice president for academic affairs.  "He brings a wealth of knowledge about the college and Eastern to this assignment, an extensive record of excellent leadership of the School of Technology, and demonstrated administrative and personnel management skills.

"I look forward to his leading the college and each of its academic units to new levels of achievement and accomplishment."

In addition to the Schools of Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Technology, the LCBAS represents Eastern's Department of Military Science.

For 11 years before being named interim dean, Izadi served as chair of Eastern's School of Technology, with the number of faculty and students in that area nearly doubling during his tenure. Previously, he served as coordinator of the Industrial Technology Program.

He has extensive background in developing lasting relationships with Illinois community colleges, international partners, and the business and industry community. He served as president of the university and research divisions of the Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering. He also served as the team chair for nine out of 13 ATMAE accreditation visits to colleges and universities.

Izadi, upon accepting his new appointment, expressed his pleasure at being able to continue his work of the past few months.

"The LCBAS is comprised of highly qualified, dedicated and talented faculty, staff and students, whom I am honored to serve," he said.  "My primary goal as dean will be to advance the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences' mission and goals within Eastern Illinois University.

"In addition to supporting the president's and provost's goals, initiatives such as student engagement and retention, globalization, innovation and scholarship, and faculty collaborations will be of great importance to me.

"And as a firm believer in the natural connection among various subject matters, I think the Lumpkin College is in an incredible position to contribute to integrative learning at EIU," he added.

Lord also commended those who conducted the search for a permanent dean.

"I want to go on record as thanking the search advisory committee, which was ably led by Dean Mary Anne Hanner, for conducting a model search," he said.  "Five worthy candidates were brought to campus for our consideration.  As is fairly common in such searches, some of them took themselves out of consideration during the search process, but we had a very strong group of candidates from which to make a selection."

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, who achieved worldwide fame after fleeing civil war, will perform their uplifting songs of hope, faith and joy at Eastern Illinois University on Saturday, April 16.

The concert is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall in EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

From 1991 to 2002, the African country of Sierra Leone was wracked with a war that forced millions to flee their homes -- including a group of people who began playing music together in a dusty refugee camp in Guinea.

Now, just seven years later, the group has gone from being unknown musicians to being the subject of an acclaimed documentary film, touring the world, appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and sharing the stage and studio with Aerosmith and other international stars.

Though the band members are now able to afford luxuries such as cement walls and refrigerators back home in Sierra Leone, the world’s third-poorest country, they are still faced with the daily struggles shared by most of their countrymen.

The band has suffered many losses, including the death of original member Mallam, who was known as the honorary “mayor” of the Magazine Wharf slum, where he made a living selling rice whisky and palm wine. He died at age 49 -- the average life expectancy there.

The senseless deaths and illnesses of friends and family, and the slimming hope for great change in their country as a result of peace, has only strengthened the resolve of Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars to do what they can to turn their country around.

Their weapon in this struggle is music, and their message, while offering critique and condemnation of wrongdoing, remains positive and hopeful.

Optimism in the face of obstacles, and the eternal hope for a better future, motivates their lives and music.

“It’s been a long struggle out of the war, out of miserable conditions,” said Reuben M. Koroma, the founder of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. “So now we are trying to develop ourselves as a band and be based in our country. We are really moving towards finding ways of elevating ourselves somehow.

"But we do not just think about ourselves alone. We try to bring out sensitive issues that are affecting the world. It is all of our responsibility that the masses are suffering. We bring our positive messages into the world so we can expect a positive change in the world. And, most importantly, bring about peace."

The group's first album, "Living Like A Refugee," was released in 2006. Their second studio album, "Rise & Shine," was released in March 2010.

Also in 2010, the group was among the artists recording a new version of "We Are the World" in support of Haitian earthquake relief efforts.

The group has also collaborated with Aerosmith on the certifi­ed gold record "Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur," as well as their own special appearances on "In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2" and on the soundtrack for the Oscar- and Golden Globe-nominated ­film "Blood Diamond."

The Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars' appearance at EIU is generously supported by EIU African American Studies and the University Board.

Tickets -- $15 for the general public; $12 EIU employees and seniors; $7 for students -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, located on the EIU campus, is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra and EIU Choral Ensembles will present "A Musical Journey Through Time" on Sunday, April 10, in EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The concert -- a historical tour of orchestral and choral masterpieces from early Baroque to contemporary works -- is to begin at 4 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall.

EIU faculty members Sergei Pavlov and Janet McCumber will conduct the ensembles. The concert will feature the winners of the EIU music department's concerto competition: junior Mark Rheaume of O'Fallon on trombone and junior Moria Tunison of Villa Grove on clarinet.

The program includes "Gloria" by Antonio Vivaldi, "Menuet from Symphony No.104 'London'" by Joseph Haydn; "Trombone Concerto" by Ferdinand David, "Polacca from Clarinet Concerto No. 2" by Carl Maria von Weber; two poems for choir by Dmitri Shostakovich, and "The Floating World" by Stephen Andrew Taylor.

Seating is reserved. Tickets -- $12 for the general public; $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees; $5 for students -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, located on the EIU campus, is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

Far East Movement

Tickets will go on sale Friday, April 1, to the general public for the April 23 performance by Far East Movement and Mike Posner on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

(EIU students with Panther Card ID may begin buying their tickets on Friday, March 25.)

Prices are $17 for EIU students and $20 for the general public. All tickets for the performance, set to begin at 8 p.m. in Lantz Arena, may be purchased between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays through the MLK Jr. Union Ticket Office, located on the second floor, west wing. For information/credit card orders, phone 217-581-5122.

Far East Movement is most known for its songs "Girls on the Dance Floor" and "Like A G6." The group has bridged the gap between underground party records and mainstream hip-hop and pop. They blend elements of hip-hop, pop, electro and dance to create an original sound and lifestyle they call "Free Wired."

Mike Posner

The group translates this Free Wired' way of life by constantly staying interactive and living the lifestyle it promotes. Whether it's their weekly music show on www.cherrytreeradio.com, blogging everyday on www.fareastmovement.com or uploading a series of FM Satellite webisodes they shoot on the road with their spy cams,' they always stay free to " geek out' 25 hours a day, eight days a week."

Posner, an American singer, songwriter and producer, released his debut album "31 Minutes to Takeoff" in August 2010. The album includes the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 single, "Cooler Than Me"; Posner's second single, "Please Don't Go"; and his third single, "Bow Chicka Wow Wow."

Although Eastern Illinois University formally launched its "EI&U:  Expect Greatness" capital campaign just a few short months ago, the EIU Foundation predicts the campaign's success.

"We will achieve greatness," said Donald L. Gher, Foundation board president.

"We all recognize that in addition to the freezes and cutbacks in operational expenses, the Illinois budget crisis will continue to hinder the university's growth for many years to come.  However, in this time of economic uncertainty, I'm encouraged by the gifts we continue to receive," he said.

"More than ever, we need to reach out to those who had their dreams fulfilled because of Eastern and who now may have the capacity to give back to the university.  Through these efforts, we will continue the Eastern legacy of excellence, which has been so important to generations of its students."

Founded in 1953 under the leadership and direction of H. Ogden Brainard, the EIU Foundation has, since its inception, been dependent upon the generosity of its members to encourage and provide private support to the university, and to promote the ideals of volunteerism and philanthropy among alumni, friends and employees of the university. The Foundation, an Illinois not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, is a completely separate organization from the university and is defined by the state as a University Related Organization.

Foundation members come from a variety of backgrounds and professional areas, and include EIU alumni, annuitants, community leaders, and business and educational professionals.

With nearly 300 members, led by an 11-person board of directors, the EIU Foundation has committed its support to "EI&U:  Expect Greatness," a university-wide capital campaign designed to raise $50 million for student, faculty, facility and program support.

"Eastern has launched its long-awaited EI&U: Expect Greatness' Capital Campaign, which embodies the academic vitality, vision and culture that the university has so richly cultivated over the years," Gher continued.  "Those of us closely associated with the university, the Foundation or the Alumni Association, already know about Eastern's ability to help its students defy expectations.'

"It is a privilege to be associated with an institution whose purpose is to educate and develop the intelligence, character and integrity of our future leaders."

Gher, of Bellevue, Wash., is joined on the EIU Foundation board of directors by Floyd Akins of Columbus, Ohio; Jason Anselment, treasurer, of Springfield; Timothy Burke, secretary, of Evanston; David J. Maurer of Charleston; Sue C. Payton of Fairfax Station, Va.; Christine Reid Robertson of Naperville; Judith Sunderman, vice president, of Charleston; and Charles W. Witters of Las Vegas, Nev.

Also, Joseph Dively of Charleston and William Robinson of Scottsdale, Ariz., now serve as directors, having been newly elected this academic year.  They replace retiring directors and past presidents Timothy D. Gover of Mattoon and Jeffrey G. Scott of Richmond Hill, Ga.

As a representative from the EIU Alumni Association, Julie Sterling of Charleston serves as the EIU Foundation board's newest ex officio member.  (She joins Don Yost, EIU Board of Trustees; William Perry, president of EIU; Robert Martin, vice president for university advancement; and William Weber, vice president for business affairs.)  Sterling replaces Gary Kling of Champaign, who retired from the post.

See here for more on the EIU Foundation.

The U.S. Air Force Brass in Blue brass ensemble, one of the premier brass ensembles in the Midwest, will perform at Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center on Sunday, March 27.

The free concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall.

Representing more than 325,000 Air Force professionals around the world, Brass in Blue showcases the service’s excellence and precision. The ensemble features brass, percussion and a vocalist.

Several EIU musicians will be featured in the concert. EIU faculty member Jemmie Robertson will be a trombone soloist in "Three Scenes for American Trombone"; faculty member Andrew Cheetham will serve as conductor as EIU music students join the military ensemble for "America the Beautiful"; and Barry Houser, interim director of bands and director of the Panther Marching Band, will conduct "The Pines of the Appian Way."

The program will also include "Overture to 'Candide'" by Leonard Bernstein, "Extraordinary Machine" by Fiona Apple, "Buzzin' the Bee" by George Gershwin, "The Frim Fram Sauce" and "Amazing Grace."

The U.S. Air Force Brass in Blue brass ensemble debuted in February 2007. They have performed twice at the Grand Teton Music Festival, been guest performers with the Kansas City Symphony, and been featured at Omaha’s Organ Vesper Series.

In October 2008, Brass in Blue presented “Slides Across the Heartland,” which featured world-renowned trombone soloist Joseph Alessi and 76 trombonists performing Meredith Willson’s “76 Trombones” to much acclaim from military and civic leaders.

In November 2009, the group returned from a 70-day deployment to Southwest Asia in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and several Department of State initiatives.

Tickets are free, but there is a limit of four per household. Tickets may be obtained at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office. For more information, call 217-581-3110 or e-mail doudna@eiu.edu.

The concert is sponsored by Brookstone Estates Senior Living and the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier.

The U.S. Army Field Band's Jazz Ambassadors, the Army’s premier touring big band, will perform a free concert at Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center on Thursday, March 24.

The ensemble, also known as America's Big Band, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall.

Three EIU students -- senior Brandon Jelks of Decatur, alto saxophone; senior Nick Grill of Park Ridge, trumpet; and sophomore Aaron Eckert of Belleville, trombone -- will perform with the Jazz Ambassadors on one selection.

The program includes a dozen songs, including "I Only Have Eyes for You," "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Armed Forces Salute" and "God Bless the USA."

Many of the ensemble's members are also composers and arrangers whose writing helps create the band’s unique sound. Concert repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, contemporary jazz, popular tunes and Dixieland.

Each program includes exciting selections performed by the band’s talented and versatile vocalist, Master Sgt. Marva Lewis.

The internationally acclaimed organization, which travels thousands of miles each year, has appeared in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Japan and the Republic of India.

Formal public concerts, school assemblies, clinics, music festivals, and radio and television appearances are all part of the Jazz Ambassadors’ yearly schedule.

Notable performances include participation in the inaugurations of presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, as well as appearances at the Nice Jazz Festival in France, the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans, and the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island.

The mission of the United States Army Field Band is to “carry into the grassroots of our country the story of our magnificent Army.” In performances across America and throughout the world, the men and women of this organization take great pride in reflecting the excellence of all of our nation’s soldiers.

Tickets are free, but there is a limit of four per household. Tickets may be obtained at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office. For more information, call 217-581-3110 or e-mail doudna@eiu.edu.

The concert is sponsored by Brookstone Estates Senior Living and the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier.

Matthew Polenzani

Matthew Polenzani, one of today's most celebrated lyric tenors, will return to Eastern Illinois University this month to sing in the building where his stellar career began.

Polenzani, a 1991 EIU graduate whose accolades include the Metropolitan Opera's 2008 Beverly Sills Artist Award, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

Polenzani is renowned for the artistic versatility and fresh lyricism that he brings to concert and operatic appearances on the world's most prestigious stages, but he is quick to show gratitude for the guidance he received at Eastern.

In the late 1980s, Polenzani was a fledgling music-education student who had no plans to become a singer, let alone one of the world's most celebrated classical artists.

One day, EIU Professor Jerry Daniels handed him a cassette of classical music. Polenzani threw the tape into a box and ignored it -- until one fateful day three years later, when he ran across it and decided to give it a listen.

"The first thing on it was one of the great tenors," Polenzani said. "I didn't realize that music like that, or singing like that existed. That was the first time opera got under my skin.

"I was green," he said. "I'd never been to the opera. The first one I saw was the first one I was in."

That opera, he remembers well, was EIU's production of "La Finta Giardiniera." It was the beginning of an opera career that has led Polenzani to star roles and concert work on the world's finest stages, with the world's greatest artists.

Polenzani has been acclaimed in symphonic appearances with Lorin Maazel and the New York Philharmonic, Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony, Pierre Boulez and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and many more. He was the 2004 Richard Tucker Award winner.

In a single recent season, he was honored to have appeared on all three stages of Carnegie Hall.

This season, his schedule includes performances at the Metropolitan Opera, the Bayerische Staatsoper and the Opéra National de Paris, as well as a tour of Japan with the Royal Opera House.

Looking back, Polenzani is amazed and grateful for the guidance he received at Eastern.

"I didn't understand, and I didn't know what was out there," he said. "It took time and patience from the faculty, who saw I had talent but lacked focus. They nurtured it and allowed it to grow.

"Jerry Daniels is the one who did the pushing in the opera direction. He was just extremely instrumental in getting me on the right track. It's the special gift of an educator to recognize a student's talent and that that talent needs a special type of nurturing to move it forward, and I got that here (at Eastern)."

At the age of 23, Polenzani earned a significant scholarship to attend Yale. Although he was one of the youngest in the master's program -- some were 30 and older -- he had had more practical experience than most, thanks to Eastern.

"I had sung with an orchestra three or four times. I had sung some full-length operas," he said. "Others had maybe understudied or only done scenes programs."

"I always tell kids, it doesn't matter where you go to school. What is important is that you find a good teacher and get a chance to practice your craft," he said.

"A seed was planted, and that's the point of an undergraduate institution -- to plant a seed, to help it grow as much as you can, and not to harm the holder of the seed. That was absolutely the case for me at Eastern."

Tickets for Polenzani's EIU recital are $15 for the general public, $12 for EIU employees and senior citizens, and $7 for students. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The recital is made possible by gracious support from the EIU Classical Music Series Endowment Fund. The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

Shown, from left to right, are Abigail Grado, Gordon Grado, Louis Grado, Mary Grado (Gordon's wife), and Rebecca (Grado) Surber.

Growing up, the Grado children were accustomed to hearing the same question asked every night at the dinner table - "What have you done for humanity today?"

"Their father, Louis Grado, was focused on service - to his community, to the university and to the world," said Robert Martin, vice president for university advancement at Eastern Illinois University. "And we felt something needed to be done to recognize his legacy."

Accordingly, the EIU Board of Trustees on Friday voted to name a newly built structure, located at 975 Edgar Drive, the Dr. Louis M. Grado Building. This piece of property houses the university's Textbook Rental Service.

"The naming of this building after Dr. Grado symbolizes for all future generations of Eastern's students and faculty the spirit of excellence and service in education that he embraced and embodied," Martin said.

Grado, who died in July 2010 at age 86, was a member of EIU's education faculty from 1955 until his retirement on Aug. 31, 1989. He taught in the field of elementary education throughout his career, and served as chair of the Department of Elementary and Junior High School Education from 1970 until his retirement.

"Dr. Grado played an important role in the development of teacher training in the field of elementary education, and did much to strengthen and sustain the quality of this program at EIU," Martin said.

EIU President Bill Perry, who initiated the idea to name the building after Grado, said it was a fitting tribute.

"The building was funded by student fees, and since that was how it was built, it will always serve students in one way or another," he said. "The decision to name it after Dr. Louis M. Grado just seemed right."

Grado also served on many university committees, as well as the Illinois State Board of Education's Spanish Speaking Committee and Bilingual Advisory Board.

And from 1961-63, Grado took a two-year leave of absence to accept a position as elementary education adviser to a rural school in Esteli, Nicaragua. Working with the International Cooperation Administration, he was responsible for assisting in the development of an entire normal school, training the director and staff, establishing/supervising a student teaching program, and coordinating the school's program with an in-service teacher education program.

While there, Grado also made recommendations about what rural teachers should study and assisted in the development of Nicaragua's rural education. He participated in the development and production of an educational television program for preschoolers.

Active in the Mattoon (Ill.) Presbyterian Church, Grado served as an elder and trustee at various times. His volunteer work also included serving as a counselor to Hispanic inmates at the Vandalia Correctional Center, constructing homes for Habitat for Humanity, serving meals at various soup kitchens, and greeting visitors at St. Luke's Hospital.

A formal dedication of the Dr. Louis M. Grado Building with members of Grado's family in attendance is tentatively scheduled to take place later this spring. He is survived by five children -- Gordon Grado of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Charles Grado of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Rebecca Surber of Lisle; Jana Richards of Vandalia; and Abigail Grado of Litchfield.

The Eastern Illinois University Music Theatre/Opera Ensemble will present "Nuthin’ but Treble: An Evening of Musical Theatre Featuring Women," this month.

Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 25, and Saturday, March 26, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Recital Hall.

The ensemble will perform Gilbert and Sullivan's "Trial By Jury," a one-act farcical courtroom comedy set in Britain, followed by scenes from "Spring Awakening," "Smokey Joe’s Café," "The Sound of Music," "Chicago" and "I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change."

The scenes are edgy and deal with many themes, including murder, sex, relationships, coming of age, and mother/daughter issues.

The performance is directed by music department faculty member Jay Ivey and accompanied by music graduate student Pamala Machala.

Tickets -- $5 for the general public and $3 for students, senior citizens and EIU employees -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, located on the EIU campus, is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

The Eastern Illinois University Dancers will perform to music by Janet Jackson, Pat Benatar, OneRepublic and the "Glee" cast in their annual spring concert this week.

The free performances, with the theme "The Heart Speaks," are set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday (March 3-5) in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Comprised of 16 EIU students with various majors, the EIU Dancers’ repertoire includes modern dance, ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and character pieces. Auditions are held in September, and rehearsals start immediately for the spring concert.

A presence on EIU’s campus for the last 30 years, the EIU Dancers are dedicated to furthering the understanding and appreciation of dance on campus and in the surrounding community.

For more information, please contact Antoine R. Thomas, director of the EIU Dancers, at 581-8397 or arthomas@eiu.edu.

A number of large gifts have led Eastern Illinois University 85 percent of the way to its $50 million "EI&U: The Campaign for Eastern" fundraising goal, and officials are counting on the generosity of the general public in raising the remaining funds.

So far, $42.56 million has been secured in "EI&U: The Campaign for Eastern," the largest fundraising effort in EIU's history. The public phase began in October.

The campaign theme is "Expect Greatness," and officials do just that.

"We are very grateful for the strong support we've received so far, and I am confident that we will continue to benefit from the public's generosity," said EIU Vice President for University Advancement Robert Martin. "We are fortunate that people understand what Eastern means to individual lives and to society as a whole. People are willing to contribute to ensure that Eastern's influence remains strong into the future.

"As state appropriations have decreased and lagged, gifts from donors have become more than a nice bonus for the university -- they have become critical. The bottom line is that private contributions make it possible for us to remain a first-class institution while keeping tuition affordable for our students."

The campaign focuses on four priorities: students (funding scholarships); faculty and staff (attracting and retaining world-class faculty, as well as supporting research, creative projects and service activities); capital improvements (including building a new science center, courtyard spaces and a Lantz Arena gateway); and programs (including developing centers that would focus on specific subjects, with possibilities such as autism, entrepreneurship and innovation, ethics, financial health, geographic information systems and remote sensing, humanities, student community service and wellness).

Although it is primarily a fundraising campaign, officials also hope to use the opportunity to connect with supporters. In fact, two of the campaign's top goals are to establish and enhance enduring relationships with EIU alumni, as well as involve more alumni as campaign volunteers.

EIU's extensive network of alumni and friends throughout the country is making it possible to conduct regional campaigns, with events in Chicago (hosted by Tim and Vickie Burke, Carl Mito and Jeff Knezovich); Springfield (hosted by Jason Anselment and Bill O'Rourke); St. Louis, Mo. (hosted by Sylvia Nichols, Judy Ethell, Julie Nimmons and Jen Hurwitz); Naples, Fla. (hosted by Jim Schnorf); Washington, D.C. (hosted by Sue Payton); and Scottsdale, Ariz.

Members of the "EI&U" campaign Steering Committee are Chairwoman Julie (Humphrey) Nimmons of Litchfield; Timothy L. and Vickie (Krupp) Burke of Evanston; Max and Mary Cougill of Charleston; Judy A. Ethell of Chesterfield, Mo.; Bob Glover of Chicago; Robert A. Ingram of Durham, N.C.; Charles Keller of Effingham; Jeffrey P. Knezovich of Naperville; Herbert and Lynnette Jane Lasky of Ashmore; Richard A. Lumpkin of Mattoon; Carl T. Mito of Arlington Heights; Tony Romo of Dallas, Texas; Paul L. Snyder of Oro Valley, Ariz.; and Charles W. Witters of Las Vegas, Nev.

"We're very grateful for the dedication of the many volunteers who are assisting with this campaign," Martin said. "We could not have reached this level of success without their help."

To learn more about the campaign or make a donation, please contact Karla Evans, director of EIU's Office of Philanthropy, at kjevans@eiu.edu or 217-581-3315, or visit the "EI&U: The Campaign for Eastern" website at http://www.iameiu.com.

For an armed services veteran, life on a traditional university campus can be a bit unsettling.

"It's very foreign to us," said Michael Ruybal, newly hired veterans coordinator at Eastern Illinois University. "We've become accustomed to a very structured life style, so it can be hard to adjust, hard to adapt."

The 36-year-old speaks from experience. Following 13 years of active duty in the U.S. Army -- years that took him to such far-away places as Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Macedonia -- Ruybal was injured in the line of duty and took medical retirement. For him, the next step was an easy decision to make.

"It was a no brainer. . . I was going to get my degree," he said.

He attended New Mexico State University where he studied and received his bachelor's of fine arts in graphic arts and illustration. Upon graduation, he was offered -- and accepted -- a full-time position as resident director of student family housing.

For two years, Ruybal frequently browsed the website HigherEdJobs.com, helping his students in their search for internships. But then a Fall 2010 listing from a university in Illinois caught his interest on a more personal level.

Eastern Illinois University was seeking an individual to serve as "coordinator of veterans and military personnel student services."

"It was the first job posting of its kind I had seen in two years," Ruybal said. "Those type of positions don't come open very often. Those who have them tend to hold them for a long time."

Ruybal applied and was hired; he began his new job on the morning of Jan. 18. By noon of that day, he was already asking for time to speak with Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, to discuss specific ideas on not only how to enhance campus life for current student veterans, but how to recruit others into attending EIU.

"I'm aware of 252 veterans currently attending Eastern," Ruybal said. "My goal is to increase that number to between 500 and 800."

"From the very first moment of his arrival on campus, Michael has emanated an enthusiasm for EIU and a deep commitment to serving our student veterans and their families," Nadler said. "We are fortunate and thankful to welcome him to EIU."

One of Ruybal's most important responsibilities is to provide information regarding "the ever-changing world of benefits," including all federal and state benefits and scholarships to veterans, active duty military personnel and their families, and to advise and assist students on how to complete the necessary paperwork to activate and retain these benefits/scholarships.

"This is how I make my initial contact with these individuals," he said. "After that, every veteran is on my radar. I'm here for all of them."

He also serves as a liaison with other offices on EIU's campus in regards to services available to veterans and their families. These include, but may not be limited to, Academic Advising, Student Accounts, the Counseling Center, Disability Services, Housing, and Health Services.

And sometimes, Ruybal added, a student may just want a like-minded individual with whom to vent. That might be Ruybal himself or another student veteran introduced through his efforts.

"Some of our students will welcome opportunities to meet and mingle with fellow veterans," Ruybal said. "Others will decline, saying I left the military for a reason and now I'm here to go to school.'"

And either reaction is fine, he added.

For those who would like to foster relationships with fellow student veterans, there's always Student Veterans of Eastern, an organization formed so that "veterans, reservists, National Guardsmen and friends could have a common place to forge friendships and professional networking."

As a staff adviser to the group, Ruybal said he will be working closely with the student organization in efforts not only to bring student veterans together as a group, but to assist with their outreach efforts within the EIU and Charleston communities.

"The goal of my office is to be a one-stop shop for our student veterans," he said. "If I can't help with a particular problem, I'll find out who can.

"I just want them to know that I'm here for them. I'm not going anywhere."

Student veterans from Eastern Illinois University planning to participate in the March 27 Bataan Memorial Death March are, from left to right, first row, Nicholas Anson and James Wallace; second row, Katie Frantik, Nathen Camp, Michael Ruybal (adviser) and John Mefford.

Michael Ruybal is getting off to a running start as Eastern Illinois University's newly hired veterans coordinator.

Or, maybe, one might say he's getting off to a "marching" start.

Little more than a month after his arrival on the Charleston campus, Ruybal and five EIU student veterans are in training to participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March, held annually on the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

The event, which began in 1989, honors a group of World War II heroes who were responsible for the defense of the islands of Luzon, Corregidor and the harbor defense forts of the Philippines. On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of Americans and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces, and were forced to march for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died.

Since its inception, the Bataan Memorial Death March has grown from about 100 to some 5,200 participants from across the United States and several foreign countries.

Some participate in the full 26.2-mile march; others participate in a smaller, less intense 15-mile version.

Ruybal and his team plan to participate in the 26.2 mile march, set to take place March 27.

"I'm hoping our participation will build esprit de corps' within the organization, as well as within the veterans program here at Eastern," Ruybal said. "The event builds team work, collaboration and personal pride, along with self accomplishment for the individuals.

"It is a well established programmatic activity for veterans to take part of, in remembering those who came before us and, in some cases, make the ultimate sacrifice for this nation.

"And by representing EIU, participation in this march will build a sense of ownership for our students who want to do more, as well as be a solid recruiting tool for the institution," Ruybal added. "The more people who see the Panther Pride, the more that image stays in their mind of the university that participates in the event - a university that wears its colors with pride and does so with honor."

This year, Eastern will have double representation. The EIU ROTC battalion is also sending a team.

"The team is not finalized," said Lt. Col. Stephen Knotts, chairman of the Military Science Department. "The cadets are having a competition, and the best five will get to go."

Ruybal and his team are currently in the process of raising the $4,500 it will take to get their six individuals to New Mexico and pay for room and board costs (including a $275 team registration fee). Anyone wishing to contribute may do so by sending a check made payable to the Student Veterans of Eastern, care of the Financial Aid Office, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Ave., Charleston , IL 61920.

The fourth annual Kick Butts Day 5K Run/Walk and Community Picnic, part of a nationwide initiative to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco use, will be held April 9 at Morton Park.

The local Kick Butts Day events are sponsored by Eastern Illinois University's Student Community Service and Health Service.

The run/walk will begin at 9 a.m. The cost -- $12 for adults, and $6 for ages 12 and younger -- includes a T-shirt (only guaranteed for those who register by March 18), snacks and refreshments. On-site registration is available, but participants are encouraged to pre-register online at http://www.eiu.edu/herc/kickbuttsday.php.

After the run/walk, a community picnic will feature free food, games and activities for all ages. Registration is not required for the picnic.

An abundance of material will be available to inform people about tobacco cessation options, the dangers of tobacco, and ways to prevent children from using tobacco.

For more information, call 581-7786.

Honorees attending the recent EIU Years of Service Luncheon included, from left to right: Thomas Moncada (30 years) Sue Grounds (30 years), EIU President Bill Perry, Cheryl Hawker (30 years), Carol Miller (35 years) and William S. Davis (30 years).

Eastern Illinois University recently recognized more than 300 of its employees for continuous years of service.

A luncheon was held in recognition of university employees with continuous years of service in five-year increments. Those employed at EIU for five years were eligible for a certificate; those with 10 or more years of service were honored with both a certificate and a pin.

Honorees are listed as follows:

40 years - Kathlene Shank.

35 years - Carol Miller.

30 years - Susan Ambrose, William Davis, Sue Grounds, Karen Hardwick, Cheryl Hawker, Thomas Moncada and Margaret Weaver.

25 years - D. Kathleen Bence, Cecilia Brinker, James Conwell, Joann Daugherty, Carl Dell, James Dowland, Tamera Duzan, Nancy Hay, Ted Hart, Linda Leal, Michael Leddy, John Martone, Kip McGilliard, Melanie Mills, John Moore, Cynthia Nichols, Joy Russell, John Ryan, Eneatha Secrest, Harold Tatge, Bonnie Wilson and Tamera Spillman-Zuber.

20 years - Susan Allen, Brian Beakley, Judith Black, Eric Bollinger, Eldridge Bowlby, Gregory Boyd, Michael Bradd, Kathryn Bulver, Michael Carter, David Carwell, Christine Childress, Allen Clayton, Victoria Copas-Beck, James Craven, Karala Eastin, John Emmett, Brenda Ferguson, Kathleen Ferguson, Norman Garrett, Karen Hammer, Gary Hanebrink, David Hardwick, Jody Horn, Karen Johnson, Mahmoud Kashefi, Diana Kennedy, Fern Kory, Peggy Kuhn, Rebecca Litton, Glenn Logan, Stacia Lynch, John McInerney, Frances Murphy, Laurie Neese, Cheryl Noll, Donald Pakey, Rita Pearson, David Pollard, Ollie M. Ray, Gary Reed, Linda Reven, Dana Ringuette, Deborah Schultz, John Sigler, Grant Sterling, Stephen Swords, Dickie Tipsword, Julie Walters and Rebecca Watkins.

15 years - Thomas Akers, Vickie Austin, Julia Awalt, Shirley Bell, Kathy Berry, Lucinda Berry, Henry Brown, Gary Canivez, Janet Carpenter, Jonathan Crask, Carol Dudley, Stephen Eskilson, Lydia Fritts, Reggie Galey, Clay Hopkins, Paula Huddlestun, Kevin Hussey, Jerilyn Hutson, Douglas Klarup, Michael Kuo, Cynthia Maples, Margaret Messer, Wanda Milburn, David Miller, Kim Miller, Tammy Miller, Nina Milliner, Michelle Molitor, Michelle Morgan, Melinda Mueller, Dwain Naragon, Dannie Otto, Brian Pritschet, Anthony Redding, Bart Rettberg, Katherine Rice, Cynthia Rich, Brenda Roberts, M. Jane Roe, Tamara Sharp, Nora Pat Small, Betty Smith, Jody Stone, Marjorie Thennes, Cynthia Tozer and Julie Wilkerson.

10 years - Carlos Amaya, Christina Anderson, Rachel Ballinger, Lilian Barria, Paula Bolen, Mark Bonnstetter, Lisa Brooks, Tom Brown, Ingyu Chiou, Andrew Clapp, Steven Conn, James Craven, Melissa Crouch-Carr, Linda Daugherty, Jeannie Doty, Danny Duvall, Jim Ealy, Tim Engles, April Flood, Mary Garrett, Linda Ghent, Cheryl Gilbert , Karen Guthridge, Terry Hale, Mary Harris, Karen Hart, Daniel Harvey II, George Hawk, Ronald Hays, Lori Henderson, Darren Hendrickson, Jaime Hendrix, Diane Highland, Rex Hilligoss, Adam Howarth, Allen Huddleston, Lindsey Hunter, Angela Jacobs, Amy Jones, Elizabeth Kastle, Leigh Ann Keefer, Frank Kingery, Richard Kistner, Judith Konrad, Heidi Larson, James Maxey, Robert Miller, William Minnis, Elizabeth Mitchell, Patty Murphy, Lisa New Freeland, Marshall Patrick, Bruce Perrin, Kimberly Redfern, Debra Reid, Amy Richardson, Beth Ridgeway, Darlene Riedemann, Charles Rohn, Steven Roper, Richard Rossi, Kristin Routt, Karla Sanders, Anupama Sharma, Jeffrey Snell, Jeanne Snyder, Duff Sowers, Jennifer Spracklen, Jeffrey Stowell, Jocelyn Tipton, Angela Vietto, Edmund Wehrle and Jimmie Yokley.

5 years -- Jim Abel, Chad Altadonna, Kevin Anderson, Rick Anderson, Robert Banning, Christopher Bartlett, Timothy Beals, Lana Beasley, Toni Bell, Beth Bergstrom, John Blackburn, Maggie Burkhead, Dustin Carey, Max Carpenter, Valeria Chiritescu, Brad Coffey, Cameron Craig, Suzanne Craig, Michael Croslow, Ronald Croy, Roger Cunningham, Sarah Daugherty, Suzanne Davis, Martha Deerman, Ronald DeLude, Carol Dhom, Kimberly Dorey, Kimberly Dowland, Karen Drage, Karla Drum, Jamie Easton, Lester Edwards, Jeramy Eggers, David Emmerich, Terri Fredrick, Laurel Fuqua, Karen Gaines, Ryan Gibson, Glenna Gobert, Bradley Groves, Jerrod Harden, Roger Hogan, Donald Holly, Michelle Hopper, Sandy Hundley, Janice Hunt, Andrew Hurt, Charles Jenkins Jr., Nita Jenkins, Kent Jones, R.J. Jones, Mark Kattenbraker, Jerri Lang, Jinhee Lee, Diana Lenzi, Dennis Lewis, William Lovekamp, Michael Lynch, Dennis Malak, Leslie Mason, Mary Mattingly, Jonica McBride, Thomas McDonald, Sham'Ah Md-Yunus, Michael Miller, John Morris, Daniel Nadler, James Novak, Suzie Park, Dawn Paulson, Shawn Peoples, Colleen Peterlich, Jenny Phillips, Robert Plummer, Susan Propst, Sue Rardin, Katherine Ray, Ryan Risinger, Andrew Robinson, John Schmitt, Kathleen Schmitz, Cathy Schoonover, Clarence Searcy, Debby Sharp, Linda Sherwood, Mollie Siu-Chong, Patricia Sparks, Alan Spraker, Janice Stevens, Quiana Stone, Dustin Strader, Ricky Strange, Lisa Taylor, Doyle Terrell, Patricia Thornton, Christy Turner, Samuel Turner, Sarita Upadhyay, Brent Walker, Eugene Wallace, Edward Warpenburg, Michelle Wayne, Paul Weber, Charles Wharram, Kraig Wheeler, Jeffrey Willardson, Wendy Williamson, Chrystal Wingler, Melody Wollan, Monica Zeigler and Korey Zike.

Honorees attending the recent EIU Years of Service Luncheon included, from left to right: front row - Kip McGilliard (25 years), Tamera Spillman-Zuber (25 years), Joy Russell (25 years), Eneatha Secrest (25 years), D. Kathleen Bence (25 years), William S. Davis (30 years), Melanie Mills (25 years), and EIU President Bill Perry; second row - James Conwell, Joann Daugherty, Ted Hart, Cecilia Brinker and James Dowland (all with 25 years of service).

The Eastern Illinois University Department of Theatre Arts will present Moliere's "Tartuffe" ("The Hypocrite"), transplanted from 17th-century France to the 1980s American South.

Performances will be staged in the Black Box Theatre in EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center at 7 p.m. March 4, 5, 7 and 8, as well as 2 p.m. March 6.

"Tartuffe," a timeless comedy written in 1664 by one of France's greatest playwrights, follows the outrageous activities of a penniless scoundrel and religious pretender who insinuates himself into the home of his gullible benefactor, wreaking havoc among the family members.

Amid the tales of seduction and blackmail, the playwright mercilessly -- and humorously -- examines the evil men can commit in the guise of religious fervor.

Christopher J. Mitchell, who adapted the play for the EIU stage, is the director.

The cast includes EIU students Tom Michael, Elyse Waggoner, Grant Molen, Ryan McCain, Julie Zielinski, Katy Kruzic, Tim Tholl, Jason Rutkowski, Bill Stinde and Alex Truccano, as well as EIU theatre arts alumna Tracy Phelps Harpster as Madame Pernelle.

The play was translated from the original French by Curtis Hidden Page.

Tickets -- $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

Mistakes can be a valuable learning tool - even when they happen to someone else.

Justin Paperny, a former investment executive who now uses his talents and experiences to educate others on the perils associated with white-collar crime, hopes that by revealing his mistakes, he will help keep others from following the same path.

Attendance to his lectures, "Lessons from Prison" and "Ethics in Motion," set to begin at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m., respectively, on Tuesday, Feb. 22, is free and open to the public.  Both presentations will take place in Roberson Auditorium, Lumpkin Hall Room 2030, on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

After graduating from the University of Southern California, Paperny began building his career at such storied firms as Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns and UBS. He managed more than $150 million in investor assets as a top-earning stockbroker, but personal pressures clouded his judgment. That ethical lapse ensnared him in a fraud. He pleaded guilty to violating securities laws and served an 18-month sentence at Taft Federal Prison Camp.

Since then, Paperny has been a keynote speaker to business and academic audiences across the nation. His story and presentations have been featured by ABC News, NBC News, Forbes and Radio America, amongst many others.

He provides audiences with insight into the motivations, actions and consequences of white-collar crime. Rather than speaking theoretically, he draws upon personal experiences to narrate with honesty and eloquence how an inattention to values-based decision-making can lead an individual into debacles that may include imprisonment.

While on Eastern's campus, Paperny also plans to discuss the topic of business ethics in classes through the university's School of Business which, organizers say, "recognizes the importance of business ethics education as a vital part of the integrative learning experience."

For more information, including Paperny's full bio, visit the School of Business website at http://www.eiu.edu/business/spotlight_ethics_2011.php.

The Barry D. Riccio Memorial Lecture Series at Eastern Illinois University continues its tradition in 2011 with "The Politics of Vaccination in American History," a presentation set for Monday, Feb. 21.

Admission to the presentation, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center Lecture Hall, is free and open to the public.

The talk will be presented by Robert Johnston, associate professor of history at the University of Illinois-Chicago, who has written extensively on the emergence of the U.S. middle class and the history of alternative medicine movements, including the anti-vaccination movement. His work, although focused on the early 20th century, speaks directly to the political and cultural battles of today, including persistent concerns over the link between vaccinations and autism.

Johnston is the author of "The Radical Middle Class: Populist Democracy and The Question of Capitalism in Progressive Era Portland, Oregon" (Princeton University Press, 2003), the winner of the 2002 Social Science History Association President's Book Award.

EIU's Department of History is sponsoring Johnston 's lecture, made possible through the Barry D. Riccio History Fund.

Riccio joined Eastern's history faculty in 1995. The author of "Walter Lippmann: Odyssey of a Liberal (1994)" and numerous articles, he was a devoted student of American ideas, politics and culture. At Eastern, he proved almost immediately himself an outstanding teacher and wonderful colleague.

Following Riccio's death from cancer in 2001 at the age of 46, his friends, family and colleagues established the Barry D. Riccio History Fund in his honor. In conjunction with the EIU Department of History, the fund sponsors a lecture series with an emphasis on the history of ideas. Beginning with the inaugural lecture in 2003, the generosity of fund donors has allowed the department to bring "many of the leading lights of American intellectual history" to Eastern's campus.

The Eastern Illinois Wind Symphony, the premier ensemble of the Eastern Illinois University band program, will present its "The Art of the Wind Band" concert on Saturday, Feb. 26.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall on the EIU campus.

The program is to include "Festive Overture" by Shostakovich; "The Gum-Suckers March" by Grainger, led by graduate student conductor Chris Mroczek; "Angels in the Architecture" by Ticheli; "Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral" by Wagner; "Trombone Concerto" by Mackey, featuring EIU trombone professor Jemmie Robertson; and "Hands Across the Sea" by Sousa.

The Eastern Illinois Wind Symphony, comprised of about 50 of EIU's finest undergraduate and graduate brass, woodwind and percussion students, performs significant literature for winds that is drawn from the major masterworks of the repertoire for the modern wind band, including chamber literature.

It is also actively involved in the commissioning of new works for wind band, as well as exploring new approaches to programming and performing.

The Eastern Illinois Wind Symphony is conducted by Barry L. Houser, acting director of bands at EIU.

Tickets -- $5 for the general public and $3 for students, senior citizens and EIU employees -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

The world-renowned Ahn Trio will make a return visit to Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center to premiere a work that was commissioned for them in memory of a former EIU administrator.

The concert, "An Ahn-core and a World Premiere," will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, in the Doudna's Dvorak Concert Hall.

The Ahn Trio first performed in the Doudna Fine Arts Center in 2009, and they are excited to return.

“We have played in all 50 states and in 30 countries around the world, and we would rank the Dvorak Concert Hall at EIU’s Doudna Fine Arts Center among the top 10 places we have ever played," the group said. "We love the acoustics and the sound of that hall!”

The focus of their visit will be the premiere of "Kapustin Trio No. 1 (Op. 136)," the work the Doudna Fine Arts Center commissioned from the Ahns and Russian composer Nikolai Kapustin.

The three-movement trio for violin, cello, and piano will honor the late Barbara Hill, a former EIU vice president and provost who once served as acting president of EIU and was extremely active in the community.

The commissioned work was funded by a group of private donors.

Once the work is premiered at the Doudna, it will be added to the artists' repertoire for future performances. It will always carry crediting information that celebrates the Doudna Fine Arts Center and honors Hill.

Kapustin has written a dozen works for chamber ensembles. All are difficult to play, but this composition is of the "utmost difficulty," Kapustin said.

"Therefore, any three persons who are gifted enough for overcoming all the difficulties existing in this trio may be safely considered heroes and decorated with an order for courage," Kapustin said.

The Ahn Trio is up to the challenge. Born in Seoul, Korea, and educated at the Juilliard in New York City, the members of the Ahn Trio (cellist Maria, pianist Lucia, and violinist Angella) are constantly redefining the art and architecture of chamber music.

Breathing new life into the standard piano-trio literature with commissioned works from visionary composers including Kapustin, Michael Nyman, Maurice Jarre, Pat Metheny, Paul Schoenfield, Mark O' Connor, Kenji Bunch and Paul Chihara, the Ahn Trio brings a new energy and excitement to the chamber music world.

Possessing an enviable combination of talent and style, they have long been natural subjects for the international press. They made their magazine premiere very early on in a Time cover story, "Asian American Whiz Kids"; appeared in Vogue and GQ, as well as in ad campaigns for GAP and Anne Klein; were named three of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 2003; and made the pages of Glamour this past summer.

Tickets -- $15 for the general public, $12 for EIU employees and senior citizens, and $7 for students -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

Eastern Illinois University's Choral Ensembles will celebrate Valentine's Day and more in its "Songs of Love" concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, in EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

"We decided to sing about love not only as a romantic attachment, but also about love that relates us to family, home, nature, memories, etc.," said Sergei Pavlov, who is directing the Choral Ensembles and the Eastern Symphony Orchestra while Richard Rossi is on sabbatical.

The Mixed Choir is to perform "David's Lamentation" by William Billings, "Sing Me to Heaven" by Daniel Gawthrop, "Three Madrigals" by Emma Lou Diemer, and "The Green Bushes" arranged by Alexander Tilley.

The Concert Choir's program is to include "Old Kentucky Home," "Old Folks at Home" and "Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming," all by Stephen Foster; "Comin' Thro' the Rye" arranged by Joseph Flummerfelt; and "Love" by Edward Elgar.

Pavlov, a native of Bulgaria, earned master's degrees in orchestral and choral conducting from the National Conservatory of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria. He taught conducting there from 2001 until 2004, when he moved to the United States.

Since 2008, he has been guest conductor of Classic FM Radio Symphony Orchestra in Bulgaria.

In the past five years, Pavlov has been the assistant conductor of the Illinois Opera Theater at Krannert Center at the University of Illinois, where he is a doctoral candidate. His teachers and mentors include the names of Miroslav Popsavov, Donald Schleicher, Fred Stoltzfus, Eduardo Diazmuñoz and Joseph Flummerfelt.

Other recent engagements include chorus master and assistant conductor of Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris and a 2010 conducting debut with the orchestra of the Spoleto Festival USA. This summer, Pavlov will return to the festival as an assistant conductor for the production of the opera "The Medium" by Giancarlo Menotti, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the composer.

Tickets -- $5 for the general public and $3 for students, senior citizens and EIU employees -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The concert will be held in the Dvorak Concert Hall. The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

Jeff Hamilton Trio

The Jeff Hamilton Trio will join the Eastern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble for a special performance during the upcoming EIU Jazz Festival.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, in the Dvorak Concert Hall in EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The concert is the only public performance scheduled during the two-day EIU Jazz Festival, in which visiting bands will perform, compete and participate in clinics.

The Jeff Hamilton Trio is comprised of Hamilton on drums, Tamir Hendelman on piano, and Christoph Luty on bass.

Hamilton displays exquisite musical judgment, knowing when to lie back to let the soloist shine, and when to goad a soloist on with accents and close interplay. He understands the eloquence of restraint -- he never over-plays -- and he has a knack for the appropriate fill or conversational accents, the telling gesture that supports and inspires soloists.

Hamilton has worked with Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson, Woody Herman, the LA4, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Monty Alexander and Diana Krall. Since 1985, he has co-led the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, and he has led his trio since the early 1990s. The current edition of the trio has been together since 2000.

Tickets -- $10 for the general public and $5 for students -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The EIU Jazz Festival is sponsored by the EIU music department. The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

The Kenyettá Dance Company will perform in the Doudna Fine Arts Center as part of African American Heritage Month activities at Eastern Illinois University.

The performance is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, in The Theatre.

Celebrated for its powerful stage presence and high energy, Indianapolis’ Kenyettá Dance Company has been hailed as an amazing and essential force in the local and regional dance scene.

Siblings Vanessa Owens and Nicholas Owens founded the Kenyettá Dance Company in 2004.

"We celebrate the teaching, composition and performance of dance," the group's materials explain. "We weave contemporary dance and music with the history, culture and traditions of African-Americans and the African diaspora."

At EIU, the 14-member Kenyettá Dance Company will present “Power,” consisting of all new works created by guest choreographers Nicole Clarke-Springer and Ronne Stone.

Tickets -- $10 for the general public; $7 for EIU employees and senior citizens; $5 for students -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

M-pact, which uses only human voices to create its trailblazing signature pop-jazz sound, will perform at Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center on Tuesday, Feb. 1.

The Los Angeles-based sextet has been hailed as "one of the best pop-jazz vocal groups in the world" by the San Francisco Chronicle, and their performance has been described as "a vocal wall of sound" by National Public Radio.

The group describes its sound as a combination of "the smooth soul of Stevie Wonder; the percussive power of Stomp; the funk and drive of Earth, Wind, & Fire; the hip licks of Take 6; and the brass bite of the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band."

Touring renowned fine arts halls and jazz festivals across four continents, m-pact has performed with many pop superstars, including Sheryl Crow, Boyz II Men, Kenny G, Liza Minnelli, Babyface, Rick Springfield and Jackson Browne. M-pact has also performed with jazz legends Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Bobby McFerrin, Take 6, the New York Voices, the Woody Herman Orchestra and the Maynard Ferguson Big Band.

Accolades have included Vocal Group of the Year from the L.A. Music Awards, Artist of the Year from the Seattle Music Awards, and National Champion of the Harmony Sweepstakes competition.

Each of m-pact's five studio recordings has also received rave reviews and multiple awards. In addition, their music has been used in TV themes and animated Disney feature films.

The 7 p.m. concert will be held in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Theatre on the EIU campus.

Tickets -- $10 for the general public, $7 for EIU employees and senior citizens, and $5 for students -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

The doors of Eastern Illinois University's Human Services building re-opened to faculty, staff and students early Thursday afternoon after an investigation of a "suspicious package" revealed no threat to the campus.

The building, which houses Health Services, the Counseling Center, Career Services and the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, was temporarily closed shortly before 9 a.m. as a precautionary measure after an employee reported receipt of a "suspicious" hand-delivered package.

According to Detective Kent Martin of the University Police Department, the building was reopened shortly after 1 p.m.

Responders from Charleston Fire and Rescue and the University of Illinois/Champaign Police Department bomb squad joined UPD in its investigation. An X-ray of the package revealed the contents to be safe.

"There are no indications that the university or its students, faculty, staff, visitors or buildings are or were in any danger," Martin said.

The campus community was alerted of the situation via e-mail, Facebook, Alert EIU (Eastern's emergency text-messaging system) and the EIU website.

"Eastern takes all threats seriously and investigates them thoroughly," said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs. "Our top priority is the continued safety of our EIU community."

Nadler also offered his thanks to emergency responders, expressing his appreciation for their quick response and cooperation.

According to Martin, an investigation into the incident will continue; however, he added, there is no indication of any criminal activity.

The Zeta Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Candlelight March and Tribute Monday, Jan. 17, on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

The themed event - "A Purpose-Driven Life" -- begins at 5:30 p.m. with a march from the Thomas Hall lobby to the Grand Ballroom, located in Eastern's MLK Jr. Union. The program there - scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. - will feature Michael Stapleton, founder of the New Generation Christian Youth Fellowship in Decatur, accompanied by a special guest choir.

Monday's program will also include two musical selections by EIU students.

Two awards will be presented -- the Alpha Image Award, given to a faculty/staff member who serves as a role model to Eastern's student body, and the Annie Singleton Award, given to a female student involved in campus organizations and community service.

Interested persons need not participate in the march to attend the program, although organizers invite all attendees to participate if weather and health allow.

Admission is free.

A Message from EIU President William L. Perry:

"This past fall semester, many individuals participated in discussions regarding a proposal from a faculty member regarding changing the name of Douglas Hall, which is part of the Lincoln-Stevenson-Douglas housing complex. The proposal was submitted in December to the University Naming Committee, which has student, faculty and staff membership. After thorough discussion, the committee did not recommend a change of the building name, and subsequently informed me of that action.

"My review of the proposal has included several actions on my part: review of the name change proposal; review of archival information from Booth Library regarding the initial naming of the Lincoln-Douglas housing complex in 1951; review of resolutions by the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate and the Residence Hall Association; reading of material regarding the political careers of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas and the letters of Stephen Douglas; attending the December 1 campus scholarly presentation by Professor Stewart Winger of Illinois State University; and review of correspondence, letters to newspapers and opinion pieces.

"After thorough consideration, I am affirming the University Naming Committee’s recommendation. However, the overall debate leads me to take specific action that will bring positive educational outcomes for the university community.

"The naming of the new residence halls in tandem as Lincoln and Douglas halls was recommended by means of motion, second and vote, to President Buzzard by action in the regular faculty meeting of February 6, 1951. According to the minutes of the meeting, the names were suggested 'in honor of the historical debate that took place in this community.' The president subsequently took the recommendation to the Illinois Teachers College Board for approval, which was granted.

"The campus discussions held this past fall lead me to conclude that we have not taken advantage of the Charleston debate as a way to educate our students about the role of the debates in our history, or about the larger issues surrounding antebellum Illinois and the United States at that time. Certainly, we have significant faculty expertise to bring to bear in such an effort.

"Therefore, I am asking our Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and our Vice President for Student Affairs to collaborate with our Graduate Program in Historical Administration, our Center for Translational Humanities and our Department of Housing to develop a historical display for the Lincoln-Stevenson-Douglas Complex that will address the issues mentioned above and others that may be pertinent. I am asking that the Coles County Historical Society be consulted during the display development. The display could, of course, be built to travel, so that it could be viewed at different campus installations, or even off campus (for example, the local Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum or nearby schools). I will use non-appropriated funds for the project.

"Other positive educational outcomes may exist. For example, the date of the Charleston Lincoln-Douglas debate was September 18. We currently hold activities on Constitution Day, September 17. Perhaps in tandem with Constitution Day, we could hold discussions, debate re-enactments, lectures or other scholarly activities.

'Universities must be places of open, free debate of issues and expression of opinion. Our experience this past fall shows that EIU is such a university. I thank the university community for civil discussion and debate of the renaming topic."

The Hot Club of San Francisco will revive a lost tradition when it presents "Silent Surrealism," an evening of silent films accompanied by original gypsy jazz scores, at Eastern Illinois University on Friday, Jan. 21.

The evening's events, which will be held in the Doudna Fine Arts Center, will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a free lecture and question-and-answer session in the Lecture Hall. The ticketed concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Dvorak Concert Hall.
"Silent Surrealism" brings to life the mid-20th century French countryside when gypsy caravans would set up camp; project silent films onto whatever surface was available; and play instruments, matching every scene with characteristic virtuosity, passion and humor.

The Hot Club of San Francisco is an ensemble of accomplished and versatile musicians celebrating the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli’s pioneering Hot Club de France, which was founded in 1934.

The ensemble borrows the all-string instrumentation of violin, bass and guitars from the original Hot Club, but breathes new life into the music with innovative arrangements of classic tunes and original compositions from the group’s superb lead guitarist Paul Mehling.

The San Francisco Chronicle has called The Hot Club of San Francisco "one of the most cohesive and entertaining gypsy swing bands in the United States," and their playing has been described as “intricate, scorching and often brilliant” by Acoustic Guitar magazine.

The following films are featured in "Silent Surrealism": "It’s a Bird" by Charlie Bowers (1930); "Now You Tell One," Bowers (1926); "The Fall of the House of Usher," James Sibley Watson and Melville Webber (1928); and "The Land Beyond the Sunset," The Edison Co. (1912).

The presentation is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Illinois Arts Council, General Mills Foundation and Land O’Lakes Foundation.

Tickets -- $15 for the general public, $12 for EIU employees and senior citizens, and $7 for students -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Eastern Illinois University's Booth Library invites the public to the opening reception and program for the exhibit "Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World."

The event will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, in the Marvin Foyer. Following opening remarks, join Benjamin Franklin, as portrayed by Fred Krebs, in "An Evening with Benjamin Franklin" in the West Reading Room.

The exhibit, "Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World," tells the remarkable story of the man who began his life as a poor printer's apprentice and ended it as a revered elder statesmen known throughout the world for his wisdom, wit and resourcefulness. Franklin 's achievements in diplomacy, science, philanthropy and other fields profoundly influenced the path of a new nation and continue to inspire us more than 300 years after his birth.

"Franklin has a particular resonance in 21st-century America," biographer Walter Isaacson has written. "We would relate to the way he tried to balance, sometimes uneasily, a pursuit of reputation, wealth, earthly virtues and spiritual values."

Although Franklin excelled at nearly everything he attempted, his first priority was to use his talents for the greater public good. He refused to seek a patent on his numerous inventions, believing that they should be universally available. As co-founder of a number of civic institutions, including America's first public hospital and first lending library, and Philadelphia's first firefighting brigade, Franklin continually encouraged his fellow citizens to collaborate in useful projects for the community.

"We are pleased to have been selected as a site for this exhibition," said Allen Lanham, dean of Booth Library. "Benjamin Franklin's life is the quintessential American success story. His dedication to the welfare of the community, and his belief that overcoming society's challenges required mutual action, collaboration and generosity on the part of all citizens, offers us inspiration as we face many difficult issues in contemporary American society. Benjamin Franklin has much to say to 21st-century Americans."

Franklin was the only American political figure to have signed five of his country's key founding documents: the Albany Plan of Union (1754), Declaration of Independence (1776), Treaties of Amity and Commerce with France (1778), Treaty of Paris (1783) and U.S. Constitution (1787). His last years were spent in writing his autobiography, the most widely published memoir in history, and in promoting the abolition of slavery. In 1787, three years before his death, Franklin became the oldest member of the Constitutional Convention. Although he was in poor health, he played a significant role in the "Great Compromise," which resulted in a legislature of two houses which is today the United States Congress.

Organized by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, Philadelphia, in cooperation with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office, "Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World" was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): great ideas brought to life. The traveling exhibit is based upon a major exhibit of the same name, developed by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, which has traveled to major cities in the United States and abroad (http://www.benfranklin300.org). The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary is a nonprofit organization established through a major grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts to educate the public about Franklin 's enduring legacy.

"Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World" draws upon original documents in the collections of the American Philosophical Society, The Franklin Institute, the Library Company of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the University of Pennsylvania, other museums and libraries, and private collectors. Photographs of handwritten and printed documents, objects owned by Franklin, maps, paintings and drawings provide a colorful background for Franklin's story. The traveling exhibition was curated by Rosalind Remer, Ph.D., executive director of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, and Page Talbott, Ph.D., associate director of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary and chief curator of the original "Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World" exhibition.

The library is sponsoring free programs and other events for the public in connection with the exhibition. Contact Jocelyn Tipton, head of Reference Services, at 217-581-7542 or jttipton@eiu.edu or visit http://www.library.eiu.edu for more information.

"Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World" will be on display at the library until February 25, 2011.

Students in grades 3 through 12 have until Jan. 17 to register for the 11th annual Students Involved with Technology Conference, taking place on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Eastern Illinois University.

The one-day event -- a unique technology conference for students, by students -- will take place from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and allow students to participate in technology workshops, learning from their peers, technology guest speakers, technology educators and mentors.

Students can choose from a wide variety of technology learning sessions and competitive activities. Students decide which sessions to attend from topics they wish to learn more about, including robotics, gaming, forensics, hardware and software topics, internet safety and much more. Students can also choose to be a SIT presenter and host a session teaching peers. Presenters develop a 20-minute session on a technology topic of their choice, create a handout for their session, and field questions and answers at the end of their presentation.

SIT strives to replicate an industry-level conference experience for its attendees, complete with an opening session keynote speaker, a selection of presentations and demonstrations, snack and lunch. The day concludes with a closing session with contest announcements, drawings and prizes.

Registration is $25 and includes a full day of sessions, a T-shirt, giveaways, snack and lunch. Details about registration are available on the SIT Conference website at http://www.sitconference.org . All SIT participants must pre-register by the deadline date. No registrations will be available at the door.

Each year the SIT Conference strives to expand its accessibility to regions across Illinois. This year's event will be hosted simultaneously at several sites throughout Illinois, including Carterville (Southern Illinois), DeKalb (Northern Illinois), Charleston (Eastern Illinois), Lincolnshire (North Chicago area) and Woodridge (South Chicago area). Anticipated student participation between all sites will reach more than 1,500.

The SIT Conference is sponsored through the Bloomington-Normal Education Alliance Technology Committee, with partners representing Eastern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Heartland Community College, Unit 5, District 87, Olympia Schools, Regional Office of Education, Bloomington Public Library and State Farm.

For additional information about the conference in Charleston, please contact Beth Craig at bcraig@eiu.edu or visit the conference website located at http://www.sitconference.org.

The honor of being named a recipient of Eastern Illinois University's Distinguished Faculty Award reaches beyond the borders of the campus, according to current recipient Janet Marquardt.

"Faculty here sometime have difficulty getting credibility within our respective fields," the professor of art history/women's studies, said. "Colleagues make the assumption we're here because we're not as good as those who might be working at a larger, research-oriented institution."

"This type of award helps a lot to dispel that misconception," she added.

Marquardt, who began teaching at Eastern nearly 25 years ago, will officially be recognized for the EIU Faculty Senate-sponsored honor during a Commencement ceremony on Dec. 18. Criteria for the award mandate that nominees excel in the areas of teaching/performance of primary duties, research/creative activity and service.

And Marquardt has done it all.

Her students represent undergraduate and graduate students alike -- some art majors, some not. Many of her courses are delivered in the traditional classroom; however, Marquardt is not opposed to more contemporary teaching methods. In fact, she's a pioneer of sorts, having developed the first EIU telecourse -- "Art of Past Cultures" -- for the School of Adult and Continuing Education in 1990.

She's also been actively involved in spreading her knowledge outside of EIU's Charleston campus. In addition to leading study abroad programs, including art- and culture-focused visits to London and Paris, Marquardt serves as a visiting professor/researcher at other far-away campuses (e.g., the University of Poitiers in France and Trinity College in Dublin). She plans to spend Fall 2011 at Harlaxton College in England.

Her well-traveled status is compounded by the dozens of conferences she's attended and/or presentations she's given all over the world, including France, England, Ireland, Portugal, Canada, Switzerland and Scotland.

Marquardt has authored three books -- with a contract out for a fourth -- and she's served on committees and/or boards at the university, community, national and international levels.

She refuses to rest on her laurels, however, as she looks forward to one of her newest challenges as director of Eastern's newly formed Center for Translational Humanities (CTH).

The center is not an actual building or office -- at least not yet, Marquardt adds -- but, rather, a method of bringing together scholars and audiences from humanities disciplines for open communication (i.e., "translating" ideas). Programs sponsored by the center "will strive to foster creativity, engender tolerance and spark further dialogue."

"Today, the humanities -- fields of academic study including philosophy, history, literature and languages -- have been broadened to include cross-disciplinary relationships with the fine arts and social sciences," Marquardt said. "These individual fields, while offering unique and productive insights of their own, all share in the pursuit of teaching open communication, critical inquiry and thoughtful reflection."

2010-2011 events include a panel on historic preservation, a talk on how geography affects architectural history, an exhibition and lecture by a photo-journalist celebrating the role of women in contemporary society, and a film about how the world's rich fabric of diverse languages is disappearing.

(More on the CTH can be found at http://www.eiu.edu/humanitiescenter .)

Nearly 600 summer and fall graduates plan to participate in Eastern Illinois University's Fall 2010 commencement ceremonies, scheduled to take place Saturday, Dec. 18, in Lantz Arena.

Ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Guest tickets are required for admission.

Graduating seniors from the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences and the College of Arts and Humanities will march in the morning ceremony, while students from the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Sciences and the School of Continuing Education (Bachelor of Arts in General Studies Degree) will march in the afternoon. Graduate students will march with their respective colleges.

President William L. Perry will preside over the ceremonies. Music will be provided by the EIU Wind Symphony.

Jim Evans, an acknowledged industry leader in management and global hospitality and a 2002 recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the EIU Alumni Association, will present the "Charge to the Class" during both ceremonies.

Also addressing graduates will be Faculty Senate Chairperson John Henry Pommier and Student Body President Michelle Murphy.

Representing Eastern's Board of Trustees will be Aaron T. Wiessing of Sigel at 10 a.m. and Leo Welch of O'Fallon at 1 p.m.

Traditionally, a commencement marshal leads the commencement procession while carrying the university mace, a symbol of honor accorded a faculty member. The commencement marshal for the 10 a.m. ceremony will be Scott Meiners who, as an associate professor of biological sciences, will represent the Graduate School. Representing the School of Continuing Education at 1 p.m. will be Godson Obia, professor of geology/geography and associate dean of Eastern's College of Sciences.

An EIU tradition also allows faculty members the honor of carrying the college banner for his/her college during the procession.

This year's faculty marshals for the morning ceremony are Rendong Bai, associate professor, School of Technology, representing the Graduate School and the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences; Bill Wootton, professor, School of Business, representing the LCBAS; William Hubschmitt, professor, art, representing the Graduate School and the College of Arts and Humanities; and Roger B. Beck, professor, history, representing the CAH.

This year's faculty marshals for the afternoon ceremony are Frank Mullins, associate professor, special education, representing the Graduate School and the College of Education and Professional Studies; Kathleen Phillips, professor, health studies, representing the CEPS; Andrew Mertz, associate professor, mathematics and computer science, representing the Graduate School and the College of Sciences; Joan Henn, professor, mathematics and computer science, representing the COS; and Jeanne Snyder, associate dean, LCBAS, representing the School of Continuing Education.

Olivia Buttram, a psychology major from Charleston, will serve as Honors College banner marshal during both ceremonies.

Charles G. Eberly has been selected as Eastern Illinois University's 2010 Luis Clay Mendez Distinguished Service Award recipient for his contributions in the area of service to the community, the university and his discipline.

This award, presented by the Faculty Senate, honors the memory of Mendez, an EIU professor in Spanish who died in 2003. Eberly will formally receive the award at a Fall 2010 EIU commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 18.

Eberly has been a part of the faculty at EIU since 1987 in the Department of Counseling and Student Development. Letters of support reveal that his contributions have had far-reaching effects.

In his letter nominating Eberly for the award, Mark Koepsell, executive director/CEO for the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values and a 1992 EIU alumnus, wrote that "(Eberly) is more than a professor. He takes on the role of a lifetime mentor and support system for those of us lucky enough to learn under his tutelage."

In his letter of support, John D. Foubert, an associate professor at Oklahoma State University, wrote "Generations of graduate students, new professionals and seasoned leaders have him to thank for his mentoring."

Foubert wondered how many lives Eberly had touched -- both directly and indirectly -- through his teaching and service. "His impact on the profession is simply, quite profound," Foubert noted.

Eberly's service extends beyond the mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students. His vita illustrates the extraordinary amount of service Eberly has provided.

Over the course of his career, he has served in the Charleston Rotary, as chapter adviser for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, has been active in Habitat for Humanity, served on numerous editorial boards for academic refereed journals, served on EIU's Faculty Senate and other university committees, participated in the EIU Reads program, served as an EIU Faculty Fellow since the program's inception, and has received an impressive number of awards for his service.

"It is through all of these accomplishments that Dr. Charles Eberly has become an outstanding candidate for the Luis Clay Mendez Distinguished Service Award," wrote Bob Dudolski, interim dean of Student Life at Culver-Stockton College.

Looking out at the standing-room only crowd Monday night, former Illinois governor Jim Edgar recalled the first time he set foot in the Booth Library room that was now being dedicated in his honor.

He was a fifth-grader in Eastern Illinois University's lab school when he first ventured into what was then the browsing room, where he loved looking at the new books on display. It was difficult to check those books out -- especially for a fifth-grader, Edgar joked -- but he was sometimes successful in doing so.

During the ceremony Monday, the room was officially dedicated as the Edgar Room in honor of Jim and Brenda Edgar's outstanding contributions to the people of Illinois and to EIU. They are both EIU graduates.

The room now contains a collection of documents, photos and other mementos that tell the story of their long and distinguished careers in public service, including his two terms as governor. Many other governmental resources are housed there, as well.

Edgar said he was honored that this particular room will now carry their name.

"I've always loved this room, with its wood paneling," Edgar said. "To me, this was the best room in the most beautiful building on campus."

The contents are very special to him, as well.

"These pictures bring back a lot of memories," Edgar said, bringing special attention to a photo of him as a child posing with his mother, Betty Edgar, who was later employed as a clerk at Eastern. "This university meant a lot to her, too."

Edgar, a Charleston native, said that many of the people attending played a big role in his life and in this particular honor.

"Many of you who are here really take credit for me getting a room named after me here," Edgar said. "You can only be as good as the people around you, and I was very fortunate from an early age to be surrounded by wonderful people."

The experiences he had at EIU, especially being elected student body president, gave him the edge to succeed in the political world, he said.

"Eastern has meant a lot to us," Edgar said. "If I'd have gone to any other university, I don't believe I'd have been governor."

Eastern graduates have a long history of serving the public, Edgar said, adding that he hopes that the Edgar Room will serve as a venue for speeches, discussions and "for people to think about how they can serve."

"I am confident that this university will continue to contribute much to this state and this nation," Edgar said.

While introducing Edgar, EIU President Bill Perry said that he believes that the opportunities provided by the Edgar Room will lead other students to emulate Edgar's outstanding record of public service.

EIU President Bill Perry. left, presented Jim and Brenda Edgar with a replica of the former governor's portrait that hangs in the Illinois State Capitol. (Photo by Bev Cruse)

Perry also presented a gift to the Edgars: a reproduction of Edgar's official portrait that hangs in the Illinois State Capitol's Hall of Governors.

"This is great -- I won't have to drive over to the State Capitol every week," Edgar joked.

Edgar took a moment to point out some trivia about the portrait. Brenda Edgar's photo sits on a mantle behind him, making Edgar the only governor to include his wife in his official portrait. Also, in the painting of the Lincoln-Douglas debate in the background, Edgar had the artist, William Chambers, include the Edgars' two grandchildren as audience members. The only problem is that they now have five grandchildren, Edgar said with a smile.

Following the dedication of the Edgar Room, the Edgars attended a lecture by The Washington Post's Dan Balz. His speech, "What Next for Washington and the States," was made possible by the Edgar Lecture Series, which was established by the Edgars in 2007 in one of the many ways they've given back to EIU.

The Edgar Lecture Series allows the university to host two speakers a year -- one in the fall and one in the spring. Lectures focus primarily on state government and address current issues in state government and their historical implications. The Edgars personally launched the series, with the former governor speaking in Fall 2007 and Mrs. Edgar taking her turn behind the lectern in Spring 2008.

The Eastern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble will present a wide variety of jazz in its Dec. 10 concert, which will feature many excellent student soloists as well as a faculty trumpeter.

The concert is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Theatre.

Among the selections are fresh arrangements of well-known standards, including Duke Ellington’s "It Don't Mean a Thing"; a very contemporary piece titled "Among the Pyramids"; a beautiful arrangement of "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming"; and many other traditional and contemporary pieces for big band.

New Assistant Professor of Trumpet Andrew Cheetham will be featured on an arrangement of the jazz classic "All the Things You Are" that was originally written for trumpet great Bobby Shew.

 The EIU Jazz Ensemble is directed by Sam Fagaly. The group has received numerous awards, including Outstanding Ensemble and Solo Performance citations at the Notre Dame and Elmhurst College jazz festivals, as well as Downbeat magazine's prestigious "DB" award.

The band recently released a CD titled "Three O’Clock Downbeat," which will be available for purchase at the concert. The group has been featured at many conferences and festivals, including the Illinois Music Educators Association conference and the International Association for Jazz Educators convention.

Each year, the EIU Jazz Ensemble performs with special guest artists, which have included legendary figures such as Mel Torme, Dizzy Gillespie, Diane Schuur and Joe Williams.

Tickets -- $5 for the general public, and $3 for EIU employees, senior citizens and students -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities.

Take a fresh look at a holiday favorite with "It's a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio Theatre," a staged production about four 1940s radio actors' presentation of the classic story.

Two performances are scheduled in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Theatre on the Eastern Illinois University campus: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12.

The show, produced by the North Carolina Stage Company and Immediate Theatre Project, takes the audience back to the golden age of radio via the WVL studio's "live broadcast" of Frank Capra's beloved film.

When the “On Air” sign lights up, the heartwarming holiday classic comes to life through the bygone radio formula of a few hardworking actors, live sound effects and a listener’s imagination.

"It's a Wonderful Life" is the uplifting and bittersweet tale of George Bailey’s close call with death on Christmas Eve, of how important and special he is to all those around him, and what the world would have missed had he not been born. It’s a story about the people of Bedford Falls; about neighbors, friends and family; and about the difference one person makes in so many others’ lives.

The 1946 movie was nominated for five Academy Awards. The American Film Institute has ranked it as No. 11 in the list of the 100 best American films ever made, as well as naming it the most inspirational American film of all time.

"This pared-down stage version reminds us of everything we love about the movie," a reviewer wrote in the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer. "The radio theater approach fits the period, and, far from distracting us, refreshes dialogue most viewers already know by heart. Portrayals are clear, earnest and deeply felt."

Tickets -- $15 for the general public, $12 for EIU employees and senior citizens, and $7 for students -- may be purchased in person at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events -- as well as a video clip of "It's a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio Theatre" -- please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The past few years have been exciting ones, politically, and national correspondent Dan Balz wants to talk about them.

"We've just been through a historic election, just two years after another historic election, and I want to use my time at Eastern Illinois University to talk about what we've been through and what the choices are for those in power in Washington for the next few years," he said.

Balz will present "What Next for Washington and the States" -- the sixth lecture in the Edgar Lecture Series at EIU - at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, in the Theatre of the Doudna Fine Arts Center. Admission is free and open to the public.

A reception will follow the presentation in the center's concourse. Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar who, along with his wife, Brenda, established the lecture series, is expected to attend both events.

"I know that Governor Edgar is deeply interested in the implications of these elections and of the economic recession on the states, and he knows that I spend some of my time paying attention to what governors are doing," Balz continued. "This was an especially significant election for the states because of the huge turnover in governors and the gains made by Republicans in state legislature. So I want to include some time to talk about that as well."

Balz said he got to know Edgar when he was governor.

"I usually try to attend the winter and summer meetings of the National Governors Association and use the time in part to get to know the politicians leading state governments. In that capacity, I interviewed Governor Edgar, as did my colleague David Broder, another student of the states, numerous times during his time in office. (I) always found (Edgar) to be candid, insightful and helpful, illuminating the challenges states were facing."

The Edgar Lecture Series, established in 2007, demonstrates a continuing support by the Edgars of their alma mater. The series allows the university to host two speakers a year -- one in the fall and one in the spring. Lectures are to focus primarily on state government and address current issues in state government and their historical implications.

The Edgars personally launched the series, with the former governor speaking in Fall 2007 and Mrs. Edgar taking her turn behind the lectern in Spring 2008.

Balz joined The Washington Post in 1978 and has been involved in the paper's political coverage as a reporter or editor ever since. In addition to his political reporting, he has served as the Post's national editor, covered the White House during the first Bush administration, and has written extensively about Congress.

The Freeport, Ill., native is also a regular panelist on PBS's "Washington Week," and has been a frequent guest on PBS's "News Hour with Jim Lehrer," NBC's "Meet the Press," CBS's "Face the Nation," and many other programs.

Balz is also co-author, with Haynes Johnson, of the best-selling book, "The Battle for America 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election," a narrative history of the 2008 campaign that includes behind-the-scene accounts of the campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain based on exclusive interviews with major participants.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra and Eastern Illinois University Choral Ensembles, along with special guests from Charleston High School, will present their "Holiday Concert" on Sunday, Dec. 5.

The concert will begin at 4 p.m. in Dvorak Concert Hall in EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The Charleston High School Advanced Chorus, under the direction of Juliane Sharp, will join the choirs and orchestra on John Rutter’s "Gloria."

The program will also include Philip Lane's "Wassail Dances" ("Somerset Wassail," "Yorkshire Wassail" and "Gloustershire Wassail"), as well as Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Fantasia on Christmas Carols," with solos by baritone Jay Ivey and cellist Ka-Wai Yu, both EIU music faculty members.

Seating is reserved. Tickets -- $12 for the general public, $10 for EIU employees and senior citizens, and $5 for students -- may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Higher tuition rates will no longer be a deterrent for prospective out-of-state students wishing to attend Eastern Illinois University.

The EIU Board of Trustees on Friday approved a tuition rate change for all undergraduate students from the five states bordering Illinois - Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin - from three times the in-state rate to the in-state rate.

The change will take effect in Fall 2011.

Previously, Eastern assessed undergraduates from any state the in-state rate only if they met Honors College admissions standards.  That policy will continue.

However, in an effort to be more competitive for new students, EIU President Bill Perry on Friday recommended to trustees that the in-state tuition rate also be extended to all undergraduates in the five bordering states.

Similar moves have or are being considered by many other schools - both in and outside of Illinois -- in an effort to recruit more students.  This past year, for example, Indiana State University increased its applicant pool by 1,000 individuals due, in part, to offering Illinois applicants in-state tuition there.

"Clearly, we must do everything we can to increase the number of Illinois residents who apply to Eastern, but with out-of-state institutions becoming very aggressive in recruiting our students, we need to consider doing more," said Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Fall 2010 figures at EIU reflect an on-campus enrollment of 10,511 and an off-campus count of 1,119 for a total of 11,630.  A year ago, the number of students taking on- and off-campus classes was 10,788 and 1,178, respectively, for a total enrollment of 11,966 -- very near EIU's optimum enrollment of 12,000.

Eastern's current enrollment from the five bordering states includes Indiana, 45; Iowa, 7; Kentucky, 7; Missouri, 26 and Wisconsin, 18.

George Lesica, assistant to the dean of the EIU College of Sciences, and Linda Ghent, chair of the EIU economics department, have collaborated with a former colleague to create "The Economics of Seinfeld," a website that shows how "Seinfeld" clips can be used to illustrate economic principles.

For being about a show about nothing, an Eastern Illinois University professor's "Economics of Seinfeld" website sure is garnering a lot of attention.

The site -- www.YadaYadaYadaEcon.com -- describes how about 90 different "Seinfeld" clips can be used to illustrate economic principles. It is run by Linda S. Ghent, chair of the EIU economics department; George Lesica, assistant to the dean of the EIU College of Sciences; and Alan Grant, a former EIU economics faculty member who now teaches at Baker University.

"The Economics of Seinfeld" went online in the spring, but it was a talk Ghent gave at Berry College in October that started a media frenzy, after a professor there blogged about the site. The recent flurry of publicity -- including mentions on blogs on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and The Economist, as well as a short news story in the print edition of the New York Daily News -- has brought the site as many as 30,000 page views per day.

"Once the word started spreading, it spread like wildfire," Ghent said. "We've been contacted by a literary agent, so now we're going to write a book."

Ghent teaches an honors section of an EIU senior seminar course called Pop Culture Economics, in which she uses clips from many TV shows, including "Grey's Anatomy," "House," "Boston Legal" and "King of Queens." But "Seinfeld" is by far her favorite sitcom to use in class.

"I think the episodes are timeless," Ghent said of the series that ran from 1989 to 1998. "The students all know the show still. There's no other show out there that has the cult following but also can last throughout the ages.

"It's kind of neat to be able to show students that economics is everywhere, and it's not dry and boring. It's about decision-making and life."

The most popular "Seinfeld" clip among students is from the "Soup Nazi" episode, in which a soup counter owner demands that his customers follow strict ordering rules if they want to have the privilege of buying his soup.

The website explains how the episode illustrates two economic principles, barriers to entry and monopoly power: "The Soup Nazi makes delicious soup -- so good there's always a line outside his shop. He refuses service to Elaine, and by a stroke of luck she comes across his stash of soup recipes. She visits his shop and informs him that his soup monopoly is broken, while waving his recipes in his face. Also in this clip, George gets charged $2 for a roll that everyone else gets for free. This example of price discrimination shows that in order to charge different customers different prices, you must have market power."

Another well-known episode, "The Bottle Deposit," illustrates arbitrage, fixed costs, incentives and variable costs: "Kramer and Newman hatch a scheme to arbitrage bottles from New York, where the deposit is 5 cents, to Michigan, where the deposit is 10 cents. They can't figure out how to make the costs work; gas is too expensive (variable costs), and there's too much overhead (fixed costs of tolls, permits, etc.) with using a semi to haul the bottles in volume. Finally, they hatch a scheme to use a mail truck, which lowers their variable and fixed costs to zero."

And the subject of tipping gets its due in "The Calzone," which addresses altruism, incentives and utility: "George puts a dollar in the tip jar at the pizzeria, but the counterman's head was turned and he didn't see it. George laments that it cost him a dollar, but he got no credit for it. His altruism is not pure -- he gets utility not from giving, but from getting credit for giving."

The clips spark discussion among students, which is the whole point, Ghent said.

"The students can see the real-life application very quickly," she said. "They serve as wonderful examples of the material we're teaching, and the students remember it when they leave. In fact, they start looking for economics whenever they watch TV, which is great."

The community is invited to learn more about health topics and area health resources at the 13th annual Health Fair at Eastern Illinois University on Wednesday, Nov. 17.

The free event, set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center, is to feature 65 vendors from EIU and the Charleston community. Door prizes will be awarded.

The Health Fair, sponsored by EIU's Health Service and Health Education Resource Center, provides an opportunity for vendors to raise awareness of their organizations, as well as an opportunity for attendees to gain a greater understanding of their personal health and where they can go to increase their health and wellness.

For more information, contact Catherine Bocke at herc-pr_marketing@eiu.edu or 217-581-7786, or see the website at http://eiu.edu/herc/healthfair.php.

Several guest artists, including the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra, will join the Eastern Symphony Orchestra for its "Ovations" concert at Eastern Illinois University on Sunday, Nov. 14.

The concert will begin at 4 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

The Champaign-based East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra, directed by Kevin Kelly, is a program of The Conservatory of Central Illinois, the only not-for-profit community music school in downstate Illinois.

Three EIU music faculty members will perform solos: Rebecca Johnson, "Serenade for Strings" by Howard Hanson on flute; Magie Smith, "Concertino in E flat, opus 26" by Carl Weber on clarinet; and Anna Cromwell, "Move II" from Mozart’s "Violin Concerto #4 in D Major, K. 218" on violin.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Richard Robert Rossi, will also be accompanied by student pianist Derek Maninfior on "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" by Sergei Rachmaninoff in memory of former EIU music faculty member W. David Hobbs.

Seating is reserved. Tickets -- $12 for the general public, $10 for EIU employees and senior citizens, and $5 for students -- may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Eastern Illinois University's Department of Theatre Arts will present "Translations," a hauntingly lyrical play that deals with many issues, including language's effect on the soul of a nation.

Performances are set for 7 p.m. Nov. 12, 13, 15 and 16, as well as 2 p.m. Nov. 14, in the Black Box Theatre of EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The play was written by Brian Friel, the acclaimed playwright of "Dancing at Lughnasa."

"Translations," set in 1833 Ireland, tells of the British army’s campaign to replace the native Gaelic with English. Against a beautiful backdrop, a British lieutenant sent to anglicize the country falls in love with an Irish girl, the language he is supposed to suppress, and Ireland itself.

EIU's production is directed by Jean Wolski, with set and light design by David Wolski. Elyse Waggoner, a student from Lawrenceville, is in charge of costume design, under the direction of EIU theatre arts professor Karen Eisenhour. Shelly Hanson, a student from Morris, is serving as dramaturg for the production under the supervision of theatre arts Associate Professor Christopher Mitchell, thanks to a grant from the Honors College.

Tickets are $12 for the general public, $10 for EIU employees and senior citizens, and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Eastern Illinois University Wind Symphony will salute past and present members of the U.S. armed forces with "A Call to Duty: A Veterans Day Tribute" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11.

All active-duty military members and veterans will be admitted free to the concert, which will be held in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

The Wind Symphony, conducted by Barry L. Houser, will perform several patriotic musical selections: "The Star Spangled Banner" by John Stafford Smith; "Early Light" by Carolyn Bremer; "Suite of Old American Dances" by Robert Russell Bennett; "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" by Claude T. Smith; "Duty, Honor, Country" by Harold Walters; "Armed Forces Salute" by Bob Lowden; "Battle Hymn of the Republic," arranged by Peter Wilhousky; and "The Stars and Striper Forever" by John Philip Sousa.

Tickets -- $5 for the general public; $3 for EIU employees, senior citizens and students -- may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.
The concert is presented by the EIU Department of Music.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

EIU graduate Tom Nevill performs with Tunkul Percusiones Mexico.

Tunkul Percusiones Mexico, a percussion ensemble that re-creates pre-Hispanic music with the help of an Eastern Illinois University alumnus, will perform at EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center on Nov. 9.

The concert is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall.

"The Charleston community will get a chance to experience a percussion performance focusing on the sounds and instruments of an ancient arts culture and heritage that will leave them wanting to hear more," said Tunkul member Tom Nevill, a 1998 graduate of EIU's music department.

Tunkul Percusiones Mexico began in 2005 as a project to research the instruments and traditions of music among the Mayan, Aztec and other pre-Hispanic cultures in the Mexico area (Mesoamerica).

"The instruments are modern recreations of the instruments that were thoroughly researched by (Tunkul director) David Lopez in the Mexico City library, based upon the drawings and detailed notes recorded by the Spanish conquerors," Nevill said.

The compositional work also follows criteria found through research to resemble the music of pre-Hispanic cultures.
Nevill, who has been a member of Tunkul for a year, said he enjoys the uniqueness of the group and the "incredible musicians" he gets to work with.

Nevill serves as assistant professor of music and director of percussion studies at The University of Texas at Brownsville, where he oversees all percussion activities. He said he looks forward to visiting his alma mater, where as a student he was involved with EIU's percussion ensemble, drumline and orchestra.

"My time at EIU provided the foundation of my academic, musical and professional life," Nevill said. "I am very excited about performing again at EIU and in the new Doudna Fine Arts Center. I have not had a chance to see the new facilities. I have heard so many great things about it."

After graduating from EIU, Nevill went on to earn a master’s degree in percussion performance and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society, for which he served as chair of the PAS Scholarly Research Committee from 2007 to 2009. He is active throughout the United States and Mexico as a performer, clinician, educator and scholar.

Tunkul Percusiones Mexico has performed concerts and presented lectures and clinics at universities, lecture series and festivals in the United States and Mexico.

Starting in September 2009, the group's music was used in the four-month exhibition "Moctezuma: Aztec Ruler" at the British Museum in London.

Tickets, which are $5 each, may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Eight local residents and Eastern Illinois University students have been selected to join Broadway stars and an all-star New York band on stage in the "100 Years of Broadway" concert at EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center on Saturday, Oct. 30.

Singers auditioned for an opportunity to participate in the musical revue by recording videos of themselves singing show tunes and submitting them online.

"The production manager for the show said they had about 18 submissions from our region for the show, which is pretty high since they usually get an average of around 10," said Dwight Vaught, director of the Doudna Fine Arts Center. "He said the quality was also high, leading to a large number of selected entries."

One winner and seven runners-up were chosen.

The winner was Meg Borah, 18, of Charleston, who will sing a solo part in the show finale. She is a freshman at EIU, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences.

The runners-up, who will sing one chorus number with the five Broadway stars, included two local residents: Savannah Stowell, 13, of Charleston is a student at Charleston Middle School; Tracy Harpster, 36, a Neoga native who now lives in Mattoon, is pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing from EIU.

Five other EIU students were also chosen as runners-up: Mariam Amr, 21, of Normal, a senior majoring in communication disorders and sciences; Ashley McHugh, 22, of Roscoe, a senior majoring in music; Sarah Holman, 23, of Galesburg, a senior majoring in music; Ash Christine Elkins, 19, of Aurora, a sophomore majoring in journalism; and Jayna Evans, 18, of Homer Glen a freshman majoring in foreign languages who will be unable to perform due to a previous commitment.

"100 Years of Broadway" recreates the greatest moments from the finest shows of the century, from brilliantly revived arrangements of Broadway classics to thrilling numbers from Broadway's newest hit shows.

Along with musical director and pianist Neil Berg, the production is to feature Rita Harvey (Christine Daee, "Phantom of the Opera"), Ray McLeod (Wreck, "Wonderful Town"), Carter Calvert (Grizabella, "Cats"), Danny Zolli (Jesus, "Jesus Christ Superstar") and Erick Buckley (Jean Valjean, "Les Miserables"). The cast is subject to change based on Broadway and touring developments.

Tickets, which are $20 each, may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

"So we come together tonight, EIU family and friends, to put a stake in the ground, to make a statement. We say today, We will expect greatness of ourselves and our university.'"

With these words, Eastern Illinois University President Bill Perry on Friday officially ushered in the beginning of "EI&U: The Campaign for Eastern" - a university-wide capital campaign designed to raise $50 million for student, faculty, facility and program support.

"We make this statement in the context of a university that arose from humble beginnings, that from those beginnings has been the doorway to opportunity for generations of students, and continues today to be an engine of opportunity," Perry continued.

"This university sprang from prairie soil in a culture of rolled up sleeves and can do' attitude. As it evolved from the noble legacy of normal school to state college to state university, the roots of excellence, personal relationships, opportunity and service nourished a dynamic community of students, faculty and staff that has achieved at the highest level regardless of what challenges came our way."

Perry's remarks fell upon the ears of approximately 270 of Eastern's most generous alumni and friends, gathered on campus for an event coinciding with the university's 2010 Homecoming celebration.

Robert Martin, vice president for university advancement, explained that after months of planning, the campaign has now entered the public phase of the first comprehensive capital campaign ever conducted on the EIU campus.

"This is our first total university-wide approach, combining academics with athletics, to fundraising," he said.

However, there's more to "EI&U: The Campaign for Eastern" than just hoped-for funds.

"When universities launch campaigns, the focus is usually on the financial goals. But I believe that is short-sighted," Perry said. "This campaign lays a foundation for much more than the financial future of EIU. That is why we have three goals in this campaign: Develop more of the enduring relationships that are an EIU tradition, but must grow; develop more volunteers in support of EIU's programs; and, yes, achieve a significant monetary goal in support of students, faculty, programs, and facilities."

Julie Nimmons, campaign chairman and a member of EIU's Board of Trustees, also spoke at Friday's event.

"Through this campaign, you and I have an opportunity to change students' lives and help shape their dreams," she said. "By being a part of this campaign, you and I can continue to expect greatness of ourselves and demonstrate our appreciation to the university which impacted us."

Seventeen others - all alumni and/or friends of the university - join Nimmons, of Litchfield, on the campaign steering committee: Timothy and Vickie (Krupp) Burke, Evanston; Max and Mary Cougill, Charleston; Judy Ethell, Chesterfield, Mo.; Daryll Fletcher, Mundelein; Bob Glover, Chicago; Robert Ingram, Durham, N.C.; Charles Keller, Effingham; Jeffrey Knezovich, Naperville; Herbert and Lynnette Jane Lasky, Ashmore; Richard A. Lumpkin, Mattoon; Carl T. Mito, Arlington Heights; Tony Romo, Dallas, Texas; Paul Snyder, Oro Valley, Ariz.; and Charles W. Witters, Las Vegas, Nev.

Those wishing for more information on the campaign, or who wish to inquire about giving opportunities, should contact Karla Evans, director of EIU's Office of Philanthropy, at kjevans@eiu.edu , 217-581-3315.

Representatives from school districts throughout Illinois and beyond will be seeking new employees at the upcoming Fall Education Job Fair at Eastern Illinois University.

Anyone who is or will be qualified for the positions offered is invited to the free job fair, which is set for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, in the MLK Jr. Union's Grand Ballroom. It is sponsored by EIU Career Services.

School district representatives will be seeking candidates for teaching, administrative and support services positions. A list of participating schools and available jobs is available online at http://www.eiu.edu/careers/falleducationjobfair.php.

Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and bring plenty of resumes. The website provides more tips for making the job fair a success.

For more information, contact Jennifer Peterson, career counselor/coordinator, at 581-7073 or japeterson@eiu.edu.

Linda Birnbaum

The nationally lauded director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program will visit Eastern Illinois University on Tuesday, Oct. 26.

Linda Birnbaum will present a lecture on research, "A Good Start Lasts a Lifetime," at 2 p.m. in Lumpkin Auditorium (2030 Lumpkin Hall). The public is invited to attend.

Birnbaum will also meet with students and faculty throughout the day, and then serve as the keynote speaker for the EIU Women in Science and Mathematics "You Can Have It All" program for female EIU students.

This month, Birnbaum was elected to the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, which is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. The honor recognizes those who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

In 2009, Birnbaum began her tenure as the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences' fifth director in its 43-year history. Birnbaum oversees a $730 million budget that funds multidisciplinary biomedical research programs, as well as prevention and intervention efforts that encompass training, education, technology transfer and community outreach.

The mission of the NIEHS is to reduce the burden of human illness and disability by understanding how the environment influences the development and progression of human disease. NIEHS is located in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Birnbaum is also an adjunct professor in the School of Public Health, the Toxicology Curriculum, and the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, as well as in the Integrated Toxicology Program at Duke University.

Prior to her NIEHS appointment, she was a senior adviser at the Environmental Protection Agency, where she has served for 16 years as director of the Experimental Toxicology Division.

A native of New Jersey, Birnbaum earned her master's degree and doctorate in microbiology from the University of Illinois, Urbana. She is a board-certified toxicologist and has served as a federal scientist for nearly 29 years -- the first 10 of those at NIEHS -- first as a senior staff fellow at the NTP, then as a principal investigator and research microbiologist, and finally as a group leader for the Institute’s Chemical Disposition Group.

Birnbaum has received numerous awards, including the Women in Toxicology Elsevier Mentoring Award, the Society of Toxicology Public Communications Award, EPA’s Health Science Achievement Award and Diversity Leadership Award, and 12 Science and Technology Achievement Awards, which reflect the recommendations of EPA’s external Science Advisory Board, for specific publications.

The author of more than 600 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, abstracts and reports, Birnbaum’s research focuses on the pharmacokinetic behavior of environmental chemicals; mechanisms of actions of toxicants, including endocrine disruption; and linking of real-world exposures to effects.

A week-long series of events in celebration of Homecoming 2010 at Eastern Illinois University will culminate Saturday, Oct. 23, with a fun-filled day of activities and a visit from "The King."

Mattoon resident Scott Wattles, a.k.a. Elvis Presley, will serve as grand marshal for this year's parade, while dozens of floats, flatbeds and other entries reflect, too, this year's Las Vegas-based Homecoming theme of "EIU Bets on Blue."

Early risers can prepare for the day with a warm meal, courtesy of the Charleston Rotary Club and EIU. Serving for the 11th annual pancake breakfast will take place from 6:30 to (approximately) 11 a.m. in the parking lot of Domino's Pizza, located at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Seventh Street. Prices are $6 for adults and $3 for children under 10. The menu includes pancakes, sausage, milk and coffee.

All proceeds from the breakfast will go to support local Rotary projects, including "I Like Me" books, presented to Charleston first-graders in order to promote reading skills and self-esteem. Each book is personalized with a student's name, their friends' names, teacher's name, etc., woven into the story.

With their appetites taken care of, individuals can then cheer on their favorite athletes as they participate in the 11th annual EIU/Charleston 2.5K (1.5-mile) Homecoming race, which begins at 9 a.m. Runners/walkers will begin at the corner of Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue, make their way north on Seventh Street to the Charleston Square, then return to EIU's Old Main via Sixth Street.

The entry fee is $9. Awards will be presented, and McDonald's will provide gift packs (including food and drink) to all participants. Prizes will be given for best full-body costumes. (Anyone interested in participating should contact John Henry Pommier at 217-581-6597.)

For the second consecutive year, parade participants will experience a modification to the route traditionally used for years. Eastern's 2010 Homecoming parade begins at 9:30 a.m. As is customary, the parade will begin at the intersection of Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue, travel north to Monroe Avenue, west on Monroe to Sixth Street, then south on Sixth.

Instead of ending at Old Main, however, parade participants will turn west onto Polk Avenue until they reach Division Street. Heading south on Division, they will cross Lincoln and head for Grant Avenue (a.k.a., Panther Way ), winding up at the tailgate area at O'Brien Stadium.

As the parade route includes Charleston's Morton Park, community members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for a safe and relaxing view of the parade. Family-oriented Homecoming activities will again be provided at the park, and will include a bounce house and EIU cutouts, perfect for photo ops!

The annual Homecoming football game, in which the EIU Panthers host Murray State, begins at 1:30 p.m.  Tickets may be purchased the day of the game at O'Brien Stadium at a cost of $15 for adults, $13 for EIU staff, $7 for high school students and $5 for children (ages 4 through middle school). EIU students will be admitted free with their Panther Card ID.

Football fans are invited to arrive early and show their Panther Pride at this year's Tent City/Billy's Backyard, where representatives and alumni from each of Eastern's colleges will be gathered to renew old friendships and begin new ones. The tailgating event, scheduled to officially begin at 11:30 a.m., will include a Kids' Zone, a Blue Zone, live entertainment, food and giveaways. Admission to these activities, taking place behind O'Brien Stadium, is open to all.

In total, more than 20 campus- and community-wide events have been planned for Homecoming Week (Oct. 18-23). Other events occurring this week include a pep rally from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, in McAfee Gym. Community members are invited to come and help cheer on the EIU Panthers. Admission is free.

For up-to-date information on all Homecoming events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/~hcevent.

A dazzling cast of five Broadway stars, accompanied by an all-star New York band, will bring Neil Berg's "100 Years of Broadway" to Eastern Illinois University on Saturday, Oct. 30.

The musical revue of Broadway's most celebrated shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

"100 Years of Broadway" recreates the greatest moments from the finest shows of the century, from brilliantly revived arrangements of Broadway classics to thrilling numbers from Broadway's newest hit shows.

Along with musical director and pianist Neil Berg, the production is to feature Rita Harvey (Christine Daee, "Phantom of the Opera"), Ray McLeod (Wreck, "Wonderful Town"), Carter Calvert (Grizabella, "Cats"), Danny Zolli (Jesus, "Jesus Christ Superstar") and Erick Buckley (Jean Valjean, "Les Miserables"). The cast is subject to change based on Broadway and touring developments.

In addition, local singers will have the opportunity to join the cast on stage. Video auditions were due Oct. 15; the winners are to be announced Oct. 22.

Tickets, which are $20 each, may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra's annual "Fright Night" concert, designed to appeal to kids of all ages, will feature exciting music and the ever-popular costume contest.

The concert is to begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall on the Eastern Illinois University campus.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Richard Robert Rossi, will present Saint-Saëns' "Carnival of the Animals," a 14-movement piece featuring various musical styles alluding to different animals.

Guest artists will include pianist Susan Teicher, an EIU faculty member with two degrees from The Julliard School and an elite performance history; pianist Sarah Todd, an EIU graduate student who is pursuing her second master's degree in music; and select members from the Urbana High School Orchestra, led by conductor Tamra Gingold. Narration will be provided by opera singer Jay Ivey, an EIU faculty member.

As always, children are encouraged to participate in the Halloween costume contest, which will be accompanied by the ESO's performance of John Williams' "Star Wars Medley," as well as Paul Dukas' "Sorceror's Apprentice," best known for its use in Walt Disney's 1940 film "Fantasia."

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra is part of the EIU Department of Music.

Tickets are $12 for the general public, $10 for EIU employees and senior citizens, and $5 for children and students. Tickets may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Eastern Illinois University's Booth Library invites all interested persons to the opening reception and program for the "Teachers Tame the Prairie: Vignettes of Eastern Illinois University and Education in Illinois" exhibition.

Activities will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, in the Booth Library West Reading Room.

Following opening remarks, Terry Barnhart and Charles Titus, professors of history, will present "The Coming of the Normal School: Vision and Mission in the Founding of Eastern Illinois University, 1895-1900" and "In Search of Eden: America's Endless Journey Toward School Reform," respectively, at 7:30 p.m. in the adjacent Reference West Reading Room. Light refreshments will be served.

The exhibit, created by the faculty and staff of Booth Library, provides a historical look at the training of teachers and Normal schools in Illinois, including an overview of school life in Illinois. Programming related to this exhibition is being offered during October and November 2010 to coincide with the reaccreditation visit of Eastern's College of Education and Professional Studies by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

In addition to the wealth of information gleaned from the materials housed in University Archives and Special Collections, the project also involves Illinois residents who are providing stories and artifacts related to their school experience. Although the history of Eastern and its training schools will be featured, education at all levels from around the state will be included.

This exhibition will be on display in the Marvin Foyer of Booth Library from Oct. 12 through Dec. 10, during regular library hours.

The Eastern Illinois University Department of Theatre Arts will open its season with "Urinetown: The Musical," an irreverently humorous satire in which no one is safe from scrutiny.

"Urinetown" will be presented in The Theatre of the Doudna Fine Arts Building at 7 p.m. Oct. 15, 16, 18 and 19, as well as 2 p.m. Oct. 17.

Produced in collaboration with the Department of Music and directed by new theatre arts faculty member Jeffrey Tangeman, the production features musical direction by music faculty member Jay Ivey and choreography by Charleston native Allison Fischer.

"Urinetown" tells a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides he's had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom.

"Urinetown" was inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. Music and lyrics were written by Illinois native Mark Hollman, with Greg Kotis writing the book and lyrics.

Tickets are $12 for the general public, $10 for EIU employees and senior citizens, and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Eastern Illinois University Choral Ensembles and Collegium Musicum will perform music by English, French, German, Italian and American composers in the annual "Cathedrals, Castles and Colonies" concert on Sunday, Oct. 10.

The concert is to begin at 4 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

Performances will feature the EIU Concert Choir and Camerata Singers, under the direction of Richard Robert Rossi, now in his 11th season as EIU's director of choral activities; and the University Mixed Chorus, under the direction of new faculty member Janet McCumber, who received her Master of Arts in music from EIU in May.

The ensembles will perform a wide array of musical selections from early classics to contemporary works.

The Concert Choir will present the world premiere of Rossi's arrangement of "Ave Maria." The program will also include "Somebody’s Coming" by Dello Joio; "Speak to One Another" by Berger; "If Music Be the Food of Love" by Dickau; and "Ain’-a That Good News," arranged by Dawson.

The Camerata Singers will be accompanied by the Sinfonia string ensemble (faculty members Anna Cromwell on violin and Ka-Wai Yu on cello, as well as students Rory Mott on violin and Dylan Cain on viola). Selections will include "Heilig ist Der Herr (Holy is the Lord)" by Hammerschmidt; "Domine, Ad Adjuvandum Me Festina (Lord, My God, Assist Me Now)" by Martini; and "Ave Maria" in plainchant.

General admission tickets -- $5 each, or $3 for EIU employees, senior citizens and students -- may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Local singers will have the opportunity to join five Broadway stars and an all-star New York band on stage in "Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway" concert at Eastern Illinois University next month.

Up to two winners and up to 10 runners-up will be selected by the show's panel of industry experts, including producers, singers, managers and Neil Berg himself, to sing during the show, which will be held in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30.

Along with musical director and pianist Neil Berg, the production is to feature Rita Harvey (Christine Daee, "Phantom of the Opera"), Ray McLeod (Wreck, "Wonderful Town"), Carter Calvert (Grizabella, "Cats"), Danny Zolli (Jesus, "Jesus Christ Superstar") and Erick Buckley (Jean Valjean, "Les Miserables"). The cast is subject to change based on Broadway and touring developments.

To audition, each contestant should upload a 90- to-120-second video clip of him/her singing a Broadway favorite to YouTube, MySpace or Facebook, and then submit the audition using the online form at http://www.singingwiththebroadwaystars.com/event.php?event=20101030A by 4 p.m. (Central time) Oct. 15.

Entrants must be at least 13 years old. Winners will be announced on Oct. 22. Winners will be notified by e-mail or phone.

Those submitting audition videos should review the submission guidelines and rules online at www.singingwiththebroadwaystars.com. More information is available by calling the Doudna Fine Arts Center at 217-581-3110.

Tickets may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The EIU Jazz Ensemble and EIU Wind Symphony will present “Life in the Groove: The Influence of Jazz” during Eastern Illinois University's Family Weekend on Friday, Oct. 1.

The concert is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall. General admission tickets are $5, or $3 for EIU employees, senior citizens and students.

The EIU Wind Symphony, conducted by Barry L. Houser, will perform David Holsinger's "Scootin' On Hardrock"; "Blackbird" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, arranged by jazz pianist Shelly Berg; and "Niagara Falls," a musical journey taking you through and down the famous waterfalls, by award-winning composer Michael Daugherty.

Joining the Wind Symphony will be faculty jazz pianist Paul Johnston, as well as students Jesse Farrar (upright bass) and Jamie Mauck (drum set).

The EIU Jazz Ensemble, directed by Sam Fagaly, will present a variety of jazz featuring several excellent student soloists.
Both ensembles are part of the EIU music department.

Tickets may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Continuing its tradition of bringing world events closer to the campus of Eastern Illinois University, the EIU Public Policy Institute is planning yet another international forum.

Policy makers and other experts will discuss war and peace in the Asia-Pacific region during a half-day event that is to include a keynote address, two panel discussions and a public reception. Activities are scheduled to take place Thursday, Sept. 30.

Raymond Burghardt, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, will present the forum's keynote address from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in Dvorak Concert Hall, located in EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Burghardt, who is involved in the organization of the 2011 APEC Summit taking place in Honolulu, will offer some facts concerning the conference, including the significance of the event, as part of his remarks. He also plans to discuss security issues involving the entire Asia-Pacific region.

He assumed his current post at the American Institute in Taiwan - a corporation created by the U.S. government to manage U.S.-Taiwan relations -- in 2005, having first been appointed by then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and reappointed by Hillary Clinton. Previously, among many other posts during his career, Burghardt served as special assistant to President Ronald Reagan for Latin American affairs, and minister (deputy chief) to the U.S. Embassy in both Seoul, Korea, and Manila, Philippines.

Earlier, from 1 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m., respectively, panelists will discuss " Perilous Strait : Continuing Taiwan-China Crisis" and "Security and Economic Development in Asia " in the Charleston/Mattoon Room (third floor) of Eastern's MLK Jr. Union.

Participants are to include Charles Salmon Jr., foreign policy director of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies of the U.S. Pacific Command; Perry Shen, Taiwan consul general in Chicago; and scholars from regional universities.

Immediately following the second discussion, EIU President Bill Perry will host a public reception for EIU guests from 5 to 5:45 p.m. in Seventh Street Underground, located in the lower level of the MLK Jr. Union (east wing).

Admission to all events is free and open to the public.

When traditional therapies did not work for her son with autism, Elaine Hall turned to the arts.

Hall, a professional acting coach, introduced actors, musicians and writers to her son's "isolated autistic world."  The results changed not only the life of her son, Neal, but those of other children throughout the whole world.

Hall, now the subject of the two-time Emmy Award-winning HBO documentary "Autism:  The Musical," is scheduled to present a multi-media lecture to discuss her discoveries and the subsequent founding of a theater arts program, The Miracle Project, that helps children of all abilities.

"Using Creativity and Joy to Bring Out the Best in All Children" will be presented from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, in the Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union, on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.  Admission is free and open to the public.

According to Jean Smitley, an associate professor in EIU's Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, the number of children diagnosed with autism has "increased 10-fold in the past 20 years.  And the severity varies from child to child.

"Parents are looking at different therapies to see what works best for their child," she added.

Smitley noted that Hall's lecture will present something of interest for "families with children who have autism, as well as for therapists, doctors, teachers, social workers and other professionals, and as well as actors.  And anybody else who may be interested in learning more about autism and ways to integrate creative drama into a child's life."

Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hall's Miracle Project is a theater and film arts program for children with special needs and their typically developing siblings and peers.  The project's mission is to "provide a loving, accepting nurturing environment which celebrates and honors the unique and often unrecognized talents of these young people by guiding them through creative workshops and artistic programs."

Her EIU lecture will include a multi-media presentation of techniques used to develop abstract thinking, communication, self-expression, self-regulation, friendships and body awareness in children, including those with autism and other developmental disorders.

Leadership training, self-advocacy and low-cost interventions will be discussed, as well as how to rally community support for creative interventions and socialization programs.

Hall, who presents workshops throughout the U.S. and Canada, has written and directed more than 30 children's plays.  She's been honored by the Autism Society of Los Angeles, Autism Speaks, Areva Martin's Special Needs Network, and Holly Robinson Peete's HollyRod Foundation, among others.

She serves on the L.A. Senate Select Task Force on Autism, and spoke at the United Nations. She created and directs an arts enrichment program and a Bar/Bat Mitzvah program for children with autism at Vista Del Mar, in Los Angeles.  She is also the author of "Now I See the Moon:  A Mother, A Son, A Miracle."

In conjunction with Hall's lecture, EIU is offering a free viewing of "Autism:  The Musical," from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center Lecture Hall.

"Autism: The Musical" follows Hall, five autistic children and their parents as they "improbably, heroically mount a full-length original stage production. Through trial and error, tears and laughter, these incredible families learn to communicate their feelings in song and performance, finding solace and joy in the act of creating."

Co-sponsors of Hall's visit on the EIU campus are the College of Arts and Humanities; the College of Education and Professional Studies; the College of Sciences; the Departments of Communication Disorders and Sciences, Special Education, Psychology and Theatre Arts; the School of Continuing Education; the Graduate School; and the Coles County Arts Council.

In addition to her EIU appearance, Hall will be the guest of honor at a meet-and-greet book signing from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. Sept. 30 at the LifeSpan Center, 11021 E. County Road 800 North.

A reception/open house will take place, also, from 8:45 to 10 p.m. that same day at the Charleston Transitional Facility, 689 Castle Drive (Northwest Business Park), in Charleston.

Mahyar Izadi has been named interim dean of Eastern Illinois University's Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, effective Oct. 1.

Izadi, who arrived at Eastern in 1984 and currently serves as chair of the School of Technology, replaces Diane Hoadley, who recently accepted the role of dean of the College of Business at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire.

"Dr. Izadi has a lengthy and proven record of leadership as chair of the School of Technology, and he understands well the varied mission of the Lumpkin College. He is well qualified to lead the college in achieving its mission during the coming year," said EIU Provost Blair Lord.

Izadi was chosen following an internal search in which university faculty/staff members were encouraged to participate by submitting comments and feedback. EIU President Bill Perry said he was satisfied with the process that resulted in two "very strong candidates" for the interim position.

"I was very pleased with the meetings we had with faculty and staff and with the information we gathered as to what they believed to be the most important attributes of an acting dean," Perry said. "In addition, I received input via e-mail and regular mail regarding the candidates."

For the past 11 years, Izadi has served as chair of Eastern's School of Technology, with the number of faculty and students in that area nearly doubling during his tenure. Previously, he served as coordinator of the Industrial Technology Program.

Izadi has extensive background in developing lasting relationships with Illinois community colleges, international partners, and the business and industry community. He served as president of the university and research divisions of the Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering. He also served as the team chair for nine out of 13 ATMAE accreditation visits to colleges and universities.

"It is truly an honor for me to serve the entire faculty, staff and students of the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences," he said of his new appointment. "LCBAS is well known for its quality of academic programs, research and units that provide public service. During the next several months, I plan to work very closely with the Schools of Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Technology, and the Department of Military Science, on their respective accreditation, curriculum development and fundraising issues."

With the appointment of Izadi complete, Lord will now turn his attention toward the naming of an interim chair for the School of Technology and beginning the search for a permanent dean for LCBAS -- a process he expects to begin this fall. Lord said he hopes to have a permanent dean in place on or near July 1, 2011.

Tickets are still available for Eastern Illinois University's 2010 Family Weekend concert, featuring '70s' funk legends Kool & The Gang.

Tickets for the performance, set to begin at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, in Lantz Arena, are $20. (Doors open at 7 p.m.) All seats reserved.

Tickets may be purchased between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays through the MLK Jr. Union Ticket Office, located on the second floor, west wing. For information/credit card orders, phone 217-581-5122.

Tickets may also be purchased online. (Please see here.)

Any unsold tickets will be available at the door the night of the concert.

Kool & The Gang has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide. With songs like "Celebration," "Cherish," "Jungle Boogie," "Summer Madness," "Get Down On It" and "Joanna," they've earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums.

Kool & The Gang has performed continuously for the past 35 years, longer than any R&B group in history.

Tito Puente Jr.

Tito Puente Jr. will pay tribute to his famous father's Latin music legacy when he brings his high-voltage show to Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Tito Puente Jr. and His Latin Big Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, in Dvorak Concert Hall. Tickets are $15 for the general public, $12 for seniors and EIU employees, and $7 for students.

The younger Puente is passionate about not only his own rhythm-filled Latin jazz and mambo music, but also about carrying on the musical legacy left by his late father.

"He was just too vibrant, too exciting," Puente Jr. said. "There was magic in the music my father made. It made people happy, all over the world. My goal is to keep it alive, and in doing so, expose it to a whole new generation."

Puente Jr., who provided a tribute to his father's music in the NBC special "The Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem," reveres his father's lasting musical contributions.

"People who don't know anything about Latin music know my father and people always, always smile when they say his name," he said. "That is a very special gift, and it inspires and motivates me to bring his music to the world."

His 2004 album, "In My Father’s Shoes," featured classic Puente titles. It led to a BET Jazz television special of the same name.

His new CD, "Got Mambo?" is a mixture of the old and the new. It features several guest artists, including Bobby Cruz and Hansel & Raul.

Puente Jr. was the premiere act opening The Latin Quarter of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, and the demand for tickets kept him there for 10 weeks. He's played to sell-out audiences at numerous Harrah's Resort Casinos, including those in San Diego, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

The concert is being presented in partnership with the EIU Latin American Heritage Month Committee.

Tickets may be purchased in person at Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, by telephone at 217-581-3110, or online at http://www.doudnatix.com.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information on the facility and scheduled events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Fall 2010 enrollment numbers at Eastern Illinois University seem to further suggest that the economy is keeping students close to home - at least for the first two years of their higher education.

"We know that economic conditions are making it difficult for some families to afford to send their children to a university," said Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "More and more students are beginning their college careers by attending their local community colleges and taking the general education courses that will later be required of them to graduate from a university such as Eastern.

"And because Eastern is a transfer-friendly institution, we know we will be seeing many of these young men and women as they enter their junior years," Lord continued.

It seems that this trend might already have begun.

Enrollment numbers reflect an on-campus enrollment of 10,511 and an off-campus count of 1,119 for a total of 11,630. A year ago, the number of students taking on- and off-campus classes was 10,788 and 1,178, respectively, for a total enrollment of 11,966.

A breakdown of Eastern's 9,970 undergraduate students (down from 10,225 last year) is as follows (with Fall 2009 figures in parentheses): freshmen, 2,262 (2,475); sophomores, 1,908 (2,055); juniors, 2,551 (2,456); and seniors, 3,249 (3,239). The number of new transfer students rose from 1,113 in Fall 2009 to 1,147.

Graduate students number 1,660, a decrease from last year's 1,741. Female students again outnumber male students - 6,780 to 4,850.

EIU officials are pleased that minority student enrollment continues to be strong (1,922 this year, up from 1,783 in Fall 2009). Numbers reflect the following: black, 1,382 (1,280); Hispanic, 342 (316); Asian/Pacific Islander, 137 (134); and American Indiana/Alaskan Native, 61 (53).

Minority students now make up 16.52 percent of total enrollment, up from 14.90 percent in 2009.

"We're very pleased with the diversity of our student population," Lord said. "It affects not only the Eastern Illinois University campus, but the Charleston community as a whole, in a very positive way."

In addition, the number of international students attending the university rose to 152 - an increase from 134 in Fall 2009.

Today, I am making a few remarks about the state of the university. At the three-year mark in my service to EIU, such remarks seem timely.

The overall academic quality of the institution is strong. Our disciplinary program reviews are consistently excellent and complimentary of our faculty qualifications, academic standards, and plans for progress. Because of demand, we are a selective institution at the undergraduate and graduate level, with more demand for admission than capacity. Our faculty are competitive for external funding of research, publish in respected university presses and other venues, and are recognized nationally and internationally. The quality of our faculty appointments is excellent, and the quality of our successful tenure candidates is superior. Our tenure-track and tenured faculty appointees have their terminal degrees from Research One universities recognized for their research program quality. We are able to attract and hire a strong, diverse faculty because of the quality of our existing faculty, the maintenance of a dynamic community of scholars, and a teaching environment of small classes and personal interaction with students.

Student recruitment and retention strategies are successful; we consistently attract more applicants than we can accept. We accept approximately 70 percent of our undergraduate applicants. We continue to purposefully recruit first-generation college students at the undergraduate level. The percentage of first-generation students is just under 40 percent. We honor our heritage of being a university of opportunity for our citizens. Our degree programs offered through our School of Continuing Education offer access to non-traditional-age students and continue to grow in semester credit hours generated. Overall, our headcount target enrollment remains at 12,000 for the fall semester. We have come within 40 of that number for Fall 2008 and Fall 2009. Final Fall 2010 numbers are not in yet, but new international student enrollment is up at both the graduate and undergraduate level. Transfer enrollment is up. New freshman enrollment is down. Our efforts to build diverse applicant pools at the undergraduate level are succeeding. As a result, the diversity of our student body has increased to 15 percent. Our freshman-to-sophomore retention rate is 79 prcent. This is very good, but we wish to increase it to 85 percent. We must redouble our efforts in recruitment and retention, especially in light of the growing percentage of our budget that tuition income represents.

Our academic program offerings are stable in number. There is demand from our students for all majors. The B.S. in Nursing program is fully operational. In order to meet the market demand for delivery, we have made this program feasible online. A significant change for us is, as demand for online courses in our BGS and OPD programs has been met, that it is now possible for those programs to be completed entirely online. We continue to develop minors and options that are responsive to advances in academic disciplines and changes in professional practice and expectations. Looking to the future, we see the potential for interdisciplinary studies in certain areas, such as ethics, humanities, autism, and energy. Campus-wide discussions on integrative learning, the umbrella under which our effort to be the best in the nation at integrating the academic and personal development of our students is based, have been fruitful.

Student outcomes for retention and graduation are above average, but we must improve. A robust future of our university depends on strong enrollment, which in turn depends on recruitment and retention. Data from the National Survey of Student Engagement and the Survey of Collegiate Learning Assessment are positive with respect to our students' interactions with faculty and the rigor our faculty require. Seventy-nine percent of our first-year students believe EIU has a substantial commitment to their academic success. That percentage needs to be higher. Long-term success in retention will be driven by improvement in integrative learning, specific programs in the Student Success Center , and continuing improvement in the first-year experience. (Eastern Reads and PROWL are excellent examples.)

EIU is financially very well managed. Externally-based evidence of this includes a strong rating from Moody's that resulted in our ability to finance our Renewable Energy Center project and external audits with no substantial findings regarding financial status. Further evidence is in our series of balanced budgets and low debt profile. The status of Illinois' state budget had a negative impact on our cash flow in Fiscal Year 2010, but we passed that "stress test." We are likely to have another such test next spring. We have seen a Fiscal Year 2011 6+ percent cut in our state general revenue funding. Although a cut of that magnitude ($3 million) is being managed, it will exacerbate the cash flow situation likely for Spring 2011, and it will have an impact on the institution's expenditures in personnel and operations. Fiscal Year 2012 is a real question mark, but likely will bring further cuts. These developments mean that we must optimize our programs with those resources we raise. These developments also mean that we must secure our enrollment at sustainable levels. In part this means we will need to redouble our efforts in recruitment and retention.

In the last two fiscal years, we have allocated resources in alignment with the institutional priorities announced in Spring 2008 after extensive consultation in Fall 2007. The returns on these investments have included an increase in faculty-mentored graduate and undergraduate research; an increase in Study Abroad participation; creation of the Office of Student Community Service, which has increased our service profile and enhanced community relations; enhanced programming for the Doudna Fine Arts Center and increased arts outreach; increased marketing analysis and placement; a successful silent phase of the Campaign for Eastern; increased numbers of alumni who give; and a commitment to sustainability resulting in a renewable energy-fueled steam plant to be completed in 2011.

Our students have positive impressions of EIU. Data from the NSSE and the CLA indicate strong student satisfaction. Our students find the university academically challenging, with the university committed to their academic success. Seventy-one percent of graduating seniors indicated they had participated in an integrative learning experience. There are some areas where the data indicate we need improvement. For example, slightly more than half of graduating seniors interviewed had not attended a single cultural event at the Doudna Fine Arts Center. Later this semester, the overall data will be presented by the provost at a Faculty Senate meeting, and then more broadly. I would add that we would not as a university have the ability to significantly address deferred maintenance in our physical science and life sciences buildings and plan for a new science facility were it not for the Student Government's resolve in endorsing a multi-step fee increase. As I mentioned earlier, student support with the General Assembly was crucial in the successful steam plant replacement with the Renewable Energy Center.

Relationships with the region and community are very good. A prime example of this is the development of the Renewable Energy Center. The first conceptual drawings drew great concern from the neighborhoods near our chosen location. Through a series of community meetings, we elicited the specific concerns, reported back on the changes we could make, and changed the exterior design. There were no objections that limited our ability to get permission from the General Assembly for the project. Community relationships are built and are being built by multiple means: the President's Cabinet (created by President Hencken); the Effingham Forum (initiated Fall 2009); a Tuscola Forum (first meeting Spring 2010); Regional Biomass Initiative (first meeting Spring 2010); Regional Energy Group (first meeting Spring 2010); participation on the boards of Coles Together, Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital, and Chamber of Commerce; and the Good Neighbor Initiative. In addition, the community service performed by EIU faculty and staff creates great good will. University initiatives of the Business Solutions Center connect with small business in the region. We have representation on the East Central Illinois Development Corporation. Our Office of Student Community Service has facilitated service in the Mattoon and Charleston communities and more widely. We administer the Peace Meal Grant, which is a service-oriented grant, delivering meals to shut-ins in the region. A recent editorial in the Journal Gazette/Time Courier was laudatory of the impact of student service in the community.

Media relations have been very satisfactory. Coverage has generally been positive, although last year's tuition increase resulted in a negative editorial. Community service performed by EIU students results in positive coverage. The special section of the paper on faculty research was a welcome recognition of the intellectual vitality of our faculty; space limitations meant only a tip of the iceberg could be represented.

The EIU Alumni Association supports the university with scholarships, alumni events, expanding annual giving, and teamwork on the Campaign for Eastern. The EIU Foundation manages gifts to the university, provides Neal Welcome Center space for philanthropic and other university functions, and works with the university to achieve important philanthropic objectives. One example of this was working with the university to explore the possibility of placing electricity-producing wind turbines on land given to the EIU Foundation. Although we did not elect to place wind turbines at this time because of cost, the feasibility of producing even more renewable electric energy for campus was made possible by this collaborative spirit.

Although much more time could be spent reviewing achievements and current status, I want to mention some developments that indicate great momentum for EIU going forward:

•  We can reduce deferred maintenance in the Physical Science and Life Sciences buildings by half over the next four years.

•  We are completing a Campus Master Plan update, designed to support integrative learning and sustainability, which includes a long-needed new science facility.

•  We have numerous research, teaching, and public service opportunities and partnerships related to the Renewable Energy Center. We should be among the first universities to have a research biomass gasifier and commercial biomass gasifier availability for biomass fuel gasification analysis.

•  Our Regional Biomass Initiative will enhance economic development in our region and possibly provide local biomass for the fuel stock for our Renewable Energy Center.

•  The Campaign for Eastern will provide support for faculty, students, and programs. The silent phase has been very successful, and the kickoff and public announcement of our goal will occur in October.

•  Alumni support continues to grow. Counter to national trends, the number of our alumni who give to EIU has increased.

From a position of strength and positive short-term prospects, we must plan for the long-term future of the university.

We have always been a place of opportunity, and we must remain so. We are at a time in our history that, regardless of the reasons for it, tuition has increased and the affordability of an Eastern Illinois University education is a crucial issue to be addressed. Even though among Midwest master's institutions, our graduates have the second-lowest debt, we mustn't ignore the facts: the median income of a one-earner household in Illinois in 2008 was approximately $46,000 and our tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board total $18,240 for our entering freshmen this fall. I believe the trajectory of increasing tuition and stagnant state funding is unsustainable for us as an institution of access. Therefore, late this fall we will begin a planning process focused on building a sustainable academic and financial environment for Eastern; an environment that gratefully acknowledges state support, but focuses on self reliance and discipline to keep the promise of public higher education a real one for future generations. Participation in the planning process will be wide and deep. More details will follow this fall.

I am proud to be serving you as president. Together, we are continuing and enhancing a legacy of excellence, personal relationships, opportunity and service for EIU with everything we do as faculty and staff. Just as we now hear from alumni who are deeply grateful for their experience at Eastern, most often strongly influenced by memories of our demands for excellence and of abiding personal relationships with faculty and staff, we must assure that the alumni who are graduating now hold for years to come that same deep affection for EIU. The faculty and staff who serve in our stead in future generations will prosper from our legacy of service, just as we do now from the legacy of those who served before us. Let us expect greatness of ourselves and our students in ensuring an enduring university of excellence for service to the highest ideals of higher education. Should we meet self-imposed high expectations, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

Thank you.

Community residents are invited to join Eastern Illinois University students, faculty and staff in celebrating a milestone for the institution's Textbook Rental Service.

A short ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at approximately 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, at the TRS' newly constructed home, located at 975 Edgar Drive, just east of Carman Hall.

"The building's already seen a lot of activity," said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs.  "Thousands of our students have visited there during the past two weeks to pick up textbooks for the Fall 2010 semester.

"We just wanted to officially commemorate, and celebrate, the occasion with something a little more formal," he added.

Groundbreaking for the 19,200-square-foot facility, equipped to house approximately 220,000 textbook volumes supporting the university's academic programs, took place in Fall 2008.  The finished structure houses a loading dock, a receiving area, a workroom and staff offices.

It also includes an automated inventory system; off-street parking; space for students to stand in line inside, instead of outside, as was necessary at the previous location; a 24-hour drop box; and a multitude of energy conservation measures.

The automated inventory system is the first of its kind in the country. To obtain books, a student simply swipes his EIU-issued identity card (Panther Card) to get a printout of books needed, finds the books in the stacks, and then places them on an electronic check-out pad that reads radio-frequency tags to verify that the correct books have been chosen. To return books, students can either use the self-check-in stations inside the facility or an exterior book drop.

Much of the cost of the $4.3 million project will be paid for through a $1-per-credit-hour increase in EIU students' Textbook Rental Service fee - an increase approved by the Board of Trustees with EIU student support.

The history of Eastern's Textbook Rental Service began with the opening of the university in 1899. Students paid $1 for the benefit of being able to rent, rather than purchase, the books they would need for their classes.

The service originally was housed in Old Main. The move to its most recent past location -- Pemberton Hall -- took place in 1969.  By then, the university had two new gymnasiums; there was no longer a need for the much smaller 'crackerbox' gymnasium located in Pemberton Hall, so textbooks took over the space once used by school athletes.

Other than being temporarily housed in Buzzard Hall while some renovation work was taking place (circa 1980), the service remained in Pemberton Hall until the most recent move in the spring and summer of this year.

EIU's Textbook Rental Service currently reports an inventory of 220,000 volumes worth nearly $8 million.  Some of those volumes -- time-honored novels, for example, as those used in English classes -- have been around for decades. Many others -- some costing upwards of $200 each -- need to be updated much more frequently.

On average, EIU students save $600 to $800 annually by renting, rather than buying, their textbooks.

Over the past century, our students have saved literally tens of thousands of dollars by having the opportunity to rent, rather than buy, the textbooks required of them for their classes," Nadler said.  "Students and parents alike have told us over and over again how much they appreciate the convenience and, especially, the cost savings." 

See related story here.

Priding itself for being ecologically responsible, Eastern Illinois University always thinks "green" before renovating or building on its campus.

"Our energy conservation is the best in the state, and compared to other campuses our size, we're one of the best in the entire country," said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs. "And we intend to stay that way."

EIU officials believe the institution's new Textbook Rental Service facility will help that effort along.

In addition to conservative measures which include high efficiency lighting, occupancy sensors, high efficiency plumbing fixtures, white roof and reflective paving to reduce heat island effect, and polished concrete floors, the 19,200-square-foot facility includes sustainable features such as geothermal wells for a ground source heat pump heating and cooling system.

According to Nadler, the geothermal system involves several deep holes in the ground underneath the building. Heat from the earth will be utilized, reducing energy use by an estimated 25 percent.

"The facility is definitely in line with Eastern's values on sustainability and in line with our students' desire to be as green as we can possibly be," Nadler said. "It is a facility to be proud of."

Thinking "green" paid off in a more tangible way, as well.

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, based in Chicago, awarded Eastern a grant totaling $24,240 to help offset the cost of the geothermal system in its Textbook Rental Service facility.  Three years earlier, the foundation awarded the university a similar amount for lighting upgrades.

The foundation annually funds projects in three core areas: improving energy efficiency, developing renewable energy resources, and preserving and enhancing natural areas and wildlife habitat throughout the state.

The energy efficiency grant program, however, accounts for the largest share of grants awarded. Funded projects yield substantial savings each year for Illinois schools, libraries, community centers and local governments.

"We certainly have appreciated the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation's support over the years, and consider the foundation a partner in our collective efforts to make Illinois one of the 'greenest' states in the nation," Nadler said.

Eastern Illinois University students fortunate enough to have Cameron Craig as a teacher should thank “Grandma Robinson” for the pleasure.

“She’s the one who opened my eyes to the fact that there’s much more to my life than music,” the geographer/climatologist/musician/historian/etc., said. “She’s also the one who taught me that there’s no such word as 'can’t.'”

And now Craig’s on a mission to pass that same message on to others.

As EIU’s 2010-11 Faculty Laureate -- an honor presented to him by the Council on Academic Affairs -- he will reach out to an even larger audience than usual during this coming academic year. As the university’s official spokesperson on the importance of a general/liberal education, he will deliver the keynote address at the 2010 Convocation, a welcoming ceremony for incoming students.

The event is set to begin at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20.

As he speaks to Eastern’s newest students, Craig will likely be recalling his own undergraduate years when things didn’t go exactly as planned. He spent the first three years at Indiana State as a music major. But something, he said, “just didn’t feel right.”

He ultimately received a bachelor’s degree in history, followed four years later with a master’s degree in geography. Craig is currently a geographer/climatologist in EIU’s Department of Geology/Geography. In addition, oversees students in the broadcast meteorology minor and collaborates with WEIU-TV's “News Watch” as a meteorological consultant.

He is also founder and director of the EIU WeatherCenter that provides meteorological and climatological data to the public, researchers and students.

In 2006, Craig founded Tempestas et Caelum Productions, providing a creative outlet for students in broadcast meteorology, geography, geology, history and other fields in producing, filming and directing documentary films. Most recently, he and three EIU students headed to Grand Isle, La., and Mobile Bay area, Ala., to document the impact the Gulf oil spill has had on humanity. The project focuses on the personal stories of residents impacted by the oil spill that occurred on April 20.

Craig won’t say he wants all students to choose science as a career. He does, however, want to increase students’ awareness and understanding, allowing all to recognize how science affects their everyday lives.

“When students come in to my Weather and Climate class (a general education class designed for all majors), I ask them, ‘Who likes science?’ And a handful out of 100 will raise their hands,” Craig said. “Then I ask, ‘Who doesn’t like science?’ The majority put their hands up.

“I tell them, ‘My job here is to get you to love science.”

The trick, he continued, is to “relate the material to the students’ level. You have to make it relate to them.” Nearing 40, Craig is a young, energetic faculty member who says he “finds ways as I go along” to get his message across.

“I like spontaneous communication,” he said, noting that he begins his lectures with basic outlines. “But then I use whatever is out there at the time to find a way to make that information understood.”

A recycling bin full of newspapers, for example, can become a quick classroom tool to explain density. Or a table top will become Craig’s dance floor as he leads his (sometimes dubious) students in an impromptu memory exercise that will help them remember test-worthy material.

“I tell the class to stand up, that we’re going to dance. And I can see them – especially the guys -- looking at each other and saying, ‘Hey, man… I don’t dance.

“At first, they think I’m crazy,” Craig continued. “But I say, ‘Yes, I’m a dork. But follow along with me and I think you’ll learn this stuff.’”

It’s always fun come test time, Craig said, chuckling, because he’ll see students sitting at their desks, subtly and quietly performing the dance’s hand moves in order to recall the material needed to answer written questions.

"I try to make learning fun and exciting. And yes, I may sometimes get overly enthusiastic,” Craig said. “But even though some might find my ways to be a bit unorthodox, they are effective.”

More on Cameron Craig can be found on his EIU website (http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cdcraig).

Michael S. Maurer, who begins his new role as Eastern Illinois University's director of planning, budget and institutional research this week, is happy to be returning to the Midwest where he was "born and bred."

After years of working in California, Nevada and abroad, he welcomes the opportunity to once again live near his parents and other family members, two of whom - a sister and brother-in-law - are also employed at EIU.

He even looks forward to the "really great opportunity" of helping to guide Eastern through its state-related financial struggles.

"I like the idea of immersing myself into a significant challenge," he said.

Maurer's hiring completes the merger of two EIU offices - the Budget Office and the Office of Planning and Institutional Studies, each of which previously had its own director, said William Weber, vice president for business affairs.

As PBIR director, Maurer will, in part, coordinate Eastern's planning, budgeting and institutional reporting processes, including the preparation and review of operating and capital budget requests and institutional reporting requirements for the Board of Trustees, the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the General Assembly.

Most recently, Maurer served as director of internal controls and accountability at the University of California, San Francisco, and was responsible for risk assessment and the monitoring/development of internal controls for the $3 billion educational and research institution with more than 22,000 employees.

Previously, he served as associate vice president and controller for Alliant International University in San Francisco (2006-2009); director of finance/controller for the University of Maryland University College-Europe in Heidelberg, Germany (1990-2005); and State of Nevada Director, Nevada Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education in Reno (1987-1990).

Maurer said he enjoys working in a university setting, and enjoys being in the classroom, too - as a student.  In addition to his bachelor's degree in accounting from Sangamon State University, he has received master's degrees from the University of Illinois (business administration), Bowie State University (information system), and the University of Maryland University College (finance and accounting).

Gilbert C. Fite, a prominent agricultural historian who served as Eastern Illinois University's fourth sitting president from 1971 to 1976, died July 13 at the age of 92.

"We extend deepest sympathy to the Fite family for their loss,"  said EIU President William L. Perry. “I count myself fortunate to have met President Fite during my first year at EIU and experience first hand the sense of energy and intellect that he brought to bear during his tenure at Eastern. Dr. Fite's many contributions helped move Eastern forward in many and varied ways, and we will always be grateful for his leadership."

In keeping with his philosophy that a university must not become stagnant, Fite helped orchestrate many positive and enduring changes at Eastern.

“As an institution we draw strength from our history and traditions, but we must not be bound by them," Fite said in 1974. "The needs of students change as society changes.”

As part of his dedication to continuing education and community service, Fite oversaw the implementation of the Board of Governors Bachelor of Arts Degree program, a nontraditional program that gives credit for adults' nonacademic experience. Today, the Bachelor in General Studies program has an enrollment of about 2,300 students. Fite also increased off-campus class offerings, increasing their enrollment from 350 students to more than 2,000 in just four years.

During his tenure, overall student enrollment rose from 8,214 to 9,252, an increase of 12.6 percent.
Physically, the campus also grew. Additions were built for many existing facilities, including the Lantz Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building; the Doudna Fine Arts Center (a concert hall, offices and practice areas); the Physical Science Building (including Phipps Lecture Hall); the Physical Plant Services Building; and the University Union (including two elevators).

Also, three frame houses on Ninth Street were purchased, with two used as art studios and one used for storage and an office for building service workers; Greenwood School, a one-room country school, was moved to the campus for its historic value; and East Hall was purchased for use as a residence hall.

Fite oversaw many changes at EIU, including a major administrative reorganization; the move from academic quarters to semesters; the closing of the Laboratory School; the implementation of 24-hour visitation rights in several residence halls; and a revamping of athletics' organizational and financial structure. He was instrumental in arranging private funding for the construction of the Tarble Arts Center.

Eastern hosted Vice President Gerald Ford when he accepted Fite's invitation to speak on campus in 1974 as part of the university's Diamond Jubilee.

Fite said he identified himself not as an administrator, but as an "educator-scholar." Before coming to Eastern, Fite was a professor of history at the University of Oklahoma. He was a noted author and expert on American agricultural history.
In 1976, Fite left Eastern to accept the first Richard B. Russell Professorship of History, an endowed chair at the University of Georgia.

Other honors included two Fulbright Awards, the Ford Fellowship and the Guggenheim Fellowship. He was past president of the Agricultural History Society, The Southern Historical Association and the Western History Association. He wrote nine books and more than 60 articles, co-authored seven books, and edited three volumes.

While at Eastern, Fite collected miniature elephants and drove a 1931 Model A Ford. He traveled the globe twice and spent a year teaching in India.

Fite, who was raised in South Dakota, had retired in Fort Myers, Fla. He is survived by his wife, June; two sons; and grandchildren.

An exhibit documenting Fite's time at EIU will be displayed inside of Booth Library's south entrance starting Thursday, July 22.

When an Eastern Illinois University filmmaking team traveled to the Gulf Coast, they found that misconceptions about the oil spill's effects are adding to the woes of two of the hardest-hit towns in the form of decreased tourism.

Despite the fact that cleanup efforts were "quick and easy" in Grand Isle, La., and Dauphin Island, Ala.,  tourists were still avoiding the area when the team visited two weeks ago, said documentary-maker Cameron Craig, an EIU faculty member.

For example, a group of real estate agents said their answering machines were loaded with 52 messages from people canceling their rental reservations. Other businesses, such as restaurants, are affected in turn.

"It is an ecological disaster, and we know that is a major problem," Craig said. "But if we had not gone, then we would not have had that connection with those people, and we would not know what they are experiencing."

Craig was joined by three EIU students: Zach Nugent of Sheridan, a regional Emmy-winning reporter for WEIU-TV's "News Watch"; Michael Gismondi of Buffalo Grove, a WEIU-TV weather forecaster; and A.J. Schubert of Charleston, a graduate assistant in EIU's Center for Academic Technology Support.

"I really had the opportunity to see how it affects real people down there and how it's affecting their livelihood and they're struggling to stay afloat," Schubert said.

Residents of Dauphin Island, where they don't lock their doors at night, say they're "living in paradise," Schubert said. But some said the town has been turned into a "war zone," not because of the actual effects of the oil, but because of the influx of BP employees and media.

There are actually more BP employees in the area than actual residents, one woman said. Unfortunately for the tourism industry, the BP employees don't spend money the way tourists do. For example, she said, BP has its own catering service.

Bright spots could be found amid the tragedy. One fisherman's wife said that although her husband is unable to fish in the Gulf, he has found income by patrolling the waters for BP.

While Dauphin Island residents were pleasantly surprised by the minor amount of oil they experienced, they reiterated that "it was still a disaster for them," Craig said. The beaches there opened a day before the EIU team arrived.

A councilwoman got the EIU team past a checkpoint so they could assess the impact firsthand. There, they saw huge piles of sand put in place to soak up oil; once saturated, the sand was hauled off and used to make paving material.

The Civil Air Patrol provided a flight over the bay area, where the filmmakers observed oil in the water, as well as clean-up efforts.

The filmmakers also spoke with experts at Louisana State University's Earth Scan Laboratory about how hurricanes could potentially damage the coast further by pushing the storm surge several miles into the inland areas.

Many residents were hoping this would be a year of recovery after cleaning up from Hurricane Katrina, Nugent said. But the residents were not whining or expecting handouts, and the team found no sense of ill will toward those responsible for the oil spill, Nugent said.

"You really saw people coming together," Nugent said. "They don't hold any hate in their hearts. All they want is to get back to their normal lives."

"People seemed to be pleased with the cleanup process," Schubert said. "Everyone was volunteering to do whatever could be done to get things cleaned up."

Upon the EIU team's return to campus, WEIU-TV aired some of the 11 hours of footage from the trip. Next, the footage will be made into a narrative documentary film, "letting the interviews and images speak for themselves," Craig said.

The film, titled "Returning to Paradise: Voices of the Human Spirit," could be ready as early as this fall, Craig said. He's making plans for a return visit to film a follow-up, possibly over the winter break.

"Our observation is limited to two locations," Craig said. "We want to get other perspectives along the coast to bring these people's stories back here."

Craig is already using the footage in a class. When he showed one interview, it sparked several minutes of student-only discussion among the 25-member class.all about," Craig said.

From an educational standpoint, the project is a great way for the students on the filmmaking team to gain top-notch first-hand experience.

"We could very well work 40 more years and never get the opportunity to work on a story like this in our careers," Gismondi said.

"You physically cannot get this type of experience in a classroom," Nugent said.

Both students agreed that the experience was a great hands-on look at the dangers of sensationalism in the media and how to avoid it.

"From a journalistic standpoint, it taught me that you want to get the powerful story, but you also want to get the bigger picture," Nugent said.

"There's a way of presenting the story without taking sides, and just putting the viewers down there so they can make their own choices of how to feel about it," Gismondi said. "I think we've done a good job of capturing that."

The project was funded by $1,050 from EIU departments and private donors. All additional expenses were covered by Craig.

For details of the trip, a trailer of the documentary and links to the news reports aired on WEIU-TV's "News Watch," see www.tcpfilms.com.

Eastern Illinois University was well-represented when 17 students presented their research at one of the country's premier conferences this spring.

The students joined some of the nation's top scholars at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Missoula, Mt.

"Presenting their research orally at a national meeting such as NCUR, Eastern students gain confidence in their academic work and their speaking ability," said Bonnie Irwin, dean of the Honors College, who accompanied the students, along with three faculty members.

"NCUR is a multi-disciplinary conference, meaning that students have opportunity to speak to other students and faculty in their field, but they also must be able to explain their work to non-experts, an important skill to have in the workplace and beyond."

Approximately 2,500 undergraduates present at NCUR each year. At any given time, 100 posters were being explicated in the field house and a dozen oral presentations were being delivered at classrooms across the University of Montana campus.

In addition, speakers provided “big picture” presentations regarding sustainability, interdisciplinary education, the role of young people in the world today, and cross-cultural music.

Irwin said she let the students know they were expected to be "good conference citizens" by attending their fellow EIU students' presentations when possible, as well as other sessions.

"While faculty from some other institutions complained that their students were barely attending the conference, Eastern students were excellent role models for their peers," Irwin said. "Students valued their experiences both as presenters and audience members."

Students who attended told Irwin that the experience improved their speaking and teaching skills, improved their knowledge of their own research, and allowed them to realize new possibilities for their own research and future educational endeavors.

"I enjoyed being in the presence of people who genuinely wanted to learn from others’ expertise in highly specialized fields, and I also treasured having a receptive audience for my rather obscure research," said William Wolf, an EIU student from Erie.

The multidisciplinary approach proved eye-opening, as well.

"While in college or higher education, people’s view can be narrow, focusing on the majors," said Ayaka Hisanaga, an EIU student from Yokohama, Japan. "Having an opportunity to learn about research in different fields of study definitely widened my view."

The participating faculty members -- Bill Lovekamp, sociology; Sham Yunus, early childhood education; and Marita Gronnvoll, communication studies -- were also grateful for the opportunity to attend.

"They forged closer bonds with the students and returned armed with additional strategies for mentoring undergraduate research," Irwin said.

Lovekamp said the EIU students were "amazing."

"They were eager to participate, actively listening to others, and so very proud of their accomplishments once their presentations were done," Lovekamp said. "NCUR is an event to behold. I enjoyed listening to so many students present their research. The week made me reflect on how proud I am of EIU students and how grateful I am to have to the opportunity to work with and mentor these students. It is a true joy to see what amazing work they have done. The opportunity to participate in NCUR and mentor students is remarkable. I believe in the work and mentoring I do, and this trip has reinforced these beliefs."

Irwin said the connections that were made are an important part of the integrative learning component that is one of EIU's priorities.

"Over the past six years, I have had many occasions to discuss research with students, but the most rewarding experiences I have had as dean have been accompanying our students to research conferences and witnessing firsthand their intellectual and personal growth," Irwin said. "Even recreation acted as an opportunity for learning, personal growth, and experiences that the students have come to realize are significant for their future.

"Trips like this demonstrate that anyplace can foster learning, as long as our students are trained to recognize these learning moments when they encounter them."

Participating students are listed with their hometowns and presentation topics:

• Kathryn Henderson, Champaign: "The Relationship Between Diet Types, Depression, and Disordered Eating in College Students."
• Nicole Dallas, Charleston, and Molly Hussey, Morris: "An Exploratory Study of Racial Understanding Among Preschool Children."
• Mara Hampton, Charleston: "Maintenance of Gains from Phonological Awareness Interventions in Language Impaired Preschoolers."
• Heather Roy, Decatur: "Gender, Branding, and Brand Personality: The Effects of Gendered Brands, Commercialization, and the Reinforcement of Heteronormative Stereotypes."
• Hope Lorenz, Dunlap: "Measures of Respiration in Trained Singers Versus Normal Speakers."
• William Wolf, Erie: "Conjugacies of Elements in Hyperbolic Groups."
• Andrew Bolokowicz, Mokena: "Supramolecular Chemistry of Glycine Sulfonylcinnamate Polymorphs."
• Cassandra Ledvina, New Lenox: "Discriminative Validity of the Learning Behaviors Scale."
• Lisa Piasecki, New Lenox: "Attitudes Toward Unionization and Variations Among Religious Denominations."
• Kathleen Trainor, Pontiac: "Relationship Between Preschool Executive Function Skills and Oral Narrative Skills."
• Stephani Pescitelli, Sandwich: "Biodegradation of Paper Waste by Three Mushroom Species."
• Stephanie Niemeyer, Teutopolis: "Homophobia: How Sex and Locale Affect Homophobic Attitudes."
• Caroline Larson, Towanda: "Increasing Written Language Skills Utilizing Writing Software and Traditional Methods."
• Alex Cler, Villa Grove: "CEO Background Experience: How Does it Affect Company Performance?"
• Matthew Payea, Stony Brook, N.Y.: "Proteomic and Metabolomic Investigation of Polysaccharide Metabolism by Caulobacter Crescentus."
• Ayaka Hisanaga, Yokohama, Japan: "Parent-Child Relationship and its Effect on Risk of Suicidal Attempts in College Students."

Fifteen area teachers are dedicating four weeks of summer break to learning strategies for improving their students' writing skills at the Eastern Illinois Writing Project's Summer Institute on the Eastern Illinois University campus.

The participants, who teach a variety of curricula and grade levels, will participate in an intense workshop focused on writing and the teaching of writing.

“The best teachers of writing are writers themselves, and the best teachers of teachers are other teachers," said Robin Murray, an EIU English professor who serves as director of the Eastern Illinois Writing Project.

The program began June 29; it will resume July 7 through July 31, with sessions on Mondays through Thursdays. This is the third year the EIU-based Eastern Illinois Writing Project has hosted the Summer Institute.

Throughout the country, more than 3,000 kindergarten through college teachers are participating in summer institutes at more than 200 National Writing Project sites on college campuses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Most Americans view good writing skills as essential to success in college and the workplace, according to a recent national public opinion survey by the research firm Belden Russonello and Stewart. However, they fear that our public schools and our children are falling behind. Just 17 percent believe that when students graduate from high school they have the writing skills they need for college, and 75 percent say that our K-12 education system should put more emphasis on the teaching of writing.

"Teachers who attend NWP summer institutes return to their classrooms with new strategies for teaching writing and with experience using digital tools," said Sharon J. Washington, executive director of the National Writing Project.

National research studies confirm significant gains in writing performance among students whose teachers participate in NWP programs.

The Summer Institute is the first step in a graduate certificate program in the teaching of writing and in continuing service to area schools.

For more information on the Eastern Illinois Writing Project and the Summer Institute, contact the director, Robin L. Murray, at 217-581-6985 or rlmurray@eiu.edu.

The following area teachers are participating in this year's Eastern Illinois Writing Project Summer Institute:

• ARGENTA: Jennifer Young, Argenta-Oreana High School
• BETHANY: Ruth-Anne Yang, Okaw Valley High School
• CASEY: Renee Felkamp, Monroe Elementary School
• CHAMPAIGN: Kathy Decker, Champaign Central High School
• CHARLESTON: Cathy Ball, Jefferson Elementary School; Patti Murphy, Charleston Middle School; Kristin Runyon, Charleston High School
• COAL CITY: Donna Denault, Coal City High School
• EFFINGHAM: Dannette Williamson, Effingham High School
• SULLIVAN: Heather Lindenmeyer, Sullivan High School
• TEUTOPOLIS: Albert Church, Teutopolis High School
• TUSCOLA: Tina Hausmann and Allison Yantis, East Prairie Middle School
• VANDALIA: Kelly Hardiek and Meggyn Star, Vandalia Junior High School

Shown, from left to right, are Helen Price; Nancy Page, EIU Foundation Donor Relations, accepting award on behalf of Barbara Heise Clark; C. Roger Sorensen; and Margery and Jerry Heath.

Since its inception in 1953, the Eastern Illinois University Foundation has been dependent upon the generosity of its members and volunteers to fulfill its mission of support to the university.

And, since 1993, the foundation has formally recognized and honored its volunteers and donors. In 1997, these awards were renamed the Burnham and Nancy Neal Philanthropy Awards in appreciation of the Neals' leadership, support and dedication to Eastern and the foundation.

These awards are given to individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a sincere dedication and commitment to the financial, academic and cultural well-being of EIU. The critical support and sustaining financial commitments provided by these distinguished philanthropists are essential to the future of the university and the students it serves.

Barbara Heise Clark of Decatur, Dr. Jerry and Margery Heath of Charleston, Helen Price of Elmhurst, and C. Roger Sorensen of Mattoon have been named the EIU Foundation's Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year for 2009. The five were recognized during the Foundation's annual spring philanthropy awards dinner.

Barbara Heise Clark, a 1964 alumna of Teacher's College High School and a 1950 alumna of Eastern Illinois State College, grew up as a daughter of an EIU faculty member and administrator. She endowed two scholarships in elementary education in 1998: the Bryan and Adra Heise Elementary Education Scholarship and the Charles and Barbara Clark Elementary Education Scholarship. Every year, Clark adds to the earnings of each of these scholarships because she wants all of her scholarship recipients to receive a "significant" amount, and because she feels that helping students at EIU is the best use of her money.

For birthdays and Christmas, Clark requests that her friends and family give money to EIU rather than "waste it" by buying her things she does not need. "Eastern is in her heart, and she gives back to Eastern wholeheartedly," said Foundation officials.

A planned gift from Clark 's estate will also benefit the Heise and Clark scholarships.

Clark is a member of the EIU Foundation, as well as the Heritage Society, which honors individuals and corporations who make the commitment to support Eastern, its students and its programs through planned gifts, such as charitable gift annuities, trusts, bequests from their estates, life insurance policies, etc. She is also a member of the Cornerstone Society, which recognizes those who have a lifetime giving level of $25,000 to $50,000.

Dr. Jerry Heath served as director of Eastern's Health Service and volunteered his services as team physician for EIU's athletics program for 32 years, retiring in 1988. During his tenure, he assisted in the development of instructional curricula, the medical technology program, and medical insurance for EIU students. Heath is a member of the EIU Foundation and a charter member of both the EIU President's Club and Panther Club.

Both he and his wife, Marge, are alumni of EIU. In addition, Mrs. Heath is a graduate of Teacher's College High School and the 1942 EIU Homecoming Queen. The couple's son, Forest , is also an Eastern graduate.

In 1988, the Heaths established the Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Heath Sports Medicine Scholarship for student-athletes interested in the sports medicine profession. They both have been very supportive of Eastern through their philanthropic gifts: Athletics, the Human Services Center, the Department of Kinesiology and Sports Studies and the Eastern Symphony Orchestra have all benefited from the couple's generosity. Dr. Heath currently has an office in the athletic training room named in his honor because of his gift to the Reaching for the 21 st Century Legacy Fund. The Heaths are members of the Heritage Society, as well as the Keystone Society, which recognizes those with a lifetime giving level of $50,000 to $500,000.

Helen Price and her husband raised three sons, teaching them the importance of education, public service and community involvement. Two of the three sons attended EIU, and the oldest son, Dr. James Price, served for 17 years as adviser to the Delta Chi fraternity before his death in a car accident in 2000. In 2002, Mrs. Price established the Dr. James D. Price Delta Chi Business Education Scholarship -- a lasting memory for her son and his continued belief that public service and community involvement are as important as a solid education.

EIU Delta Chi alumni continue to honor Dr. Price in various ways on campus, and communicate regularly with Mrs. Price. Recently, she pledged to name the academic adviser room in Klehm Hall, recognizing her son's legacy at Eastern.

Price was recently selected to share her story of philanthropy to EIU on the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences' philanthropy area of iTunesU. The short video podcast of her is the first of its kind on Eastern's campus and is sure to motivate others to become involved in giving to EIU.

She is a member of the EIU Foundation, and she and her husband, Roy, are members of both the Heritage and Keystone societies.

After graduation, C. Roger Sorensen, a 1949 alumnus of Eastern, went on to a successful career with Texaco in Houston, Texas. However, he returned to Charleston at least once a year to revisit campus and attend athletic events. In 2002, he decided to move back to Illinois to be closer to EIU.

In 1991, he established the C. Roger Sorensen Business Scholarship; in 1992, the C. Roger Sorensen Tennis Scholarship; and, in 1994, the C. Roger Sorensen Golf Scholarship. He has supported these scholarships with annual gifts since their creation. He has also made significant gifts to the Reaching for the 21st Century Legacy Fund, the Theodore Ivarie Leadership Fund, Emphasis on Eastern -- Presidential Scholars, the LAIR Fund (athletics), and Friends of WEIU -TV. (He likes their football coverage, said Foundation officials.)

Most recently, Sorensen formalized agreements for his estate gift to EIU. His ultimate gift will endow two funds: the C. Roger Sorensen Supplemental Instruction Program Endowment Fund that will support a graduate assistant in business, and the C. Roger Sorensen Completion of Degree Scholarship, which will be awarded to a student-athlete who has exhausted his/her eligibility and who is within one semester of graduation.

In addition to being a member of the EIU Foundation, Sorensen is also a member of the Heritage and Keystone societies. He has been named to Eastern Illinois University 's Athletics Hall of Fame, and is a member of the Livingston C. Lord Society, established to honor those who return to campus for their 50-year class reunion.

For most people, the mention of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico conjures up images of an underground pipe spewing crude, plumes of oil floating in the water, and oil-soaked wildlife struggling to survive.

And while those are important, Eastern Illinois University faculty member Cameron Craig wants to make sure they don't overshadow the human element of the tragedy.

That's why Craig -- a documentary-maker whose films focus on how the environment and humanity are connected -- is heading to Louisiana this weekend. His team will spend two days taking a closer look at how the BP oil spill will affect people on the coast and throughout the country.

"Everybody is feeling distressed about the wildlife," Craig said. "Yes, the wildlife is very important, but what about the human element?"

Craig will be joined by three EIU students: Zach Nugent of Sheridan, a regional Emmy-winning reporter for WEIU-TV's "News Watch"; Michael Gismondi of Buffalo Grove, a WEIU-TV weather forecaster; and A.J. Schubert of Charleston, a graduate assistant in EIU's Center for Academic Technology Support.

The team will spend Friday and Saturday talking to the people most affected by the oil spill, "the hard-working people," along the coast.

Although they have some plans in place, they are leaving much of the trip unscripted so that the real story has the opportunity to unfold, rather than trying to make the reality fit their expectations.

"We are going down to connect and reflect," Craig said, "and bring that connection and reflection back to Eastern."

Since joining the EIU faculty in 2005, Craig has overseen project after project that has given students first-hand experience, while at the same time educating others. His work has aired on PBS stations throughout the region.

John Stimac, chair of the geology/geography department, said Craig has a knack for tackling issues that affect not just geology and geography, but other disciplines as well.

"It's similar to all of the projects he's done in that it's innovative," Stimac said. "He gets students involved, gets them out of the classroom and makes them think outside the box."

This project differs from the others in the sense that it is not taking a look back at history, but rather looking at a history-making event taking place right now.

Nugent, the WEIU-TV student reporter, said the trip is a great opportunity to tell the stories that need to be told.

"It's something we normally don't get to do in our newsroom," Nugent said. "We talk about the oil spill, and we see it, but we don't really see what it means to people. If we can show that perspective, that scale, people can have a better idea of the impact."

Nugent said that he wants to allow viewers to "see and feel the impact this disaster is having … right in our backyard."

The trip should yield a variety of educational tools. In addition to a full-length documentary, other possibilities include a week-long WEIU series featuring Nugent's reporting, educational clips for use in K-12 classrooms around the region, and opportunities for the students to visit area schools to present first-hand accounts of what they witnessed on the Gulf.

Craig also hopes to revisit Louisiana in the future to measure the long-term impact.

"For such a brief little project, this can be used as a seed for many other projects," Stimac said.

The point of it all, Craig said, is to educate not only his students, but also children and teens throughout the area.

"What we're doing is providing a foundation for the young people who will one day make decisions for millions of people, whether as a CEO for an oil company or as an educator," Craig said. "We want to give them something to think about when they come of age."

Craig emphasized that the purpose of the trip is not to sensationalize the events, but rather to present a straightforward, objective view that is hard to find in mainstream media reports.

"We are there to tell the story in a way that the viewers can make decisions for themselves," Craig said.

The team encourages the public to follow their progress via a blog at http://gehd.blogspot.com, where they plan to post updates throughout the weekend.

Shown, from left to right, are John Best, Jonathan Blitz, Sean Peebles, Noel Brodsky and Mary Anne Hanner, dean of Eastern's College of Sciences.

Eastern Illinois University has named Jonathan Blitz as its 2010 recipient of the College of Sciences' Ringenberg Award.

This award, presented annually in the spring, is the highest faculty honor bestowed by the college, and is given to tenured faculty members within the college for "exceptional performance during their academic career" at the university.

Award criteria include:

• A teacher of the highest caliber, dedicated to helping students achieve their personal and professional goals; and
• A published scholar who has developed a national or international reputation in his/her field; and
• A person with a distinguished record of service to his/her department, the College of Sciences, the university, and to his/her profession.

The award is named in honor of Lawrence A. Ringenberg, the first dean (1961-1980) of the College of Arts and Sciences at EIU.

Blitz, a professor in Eastern's Department of Chemistry, has taught at the university since 1994. During his tenure, he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses, earning praise from his students as both a stimulating lecturer and as a caring professor equally at ease during one-on-one conversations.

His knowledge and expertise in diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and silica surface chemistry has earned him national and international recognition, and the opportunity to collaborate with other scientists from around the world. His work has garnered approximately $500,000 in federal grant money for additional research opportunities on the EIU campus.

Blitz has produced nearly 40 peer-reviewed articles since arriving at Eastern, and is the author of four publications on chemical education, as well as chapters in several books. He has been actively involved with various departmental/college/university committees, and is currently serving on the negotiating team and as vice president of the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI), the collective bargaining agent for the faculty and academic support professionals at EIU.

Eastern's College of Sciences also honored three other faculty members with top academic awards.

The Alan and Carlene Baharlou Distinguished Service Award is designed to recognize a faculty member in the College of Sciences who has established a record of outstanding service that supports and contributes to the teaching and research mission of the college. This year's recipient of the award, John Best, psychology, has not only been involved in a long list of diverse service to his department, the university, his profession and the community, but he has amassed an outstanding publication record that includes one of the most respected and widely used textbooks in his discipline and received numerous prestigious awards from students and his colleagues.

Noel Brodsky, associate professor of economics, is the recipient of the 2010 COS Teaching Excellence Award, presented to a faculty member who is recognized by both colleagues and students as a teacher of the highest caliber, dedicated to the learning enterprise. In addition to a consistent record of outstanding student evaluations, Brodsky is described by his peers as knowledgeable, dedicated and engaging.

"He values the achievement of each student and values fairness in his interactions with students," said Mary Anne Hanner, dean of COS. "His office is a welcoming place where students can visit for further engagement and discussion of course topics or simply coffee and conversation."

The Lida G. Wall Faculty Research Mentor Award recognizes COS faculty who have served as a research mentor to one or more undergraduate students. This award was established in honor of a former COS dean, who specifically encouraged collaborative research between undergraduate students and COS faculty. This year's recipient is Sean Peebles, chemistry.

"What stood out in Dr. Peebles nomination was the quality of student research that has been generated in his lab," Hanner said. "Dr. Peebles ' students received a full research experience, from project inception, to presentation and publication. These experiences will serve them well as their careers develop."

Nearly 70 Eastern Illinois University employees recently were honored as faculty/staff members who have retired or plan to retire during the 2009-2010 school year. They include, from left to right, sitting - Norman Greer, Charlene Whitling, Gail Mason, Susan Hankenson, Brenda Wilson, Jacqueline Worden and Connie Huber; from left to right, standing -- James K. Johnson, Judith Barford, Jeffrey Lynch, Sharon Turner, Karen Nantz, Priscilla Wilson, J Sain, Alberta Reed, John Oertling, Mori Toosi, Allan Rathe, Johnson Kuma, Peter Hesterman, Stephen Laribee, Doug Sloat and Joseph Allison. President Bill Perry (far right, standing) was on hand to congratulate the retirees.

Those not shown are Edward Arndt, Steven Bennett, Teresa Bennett, John Calhoun, Larry Cox, Joseph DeCaro, Stacey Doty, Michael Dunifer, Betty Easter, Jerry Eisenhour, Mike Elliott, Dianna Ensign, Brenda Farris, Robert Ferenc, William Fischer, Gary Foster, Steven Gilbert, Karen Gray, Willford Hargis, Virginia Hayes, Vy Herman, Terry Huddlestun, Terry Hyder, Elaine Johnson, Yunus Kathawala, Michele Kusterman, Gail Lockart, Connie Manes, Becky Markwell, Christine McCormick, Matthew Monippallil, Beverly Newcomb, Jill Nilsen, Steven Pearcy, Charles Plummer, Joyce Postlewait, David Radavich, Gary Robinett, Denis Roche, Gregory Ronsse, Brian Shull, Leonard Storm, James Stratton, Paul Thennes, David Van Zee, Philip Zimmer and Danny Zimmerman.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has awarded faculty members in Eastern Illinois University 's biological sciences and chemistry departments two Wildlife Preservation Fund grants in the amount of $2,000 each.

One grant supports the project titled "Compounds in Smoke Solutions Created When Burning Tallgrass Prairie Species." Participating EIU faculty members Janice Coons and Nancy Coutant , biological sciences, and Barbara Lawrence, chemistry, have been assisted by EIU students Stephanie Prosser, Daniel Finn and Anthony Porreca.

Coutant explained: "Studies from several fire-prone plant communities over the past 20 years in Australia, South Africa and the United States report that seeds of some species require smoke exposure to germinate.

"This grant has three objectives: 1) development of an apparatus to produce plant smoke solutions, 2) production of smoke solutions from 12 Illinois native plant species, and 3) chemical analysis of the smoke solutions for compounds that promote seed germination."

Although Coons and Coutant are responsible for collecting the native plant material, developing the apparatus and producing the smoke solutions, and Lawrence is in charge of the chemical analysis of the smoke solutions, all three are involved in all aspects of the project.

"Fire is a common management technique used in natural areas," Coutant continued. "Information from studies such as this one may provide insights relative to the timing and frequency of burns for those managing natural areas. Because the seeds of many native species are difficult to germinate, this information also will be useful to those who are attempting to grow native plants for restoration efforts or for commercial sale."

The second funded project, "Distribution of Posters and Promotion of Logo to Identify Native Plants Available for Landscaping," is another project of Coons and Coutant. The pair developed materials to educate people relative to native species for use in landscaping.

"With the green movement, interest is increasing for use of native plants in landscaping," Coons said. "Yet gardeners and plant nursery employees often have limited knowledge regarding which species are native and what horticultural traits native species have.

"Our four posters highlight different horticultural uses of native plants, including various microclimates, four season appeal, attract wildlife, and growth habits. We will distribute these posters to garden centers, nurseries, nature centers, schools and county extension offices throughout the state. During these visits, we will discuss sources for additional information such as workshops, websites (www.eiu.edu/~n_plants), books and information packets that we developed.

"We also coordinated the development and acceptance by the Illinois Green Industry Association of a logo for quick identification of Illinois native plants. The IGIA has promoted the logo in its display in the Conservation World section at the Illinois state fairs.

"We also will disperse samples of the logo to help gardeners and nursery employees recognize native plant species. Both posters and the logo will help gardeners and others identify native plants when making their choices at garden centers."

Rotting meat. Stinky socks. Not words usually associated with flowering beauty.

But the titan arum, or corpse flower, is no usual plant. It's so unusual -- rare, in fact -- that many individuals never have the opportunity to experience the large plant in its full and malodorous glory.

As Steven Malehorn, manager of the H.F. Thut Greenhouse, eagerly awaits the flowering of Eastern Illinois University's titan arum, affectionately named the Velvet Queen, he's issuing an invitation to residents of east-central Illinois -- and anywhere else, for that matter -- to come join him.

Malehorn estimates that the plant, growing at a rate of four to five inches a day, will flower sometime between June 8 and 12.

"Because of its unpredictable nature, the exact date can't be known in advance," he said. "And when it blooms, it will happen fast -- within hours -- and only last one night!"

The plant flowered once before in June 2008. Based on that event, Malehorn believes the spathe (the sheath enclosing the flower) will begin to open one early afternoon and will be fully open by about 6 p.m.

"The roadkill aroma will begin to develop shortly thereafter and will be strongest from about 8 p.m. until after midnight. The bloom will be open and at its peak from about 6 p.m. until about 5 a.m. the next morning, and the spathe will then slowly close through the day. The aroma will gradually fade away that morning. Then the inflorescence will slowly collapse over the next few days.

"That being said," he added, "it could surprise all of us and start blooming late in the evening and we won't know until the following morning. Therefore, no promises on the blooming schedule."

In order to let others share in the waiting, Malehorn will keep the greenhouse open from 3 to 7 p.m. daily. Hours will be extended to midnight on the day the bloom opens.

In addition, the Velvet Queen is positioned close to the south window so visitors can have an excellent view of it from the sidewalk outside at any time.

Malehorn recalled that the greenhouse received 3,000 visitors during the 2008 flowering.

A page has been created on the EIU Department of Biological Sciences' website to provide daily updates and images of the plant as the flower develops: http://www.eiu.edu/~biology/news/titan_arum_2010.php . A map to the greenhouse, located just north of Eastern's Life Sciences Building, is available on the page, as well, and Malehorn has provided a live broadcast at this link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/corpse-flower-bloom.

He is also "tweeting the event" at http://twitter.com/ThutGreenhouse  and will tweet to followers as soon as he becomes aware of the flower's opening.

The titan arum, discovered in 1878, grows wild only in the tropical forests of Sumatra. It first flowered in cultivation in London in 1889; since then, more than 100 cultivated flowers have blossomed.

EIU obtained its seed in 2001, and Malehorn has tended to the plant since it was planted. Its "grandparent" seeds were collected in 1993 from the only titan arum found in fruit during a BBC expedition filming "The Private Lives of Plants." The seeds were distributed to U.S. and British conservatories and greenhouses for cultivation.

For more information, please contact Malehorn at shmalehorn@eiu.edu, 217-581-3126 (Department of Biological Sciences' main office, Monday through Friday), or 217-581-2513 (greenhouse).

City residents and Eastern Illinois University employees, students and guests should use caution and be prepared for some inconvenience during the coming weeks as work continues on the institution's new Renewable Energy Center and related energy saving projects.

Both vehicular and foot traffic will be affected to varying degrees as crews continue installing a new underground steam tunnel on campus.

A tentative timeline has been established:

• June 14 through July 18 -- The portion of Seventh Street from the existing Steam Plant to Grant Avenue will be closed.  Vehicular access to Eastern's MLK Jr. Union will be available via Grant Avenue.
• July 19 through Aug. 30 -- Grant Avenue between Seventh and Ninth Streets will be closed. Vehicular access to Eastern's MLK Jr. Union will be available via Seventh Street.
• Aug. 3 through Oct. 28 -- Ninth Street from Grant Avenue to Roosevelt Avenue (Greek Court Drive) will be restricted to one-lane traffic, southbound. At times, this section will be closed completely. (Additional information regarding Ninth Street usage will be made available closer to Aug. 3.)

According to Gary Reed, director of EIU's Facilities Planning and Management, the university is working with city officials, contractors and several utilities companies as they prepare for the installation work.

"Our objective is to minimize disruption as much as possible throughout the entire steam tunnel installation. But this is a major excavation requiring thorough knowledge of existing utilities, including the location of gas, telephone and water lines," Reed said.

"We appreciate everyone's cooperation and patience as we move forward with this phase of the project. Please excuse our dust' as we make these much-needed campus improvements!"

EIU will continue to update both the campus and community about work taking place as part of the $80 million Renewable Energy Center and campus energy improvement program, which combines energy-efficient facility upgrades with a biomass-fueled heating plant. The program will help EIU address deferred maintenance, improve its infrastructure, increase operational reliability and save approximately $140 million in energy and operating costs over the next two decades.

Those who are interested can also follow the project's progress via this website: http://www.eiu.edu/~fpm/erec.php. In addition, the university plans to host both campus and community informational meetings to discuss the project's progress and allow interested persons to ask questions. Details as to dates, times and locations will be provided as they become available.

As work moves forward on Eastern Illinois University's new renewable energy center and other related energy saving projects, community residents will begin noticing the effects on portions of campus and in certain public areas.

According to Chad Weber, campus mechanical engineer, workers will begin to drain the pond located between Carman Hall and Ninth Street Hall on Monday, May 10. When conditions allow, crews will begin installing an underground line that will provide steam generated at the renewable energy center to support Carman, which is a student residence hall located near the southeastern part of campus.

The pond will be allowed to refill once the work is completed, probably in late summer.

Weber said the university will continue to update EIU and community residents about work taking place as part of an $80 million renewable energy and building retrofit program, which combines energy-efficient facility upgrades with a biomass-fueled heating plant. The program will help EIU address deferred maintenance, improve its infrastructure, and save approximately $140 million in energy and operating costs over the next two decades.

In an effort to conserve resource dollars, Eastern Illinois University will once again close selected buildings and offices from noon on Fridays until Monday mornings during the summer months.

The affected time period begins Monday, May 10, and ends Friday, Aug. 13.

Building/office exceptions include -- but may not be limited to -- Booth Library, University Police, the Steam Plant and the Office of Admissions, which plan to keep normal working hours.

All university offices must be open to the public between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and between 8 a.m. and noon on Friday. Administrative offices (and others where possible) will remain open during the lunch hour (Monday through Thursday).

By ending the work week at noon on Fridays, the university can increase temperatures in all vacant offices and other work environments to allow energy savings for two and one-half days per week.

Employees will be required to work their regularly scheduled number of full-time hours during the four-and-a-half-day work week. Classes scheduled to meet on Friday afternoons and/or weekends will be relocated to buildings where the air conditioning will remain on.

During weeks in which a holiday is observed (Monday, May 31, for Memorial Day and Monday, July 5, for Independence Day), offices will return to regular business hours (7.5 hours per day), including Fridays.

Regular hours will resume on Monday, Aug. 16, for the 2010-2011 school year.

The summer of 2010 marks the ninth consecutive year in which Eastern has reduced summer hours. Savings to the university in 2009 alone totaled $400,000.

Nearly 1,600 graduating students plan to participate in commencement ceremonies at Eastern Illinois University on Saturday, May 8.

Ceremonies will take place at 9 a.m., noon, 3 and 6 p.m. in Lantz Arena. Guest tickets are required for admission.

Students from the College of Sciences will march in the morning ceremony, the College of Arts and Humanities and the School of Continuing Education (Bachelor of Arts in General Studies program) at noon, the College of Education and Professional Studies at 3 p.m., and the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences at 6.

Students from the Graduate School will walk with their respective colleges.

EIU President Bill Perry will preside over the ceremonies. Michelle Murphy, student body president, and John Henry Pommier, chair, EIU Faculty Senate, will also address the graduates.

Representing Eastern's Board of Trustees will be Robert Webb (9 a.m.), Roger Kratochvil (noon), Eric Wilber (3 p.m.) and Julie Nimmons (6 p.m.).

Each ceremony will feature a special guest speaker who will present the official commencement address. H. Ray Hoops, former president of the University of Southern Indiana, will speak at 9 a.m., while Jeffrey Lynch, interim dean, EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, plans to speak at noon. Timothy D. McCollum, an EIU alumnus and nationally recognized science instructor at Charleston Middle School, will address students during the 3 p.m. ceremony, followed by Janet M. Treichel, executive director of the National Business Education Association, at 6.

Hoops and Treichel, along with F.E. "Joe" Glassford, the first state director of special education for the Illinois Board of Higher Education, are Eastern's 2010 honorary degree recipients.

In addition, Janet T. Marquardt, professor of art history and women's studies, will be recognized as the 2010 recipient of Eastern's Distinguished Faculty Award. (This award is traditionally presented during spring commencement exercises; however, as Marquardt will be unable to attend Saturday's ceremony, the award will be formally presented during the December commencement.) The Distinguished Faculty Award is presented annually by the Faculty Senate to a full-time faculty member who has excelled in teaching, professional research/creative activity and service.

Commencement marshals lead the procession while carrying the university mace inscribed with past marshals' names. This spring's commencement marshals are as follows:

• Vincent Gutowski, professor of geology/geography, representing the College of Sciences during the morning ceremony. Gutowski has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1983.
• William J. Searle, professor of English, representing the College of Arts and Humanities during the noon ceremony. Searle has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1976.
• Scott A.G.M. Crawford, professor, kinesiology and sports studies, representing the College of Education and Professional Studies during the 3 p.m. ceremony. Crawford has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1989.
• Deborah A. Woodley, professor, School of Business, representing the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences during the 6 p.m. ceremony. Woodley has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1988.

Faculty marshals are given the honor of carrying the college banner for their respective colleges. This spring's faculty marshals are as follows:

• 9 a.m. -- Andrew D. McNitt, Graduate School and College of Sciences; Gary S. Foster, College of Sciences.
• Noon -- Jonathon J. Kirk, Graduate School and College of Arts and Humanities; Bailey K. Young, College of Arts and Humanities; Kathryn Rhodes, School of Continuing Education.
• 3 p.m. -- Heidi A. Larson, Graduate School and College of Education and Professional Studies; Julie T. Dietz, College of Education and Professional Studies.
• 6 p.m. -- Karla J. Kennedy-Hagan, Graduate School and Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences; Betsy Pudliner, Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences.

Michelle E. Moery, a history major from Tinley Park , will serve as the Honors College banner marshal during all four ceremonies.

The Eastern Illinois University Graduate Student Advisory Council recently collected 32 backpacks full of essential supplies for foster children in the Charleston area.

As part of Project Backpack, the graduate students accepted donated backpacks and items to fill them, including soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, combs, books and crayons. They were recently delivered to Charleston's Department of Children and Family Services office.

The project was inspired by GSAC member Bridget Purdy, who was once a foster child herself. Purdy worked with the Charleston DCFS office to identify the needed items for the backpacks.

"Anything of service is worth doing, especially for those who have nothing," Purdy said. "I'm coming from the same place as these kids in the foster system. I didn't get out of that system until I was 13."

GSAC member Amanda Fountain said the organization was happy to help such a worthy cause.

"The goal is to give back to the Charleston community and provide some comfort for the children in the foster system," said GSAC member Amanda Fountain. "Often, these children are given a trash bag when they are displaced from a home to gather their belongings. The backpacks are meant to give them something new that they can call their own when they have to move. The essential items are meant to make their transition easier."

GSAC member Zachary Thuring said the organization is committed to giving back "to the community that has given us so much support."

Bill Elliott, assistant dean of Graduate and International Admissions at EIU, thanked all who participated.

"It's been a pleasure to work with GSAC this past year and witness the many ways in which their work has had a positive influence on our campus, and now our community," Elliott said. "Thanks to EIU and community members for their generous support to this worthy event, and to GSAC for all the work involved to make life a little better for foster children in need."

For more information about GSAC's Project Backpack, please contact Fountain at aefountain@eiu.edu or 508-813-0483.

As local farmers go about the task of spring planting, few realize that research taking place in a nearby laboratory may, eventually, help put a few extra dollars in their pockets.

Gopal Periyannan, a chemistry professor at Eastern Illinois University, believes that certain dead plant materials -- corn stalks, for example, or even saw dust -- can be broken down into useful chemicals for the manufacturing of items such as plastics or bio-fuel products.

In addition, he believes the conversions can be done at a microbiological level, allowing the procedure to be done with minimal energy and with few, if any, chemicals.

"It would be an economical and environmentally friendly process," Periyannan said. "And a process that could add to the economical value of a crop."

It's not a new idea. According to Periyannan, scientists worldwide have been actively pursuing this field of study for some time. In fact, he and many of his students have worked on their portion of the research for at least two years, he added.

And that research recently resulted in a $41,175 Single Investigator Cottrell College Science Award from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement.

RCSA, created in 1912, is America's second-oldest foundation and the first dedicated solely to science. Through its various programs, RCSA funds innovative research by early career scientists, both individually and in teams crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries.

The Cottrell College Science Award has the added goal of promoting the opportunity for undergraduate students to participate in cutting-edge research and experience that gives them a head start in learning to think like scientists.

The foundation's goal is to build and improve the scientific workforce to ensure 21st-century America's prosperity and security.

"The funding has a strong educational component of research," Periyannan said. "It allows us to provide research opportunities to our students, including two paid summer internships."

Matthew Payea, a chemistry major from Naperville, appreciates such opportunities. He admitted that he didn't expect to work so closely with his professors when he first came to Eastern.

"I always thought that was something reserved for students at research-oriented institutions like UIUC (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)," he said. And now, having experienced the one-on-one learning opportunity, "I wouldn't trade any of it."

"It's a great experience," Payea added. "As a student in the field of bio-chemistry, I appreciate this chance to work with Dr. Periyannan and others to learn the technology and skills that will help me in my 'real life.' I'm learning much more than I ever could in just a traditional classroom environment.

"It's a form of integrative learning that will help me become a much better chemist," he said.

Periyannan noted that some students actually get to present their findings before audiences at scientific conferences and other events, Payea recently presented his research at the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research. In addition to the educational advantages such presentations provide, it also proves how relevant the research is to the scientific world at large.

"I think the long-term implications of our research could be significant," he said. "Especially given the increased need and interest for renewable resources."

Periyannan doesn't expect any quick completion to his research, or that of the subject as a whole. For example, scientists still need to determine the long-term impact of removing residual corn stalks from working fields.

"The soil obtains some of it nutrients from decaying plant materials," he said. "We need to determine how the removal of that plant material might affect subsequent crops."

The word "comfortable" popped up over and over again as Jack K. Neal explained his decision to accept the job as general manager of WEIU-TV/FM on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

"I grew up in Ohio and have worked in both Ohio and Indiana," he said. "I'm a small town guy, looking forward to returning to the Midwest. It's very much like coming home for me."

For Neal, "coming home" means leaving his current job as station manager at KUHT-TV, Houston PBS, America's first public television station and one of the founding stations of the Public Broadcasting Service (1969). The station is located on the campus of the University of Houston, meaning Neal is already accustomed to working in a university setting.

And he enjoys it.

"On a visit to Eastern, I arrived at the studios about five minutes before air time," he said. "And there was virtually no difference between the activity taking place there and what would be taking place in a 'professional' newsroom.

"It was exhilarating to watch the students running down the hall to make sure everything was ready before airtime. This is what attracted me to the campus. The students there seem very involved, and I like the idea of teaching them the things they need to know in their chosen career path, especially as the industry continues its move in a new direction."

As general manager, Neal will have primary responsibility for the coordination, supervision and administration of programs and activities at EIU's television/radio center. This includes support of the academic mission of the university, as well as programming and outreach services to the campus and greater community through WEIU-FM, WEIU-TV, student audio channels, locally controlled community and campus cable channels and web distribution.

He's reluctant at this point to discuss what changes, if any, might be made at the EIU campus facilities after his arrival to campus on June 1.

"It's too early to make that kind of decision," he said. "I first need to get a full understanding of what's already taking place at WEIU.

"It's a solid station already. It's in a place where public stations should be heading -- local, lots of good programming, a nightly television news program and an Emmy-winning news program, at that," he said.

Speaking in generalities, Neal did say he would continue to seek out locally produced programming and even more involvement than already exists in the local community.

"And we'll discover ways in which to develop user-generated content -- in essence, make our operation more interactive," he added. "Television/radio really is a two-way medium now."

Neal, who has worked in television and/or radio since 1974, previously worked for Blue Ridge Public Television (WBRA-TV), Roanoke, Va.; the Public Broadcasting Council of Central New York (WCNY-TV), Syracuse, N.Y.; the Educational Television Association of Metropolitan Cleveland (WVIZ-TV), Cleveland, Ohio; and other stations in Ohio and Indiana.

His education includes a bachelor's degree in management and a master's degree in business administration, both from California Coast University.

The Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees approved tuition increases for the 2010-11 academic year at its meeting on Monday.

New in-state undergraduate students entering EIU in the fall will pay $254 per semester hour, and that rate will be locked in for four continuous academic years, as provided in the state "Truth in Tuition Law." Students with an average 15-hour course load will pay $3,810 in tuition per semester.

"This is Eastern Illinois University's lowest recommended tuition increase since the implementation of the guaranteed tuition program," said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs. "It was our goal to keep EIU an affordable institution where students can come to study, learn and earn a degree."

The locked-in per-semester-hour tuition rates for returning in-state undergraduate students are as follows (according to the year students entered EIU): 2006-07, $173.55; 2007-08, 194.40; 2008-2009, $218; and 2009-10, $239. Continuing, non-guaranteed students will pay $197 per semester hour, an increase of $14.

New out-of-state undergraduates will pay $762 in tuition per semester hour, or $11,430 for an average 15-hour course load. Locked-in per-semester-hour rates for out-of-state undergraduate students will remain unchanged for those who entered in the following years: 2006-07, $520.65; 2007-08, $583.20; 2008-2009, $654; and 2009-2010, $717. Continuing out-of-state undergraduate students will pay $590 per semester hour, an increase of $41.

Illinois graduate students will also pay $254 per semester hour, an increase of $15. Out-of-state graduate students' per-semester-hour rate will be $686.

Trustees also approved a $2.50 per-semester-hour increase in the Campus Improvement Fee, raising the cost from $12 to $14.50 for the 2010-2011 academic year. The vote also calls for additional $2.50 increases per semester hour in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14, raising the costs to $17, $19.50 and $22, respectively. Additional resources generated from the fee will be used for renovations in labs and classrooms in the physical science and life sciences buildings and, eventually, to partially support the construction of a new science building.

Increases for the Lantz-O'Brien Operations/Bond Revenue Fee were also approved for the next four years. Students will pay an increase of 65 cents per semester hour in 2010-11, and 50 cents each in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 for a total of $2.50, $3, $3.50 and $4, respectively. Additional fees generated from this fee will be used to replace roofs, ceilings and plumbing; repair outdoor basketball and tennis courts; improve heating, air conditioning and ventilation; renovate bathrooms; and repair Panther Trail.

Some of the areas needing repairs are original roofing and piping installed when the building was constructed in 1966, Nadler said.

According to Dan Nadler, the impressive record of student volunteerism at Eastern Illinois University all boils down to one thing.

"We have good-hearted students at the university who want to make a difference," he said. "Many of the students we bring to this institution already have a history of giving to others. They've already been engaged within their own communities and to volunteerism.

"They bring experience. Our role is to help them make the local connections while they're in this area, and to support them as they develop and learn new skills," he added.

As vice president for student affairs, Nadler often has a front-row seat to the many acts of kindness that take place both on- and off-campus. "They pretty much run the spectrum," he said, "with our students interacting with the very young to the very elderly, and with many causes in-between."

And while student volunteerism is no stranger to EIU campus life, it has taken on a new focus in recent years.

"We are fortunate that President (Bill) Perry included volunteerism when he rolled out his priorities for the university," Nadler said. "It has allowed us to create a new unit -- Student Community Service -- which, in turn, has allowed us to identify even more community service opportunities for our students.

"And by having a clearinghouse, so to speak, of volunteer opportunities in one place, we can encourage even greater service."

Now, Nadler continued, when a student says "I'd like to get involved, but I don't know where to go," that person is referred to Rachel Fisher, the highly energetic interim director of the nearly two-year-old office.

"Her work has been phenomenal," Nadler said, reflecting on Fisher's work. "She's developed contacts with a variety of human service agencies throughout Charleston, Coles County and Central Illinois. Her efforts have allowed us to connect with other people, agencies and good causes, in addition to letting us launch some of our own initiatives."

Fresh ideas and opportunities are important, Fisher said, especially when the needs of the community are constantly changing.

"We get excited about our established events, such as Panther Service Day, but we also look forward to new initiatives and new goals based on community needs and the passions of our students," she added. "We work to accommodate the needs of our community neighbors while providing our students some wonderful, meaningful experiences."

One of Eastern's newest initiatives is Jump Start to G.I.V.E. (Get Involved in Volunteer Efforts), made possible by the coordinated efforts of the offices of Student Community Service and New Student Programs. During the one-day project's debut in August 2009, 1,200 new students participated in volunteer projects on campus and in the community.

"We were pleasantly overwhelmed," Nadler said.

For many of those students, as they continue their college careers, volunteerism will become an integral part of their everyday lives.

"For many, it will become a part of their nature, if it hasn't already," Nadler continued. "Some (students) will volunteer on an individual level. Others will perform service activities as part of an organized group -- religious, greek, athletics...

"For example, I don't think many people realize how much time our student-athletes put in doing service, especially with the young children of the community. These kids look up to these athletes who, in turn, serve as mentors and good role models."

Nadler said Eastern promotes and encourages volunteerism for the obvious good it brings to the university and community-at-large.

"There are many things happening that wouldn't get done if it weren't for our young men and women. Many programs and agencies, including our public schools and recreational programs, rely on our students' help," he said.

In turn, those individuals benefit, too.

The goal of Eastern Illinois University is to encourage its students to make connections among all aspects of their lives -- academic, professional and personal -- and apply what they learn in the classroom, and in life, to new situations.

"We want more for our students than just a degree in a given subject area," Nadler said. "For them, their time here will be years of learning, growing and developing life skills that will help them better themselves. If we can help them accomplish this, we feel like we've not only helped them improve their quality of life, but shown them how to create a more fulfilling life."

FACTS AND FIGURES

EIU Service Partners: American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Camp New Hope, Catholic Charities, Charleston Food Pantry, Children Advocacy Centers of Illinois, City of Charleston, Douglas/Hart Nature Center, Good Neighbor Project, Habitat for Humanity, Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, Mattoon P.A.D.S., Mattoon YMCA, Salvation Army, Serve Illinois Commission, Special Olympics, Teen Reach, Various Retirement/Nursing Homes -- and many others!

Major Days of Service at EIU: Jumpstart to G.I.V.E. (Get Involved in Volunteer Efforts) -- Early Fall; National MLK Jr. Day of Service -- January; and Panther Service Day -- Spring.

Number of Student Volunteers at EIU: July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007 -- 4,113 volunteers with 47,000 recorded hours of service; **July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009 -- 4,773 volunteers with 52,000 recorded hours of service; July 1 to Dec. 31, 2009 -- 5,800 (and still counting!) volunteers with 57,000 recorded hours of service.

(**First year that Student Community Service Office is in operation)

Goal set by President Bill Perry: 100,000 service hours and 8,000 student volunteers (annually) by June 30, 2013

The recent volcano eruption in Iceland will be one topic of discussion as five Eastern Illinois University faculty members mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by speaking about the environment and its effect on humanity.

"Earth Day 2010: A Celebration of Our Home" will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 22, in Room 3040 of EIU's Physical Science Building. Admission is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.

Other topics will include overpopulation, sustainability and renewable energy, how a city can be sustainable, and co-existing with nature.

"We hope to raise a lot of questions," said event organizer Cameron Craig. "We hope to give people insight on what's happening now and what we can expect in the future."

The five speakers are members of the EIU Department of Geology/Geography faculty: Diane Burns, Michael Cornebise, Cameron Craig, Dave Viertel and John Stimac.

The Eastern Illinois University Choral Ensembles and Percussion Ensemble will join forces to present works that span the globe in their "Multi-Cultural Concert" in the Doudna Fine Arts Center on April 30.

The concert will begin at 7 p.m. in Dvorak Concert Hall. A variety of cultures will be represented, including Armenian, South African, Hebrew and Afro-Cuban.

Jamie V. Ryan, one of Eastern’s newest faculty members, is director of the Percussion Ensemble. Choral faculty members Richard Robert Rossi and Adam Stich direct the Concert Choir and University Mixed Chorus, respectively.

Graduate student Janet McCumber will conduct a women's piece with the University Mixed Chorus, and April Lee will conduct a song with the Concert Choir.

The Concert Choir will present the first movement of "Chichester Psalms" by Leonard Bernstein, in Hebrew; "Lord, I Want to be a Christian," a spiritual arranged by Rossi; and "Loosin Yelav," an Armenian folk song arranged by Paul Carey.

The Percussion Ensemble selections include Minoru Miki's "Marimba Spiritual" and Amadeo Roldan's "Ritmicas 5 and 6." The musicians will play the traditional bata drums used in saluting Afro-Cuban gods known as "orishas" and then take the audience to the courtyards of Havana Vieja with the sounds of rumba.

Following the influence of Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaria, the Percussion Ensemble will then perform its own compositions rooted in the salsa sounds of Havana's Tropicana club and New York's Palladium. The ensemble will also play a "conga de comparsa," indulging in the sounds of the Carnaval street parade Afro-Cuba celebrates every Jan. 6.

The Mixed Chorus will perform "Gabi, Gabi," a traditional South African song arranged by William C. Powell; "Missa Pequeña" and "Creo en Dios" by Francisco Nuñez; "A Red, Red, Rose" by James Mulholland; and, with marimba, "Halleluyah!" by Bill Derksen.

Tickets for general-admission seating are $5 for the general public and $3 for seniors, EIU employees and students. For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Eastern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble will present a wide variety of jazz in its April 29 concert, which will feature many excellent student soloists, as well as guest student vocalist Sean Walker.

The concert is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Theatre.

Among the selections are fresh arrangements of well-known standards such as "All of Me" and "Body and Soul," a very contemporary piece entitled "Big Sky," and a beautiful arrangement of "A Child Is Born" by EIU's own Paul Johnston.

The EIU Jazz Ensemble is directed by Sam Fagaly. The group has received numerous awards, including Outstanding Ensemble and Solo Performance citations at the Notre Dame and Elmhurst College jazz festivals, as well as Downbeat magazine's prestigious "DB" award.

The band released its first CD, "Eastern Time Zone," in 1994. Its latest recording, "In The Pocket," is currently available. The group has been featured at many conferences and festivals, including the Illinois Music Educators Association conference and the International Association for Jazz Educators convention.

Each year, the EIU Jazz Ensemble performs with special guest artists, which have included legendary figures such as Mel Torme, Dizzy Gillespie, Diane Schuur and Joe Williams.

This program is presented by the EIU music department in cooperation with the Doudna Fine Arts Center; both are divisions of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities. The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

Tickets are $5 for the general public and $3 for seniors, EIU employees and students. For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Representatives of Eastern Illinois University's administration, faculty and students will discuss "The Illinois Budget Crisis and the Future of Education" on Monday, April 19.

The forum will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Charleston/Mattoon Room of the MLK Jr. Union on campus. The public is invited.

Panelists will be EIU President William Perry; Charles Delman, mathematics; Joy Russell, early childhood, elementary and middle level education; Richard Wandling, political science; and Eric Wilber, EIU Student Government. Bailey Young, history, will moderate the panel.

“We are hoping to promote a productive dialogue on campus and in the community on the urgency of budget challenges facing education in Illinois -- from the first-grade classroom through higher education," Wandling said. "The panelists will represent a range of perspectives, from President Perry speaking on the future of EIU to Professor Russell addressing the state of elementary and secondary education."

The panel will offer perspectives on the state’s budget crisis relative to education at all levels. The audience will have the opportunity to pose questions and provide input.

The forum is co-sponsored by the Faculty Senate and the EIU chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra and EIU Choral Ensembles will present "Songs of Fate" on Sunday, April 25, in Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The concert will begin at 4 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall. Tickets are $12 for the general public; $10 for seniors and EIU employees; and $5 for students. Seating is reserved.

The program, which will later be televised on WEIU-TV, includes a variety of selections, including "Romeo and Juliet Overture" by Tchaikovsky, "Schicksalslied" by Brahms, and "Magnificat" by Stanford.

The musicians will perform under the guidance of conductor Richard Robert Rossi.

Concerto winner Ali Walton, a senior accounting and finance major with a minor in music, will be featured on horn in Strauss' "Concerto for Horn No. 1 in E-Flat, Opus 11." She studies with EIU horn professor Katherine McBain.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra will play for the University Mixed Chorus, Concert Choir, Camerata Singers and Oratorio Society.

Organist Derek Maninfior will accompany the Camerata and Concert Choir. Other instrumentalists featured will include Anna Cromwell and Terry Coulton on violin and Ka-Wai Yu on cello for Gorczycki's "In Virtute Tua"; and April Lee (oboe) and Julia Jamieson (harp) on "The Lord is My Shepherd" by Rutter.

A recording of the concert will air on WEIU-TV at 6 p.m. May 4 and May 9.

For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office. The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Last year, Illinois grew 2 billion bushels of corn -- 15 percent of the entire U.S. corn crop.

And to produce that much corn, tons of chemicals were applied to the land. Some of those chemicals are said to have ended up in rivers, lakes and oceans. Some claim that those chemicals also end up in us.

Eastern Illinois University invites community residents to join director Aaron Woolf for screenings of two of his movies, " Big River" and "King Corn," that investigate how agriculture impacts the environment and those who depend on it for food and other products.

In the 2007 Peabody-winning documentary "King Corn," Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America 's most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat -- and how we farm.

In 2009's " Big River," Cheney and Ellis return to Iowa with a new mission: to investigate the environmental impact their acre of corn has sent to the people and places downstream. In a journey that spans from the heartland to the Gulf of Mexico, the two men trade their combine for a canoe and set out to see the world their acre of corn has touched. On their trip, flashbacks to the pesticides they sprayed, the fertilizers they injected and the soil they plowed now lead to new questions, explored by new experts in new places.

Half of Iowa's topsoil, they learn, has been washed out to sea. Fertilizer runoff has spawned a hypoxic "dead zone" in the Gulf. And back at their acre, the herbicides they used are blamed for a cancer cluster that reaches all too close to home.

Both films will be shown Wednesday, April 21, in Phipps Auditorium, located on the first floor of the Physical Science Building on the EIU campus. Admission to "Big River" and "King Corn," set to run from 3 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., respectively, is free and open to the public. Question-and-answer sessions with Woolf will follow each screening.

In addition, EIU's Booth Library is hosting an exhibit designed to provide more information on the films and related issues. The exhibit will be on display through the end of April in the library's Reference Hallway.

The screenings are being made possible through a College of Sciences Visiting Scholars grant, which was supplemented by Eastern's departments of geology/geography, sociology/anthropology and political science; Booth Library; and Tempestas et Caelum Productions.

Additional information about the documentaries can be found at http://www.bigriverfilm.com/ and http://www.kingcorn.net/ .

Eastern Illinois University's Booth Library will celebrate National Library Week during the week of April 11 through 17, and will host several events and exhibitions.

On Monday, the library will host "An Evening with Neil Gaiman" from 5 to 7 p.m. in Booth Library Conference Room 4440. As the honorary chair of National Library Week, Gaiman will speak during this live streaming videoconference about his lifelong love of libraries and the role they play in a democratic society by supporting intellectual freedom and privacy. This event is coordinated by the American Library Association's Campaign for America 's Libraries and the Jessamine County (Ky.) Public Library, in collaboration with HarperCollins Children's Books, Internet2 and the University of Minnesota.

From 5 to 7 p.m. on both Sunday and Wednesday, library personnel will offer tours of the building to community residents and host a community borrower card drive. Tours will begin in the Marvin Foyer.

Booth's annual book sale will take place outside the north entrance of the library from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. A large selection of books in all subject areas and hundreds of paperback fiction titles will be available for sale. All items have been donated by the campus community, with proceeds from the sale to be used to enhance library programs and services. The library requests no advance sales.

Several exhibits related to National Library Week will be on display during the month of April: "The History of Illinois Libraries," located in the Atrium; "Transforming K-12 Students Today into College Students Tomorrow," in the Periodicals hallway; "Community Authors," featuring works by local writers, in the South Lobby; and "Neil Gaiman, Honorary Chair of National Library Week 2010," on display in the Marvin Foyer. This exhibit will feature works by Gaiman, the winner of the 2009 Newbery Medal for "The Graveyard Book."

More information about National Library Week can be found on the Booth Library Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BoothLibrary.

Philadelphia's Koresh Dance Company will bring its powerful stage presence and high-energy style to Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center for two shows on April 23 and 24.

Both performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. in The Theatre. Tickets are $15 for the general public; $12 for seniors and EIU employees; and $7 for students. Seating is reserved.

Founded in 1991 by Israeli-born choreographer Ronen Koresh, the Koresh Dance Company presents its audiences with an exciting and emotional blend of ballet, modern and jazz molded into a style of choreography that is eloquent and explosive.

Koresh Dance Company performances feature an eclectic repertoire of work by its founder (who serves as the troupe's artistic director) and guest choreographers, including Donald Byrd (Spectrum Dance Theater), Robert Battle (Battleworks), Itzik Galili (Galili Dance) and Brian Sanders (JUNK).

The Company's critically acclaimed work attracts a continually increasing audience across the nation, and Koresh's reputation for passion and outstanding technique regularly results in sold-out performances.

Reviewers have lavished praise on the troupe.

• "Koresh dancers have long been known for their exceptionally fine-toned physiques -- and the caliber of their movement execution is simply marvelous, regardless of the technical requirements." -- Philadelphia City Paper

• "This is an exciting company, with choreography full of surprises and dancers equipped to execute the often-stunning shifts in dynamic and mood. They consistently astonish with their skill; when all nine of them move together as a unit, they become a single entity, a piece of life moving as if with one heartbeat." -- San Antonio Express

• "The entire evening’s performance was dancing at its most profound. I can’t remember the last time a dance company drew tears from me; this one did, several times." -- Reading (Pa.) Eagle

Ronen Koresh's dance history includes training and dancing with his mother, a folk dancer in the Yemenite tradition, and with a Tel Aviv folk dance group; comprehensive study as a teenager with Martha Graham’s Bat Sheva Dance Company; and training with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.

In 1984, Koresh began performing with Shimon Braun’s acclaimed Waves Jazz Dance Company in Philadelphia. He also was one of the original Evening Magazine Dancers and won a People’s Choice Award in 1987 as Philadelphia’s Most Outstanding Jazz Dancer.

Koresh, an in-demand guest artist and speaker, is a professor of jazz dance at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, which he joined in 1986. He also teaches master classes and creates choreography at Drexel University, Wake Forest and the Elie Studio in Mito, Japan, just to name a few.

In 1993, Koresh opened the Koresh School of Dance in Center City Philadelphia. Besides serving as the home base for his company, the studio is a mecca for dancers in the community. It has also been a magnet for some of the nation’s most outstanding teachers, including hip hop’s Rennie Harris; ballet’s Elena Tchernishova, Andrew Pap, Sasha and Irina Boitsov, and Alexei and Natalia Charov; and modern’s Terry Beck, Brian Sanders and Myra Bazell.

For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The winner of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics will present "Why Can't Time Run Backwards?" on Friday, April 16, at Eastern Illinois University.

Sir Anthony Leggett, a physics professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will speak at 7 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Lecture Hall. Admission is free, and the public is invited.

"We can all tell when a movie of some everyday event, such as a kettle boiling or a glass shattering, is run backwards," Leggett said in describing his topic. "Similarly, we all feel that we can remember the past and affect the future, not vice versa.

"So there is a very clear 'arrow' (direction) of time built into our interpretation of our everyday experience. Yet the fundamental microscopic laws of physics, be they classical or quantum-mechanical, look exactly the same if the direction of time is reversed.

"So what is the origin of the 'arrow' of time? This is one of the deepest questions in physics; I will review some relevant considerations, but do not pretend to give a complete answer."

Leggett will also discuss the process of winning the Nobel Prize. While he won't delve into the science behind his prize-winning work in superfluidity, he will discuss some of his classical training and how that related to his discoveries and innovations.

The event is sponsored by the Society of Physics Students and the Philosophy Club at EIU.

For more information on Leggett's lecture, please call the EIU physics department at 217-581-3220 or e-mail Professor Jim Conwell at jconwell@eiu.edu.

Stephani Pescitelli, left, has received enthuastic help with a pilot study of a compost program from the Thomas Dining Center staff, including (from left) Diane Wilke, Renee Kerz and Mary Collins.

Stephani Pescitelli wants to make the world a better place than when she found it, and that's why, even in her hectic final months as an Eastern Illinois University student, she has worked to start a compost program on campus.

In a pilot run of the program, she found that composting in even just one dining center could potentially keep 500 lbs. of organic waste out of landfills each week, helping not only the environment, but EIU's waste-hauling budget as well. As an added bonus, the composted material would be used for landscaping.

Pescitelli's inspiration was a similar program at Humboldt State University in Northern California, where she was enrolled for a semester as part of the National Student Exchange. In addition to recycling bins often seen elsewhere, the HSU campus had receptacles for items that could be composted.

"It just makes so much sense to collect organic waste like you would items for recycling," Pescitelli said. "I wanted to bring some of the energy and inspiration back to my home school."

Pescitelli, a Presidential Honors student, is no stranger to making a difference. She has been involved in fair trade and social justice activism via several service organizations, including the Newman Center's Haiti Connection.

She is also no stranger to the topic of biodegradation. One of her research projects, about the use of paper waste in cultivating mushrooms, was funded by a $3,000 grant from the Honors College.

So when she returned to EIU with the idea for a compost program, she secured an internship with EIU's Office of Energy and Sustainability and put her enthusiasm and knowledge to work.

In the Thomas Dining Center, the location of the pilot study, most of the composted items came from the salad bar preparation area. Paper towels were also included, as the carbon they contain helps to balance out the nitrogen-rich vegetables. Prohibited items include dairy, oil and meat products, as they would attract pests.

Pescitelli lauded the staff  -- "the actual ones doing the work" -- for enthusiastically participating in the project and taking ownership in it.

Salad bar cook Mary Collins, who has been composting in her yard for about 30 years, said she was "very, very excited about" the program. The project doesn't require a lot of extra work by the staff, she said.

"It's just a matter of putting something in a compost bin instead of putting it in a garbage can," Collins said. "Everybody's very happy about it, because we don't like to waste anything. This is just another step in the university's commitment to being environmentally friendly."

Ryan Siegel, EIU's energy and sustainability coordinator, agreed.

"It's a great step forward to allow us to do more for our environment and send less to a landfill," Siegel said. "If it works out that the system is cost-effective, it will bring us one step closer to the president's goal of recycling or diverting 1.6 million pounds of material per year from the university."

Although Pescitelli is already busy working on designing a composting bin and finding a location for it before she graduates with a degree in environmental biology, she still has one more project she'd like to tackle before leaving campus: the planning of a campus community garden.

In recent years, various people on campus have discussed the possibility of such a garden, and one of Pescitelli's goals is to bring those people together to make that dream a reality.

"A campus garden would offer the opportunity for students to learn how to grow their own food and make connections between food systems, health and sustainability," she said.

After graduating in May, Pescitelli will begin an internship with Troy Gardens, which includes community gardens, an organic farm, and restored prairie and woodlands in Madison, Wisc. The following year, she hopes to pursue a doctorate and eventually engage in a career focusing on sustainable living.

"I tell people that my dream job would be to do mushroom cultivation in Haiti," Pescitelli said. "That is close to my heart."

The Eastern Illinois University Wind Symphony will present something for the entire family -- including humor from Maestro Hil Arioso, "The World’s Greatest Conductor” -- in “A Celebration Prelude” at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 18.

The concert will be held in the Dvorak Concert Hall, Doudna Fine Arts Center. It is designed to set the mood for the following weekend's Celebration: Festival of the Arts on the EIU campus.

The program includes the landmark “Symphony for Band" by Vincent Persichetti, one of America’s most important composers. “Symphony," which pointed the way for other composers of various genres to the serious musical possibilities of the wind band, explores in rich detail the timbral and rhythmic elements capable of the band genre in a work now considered core repertoire.

Christopher Jones, graduate conducting assistant, will make his final conducting appearance with the Wind Symphony with John Adams' “Short Ride in a Fast Machine.” This rhythmic transcription of the popular minimalist orchestral work takes the listener on a careening, yet exhilarating, musical journey.

Then, it will be time for The World’s Greatest Conductor: Maestro Hil Arioso. Maestro Arioso -- played to humorous perfection by EIU Wind Symphony conductor Milton Allen -- follows in the tradition of Danny Kaye, Victor Borge and Leonard Bernstein’s popular television broadcasts of the 1950s and '60s.

Equally at home conducting bands or orchestras, as well as presenting programs that appeal to all ages, Maestro Arioso brings fun, laughter and passion to the concert hall, all while illuminating both the importance and power of music to audiences.

Joining The Maestro during his “residency” will be Magie Smith, EIU clarinet professor, in a performance of the clarinet classic “Immer Kleiner” ("Always Smaller") by Adolf Shreiner.

Interim Dean of the College of Humanities, Jeffrey Lynch, will reprise his role as narrator for the Wind Symphony’s annual performance of “Casey at the Bat.” This will be Lynch’s last performance as a member of the EIU faculty.

The EIU Wind Symphony -- composed of approximately 45 auditioned musicians from across campus -- is the premier band of the EIU University Bands. It has received praise from many composers and artists, including Libby Larsen, the Boston Brass, Steven Bryant and Timothy Mahr, as well as conductors Russel Mikkelson and Timothy Reynish.

Admission will be $5 for the general public, and $3 for senior citizens, EIU employees and students. For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Eastern Illinois University theatre department will present a humorous take on how people gleefully twist their convictions to rationalize bad behavior with its staging of "Incorruptible: A Dark Comedy About the Dark Ages."

Performances are set for 7 p.m. April 16, 17, 19 and 20, as well as 2 p.m. April 18, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Black Box Theatre. The play is not recommended for those younger than high-school age.

The cast includes Tim Mason, Brian McElligott, Geoffrey Zokal, Grant Molen, Dar'Keith Lofton, Katy Kruzic, Mallory Stringfellow and Caitlin Carroll.

The play, Michael Hollinger's satirical look at the fragility of faith in the face of survival, is set in Priseaux, France, in 1250.

"The river flooded again last week," reads the synopsis provided by the Dramatists Play Service. "The chandler's shop just burned to the ground. Nobody's heard of the wheelbarrow yet. And St. Foy, the patron of the local monastery, hasn't worked a miracle in 13 years.

"In other words, the Dark Ages still look pretty dark. All eyes turn to the pope, whose promised visit will surely encourage other pilgrims to make the trek and restore the abbey to its former glory. That is, until a rival church claims to possess the relics of St. Foy -- and 'their' bones are working miracles.

"All seems lost until the destitute monks take a lesson from a larcenous one-eyed minstrel, who teaches them an outrageous new way to pay old debts."

"Incorruptible" has received rave reviews. American Theatre called it "a lightning-fast farce, rich in both verbal and physical humor," and Philadelphia Weekly described it as "a farcical romp, scintillating and irreverent."

"Everything fits snugly in this funny, endearing black comedy," read a review in the Philadelphia Inquirer. "Hollinger understands how to balance verbal and physical humor, how to sketch personality in a few deft strokes, how to pause here and there to allow his audience to catch its breath, how to bring on a new character at just the right time, and how to write dialogue that's an artful blend of the mock-formal and the anachronistically breezy. A piece of remarkably dexterous craftsmanship."

Tickets -- $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Eastern Illinois University Dancers will present their annual spring concert -- "Unique Sole" -- at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 8, 9 and 10, in The Theatre in the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Doors open at 6:30. Admission is free and open to the public.

The concert will feature traditional forms of ballet, modern, tap and jazz to varied musical artists such as Whitney Houston, Colbie Caillat, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Citizen Cope, Enya and the sound track from "Moma Mia."

This university-recognized organization is sponsored by EIU's Department of Kinesiology and Sports Studies, and is under the direction of Jeanna McFarland.

This year's concert features 13 university students with many different majors. Auditions are held in September and rehearsals start immediately for a spring concert.

There has been an annual spring concert sponsored by the Physical Education Department (now kinesiology and sports studies) since 1934; the current group is a continuation of that tradition. Originally the performances consisted of modern dance only. This group was founded in 1981, and has expanded to perform many various dance forms such as ballet, jazz and tap.

McFarland is a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and furthered her dance studies in New York City at different studios, including those of Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Finus Jung and Luigi. She came to Eastern in 1991 as a faculty member.

"Unique Sole" is a foot-tapping, energetic production and will be enjoyable for all ages. Due to limited seating, audience members will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eastern Illinois University's Health Service and Student Community Service Center invites the Charleston-area community to take part in "kicking butts" from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 10, in Morton Park.

Kick Butts Day, a nationwide initiative to stop youth tobacco use, is designed to increase awareness of tobacco's impact on health and aid in tobacco cessation.

This is the third year in which EIU has hosted Kick Butts Day events.

Activities will begin with a 5K Walk/Run. Pre-registration has already started, with forms and information for runners available here. A $20 registration fee includes admission, T-shirt, food and a commemorative item. The fee is $5 for ages 12 and under.

On-site registration on April 10 is from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., with the run beginning at 9:45 a.m. and the walk at 10.

The community picnic, planned as a way for families and the community as a whole to engage in tobacco education, will feature food, entertainment and games suitable for all ages. There is no charge to come and participate, and all are welcome to attend. Booths and activities will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Funded in part by a "I Live Free, Tobacco Free" grant, EIU Kick Butts Day events will provide community residents with a chance to stand out, speak up and seize control in the fight against tobacco. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people every year. This event is an opportunity to educate, engage and take action for change.

For information about Kick Butts Day, contact Brad Tribble at 217-581-7786 or herc-alcoholed@eiu.edu .

Sarah Vowell, a best-selling author whose humorous commentary on America's past and present is a staple on late-night talk shows, public radio and the pages of leading publications, is coming to Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Vowell will take the stage in the Dvorak Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. April 9 to share her observations on the connections between the American past and present.

Her personal, often humorous accounts typically cover everything from presidents and their assassins to colonial religious fanatics, as well as thoughts on American Indians, utopian dreamers, pop music and the odd cranky cartographer.

Vowell’s most recent book, "The Wordy Shipmates," examines the New England Puritans and their journey to and impact on America. She reveals how American history can show up in the most unexpected places in our modern culture, often in unexpected ways.

Her 2005 book "Assassination Vacation" is a haunting and surprisingly hilarious road trip to tourist sites devoted to the murders of presidents Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley. Vowell examines what these acts of political violence reveal about our national character and our contemporary society.

She is also the author of two essay collections, "The Partly Cloudy Patriot" and "Take the Cannoli." Her first book, "Radio On," is her year-long diary of listening to the radio in 1995.

Vowell was a contributing editor for Public Radio International’s "This American Life" from 1996 to 2008. She produced numerous commentaries and documentaries and toured the country in many live shows.

She was an original contributor to McSweeney’s, also participating in many of the quarterly’s readings and shows. She has been a columnist for Salon.com, Time and San Francisco Weekly and continues to write occasional essays for the opinion page of the New York Times.

Vowell has made numerous appearances on the "Late Show with David Letterman," "Late Night with Conan O’Brien" and the "Daily Show with Jon Stewart." She is the voice of teen superhero Violet Parr in Pixar's Academy Award-winning "The Incredibles."

Vowell is the president of the board of 826NYC, a nonprofit tutoring and writing center for students aged 6-18 in Brooklyn.

Tickets are $20 each and may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

A 25-year veteran of Information Technology Services at Eastern Illinois University has been chosen to head the unit on an interim basis.

Kathy Reed, who officially began her role as interim assistant vice president for ITS on March 15, will serve through June 30, 2011.

Bill Weber, vice president for business affairs, said it was his intent to begin a nationwide search in Fall 2010, with the goal of having a person permanently fill the position in July 2011.

Meanwhile, he added, "Ms. Reed has excellent communication and leadership skills, a solid record of accomplishment within ITS, and broad support both within ITS and across campus.

"I have asked (her) to lead Information Technology Services with the goals of enhancing customer service, developing an effective five-year technology plan, and partnering closely with the Center for Academic Technology Support and other university units," he added.

Reed, who joined ITS in 1985, has held numerous positions within the unit, including that of associate director for information systems, project leader and management analyst/programmer. Her roles have given her extensive experience in IT management, including strategic direction, planning, budget preparation and vendor relations.

In addition, Reed is skilled in evaluating current and future technologies and leading planning to support both short- and long-term IT initiatives.

Weber expressed his faith in Reed's abilities.

"Despite this being an interim position, I expect Ms. Reed will make some advancement within the unit -- not just keep it running until the position is permanently filled," he said.

Eastern Illinois University's Booth Library is developing a major exhibit to provide an overview of the Normal schools in Illinois, the training of teachers, and school life in Illinois.

Preparations for this exhibit are underway, and community involvement would be appreciated.

Allen Lanham, dean of Library Services, hopes that local residents of all ages will be a part of this project, providing stories or artifacts related to their school experience. Although Eastern will be featured, education at all levels from around the state is to be included.

Anyone interested in providing information or participating in this project is encouraged to contact the library online here, by phone at 217-581-6061, or by writing to Booth Library Exhibits, 600 Lincoln Ave., Charleston, IL 61920.

Programming related to the library exhibition will be offered during October 2010, to coincide with the reaccreditation visit of EIU's teacher certification program by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Aloha Chicago plans to bring the "magic of the Islands" to those in attendance at Eastern Illinois University's fifth annual Asian Heritage Month Reception on Sunday, March 28.

The group, recognized for its stellar performances by the Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC, ABC and others, will perform beautiful dances from Hawaii, exciting drum dances of Ori Tahiti, fascinating Maori dances of New Zealand, and breath-taking athletics from Samoa.

The event, planned as the kick-off to a month-long program of events to celebrate Asian and Asian-American heritage on the university campus, will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the MLK Jr. Union. Admission is free.

The Office of Minority Affairs, University Board and the Asian Heritage Month Committee are co-sponsors of the event.

See here for more on Aloha Chicago.

Eastern Illinois University’s ScienceFest -- a celebration of student research and faculty mentoring, teaching, research and service -- is set for March 25-26.

The 15th annual ScienceFest, sponsored by the College of Sciences, is themed "Teaching and Learning: Integration of Liberal Arts and Sciences." Activities will take place in the University Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union.

ScienceFest will open at 7 p.m. March 25 with “Frankenstein: How Physics, Literature and Theatre led to a Scientific Success," a lecture by Emily A. Tobey from the University of Texas at Dallas' Callier Advanced Hearing Research Center. The lecture is sponsored by Sigma Xi.

All other activities are set for March 26, starting with a panel discussion on "The Art and Science of Sound," at 1:05 p.m. The panel will be moderated by Linda Ghent, chair of the department of economics. Panel members will be Tobey and three EIU faculty members: Steve Daniels, professor and chair, physics; John Martone, professor, English; and Mark Rubel, instructor and audio director, music.

At 2:10 p.m., attendees will be able to browse undergraduate and graduate students' research posters. Mary Anne Hanner, dean of the EIU College of Sciences, will present the State of the College address at 3 p.m., followed by the College of Sciences Student Advisory Board's report on their technology recycling initiative at 3:20 p.m.

At 3:30 p.m., awards will be presented for excellence in the College of Sciences, including honors for undergraduate and graduate research; faculty mentoring; and faculty teaching, research and service.

For more information on ScienceFest, see http://www.eiu.edu/~colsci/departments_sciencefest.php.

Legislative Testimony

Honorable Chairperson and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today and represent Eastern Illinois University, a university of opportunity since its founding in 1895. Thank you for your support of EIU.

In previous years, I have been given the opportunity to talk to you about Eastern and our commitment to the academic and personal development of our students. I've also spoken about our commitment to access and affordability. Finally, I have previously provided information that demonstrates our desire to work collaboratively with public constituencies in an effort to advance our community, region and state.

Today I have been given the opportunity to tell you how Eastern accomplishes many great things, and does so in an effective and efficient manner.

Eastern is efficient.

We work efficiently throughout the academic career of students. Using the most recent data available from IBHE, Eastern had the fourth highest graduation rate in the state in 2008. As a testament to our efficiency, Eastern accomplished this while having the lowest GRF per FTE student and the lowest GRF+IF per FTE student in the state (averaged using FY07 and FY08 totals).

The success of our institution is due to the commitment of our students, faculty and staff. Using the most recent data available from IBHE, Eastern had the third highest retention rate in the state in 2008. We are able to admit great students and engage them in a manner that maintains continuous enrollment. Eastern has demonstrated great efficiency with respect to moving students through their academic career. Using IBHE's most recent data (2008) on degrees conferred, Eastern had the third lowest GRF per degree conferred. This represents a significant return on investment of appropriated dollars.

As a result of efficient and effective operations, we are ranked 11th among all public master's universities in the Midwest region in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings.

Eastern is accessible.

•  In FY09, we had the fourth lowest tuition of all public universities in Illinois.

•  Regarding tuition, it is important to note that Eastern has the lowest IF per FTE based on available data from IBHE (averaged using FY07 and FY08).

•  35 percent of our students are transfers, with the majority of those students transferring from Illinois community colleges.

•  30 percent of our undergraduates are Pell Grant eligible.

•  35 percent of our undergraduates are first-generation college students.

Eastern is increasingly diverse.

•  Since 2004, students of color have grown from 9 percent of our student body to 15 percent in 2009.

•  In 2008, 26 percent of freshman applicants were students of color. By 2009, that percentage increased to 36 percent.

•  Since 2008, 29 percent of tenured or tenure-track faculty hired were minorities (10 percent African-American, 16 percent Asian, 3 percent Hispanic) and 50 percent of these hires have been women.

•  HBCU Connect Magazine named Eastern as the number six organization in its Top 50 Employers List. This is based on Eastern's recruitment of HBCU students and alumni, brand penetration in the HBCU community, and relationships with HBCU organizations.

Eastern students are engaged.

•  In 2008, more than 4,200 students participated in service projects.

•  On average, EIU students annually complete approximately 50,000 hours of service.

•  Our students are engaged with numerous organizations including, but not limited to, Special Olympics, Amigos and Friends, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, CASA and Catholic Charities.

Eastern students, employees and alumni are succeeding. Here are just a few examples:

•  Chemistry professor Sean Peebles was awarded the prestigious Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award in recognition of his work with students and for leading undergraduate research efforts.

•  Will Hine, dean of the School of Continuing Education, was given the Past President's Award from the Illinois Council of Continuing Higher Education in February of 2010.

•  In 2009, Eastern had the second largest number of student presenters at the National Council on Undergraduate Research's annual conference.

•  In a recent survey, 48 percent of Eastern graduates indicated that they had obtained a graduate degree or were currently working toward a graduate degree. Our alumni satisfaction rate is 99 percent. We are the number two provider of public school teachers in Illinois.

•  WEIU-TV Newswatch staff was awarded a Mid-America Emmy for best student news production.

•  When compared with students from other public institutions in Illinois, EIU graduate accountancy students had the highest average score on two sections of the CPA exam (in addition to being second and third in the other two categories).

•  A team of undergraduate students from the Health Studies Department won a national case study competition at the annual conference of the American Association for Health Education.

Eastern is green.

•  We have begun a $79 million project to construct a Renewable Energy Center and to retrofit existing buildings to make them more efficient. No state funds will be needed to finance the project.

•  This project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20,000 metric tons each year -- the equivalent of taking 3,600 cars off the road.

•  Eastern has twice been named College/University Partner of the Year in the Environmental Protection Agency WasteWise Program that focuses on recycling.

•  ESCO projects completed since 1995 have allowed the university to save $2.3 million in annual utility costs.

•  We are also working with our local agricultural community to investigate the creation of a local biomass market that will create new economic opportunity in Coles County and the region.

Eastern is creatively funding growth and actively managing expenditures.

•  We will have renewable energy center, textbook rental center and expanded Student Success Center construction projects completed without using any appropriated funds.

•  Eastern has instituted a hiring freeze, equipment purchasing freeze, limited travel and decreased expenditures on non-safety-related maintenance to address economic challenges.

•  Our recent ITS reorganization will save the university approximately $800,000.

•  We're actively identifying more organizational opportunities to restructure in a way that saves money.

Eastern Illinois University is committed to providing world class educational experiences for students. The aforementioned accomplishments would not have been possible had we not strategically and creatively identified methods to support our growth. By working effectively and efficiently, the university has created new infrastructure, programs, and positions that directly and positively impact students.

There is a partnership between our university, our students and the state. Our employees and students have worked diligently to advance the university during this time of economic hardship that is adversely affecting our state. Historic levels of GRF per FTE funding have required that the university place utmost importance on efficiency and effectiveness. In my opinion, Eastern provides an exemplary return on investment to the state.

The current economic climate demands that we find creative ways to maintain accessibility and affordability. Our economy also dictates that new solutions will be needed to facilitate further growth. We have reached a crucial time in public higher education when business as usual will not keep us moving in the right direction.

As you consider the impact that increased budget cuts will have on the future of our state and the futures of thousands of students, please remember that an investment in Eastern Illinois University, and higher education as a whole, represents a demonstrated commitment to improving the economic and social fabrics of Illinois.

I offer this testimony as evidence in support of further investment in Eastern. We have approached problems analytically. We have made strategic decisions that emphasize efficiency and effectiveness. We have succeeded because we work tirelessly to assure that taxpayer dollars are used in a way that most directly supports students.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak today and for your commitment to supporting our university. I will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

Celtic Crossroads will bring its groundbreaking fusion of traditional Irish music, bluegrass, gypsy and jazz, set to the exciting rhythms of Irish dance percussion, to Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center on March 25.

The show, known internationally for its explosion of youthful energy and dazzling musicianship, is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall.

Celtic Crossroads features seven world-class musicians playing more than 20 instruments, including uilleann pipes, whistles, low whistles, Irish harp, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, accordion, mandola, bouzouki, guitar, flute and a variety of percussion.

The inventive arrangements and bass-driven grooves, which illustrate how Irish music influenced the global birth of a multitude of musical genres, are accompanied by high-kicking from some of Ireland's best-respected Irish dancers.

Celtic Crossroads is "elevating Irish music to an exciting and electrifying dimension" (The Galway Independent) and "without a doubt, the most exciting music show to come out of Ireland in 20 years" (Frank McNamara, originator of the Irish Tenors).

The show's musical director is Irish-Australian Michael McClintock. McClintock is originally from Dublin, but like so many Irish, he emigrated to Australia at an early age. In 2005, McClintock arrived in Galway, Ireland, on a mission to share, based on his experiences through his travels, how Irish music influenced musicians throughout the world.

For more information, including video and audio clips, see the Web site at www.celticcrossroads.ie.

Seating is reserved. Tickets are $15 for the general public; $12 for seniors and EIU employees; and $7 for students. For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Brett Block, a Paris Cooperative High School physical science teacher, will be honored for her teaching excellence with an award from the Eastern Illinois University chapter of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society.

Sigma Xi's Excellence in High School and Middle School Science and Mathematics Teaching Award goes to high school or middle school science or mathematics teachers who demonstrate excellence in teaching, actively involve students in critical thinking and problem-solving, actively involve students in the learning process, and teach an appreciation for science and mathematics.

As a high school science teacher in Illinois since 1994, Block has promoted science through incorporating computational chemistry programs to enhance student learning and visualization of chemistry and molecular modeling.

Block received her bachelor's degree in biological science from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her teacher's certification from EIU. She and her family reside in Paris.

Block is to be presented with the 2010 award plaque and stipend during a short Sigma Xi EIU chapter meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 25, in the University Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union. The public is welcome.

Prior to the meeting, a social hour will be held from 5-6 p.m., after which the banquet, featuring a buffet dinner, will begin. Those planning to attend should RSVP to Brenda Wilson at 217-581-2712 or bmwilson@eiu.edu by March 22. The cost is $16 if paid by March 22, or $20 at the door.

The evening will conclude with a lecture on "Frankenstein: How Physics, Literature and Theatre Led to a Scientific Success” by Emily Tobey, a Nelle C. Johnston Chair in communication disorders in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas.

A wealth of health information, games and door prizes will be available at Eastern Illinois University's "Back to the Health Fair" on Wednesday, March 10.

The annual health fair, sponsored by the EIU Health Service and Health Education Resource Center, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center in the Lantz Building. The event is free, and the community is invited.

More than 70 organizations are scheduled to provide information, including the American Cancer Society, the Arthritis Foundation, Illinois Department of Public Health, Crisis Pregnancy Center and area nursing programs. A complete list of participants is available at http://www.eiu.edu/~herc/programs/HealthFair2010.php.

This year's event, named after the popular 1980s movie "Back to the Future," will have an '80s theme.

For more information, call 217-581-7786 or e-mail herc@eiu.edu.

Eastern Illinois University recently honored more than 280 of its employees for continuous years of service.

A luncheon was held in recognition of university employees with continuous years of service in five-year increments. Those employed at EIU for five years were eligible for a certificate; those with 10 or more years of service were honored with both a certificate and a pin.

Honorees are listed as follows:

40 years -- Joseph Martin.

35 years -- Deborah Gerdes.

30 years -- David Bailey, John Best, Philip Blair, Donald Braswell, Lynn Cobb, Lois Dickenson, Brenda Farris, Mary Garrett, Jeanne Goble, Mary Hubbard, Susan Johnson, John Kilgore, Michele Kusterman, Mary Maddox, John Marquart, Rondal Mathenia and Janet Werden.

25 years -- Forrest Chism, Thomas Coffey, Mary Joan Collins, Lori Creek, Phyllis Croisant, Annette Diehl, Ruth Hoberman, Mahyar Izadi, John Looby, Michael Loudon, Denise Rehm-Mott, Timothy Taflinger, Sharon Turner and Brenda Wilson.

20 years -- Olga Abella, Susan Allen, Gary Aylesworth, Craig Chesner, Margaret Clapp, Janice Coons, Archibald Crawford, Daniel Crews, Adam Due, Bruce Duzan, Audrey Edwards, Michael Elam, Patty Enlow, Karla Evans, Ruth Flaherty, Shelley French, Sandra Frick, Frank Goldacker, Dixie Gough, Harold Green, Lora Green, Helen Gregg, Alan Haga, John Hatfill, Joan Henn, Robert Hillman, Christy Hooser, Zoraida Irizarry, Newton Key, Susan Kile, Lynn Kimbrough, Phil Lang, Peggy Manley, Timothy Mason, Patricia McCallister, Malia McGee, Betsy Miller, Timothy Mills, Janel Moore, Pamela Newby, Donna Nichols, Michael Nickell, Janet Patterson, Charles Pederson, Barbara Poole, Terry Ramsey, Mary Redden, Joyce Schumacher, Delisa Standerfer, Duangrudi Suksang, Billy Waddell and Carl Weaver.

15 years -- Patti Bailey, Kenneth Baker, Deborah Barker, Terry Barnhart, Cindy Bayes, Janice Beals, Randall Beebe, Reed Benedict, Ronan Bernas, Jonathan Blitz, Sally Bock, Mark Borzi, James Bruehler, Rosemary Buck, Greg Buell, Toni Chambers, Pamela Collins, Bev Cruse, Lynne Curry, Charles Delman, Amy Edwards, Karen Eisenhour, Cynthia Fearday, Gary Fritz, Gregory Galperin, Julia Gladu, Rose Gong, Bradley Green, Julie Griffin, David Hilligoss, Les Hyder, Bonnie Irwin, Joy Kammerling, Renee Kerz, Jeffrey Laursen, Marcia Lawhead, Young Lee, Gloria Leitschuh, Tina Leonard, Kevin Linker, Susan Liu, Melinda Meehling, Kathryn Morice, Pamela Muchmore, Carla Nelson, Godson Obia, Michele Olsen, Henry Owen, Patricia Poulter, Steven Rich, Susan Rippy, James Schmitz, Richard Seitz, Stephen Shrake, Sue Smyser, Cindy Starwalt, Nackil Sung, Kimberly Sweeney, Joseph Trigg, James Williams, Carolyn Woolever and Bailey Young.

10 years -- Holly Andrews, Sheila Baker, David Barker, David Bell, Matthew Boyer, Cathy Brachear, Lori Brewer, Barbara Brown, Allen Bryant, Melanie Burns, Angela Campbell, Betty Carr, Marla Cooper, Kent Cummings, Julie Davis, Connie Downey, Chad Elliott, Marie Finney, Chad Franks, James Gilbert, Brenda Good, Randall Good, Cathryn Gordon, Frank Graziano, Gary Grissom, Cord Hackett, Assegedetch Haile Mariam, Heidi Hawkins, Ryan Hendrickson, Michael Hutchinson, Brian Hyder, Tina Jenkins, Christopher Kahler, Denise Lee, Travis Magee, Dale McCullough, Michelle Meadows, Douglas Messmore, Stephen Mullin, Sarah Newby, Nanci Newstrom, John Oertling, Adrienne Paladino, Dale Peterson, Marty Robinson, James Rose, Lionel Sanders, Carl Starwalt, John Stimac, Shirley Tanner, Debora Timmons, Bradley Tolppanen, Mukti Upadhyay, Nancy Van Cleave, Mark Voss-Hubbard, Kathryn Waggoner and David White.

5 years -- Gustavo Albear, Bennett Andres, King Arthur, Kim Bagwell, Stephen Benner, David Boyd, Colleen Bright, Robert Cataneo, Rigoberto Chinchilla, Ann Coddington-Rast, Gary Cohoon, William Comstock, Michael Coventry, James Curtis, Timothy Darling, Jeanne Dau, Mona Davenport, Kelli Davis, Janice Derr, Steven Dinaso, Ronald Durbin, Jill Fahy, David Flach, DiAnne Gherardini, Michael Goodson, Dwayne Helander, Linda Holloway, Robert Horvath, Carol Hubbartt, Forrest Jackson, Jason Jacobs, Lowell Jenkins, Kyungsoon Jeon, Paul Johnston, Donald Jordan, Susan Kling, Damita Lewis, Hui Li, Yan Lin, David Linton, Zhiwei Liu, Brenda Major, Chad Mattingly, Tamera McCullough, Jonathan McKenzie, James McKirahan, Gilbert McMichaels, Deborah Meadows, Andrew Mertz, Yevgenya Movshovich, Kathleen Nichols, Rhonda Nichols, Janna Overstreet, Donald Pepperdine, Michael Ray, Sally Renaud, Robin Rennels, Douglas Repp, Carol Roberts, Denis Roche, William Roberts, David Ross, Russel Ross, Andrew Sallee, Jackelyn Sanders, Shannon Schwab, Steve Scott, Anita Sego, Ronald Shook, Jennifer Smith, Tony Spivey, Janie Steber, David Stimac, James Stone, Todd Thomason, Michel Tozer, Liz Viall, Carl Warner, Michael Wayne, Saundra Weaver, Mac White, Charles Woodfall, Cecilia Yoakum and Christina Yousaf.

Two local theatre favorites, Jack Milo and Therese Kincade, will star in Eastern Illinois University's upcoming production of "Fiddler on the Roof."

Five performances -- 7 p.m. March 5, 6, 8 and 9, as well as 2 p.m. March 7 -- will be staged in The Theatre in EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Milo will play the role of Tevye, a dairyman dealing with his five daughters amidst the changing society in Czarist Russia. Kincade will portray his wife, Golde. EIU students are cast in all other roles.

Tralen Doler, the new artistic director for The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, is director and choreographer.

"Fiddler on the Roof," one of the most well-known shows in all of musical theatre, features several classic songs, including "Tradition," "Matchmaker," "If I Were a Rich Man," "Sunrise, Sunset" and "To Life."

Members of the EIU Symphony Orchestra will accompany the performances under the direction of Richard Robert Rossi, conductor. The orchestra will feature area high school and middle school students from the Symphonic Honors Initiative Program, under the direction of Terry Coulton.

Milo has been an audience favorite at The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan for more than 20 years. His long list of credits includes many leading roles in some of the biggest shows in musical theatre. He lives in Burbank, Calif.

Kincade, a Charleston resident, has been involved in local theatre for years, including serving as director of Charleston High School's spring musicals. She and her husband, Bob -- both EIU alumni -- own What's Cookin' restaurant in Charleston. They received the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Citizen Award in 2003.

The show is a production of the EIU theatre arts department.

Tickets -- $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Representatives from school districts from across Illinois, as well as other states, will be seeking new employees at the upcoming Mid-America Educators' Job Fair at Eastern Illinois University.

The public is invited to the free job fair, which is set for 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, in the MLK Jr. Union ballrooms. It is sponsored by EIU Career Services.

A list of participating schools and available jobs, including teaching, administrative and special service positions, is available online at http://www.eiu.edu/careers/maejf.php. Some international teaching opportunities will also be available.

Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and bring plenty of resumes.

Blues guitarist Eric Bibb and harmonica player Grant Dermody will bring a rich blend of blues, folk, soul and gospel to Eastern Illinois University on Monday, March 1.

The show is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall, Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Already enjoying success in Europe, Bibb is becoming a familiar face -- and voice -- in the United States. Bibb, winner of the Best Newcomer title in the British Blues Awards, has been nominated for a Grammy and nine W.C. Handy Blues Music Awards.

As a child, Bibb was surrounded by talented musicians, including his father, Leon Bibb. When Eric Bibb was 11, Bob Dylan advised the young guitarist to "Keep it simple -- forget all that fancy stuff."

One of his first albums, "Me to You" (1997) featured appearances by some of his personal heroes -- Pops and Mavis Staples, and Taj Mahal. The album furthered Bibb's international reputation and was followed by tours of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Sweden and Germany.

In 2002, he opened for Ray Charles. He has toured with Robert Cray, John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers, and Robben Ford. His 2004 album "Friends" featured duets with Taj Mahal, Odetta, Charlie Musselwhite, Guy Davis, Mamadou Diabate, Djelimady Toukara and more.

His latest album, "Get Onboard," featuring guest performers Bonnie Raitt and Ruthie Foster, is "a further exploration into the place where blues meets gospel and soul," Bibb said.

Grant Dermody, a harmonica player, singer, songwriter and teacher from Seattle, Wash., is known as an excellent accompanist. He was described as "an understated harmonica virtuoso and a vocalist of subtlety and warmth" by Don McLeese of No Depression magazine.

Although his focus is acoustic blues, Dermody also enjoys adding a unique blues flavor to old-time music. He was a member of The Improbabillies, whose 1998 self-titled CD received critical acclaim in that genre.

Tickets -- $15 for the general public, $12 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $7 for students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston. For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Eastern Illinois University Wind Symphony will explore the musical and visual possibilities of the modern wind band with its “The Art of Wind Band” concert on Friday, Feb. 26, in EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The performance, featuring a variety of styles and subjects, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall. The concert will open with the intense “Mother Earth” fanfare, written with a meditative, spiritual center by award-winning composer David Maslanka.

In honor of Black History Month, the ensemble will acknowledge Rosa Parks and the sacrifices of those involved in America’s Civil Rights movement in “A Movement for Rosa” by Mark Camphouse. This emotional work will be accompanied by a special introduction, as well as a visual presentation.

Eric Ewazen’s “Shadowcatcher," based on Edward Curtis' famed and controversial photographs from the beginning of the 20th century, seeks to musically portray the images of the vanishing American Indian way of life. Two movements of the work will be presented by the Wind Symphony and the EIU Faculty Brass Quintet (Mark DeGoti and Jeremy McBain, trumpet; Katie McBain, horn; Jemmie Robertson, trombone; and Todd French, tuba).

The Wind Symphony will use theatrical elements to take the audience on a virtual journey 3 miles below the earth’s surface with Russell Peck’s 1975 performance art piece “Cave."

Guest composer Jim Bonney will join the Wind Symphony for a premiere of his driving, angular “Diabolus ex Machina.”

The evening will conclude with John Mackey’s ode to the Roman goddess Aurora, “Aurora Awakes,” a musical depiction of the coming of light. The work, which EIU Wind Symphony conductor Milton Allen calls "a dazzling display of what the modern wind band has to offer," recently won the American Band Association/Ostwald Award for composition, the highest such honor.

The EIU Wind Symphony -- composed of approximately 45 auditioned musicians from across campus -- is the premier band of the EIU University Bands. It has received praise from many composers and artists, including Libby Larsen, the Boston Brass, Steven Bryant and Timothy Mahr, as well as conductors Russel Mikkelson and Timothy Reynish.

Admission will be $5 for the general public, and $3 for senior citizens, EIU employees and students. For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

While many recognize Feb. 12, 1809, as the date on which Abraham Lincoln was born, few realize that the 16th president entered into this world on the same day as naturalist Charles Darwin.

That number continues to rise, however, as individuals and groups world-wide join efforts in celebrating Darwin's contributions to modern society, humanities and the sciences. British-born Darwin, known primarily for his efforts at introducing the idea of evolution through natural selection, is recognized internationally as the author of "The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection."

Eastern Illinois University will once again join a myriad of academic institutions in commemorating Darwin's contributions by sponsoring educational programs designed to teach others about Darwin and his theory. As part of this commemoration, Eastern plans to host four separate events, all of which are free and open to the public.

A showing of the film, "Darwin's Dangerous Idea," will be shown at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, in the Life Sciences Building, Room 3080. This film is a part of NOVA's Evolution Series.

Floyd Sandford, professor emeritus, biology, Coe College, will present the one-man show, " Darwin Remembers," at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, in the Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union.

Sandford will return to the EIU campus at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, to deliver the lecture "Marine Sponge -- Crustacean Associations." This event, too, will take place in Life Sciences, Room 3080.

The final event of the week, a lecture titled "The Evolution of Blood Clotting," will be presented by Russell Doolittle, professor of biology, University of California at San Diego. This event will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, in Eastern's Coleman Hall Auditorium, Room 1255.

The Eastern Symphony Chamber Orchestra and Collegium Musicum will present "Water Music" on Sunday, Feb. 21, in Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The concert, which will begin at 4 p.m. in Dvorak Concert Hall, will include Handel's "Water Music (Suite in F major, HWV 348)" and Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" in the original orchestration for 13 instruments.

In addition, two concerto competition winners, both of whom are EIU students, will perform. Ashley McHugh will sing two arias: Handel's "V’adoro Pupille (Giulio Cesare)" and Charles Gounod's "Ah! Je veux vivre (Roméo et Jiliette)." Natalia Negru will play Robert Schumann's "Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54 Movement I: Allegro Affettuoso."

McHugh, a senior studying voice under the direction of Marilyn Coles, has received many awards and scholarships. She has participated in the University Mixed Chorus, Concert Choir, Camerata Singers, Musical Theatre and Opera Workshops, the Choral Advisory Council, the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition, Panther Marching Band, Funk Factory Drumline and Kappa Delta Pi. She plans to pursue a master's degree in performance after student teaching next fall.

Negru, a Romanian native, is pursuing her master's degree in piano performance under the guidance of Susan Teicher. While earning her bachelor's degree in piano performance at The West University of Timisoara in Romania, Negru studied with world-renowned pianist Sorin Dogariu. Before coming to EIU, she worked as a piano teacher and accompanist at The Art High School "Sabin Dragoi" in Arad, Romania, and accompanied the choir and singers with The Symphony Orchestra Choir of Arad.

Handel composed "Water Music" for possibly the grandest, and perhaps the last, of King George I's regularly held water parties. On this occasion in 1717, the river was filled with boats carrying high-profile guests, and the king enjoyed Handel's one-hour composition so much that he requested two repeat performances that evening.

Copland wrote "Appalachian Spring" in 1943-44 for dancer and choreographer Martha Graham. The ballet tells the story of 1800s pioneers' celebration following the building of a Pennsylvania farmhouse.

Seating is reserved. Tickets are $12 for the general public; $10 for seniors and EIU employees; and $5 for students. For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Spring 2010 enrollment at Eastern Illinois University is "right on target."

"Spring enrollment is always a few percentage points lower than what we see during the previous fall semester," said Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "And this year is no different."

The current on- and off-campus enrollment total of 11,075 reflects a slight drop from 11,157 in Spring 2009. Spring 2010 numbers include an on-campus enrollment of 9,887 and an off-campus enrollment of 1,188. Those numbers were 9,968 and 1,189, respectively, last spring.

A breakdown of Eastern's 9,395 undergraduate students is as follows (with Spring 2009 figures in parentheses): freshmen, 1,731 (1,837); sophomores, 1,887 (1,893); juniors, 2,370 (2,389); and seniors, 3,407 (3,338). Graduate students total 1,680 (1,700).

Female students continue to outnumber male students -- 6,455 to 4,620 (6,496 to 4,661 last spring).

Minority students, who represent more than 15 percent of Eastern's total enrollment, show an overall increase from Spring 2009. Categories are represented as follows: black, 1,193 (1,068); Hispanic, 294 (292); Asian/Pacific Islander, 131 (128); and American Indian/Alaskan Native, 57 (42).

Eastern Illinois University's Choral Ensembles will join forces with other musicians, including outstanding area high school students, to present more than a dozen "Songs of Love" on Valentine's Day.

The concert, featuring EIU's Concert Choir, Camerata Singers and University Mixed Chorus, as well as the EIU Honor Choir Festival Singers, will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

The EIU Honor Choir Festival Singers will be comprised of 37 students from five high schools: Fairfield, Hillsboro, Lincolnwood (in Raymond), Maroa-Forsyth and Villa Grove.

Guest artists Julia Jamieson (harp) and EIU faculty member Katherine McBain (horn) will accompany the concert choir women in a special performance of Johannes Brahms' "Vier Gesänge für Fraunchor, Op. 17."

Jamieson is a national-award-winning harpist who performs with several orchestras and choirs, as well as performing as a free-lance harpist. She is president of the Roslyn Rensch Central Illinois Chapter of the American Harp Society, and is a founding member of the quartet HarpCore 4, which innovatively arranges and performs popular '80s music. In 2009, Jamieson was awarded the University of Illinois' highest teaching honor, the Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

McBain has vast professional experience performing in various orchestras, wind ensembles and opera orchestras, as well as performing as a chamber musician. She is currently completing a DMA degree in Horn Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music, where she earned a Master of Music degree. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Houston.

The EIU Concert Choir and Camerata Singers are directed by Richard Robert Rossi. Two of his graduate students will conduct some pieces in the program. The University Mixed Chorus is conducted by Adam Stich.

The "Songs of Love" concert is sponsored in part by a gift from Christine Gordon.

Tickets for general-admission seating are $5 for the general public and $3 for seniors, EIU employees and students. For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Eastern Illinois University Honors College will hold its 25th annual Scholastic Bowl Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 6, on the second floor of Coleman Hall.

The tournament will begin at 8:30 a.m. with opening remarks and greetings from Bonnie Irwin, dean of the Honors College.

The round-robin tournament consists of 24 high school teams from the surrounding area that compete in head-to-head competition. All teams are guaranteed at least three matches. The winners from each bracket advance to the five championship rounds, scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m.

At approximately 4 p.m., an awards ceremony will begin in Lumpkin Auditorium. At this time, trophies will be given to the top seven teams, and medallions will be awarded for an All-Tournament Team. This team will consist of the five most valuable players who scored the most points in the first three rounds of the tournament.

The following high schools are scheduled to participate: Arthur, Casey-Westfield, Charleston, Cumberland, East Richland, Edwards County, Effingham, Fairfield, Georgetown-Ridgefarm, Glenwood Chatham, Hutsonville, Marshall, Mattoon, Mt. Carmel, Neoga, Newton, Oakland, Oblong, Paris, Robinson, Salem, St. Anthony, Teutopolis and Windsor.

All are welcome to attend.

Trumpeter Scott Wendholt and the Eastern Illinois Jazz Ensemble will open the Eastern Illinois University Jazz Festival with a concert on Friday, Feb. 12, at the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Dvorak Concert Hall. Admission will be $5 for the general public, and $3 for senior citizens, EIU employees and students.

On Saturday, Feb. 13, Wendholt will serve as the guest artist at the 51st annual EIU Jazz Festival, in which high school and junior high school bands will compete and participate in clinics throughout the day.

Wendholt has been recorded on more than 60 albums, including five recordings as a leader. He has worked with many stellar artists, including Vincent Herring, Kenny Garrett, Cyrus Chestnut, Christian McBride, Don Braden and Bruce Barth.

His big band credits include work with The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (formerly Thad Jones/Mel Lewis), Manhattan Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band (led by Jon Faddis), John Fedchock New York Big Band, Gotham Jazz Orchestra (Mike Holober), Toshiko Akiyoshi Big Band and the Bob Mintzer Big Band.

Wendholt is on the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music, as well as the Jamey Aebersold summer jazz camps. He is also in demand as a player/clinician in many colleges and various other learning institutions around the world.

The concert is presented by the EIU music department in cooperation with the Doudna Fine Arts Center, divisions of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities. Wendholt's appearance is sponsored in part by the Consolidated Communications Artist Series and the EIU University Board Cultural Arts Committee.

For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Atlanta-based trio Girlyman will bring its quirky blend of acoustic Americana and rock to Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center on Feb. 10.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre. General admission is $5. Seating is limited; advance tickets are highly recommended.

Girlyman's style is influenced in part by '60s vocal groups like Simon and Garfunkel and The Mamas and the Papas, as well as years of classical and jazz training. Onstage, they often finish one another's sentences or burst into improvised three-part ditties so tight they seem rehearsed.

Girlyman's distinctive three-part harmony -- called "really good, really unexpected, and really different" by The Village Voice -- began when Doris Muramatsu and Tylan Greenstein, best friends since second grade, met Nate Borofsky in college at a talent show.

In 2001, the friends, who shared an apartment in Brooklyn, scheduled their first rehearsal for Sept. 11. It was postponed, but the events of that day helped the trio clarify its vision. "We decided to just have fun and not take ourselves too seriously," Borofsky said. "We started by naming our new band 'Girlyman.'"

In its first few years, Girlyman garnered critical praise, awards and long opening runs with the Indigo Girls and Dar Williams.

Girlyman, now selling out renowned venues as a headliner, also frequents festival main stages, including the Ann Arbor Folk Festival, the Kate Wolf Memorial Folk Festival and the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.

Girlyman has released four studio albums, with the fourth, "Everything's Easy," being recorded with a single, $10,000 microphone that was financed by fan donations.

Most recently, Girlyman has been collaborating with comedian Margaret Cho, co-writing songs for her upcoming album.

For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Eastern Illinois University's Board of Trustees on Friday approved an increase in room and board rates for students living in EIU housing during the 2010-2011 school year.

Students living in EIU's residence halls and Greek Court will see increases of $224 to $253 per semester (a 6.25 percent increase), depending on the chosen meal plan. Room and board rates will range from $3,808 per semester for a 7 Plus Meal Option to $4,292 for the 15 Plus Meal Option.

Four meal plan options each permit students a specified number of dining center meals per week; a specified number of "Dining Dollars" that can be used to buy additional meals in any dining center; to make purchases at Eastern's Food Court, Java B&B and Panther Pantry in the MLK Jr. Union and at the university's two residence hall convenience centers; and to provide dining center meals to guests.

Students living in one of the 148 University Apartments (designed primarily to meet the needs of student families and single graduate students) will also see increases in rates. The plan calls for increases of between $11 and $13 a month, with rent ranging from $409 to $460, depending on the type of apartment being rented (one-bedroom, efficiency or super efficiency). All utilities (including high speed internet) are included in their rent.

Rate increases of around 3 percent will also affect students living in University Court, a 146-unit university-owned apartment complex for sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students. Rates there will range from $2,331 to $3,116 per semester, depending on the type of apartment being rented. The new rate also reflects the additional benefit of water being included in the cost.

This will be the first rate increase for University Court residents since the 2008-2009 school year.  According to Mark Hudson, Eastern's director of Housing and Dining Services, the university froze rates at University Court last year in order to remain competitive with student-oriented off-campus housing in the Charleston area.

"Before proposing any increase, we take a careful look at our needs, including fixed costs such as utilities, as well as employee wages and food costs. We also consider the best ways with which to maximize our resources," said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs.

"We don't like to increase rates, but we do believe that our careful planning allows us to retain one of the lowest housing rates among Illinois public universities and maintain our position as one of the greatest values in the state."

According to Hudson, approximately 40 percent of Eastern's student body resides in university housing.  And, he added, surveys among those residents indicate that "students really feel like they get a good return on their investment. We work hard to make sure they continue to feel that way."

On-going multi-year projects involve room renovations, including the addition of sprinkler systems in all residence halls. Major renovation work planned for Summer 2010 will upgrade existing bathroom facilities in Lincoln Hall and food service lines in Stevenson Hall.

Thomas and Taylor halls will receive upgraded fire sprinkler systems during Summer 2010 and Summer 2011, respectively.

The newly named dean of Eastern Illinois University's College of Arts and Humanities looks forward to promoting what she's considered her "academic home" for the past 15-plus years.

Bonnie Irwin arrived on the EIU campus in 1994, working her way up to be a full professor of English before being named dean of Eastern's Honors College in 2004. She will assume her new role on July 1.

In addition to English, the college houses the departments of art, communication studies, foreign languages, history, journalism, music, philosophy and theatre arts; the African-American studies, social science and women's studies programs; and the Tarble Arts Center.

"Dr. Irwin has a strong record of leadership and accomplishment at Eastern Illinois University," said Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "She is a highly regarded faculty member and, more recently, administrator for the university, bringing excellent credentials and a long list of accomplishments to this new position. I look forward to working with her to assist this already excellent college in achieving even greater levels of acclaim in the years ahead."

Irwin's appointment was preceded by a national search. Lord recognized the search advisory committee for its efforts, stating that "committee members identified six well-qualified candidates for consideration for this important leadership position, and I thank them for a job well done."

Irwin, who received her own higher education from the University of California, Berkeley, has been recognized by many as an energetic and creative administrator during her time at Eastern, and is credited with introducing several new programs within the university for the benefit of all students.

In addition to securing campus membership in the National Student Exchange and institutional affiliation with The Washington Center, both of which provide opportunities for EIU students to study at institutions elsewhere in the country, Irwin influenced and increased the numbers of honors students studying abroad.

She played a pivotal role in the establishment of EIU Reads, a freshman reading program which has engaged students (as well as nearly 100 faculty and staff as facilitators), and also worked to raise the profile of undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity on campus.  Irwin is credited with initiating the Student Expo for Undergraduate Research, now an annual event on the EIU campus.

Additionally, she was named Eastern's first Faculty Laureate in 1998 and, as such, became the university's first official spokesman on the importance of a general, liberal arts education.

When she assumes the role of dean of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, Irwin will be replacing James Johnson, who retired at the end of June 2009. Jeffrey Lynch is serving as interim dean during the 2009-2010 school year.

Lord said he will now turn his attention to identifying appropriate leadership for the Honors College given Irwin's impending reassignment.

An actor best known for roles in hit science fiction fare is now bringing real history to the stage with “Frederick Douglass: In the Shadow of Slavery," a one-man portrayal of the man some consider the father of the civil rights movement.

Mel Johnson Jr.'s educational and entertaining performance, chronicling Douglass' life from his childhood as a slave to his eventual role as a leading abolitionist, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, in The Theatre of Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

A pre-show reception, open to all ticket-holders, will feature remarks by Tom Dugan, the playwright of the show. Refreshments will be provided.

The production, which includes a look at Douglass' friendships with Susan B. Anthony, John Brown and Abraham Lincoln, incorporates gripping plantation songs in the telling of Douglass' life.

Johnson, an accomplished actor and director in movies, television and on Broadway, is perhaps best known roles as the mutant cab driver Benny in the 1990 science fiction film "Total Recall."

Fans of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" will recognize him as Broca, the Cardassian who becomes leader of the Cardassian Union in the show's final two episodes.

On television, Johnson was a regular on David Lynch's "On the Air," and he has guest-starred on many shows, including "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "The Practice."

On Broadway, Johnson recently starred as Mufasa in "The Lion King." His other Broadway credits include "On the Twentieth Century" with Kevin Klein, "Eubie!" with Maurice and Gregory Hines, "The Rink" with Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera, "Big Deal" directed by Bob Fosse, and "Jelly's Last Jam."

Johnson was the executive producer of Big City Pictures, as well as the artistic director of the award-winning arts organization The Imagination Workshop.

Johnson will be available for autographs following the show.

Seating is reserved. Tickets -- $15 for the general public, $12 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $7 for students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via email at doudnatix@eiu.edu. The production is presented in partnership with EIU African-American Heritage Month activities.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Friends and family of writer/artist Mary Jane Coartney want to honor her memory by supporting others just beginning their artistic careers.

The Eastern Illinois University Foundation has announced the establishment of the Mary Jane Coartney Memorial Creative Writing Scholarship. Recipients of this award will be full-time students (junior status) enrolled at Eastern. Preference will be given to students majoring in English, history, journalism or theatre arts.

The first award is expected to be distributed in Fall 2011.

Coartney, who died on Feb. 22, 2009, at the age of 95, shared much of what she saw and lived through poetry, paintings, a daily journal and a monthly family newsletter -- the Coartney Chronicle -- which had a circulation of more than 100 in 18 states.

Also, for a decade, right up until her death, she wrote popular weekly columns for the Charleston (Ill.) Times-Courier/Mattoon Journal Gazette.

In her writings, she told stories of attending a one-room school, her family's first car (a 1917 Chevrolet touring car equipped with side curtains to keep out bad weather), helping her husband on their farm, and raising their five children in "pre-Band Aid" days. She also shared what she knew about education, technology and politics.

As a child, Coartney attended Greenwood School, the one-room schoolhouse which now sits on the EIU campus and serves as a museum. Although she graduated from Eastern Illinois State Teacher's College (which ultimately became EIU) in 1930 with a teaching certificate, she never taught school, opting instead to devoting her life to her husband and children.

She and her late husband, Wayne, married on Dec. 31, 1931, and set up housekeeping on a farm south of Ashmore, Ill. Although her husband died in the late 1970s, Mrs. Coartney continued to reside on "the home place" until the time of her passing.

Over the years, she developed close relationships with her neighbors and other members of the community. And upon her death, she left four children (one daughter is deceased), 17 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

According to her family, Coartney liked the connections she had with people and with history. She repeated stories passed down by family members regarding their ancestors' arrival to Coles County, Ill., in 1825.

"We walk where so many other feet have walked before us and where others will follow," she once wrote. "I hope we leave stories worth remembering."

Those who wish to contribute to the Mary Jane Coartney Memorial Creative Writing Scholarship may do so by making checks payable to the EIU Foundation. Checks can be mailed to EIU Foundation, 600 Lincoln Ave., Charleston, Ill. 61920.

The Minneapolis Guitar Quartet, one of the world's leading guitar ensembles, will perform at Eastern Illinois University on Sunday, Jan. 31.

The concert will begin at 4 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Recital Hall.

With passion, style and musical sophistication borrowing from the best chamber music and string quartet traditions, the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet balances a wide array of first-rate repertoire ranging from Renaissance and Baroque to Spanish, Latin American and Romantic, plus highly imaginative newly commissioned contemporary works.

Since forming in 1986, the group has performed throughout the United States both in recital and with orchestra.

The EIU performance, which has been underwritten by the EIU Classical Music Series, is presented in partnership with the EIU music department. A CD signing and reception will follow the performance.

Tickets -- $15 for the general public, $12 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $7 for students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Former Eastern Illinois University quarterback Anthony Buich '99 already had a healthy respect for the armed forces when he picked up "Lone Survivor," the true story of the only U.S. Navy Seal to survive a days-long fight with hundreds of Taliban fighters.

But by the time he finished reading the inspiring tale of determination and sacrifice, Buich knew he had to reach out and tangibly express his sincere gratitude to all who have fought for this country.

"To be cliché: The book changed my life," Buich said. "My father was an MP in the Air Force, and I've always admired what these Americans do. I've always respected somebody who would die for what they believe in. (But) reading that book and seeing what somebody is willing to do for my life, for our lives, was so humbling. I knew I had to do something for veterans with my life."

Because Buich is president of La Paz Fishing Charters in Baja California Sur Mexico, it was only natural that his thoughts turned to taking Special Operations soldiers on a once-in-a-lifetime deep-sea fishing trip.

After a chance meeting at a fishing tournament with then-stranger Greg David, former Marine and executive director of national anti-terrorist training company Desert Snow, the two learned they had similar goals. Working together with the sole purpose of honoring our nation's veterans, they created Fishing4Freedom.

Buich launched into action, making contact with veterans' organizations and starting the process of raising funds and awareness for the project.

"It gave me an opportunity to play quarterback again, to set up the show," Buich said.

Over the summer, Buich was able to host an amputee who had served with Special Operations Recon forces. He was from Oklahoma and had never fished in the ocean, so he was thrilled to reel in a 175-lb. marlin. "It was just a dream-come-true kind of thing," Buich said.

The weekend of Sept. 11, Fishing4Freedom hosted about a dozen Navy Seals and Special Operations soldiers, all veterans of the wars in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. The men and their families were treated to fishing in the Sea of Cortez from two luxury yachts, as well as five-star treatment at the Resort Gran Sueno, whose owner, Steve Games, is a Vietnam veteran.

"The guys just had smiles across their faces," Buich said. "They had a blast being pampered. It was definitely 'Mission: Accomplished.'"

Buich was taken aback by how much the veterans were a team in every situation.

"They're just so close," Buich said. "These guys do put their lives on the line for each other, and it creates a lasting bond.”

"As a former athlete, to me, with what these guys do and experience -- they're the epitome of the eye of the tiger," Buich said. "To hang out with professionals like that and experience their camaraderie was amazing."

Buich got all the thanks he needed in the veterans' smiles and in their respect for his efforts. Each of them at some point told Buich that the experience was the greatest respite they'd ever had, and that the event organizers were "true Americans."

"(But) I think these guys are the truest Americans," Buich said.

For Buich, the outings are "inspiring" and "motivational." He was particularly moved when one soldier who recently returned from deployment gave him a Seal Team 5 25th Anniversary "Challenge Coin." "That was really sentimental to me," Buich said.

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer Michael Moriarty said he was "extremely impressed" with Buich and David's "level of dedication, selflessness and patriotism," as well as the outstanding efforts of the owner and staff of the resort.

"Unfortunately, it is rare to find people who would not only come up with such a thoughtful idea, but follow through with all the planning from fund raising to dropping lures in the water," Moriarty said. "The Fishing4Freedom event was an event that we will always remember. In fact, we as guests of the first event are still in frequent contact with the founders to offer our support on future events for other troops who deserve this outstanding display of gratitude and recognition. We have made lifelong friends during this event. We are now 'brothers.'"

After seeing the effect the event had on the veterans, Buich is more motivated than ever to continue to make the event a success year after year.

"We all had the best time together, and that's what this is all about -- taking care of those who take care of us and protect our freedoms," Buich said.

Getting personal: Catching up with Buich

Anthony Buich '99 is one of the relatively few in this world who can say they once called Tony Romo his backup.

"It makes for interesting chat rooms in Fantasy Football. I've got a few friends and family members that don't let me live that down," Buich, a former EIU quarterback, said of his connection to the now famous Dallas Cowboys starter. "Good for him. He worked hard, paid his dues. This is an incredible opportunity for him."

Buich knows a thing or two about hard work, too, as he's powered his way to success in three different careers.

After graduating from EIU, Buich had what he called a "decent career" in the pass-heavy Arena Football League, playing for eight teams in six seasons.

"I met some great friends, had a lot of fun, and I got to travel the country, getting paid to play a game I love," Buich said.

After an elbow injury ended his career in 2005, Buich started working as a financial adviser, ending up with Merrill Lynch, before starting La Paz Fishing Charters in February 2008.

Through his fishing business, Buich has been on a couple of TV and radio shows, including Ronnie Kovak's "Fishing Ventures" on Fox Sports West, for which he spent four days fishing with the angling legend and NFL All-Pros Sam Adams, Eddie Kennison and Tom Keating. Buich also had a role in former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin's Spike reality show, "Fourth and Long," throwing footballs for the show's participants.

In May, he was hired by the Atlanta-based Competitive Edge Sports, a high-profile athletic training company, to help with marketing efforts on the west coast.

"I just like staying busy," Buich said. "I don’t want to get complacent."

Originally from Tiburon, Calif., near San Francisco, Buich now lives near San Diego with his wife, the former Tamara Schurch '01, who ran track at EIU.

"We each brought a little bit of Eastern with us," Buich said.

In 2008, she was stopped in the post office by a man who was intrigued by her Chicago Bears T-shirt. As it turned out, he was Don Johnson '49, a former EIU football and track star who was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987. The couple and Johnson have since become close friends, thanks in part to their EIU connection.

"Eastern's a great school, a great community," Buich said. "I just had a lot of fun there. It really is a special place."

• These stories originally appeared in the Fall 2009 issue of Old Main Line, a magazine published for members of the Eastern Illinois University Alumni Association.

In 1969, soccer was a newer sport in collegiate athletics. Opportunities for aspiring players were few and far between. But that year became a pivotal one for a young freshman from Vandalia, Ohio.

That year, Eastern’s men’s soccer team won the NAIA national championship, and that year, freshman midfielder Schellas Hyndman got to experience a national championship for the first time. It would not be his last.

“Back then, it was great to win, but I didn’t know how hard it really was to win a championship,” Hyndman said. “Now, however, I know how special a championship win is.”

Forty years later, as one of the most successful coaches in college soccer, and now as a head coach in Major League Soccer, it’s no wonder Hyndman understands what it takes to get to a championship.

Hyndman was recruited to Eastern in 1969 by then head coach Fritz Teller. The 23-member team “was really special,” Hyndman recalls. “They were good players that would be great by today’s standards.”

Skill, however, wasn’t the only thing that led the team to victory. Common affection for the sport and friendships among players helped the team gel and consequently propelled them into a winning season that culminated in the national championship.

Hyndman graduated from EIU with a degree in physical science in 1973 and earned a master’s degree in physical education from Murray State in 1975. He spent one season with American Soccer League and then traveled to South America, where he spent two years working with Escola Graduada de Sao Paulo and apprenticing with Sao Paulo FC.

At the urging of Coach Teller, he returned to Eastern in 1976 to complete a master’s degree in guidance and student counseling, with the possibility of taking over the position of head coach for the men’s team when Teller retired. Teller retired in 1977, and Hyndman took over as head coach. He recalls pacing the Library Quad thinking about how lucky he was. “It was my dream job,” he said.

His passion for the sport and his love of coaching quickly became obvious. Hyndman, to date, is the most successful soccer coach in EIU history, and in 1981, when Eastern soccer entered into Division I competition, Hyndman led the team to an unprecedented third-place finish in the national championships.

“That was one of the closest knit teams I’ve ever had,” he said. “There was so much pride on that team. It was indeed one of the most remarkable seasons in my coaching career.”

Opportunity quickly came knocking for Hyndman. He left Eastern in 1983 to coach at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. During his 24 years at SMU, Hyndman turned the men’s soccer program into a national powerhouse, winning no fewer than 10 games each season, with nine appearances in the NCAA quarterfinals, and two in the semifinals.

His cumulative career as a college coach earned him numerous honors, including fourth in all-time victories among Division I college coaches – he posted an all-time college record of 466-122-49, which includes a record of 368-98-38 at SMU and 98-24-11 at Eastern. He was named Midwest Region Coach of the Year for the first time in 1988, with eight more titles between 1997 and 2006. He was also a member of the NSCAA national coaching staff; served on the NCAA Division I men’s soccer championship committee; and, after serving as a member of the NSCAA Executive Committee for four years, assumed duties as its president from 2005-2006.

In 2006, opportunity came knocking again. Hyndman was offered the head coach position in MLS with the western conference powerhouse, FC Dallas. Now in his second year as a coach with The Hoops, Hyndman has reached his ultimate goal as a player and coach. The change to the major leagues was a bit of an adjustment, however.

“It’s definitely life in the fast lane,” he said. “There’s no down time at this level. You are always looking for the next player that will help the team. In college, you train for nine months to play for three. In professional soccer, it’s an 11 and a half month season with preseason practice, exhibition games in South America, regular season, travel to find players ... but it’s perfect because I love the sport. I’m really living my dream.”

Hyndman has seen and done much throughout his career. In 2007, he was enshrined in the Texas Credit Union “Walk of Fame” at Pizza Hut Park (FC Dallas’ home), for dedicating his life to soccer and for the contributions he has made to the sport in the state of Texas. He was inducted into the EIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. He credits his alma mater for who he is today.

“The best memories of my life are at Eastern,” he said. “Of all the places I had to choose from, I could not have picked a better place. My heart is with Eastern because it gave me my start.”

Hyndman helped form still-flourishing Charleston Soccer League

Living in the Charleston community as head coach for EIU men’s soccer, Schellas Hyndman’s own son needed opportunities to play the sport. With none available, Hyndman and a few of his friends got together and created the Charleston Soccer League to give area youth opportunities to learn and play competitive soccer.

Today, the league is still around and continues to have ties to Eastern. Spearheaded by EIU head coach Adam Howarth and assistant coach Dino Raso ’92, ’93, Eastern’s soccer programs play an integral part in community youth development through soccer.

More than 25 student athletes from the men’s and women’s teams volunteer each fall and spring to provide coaching to area youth in weekly sessions. The league also employs many of these student-athletes as coaches for the league’s more competitive club.
Student coaches hold weekly practice sessions and travel with the teams to regional games and tournaments.

The relationship has bridged the gap between town and gown and has created life-long friendships between league participants and the EIU student mentors who coach them.

• These stories originally appeared in the Fall 2009 issue of Old Main Line, a magazine published for members of the Eastern Illinois University Alumni Association.

Members of the Campus Community:

Our mission, and our public trust, is to deliver academic excellence as a university of opportunity for the citizens of Illinois. EIU serves its students with distinction and supports its faculty and staff in that service. The spring semester is beginning, with our enrollment at the expected levels and with the university prepared to offer the high quality of educational experience for which we are known. We do this in the face of long-delayed state payments of general revenue appropriations.

The state continues to fall behind in its delivery of appropriations to us and the other state universities. At the midpoint of the fiscal year, EIU has received approximately $6 million dollars of our appropriation of just over $50 million. We have budgeted conservatively this year, have continued to seek cost savings, and have sought to expend funds conservatively. These measures have enabled us to use tuition revenue and what general revenue appropriations we have received to meet our personnel and other fiscal obligations to date.

In order to meet our obligations through the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2010) in the uncertain fiscal environment created by delayed delivery of our legislated state appropriations, we must take the following actions, consistent with my previous communications on budget (these actions apply to all funds except for grant funds):

· Except for searches already initiated, all hiring is frozen. Exceptions must be approved by the president.

· All operational spending is being reduced or postponed.

· All equipment purchases are frozen. Exceptions must be approved by the respective vice president.

· Operational cost savings will continue to be implemented.

· Non-safety-related maintenance is being reduced or postponed.

· Travel reimbursement is being reduced or postponed.

I will be meeting with the Council on University Planning and Budget and the executive committees of the Faculty Senate, the Staff Senate, the Student Senate, and the Civil Service Council regarding these actions. Please note that neither furloughs nor layoffs are being implemented at this time. Our goal is to take every action we can short of furlough or layoff to meet our mission of educational excellence and protect the livelihoods of our faculty and staff.

In addition, I will continue to work with appropriate state agencies, our elected representatives, and other university presidents to press the case for timely delivery of our state appropriations for this fiscal year.

EIU's faculty and staff have always delivered excellence regardless of the fiscal circumstances. We will continue to do so. Thank you for all you do for EIU.

Bill Perry, President

Bob Martin looks forward to becoming a part of the Eastern Illinois University family.

He's excited about "enhancing a culture of philanthropy" throughout the EIU community.

And he's happily anticipating the celebration of four seasons again.

"I'm looking forward to returning to the Midwest and all that it brings," he said recently from his home in Auburn, Ala.

Martin will officially be welcomed to Eastern on Feb. 1, 2010, when he begins his new role as the institution's vice president for university advancement.

He replaces Jill Nilsen, who announced her retirement, effective Dec. 31, after serving as vice president for external relations since 1998. EIU President Bill Perry chose to sharpen the position's portfolio and change the name of the position to "better signal -- both internally and externally -- that the primary emphasis for the position is on fundraising, development and allied university advancement activities."

Martin, who is currently serving as assistant vice president for development at Auburn University, is certainly no stranger to the areas of fundraising and development. Prior to arriving at Auburn in 2003, he served as assistant vice chancellor for development (promoted from director of major gifts), at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1997-2003).

He has also been actively involved with the YMCA, starting with the Nashville YMCA, then as associate executive director in Owensboro, Ky., and 10 years as district vice president at the YMCA of Florida's First Coast.

He received his master's degree in philanthropy and development from St. Mary's University of Minnesota and his bachelor's degree in political science from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn.

A Tennessee native, Martin said the size and location of EIU were attractive to both him and his family, including his wife, Donna, and their three daughters -- Lindsey, 23; Kerri, 20; and Codi, 13.

Eastern's athletics program also beckoned, Martin said, recalling that EIU and UT-Chattanooga were in the same division when he was at UTC.

"Charleston seems to be a nice small town," Martin said. "There were just so many things we found appealing. It seemed like the perfect fit."

He looks forward to his arrival at Eastern and beginning the process of meeting and getting to know the institution's faculty, staff and students, as well as alumni and friends of the university.

"I want to become a part of the EIU team and family," Martin said.

He's also eager to advance Eastern's major capital campaign, already in progress, but in its early stages.

"In tough economic times, we need to let people know that their private gifts are no longer icing on the cake," Martin said. "They need to know that those gifts are a necessity in order to maintain the quality EIU experience our students expect and deserve."

Although Sean Peebles is appreciative of the funding he's receiving, he and his colleagues are equally excited about the honor his recent award represents.

The Eastern Illinois University chemistry professor was named one of seven individuals nationwide to receive a Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award for 2009.  The award provides a five-year $60,000 unrestricted research grant to each recipient.

Both Peebles and Mark McGuire, professor and interim chemistry chair at EIU, said that while it is gratifying to be awarded this generous funding for the proposed research, the source of the grant -- the nationally and internationally known Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Inc. -- greatly adds to the value of the award.

According to its Web site, the foundation was established to advance the science of chemistry, chemical engineering and related sciences as a means of improving human relations and circumstances.

Founded in 1946 by chemist, inventor and businessman Camille Dreyfus as a memorial to his brother Henry, the foundation became a memorial to both men when Camille Dreyfus died in 1956. Throughout its history, the foundation has sought to take the lead in identifying and addressing needs and opportunities in the chemical sciences.  Since its founding, it has contributed well more than $100 million to support chemistry, chemical engineering and related fields.

"This certainly is a great honor for Sean, but also for the chemistry department and Eastern Illinois University as we, as an institution, seek to be a real leader in undergraduate research and education," McGuire said.  "We're being recognized as a university that promotes quality student research at the undergraduate level.  We are not just keeping our students occupied with 'busy work.'"

McGuire, whose office sits next to Peebles', nominated his colleague for the Dreyfus Award based on what he had observed since Peebles came to Eastern in 2001.  In addition to what he has seen as exemplary interaction between Peebles and his students, McGuire also saw dedication, ingenuity and passion when it came to research.

The technical description of Peebles' research reads as follows:  "Microwave spectroscopic studies of transition metal complexes prepared by laser ablation."  In layman's terms, Peebles and his students will attempt to learn more about fuel chemistry by using a laser to produce metal atoms and then study their chemical reactions with simple petroleum by-products.

At this very early stage in the research, Peebles acknowledged, it is difficult to tie in the importance of the findings with specific implications for the general public.  Instead, the research findings will provide improved understanding of chemical reactions that have importance in a wide range of related disciplines, including the pharmaceutical and petroleum industries.

Peebles enjoys this research, and doesn't mind sharing his opportunities with his students as their teacher and mentor.

"I enjoy interacting with students, whether they be enrolled in General Chemistry Lab I or a graduate course," he said.  "And I try to be available for them when they need me."

This goes for the entering freshman who may not have adjusted to university life or the more introverted student who, Peebles says, reminds him of himself at that early age.

But he also enjoys mentoring those more advanced students who commit to research and follow it up with written reports, many of which are then published.  Some students, Peebles added, even travel to national and international conferences where they are given the opportunity to present their research before other students and student-friendly faculty and scientists.

"They're immensely proud of their accomplishment, but very nervous, as well," he said.

With the help of his Dreyfus award, Peebles hopes even more students get the opportunity to share research findings.  While about half the grant ($33,000) is designated for equipment and supplies, more than $20,000 will be used for stipends for students conducting research and to fund student travel to conferences to present their results.  The remaining portion of the grant -- $5,000 -- goes toward departmental expenses associated with research and education.

More than 500 summer and fall graduates plan to participate in Eastern Illinois University's Fall 2009 commencement ceremonies, scheduled to take place Saturday, Dec. 19, in Lantz Arena.

Ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Guest tickets are required for admission.

Graduating seniors from the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences and the College of Arts and Humanities will march in the morning ceremony, while students from the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Sciences and the School of Continuing Education (Bachelor of Arts in General Studies Degree) will march in the afternoon. Graduate students will march with their respective colleges.

President William L. Perry will preside over the ceremonies. Music will be provided by the EIU Wind Symphony.

Les R. Hyder, who was named the 2009 recipient of the Luis Clay Mendez Distinguished Service Award, will be publicly recognized during the 10 a.m. ceremony for outstanding service to Eastern, to his profession and to the community. This award is presented annually by Eastern's Faculty Senate.

Jonathan F. Gosse, editor-in-chief for American Publishers Inc., Homewood, Ill., and current chair of Eastern's School of Technology Advisory Board, will present the "Charge to the Class" during the morning ceremony. Jill F. Nilsen, EIU's retiring vice president for external relations, will speak during the 1 p.m. ceremony. Both Gosse and Nilsen are EIU graduates.

Also addressing graduates will be Faculty Senate Chairperson John Henry Pommier and Student Body President Michelle Murphy.

Representing Eastern's Board of Trustees will be Don W. Yost of Charleston at 10 a.m. and Eric P. Wilber of Monticello at 1 p.m.

Traditionally, a commencement marshal leads the commencement procession while carrying the university mace, a symbol of honor accorded a faculty member. The commencement marshal for the 10 a.m. ceremony will be Jill F. Nilsen who, as a professor of communication disorders and sciences, will represent the Graduate School. Representing the School of Continuing Education at 1 p.m. will be Pat J. Fewell, chair of the EIU Department of Secondary Education and Foundations.

An EIU tradition also allows faculty members the honor of carrying the college banner for his/her college during the procession.

This year's faculty marshals for the morning ceremony are Thomas R. Hawkins, associate professor, School of Technology, representing the Graduate School and the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences; Julie A. Chadd, assistant professor, School of Technology, representing the LCBAS; Olaf Hoerschelmann, associate professor, communication studies, representing the Graduate School and the College of Arts and Humanities; and Suzan G. Braun, professor, art, representing the CAH.

This year's faculty marshals for the afternoon ceremony are Gail M. Lockart, professor, early childhood, elementary and middle level education, representing the Graduate School and the College of Education and Professional Studies; Judith A. Barford, assistant professor, early childhood, elementary and middle level education, representing the CEPS; Jeffrey R. Laursen, associate professor, biological sciences, representing the Graduate School and the College of Sciences; Richard A. Wandling, professor, political science, representing the COS; and Anita Shelton, chair, history, representing the School of Continuing Education.

Eastern Illinois University officials have mailed letters of notification to approximately 9,000 former, prospective and current undergraduate students regarding a possible security breach into files containing personal information.

During a routine review on Nov. 16, employees of Eastern's Information Technology Services Department discovered that a server used by the university's Office of Admissions had been infected with a number of viruses, including several that would allow an external person to access the server.

Investigators know that an unknown individual outside of the university may have had access to the server from approximately 7:30 a.m. Nov. 11, until 12:30 p.m. Nov. 16. They cannot, however, verify whether or not any files containing student information were accessed.

This particular server contained electronic admissions application data from prospective undergraduate students dating from March 10, 2000, to Nov. 16, 2009. Those who did not submit their admission applications electronically are not affected.

The investigation continues. Meanwhile, advisory letters have been sent to those whose information appeared on the server. In addition to official notification of the incident, the letters include safety recommendations that individuals may take.

Also, Eastern has contracted with Experian®. As a result, those individuals potentially impacted by this incident are eligible to receive a free one-year membership in Triple Alert from ConsumerInfo.com, an Experian® company.

The university has created a Web page with information about the breach and answers to frequently asked questions. It may be viewed at http://www.eiu.edu/notice.

Community residents are once again invited to join Eastern Illinois University's students and staff during the coming week for "Deck the Halls" -- two festive gatherings scheduled to take place in Old Main (the "Castle").

Guests are welcome to attend the two holiday events, the first of which is scheduled to take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, and the second from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10.

Parking is available in most university lots (excluding handicapped spaces) after 5 p.m. Guests attending Thursday's "Deck the Halls" gathering should park in the "X" lot, located east of Old Main.

Following an annual tradition, "Deck the Halls" will showcase six holiday trees, five of which feature decorations made by students of Ashmore, Carl Sandburg, Jefferson, Lake Crest (Oakland) and Mark Twain elementary schools.

Refreshments and holiday music will be featured at both gatherings.

EIU and President Bill Perry invite all to stop by and enjoy this year's holiday celebrations.

(Photo courtesy of Lauren LaPlante.)

The Eastern Symphony Chamber Orchestra, EIU Concert Choir and Collegium Musicum will celebrate the holiday season with their presentation of Handel's "Messiah" and its famed Hallelujah chorus.

The concert will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall on the Eastern Illinois University campus.

Two faculty guest artists will be featured in the performance: baritone Jay Ivey, and Mark DeGoti on piccolo trumpet.

Ivey, who is new to the EIU faculty, is an award-winning vocalist. He has performed in many productions with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, most recently playing the role of British Ambassador in the world premiere of the new performing edition of "The Ghosts of Versailles" by John Corigliano.

DeGoti has maintained an active performing career since joining the EIU music faculty in 2005. He plays with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony and the EIU Faculty Brass Quintet.

The concert is sponsored in part by the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation.

Tickets -- $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

[Note: Honeywell released the following press release in conjunction with the ceremonial groundbreaking held today (Nov. 20, 2009) on the EIU campus in Charleston, Illinois.]

MINNEAPOLIS -- Honeywell today announced a $79 million renewable energy and building retrofit program with Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill. The program, which combines energy-efficient facility upgrades with one of the largest biomass-fueled heating plants on a university campus, will help EIU address deferred maintenance, improve its infrastructure, and save approximately $140 million in energy and operating costs over the next two decades.

EIU will finance the improvements and use the savings, guaranteed by Honeywell through a 20-year performance contract, to pay for the work. As a result, the program will not place a burden on the university’s budget or require additional taxpayer dollars or student fees.

The upgrades will impact all facilities on the 320-acre campus, and significantly curb the university’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. For example, they will reduce electricity consumption by an estimated 6.2 million kilowatt-hours per year -- enough energy to power more than 580 homes annually. Carbon dioxide emissions will also decrease by nearly 20,000 metric tons each year. According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to removing more than 3,600 cars from the road.

“Like many universities, our list of needs across campus is much larger than the financial resources available,” said Bill Perry, president of Eastern Illinois University. “This program allows us to make critical improvements and keep our facilities comfortable and functional for years to come. Plus, we’re able to reduce our carbon footprint at the same time. It’s an ideal solution for the university and surrounding community.”

The focal point of the program is the construction of a new steam plant on the southeast corner of campus that will be driven by two large biomass gasifiers, the first application of this technology in the region. The plant will use wood chips sourced from the local logging industry to generate steam and heat buildings on campus. And it will replace the university’s aging steam plant, which is inconveniently located in the center of campus, consumes more than 10,000 tons of coal per year and requires constant maintenance.

Through biomass gasification, the wood chips are heated in an airtight, oxygen-deprived chamber until they break down to create a synthetic gas that burns similar to natural gas. The gas is then used to fire the boilers, giving the university a carbon-neutral solution for heating its facilities. As a result, all of the steam heating load for the university will be met through a renewable resource.

EIU chose the biomass system based on input from the Honeywell Renewable Energy Scorecard, a first-of-its-kind selection tool that analyzes location-specific details to pinpoint the technology with the most significant environmental and economic drivers.

As part of the new plant, Honeywell will also install a small turbine that uses excess steam to produce electricity. The turbine is expected to generate more than 2.9 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, reducing the amount of energy the university purchases from the grid and providing another environmentally friendly energy source.

Additional conservation measures include:
• Retrocommissioning all mechanical systems on campus to ensure efficient operation;
• Constructing a new high-voltage switch yard to consolidate two intake points for electricity, which will lower the university’s utility rates;
• Updating the chilled water system to provide more flexibility in determining which chillers to use for its cooling needs;
• Replacing windows at five residence halls with double-pane insulating glass;
• Upgrading lighting fixtures and installing occupancy sensors throughout campus to help reduce energy use;
• Retrofitting plumbing systems to conserve water use; and
• Sealing building envelopes to prevent the loss of warm and cool air.

Honeywell will also provide ongoing commissioning, and measurement and verification as part of the contract. The upgrades are expected to be complete by end of 2012.

“Using renewable energy not only delivers environmental benefits, it can also generate economic payback,” said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. “Through guaranteed energy savings, organizations like Eastern Illinois University can make investments in their facility infrastructure and reduce carbon dioxide emissions without impacting the bottom line.”

Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com. Honeywell Building Solutions is part of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about Building Solutions, access www.honeywell.com/buildingsolutions.

This release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. The forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such forward-looking statements.

Contact: Aaron Parker, Honeywell; 763-954-4257; aaron.parker@honeywell.com

Although some ground has already been turned since the official beginning of the project on Nov. 9, a ceremonial groundbreaking is planned to commemorate the birth of Eastern Illinois University's Renewable Energy Center.

All those interested are welcome to join members of the university community and their guests at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20.

Due to very limited parking at the construction site, located on the east side of campus near the intersection of 18th Street (Illinois 130) and Edgar Drive, mass transportation will be provided. Buses will leave from the east side of EIU's MLK Jr. Union at 3:20 p.m. and return guests to a reception in the 1895 Room of the union immediately following the ceremony.

Those expected to speak at the ceremony include state Sen. Dale Righter; state Rep. Chapin Rose; Bill O'Rourke, chair, EIU Board of Trustees; Eric Wilbur, student representative, EIU Board of Trustees; and EIU President Bill Perry.

Honeywell International Inc. representatives will also be in attendance, as that company will oversee the construction of the center, as well as the installation of agreed-upon energy conservation measures at EIU. In total, the project will cost $80 million.

Honeywell guarantees that Eastern will attain annual energy/operation cost savings equal to or greater than the annual cost of financing the project. Annual energy savings of less than the guaranteed amount would be supplemented by Honeywell, and that supplement would be used to repay amounts financed.

The largest of the energy conservation measures -- with a price tag of $56 million -- is the renewable energy center which Eastern's considers an economical and ecologically friendly answer to the university's critical power needs and made necessary by the deterioration of the university's current coal-fired power plant.  Built circa 1925, the plant has been plagued by persistent equipment failures and replacement parts have been difficult, if not impossible, to find due to the age of the equipment.

The new facility -- a "biomass gasifier" -- will supply the university's heating and cooling needs by burning plant matter. Eastern will be permitted to burn two-inch virgin, or non-treated, wood chips obtained as by-products from the lumber industry. The wood chips will be much more "clean burning" than the coal used currently, thus reducing the overall air emissions being released into the environment.

Additional "biomass" fuel sources may be considered in the future.

After having made a living writing about political corruption in Illinois, author/reporter James L. Merriner seriously wonders if change can ever take hold within the state.

He plans to discuss his topic at length, offering historical background for any doubts, when he presents "Will Reform Ever Come to Illinois?"

Merriner's address -- the fifth in the Edgar Lecture Series at Eastern Illinois University -- is set to begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in Roberson Auditorium, Lumpkin Hall (Room 2030) on the EIU campus. Admission is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the presentation.

The Edgar Lecture Series, established in 2007 by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and his wife, Brenda, demonstrates a continuing support of their alma mater. The series allows the university to host two speakers a year -- one in the fall and one in the spring. Lectures are to focus primarily on state government and shall address current issues in state government and their historical implications.

The Edgars personally launched the series, with the former governor speaking in Fall 2007 and Mrs. Edgar taking her turn behind the lectern in Spring 2008.

Merriner, a former Chicago Sun-Times political reporter/editor, is also the author/co-author of five books, most of which deal with political corruption in Illinois. His most recent work is "The Man Who Emptied Death Row: Governor George Ryan and the Politics of Crime."

In addition, Merriner authored "Mr. Chairman: Power in Dan Rostenkowski's America," which examined the story of former U.S. House Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, who also ended up behind bars.

See more about Merriner at his Web site: http://www.jamesmerriner.com/index.html .

Theatre alumni coming back for this weekend's departmental reunion at Eastern Illinois University will have the opportunity to share in an honor commemorating the lives of Glendon "Gabby" and Lucy Gabbard.

Community members are also invited to help pay tribute to the husband/wife team who, together, dedicated years of their lives to entertaining and teaching others.

Eastern plans to dedicate the "E. Glendon Gabbard and Luciana Paquet Gabbard Green Room," located in the newly renovated Doudna Fine Arts Center, at 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. In addition, a tour of the center's theatre facilities will begin at 12:15 p.m.

All those interested in either or both events are invited to attend. There is no admission charge.

Glendon "Gabby" Gabbard began his teaching career in theatre arts at Eastern Illinois University in 1947. Until his retirement in 1984, he directed between three and six plays each year. His plays were well-received by audiences, and many of his students went on to successful careers as actors and teachers.

Lucy Gabbard was a prolific author and published extensively. She taught for many years in EIU's Department of English.

Following their retirement, they moved to Chicago where they became professional actors. They appeared in productions at the Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens and many other venues in Chicago 's active theatre scene. Appearances in "Groundhog's Day," "My Best Friend's Wedding" and "Prelude to a Kiss" highlighted their careers, as did Lucy Gabbard's appearance in the 1990 Tony Award-winning production of "The Grapes of Wrath."

In recognition of the Gabbards' long tenure and service to the students of Eastern, the Board of Trustees agreed in April to name the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Green Room in their honor.

The ceremony coincides with the theatre's department's annual alumni reunion. Alumni from the Classes of 1960-1975 and 1985-1995 have been invited as special guests for the day, which also includes a 7 p.m. production of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest."

Tickets ($12, general admission; $10 for seniors and EIU employees; $5 for students) may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) between 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, or one hour before a performance. Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

Additionally, John Oertling, chair of Eastern's Department of Theatre Arts, will formally receive the Illinois Theatre Association's 2009 Award of Excellence for University Theatre. Time and location are to be announced.

Four individuals have been invited to participate in on-site visits as Eastern Illinois University moves forward in its search for the institution's vice president for university advancement.

Pamela Christman of Urbana; James Salmo of Columbia, Mo.; Robert Martin of Auburn, Ala.; and Keith Carver of Martin, Tenn., have been invited to participate in on-site interviews during the month of November.

According to Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs at EIU and chair of the committee that is conducting the national search, Eastern received 56 applications for the VPUA position.

"Clearly, there has been strong interest in the position and we look forward to having the identified candidates visit campus for in-person interviews," Lord said. "With Dr. Nilsen's impending retirement, we are moving as quickly as we are able."

The post became available when Jill Nilsen, who has served as vice president for external relations since 1998, announced her Dec. 31, 2009, retirement. When President Bill Perry announced the search, he also announced his intentions of changing the name of the position to vice president for university advancement.

"This signals internally and externally -- and certainly for the search process -- that the primary emphasis for this position is on fundraising, development and allied activities," Perry said. "The change in emphasis in the position not only represents the growing importance of philanthropy in EIU's future, but narrows the portfolio to enable more time and effort focused on fundraising."

Each of the four candidates will be on Eastern's campus for a day. Open sessions (faculty, staff and students) will take place from 4 to 5 p.m., while community sessions (community, EIU Foundation, EIU Alumni Association) will begin at 7 p.m. (Locations announced below.)

Candidate Pamela Christman currently serves as assistant vice chancellor for institutional advancement and senior director of recruitment and training at the University of Illinois' Office for Institutional Advancement. She spent more than 15 years in the area of development at the U of I before assuming her current position. She holds a bachelor's degree in human resources and family studies and a master's degree in higher education administration from the U of I.

Christman's open and community interviews will take place in Blair Hall, Room 3108, on Friday, Nov. 13.

The second candidate, James Salmo, currently serves as the associate vice chancellor for development/health services at the University of Missouri in Columbia. His previous advancement/development experience includes roles as vice president for advancement at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy; director of development at both the University of Missouri's School of Law and College of Engineering; and director of development at Whitfield School, St. Louis. Salmo received his bachelor's degree in theater from St. Louis University and his master's degree in media/communication from Webster University, St. Louis.

Salmo's open and community interviews will take place in the 1895 Room, MLK Jr. Union, on Monday, Nov. 16.

Robert Martin, assistant vice president for development at Auburn University, previously served as assistant vice chancellor for development and director of major gifts at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga; district vice president, YMCA of Florida's First Coast; and associate executive director of the Owensboro (Ky.) YMCA. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from Lipscomb University and his master's degree in philanthropy and development at St. Mary's University of Minnesota.

Martin's open and community interviews will take place in Booth Library, Room 4440, on Thursday, Nov. 19.

The final candidate, Keith Carver, currently serves as the assistant vice chancellor for development at the University of Tennessee-Martin. He has previously served as director of development and alumni affairs, College of Law, and program adviser, Office of Student Activities, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; and director of special projects and coordinator of experiential education, McDonough Center for Leadership and Business at Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio. Carver received his bachelor's degree in sociology from Memphis State University, and his master's degree in college student personnel and educational leadership from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is a Ph.D. candidate in philosophy (focus on higher education administration) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Carver's open and community interviews will take place in the 1895 Room, MLK Jr. Union, on Monday, Nov. 30.

The sixth annual Embarras Valley Film Festival, “Lincoln, the Civil War, and Memory,” will honor Abraham Lincoln through presentations and filmic representations of Lincoln’s life and the Civil War.

A collaborative effort between the community and Eastern Illinois University, the film festival will be held Nov. 12-14 on the EIU campus and in downtown Charleston. All events are free and open to the public.

The festival celebrates the contributions to the film arts by individuals with connections to east-central Illinois and EIU. This year, the EVFF joins a host of other institutions in Illinois celebrating Lincoln’s 200th birthday.

Several films will be screened: "Young Mr. Lincoln," John Ford's 1939 film documenting Lincoln’s early life; "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," the Oscar-winning 1962 short film directed by Robert Enrico; "The General," Clyde Bruckman's 1927 silent comedy featuring Buster Keaton focused on a train captured during the Civil War; and "Glory," Robert Zwick's1989 Oscar-winning film starring Matthew Broderick.

Presentations and film introductions are planned, as well; many presenters have local ties, including Craig Titley, a Hollywood screenwriter and Mattoon native; Urbana-based film critic Chuck Koplinski; local Civil War re-enactor Randy Jackson, who was an extra in "Glory"; and Charleston native Dann Gire, a film critic for the Arlington Heights Daily Herald and president and founding director of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

Children's activities will be held at the Charleston Carnegie Public Library from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday; please make reservations by Wednesday by calling 217-345-1514. “Abraham Lincoln and Me,” for ages 4-8, features stories and crafts, including Lincoln penny medals and "eye spinner" optical illusion toys, led by Jeanne Goble and Joyce Jackson.  In “Happy Birthday, Abe! Scrapbooking,” for ages 8 and older, Howard Taylor will guide children in creating their own Lincoln remembrances scrapbook using a variety of Lincoln pictures and quotations.

Festival co-sponsors are the EIU College of Arts and Humanities and the Doudna Fine Arts Center; Booth Library, EIU; the Coles County Arts Council; the Illinois Arts Council; the City of Charleston Tourism Office; the Tarble Arts Center, EIU; and the Charleston Public Library.  Doudna Fine Arts Center public arts programs are funded by the New and Emerging Artists Series Fund, and by the Excellence in Fine Arts Fund.

For more information, please visit www.eiu.edu/~evff.

Thursday, Nov. 12   
-- 6:30 p.m.: Lecture by John R. Sellers, historical specialist on the American Civil War and the Lincoln curator at the Library of Congress. Lecture Hall, Doudna Fine Arts Center, EIU.
-- 7:30: Screening of "Young Mr. Lincoln." Doudna Lecture Hall.

Friday, Nov. 13
-- 10 a.m.: Screenwriters workshop with Craig Titley. Tarble Arts Center Atrium.
-- 1 p.m.: “Our American Cousin: Melodrama and the Civil War" presentation by Chris Mitchell. Tarble Atrium.
-- 2:30 p.m. “Lincoln, the Civil War, and Race” presentation by Kevin Anderson. Doudna Lecture Hall.
-- 4 p.m.: "Film and History" presentation by David Smith and Joseph Heumann. Doudna Lecture Hall.
-- 7 p.m.: Screening of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Doudna Lecture Hall.
-- 7:30 p.m.: Civil War-era music by Ben Leddy and Claire Johnson. Doudna Lecture Hall.

Saturday, Nov. 14
-- 10:30 a.m.-noon: Children’s activities. Charleston Carnegie Public Library, 712 Sixth St.
-- 11 a.m.: Screening of stop-motion films created by area youth. Charleston library.
-- 2 p.m.: Screening of "The General," with an introduction by Chuck Koplinski. Rotary Room B, Charleston library.
-- 4 p.m.: Meet-and-greet reception. Roc’s Black Front, 410 Sixth St.
-- 7 p.m.: Screening of "Glory." Introductions will be made by Randy Jackson and Dann Gire. Will Rogers Theatre, 705 Monroe Ave.

The Eastern Illinois University Concert Band will embrace the southern rural lifestyle in its Nov. 17 concert, "A Walk in the Country."

The 7:30 p.m. concert, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

The EIU Concert Band's membership encompasses students from across campus as well as local community members.

The concert will include a 100-year anniversary performance of Gustav Holst's “First Suite in E-flat for Military Band," as well as “Moon by Night” by Jonathan Newman, both conducted by Milton Allen.

Graduate conductor Christopher N. Jones will lead a program that will include Richard Saucedo’s “American Barndance,” Robert Palmer’s “Overture on a Southern Hymn” and Fred Allen’s “When the Stars Begin to Fall.”
Graduate student Chris Mroczek will make his conducting debut with the EIU Bands on Frank Ticheli’s “Cajun Folk Songs.”

For more information, please contact Doudna Fine Arts Center Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

Eligible Eastern Illinois University students and faculty/staff will have their first on-campus opportunity to receive the H1N1 vaccine on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 10 and 11.

H1N1 vaccination clinics will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days in the Lantz Concourse. (Update: Wednesday's (Nov. 11) clinic will take place in the Student Rec Center, Lantz Building.) People at high risk for the H1N1 flu and seeking to be immunized should enter the building via the north door (near the Student Recreation Center entrance).  There is no charge, but those wishing to receive the vaccine should bring their Panther Card ID.

Dr. Sheila Baker, EIU medical director, said those receiving the vaccines should be from one or more of the high-risk groups:

• People between the ages of 10 and 24 years (no pediatric dosages available at this clinic);
• Pregnant women;
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel;
• People who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months; and
• People 25 through 64 years of age who have certain chronic medical conditions (e.g., asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; liver disorders; heart disease; diabetes; cancer; neurological disorders such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, brain or spinal cord injuries; neuromuscular disorders such as muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis; and weakened immune systems, such as people with HIV and AIDS or who are on medications that weaken the immune system).

The priority groups are established based on current U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines.

EIU Health Services continues to update its H1N1 Flu Information website with general information about the H1N1 flu, tips on how to prevent contracting H1N1, and regular campus updates from Dr. Baker.

A Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony will take place Wednesday, Nov. 11, on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

Community residents are invited to join a host of individuals and groups, including the Student Veterans of Eastern and other student, staff and faculty veterans, at 10:30 a.m. in front of Old Main (the "Castle").

In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved inside the building.

Lt. Col. Stephen Knotts, a faculty veteran, and Tyler Linder, an EIU student veteran, will be among those making remarks. EIU President Bill Perry is also scheduled to speak.

All interested persons are invited to attend. Those attending the ceremony are welcome to park in the "X" lot east of Old Main.

An accomplished astronomy expert will talk about the possibility of extraterrestrial life in his "Other Stars, Other Planets" presentation at Eastern Illinois University on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Jim Kaler, professor emeritus of astronomy at the University of Illinois, will speak at 7 p.m. in the EIU Physical Science Building's Phipps Lecture Hall. Admission is free, and the public is invited.

In his presentation, Kaler will explore the more than 400 “extra-solar planets” that have been found, as well as extra-solar planetary systems, some of which are beginning to look a lot like our own. To answer the question of whether there is life on those planets, Kaler will "let the stars themselves tell the story."

Kaler has held Fulbright and Guggenheim fellowships, received medals for his work from the University of Liège in Belgium and the University of Mexico, given the Armand Spitz Lecture to the Great Lakes Planetarium Association and the Margaret Noble Address to the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society, and received the 2003 Campus Award for Excellence in Public Engagement.

He has written for a variety of magazines, was a consultant for Time-Life Books on their "Voyage Through the Universe" series, and has long appeared on Illinois television and radio. His many books include "Stars and their Spectra," "The Ever-Changing Sky," "Extreme Stars," "Cambridge Encyclopedia of Stars," "Stars and Cosmic Clouds," "The Little Book of Stars," "The Greatest Hundred Stars" and "Heaven's Touch." He has also produced two textbooks and three audio courses.

Kaler is currently past president of the board of directors of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and is a past president of the board of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony. Asteroid "1998 JK" was named "17853 Kaler" in honor of his outreach activities, and in 2008, he received the American Astronomical Society's Education Prize.

Kaler's presentation is part of EIU's yearlong celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, a worldwide commemoration of many historic astronomical achievements, including the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first look through a telescope and the 40th anniversary of man’s first steps on the moon.

All of EIU's IYA events are sponsored by the EIU College of Sciences and the EIU Department of Physics.
For more information, please contact Jim Conwell, professor of physics at EIU, at jconwell@eiu.edu or 217-581-6343.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra and East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra will join forces to pay tribute to a legendary composer with the "Mendelssohn 200th Anniversary" concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15.

The concert, which will be held in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall on the Eastern Illinois University campus, will include the Eastern Symphony Orchestra (Richard Robert Rossi, conductor) performing Felix Mendelssohn's "Symphony No. 4 in A major, opus 90," also known as the "Italian."

Mendelssohn, a German composer, was born in 1809. The "Italian" symphony was inspired by his experiences during a three-year tour of Europe, as were two of his other famous works: the "Hebrides Overture" and the "Scottish Symphony."

The concert will include other composers' music, as well, with the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra (Kevin Kelly, director) performing George Frederic Handel's "Concerto Grosso in G, Op 6, No. 1," with three soloists: Hee-Jae Kim and Chelsea Edwards on violin, and Claire Liu on cello. The Youth Orchestra will also perform "The Enchanted Castle, Op. 117" by Henry Hadley.

The program will conclude with both orchestras joining forces for Mikhail Glinka's "Russlan and Ludmilla Overture," conducted by Kelly.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra, part of the EIU Department of Music, is sponsored in part by the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation.

Tickets -- $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students -- may be purchased at the door. Advance tickets are available in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Eastern Illinois University theatre arts department will stage five performances of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest" in November.

Performances are set for 7 p.m. Nov. 13-14 and Nov. 16-17, as well as 2 p.m. Nov. 15, in The Theatre, Doudna Fine Arts Center.

"The Tempest" is Shakespeare's romantic-comedic tale of an exiled duke and his daughter marooned on an idyllic mysterious island haunted by spirits and sprites.

Bill Kincaid, professor of theatre and head of acting at Western Illinois University, will serve as guest director. Kincaid, a sponsored visiting artist through Doudna Programs, appeared recently in the New England Shakespeare Festival’s productions of "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Taming of the Shrew," and in Chicago as Kent in Vitalist Theatre’s "King Lear." He has received the Creative Activity and Outstanding Teaching awards from Western's College of Fine Arts and Communications.

While at EIU, Kincaid will also present at "Re-encountering Shakespeare," the 20th annual Literature Conference for Teachers and Lovers of Good Books, which will be held on campus Nov. 12-13.

Tickets -- $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students -- may be purchased at the door. Advance tickets are available in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

In honor of Veterans Day, the Eastern Illinois University Wind Symphony will salute veterans past and present with "The Call to Duty" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10.

All active-duty military members and veterans wearing all or part of their uniforms or VFW regalia will be admitted free to the concert, which will be held in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

All Central Illinois veterans who have been killed in action, or who served but have since passed, will be acknowledged during the concert. To avoid omissions, community members are asked to provide the veterans' names and hometowns, as well as the name of the wars in which they served, by Nov. 6, via e-mail (mdallen@eiu.edu) or phone message (217-581-2799).

A "To Honor, Thank and Remember" display will be set up in the Doudna's Concourse, where community members may display pictures, letters and other items either from their own service or in honor of another who has served. Items may be placed before the concert and retrieved either after the concert or at the end of the week. The display will be available for public viewing through Nov. 13.

The EIU Wind Symphony, led by conductor Milton Allen, will perform several musical selections:

• Those who have served will be asked to stand during the "Armed Forces Salute."
• French composer Darius Milhaud's "Suite Francaise," dedicated to the Americans who fought with the Allies and the French Underground for the liberation of France during World War II, will be illustrated by images provided by Dan Crews.
• David Gillingham's "Heroes, Lost and Fallen" is the first piece to memorialize those lost in the Vietnam conflict -- and to pay tribute to those who survived.
• Jerker Johansson's "The Missing Man" and Samuel Hazo's "Each Time You Tell Their Story" will provide the back drop as those who were lost are honored.

Tickets -- $5 for regular admission and $3 for EIU students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via email at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston. For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Representatives from school districts near and far will be seeking new employees at the upcoming Fall Education Job Fair at Eastern Illinois University.

Anyone who is or will be qualified for the positions offered is invited to the free job fair, which is set for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the MLK Jr. Union's Grand Ballroom. It is sponsored by EIU Career Services.

Representatives of local, state and national school districts will be seeking candidates for teaching, administrative and support services positions. Many need to fill mid-year and leave-type openings, in addition to anticipated openings for the 2010 school year.

A list of participating schools and available jobs is available online at http://www.eiu.edu/careers/falleducationjobfair.php. The site also provides tips for making the job fair a success.

Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and bring plenty of resumes.

Six individuals are to be recognized as the Eastern Illinois University Foundation's Outstanding Members for 2009.

This new award is bestowed on individuals who demonstrate the ideals of membership in the Foundation by providing their own financial support to EIU; promoting philanthropy, either personally or through the combined efforts of their organizations; or volunteering their time and talents to enhance the university's academic, athletic and cultural programs. It is through the direct efforts of its members that the Foundation is able to fulfill its mission of support to Eastern Illinois University.

This year's Outstanding Foundation Members are Michael Conlin of Auburn; Matt and Joyce Madigan of rural Charleston; Ruth and Charles Dow of Naperville, Ill.; and John Inyart of Charleston.

Michael Conlin, who received his bachelor's degree in zoology (1970) and his master's degree in aquatic biology (1971) from Eastern, currently serves as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' director of the Office of Resource Conservation. As such, he is responsible for all activities and programs of the Divisions of Wildlife, Fisheries, Forestry, Natural Heritage and Nature Preserves. Before joining the IDNR, he previously worked for the Illinois Department of Conservation (1971-1985), and was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer stationed in Kasungu, Malawi, Africa, working with local farmers in establishing agricultural cooperative and consumer cooperative stores.

He is a founding member of Eastern's College of Sciences Advisory Board, and is currently a member of the COS Honorary Advisory Board. He has been a great friend and promoter of EIU students and programs through his work at the IDNR, and initiated the discussions that resulted in progress toward establishing a field station within a few miles of campus that will serve students in biological sciences and geology/geography.

Conlin's many awards include the EIU Distinguished Alumnus Award (1990) and a Recognition Award of Excellence from the Illinois House of Representatives (1999).

Matt Madigan graduated from Eastern with both his bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry. While pursuing his master's degree, he also taught a few classes at both EIU and Lake Land Community College in Mattoon.

Madigan joined the teaching staff full-time at Lake Land in 1994; he was appointed the division chair of math science in 2002. He was in the first wave of instructors offering online classes at Lake Land, and also led the team that revised the college's general education goals. He also has a proven track record of securing grant funding.

Madigan, who is a founding member of EIU's College of Sciences Advisory Board and a member of the COS Honorary Advisory Board, was instrumental in the establishment of the College of Sciences Advisory Board Scholarship/Research Award. In addition to providing encouragement to his fellow board members for the award's creation, he also donated the lead gift. COS students benefit from the endowment each year.

Additionally, Madigan was the recipient of an Outstanding Graduate Alumnus Award from EIU in 2005.

Joyce Madigan, a partner with Gilbert, Metzger and Madigan, has been a long-time supporter of EIU. She has maintained a close relationship with the accountancy program and the School of Business since her graduation from EIU in 1980, and has spoken in numerous accounting classes and contributed significantly to Accounting Day and Beta Alpha Psi (the national accounting honor society) activities.

In 1996, the Accounting Advisory Board was founded. Madigan is an original member and guiding force behind the success of this advisory board. She has played important roles in taking this board from inception to the instrumental role it now plays in assisting the accountancy program meet its mission.

Her firm has hired several EIU accounting graduates, and Madigan has mentored those employees' success while encouraging them to maintain a high level of community service.

Madigan, a member of the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, the EIU Foundation and the EIU Alumni Association, also serves on the board of the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System as chairperson. She serves on the board of the Coles Together Economic Development Corp., and is a past president and currently treasurer of Coles Together.

Among her honors is a Distinguished Business Alumnus Award, presented in April 2001 by Eastern's School of Business.

In 1983, Ruth and Charles Dow participated in a mission trip to Mexico; that trip kindled interest in public health and community service. Both have since worked in Latin American and African countries as volunteers with Alfalit International Inc., an international, interdenominational Christian literacy organization which focuses on community development through educational programs that enhance the quality of life for those with limited resources.

Ruth Dow, who currently serves as Alfalit's director of nutrition, taught at EIU from 1969 to 1998, and served as an adjunct graduate professor in 1999, 2000 and 2005. As a registered dietitian in 1980, working through Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, she developed Eastern's Graduate Dietetics Program.

Charles Dow has served as an Alfalit volunteer agriculture instructor in Latin America since 1998. He previously served as a professional farm manager for Dow Management Services (1970-1998) and fertilizer sales representative/district sales manager (1964-1998). He received his master's degree in business administration from Eastern in 1986, and he, too, served as an adjunct graduate professor at EIU in 1999, 2000 and 2005.

The Dows established a charitable remainder trust which will one day benefit the McNabb-Dow Graduate Scholarship, an endowment fund they created in 1987. In 2007, the couple reassigned their trust's income back to the Foundation,so that the annual distribution from their trust will grow the corpus of their endowment during their lifetimes.

John Inyart is currently serving his second term as the mayor of Charleston. He was born and raised in the city, graduating from Charleston High School with the Class of 1980. He attended Lake Land College in Mattoon, taking classes toward a degree in automotive repair, and currently owns Midas Auto Service Experts in both Charleston and Mattoon.

As Charleston 's mayor, Inyart serves on EIU President Bill Perry's Cabinet with other community leaders, meeting several times a year toidentify issuesand improve the relationships between the university and surrounding communities. Inyart also meets monthly with Perry for solving some of the more critical day-to-day issues that arise from university and city activities. He has been extremely helpful and responsive to the needs of the university, ensuring that special events such as the Homecoming parade are enjoyable for all.

Inyart has been active in several community organizations, including the Charleston Fire and Police Board, the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce and the Charleston Jaycees. He spent 19 years as a Lincoln Fire Protection District volunteer firefighter, stepping down in 2005 after taking office as mayor. He continues to serve the city and county as a volunteer storm spotter.

A week-long series of events in celebration of Homecoming 2009 at Eastern Illinois University will culminate Saturday, Oct. 17, with a fun-filled day of activities, including an annual all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, 2.5K race and parade.

Early risers can start off with a warm meal, courtesy of the Charleston Rotary Club. Serving for the 10th annual pancake breakfast will take place from 6:30 to 11 a.m. in the parking lot of Domino's Pizza, located at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Seventh Street. Prices are $6 for adults and $3 for children under 10. The menu includes pancakes, sausage, milk and coffee.

All proceeds from the breakfast will go to support local Rotary projects, including customized "I Like Me" books, presented to Charleston first-graders in order to promote reading skills and self-esteem.

Well-fed individuals can then cheer for their favorite athletes as they participate in the 10th annual EIU/Charleston 2.5K (1.5-mile) Homecoming race, which begins at 9 a.m. Runners/walkers will begin at the corner of Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue, make their way north on Seventh Street to the Charleston Square, then return to EIU's Old Main via Sixth Street.

Runners may register from 7:45 until 8:45 a.m. in EIU's Old Main (the "Castle") the day of the race. The entry fee is $9. Awards will be given to the first-place male and female in each category (run, walk and wheelchair). In addition, McDonald's will provide a gift pack, food and drink to all racers, and prizes will be given for best full-body costumes.

This year's parade participants will experience a modification in the traditional route. Eastern's 2009 Homecoming parade begins at 9:30 a.m. As is customary, the parade will begin at the intersection of Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue, travel north to Monroe Avenue, west on Monroe to Sixth Street, then south on Sixth.

Instead of ending at Old Main, however, parade participants will turn west onto Polk Avenue until they reach Division Street.  Heading south on Division, they will cross Lincoln and head for Grant Avenue (a.k.a., Panther Way ), winding up at the tailgate area at O'Brien Stadium.

On-lookers will see the traditional parade floats, as well as the EIU marching band and Pink Panthers, decorated cars and more, representing this year's Homecoming theme, "EIU: Back to Blue."

As the newly expanded parade route will include Morton Park, community members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for a safe and relaxing view of the parade. Family-oriented activities will be provided at the park's west pavilion from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and will include a bounce house, a couple of carnival games and EIU cutouts, perfect for photo ops!

The annual Homecoming football game, in which the EIU Panthers host Tennessee Tech, begins at 1:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased the day of the game at O'Brien Stadium at a cost of $15 for adults, $13 for EIU staff, $7 for high school students and $5 for children (ages 4 through middle school). EIU students will be admitted free with their Panther Card ID.

Football fans are invited to arrive early and show their Panther Pride at this year's Tent City/Billy's Backyard, where representatives and alumni from each of Eastern's colleges will be gathered to renew old friendships and begin new ones. This tailgating event, scheduled to officially begin at 11:30 a.m., will be located behind O'Brien Stadium, and is open to all.

Earlier events occurring this week include a pep rally at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, on the South Quad (rain location: McAfee Gym). Community members are invited to come and help cheer on the EIU Panthers. Admission is free.

Other EIU Homecoming 2009 events are also planned:

• Yell Like Hell! and Who Wants to be a Mascot? Competitions, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, McAfee Gymnasium.

• "Bleed Blue" Red Cross Blood Drive, noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, Andrews Hall basement.

For up-to-date information on all of these events, plus other events open to the general public on EIU's campus, please see http://www.eiu.edu/calendar/events.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra's "Fright Night" concert will add a children's string band, as well as a 200th anniversary tribute to Abraham Lincoln, to its annual concert, costume contest and more.

The concert is to begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall on the Eastern Illinois University campus.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Richard Robert Rossi, will be joined by the Bow-Dacious String Band, a Champaign-Urbana-based children's ensemble directed by Robin Kearton.

To mark the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, local Abraham Lincoln presenter Joseph Woodard will recite Lincoln’s second inaugural address. The ensembles will then perform "A Lincoln Portrait" by Aaron Copland with accompanying narration, comprised of Lincoln's own words, read by Jason Garrett.

The concert will also feature the world premiere performance of "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror" by D. Trent Mason, an EIU graduate student in composition. The music was composed to director F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent film of the same name.

As always, children are encouraged to participate in the Halloween costume contest. The Eastern Symphony Orchestra will provide candy and lots of frightening fun.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra, part of the EIU Department of Music, is sponsored in part by the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation.

Tickets -- $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students -- may be purchased at the door. Advance tickets are available in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via email at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Four individuals -- all with ties to the Coles County area -- have been chosen as honorary lifetime members of the Eastern Illinois University Foundation.

Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar and his wife, Brenda; Richard A. Lumpkin; and Burnham Neal will be inducted into this Foundation class this weekend when the Foundation gathers for its annual meeting.

Lifetime membership is bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional and significant support for the university. Previous recipients include Harold Marker, Lou Hencken, Jan Tarble and Ivan "Ike" Kennard.

Jim and Brenda Edgar, EIU alumni who received degrees in 1968 and 1998, respectively, have been, and continue to be, strong and loyal alumni of EIU, donating their time, financial gifts and support to EIU. Mr. Edgar's political involvement began at EIU when he served as student body president. He later served as Illinois' 38th governor after spending more than 30 years in state government, including terms as state representative and secretary of state.

In addition to donating a number of papers and artifacts from their tenure in state government to EIU, the Edgars also created the Edgar Lecture Series with a gift of $150,000, which allows EIU to annually host two speakers who focus primarily on state government and current issues in state government and their historical implications. They also created the Brenda Edgar Scholarship for Women, which is awarded to adult female parents over the age of 25 who are returning to school after having had a significant break in education due to life events.

Richard A. Lumpkin serves Consolidated Communications Inc. as chairman -- the latest in a long line of roles he's held in the communication field since 1963. He served in various positions, including chairman, chief executive officer, president and treasurer, for Illinois Consolidated Telephone Co. (1963-1997), then became vice chairman of McLeodUSA, which acquired ICC in 1997. Consolidated Communications Inc. acquired McLeodUSA in 2002.

Although not an alumnus, Lumpkin has supported Eastern Illinois University for more than 40 years, beginning with a gift in 1964 that established the Lumpkin Foundation Fund. Financial support from this fund and subsequent ones has benefited the EIU School of Business and what is now known as the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences greatly. Gifts also were made to other areas of the university, including EIU athletics, Eastern's human performance lab, the Hadwiger Communications Laboratory and the fine arts.

In 1997, the EIU Foundation named its annual philanthropy awards after Burnham Neal and his wife, Nancy, in recognition of their leadership, gifts and steadfast dedication to the university. (Mrs. Neal passed away in December 2006.) Burnham Neal, owner of Neal Tire and Ben Tire Distributors, based in Toledo, Ill., has donated numerous dollars to the EIU Foundation. The Neal Welcome Center -- the building in which the Foundation is housed -- bears his name.

Neal has also donated to area middle schools, high schools and Lake Land College, and contributes to multiple scholarship funds annually. He also supports Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, located in Coles County.

Five retiring board members will be recognized this weekend when the Eastern Illinois University Foundation gathers for its annual meeting.

Steven L. Childers and Alice Shawver, both of Charleston; George Paulik of Marietta, Ga.; James Schnorf of Longwood, Fla.; and Mariann D. Younger of Findlay, Ohio, will be lauded for their years of service and dedication to the university.

Steven L. Childers, a business graduate of Eastern, has a diversified background in accounting and a lengthy career with Consolidated Communications Inc., where he was named chief financial officer in 2004.  He joined the company in 1986 and was named director of accounting in 1990.  He also served as president of Consolidated Market Response during his tenure.  Childers served in a number of executive roles with McLeodUSA following the merger with CCI, most recently leading the company's Business Process Teams to implement revenue assurance processes and controls.

Childers, who is also a certified public accountant, served as president of the EIU Foundation board for three terms and as treasurer.  He currently serves as chair of the Real Estate Committee, as well as serving on the Finance, Investment, Scholarships/Grants and Annual Dinner Planning committees.

Alice Shawver graduated from Eastern Illinois State Teachers College before attending the University of Missouri, Columbia, and the Realtors Institute.  Her primary work experience has been as a teacher in Coles County schools and as broker/owner of Re/Max of Mid-Missouri Inc. Realtors.  She served on the Missouri Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors and the Fortnightly Club of the University of Missouri, and in the Omega Tau Rho fraternity for officers of the National Association of Realtors.

Shawver currently serves as a volunteer on the Real Estate and Annual Dinner Planning committees, and is a past president of the EIU Foundation Board of Directors.

George Paulik, who holds master's degrees in history and counseling, studied at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in the Investment Management Consultants program.  He is field vice president and sales manager for the Financial Institutions Division of Pacific Life, and has responsibility for the sales efforts of 18 field wholesalers covering depository institutions throughout the United States.

Paulik currently serves on the EIU Foundation's Finance, Investment and Scholarships/Grants committees.  He has also served on the Mission and Policy committees for the past four years.

James Schnorf, a 1976 business/accounting graduate of EIU and a graduate of the University of Illinois Executive MBA Program, is the founder and president of Wall Street Management and Capital Inc.  He previously served as the general manager and chief financial officer of Florida's largest independently owned investor relations company where he oversaw the entity's financing, initial public offering and investment portfolio management functions.  His experience includes serving as co-founder/president of a Midwest-based boutique mezzanine venture fund; as treasurer and chief financial officer of Stevens Industries Inc., a major woodworking firm based in central Illinois; and as group controller for Sequa Corporation, a Fortune 1000 aerospace concern.

Schnorf is a past member of the EIU Alumni Association Board of Directors and the School of Business and Accountancy advisory boards.  He serves on the Foundation Board as chair of the Scholarships/Grants Committee.  He also serves on the Investment and Nominating committees, and is the board's representative to the Council of Institutional Investors.

Mariann D. Younger graduated from EIU in 1954 with a degree in education, and was awarded an honorary fine arts degree from the University of Findlay in 2008.  Her work history includes teaching at all levels:  pre-school, secondary and as a home bound tutor. She is a dedicated volunteer for The University of Findlay's Mazza Museum of International Art from Picture Books, and was a member of the first class of Mazza docents and the first board of directors for Mazza enthusiasts, and has been for all of its 17 years. Younger has a continuing interest in literacy and reading in the community, and remains a dedicated volunteer who devotes her time and talent.

She has served on the EIU Foundation Board as chair of the Scholarships/Grants Committee and continues to serve on the Real Estate and Finance committees.

Four of the 10 finalists for the Illinois State Board of Education's 2009-10 Illinois Teacher of the Year award are graduates of Eastern Illinois University.

The award is to be presented at the Those Who Excel banquet on Oct. 24. EIU is proud to have awarded degrees to four of the finalists:

• Connie Harling '77 teaches fourth-graders at Witt Elementary School in the Hillsboro school district.
• Kevin Rutter '97 teaches economics to students in grades 10-12 at Carl Schurz High School in Chicago School District 299.
• Tim Schnoeker '87 is an industrial technology/vocational education teacher at Coulterville High School.
• Melissa Sievers '89 is a special education teacher at Brussels High School.

The Teacher of the Year will represent Illinois at NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., and in the National Teacher of the Year Program sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and ING.

"Good teachers lead their students and themselves to excellence," said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. "These 10 Illinois educators reflect the passion and dedication of teachers across the state who strive to make a difference each day and develop successful learners. The 'Those Who Excel’ program provides the state with an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of these teachers and thank them for their tireless devotion and exemplary skills."

Four EIU graduates previously have been named Illinois Teacher of the Year:

• Ruth Hawkins '47, '48 of Charleston, who taught at Oakland’s Lake Crest Elementary School (1958-1974) and later served as assistant professor of elementary education at EIU. She was the 1973-74 Teacher of the Year.
• Peggy Allan '71 of Greenville, who taught at Greenville Junior High School (1971-2005) and was assistant superintendent of Bond County Community Unit #2 (1997-2005). She was the 1988-89 Teacher of the Year.
• Robert Grimm '84 of Arlington Heights, who taught at Hoffman Estates High School (1978-79) and William Fremd High School (1979-2004) before beginning his current role as assistant superintendent in Township High School District #211. He was the 2002-03 Teacher of the Year.
• Joe Fatheree '89, '05 of Effingham, an Effingham High School technology teacher who formerly taught and coached at Oakland High School. He was the 2006-2007 Teacher of the Year. In 2009, he won top honors at the National Education Association Foundation's annual Salute to Excellence in Education, an honor for which EIU alumnus Tim McCollum '73, '77 is now a finalist.

CHARLESTON -- Recipients of the Eastern Illinois University Alumni Association’s 2009 alumni awards will be honored Saturday, Oct. 17, in conjunction with Homecoming activities.

“We are honored to recognize such an extraordinary group of alumni,” said Steve Rich, executive director of the Alumni Association. “Their accomplishments reflect well on Eastern Illinois University and serve as an inspiration for current and future Eastern students.”

Distinguished Alumni Awards will go to James Allen ’79; Robert Corn-Revere ’77; Ed Escalante ’74; Lou Hencken ’66, ’67; and Tim Manning ’93.

Outstanding Young Alumnus Awards will go to Ryan Bailey ’99 and Ellen Eardley ’99. In addition, Tom McDaniel ’69 will receive the Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award, and Cheryl Crates ’70 will receive the Distinguished Educator Award.

Established in 1973, the Distinguished Alumni Award is the most prestigious award bestowed by the Alumni Association. It is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves in either academic or literary fields, business, public service and/or service to the university, and who, through their accomplishments and service, have brought prestige to their alma mater. Past recipients have included an Illinois governor, Oscar-nominated actors, an NFL head coach, a nuclear physicist, CEOs, educators at all levels and many others.

Award recipients will be honored at a dinner, set to begin with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception on Saturday, Oct. 17, in the Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union. Dinner will follow at 7 p.m. Anyone wishing to attend should call 217-581-3619 or 800-ALUM-EIU by Wednesday, Oct. 14. Tickets are $25 per person.

For a photo and biography of each recipient, please see http://www.eiu.edu/~alumni/awards2009.php.

"The Apprentices," an original comedy featuring music by well-known composers, will be staged by Eastern Illinois University's Music Theatre and Opera Ensemble this month.

The production -- with music by Monteverdi, Mozart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rossini and others -- will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 and Oct. 24 in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Recital Hall.

The show centers around a group of overworked summer apprentices as they gather backstage at the Imperial Opera House to sing portions of their favorite songs in preparation for an upcoming showcase. Throughout the course of the comedic action, the audience learns about the characters' shortcomings and relationships.

The dialogue was written by Adam Stich, director of the Music Theatre and Opera Ensemble; he is also in charge of production design and stage direction. Jay Ivey, instructor of voice, serves as musical director.

"The Apprentices" is a production of the EIU Department of Music and the EIU Music Theatre and Opera Ensemble.
Seating is reserved. Tickets -- $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via email at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Eastern Illinois University President Bill Perry has announced the start of the National Collegiate Athletic Association third-cycle recertification process for the university's department of athletics.

The campus received its second certification by the NCAA in 2001.

The most recent certification process will evaluate the athletic department's commitment to three operating principles outlined by the NCAA:

1. Governance and commitment to rules.
2. Academic integrity.
3. Gender/diversity issues and student-athlete well being.

In preparation for this recertification process, Perry appointed a steering committee which will lead a comprehensive and transparent self-study evaluating the integration of these principles within the governance and day-to-day operations of Eastern's athletic department. Jill Owen, professor and chair of the institution's kinesiology and sport studies department, will serve as the steering committee chair.

Reflecting the broad-based nature of the self-study, the steering committee has representation from governance, faculty, staff, student-athletes, alumni and community supporters.

Along with the steering committee, the president has appointed three subcommittees that will work in collaboration with the steering committee to complete a thorough self-study.

"The certification process is an opportunity for us to evaluate our entire program," said EIU Athletic Director Barbara Burke. "Having this diverse group of individuals review our processes will allow us to improve our program for our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans."

Work on this project began in September 2009 and will continue through February 2011 when the final decision is delivered to the president by the NCAA. Eastern is scheduled to deliver a report to the NCAA in April 2010; an on-campus visit by a peer review team will take place in October 2010.

A tentative written plan outlines the details of the self-study process, including objectives and goals, and provides a complete timeline of events. That plan, in addition to other information, can be found at http://www.eiu.edu/ncaa/.

Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, recognized internationally as one of Russia's leading ensembles, will perform at Eastern Illinois University on Sunday, Oct. 18.

The concert, in which founder and conductor Misha Rachlevsky will seamlessly meld music from 17 of Russia's finest young string players, will begin at 4 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

Chamber Orchestra Kremlin is known for its warmth and high energy, which create addictive performances that stay with listeners long after the last note has been played.

"The playing is outstanding for its sharpness of ensemble and its accuracy of intonation," stated a review in Fanfare Magazine. "The sheer exuberance and musicality of the group are exhilarating, indeed, offering, alternatively, an appealing rush of energy and a high degree of sensitivity -- engaging performances."

The EIU program includes "Serenade in E Minor" by Elgar, "Chamber Symphony" by Shostakovich, "Contrapunctus No.1" from "The Art of the Fugue" by Bach, and "Serenade for Strings" by Dvorak.

"The emotional high point of this program falls on the Shostakovich masterpiece," according to the orchestra's materials. "Dark, tragic, it never fails to reach every listener in the hall. Bach's 'Contrapunctus' immediately follows … to help both performers and listeners make the transition to the rest of the program, and Dvorak's sunny, careless 'Serenade' restores inner comfort for everyone."

The audience will then vote on which of three compositions to hear for the final performance: "Serenade for Strings, Op. 48" by Tchaikovsky, "Serenade for Strings, Op. 22" by Dvorak, or "Death and the Maiden" by Schubert.
In addition to an active schedule of presenting concerts and festivals in Moscow, Chamber Orchestra Kremlin tours regularly in North and South America, Europe and the Far East.

Rachlevsky, a Moscow native, began studying violin at age 5. His lifetime affinity for chamber music and chamber orchestra repertoire began at the College of the Moscow Conservatory and the Gnessin Academy of Music.
Rachlevsky left the Soviet Union in 1973, and after living and working on three continents, he settled in the United States, where he became active in the field of chamber music.

In 1984, Rachlevsky founded the New American Chamber Orchestra and led it to international prominence, completing nine European tours in four years. In 1989, NACO became the resident orchestra of Granada, Spain, where Rachlevsky also founded and led Granada's own chamber orchestra.

The Russian musicians Rachlevsky assembled in 1991 for a Claves Records album of Russian works became the basis for the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin.

Seating is reserved. Tickets -- $15 for adults, $13 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $7 for EIU students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via email at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston. For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The opening ceremony for "Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine," an exhibit at Eastern Illinois University's Booth Library, will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 14, in the Marvin Foyer.

David Raybin, Ph.D., an EIU English professor who is currently teaching a course on "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling, will present “Character, Structure, Perspective … and a Castle: A Medievalist Reads Harry Potter” at 7:30 p.m. in the adjacent West Reading Room. Light refreshments will be served.

"Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine" is a six-banner traveling exhibition created to explore the link between "Harry Potter" and the history of science using materials from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.

In addition, library faculty and staff have prepared supporting exhibits that will be on display throughout the library.

The exhibition will be on display in the Marvin Foyer of Booth Library from Oct. 5 through Nov. 14, during regular library hours.

For more information about the exhibit, as well as accompanying events scheduled at EIU, see http://www.library.eiu.edu/exhibits/harrypotter.

Two events -- a local expert's presentation on national parks, and a guided hike through Fox Ridge State Park -- are planned in conjunction with WEIU-TV's airing of Ken Burns' new documentary, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea."

The first event, “Journey Through the National Parks," will feature a presentation by parks expert and emeritus EIU faculty member Bill Smith, on Monday, Oct. 5, in the Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union. At 6:30 p.m., park artifacts will be displayed; at 7 p.m., a preview of Burns' documentary will be shown; and at 7:30 p.m., Smith will speak.

The second event, “Take a Hike in East-Central Illinois’ Best Idea,” will be an educational walk through Fox Ridge State Park south of Charleston, beginning at the Ball Diamond Pavilion at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. Refreshments will be available. Please RSVP by Oct. 9 by calling 217-581-5956.

At Fox Ridge, EIU geography Professor Vince Gutowski will lead a hike on the wonders of the park's landscape. In addition, Cameron Craig and Kevin Jeanes, co-directors of "Expedition Nature's Realm," will lead a hike that discusses our need to coexist with the environment. A special hike will be available for children to learn about the natural environment.

The events are free, and the public is encouraged to attend. Both are co-presented by WEIU, Tempestas et Caelum Productions, and the EIU departments of geology/geography and recreation administration.

Burns' documentary, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea," will begin airing on WEIU-TV at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7. The six-episode series explores the history of U.S. national parks through archival photographs, more than 40 interviews and cinematography of some of nature's most beautiful locations.

Eastern Illinois University plans a multi-disciplinary look at aging -- a condition that affects us all -- in "Aging with Grace," an afternoon mini-conference planned for Friday, Oct. 23.

Author and keynote speaker Dr. David Snowdon will highlight the free event with an hour-long presentation on the Nun Study, a 23-year-old on-going project in which researchers study aging and disability using data collected from nuns.  The goal of the study has been to determine the causes and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, other brain diseases, and mental and physical disability associated with old age.

Participants in the Nun Study are American Roman Catholic sisters who are members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, an international religious congregation that began more than 150 years ago in Bavaria, Germany. The 678 participants in the Nun Study were 75 to 102 years old when the study began, and the average age of the participants was 83 years. More than 85 percent of the participants were teachers.

Participants have included women representing a wide range of function and health, from sisters in their 90s who are highly functional with full-time jobs to sisters in their 70s who are severely disabled, unable to communicate, and bed-bound.

Each of the study participants agreed to participate in annual assessments of their cognitive and physical function, medical exams, blood drawing for genetic and nutritional studies, and brain donation at death for neuropathologic studies.  In addition, the sisters have given investigators full access to their convent and medical records.

While at Eastern, Snowdon plans to discuss his findings, which indicate that traits in early, mid and late life have strong relationships with the risk of Alzheimer's disease, as well as the mental and cognitive disabilities of old age.

Snowdon, a professor of neurology at the University of Kentucky's College of Medicine, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in epidemiology (i.e., the study of the causes of diseases in populations).

Participants of the "Aging with Grace" mini-conference also will have the opportunity to listen to four 30-minute presentations examining other aspects of aging:

• "Health and Longevity Through Food Portions," presented by Jim Painter, family and consumer sciences;
• "Here Come the Boomers:  Ready or Not!" (third-age learning), presented by Will Hine, dean, School of Continuing Education;
• "Living Literature:  The Classics and the Mature Reader," presented by Jeffrey Lynch, interim dean, College of Arts and Humanities; and
• "Physical and Psychological Health Through Spirituality:  Hmmm   Or is it the Other Way Around?" (spiritual resiliency and aging), presented by William Kirk, professor emeritus, psychology.

Conference events will begin at 12:30 p.m. with registration and sign-in.  Programming will begin at 1 p.m., with the afternoon ending at 4:30 p.m. with a reception, book-signing and refreshments.  All events will take place in the University Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union.

Participation is free, but registration is required. To register, email dkmeadows@eiu.edu. Also, for information, contact Jeanne Snyder (jrsnyder@eiu.edu, 217-581-3526) or Janna Overstreet (joverstreet@eiu.edu, 217-581-5114).

This event is being co-sponsored by Eastern's School of Family and Consumer Sciences' MA in Gerontology Program and the School of Continuing Education's Academy of Lifetime Learning.

Additional support was provided by each of Eastern's academic colleges -- the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Education and Professional Studies, the Lumpkin College of Business, and the College of Sciences -- as well as the Graduate School and Booth Library. Gowin Parc, a local care center for residents with Alzheimer's, and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center also provided support.

The Eastern Illinois University Choral Ensembles will perform music by English, German, Italian and American composers in the annual "Cathedrals, Castles and Colonies" concert on Sunday, Oct. 11.

The concert is to begin at 4 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

The concert will feature the EIU Concert Choir and Camerata Singers, under the direction of Richard Robert Rossi; and the University Mixed Chorus, directed by Adam Stich.

The Ensembles will perform a wide array of musical selections from early classics to contemporary works, including "Nisi Dominus" by Claudio Monteverdi, "O Schöne Nacht, Op. 92" by Johannes Brahms, “Ziegeunerleben” by Schumann, and “Zion’s Walls” by Copland.

Rossi, now in his 10th season as EIU's director of choral activities, wrote two of the program's pieces: “Ave Verum Corpus” and “Stabat Mater."

The concert is sponsored in part by a gift from Christine Gordon.

Seating is reserved. Tickets -- $5 each, or $3 for EIU students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via email at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston. For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The EIU Jazz Ensemble and EIU Wind Symphony will present “Life in the Groove: The Influence of Jazz” during Eastern Illinois University's Family Weekend on Friday, Oct. 2.

The concert is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall. General admission tickets are $5 each.

The EIU Wind Symphony, conducted by internationally recognized clinician/conductor Milton Allen, will perform "Shortcut Home" by Dana Wilson, "The Immovable Do" by Percy Grainger, "Symphonic Dance Music" from “West Side Story," and "Metroplex" by Robert Sheldon.

The EIU Jazz Ensemble, directed by Sam Fagaly, will present a variety of jazz featuring several excellent student soloists. Selections will range from swing classics such as "What Kind of Fool Am I?” to modern compositions such as "Momentum."

The EIU Wind Symphony is the premiere ensemble of the band program at Eastern. The ensemble’s performance passion and artistic intensity have received much praise. Composer Andrew Boysen commented on its “meticulous preparation” and “consistently high quality"; composer Alfred Blatter described the premiere of his new work "Cortege, Consecration and Jubilee" as “stellar and exciting”; and Grammy winner Libby Larsen regarded the performance of her "Introduction to the Moon" as “the finest realization of the piece I will probably ever hear.”

The EIU Jazz Ensemble has received numerous awards and words of praise. In the past two years, the band and EIU Jazz Combo I were selected as “Outstanding Ensembles” at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival. In addition, special soloist recognition was given to five members of the EIU Jazz Ensemble and each member of the combo. “I’ve heard pro bands not this on top of it," said one of the judges, tenor saxophonist Mark Colby.

The Jazz Ensemble was chosen as the featured college big band at the Illinois Music Educators Association annual conference in Peoria. In 2009, the group was invited to perform at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival.

Tickets may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office (217-581-3110) from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via email at doudnatix@eiu.edu.
The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Organizers of Eastern Illinois University's 2009 Homecoming parade plan to alter the route for this year's event, providing a "wonderful mix of tradition and new beginnings."

In an effort to better promote school spirit and increase community involvement, the parade will represent a blending of previous EIU homecomings and the city of Charleston 's Independence Day parade route.

"Eastern is excited about the improvements to this year's HC parade route, as it represents a fine example of the university and the city of Charleston coming together in the true spirit of community for one of EIU's oldest traditions," said Ceci Brinker, director of Student Life.

As is customary, the parade, which starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, will begin at the intersection of Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue, travel north to Monroe Avenue, west on Monroe to Sixth Street, then south on Sixth.

Parade participants will then turn west onto Polk Avenue until they reach Division Street.  Heading south on Division, they will cross Lincoln and head for Grant Avenue (a.k.a., Panther Way ), winding up at the tailgate area at O'Brien Stadium.

The revised route has been approved by both city officials and EIU constituencies.

As the newly expanded parade route will include Morton Park, community members are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs for a safe and relaxing view of the creative floats and other parade entries. Additionally, family activities will be provided at the park from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The new route was chosen after months of discussion between the city and EIU.  It is believed the change will further enhance the safety and welfare of parade participants, assist in alleviating traffic congestion and flow, and increase community involvement.

For information about registering as an entry in the 2009 EIU Homecoming Parade, please contact the Office of Student Programs at 217-581-3829 or go online at http://www.eiu.edu/~hcevent . The deadline for community registration is Friday, Oct. 2, and "Back to Blue" is the theme of this year's homecoming.

A series of related events will take place Oct. 12-17. Watch for details!

Tickets are still available for two Styx concerts, set to take place Saturday, Oct. 3, on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

Admission to the concerts, beginning at 6 and 8 p.m. in Lantz Arena, is $20. All seats reserved. Tickets may be purchased between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays through the MLK Jr. Union Ticket Office, located on the second floor, west wing. For information, phone 217-581-5122.

Any unsold tickets will be available at the door the night of the concerts.

The event, sponsored by UB Concerts, is being held in conjunction with EIU's Family Weekend 2009.

Styx, formed in Chicago in 1972, reached prominence in the '70s and '80s, thanks to hits such as "Come Sail Away," "Mr. Roboto" and "Renegade." The group released four consecutive multi-platinum albums between 1977 to 1981.

Families will enjoy a heartwarming glimpse into the fantasy world of a girl dealing with her widowed father's new marriage in "Step on a Crack," an upcoming children's production at Eastern Illinois University.

The EIU theatre arts department's only public performance of the play is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in The Theatre of the Doudna Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $5 each.

“Step on a Crack” revolves around Ellie Murphy, a young girl who lives happily with her widowed father. They go bowling and eat TV dinners, and she loves to play with junk.

Life changes for Ellie when her dad remarries and she suddenly has a stepmother. To cope and escape her problems, Ellie and her imaginary friends launch into a fantasy world. They pretend they are breaking out of prison, meeting Cinderella and Snow White, and enacting Ellie's own funeral where "everyone is really sorry for all the mean things they did" to her.

Only by running away and discovering what it is really like to be alone does Ellie begin to come to terms with herself and her own need for connection with her very real parents.

EIU's production is directed by Jean K. Wolski, with costumes by Karen Eisenhour, and scenic and lighting design by David Wolski. The play was written by Suzan Zeder.

The cast includes EIU theatre majors Caitlin Bieda of Arlington Heights, Kayla Jane Blue of Gridley, Cyndi Golata of Chicago, Molly Manhart of Strasburg, Tim Tholl of Lockport and Aubrey Wiggs of Belleville.

To purchase tickets, contact Doudna Patron Services at doudnatix@eiu.edu or 217-581-3110, or visit the Doudna Box Office, which is open 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, as well as one hour prior to the performance.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston. For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

For more than 50 years, Eastern Illinois University has hosted international students on its campus. Eight of these individuals will be recognized and honored this weekend as Global Ambassadors for 2009.

"We will honor these alumni who exemplify Eastern Illinois University's definition of global citizen," said Sue Songer, director of the Office of International Programs. "We once applauded them, as students, for their courage in leaving home to live and study in a new land and culture. They now share a common history and enjoy excellent reputations in their careers and lives.

"We are proud and honored to name them EIU Global Ambassadors."

As part of the 2009 International Alumni Reunion, this year's honorees will have the opportunity to tour campus and departments, meet with EIU President Bill Perry and participate in a formal dinner/awards ceremony on Saturday.

A welcome reception, scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, in the University Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union, is free and open to community residents.

Eastern's 2009 Global Ambassadors are as follows:

Dr. Vicente DiBella Jr. ('81, Brazil) planned to study medicine in his native Brazil until one of his teachers there, Schellas Hyndman, was hired as the head coach of EIU's soccer team. Hyndman invited DiBella to join him at EIU, offering him a Talented Student athletic scholarship. DiBella accepted and began his studies in zoology at Eastern in 1979. He and his teammates went to the NCAA Nationals during the university's first year as Division I in 1980 and, for many weeks, the team was ranked best in the nation on the national poll.

Upon graduation, DiBella returned to Brazil and medical school, completing his residency in obstetrics and gynecology, with specialization in ultrasonography and colposcopy.

Peter Gitau ('95, Kenya) currently serves as the associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. In addition, he is the founder and executive director of TMKC (Teach My Kenyan Children), an international non-profit organization whose goal is to foster development through education in Africa. TMKC has transformed rural villages in Kenya by providing learning materials to school children, conducting medical clinics, training teachers and other professionals, administering school feeding programs, constructing school community libraries, and implementing an aggressive scholarship program for students in rural Kenya.

Gitau, who earned his master's degree in educational administration from Eastern, lives in Murphysboro with his wife, Trizah, and their three children.

Karl H. Hecker ('86, Germany) joined the chemistry program at Eastern in Fall 1985 as a graduate student. After receiving additional extensive training in academia, at institutions in both the U.S. and abroad, he transitioned into industry in 1998. Since then, he has led the development of more than 100 commercially successful products. In his most recent position at Quidel Corp., he led a team of scientists developing rapid diagnostic tests for infectious diseases for point-of-care and over-the-counter use. Hecker holds several U.S. patents and is the co-inventor on several published patent applications.

He and his wife, Wanping Mai ('87), live in San Diego, Calif.

Tian Li ('98, China) arrived in the U.S. in 1997, enrolling in EIU's graduate program in political science. Immediately following graduation, he secured a position as an international broadcaster with Radio Free Asia, a non-profit news organization sponsored by the U.S. Congress. The mission of Radio Free Asia is to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries where access to free press is prohibited. Li has written and produced hundreds of reports and feature programs and says that his work "is very rewarding because I have received much positive feedback from my audience in China."

He resides in Rockville, Md.

Paramjit Sidhu ('91, India) worked as a bank manager and earned his master's degree in commerce and a law degree in his native India before coming to the U.S. in 1989. He enrolled as a graduate student in the business administration program at Eastern in 1991, and remained in the country upon graduating. He secured positions as manager, director and vice president of finance in the homecare and nursing home industry. Since 2001, he has worked as an administrator for Joliet Oncology-Hematology Associates, Ltd., and manages a multi-modality, free-standing diagnostic center. Additionally, he serves as CEO of a project in India where a JOHA promoter established a cyclotron facility to produce radiopharmaceuticals.

He and his wife, Washinder, reside in Naperville.

Brenda Gonzales Tanner ('80, Philippines) arrived in the U.S. in 1979 after receiving a Foreign Student Scholarship from Eastern to pursue her master's degree in business administration. After graduating, she worked at the ATS Corporation, providing information technology services to several government agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., and the Department of Defense, where she is currently assigned. After nearly 30 years of service, she now works as a project management and business/systems analysis principal. Awarded the National Partnership for Reinventing Government's Hammer Award in 1998 by Vice President Al Gore, she has also received several commendation letters from HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo on her contributions to the Community Builder program.

Tanner and her husband, Donald, reside in Vienna, Va. A founding member of the International Alumni Advisory Board at EIU, she continues today to serve on that board.

Ray Wallace ('81, '82, Northern Ireland), provost and senior vice chancellor at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, earned his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1981 and a master's in English in 1982 from Eastern. The Antrim, Northern Ireland, native arrived at EIU in 1978 on both a track scholarship and an international student academic scholarship. He represented his country from 1977 to 1981 in international track events all over Europe, represented EIU in track from 1978 to 1981, and became a U.S. citizen in 1989. His career has allowed him to serve universities and colleges throughout the country and to travel the world, promoting the importance of international outreach for both students and faculty alike.

Wen-Jyh Daniel Wang ('89, Taiwan) attended a teachers college in Taiwan and, upon graduation, began teaching mechanical technology to adult students. He came to the U.S. at the age of 35, planning to pursue his master's degree in technology at EIU. Following his graduation in 1989, he went on to study at Purdue University and Pennsylvania State. He returned to Taiwan and accepted a position teaching at Chen-Shiu University (which was a junior college at the time) in 1993. Two years later, he was named chair of that university's Department of Industrial Engineering and Management.

Wang and his wife, Vicky, have a son -- Shou-Jen "Steve" -- who is carrying on the family tradition. He is currently a graduate student in EIU's technology program.

"When Stars Attack! In Search of Near-Earth Supernova Explosions," a presentation by a University of Illinois faculty member, will continue Eastern Illinois University's yearlong celebration of the International Year of Astronomy.

Brian Fields, associate professor of astronomy and physics at the U of I, is to speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, in the EIU Physical Science Building's Phipps Lecture Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

In a supernova, a massive star is destroyed in an extremely powerful explosion, leaving behind a black hole. A shock wave carries the star's ashes -- newly created heavy elements -- through space, stirring interstellar gas and, at times, spurring the formation of new stars.

Fields will discuss how recent evidence suggests that radioactive iron atoms found deep in the Earth's ocean are debris from a star exploding near Earth about 3 million years ago.

In addition to giving scientists a clue of what powers supernovae, the findings suggest that the explosion's proximity to Earth might have had major results on the planet, Fields wrote.

"An explosion so close to Earth was probably a 'near-miss,' which emitted intense and possibly harmful radiation," Fields wrote on his Web site. "The resulting environmental damage may even have led to extinction of species which were the most vulnerable to this radiation."

Fields' presentation will be the first event of the fall semester in EIU's yearlong celebration of the International Year of Astronomy. IYA is a worldwide commemoration of many historic astronomical achievements, including the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first look through a telescope and the 40th anniversary of man’s first steps on the moon.

EIU's IYA events are sponsored by the EIU College of Sciences and the EIU Department of Physics.

Fall 2009 enrollment figures at Eastern Illinois University indicate that higher education is still a priority, despite the many economic challenges being faced by Illinois families.

"We're very close to our optimum enrollment of 12,000," said Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, commenting on the current on- and off-campus enrollment total of 11,966. "This tells me that our students realize the importance of a higher education and are willing to invest in EIU, trusting our institution to provide them with the knowledge, skills and experiences they will need to be successful in life and in their chosen fields of study."

Enrollment numbers reflect an on-campus enrollment of 10,788 and an off-campus count of 1,178. A year ago, the number of students taking on- and off-campus classes was 10,863 and 1,177, respectively, for a total enrollment of 12,040.

Given the budgetary challenges that our families are experiencing, this enrollment is really quite good, especially when you consider the uncertainty of Illinois ' Monetary Award Program," Lord continued. "Nearly a quarter of our undergraduate population depends on MAP funding to assist with their education, and now a portion of that funding is questionable.

"In light of all of this, we're very pleased that our enrollment, essentially, has remained stable."

A breakdown of Eastern's 10,225 undergraduate students (down from 10,261 last year) is as follows (with Fall 2008 figures in parentheses): freshmen, 2,475 (2,649); sophomores, 2,055 (1,966); juniors, 2,456 (2,448); and seniors, 3,239 (3,198). The number of new transfer students rose by one -- from 1,112 in 2008 to 1,113 this fall.

Graduate students number 1,741, a slight decrease from last year's 1,779. Female students outnumber male students -- 7,039 to 4,927.

EIU officials are particularly pleased with a continued increase in minority students (1,783 from 1,655 in 2008). Minority students now make up 14.90 percent of total enrollment, up from 13.75 percent in 2008 and 12.22 percent in 2007. Those enrollments, broken down, are as follows: black, 1,280 (1,151); Hispanic, 316 (324); Asian/Pacific Islander, 134 (141); and American Indian/Alaskan Native, 53 (39).

Mona Davenport, director of Minority Affairs at EIU, called the minority enrollment total a testament to Eastern's enhanced recruitment and retention efforts.

"We've beefed up our efforts to actually get these kids on campus months before classes begin," Davenport said. "One of the ways in which we have increased enrollment is with a program called ACCESS Granted. We invite students down for a weekend, let them see what Eastern's all about and even develop a set of friends. I think it's made all the difference."

The internationally acclaimed Ahn Trio, whose innovative style is drawing new audiences to classical music, is to perform at Eastern Illinois University this month.

The concert -- featuring sisters Maria, Lucia and Angella Ahn on violin, cello and piano -- is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

"The Ahn Trio continues to break new ground," said Dwight Vaught, director of the Doudna Fine Arts Center. "They are superbly trained young classical musicians who are at home on either the classical stage or the popular music stage.

"Anyone who has seen them on television or on their popular YouTube videos is sure to be captivated by their abilities and charisma. We're fortunate to have artists of their caliber spending time with students and audiences here."

Born in Seoul, Korea, and educated at Juilliard in New York City, the members of the Ahn Trio are redefining the art and architecture of chamber music, breathing new life into the standard piano trio literature with commissioned works from visionary composers like Pat Metheny, Kenji Bunch, Maurice Jarre, Nikolai Kapustin and Michael Nyman.

The Ahns thrive on dissolving the barriers between art forms. They have fused their work with that of dancers, pop singers, DJ's, electronic music artists, painters, installation artists, photographers, lighting designers, ecologists and even kite makers, and they received critical acclaim for their collaborative project with the David Parsons Dance Company. The trio's latest CD, "Lullaby for My Favorite Insomniac," made No. 8 on the Billboard charts in the U.S. The women are now signed with Sony BMG International.

Last summer, the Ahns were the only classical group to be invited to perform at the iTunes LIVE Festival in London, where minimalist musician Michael Nyman was a surprise guest. The success of their live performance at the Czech Grammys with the award-winning Czech rock band Tata Bojs led to the two groups recording a collaborative album, "Smetana."

In 1987, the Ahns were featured in a Time cover story, "Asian American Whiz Kids." They now frequent fashion pages the likes of Vogue and GQ, and in 2003, they were named three of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.
While at EIU, the Ahns are to conduct a master class, as well as an educational outreach performance for some public school students. For details on these events, please call 217-581-8513.

Concert tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $7 for EIU students. Seating is reserved. To purchase, contact Doudna Patron Services at doudnatix@eiu.edu or 217-581-3110, or visit the Doudna Box Office 2-6 p.m. weekdays.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston. For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

College leaders representing Illinois public and private higher education conveyed an urgent message as they met with Governor Pat Quinn Wednesday: Find a way to restore funding for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) for the upcoming spring semester and avert the very real possibility that thousands of Illinois' neediest college students will not be able to continue their education.

Presidents meeting with the governor included John Erwin, president of Illinois Central College in Peoria, representing the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents; Michael Garanzini, president of Loyola University Chicago and past chairman of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities; Charles Middleton, president of Roosevelt University and chairman of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities; and John Peters, president of Northern Illinois University and the designated convener of the group of Illinois public university presidents.

The rare multi-sector alliance of higher education leaders is united in its support of the state's oldest need-based student aid program on behalf of all students, and advocated the restoration of $200 million for MAP for the remainder of the state fiscal year. The FY2010 state budget provided for only half of the necessary funding for the current academic year, leaving a devastating shortfall in MAP funding that would eliminate state funding for more than 137,000 Illinois students, nearly half of whom have an annual family income of less than $20,000, as reported by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

"On behalf of the neediest students in Illinois, we urged the governor to quickly find a way to restore the $200 million that has been cut from the Monetary Award Program," said Middleton.

"The governor clearly understood that this cut must be restored, and it must be restored this fall so that returning students can stay in school," according to Peters. "If these funds are not restored, we risk losing an entire generation of hard-working low-income students. This issue cannot wait, as students enrolled for the fall semester are making decisions now about whether or not they can afford to return to school in January for the spring semester."

"In this economy, our state must recognize that student financial aid is a necessity, not only for traditional-age students, but for many displaced adults returning to college to upgrade their skills. The MAP grant is an investment in the neediest of Illinois students, and in the future health of Illinois' economy. I was encouraged to hear the governor recognize this need in our meeting with him," said Erwin.

Contacts:

John Erwin, President, Illinois Central College, 309-694-5520

Michael Garanzini, President, Loyola University Chicago, 312-915-6400

Charles Middleton, President, Roosevelt University, 312-341-3800

John Peters, President, Northern Illinois University, 815-753-1681

Eastern Illinois University President Bill Perry believes in great expectations.

"Great expectations raise the bar and raise our sights. Great expectations of ourselves rubs off on our colleagues and our students. Great expectations motivate us to support our colleagues to move our university forward," he said, speaking at Eastern's 2009 Faculty Senate-sponsored back-to-school luncheon on Tuesday.

And, he added, great expectations are what turned EIU into the successful institution that it is.

"Our academic programs are strong. Students are choosing us because of our academic reputation," Perry said. "Enrollment is stable, and athletics is student-athlete focused and has received academic recognition.

"We are making progress where it counts," he added.

The president presented figures to support his assertion, noting that the statistics "are only proxies of the qualities we bring to the table." For example, he said, during the past couple of years the number of students involved in faculty-mentored graduate research has risen from 1,228 to 1,341, while the number of undergraduates involved in faculty-mentored research has risen from 2,802 to 2,839.

The number of students participating in study abroad has jumped from less than 50 a few years ago to more than 300. The student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1, and Eastern offers small class sizes with excellent faculty instruction. Student and parental opinion is very strong and very positive.

"But numbers don't tell the whole story," Perry said. "It is the faculty's and staff's dedication to excellence and personal relationships that makes the Eastern experience a defining one.

"My first year here, I met with faculty, staff, alumni and community. I found the passion for excellence, personal relationships, service and accessibility. EIU is extremely good at developing each student -- alumni consistently tell us that. And as I said about a year-and-a-half ago, I believe we can be the best at it," he added.

The president reiterated the message he's been focusing on during the past 18 months.

"Our overarching goal for EIU is to be the best in the nation at integrating the personal and academic development of our students," he said. "The linchpin for achieving this goal is the 'Integrative Learning Experience,' which focuses on the activities we have long held as fundamental cornerstones of our university culture -- the development of strong relationships with our students and providing them with learning opportunities like study abroad programs, student research projects, capstone courses, community-based learning and many more.

"I believe the future success and long-term viability of the traditional residential college experience at Eastern depends on how well we provide the 'Integrative Learning Experience,'" Perry continued. "Our students and their families want the 'Eastern Experience' precisely because it provides an integrated experience of excellence."

In closing, Perry urged faculty members to think about how they incorporate the characteristics of integrative learning into their coursework, and then ask themselves how Eastern's programs and learning activities, both in and outside of the classroom, and co-curricular programming can focus more directly on helping students integrate their academic endeavors with their personal development.

He also promised that resources would be available to support the faculty in these efforts, and that details would follow during the semester ahead.

"You surely know that I have great expectations for EIU," Perry said. "I have great expectations for our 'Integrative Learning Initiative.' Thank you for the great expectations you have held, and continue to hold, for yourselves, for me, and for Eastern. Together, we will advance EIU further than any one of us can imagine."

Latin American Heritage Month activities at Eastern Illinois University will once again take place during September and October, with the major event -- the annual Latino Heritage Month Banquet -- set for Friday, Sept. 18.

Folks interested in good food and good music -- Latino-style -- have until Friday, Sept. 11, to purchase tickets for this year's banquet. Tickets, priced at $15 ($8 for EIU students), can be purchased in the Minority Affairs Office, Blair Hall 1122. Cash or check only. For ticket information, phone 217-581-6690.

The banquet, which will begin with the dinner at 6 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union, will also include a performance by Dois No Choro. The evening's activities will close with more music and dancing, courtesy of a disc jockey playing Latino tunes.

This year's menu consists of a variety of dishes representing five Latin American countries: Columbian chicken w/ red peppers, cheese enchiladas, Costa Rican gallo pinto (black beans/rice), Guatemalan stuffed cucumbers, Mexican potatoes and chorizo, Chilean tomato and onion salad, and triple berry cream flan.

Other Latin American Heritage Month events scheduled to take place in the coming weeks include a series of three dance lesson events. All interested individuals are invited to learn how the salsa, merengue and bachata with iSalsa2. Lessons will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, 24 and Oct. 1, in the Newman Catholic Center basement (500 Roosevelt Ave.). Lessons are free and open to the public. Beginners will be welcomed. No partner required.

Several other events are also planned. Admission to all is free and open to the public.

--"Cabrera, Ginobili and Naldandian: Changing the Dynamics of Sports in Argentina," presented by Vanessa Landrus, EIU Department of Foreign Languages, 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, Charleston/Mattoon Room, MLK Jr. Union. This presentation focuses on the influence of athletes such as Angel Cabrera, Manuel Ginobili and David Naldandian in the shaping of Argentine sports.

--"Frida Kahlo: Portraits of a Mexican Artist," presented by Kristin Routt, EIU Department of Foreign Languages, 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, Oakland Room, MLK Jr. Union.

--"Beyond Sports and Entertainment: The Other Latin Americans," presented by Irene Coromina, EIU Department of Foreign Languages, 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, Tuscola/Arcola Room, MLK Jr. Union.

--"Hispanic Women in Higher Education: Leadership and Career Advancement," presented by Zoraida Irizarry, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, Charleston/Mattoon Room. The focus of this presentation will be the current demographics of Hispanics in higher education and issues Hispanic women face in their pursuit to leadership positions in higher education.

--"Calavera Highway (movie)," 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, Charleston/Mattoon Room.

--"Latin American Groups on the U.S. Department of State's List of Terrorist Organizations," presented by Lilian Barria, EIU Department of Political Science, 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, Charleston/Mattoon Room. While most media attention has centered on groups in the Middle East and Asia, the U.S. Department of State also includes on its list of foreign terrorist organizations several groups in Latin America: the National Liberation Army (ELN, Colombia), the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), and the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso, SL-Peru).

--"The Lives of Immigrants," presented by Jonathan Coit, EIU Department of History, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, Charleston/Mattoon Room. Why do immigrants come to the United States ? How do immigrants live while they are here? What is the difference between an immigrant, a refugee and a citizen, anyway? This lecture will answer these questions in two ways: First, by looking at the contemporary U.S. from the viewpoint of immigrants, refugees and temporary or seasonal U.S. residents, as well as the communities in which they live, and second, by looking at our historical experiences with immigration.

--Diversity Dialog/Discussion (Brown Bag Luncheon), 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, Charleston/Mattoon Room.

--"Chocolate in Meso-America: An Informal History," presented by Kristin Routt and Carlos Amaya, EIU Department of Foreign Languages, 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, Oakland Room. Find out where your favorite steaming cup of hot chocolate got its start and how it is enjoyed today in Latin America!

--Mexican Folk Art Exhibit Tour, 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, Tarble Arts Center. This exhibition will feature ceramics, textiles and wood and papier mache sculptures by many well-known folk artists, including Josefina Aguilar, Alfonso Castillo, Demetrio Garcia and Ricardo Linares. Also on view will be Oaxacan wood carvings, Huichol beadwork, Tlaquepaque pottery and a selection of works created for The Day of the Dead.

--"Puerto Rican Reality and the Fiction of Rosario Ferre," presented by Pam Ortega, Booth Library, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, Charleston/Mattoon Room. How did Puerto Rico come to be so divided in its people's opinions regarding language, race, culture and politics? The background for Puerto Rico's current reality can be clarified in the historical fiction of one of Puerto Rico's preeminent and controversial writers, Rosario Ferre.

--Game Night (Loteria) with Amigos and Friends, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, 7th Street Underground, MLK Jr. Union (basement, east wing).

This year's Latin American Heritage Month events are co-sponsored by the Latino Heritage Committee, the Office of Minority Affairs, the Newman Catholic Center, the EIU Office of Student Life, University Board, the Tarble Arts Center and EIUnity.

Linda Smerge, the 2009 Illinois Teacher of the Year, will present "My Story -- From the Heart" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, in Buzzard Auditorium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

Her appearance commemorates Eastern's College of Education and Professional Studies' Fall 2009 kick-off event, and is being sponsored by CEPS student professional organizations. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend.

As the 2009 Illinois Teacher of the Year, Smerge, a first-grade teacher at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Cicero School District 99, has the opportunity to speak at teacher workshops, educational conferences, and civic and community meetings across the state.

Smerge left a successful law practice after 13 years with an overwhelming desire to make a real difference in children's lives. This goal remained her focus as she faced the challenges of transitioning from the courtroom to the classroom.

Although the road to the classroom was a bumpy transition, she never lost her focus.

In August 2001, Smerge joined Cicero School District 99 and was presented with the challenge of a first- and second-grade special education cross-categorical class at Wilson School. Her students had a wide array of disabilities, and her class materials had not yet arrived.

Smerge accepted this daunting task, making something out of nothing.  Her energy and determination shifted into high gear as she maintained her students' interest by ensuring they were engaged and continuously on-task by changing activities continuously.

She has high expectations of her students and herself, and does not accept failure.  Her relationships with her students and their parents form a foundation for teaching and learning that instills a solid academic focus in their lives.

Smerge holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a master's degree in early childhood education, and a law degree from Northern Illinois University.

Eastern Illinois University's Student Success Center was considered an institutional success even before construction of the facility it is housed in was completed.

Three years ago, the U.S. Department of Education awarded Eastern a five-year $1.8 million institutional development grant, designed to expand student support services and establish a Student Success Center for students at risk of academic failure. The money was also to help fund the physical expansion of facilities to house such a center.

The fact that Eastern received the grant was, in itself, a major victory.

"It really was quite remarkable in that an institution seldom receives funding on its first submission of this type of grant application," said Jeff Cross, associate vice president for academic affairs and project director.

The application was the result of a two-year planning process, which included open university forums, site visits to another university, and much discussion and revision by a 20-member local committee. The entire university community had opportunity for feedback.

More than half of the $1,825,000 went toward a 5,000-square-foot expansion of Eastern's Ninth Street Hall, which houses the Center for Academic Support and Achievement. The Student Success Center joins three other CASA units -- the Academic Advising Center, Academic Assessment and Testing, and Disability Services.

Construction work, which was completed in early Summer 2009, provided the Student Success Center with its own office and operations/meeting space, as well as three classrooms. An elevator was installed as part of the addition, making all units and all three building levels accessible and "significantly expanding the usefulness of the building," Cross said.

As construction was taking place, the university simultaneously set about developing the Student Success Center's programming component.

In Fall 2007, while working in temporary office space at Eastern's McAfee Gymnasium, Assistant Director Cindy Boyer and her staff began developing and offering the specific services needed to further assist the 700 to 900 undergraduate students annually whose academic performance places them on academic warning (cumulative grade point average below 2.00 on a 4.00 scale).

"Eastern has an excellent record of retaining and graduating its students, ranking well above average among regional comprehensive universities by these measures," said Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "As a comprehensive university, however, Eastern's mission includes providing access to higher education for a broad range of students, including a significant number of students with some variability in their academic preparation. Responding to the needs of this broad range of students requires various support services to ensure their success.

"In short, we are good at what we do, but we want to continue to get better. And this grant has helped us to do so," he added.

A key component to the Student Success Center's accomplishments was, and continues to be, a mandatory one-credit-hour intervention course ("Strategies for Academic Success"), required of all undergraduate students who first go on academic warning. Additionally, the center provides individualized consultations for students who are either referred or come "self-referred" to the center for assistance with time management, test-taking, study habits, note-taking, goal-setting and faculty relations.

It did not take long for Boyer and her staff to begin seeing the fruits of their labor.

A goal of the center, as outlined in the grant application, was to increase the percentage of students who regain "good standing" status after being placed on academic warning from 34 percent (pre-grant level) to 60 percent by 2011.

That objective was surpassed in the center's first year of operation. According to Boyer, 51 percent of students had regained good standing the same semester they enrolled in "Strategies for Academic Success." By the semester following course enrollment, that number had risen to 69 percent. And 92 percent regained good standing two semesters following their course enrollment.

"We were very pleasantly surprised," Cross said. "We've already exceeded the goal we set in the grant and we're only in the third year of a five-year project."

Other features of Eastern's Student Success Center include a parallel online presence, or website, which is a "one-stop shop" for students and faculty to access the tools they need to be successful in college, Boyer said. Located at http://www.eiu.edu/~success/, the site provides support for students who need referrals to specific programs already in place on campus and allows faculty to utilize a Student Referral Network when they think a student would benefit from additional support.

The Student Success Center exists in both physical and virtual space and maintains campus-wide tutoring and workshop schedules and a variety of resources developed to aid students in developing successful classroom and study strategies.

The U.S. Department of Education grant also provides $365,000 to establish an endowment to fund the operations of the Student Success Center after the five-year grant period. Eastern provides a matching contribution for the endowment.

Up-and-coming singer/songwriter Scott McKenna will be the first to play in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Performance Courtyard when he performs a free concert at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10.

"I'm truly honored to be the first act to perform in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Performance Courtyard," McKenna said. "I've always loved performing at colleges, and I hope everyone will sense the true excitement at the concert."

McKenna said his style of acoustic guitar and vocals, accompanied by pianist Brandon Kent, brings comparisons to Jason Mraz and the Dave Matthews Band.

“Music has the ability to immediately affect the emotions of listeners," McKenna said. "I really want my songs to be able to create emotions.

"Many of these songs are about relationships … things in this world that I think are important. Too much of today’s music is meaningless. Or even worse, it creates negative emotions in people and contributes to the problems we see in today’s society. That’s not the type of music I want to be known for."

For more information about this concert and upcoming events, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services at 217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu, or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office. Box Office hours are 2-6 p.m. weekdays and one hour prior to each ticketed performance.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in any of the university lots at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

For the 10th consecutive year, Eastern Illinois University has been named one of the top Midwestern public universities in its class by U.S. News & World Report.

EIU is ranked 11th among all Midwestern public universities offering a full range of undergraduate degrees and some master's degree programs. The region encompasses Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The rankings - part of the magazine's 2010 edition of "America's Best Colleges" - are based on schools' academic reputations, student selectivity, faculty resources, graduation and retention rates, financial resources and alumni giving.

Additionally, in a comprehensive list of all 142 Midwest institutions, both public and private, EIU was ranked 47th.

The rankings factored in that EIU has retained its focus on personal attention.  For example, the student-faculty ratio remains at 15:1, and 36 percent of Eastern's classes have 20 students or less enrolled in them. Only 4 percent of all classes have 50 or more students.

EIU also continues to tout the highest freshman retention rate and the highest graduation rate among all Illinois public universities in its class.

The U.S. News & World Report listings were publicly released on the same day that most students were moving into Eastern's residence halls in readiness for the 2009-2010 school year.

"I can think of no better way to begin a school year then by confirming EIU's strong academic reputations," said President Bill Perry. "We at Eastern are already aware of the quality education and experience our university provides to its students. However, it is always satisfying to know that others recognize our efforts, as well."

Based on first-year operation costs, Eastern Illinois University made a sound decision when it decided to operate its own shuttle bus service for students.

"Previously, we contracted with an outside company for the service. And over the two previous years (2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years), on average, operating expenses exceeded revenue collected by $20,000 annually," said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs. "Last year (2008-2009), we turned that around and operated without a loss."

Now, as Eastern begins its second year with its own service, using leased buses and university personnel as drivers, the university is in the position to add shelters and an extra stop on campus for the benefit of its users.

Based on observations/suggestions from the drivers themselves, the university has added an additional stop for riders at University Apartments. Stops will now be located at the north and south sides of the complex.

Also, four additional 5-by-10 shelters, identical to one already located northeast of the MLK Jr. Union, will be installed at campus stops -- one each at Ninth Street Hall, Greek Court and at each of the two University Apartments stops.

Eastern will continue to use two 2007 Ford Starcraft-Allstar shuttle buses provided by Midwest Transit Equipment Inc., based in Kankakee. Each bus holds up to 16 passengers, with additional room for up to two wheelchairs.

The university is responsible for general upkeep (e.g., oil changes, windshield wiper replacement, etc.) of the buses. If more major problems occur, there are local businesses equipped to handle the repairs as per the agreement made with Midwest Transit.

Eastern began offering shuttle bus service to its students in 2002. By choosing to operate its own service in 2008, the university hoped to keep a handle on operating costs.

"Our goal continues to be excellent stewardship of student fees and cost avoidance in the future," Nadler said.

Secretary of State Jesse White reminds Eastern Illinois University students, faculty and staff that they may renew their driver's license or state ID, purchase their annual vehicle license plate sticker, register to be an organ and tissue donor or conduct other transactions with his office on the Charleston campus on the following dates: Sept. 15, Oct. 13, Nov. 17, Jan.12, Feb. 16 and March 9.

White's office will provide certain driver and vehicle services on campus from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Bridge Lounge of the MLK Jr. Union. Acceptable forms of payment include personal checks, cash, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit and debit cards.

"This is the third year of this partnership between the Secretary of State's Office and Eastern Illinois University," White said. "This is a great example of how my office can work with public and private institutions to make these transactions more convenient."

Secretary of State employees will be on hand to renew, replace or correct driver's licenses and state ID cards. Motorists wishing to renew their driver's license may do so up to one year in advance of their license's expiration date.

Customers may also purchase vehicle registration renewal stickers for license plates, as well as Eastern Illinois University collegiate license plates, passenger vehicle license plates, motorcycle license plates and B-Truck plates. Other services available include vehicle title registration and parking placards for persons with disabilities. A complete list of acceptable forms of identification is available at www.CyberDriveIllinois.com.

Reed Benedict credits a certain "dynamic 'Intro to Sociology' professor" he had while in college for leading him down the path to his life's work.

"I didn't even know what sociology was," Benedict said, recalling the class he took as a young undergraduate in his home state of Kansas and the struggle he was having trying to decide on a career.

Twenty-five years later, he's come full circle. Benedict's back in the classroom, but now he is that "dynamic" sociology professor who's helping to shape young lives. And for his excellent efforts, the Council on Academic Affairs and his colleagues at Eastern Illinois University have named him the institution's 2009-2010 Faculty Laureate.

As such, and in addition to his duties as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Benedict will spend the coming school year as the university's official spokesperson on the importance of a general/liberal education.

His first opportunity will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, when he delivers the keynote address at this year's freshman Convocation, a welcoming ceremony for incoming students.

Gary Foster, recently retired department chair, recalled that Benedict, who joined Eastern's staff in Fall 1994, "eagerly immersed himself in the general education curriculum," seeking opportunities to teach general introductory courses in sociology in addition to courses in criminology, his area of expertise.

Additionally, Benedict has kept a more upper-level course, "Deviant Behavior," free of prerequisites so that non-majors are able to enroll.

"Despite the fact that it is not part of (Eastern's) general education curriculum, the course consistently experiences maximum enrollment, with half or more of the students typically from majors other than sociology," Foster said. "Many of those students had initial exposure to Dr. Benedict in their general education offerings and subsequently took him for other coursework, even outside their majors, precisely because they recognize his dedication to students."

Benedict says he truly enjoys working with students who have never before taken a sociology class. As a sociologist, he wants young people to learn the importance of society as a whole and how it can influence them and the world around them. More importantly, however, is his ability to introduce issues which students have never seriously considered.

"For me, academics is not simply a matter of earning a 4.0 (GPA); rather, it is about the exchange of ideas, the willingness to think critically, write cogently, examine a position and support that position in interacting with others," Benedict said. "If each of my students has contemplated vital social issues from divergent view points, I have succeeded as an educator."

Further evidence of Benedict's commitment to the ideals and value of a liberal education is the summer study abroad trip he hosts annually to Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Colleague Craig Eckert has traveled with Benedict and his students.

"Since I had the pleasure of team-teaching with Dr. Benedict on one occasion, I (know) first-hand about how enthusiastic Reed was about encouraging students to experience Europe, to immerse themselves in the culture and, at the same time, to give their best effort in the traditional classroom aspects of the class," Eckert said. "I sincerely believe that he was an inspiration to me as an instructor and to the students, as well.

"Dr. Benedict is clearly one of the most demanding, passionate and knowledgeable professors in our department. He is meticulous in his lectures, encourages critical thinking and engages his students. One need only go to his classes to see that his classrooms are routinely full, that students are asking and answering questions, and that students are both enjoying themselves and learning -- a rare combination indeed!"

In addition to his teaching duties, Benedict has volunteered his times and service to many university and community services/committees, including the Council on Undergraduate Research, EIU's Faculty Senate and the Charleston Fire and Police Board. He is also a team captain/coordinator of Eastern's Faculty Fellows Program and co-adviser for EIU's Criminal Justice Club, spending considerable time and effort coordinating/arranging weekend fieldtrips and projects.

His involvement in the community is just one of the reasons Benedict is considered to be such an effective teacher.

"He teaches classes geared toward criminology and police work, so it is fitting that he sits on the (Charleston Fire and Police Board)," said William Meyer, a former student of Benedict's. "Nothing gains you more respect from your students than to have been involved or be involved in the real-world application of what you are teaching. The direct experience and the hands-on insight you gain from the application of what you teach shines through dramatically in the classroom."

Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic and Medicine," a traveling exhibition that uses materials from the National Library of Medicine to explore Harry Potter's magical world and its roots in Renaissance traditions, will be on display at Eastern Illinois University's Booth Library from Oct. 5 through Nov. 14.

In 1997, British author J. K. Rowling introduced the world to Harry Potter and a literary phenomenon was born. Millions of readers have followed Harry to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he discovers his heritage, encounters new plants and animals, and perfects his magical abilities. Although a fictional story, the Harry Potter series is partially based on Renaissance traditions that played an important role in the development of Western science, including alchemy, astrology and natural philosophy.

Incorporating the work of several 15th- and 16th-century thinkers, the Potter books examine important ethical topics such as the desire for knowledge, the effects of prejudice and the responsibility that comes with power.

Exhibit panels feature excerpts from the works of 15th- and 16th-century thinkers, such as naturalist Konrad Gesner, alchemist Nicolas Flamel and occultist Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim, and explore their understandings of natural philosophy, medicine and magic. In addition to the experts included in the exhibit, library visitors are also welcome to browse through the full text of manuscripts by Nicolas Flamel and Konrad Gesner through Early English Books Online.

The panels also highlight illustrations from Renaissance texts of some of the fantastic creatures and plants featured in the Potter series, including basilisks, dragons, merpeople and mandrakes, and use them to explore the intersection between the novels and Renaissance thinkers, lore and practices.

The National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., organized the exhibition. For information about the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, visit www.nlm.nih.gov.

Booth Library will sponsor free programs and other events for the public in connection with the exhibition. Contact Stacey Knight-Davis (slknight@eiu.edu) or visit http://www.library.eiu.edu/exhibits/harrypotter/ for more information.

The Eastern Illinois University Foundation has announced the 2009-2010 recipients of the John S. and Margaret Redden Fund for the Improvement of Undergraduate Instruction.

Grants, typically a maximum of $1,500, may be used for anything that improves undergraduate instruction: software, equipment, guest speakers, conference registration, teaching materials, etc.

Only EIU faculty members can apply. The Foundation funds as many grants as possible based on the decisions of Eastern's vice president for academic affairs.

During FY10, $87,003 in grants will be transferred for projects to improve undergraduate instruction. Recipients are as follows:

Jeff Boshart, Ann Coddington, Chris Kahler, Dwain Naragon, Charles Nivens, Robert S. Petersen and Denise Rehm-Mott, art; Eric K. Bollinger, Karen Gaines, Kai Hung, Kip McGilliard, Bryan Miller, Paul Switzer/Ann Fritz and Gordon C. Tucker, biological sciences; David S. Bell, Booth Library; Gopal R. Periyannan, chemistry; Frank Goldacker/Rebecca Throneburg and Tina K. Veale, communication disorders and sciences;

Elizabeth Gill and Joseph K. Heumann, communication studies; Kathy Waggoner, Disability Services; Sham'ah Md-Yunus, early childhood, elementary and middle level education; Linda Ghent, economics; Terri Fredrick and Christopher Hanlon, English; Stephen Canfield and Carlos C. Amaya, foreign languages; Don Dawson, Gateway Program; Vincent Gutowski, geology/geography;

Anita Shelton and David K. Smith, history; Ovande Furtado Jr., Colleen Kattenbraker, Mark S. Kattenbraker and Stacey Ruholl, kinesiology and sports studies; Ann Brownson, Johnson Kuma and Bradley P. Tolppanen, Library Services; Rick Anderson, Marshall Lassak and Andrew M. White, math and computer science; Mona Davenport, Minority Affairs; Mark DeGoti, Richard Rossi and Adam Stich, music; Rebecca Merten, nursing;

Dannie L. Otto, philosophy; Jie Zou, physics; Jeff Ashley, Lilian A. Barria and Karen Swenson, political science; Teresa Freking/Dawn Paulson, secondary education/foundations; Donald H. Holly Jr., sociology and anthropology; Rendong Bai, Jerry Cloward/James McKirahan, Gabe Grant, Sam Guccione, Thomas McDonald, David Melton, Luke Steinke, Deborah Woodley and Yu-Ju Wu, technology; and Jeannie Ludlow, women's studies.

A police officer may want something with a little more horsepower in event of a high-speed, multi-mile chase, but for patrolling a small east-central Illinois university campus?

Bicycles do quite well, thank you.

They're quick and they're quiet. They're good for the environment. And they're a good public relations tool for the department.

That's why Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, thought it important to give Eastern Illinois University's Bicycle Patrol a makeover. Officers of the unit will be patrolling campus on six new Cannondale law enforcement bikes, an upgrade deemed necessary by Nadler and EIU Police Chief Adam Due.

Nadler noted that some of the replaced bikes were as old as the unit itself. The Bicycle Patrol Unit was created in 1995, allowing officers to respond to calls in areas not easily accessed by vehicles but too large for foot patrols, such as the Quad areas and practice fields.

"Some of the older bikes are approximately 13 years old," Nadler said. "New bikes will allow our officers to better serve and protect everyone on campus."

Keith Cox, general manager of Bike and Hike in Charleston, described some of the features of the new patrol units. "They have a lightweight aluminum frame, disk brakes for better riding in all conditions and a suspension front end. It's faster than a normal mountain bike."

Another feature of this bike makes it especially useful in law enforcement. "It has a silent clutch, which means there is no noise or clicking when you cruise," said Cox. This will allow the officers to travel very quickly, yet quietly.

Nadler, Cox and university police officers recently rode the new bikes to campus, testing their speed as they rode in the rain from the dealership to UPD headquarters. Some special equipment, such as oscillating red and blue lights, will need to be installed to make the bicycles completely ready for campus use.

Ten officers on Eastern's police force have completed the 32-hour training course designed to teach specialized maneuvers for bicycle patrols. Included, for example, are the skills needed for moving among crowds and obstacles.

Members of the UPD force who participate on the unit are happy for the opportunity.

"It gets us out there where we're more approachable," one officer said, noting that students who see her on the bicycle are more likely to let their guards down and strike up a friendly conversation.

And, she added, the bikes are real fuel savers. "It saves all that gas that gets burned with regular (car) patrols."

Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations at Eastern Illinois University, has announced her retirement, effective Dec. 31, 2009.

"Dr. Nilsen's retirement represents a great loss to EIU," said EIU President Bill Perry. "She has brought us to a stage of development in fundraising, marketing and governmental relations that allows us to continue to advance EIU from an extremely strong foundation. Our future effectiveness in advancing EIU has been strongly influenced by her dedicated work.

"Dr. Nilsen has been of great assistance to me in my first two years at EIU. I am extremely grateful for her initiative, energy, ideas, advice and excellent service."

In announcing her plans to retire, Nilsen said she "will forever be grateful to this university for the opportunities it has provided me during my professional career.

"I leave with great affection for the faculty, students and staff with whom I have had the pleasure of working during my 33-plus years here."

Perry said the search for Nilsen's successor will begin immediately. Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, has agreed to chair the search advisory committee. Julie Nimmons will serve on the committee as the Board of Trustees representative, and will be joined by representatives of other constituencies, including the Alumni Association Board, the EIU Foundation Board, deans, faculty, students, staff, reporting departments, department chairs and athletics.

According to Perry, the search's timeline calls for the search advisory committee to meet during the first week of July and have ads out for the position by the end of that month. The committee will be operating under a tight schedule as it is anticipated that the first day of employment for Nilsen's successor will be Dec. 1, 2009, to enable some time for consultative transition, Perry added.

The president also announced his intentions of changing the name of the position from vice president for external relations to vice president for university advancement, effective with the hiring of Nilsen's successor.

"This signals internally and externally -- and certainly for the search process -- that the primary emphasis for this position is on fundraising, development and allied activities," Perry said. "The change in emphasis in the position not only represents the growing importance of philanthropy in EIU's future, but narrows the portfolio to enable more time and effort focused on fundraising."

Nilsen assumed the role of acting vice president for external relations in 1998 and was permanently named to that position in 2001. She came to Eastern in 1976 as a faculty member in speech pathology and served as chairperson of that department from 1984 to 1990.  She served as associate dean of the Graduate School from 1990 to 1993, before moving to central administration.

Nilsen earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in speech pathology and audiology from Eastern. She was awarded her doctorate in speech and hearing science from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

She also has been heavily involved in the Coles County community, having served on the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, the Charleston Strategic Planning Committee, the Charleston Unified Development Committee, the Coles County Alliance Committee, the Coles County Strategic Planning Committee and the Coles County Comprehensive Planning Committee.

She has served on the Charleston Excellence in Education Board, the Coalition Against Domestic Violence Board, the Sexual Assault and Counseling Information System Board, the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Board, and various committees in her church and in the schools.

Eastern Illinois University's Board of Trustees' expected approval of an $80 million contract with Honeywell International Inc. will be the next step in making the institution's planned Renewable Energy Center a reality.

Trustees are scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Monday, June 22, in the Grand Ballroom of the MLK Jr. Union. The public is invited to attend.

If approved, the contract would authorize Honeywell to oversee the construction and installation of agreed-upon energy conservation measures at EIU. In return, Honeywell would guarantee that Eastern will attain annual energy/operation cost savings equal to or greater than the annual cost of financing the project. Annual energy savings of less than the guaranteed amount would be supplemented by Honeywell, and that supplement would be used to repay amounts financed.

The largest of the energy conservation measures -- with a price tag of $44 million -- would be the construction of a Renewable Energy Center, an economical and ecologically friendly answer to Eastern's critical power needs and made necessary by the deterioration of the university's current coal-fired power plant.  Built circa 1925, the plant has been plagued by persistent equipment failures and replacement parts have been difficult, if not impossible, to find due to the age of the equipment.

The new facility would be a "biomass gasifier" that could supply the university's heating and cooling needs by burning plant matter. Eastern will be permitted to burn two-inch virgin, or non-treated, wood chips obtained as by-products from the lumber industry. The wood chips will be much more "clean burning" than the coal used currently, thus reducing the overall air emissions being released into the environment.

Additional "biomass" fuel sources may be considered in the future. 

The university outlined details of the planned facility during a series of public meetings in November 2008; revisions addressing issues of public concern over the original design were unveiled in April.

A new facility would be located on the east side of campus, occupying existing university property located near the intersection of 18th Street (Illinois 130) and Edgar Drive . The location -- a site chosen in accordance with Eastern's Campus Master Plan -- will allow easy access to semitrailers hauling product, while keeping the heavy vehicles off the narrow roads in the center of campus.

Original plans called for traffic to enter the energy center lot via 18th Street. Due to concerns voiced by nearby residents, Eastern will consider moving the entrance to Edgar Drive.

University officials also announced that the new building will be aesthetically pleasing, incorporating more brick and glass and less metal in the exterior than was originally planned.

In addition, fuel storage and handling equipment will not exceed the height of the building. Originally, the tallest object on the project was to have been an approximately 120-foot-high bucket elevator, responsible for loading wood chips into a fuel silo. Plans now call for two shorter silos which, together, will maintain the capacity of the one taller silo, but eliminate the need for a bucket loader.

In addition to the Renewable Energy Center, the Honeywell contract would also make way for miscellaneous other energy upgrades across campus, which will further reduce the university's consumption of electricity, steam and water. Also studied within the project are possibilities of electrical generation from wind turbines.

Illinois native Jerry Donna will return to his home state to serve as director of Financial Aid at Eastern Illinois University.

Dan Nadler, EIU's vice president for student affairs, announced that Donna, who currently serves as director of Financial Aid at Salem College in North Carolina, will begin his new role on July 20.  He replaces Jone Zieren, who recently retired from EIU after more than 30 years of service.

Donna, who attended the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, credits an Illinois Child of a Veteran Scholarship for the opportunity to pursue his higher education.

"I was the first in my family to attend college and financial aid made it possible," he said.  "For many students, financial aid makes all the difference in their access to higher education.  Part of my role will be to ensure that students understand the process of applying for financial aid and to help them utilize the resources that are available.

"There is already a strong foundation and a great deal of experience in the Financial Aid office at Eastern Illinois University.  My major goals will be to build on the successes of the past and to strive for the highest level of student service."

Prior to his current appointment, Donna held positions as assistant director of Financial Aid at the University of North Carolina -- School of the Arts, assistant to the dean of instruction at Florida Community College, program assistant in the Business Office at the University of South Florida, and director of development in the Economic Education Department at Indiana University -- Purdue University.

He earned his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership at the University of North Florida and a B.F.A. in Art Education from the University of Illinois -- Urbana/Champaign with elementary and secondary teaching certificates. He also attended the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis and the University of South Florida, in graduate-level programs.

Donna is a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

It's the perfect combination Commencement/Mother's Day story. One mother. Two daughters with sons of their own. And one son/brother and three supportive husbands who helped their loved ones achieve their education goals.

The story's beginning, however, was not so happy, as it began with a near-fatal motorcycle accident.

Forty-two-year-old Susan McDonald of St. Francisville, Ill., married young, putting her education on hold to raise a family, home school her children and live the life of a dutiful Marine Corps wife. She managed to get her associate's degree through nearby Wabash Valley College, but what she really wanted was a bachelor's degree in psychology -- for a couple of reasons.

First, plain and simple, she wanted to be the first family member of her generation to earn a bachelor's degree.

But more importantly, she wanted to advance her career. Serving as bookkeeper for the family-owned wireless Internet company was okay, but what she really wanted to do was marriage and adolescent counseling.

Then the unthinkable happened. In 2007, her husband, Jon, nearly died as the result of a motorcycle crash.

"I realized that I needed to get that degree so that I would be able to support myself and my family should anything happen to Jon and he was no longer around to support us," McDonald said.

Coincidentally, at about that same time, McDonald met up with Audrey Bachelder, an academic adviser with Eastern Illinois University's School of Continuing Education, who was at Wabash Valley College on a recruitment visit. When McDonald heard how she could achieve a bachelor's degree via mostly online and weekend classes, she applied and was accepted into EIU's Bachelor of Arts in General Studies program.

(The BGS program is designed to meet the educational needs of mature adults in a format and structure compatible with adult responsibilities.  The program is well-suited to serve the education needs of adults who cannot access university coursework in a traditional manner.)

Meanwhile, Jon and Susan McDonald's 23-year-old daughter, Roxanne Clodfelter, who was attending Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and taking classes in the design program there, decided to put her own education on hold. She moved back home in order to help her mother and high school-aged brother care for their injured father and run the family business. And have her first child.

"I was pregnant and my father was in that accident -- it just seemed like the right thing to do," she said. "And when I saw what Mom was doing and that I could take classes from home, I joined the B.A. in General Studies program, too."

That was in January 2008.

The McDonalds' youngest daughter, Jesse Phillips, was also experiencing her own set of challenges.

"I had just gotten married and was enrolled in the social work program at the University of Southern Indiana," Phillips said. "I got my associate's degree from Wabash Valley College, but I was having trouble with the university. They didn't seem to care about their students and I was having trouble with financial aid."

Then her father was injured. And she, too, discovered she was pregnant.

"But everything fell into place once I moved back (to St. Francisville)," Phillips, age 20, said. "Since I was so young, I had to get special approval to get into Eastern's program. But I saw how it was working for Mom and Roxanne, and it all worked out for me, too."

Yes, somehow it did work out. And all three women -- a mother and two daughters -- will reap the rewards for their hard work on Saturday, May 9, as they cross the EIU Commencement stage. They'll be celebrating; however, they'll also be remembering the challenges they've faced -- together -- during the past couple of years.

"I know personally I could not have done it without my mother and my sister," Clodfelter said. "We'd all come to Mom's house and while two people were upstairs, working on class assignments, the third would be downstairs taking care of babies. Or we'd all be in the living room with three laptops and the two babies. We were in this together."

In addition to running the family business and caring for their own growing families, both Clodfelter and Phillips also continued to work at a Vincennes, Ind., restaurant as part-time waitresses. Their brother, Jacob, who is now finishing up high school classes while taking additional courses at Wabash Valley College, persisted in helping out with both the business and as a babysitter for his two nephews. Husbands, too, stepped in when they could -- especially the recovering Jon McDonald.

He often accompanied the three women on their "Girls' Weekend Out," where they attended weekend courses -- usually consisting of Friday evening and all-day Saturday sessions -- at various on- and off-campus locations, including Effingham and Champaign. While his wife and daughters attended class, Mr. McDonald would stay in the hotel and babysit, Clodfelter said.

One "Girls' Weekend Out" in Effingham was especially memorable. "We attended the Friday night session and then, at about 2 a.m. back at the hotel, my sister went into labor," she added. The family was able to make it back south to Olney so that Phillips could be with her midwife for the actual birth. But they did miss their Saturday class session.

Ironically, the course was "The American Family," taught by EIU Professor Roger Whitlow.

"He's such a family-oriented fellow anyway -- very understanding," Clodfelter continued. "He told us we'd settle it somehow. He always seemed to enjoy seeing our kids and holding the newborn."

As the three women look forward to what awaits them as graduates of Eastern Illinois University, they make no attempt to hide the relief they feel now that their class work is complete -- for a while, at least.

"I'm very thankful I'm graduating," said Clodfelter, who would eventually like to get her real estate license. First though, her thoughts and efforts are solely directed toward family and motherhood. She's expecting twins in the fall.

Like her mother, Phillips would like to pursue an advanced degree in counseling. She believes her bachelor's degree, however, will begin opening career doors that were previously closed to her. "I didn't want to be a waitress for the rest of my life," she said.

As for Mrs. McDonald: "I'm taking the summer off," she said. In the fall, though, she expects to begin work for her local health department, thanks to the efforts of a neighbor who knew the family's story. And she would like to continue furthering her education.

But not just now.

"It was hard keeping up with all my commitments and maintaining a 4.0 grade point average," Mrs. McDonald said. "And my husband, while supportive, will tell you he's glad it's over, too."

She added, chuckling, "When I talk about going for my master's, he just gives me that look."

In an effort to conserve resource dollars, Eastern Illinois University will once again close selected buildings and offices from noon on Fridays until Monday mornings during the summer months.

The affected time period begins Monday, May 11, and ends Friday, Aug. 14.

Building/office exceptions include -- but may not be limited to -- Booth Library, University Police, the Steam Plant and the Office of Admissions, which plan to keep normal working hours.

All university offices must be open to the public between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and between 8 a.m. and noon on Friday.  Administrative offices (and others where possible) will remain open during the lunch hour (Monday through Thursday).

By ending the work week at noon on Fridays, the university can increase temperatures in all vacant offices and other work environments to allow energy savings for two and one-half days per week.

Employees will be required to work their regularly scheduled number of full-time hours during the four-and-a-half-day work week.  Classes scheduled to meet on Friday afternoons and/or weekends will be relocated to buildings where the air conditioning will remain on.

During weeks in which a holiday is observed (Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day and Friday, July 3, for Independence Day), offices will return to regular business hours (7.5 hours per day).

Regular hours will resume on Monday, Aug. 17, for the 2009-2010 school year.

More than 1,600 students are eligible to graduate from Eastern Illinois University this spring, and the majority of those plan to participate in formal commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 9.

Graduation ceremonies will take place at 9 a.m., noon, 3 and 6 p.m. in Lantz Arena. Guest tickets are required for admission into the ceremonies.

Students from the College of Sciences will march in the morning ceremony; the College of Arts and Humanities and the School of Continuing Education (Bachelor of Arts in General Studies program) at noon; the College of Education and Professional Studies at 3 p.m.; and the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences at 6.

Graduate students will walk with their respective colleges.

EIU President Bill Perry will preside over the ceremonies. Levi Bulgar, student body president, and John Henry Pommier, chair, EIU Faculty Senate, will also address the graduates.

Representing Eastern's Board of Trustees will be Julie Nimmons and Eric Wilber (9 a.m.), Leo Welch (noon), Robert Webb (3 p.m.) and Don Yost (6 p.m.).

Each ceremony will feature a special guest speaker who will present the official commencement address. Marc Miller, director of the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources, will speak at 9 a.m., while James Johnson, dean of Eastern's College of Arts and Humanities, plans to speak at noon. Morrie Reece and Rudy Hlavek, two of this year's honorary degree recipients, will speak at 3 and 6 p.m., respectively.

Robert "Morrie" Reece's education career began when he was a member of the U.S. Navy, where his responsibilities included teaching math and nuclear reactor courses in the Naval Nuclear Power Academy. He later attended Eastern, where he earned his bachelor's degree in physical education. After teaching for a time at the University of Illinois and at University High School in Urbana, Reece worked in Washington, D.C., designing computer training and education projects for many Fortune 500 companies and 18 federal agencies. He joined Apple Inc. more than 25 years ago and now, as a higher education development executive, travels throughout the country teaching how to incorporate new technologies in the classroom.

After earning his bachelor's degree in business from EIU, Rudolph "Rudy" G. Hlavek joined H. Hentz and Co., which later became Smith Barney, a leader in the U.S. securities industry. He rose through the ranks before retiring in 2001 as senior executive vice president and director of the Midwest and Southern divisions. His continued association with Eastern has been extensive. During his tenure on the EIU Foundation Board of Directors, he was instrumental in the creation of a program that allows EIU finance students to manage $100,000 of the board's portfolio.

Other honorary degree recipients include Robert W. "Bob" Sterling and Matthew Polenzani. Both will receive their honors at Saturday's noon ceremony.

Sterling, who received his bachelor's and master's degrees from EIU, has distinguished himself on local and national levels in two simultaneous careers. He started his work as a historian and educator teaching in public schools before joining Eastern's history department in 1956. Since 1946, he has also covered auto racing for National Speed Sport News, and has spent many years covering racing for national television networks. He and his ABC Sports colleagues won Emmy Awards for coverage of the Indianapolis 500 in 1989 and 1990.

Polenzani's remarkable talent for opera was evident during his days as a music student at EIU, and shortly after he earned his bachelor's degree in 1990, he embarked on a career that has led him to becoming one of the world's most prominent opera singers. The lyric tenor, who went on to receive his Master of Music degree from Yale University, joined the world-renowned Metropolitan Opera of New York in 1997. He has sung in some of the most celebrated opera companies in the world, and he frequently makes guest appearances with the Chicago Lyric Opera, Los Angeles Opera and the Opera Company of Philadelphia.

Also at noon, David Allen Radavich, professor of English at Eastern, will formally receive the 2009 Distinguished Faculty Award. This award is presented annually to a full-time faculty member who has excelled in teaching, professional research/creative activity and service.

Commencement marshals lead the procession while carrying the university mace inscribed with past marshals' names:

• Leonard Storm, professor of physics, representing the College of Sciences during the morning ceremony. Storm has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1979.
• David Radavich, professor of English, representing the College of Arts and Humanities during the noon ceremony. Radavich has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1984.
• Linda Morford, associate professor and chair, educational leadership, representing the College of Education and Professional Studies during the 3 p.m. ceremony. Morford has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 2001.
• Karen Nantz, professor, School of Business, representing the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences during the 6 p.m. ceremony. Nantz has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1990.

Faculty marshals are given the honor of carrying the college banner for their respective colleges:

• 9 a.m.: Tina Veale, Graduate School and College of Sciences; Doug Klarup, College of Sciences.
• Noon: Paul Johnston, Graduate School and College of Arts and Humanities; Norman Greer, College of Arts and Humanities; Gary Foster, School of Continuing Education.
• 3 p.m.: Joy Russell, Graduate School and College of Education and Professional Studies; Larry Ankenbrand, College of Education and Professional Studies.
• 6 p.m.: John Willems, Graduate School and Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences; Roann Kopel, Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences.

Stefan Aydt, a mathematics and computer science major from Paris, will serve as the Honors College banner marshal during all four ceremonies.

Nearly 40 Eastern Illinois University employees recently were honored as faculty/staff members who have retired or plan to retire during the 2008-2009 school year. They are, from left to right, front row - Jone Zieren, Mary Jo Grasl, Julie McDivitt, Susan Kaufman and Carol Stevens; second row - Carol Morgan, Julia Abell, Deb Wolf, Sharon Curry, M. L. McCrary and Myrna Thomason; and third row - Ebrahim Karbassioon, Allen Horney, Douglas Hicks and Sammy Jones. President Bill Perry (far right, third row) was on hand to congratulate the retirees.

Those not shown are Joseph Allison, Teresa Bennett, Larry Cannon, Michael Clayton, Jeff Cooley, Charles Costa, Jeri Doty, Rick Edwards, Norris Fields, Sandra Gossett, Carol Hawkins, Barb Kuykendall, Russell Letner, Charles Miller, Terry Perkins, Sandra Ryan, John Smith, Karen South, Walter Spencer, Max Swango and Anne Zahlan.

As a student at the University of Kansas, a young David Radavich contently sought his undergraduate degree among microscopes, petri dishes, dissecting kits and chemicals.

"I loved chemistry and biology," he said, recalling the journey toward his bachelor's degree in psychology. And science seemed like such a natural fit for the son of a nuclear mathematician (his mother) and a metallurgical engineer (his father).

But when Radavich began attending Simon Fraser University in Vancouver to seek a master's degree, he found himself sitting in the university library and reading the plays of Moliere. And he began asking himself, "What's wrong here?"

He retraced his steps back to the University of Kansas, where, in 1974, he received a master's degree in English. And five years later -- which included a year of graduate work in Aberdeen, Scotland -- he received a doctorate in English and theatre. He hasn't looked back since.

"I love teaching and I love working with young people," he said.

And he's good at what he does, according to the many colleagues who nominated Radavich for Eastern Illinois University's 2008-2009 Distinguished Faculty Award. (He will be officially recognized for the EIU Faculty Senate-sponsored honor during the noon commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9.)

As a fellow professor and academic adviser in the English department, John Kilgore has "often heard students praise (Radavich) as exceptionally well-organized, fair, tough, inspiring and funny.

"Particularly noteworthy is that, as a teacher of drama and playwriting, he has often involved students in plays and public readings that take the educational experience well beyond the boundaries of the classroom, often, I believe, shaping them in ways that are truly life-changing," Kilgore wrote.

Even as a child, Radavich wrote skits -- according to his mother, that is. He doesn't recall doing it. He does, however, remember writing and helping to perform skits in high school and, as a senior in college, extending his repertoire to include poetry.

"I like them equally," he said. "Poetry is more of a private art -- writing and reading. Theatre, on the other hand, is very social."

He has proven himself at both -- six books, five of which are collections of poetry and one a two-act play; 25 scholarly essays; more than 200 poems published in literary magazines in the U.S. and Europe; and 18 plays produced in venues including Charleston, St. Louis and New York.

Radavich cherishes his successes and uses them to fuel his current and future work. "It's important to me that my writings have a social benefit," he said.

In addition to bringing his work and expertise to the traditional university classroom, Radavich also teaches workshops. And he has collaborated with the Charleston Alley Theatre as a playwright, director and actor.

"I'm not a great actor, but I enjoy it," he said. "And I think it makes me a better writer."

Colleague Christopher Wixson, associate professor of English, wrote that "teaching and writing about drama necessitate a certain amount of experience in the theater, and part of what those of us who teach it try to instill in our students is precisely the idea that scholarly analysis of drama, seeing drama and doing theater are all interconnected intellectual and spiritual activities.

"David's model is powerful for both students and junior colleagues," Wixson wrote.

Radavich's impact on Eastern would not be complete without mention of his involvement with the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI), the bargaining unit for faculty and academic support professionals. Since becoming involved nearly 20 years ago, Radavich has served as both vice president and president of the local chapter, and currently serves as a trustee of the state organization.

"It's been a tremendous learning experience," he said, noting that his term on the board comes to an end in August. Five months later, the veteran teacher will retire from EIU. After 25 years, he said, he and his family are ready for a new phase in their lives.

His wife, Anne Zahlan, who retired from EIU's English Department in 2008, has already moved to Charlotte, N.C., where she's busy reacquainting herself with family and helping the couple's only daughter care for twin baby girls. Radavich will rejoin the group permanently after he retires -- not from his work, but from Eastern -- at the end of December.

"I'll miss Eastern Illinois University. It's a great place to be and it's gotten better over the years. It's been marvelous to watch the positive changes that have taken place.

"But I can't imagine not doing what I've been doing. I'm sure there will be arts, readings and social service that I can continue to get involved with," he said.

Eastern Illinois University recently held its annual Endowment Tea to recognize endowment donors and to allow them to meet with those who have benefited from their gifts in the past year.

“This annual event is highly anticipated by our endowment donors,” said Karla J. Evans, EIU executive director of philanthropy. “It offers them the opportunity to see the tangible outcomes of their philanthropy.”

Jill Nilsen, EIU's vice president for external relations, welcomed guests and introduced the emcee, Jennifer Ketchmark, a 2006 graduate of EIU who is now a weather forecaster on WCIA-TV in Champaign.

Tresica Davis, a senior management major from Newman, spoke on behalf of scholarship recipients. During her career at Eastern, the first-generation college student has received several scholarships and worked in the Office of Philanthropy.

Tim Gover, a professor emeritus from the EIU School of Business who is now president of the EIU Foundation, spoke about being honored with a scholarship endowment by one of his former students.

Jacqueline Joines, director of philanthropy for the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, spoke about a new endowment fund created by C. Roger Sorensen, a 1949 graduate of EIU. Sorensen, who had already created three scholarships at EIU, recently created a new scholarship endowment (the Sorensen Completion of Degree Scholarship) and a new fund endowment (the Sorensen Supplemental Instruction Program Endowment).

Kenneth Hadwiger, a professor emeritus from the Department of Communication Studies and dean emeritus of the Graduate School, spoke about his recent establishment of the Kenneth E. Hadwiger Ph.D. Graduate Scholarship. Hadwiger, who is CEO of Hadwiger Consulting, previously established the Kenneth E. Hadwiger Ph.D. Undergraduate Scholarship.

EIU President William L. Perry also spoke to attendees about the importance of scholarship endowments.

The event was held in the concourse of the university's new Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune and Dave McKinney of the Chicago Sun-Times have been named Journalists of the Year by the Eastern Illinois University Journalism Department.

Long and McKinney, Springfield bureau chiefs of their respective newspapers, will be honored Saturday, April 25, during the 50th annual Journalism/Student Media Banquet at the Grand Ballroom of the MLK Jr. Union on the EIU campus.

"Long and McKinney have had impressive careers covering state government and are deserving of the honor," said James Tidwell, department chairman.

The journalism faculty selected the two veteran reporters for induction into the Journalism Department's Hall of Fame for making an outstanding contribution to the field of journalism in the EIU service region.

"Both reporters are exceptional reporters and their coverage of the rise and fall of Gov. Rod Blagojevich was exemplary," said John Ryan, chair of the Journalism Department's Outreach and Service Committee, which makes the selection. "Long and his colleagues were leaders in breaking the arrest and indictment of Gov. Blagojevich and McKinney has led the state on coverage of Roland Burris' appointment to fill the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by President Obama."

In addition, Ryan said, the two reporters have done an outstanding job of covering the state capital.

Long, 51, has covered major legislative issues under five governors. He has been a reporter in the Chicago Tribune's Capitol bureau since February 1998. He previously ran the Associated Press bureau in Springfield. He also covered Mayor Richard M. Daley, Chicago City Hall, Cook Country Board, courts and state government for the Chicago Sun-Times.

He is a graduate of the public affairs reporting program at Sangamon State University, now the University of Illinois at Springfield, where he is a member of that program's hall of fame. A Winchester native, he began his reporting career at the Peoria Journal-Star.

Long is married to Peggy Boyer, the former executive editor of Illinois Issues magazine and former bureau chief of WUIS-FM, the flagship of the Illinois public radio network. They reside in Springfield.

McKinney, 44, has been Springfield bureau chief for the Chicago Sun-Times since 1995. Before that, he was a government and general assignment reporter at the Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, where he began his career after graduating from Eastern Illinois University with a journalism degree.

Born in Mattoon, McKinney and his wife, Maureen, are the parents of two children, Matthew, 18, and Laura, 16. Maureen McKinney, also an Eastern journalism graduate, is managing editor of Illinois Issues magazine. They also reside in Springfield.

Long and McKinney are the eighth and ninth individuals to be named Journalists of the Year and be inducted into the EIU Journalism Hall of Fame.

Other inductees include:

•  2008: Madeleine Doubek, managing editor, The Daily Herald, Arlington Heights;

•  2007: Jeff Nelson, retired managing editor, Lincoln ( Ill. ) Courier;

•  2006: Cam Simpson, former Chicago Tribune reporter and now a reporter for the Wall Street Journal;

•  2004: John Foreman, editor and publisher, News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana;

•  2003: Les Brownlee, long-time Chicago newspaper and broadcast journalist;

•  2002: David Shaul, former news director, WCIA (Channel 3) in Champaign; and

•  2001: William Hamel, retired publisher, Times-Courier and Journal Gazette, Charleston-Mattoon.

Eastern Illinois University students and local recycling businesses are teaming up to collect a variety of recyclable materials on Earth Day (Wednesday, April 22).

Community members and students are invited to drop items off at Eastern's Library Quad and South Quad from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, vehicles may be unloaded in the parking lot north of O'Brien Stadium and Lantz Arena from 3 to 7 p.m.

Accepted items include glass, plastics 1-5 and 7, light bulbs, gently used clothing and small electronics. Items will be sorted and sent to the proper facilities. For a full list of accepted items, please contact student Emily Steele at easteele2@eiu.edu.

The event is sponsored by the EIU Residence Hall Association's Environmental Awareness Committee and local recycling businesses Veolia and eRecycling.

"A large amount of the items that can be recycled end up in the trash every year, and we feel like it is our responsibility as a university to help prevent the expansion of landfills as much as possible," read a statement from the RHA committee.

Those who would like to volunteer may contact student Julia Novotny at janovotny@eiu.edu.

Eastern Illinois University President Bill Perry invites the community to view an updated design of EIU's proposed Renewable Energy Center from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.

The public meeting, which will include a report on the status of the project, will be held in the Rotary Room at the Charleston Carnegie Public Library, 712 Sixth St.

The new design for the Renewable Energy Center was created after EIU officials received community input at public meetings earlier this year.

Plans call for the Renewable Energy Center to be built near the intersection of 18th Street and Edgar Drive. The biomass gasifier would supply the university's heating and cooling needs by burning plant matter.

The structure is designed to be an economical and ecologically friendly answer to Eastern's critical power needs, made necessary by the deterioration of the university's current coal-fired power plant, which was built in 1925.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra and EIU Choral Ensembles will present "A Musical Journey through Time" in Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 26.

The concert, to be held in the Dvorak Concert Hall, will include special appearances by the Eastern Illinois University Mixed Chorus, Concert Choir, Oratorio Society and Collegium Musicum Ensembles. Richard Robert Rossi will be the conductor.

The program provides a historical tour of orchestral and choral masterpieces from early Baroque to contemporary works, including Gregorian chant; movements from Handel's "Messiah"; Mozart's "Laudate Dominum" with April Lee, soprano; and Elgar's "Nimrod" from the " Enigma Variations," which will be performed in loving memory of Rhonda Heath, a longtime employee of the EIU Department of Music.

In addition, concerto winner Derek Maninfior will perform Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1" in B-flat minor, Op 23.

The concert is co-sponsored by the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation, other ESO sponsors and the EIU Department of Music.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students. Seating is reserved. To purchase tickets or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services at 217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu, or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office. Box Office hours are 2-6 p.m. weekdays and one hour prior to the performance.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in any of the university lots at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Eastern Illinois University volunteers soon will be prowling throughout Coles County, looking for ways in which to better the community-at-large.

Local alumni and county residents are invited to join students, faculty and staff during EIU's seventh annual Panther Service Day, scheduled to take place Saturday, April 25.

Since 2003, members of the university and Charleston communities have collaborated for this event, during which volunteers work on various projects for the benefit of all.

Alison Mormino, former student body president who now works for Eastern as a philanthropy director, brought the idea of a Panther Service Day (originally known as "Bucket Brigade") to Eastern's campus in 2003. Her plans were patterned after a similar program created by an Alton, Ill., resident in 1988.

The local effort was considered an enormous accomplishment, and Mormino was proud to see a high turnout of EIU students, who made up the majority of the 150 volunteers. The effort also earned a Governor's Home Town Award, presented in November 2004 through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

As the university prepares for its seventh year of participation, it is once again inviting area residents -- especially local alumni -- to come join in this opportunity to serve their own community while networking with other EIU alumni and current students.

Panther Service Day 2009 will begin with an EIU/Coles County Community Brunch, sponsored by the EIU Alumni Association, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the front of Old Main (the "castle"). In case of inclement weather, the brunch will be moved inside the building.

An opening ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m., and will feature comments by EIU President Bill Perry and Charleston Mayor John Inyart.

Then, from noon to 4 p.m., participants will be assigned specific service projects as coordinated by Student Government. Volunteers, who are asked to register in advance, will be asked to designate the category in which they are most interested in volunteering:  elderly care/support, nature/conservation, relief/disaster support or youth development/outreach.

Specific tasks will include cleaning up around Lake Charleston, creating American Red Cross preparedness kits, painting Rotary trash cans, cleaning and sorting items for the Children's Advocacy Center and the Mattoon YMCA, visiting local nursing homes, and picking up trash around Charleston.

Participants can sign up for the brunch and/or community service portion of the day, depending on their own personal schedule/physical capabilities.

Alumni wishing to register should contact the EIU Alumni Association, 217-581-6616 or 800-ALUM-EIU, alumeiu@eiu.edu , or complete and return the .pdf form found here:  http://www.eiu.edu/~alumni/img/psd2009reg.pdf.

Other local individuals, organizations or businesses interested in volunteering or attending any of these events should contact Ryan Kerch, EIU Student Vice President for Student Affairs and event organizer, at either rmkerch@eiu.edu or by calling 581-7673.

Historian and biographer Richard Norton Smith has a mantra. "There's no excuse for a dull book, a dull museum or a dull speech," he says. "Especially when dealing with history -- the most fascinating subject I know."

Campus and community residents will have the opportunity to see Smith practice what he preaches as the fourth speaker in the Edgar Lecture Series, hosted at Eastern Illinois University. His talk, "The Triumph of Politics:  Abraham Lincoln at 200," will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, at The Theatre, located in the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Admission is free and open to the public.  A public reception will follow in the building's concourse.

The Edgar Lecture Series, established in 2007 by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and his wife, Brenda, in continuing support of their alma mater, allows the university to host two speakers a year -- one in the fall and one in the spring.  Lectures are to focus primarily on state government and shall address current issues in state government and their historical implications.

The Edgars personally launched the series, with the former governor and first lady speaking in the fall and spring, respectively, of the 2007-2008 academic year. Mike Lawrence, Edgar's former press secretary and senior policy adviser, spoke in Fall 2008.

Smith first met Edgar nearly a decade ago while serving as the director of the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, Mich. A few years later, as the founding director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Smith was able to "spend a fair amount of time" with the former governor since Edgar, at the time, was serving as president of the ALPLM Foundation.  He continues to serve on the board of directors.

The two men's association was "one of the most pleasant parts" of the job, Smith said, adding that he was delighted to have been invited as a speaker in the Edgar Lecture Series.

Smith hopes to both educate and entertain his audience as he discusses Lincoln who, the historian says admiringly, "was someone who never stopped growing."

"Lincoln was still very much a work in progress" -- personally, politically and morally -- even toward the end of his presidency, Smith added.

Consider, for example, that Lincoln led the country during the Civil War.  But as a young man, Lincoln spent less than three months in the military, serving first as a captain and later a private, during the Black Hawk War in his adopted state of Illinois.  His lack of military experience was evident when, as president, Lincoln went through general after general before achieving success with Ulysses S. Grant.

And "the country paid a price" for his earlier decisions, Smith said.

Additionally, even at the end of his life, Lincoln continued to rethink some of his own prejudices.  Over time, the war had essentially evolved from a fight over states' rights to a conflict over human rights. During his final public speech, Lincoln spoke of blacks' right to vote -- a radical idea for the time.  A young man -- an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth -- was in attendance and, reportedly, was quoted as commenting to companions, "That's the last speech he'll ever make."

Smith, who currently serves as scholar-in-residence at George Mason University in suburban Washington D.C., maintains an "unstuffy approach to the past," which has made him a familiar face to viewers of ABC, C-SPAN and the "News Hour with Jim Lehrer."A 1975 Harvard graduate, he is the author of eight books; his "Thomas E. Dewey and His Times" was a finalist for the 1983 Pulitzer Prize.

He is presently working on a full-scale biography of New York Governor and Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller.

Between 1987 and 2001, Smith served as director of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa; the Dwight D. Eisenhower Center in Abilene, Kan.; the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and the Reagan Center for Public Affairs in Simi Valley, Calif.; and the Gerald R. Ford Museum and Library in Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor, Mich. respectively.

While in Grand Rapids, Smith became especially close to former President Gerald Ford, who personally asked Smith to deliver Ford's final eulogy.  Smith did so upon Ford's death in January 2007.

In 2001, Smith became director of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, where he supervised construction of the institute's landmark home and launched several high profile programs.  In October 2003, he was appointed founding director of the ALPLM in Springfield ; during this same period, he served as executive director of a revitalized Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, which doubled its endowment under his leadership.

The EIU Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert will bring classic and contemporary big-band music to Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center on Thursday, April 23.

The concert, which includes several student compositions and arrangements, is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in The Theatre. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students; seating is open.

The EIU Jazz Ensemble will be joined by three guest musicians: Allan Horney, trombone; Jeff Helgesen, trumpet; and Trish Marcus, vocals.

Horney, a professor of jazz studies who will retire after this semester, will be featured on a swinging arrangement of “Makin’ Whoopie." A former director of the EIU Jazz Ensemble, Horney has been an arranger for the Marching Illini of the University of Illinois since 1977.

Helgesen, a Champaign resident, has been an active fixture in east-central Illinois music circles for more than 25 years. His credits include live performances and/or recordings with Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, The Manhattan Transfer and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

Marcus, of Winchester, Ky., is the mother of the EIU Jazz Ensemble's lead alto saxophonist, Joshua Marcus. This is his final performance with the band, and she will be featured as vocalist on his arrangement of "My Foolish Heart" by Young and Washington.

The EIU Jazz Ensemble, which is directed by Sam Fagaly, has received numerous awards, including Outstanding Ensemble and Solo Performance citations at the Notre Dame and Elmhurst College jazz festivals, as well as Downbeat magazine's prestigious "DB" award for best big band recording in the U.S.

The band released its first CD, "Eastern Time Zone," in 1994, and its latest recording is "In the Pocket." The group has been featured at conferences and festivals, including the International Association for Jazz Educators convention.

The concert is sponsored by the EIU music department.

For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for people with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Alumni spanning 40 years of the Eastern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble are to gather on campus to perform a concert honoring former director Allan Horney.

The concert, the focal point of a weekend-long reunion, is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18, in The Theatre, Doudna Fine Arts Center. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students; seating is open.

The alumni big band, featuring at least 35 alumni, is to perform arrangements written by Horney, as well as the songs “Vine Street Rumble” and “Moten Swing" written for the Count Basie Orchestra.

Other song selections include the standard tunes "Route 66," "Day In, Day Out" and "Poinciana" using Four Freshman vocal arrangements.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for alumni to come back to Charleston, spend time together, make music, see the new building, and celebrate Al Horney's service at Eastern," said Paul Johnston, the EIU music faculty member who is coordinating the concert.

Horney, a professor of jazz studies at EIU, plans to retire at the end of this semester. A longtime director of the EIU Jazz Ensemble, Horney has also been an arranger for the Marching Illini of the University of Illinois since 1977. He has performed with numerous big bands and solo artists and currently performs with the Eastern Brass Quintet.

The concert is part of the EIU Department of Music's Coming Home Artists Series.

For Doudna tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for people with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in the any of the university lots found at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

A visiting astronomer will explain what happens when stars collide as part of Eastern Illinois University's celebration of the International Year of Astronomy.

Robert D. Mathieu, professor and chair of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will speak about "Stars That Go Bump in the Night!" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, in the EIU Physical Science Building's Phipps Lecture Hall (Room 1205).

"We are fortunate, indeed, to have a scientist of Dr. Mathieu's stature speaking at EIU," said James Conwell, the EIU physics professor who is organizing EIU's IYA events. "The topic of colliding and merging stars and the exotic objects that come forth should fascinate people of all ages."

The lecture is free and open to the public.

"The distances between the stars are vast, and until recently, collisions between stars seemed highly unlikely," Mathieu said. "Now we think they happen quite frequently, particularly when binary stars encounter each other within clusters of stars, and create stars that as yet are unexplained by standard stellar physics.

"These events bring together two classical fields of astronomy, stellar dynamics and stellar evolution. I will introduce the audience to the basics of both, and then embark on a journey into the wonderful worlds of star clusters and stellar collisions."

The event is the latest in EIU's yearlong celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, a worldwide commemoration of many historic astronomical achievements, including the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first look through a telescope and the 40th anniversary of man’s first steps on the moon.

Mathieu was educated at Princeton University and the University of California at Berkeley, after which he became a fellow of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

He has served as president of the Board of Directors of the WIYN Observatory, and now chairs the University Committee of UW-Madison. His research involves the formation and evolution of binary stars and the dynamics of star clusters.

He also directs the National Science Foundation Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (http://www.cirtl.net), whose mission is to prepare STEM graduate students to be both forefront researchers and excellent teachers.

Mathieu is also the principal investigator of an NSF project to upgrade the Student Assessment of Learning Gains instrument into a robust online tool suitable for evaluation use by individual instructors, entire departments, and developers of new teaching and learning approaches.

UPDATE (Tuesday, April 8, 2009) -- We're happy to report that all major repairs were completed by 6 a.m. today. Individuals on campus still experiencing problems with their telephone service should contact Telecommunications at 581-5951.

*****

Nearly 35 percent of Eastern Illinois University's campus will be without phone service while Consolidated Communications technicians work to replace damaged cable.

Campus constituents are encouraged to use e-mail and cell phones until regular phone service is restored -- a process that is expected to take two to three days to complete. In case of emergencies, employees/students should phone 911 on their cell phones and be prepared to give dispatchers specific locations.

Users without phone service are reminded that they can continue to check their office voice mail through either their home or cell phones. (**See instructions below.)

The affected phones are spread out across campus, including various academic and administrative buildings, and some residence halls.

Hopkins advised that the campus community will see phone service return gradually; not all phones will resume working at once. Campus constituents should check Eastern's main Web page and/or University Newsletter for up-to-date information.

**Instructions to get to your voicemail from your cell phone, from home or while traveling away from EIU:

Call 217-581-0400. (You must enter all 10 digits.)

Press *

Enter your 10-digit campus phone number (217-581-XXXX).

Enter your password/security code when prompted.

Retrieve your messages as normal by following the system prompts.

The sixth annual 4K Run/Walk for Shannon McNamara, an Eastern Illinois University student who was tragically murdered in 2001, is set for Sunday, April 26.

The run/walk is to begin at 2 p.m. at EIU's Campus Pond Pavilion. Check-in is to begin an hour before the race.

Registration is $12 if completed online at http://www.active.com prior to the day of the event; those who pre-register will receive a T-shirt. Race-day registration is $15.

All proceeds will go toward the Shannon McNamara Scholarship, which is awarded to an EIU student majoring in kinesiology and sports studies (formerly physical education).

As an EIU student, Ms. McNamara was a physical education major, a member of the department's Honors Club, a student worker at the Student Recreation Center and a member of the Alpha Phi sorority.

Last year, more than 200 people participated in the run/walk; this year, organizers hope to have more than 300 participants.

The event is sponsored by EIU's Kinesiology and Sports Studies Honors Club.

For more information, please contact Sonya Schuette at 581-7584, Stacey Ruholl at 581-3510, Meaghan Clavey at mtclavey@eiu.edu, or Amanda Morong at almorong@eiu.edu.

Community residents are invited to join Eastern Illinois University students, faculty and staff as they participate in local activities for Kick Butts Day, a nationwide initiative designed to stop youth tobacco use.

Activities will take place between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at Charleston 's Morton Park.

In addition to a community picnic, where local vendors and businesses will have booths filled with free food, games and information regarding tobacco use and the effects it has on one's health, a Kick Butts Day 5K Walk/Run is planned.

Registration for the walk/run is $10 for EIU students and $20 for all others; registration forms for that event and additional information about all of the day's activities are available at http://www.eiu.edu/~herc.

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people every year. Every day, more than 4,000 kids try their first cigarettes; another 1,000 kids become addicted smokers, one-third of whom will die prematurely as a result.

Eastern Illinois University's first Showcase of the Exploration and Inquiry of Undergraduates will demonstrate EIU students' research, service, scholarship and creative activity.

About 200 students and 100 faculty members have worked together on the projects and presentations that will be displayed 1-4 p.m. Friday, April 3, in EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center. The public is invited.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the displays, attend oral presentation sessions (1:15, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m.) and engage student presenters in conversation about their work.

The purpose of the event is two-fold, said organizer Bonnie Irwin, dean of the EIU Honors College.

"First and foremost, I would like the students to learn from each other, to discover the great things that are going on in other departments," Irwin said. "Secondly, I would like the EIU community to share in what I already know about our students -- that they are talented, civically engaged and prepared to be active citizens and professionals.

"I am continually impressed by the quality and variety of our students' work, which is clear evidence that EIU gives students opportunities to thrive in various areas of endeavor."

The presentations will be set up in various locations in the Doudna Fine Arts Center, including classrooms, the concourse and the art wing. Programs will be available at the building entrances.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in any of the university lots at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.

For more information on Showcase EIU, contact Irwin at bdirwin@eiu.edu or 217-581-2017.

Internationally acclaimed pianist Jonathan Biss is to demonstrate his remarkable technique and versatility in an upcoming performance at Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Biss is to perform works by Mozart, Kurtág, Schubert and Chopin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, in the Dvorak Concert Hall. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students; seating is reserved.

After the performance, Biss will be available for a meet-and-greet. He will have CDs available for purchase.

"There are few headier thrills in the music world than the arrival of a major new performing artist," stated a 2005 review in the San Francisco Chronicle. "Pianist Jonathan Biss ... is just such a discovery.”

At 28, Biss enjoys a flourishing international career with orchestral, recital, chamber music and festival performances throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. He is noted for his prodigious technique, intriguing programs and artistic maturity in performances of a diverse repertoire.

Biss recently returned from two European tours, the first with the London Philharmonic in England and Spain; and the second with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in nine cities in Italy, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and Slovenia.

Upcoming performances include his Detroit Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and Melbourne Symphony debuts, as well as his NHK Orchestra debut in a tour of Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuyama. In May, he will be a resident artist in the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Schumann/Mendelssohn Festival.

Biss’ first commercial recording, featuring works by Beethoven and Schumann, was released in 2004. The San Francisco Chronicle called it a “brilliant debut release;” the Los Angeles Times called Mr. Biss “a serious, accomplished artist who puts the composer before the player;” and the Cleveland Plain Dealer remarked that this “recording is a clear signal that a master is emerging.”

Biss' albums have won numerous awards, including an Edison Award for his Beethoven recital CD and a Diapason d'Or Award for his Schumann recital album for EMI Classics. His most recent recording on the label is of Mozart Piano Concertos 21 and 22 with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Biss, who was raised in Bloomington, Ind., comes from a family of professional musicians. His grandmother Raya Garbousova was one of the first well-known female cellists; and his parents are violinist Miriam Fried and violist/violinist Paul Biss.

He studied at Indiana University with Evelyne Brancart and then, at age 17, at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia with Leon Fleisher. Biss recently took part in Fleisher's 80th birthday celebrations and was featured in the tribute to him on the CBS Kennedy Center Honors telecast.

Biss blogs about his life as a musician at http://www.jonathanbiss.com.

The concert is sponsored by the Doudna Fine Arts Center New and Emerging Artists Series and is presented in cooperation with the EIU Department of Music.

For reservations, or to arrange accommodations for people with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office, which is open 2-6 p.m. weekdays and an hour prior to the performance.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in the any of the university lots at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Although William Weber has spent the better part of the past two decades dealing with academic issues facing Eastern Illinois University, he feels confident about his abilities to perform the duties of vice president for business affairs.

He will assume the role of VPBA on July 1, according to EIU President Bill Perry, who publicly announced the appointment today.

"If you look at my past work, you'll see that I've always been involved with issues tied to the business services of the university, including the budget, payroll and human resources," Weber said.

Weber was chosen from nearly 40 applicants in a national search that began after Jeff Cooley, who served as vice president for business affairs since 1999, announced his Dec. 31, 2008, retirement. EIU Treasurer Paul McCann is serving as interim VPBA until Weber takes office.

The VPBA reports to the president and serves on the President's Council and as treasurer of Eastern's Board of Trustees. After assuming the post, Weber will be responsible for the supervision, coordination and administration of the Budget Office, Business Services, Information Technology Services, Human Resources, Facilities Planning and Management, Environmental Health and Safety, Records Management, and the broad areas of service related to these units.

As he prepares to take office, Weber's mind is primarily focused on his top two priorities: A renewable energy center to replace the university's failing power plant and an overall budget that will continue to require tight management and careful scrutiny.

Weber is optimistic that progress will already have been made toward the construction of an energy center by July 1.

"The effort that has already been put forward toward this project is quite impressive," he said, commending the collective work of McCann; President Perry; Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations; and Illinois Sen. Dale Righter and Ill. Rep. Chapin Rose, in seeking funding sources and legislative support for the much-needed project.

Weber also plans to direct his focus on helping the president achieve the goals he has set.

"Five to 10 years from now, I'd liked for us to be able to look back and say that Eastern is recognized as being the best in the nation at integrating the academic and personal development of our students. And I'd like it to be said that the Business Affairs division has been an active participant in achieving that goal," Weber said.

While it is not an easily attainable goal, he added, it is one that offers a very clear direction for the university. "I really find it to be an exciting initiative of President Perry's," Weber said.

The coming months will also see the new vice president in conversation with his staff regarding cost savings.

"We've frequently heard the president say that every dollar in cost savings we can achieve is one less dollar we have to charge in tuition," Weber said. "This is one of the primary ways that Business Affairs can help achieve President Perry's goal for the university."

Additionally, Weber would like to see more collaboration between university departments -- especially in areas that cross vice presidential lines.

"For example, I think Business Affairs can be a rich source of possible experiential learning opportunities for our students," he said. Models already at work include graduate assistantships for students working in Eastern's Budget Office and Human Resources department, and geography/geology majors working hand-in-hand with Facilities Planning and Management to meet the university's mapping needs.

Weber earned his doctorate in economics from the University of Kansas in 1985. Following a post-doctorate appointment at Dartmouth College and a faculty appointment at Illinois State University, he joined Eastern's faculty in 1988 and was promoted to the rank of professor in 1995. His work has been published in a number of edited volumes and journals, including the Journal of Economic Education, Public Finance Review and the Journal of Economics.

During his career at Eastern, Weber served as director of the Office for Economic Education, treasurer and vice president of the EIU chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100, and associate dean of the College of Sciences, before moving into his present position of associate vice president for Academic Affairs and director of Summer Sessions. He has also been serving as Eastern's interim budget director since December 2007.

He lives in Charleston with his partner Robert Funk, who is a professor emeritus of English from Eastern.

Eastern Illinois University's College of Sciences will explore environmental sustainability efforts at EIU during ScienceFest, its annual celebration of student research and faculty activities.

The public is invited to attend the 14th annual ScienceFest, which will have events from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 3, in the University Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union.

At 9 a.m., attendees can attend a browsing session of undergraduate and graduate students' research posters. Coffee, tea, donuts and muffins will be provided. ScienceFest chair John Stimac, chair of the geology/geography department, will welcome attendees at 10 a.m.

A panel discussion on "Environmental Sustainability: The Past, Present and Future at EIU" will begin at 10:05 a.m., featuring moderator Doug Klarup, chair of the chemistry department; Mark Hartmann, an architect who is accredited by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design; Ryan Siegel, EIU’s coordinator for campus energy and sustainability; Hui Lu, assistant professor of economics; and Jeff Ashley, associate professor of political science.

Mary Anne Hanner, dean of the EIU College of Sciences, will present the State of the College address at 10:50 a.m., followed by the College of Sciences Student Advisory Board's report on the Environmental Sustainability Initiative at 11:05 a.m.

At 11:15 a.m., awards will be presented for excellence in the College of Sciences, including honors for undergraduate and graduate research; faculty mentoring; and faculty teaching, research and service.

At 12:30 p.m., ScienceFest participants will move to the first-ever Showcase EIU event, which will be held in the Doudna Fine Arts Center. Showcase EIU is a campus-wide event that will showcase some of the university’s best undergraduate research and creative activities.

The Eastern Illinois University theatre arts department's commedia dell’arte adaptation of the classic "Princess and the Pea" breathes new life and energy into an old story.

The play, written by renowned children’s playwright Lane Riosley, will be staged for two public performances, 2 p.m. April 4-5 in The Theatre, Doudna Fine Arts Center. All seats are $5. Seating is open.

It will also be performed for area schools April 6-9. The production is directed by John Oertling, department chair.

To purchase tickets or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services at 217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu, or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in any of the university lots at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Friends, students and colleagues are to take to the stage to celebrate the life and artistry of the late W. David Hobbs, a much-respected Eastern Illinois University music professor.

The memorial concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students; all proceeds will support the W. David Hobbs Piano Scholarship.

The program is to include some of Hobbs' favorite music. Pianists scheduled to perform are Keith Ward, Hobbs' closest friend from their graduate school days; Rachel Warfel of Tuscola, an EIU music alumnus and local piano teacher; Harrison Cole, an EIU senior majoring in piano performance; EIU faculty member Susan Teicher and her daughter, Pamela, playing duets that Teicher and Hobbs once shared; and Marilyn Coles, an EIU faculty member and close friend of Hobbs.

In addition, trumpet player Brian Shaw, an EIU music alumnus and close friend of Hobbs', is to perform with Teicher. Shaw, who teaches at Louisiana State University and is co-principal trumpet of the Dallas Wind Symphony, is also to perform some of Hobbs' favorite jazz tunes with EIU faculty members Paul Johnston and Sam Fagaly.

Hobbs, an accomplished pianist, was an active soloist and chamber musician throughout the U.S. He accompanied Shaw in several prominent competitions, including the International Trumpet Guild Convention in Manchester, England, where they won first place in the solo competition.

As an EIU music professor from 1991 until his death in 2007, Hobbs was devoted to his students, many of whom have gone on to be acclaimed teachers and performers.

Hobbs earned his degrees in piano performance -- his bachelor's and doctoral degrees from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and his master’s degree from Northwestern University.

Hobbs' great wish was to help future generations of piano students at EIU achieve their goals through the establishment of the scholarship in his name, said Marilyn Coles, who is coordinating the concert.

For Doudna tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for people with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in the any of the university lots found at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

James Sparks, a Mattoon High School science teacher and EIU alumnus, will be honored for his teaching excellence with an award from the Eastern Illinois University chapter of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society.

Sparks is to be presented with the 2009 award plaque and stipend during a short Sigma Xi EIU chapter meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2, in the University Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union. The public is welcome.

Prior to the meeting, a banquet will be held, starting at 6 p.m. It will feature a buffet dinner. Those planning to attend should RSVP to Brenda Wilson at 581-2712 or bmwilson@eiu.edu by March 26; the cost is $16 if paid by March 26, or $20 at the door.

The evening will conclude with a lecture on "Energy and the Environment: The Central Challenge of Sustainability” by Kimberly Gray from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston.

Sigma Xi's Excellence in High School and Middle School Science and Mathematics Teaching Award goes to high school or middle school science or mathematics teachers who demonstrate excellence in teaching, actively involve students in critical thinking and problem-solving, actively involve students in the learning process, and teach an appreciation for science and mathematics.

Sparks received his bachelor's degree from Sangamon State University and his master's degree from EIU. As a high school science teacher in Illinois since 1981, he has promoted science through active learning in the classroom, as well as student extra-curricular activities and his own professional development.

Sparks and his wife, Kimberly, have two children and reside in Shelbyville.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, March 21, a tragic two-vehicle accident near St. Louis claimed the lives of three Eastern Illinois University students. Those pronounced dead at the scene were Anusha Anumolu, Anitha Lakshmi Veerapaneni and Priya Darshini Muppavarapu, all master's degree candidates in technology and all international students from India.

Also killed in the accident was Miss Veerapaneni's cousin, who lived in northern Illinois. In addition, Miss Veerapaneni's fiancé and driver of the vehicle in which the five young people were traveling, was injured. At last report, the Ballwin, Mo., resident was listed in fair condition.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of these young ladies," said spokesperson Vicki Woodard. "Their deaths are a tremendous loss to the EIU community.

Personnel from International Programs and the EIU Counseling Center met early in the week with the victims' friends and fellow international students to answer questions, assist with the grieving process and to discuss plans for a group memorial trip to St. Louis before the bodies are returned home to India.

That trip took place Wednesday, March 25.

The bodies of the three EIU students and Satya Chinta (Miss Veerapaneni's cousin) were scheduled to be returned to their families in India by this weekend. The cost to do so is about $60,000.

Donations are being collected by the St. Louis-based Telugu Association of North America. Those wishing to help may make online donations by clicking here.

The EIU Counseling Center will continue to make its services available for those in need of them. In addition, those with questions for International Programs should call 217-581-2321.

Even in these difficult economic times, folks can find something to laugh about.

Yoram Bauman, The Stand-Up Economist, will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, in the University Ballroom of Eastern Illinois University's MLK Jr. Union. Admission is free and open to the public.

Bauman has appeared at venues ranging from the New York Improv to the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual meeting. He can also be seen on YouTube, where his videos have more than 500,000 hits.

He was also recently featured in Time magazine and on the PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

Bauman received his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Reed College and a doctorate in economics from the University of Washington. He spends his non-comedy hours teaching in the UW environmental studies program and researching the economics of climate change.

The Seattle resident has authored or co-authored three books, as well as articles in popular and scholarly publications. His next book (coming out in early 2010, co-authored with Grady Klein) is a cartoon introduction to economics.

Bauman's EIU appearance is being sponsored by Eastern's Department of Economics and the Economics Club. More information can be found at Bauman's website -- http://www.standupeconomist.com.

Since its inception in 1953, the Eastern Illinois University Foundation has made giving its goal.

Specifically, the Foundation exists for three purposes:

• To encourage and provide private support to EIU and the region it serves, and to promote the ideals of volunteerism and philanthropy among alumni, friends and university employees;
• To assist and support EIU's educational and cultural mission through encouraging philanthropic gifts of cash, property and other materials of educational and artistic value; and
• To enhance the educational activities of EIU students and employees by participating in and supporting academic and artistic programming through scholarships and grants.

During Fiscal Year 2008 alone, the Eastern Illinois University Foundation distributed nearly $2 million in student scholarships (more than $790,000) and grants (in excess of $1.1 million) to the university.

EIU Foundation Board President Timothy Gover of Mattoon would like to see distributions grow. However, he also acknowledges that, due to developments with the national economy and the continued budget crisis at the state level, Eastern is faced with serious cutbacks and shortfalls in its operating budget.

"Now more than ever, the university will depend on our members and donors to help support new initiatives in programming, research and equipment, and provide increased scholarship opportunities for it students," he said. "And the board will explore new and innovative ways to strengthen our partnership with the university."

Gover, who retired as a professor of finance from Eastern in 1995, is joined on the 11-member EIU Foundation Board by Jeffrey Scott (vice president) of Richmond Hill, Ga.; Donald Gher (treasurer) of Bellevue, Wash.; Judith Sunderman (secretary), Steven Childers and David Maurer, all of Charleston; Jason Anselment of Springfield; George Paulik of Marietta, Ga.; James Schnorf of Longwood, Fla.; Charles Witters of Las Vegas, Nev.; and Mariann Younger of Findlay, Ohio.

Additional Foundation members have been appointed as volunteer committeemen: Martha Brown, Edward Corley and Alice Shawver, all of Charleston; Thomas McDaniel of Fishers, Ind.; James Bradham of Las Vegas, Nev.; Dan Cunningham of Mattoon; Todd Hamerlinck of Springfield; Gary Kling of Champaign; Stephen Wilson of Mason, Ohio; William Robinson of Danville, Calif; Floyd Akins of Iowa City, Iowa; and Robert Glover of McGaw Park, Ill.

The EIU Foundation Board conducts all of its business through eight working committees which bring their findings and recommendations to the full board at its regularly scheduled meetings. Volunteers bring an added dimension to board discussions and deliberations, allow the board to tap into the diverse talents and expertise of its members, and provide the board with a cadre of potential candidates for future vacancies on the board.

The Eastern Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Collegium Musicum and Camerata Singers are joining forces to celebrate the official unveiling of Eastern Illinois University's new French double harpsichord.

The concert is set for 4 p.m. Sunday, March 29, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students. Seating is reserved, and early ticket purchase is recommended.

The harpsichord, designed in the style of French 18th-century work of Hemsch and Blanchet, was built by Yves Beaupré in Montreal, Canada. Its addition to the EIU music department was made possible by a generous gift from Herbert and Jane Lasky.

The new instrument will be featured throughout the concert, which will be directed by Richard Robert Rossi.

Baroque favorites will be performed by Mark DeGoti on trumpet and Derek Maninfior on harpsichord. In addition, "Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, BWV 1050" by Johann Sebastian Bach will be performed by Rebecca Johnson on flute; Maureen Murchie, violin; and Richard Robert Rossi, harpsichord.

In addition, EIU concerto winner Emily Miller will perform two arias: “Près des remparts de Séville” from "Carmen" by Bizet and “Non so piú cosa son” from "Le Nozze di Figaro" by Mozart.

In the event of inclement weather, coat check will be available. The concert is co-sponsored by the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation, other ESO sponsors and the EIU Department of Music.

To purchase tickets or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services at 217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu, or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office. The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in any of the university lots at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Fans of musical theatre will likely feel like singing along to the many familiar songs in "Side by Side by Sondheim," which will be staged by Eastern Illinois University's music and theatre arts departments.

This Tony Award-winning musical, a tribute to composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, is to be performed at 7:30 p.m. on March 27, 28, 30 and 31 in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Black Box Theatre.

With minimal sets and costumes, a small cast, and two pianos that allow the brilliant songs to shine, "Side by Side by Sondheim" is a perfect introduction to the work of Broadway's most innovative and influential artist.

The show features some of Sondheim's best-known songs from landmark shows that revolutionized musical theatre with their masterful craft and astounding creativity, as well as classics written with musical theatre giants Leonard Bernstein, Julie Styne and Richard Rodgers, just to name a few.

The production is directed by Adam Stich and choreographed by Jean Wolski.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students. Seating is reserved. To purchase tickets or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services at 217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu, or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in any of the university lots at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The founders of Tree Theatre of New York, both Eastern Illinois University alumni, will debut their latest show at their alma mater's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

“Road Trips," an original one-act play, will premiere at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 26, in The Theatre. Due to language and subject matter, "Road Trips" is intended for an adult audience only. Admission is $5.

The production is part of the Coming Home Artists Series of the Doudna Fine Arts Center’s New and Emerging Artists program. It is co-sponsored by Department of Theatre Arts.

Tree Theatre of New York was created by Mike Papaleo and Bryan Grossbauer, who met as theatre students at EIU in the fall of 1996. Their first collaboration was a benefit for Eastern’s theatre arts department. Tree Theatre's lighting coordinator and sound designer, Christopher M. Ham, is also an EIU graduate.

Grossbauer's previous New York theatre credits include Moonwork's "Romeo and Juliet" and "Misalliance" at the Pulse Ensemble Theatre. Internationally, Grossbauer has performed in the Montreal and Toronto Fringe Festivals. He has also been seen in Jagermeister and Time Warner commercials. He currently teaches performing arts at a private Manhattan school, and is the Summer Shakespeare artistic director at Calhoun School.

Papaleo toured in Windy City Players' production of "Cinderella" before moving to New York in the spring of 2002. He has performed at the New York Comedy Club and studied at Upright Citizens Brigade. He has starred in several off-off-Broadway productions, including "Hello Out There" at Steinberg Theatre and "Gutter Rat" at Theatre Studio Inc.

Ham, who went on to complete his master's in fine arts from Southern Methodist University in 2005, is also a lighting designer for Illumination Production Services.

For more information on Tree Theatre, see http://www.treetheatre.com.

To purchase tickets or arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services at 217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu. The Doudna Box Office is closed through March 22, but Patron Services staff will accept and process reservation requests submitted by e-mail and voicemail. Tickets reserved during this period can be picked up starting March 23.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in any of the university lots at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center. The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Through March 13, an Eastern Illinois University student group is conducting a used-battery drive to help the environment, as well as a food drive to help area residents.

The EIU College of Science Student Advisory Board will recycle the batteries to keep them out of landfills, where they can contaminate the soil, water and air with lead, mercury, cadmium and other dangerous materials.

The food drive will benefit the Catholic Charities food pantry.

Collection boxes are set up in the following on-campus locations: Department of Psychology office, Physical Sciences Building; Study Abroad office, Blair Hall; College of Sciences office, Old Main; Family and Consumer Sciences office, Klehm Hall; Department of Biological Sciences office, Life Science Building; Department of Economics office, Coleman Hall; School of Business office, Lumpkin Hall; and the Reading Center, Buzzard Hall.

For more information, please contact COS Student Advisory Board member Amanda Steber at alsteber@eiu.edu.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, March 9, for Eastern Illinois University's spring concert headlining Lupe Fiasco and featuring special guest Shwayze.

The live concert will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 4, in Lantz Arena. Tickets, priced at $10 for EIU students with Panther Card ID and $20 for all others, are available between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays through the MLK Jr. Union Ticket Office, located on the second floor, west wing. For information, phone 217-581-5122.

Ticket sales began March 2 for EIU students. The event is being sponsored by UB Concerts.

Lupe Fiasco, who was born and raised on the west side of Chicago, was influenced by California gangster rap artists such as Spice 1 and Ice Cube. Eventually, Fiasco became more interested in the positive messages that artists such as Nas and Jay-Z could send.

In 2004, Fiasco signed with Atlantic Records and launched his own company, 1st & 5th Entertainment, and began his debut album, "Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor." Another Chicago native, Kanye West, helped him receive recognition with his hit single, "Touch the Sky," in which Fiasco sang one verse; this gave him enough recognition for his first solo single, "Kick Push."

In 2006, Fiasco was nominated for three Grammys, including Best Rap Album, Best Solo Rap Performance and Best Song for "Kick Push." Now he returns with his second album, "The Cool," which has his hit single, "Superstar."

This new album shows that Fiasco is no average hip-hop artist; he is much more with his three Grammy nominations, four BET Hip-Hop Award nominations, and recognition as GQ's "Breakout Man of the Year."

Opening act Shwayze and Cisco Adler are two gifted songwriters "from a trailer park in Malibu." Their musical style consists of a melting pot of laid-back melodies, hip-hop rhythms and acoustic guitars. Shwayze collaborated with Adler and together they co-wrote all of the songs on the album. Their inspiration comes from in the Malibu summer feeling. "It's about Malibu being like an endless summer," Adler said.

Jim Krehbiel, a Charleston native who has spent decades exploring the backcountry of the Southwest, will present "Art and Archaeoastronomy: Anasazi Astronomical Shrine Sites" at 7 p.m. Monday, March 9, at Eastern Illinois University.

The illustrated presentation, which is part of International Year of Astronomy events at EIU, will take place in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Lecture Hall (Room 1210). It is free, and the public is invited.

Krehbiel, chair of the fine arts department at Ohio Wesleyan University, will talk about his exploration, photography and subsequent artwork regarding architecture, art and astronomy of the Ancestral Pueblo People (Anasazi) in the canyons of Cedar Mesa, Utah.

Krehbiel will consider the historical archaeoastronomy work to date, talk about creating artwork to unravel anthropological and scientific puzzles, show many images of the remote sites and astronomical alignments, and discuss the archaeological implications of these findings.

He will also address the advantages of working collaboratively with Ohio Wesleyan University honors student Natalie Cunningham on this multidisciplinary project, which has included extensive work in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, history, art and art history, astronomy, physics, geographic information systems and surveying.

“We have tested more than 20 sites and have found a wide variety of ancient astronomical viewing shrines," Krehbiel reports on their first year of work together. "In all respects, our findings are quite significant. Still in the preliminary stage, there are several years of extensive field study remaining. In many respects, this truly represents the find of a lifetime.”

He will discuss where the work is headed this coming season and in years to come.

As a seasoned backcountry explorer, Krehbiel has a strong awareness of “site etiquette” and has always exercised great care when visiting prehistoric sites.

“I have been exploring not only the rock art and ceremonial, living and storage sites, but have also investigated their trail routes, farming and resource locations, and I have worked toward an understanding of the interrelationships between these locations and their use in the context of the environment," he said.

Krehbiel, a 1974 graduate of Charleston High School, is the son of James and Barbara Krehbiel of Charleston.

He majored in studio art with interests in painting, sculpture and printmaking at Montana State University, where he earned a degree in 1978. Krehbiel received his master of fine arts degree in printmaking from Indiana University in 1984, and then briefly worked as the assistant director of EIU's Tarble Arts Center before accepting a printmaking, drawing and digital imaging position at Ohio Wesleyan University.

This event is sponsored by EIU's College of Sciences, College of Arts and Humanities, and Honors College, as well as the departments of physics, art, English, history, and sociology and anthropology.

In keeping with Eastern Illinois University's tradition of bringing world events closer to home, an all-day conference on the Middle East has been scheduled to take place on campus.

Hussein Hassouna, ambassador from the League of the Arab States to the U.S., will present the conference's keynote address at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, in the Theatre of the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

An open reception, with light snacks, will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the 1895 Room, MLK Jr. Union.

The League of the Arab States is a regional organization similar to the Pan American Union, the European Union, the Organization of African Unity, etc. It was established in 1945 to coordinate the common affairs and goals of the Arab countries of the world. Today, there are 21 member states belonging to the League. Hassouna represents all of the Arab nations in Washington.

In addition to the keynote address, the conference will feature three separate panel discussions on specific topics related to Iran, Iraq and Israel/Palestine. These will take place in the Charleston/Mattoon Room of the MLK Jr. Union.

Panel discussion topics include "The Future of Iraq," 12:30 to 2 p.m.; "The Challenges of Iran to the West and the Arab World," 2 to 3:30 p.m.; and "Palestine and Israel: A Two-State Solution," 3:30 to 5 p.m.

These discussions will permit a dialogue between representatives of the Arab and the Israeli governments, as well as some of Eastern's own faculty and student panelists. The pros and cons to any proposals for solution will be debated by individuals who actually lived through various crises.

Admission to all events is free and open to the public.

Eastern Illinois University recently honored more than 230 of its employees for continuous years of service.

A luncheon was held in recognition of university employees with continuous years of service in five-year increments. Those employed at EIU for five years were eligible for a certificate; those with 10 or more years of service were honored with both a certificate and a pin.

Honorees are listed:

50 years -- Robert Wiseman.

30 years -- Robert Augustine, David Bartz, Sandra Bingham-Porter, Vicki Hampton, Sue Harvey, Peter Hesterman, James Johnson, Sharon Nichols, Kathleen Phillips and Mark Shaklee.

25 years -- David Arseneau, Robert Black, Richard Cavanaugh, Patrick Coulton, Nancy Dole, Larry Farris, Vincent Gutowski, Richard Holt, Sammy Jones, Ralph McCausland, Nancy Page, Denise Preston, Allan Rathe, Patricia Shonk, Anita Thomas, Cheryl West and Michael Wilson.

20 years -- Michael Adair, John Allison, Tami Babbs, Ricky Bagwell, Robert Bates, B.C. Best, Emily Bishop, Deborah Black, Jeffrey Boshart, Douglas Bower, Noel Brodsky, Marilyn Coles, Jonell Comerford, Leo Comerford, Jean Dilworth, Dianna Ensign, Laura Gesell, James Glazebrook, Marsha Gordon, Harold Harris, Kimberly Harris, James Havey, Teresa Henne, Jo Ellen Hickenbottom, Vicki Irby, Mary Leonard-Cravens, Carl Lorber, Joan McCausland, Marsha McLain, Kathleen McSherry, Brian Murphy, Kathryn Murphy, Kathryn Olsen, Jill Owen, Sandra Reeds, Christi Roszkowski, Carlene Schaefer, Anita Shelton, Teresa Sims, Cynthia Sowers, Tammy Veach, William Weber, Keith Wolcott, Deborah Woodley, Charles Wootton, Jacqueline Worden and Beverly Wright.

15 years -- Jeffery Ashmore, Judith Bishop, Mary Bower, Bobette Brooks, Rebecca Cook, Sharon Curry, Donna Dawson, Carol Dudley, Deborah Endsley, Randy Ethridge, Luminita Florea, Margaret Garrett, Tami Hackett, Ricky Haney, Vy Herman, Leslie Ingle, Cathy Kimball, Nancy Kingery, Judith Kopp, Shelia Maulding, Tony Orndorff, George Peden, Mathew Pederson, Diana Pepperdine, Gary Robinett, Linda Rogers, Nida Sehweil-Elmuti, Marlene Slough, Jean Smitley, Renee Stroud, Jean Toothman, Debra Valentino, Andrew White, Joseph Williams, Brenda Wilson, Ellen Wolcott, Richard Wyninger and Janet Yocum.

10 years -- Teshome Abebe, Edward Andres, Judith Barbour, Kathleen Bower, Marsha Bowyer, Judith Briggs, Teresa Britton, Ann Brownson, James Bush, Julie Campbell, Kent Chasteen, LuEllyn Cherry, Kathy Childress, Cheryl Clapp, Donna Coonce, Ellen Coultas, Jeffrey Cross, Barbara Curry, Kari Dailey, Lisa Dallas, Eric Davidson, Linda Davis, Christine Derrickson, Glenda Duke, Eden Effert, Jeffrey Endsley, Cynthia Foster, Travis Gresens, Freddie Hall, Tracy Hall, Morton Heller, Deborah Hershberger-Kidwell, Cheryl Jackson, Jacqueline Joines, Edward Kistner, R.D. Lawhead, Linda Loy, Steven Malehorn, Alex Martino, Terence Mayhue, Robin Murray, Donna Noffke, Pamela Ortega, Dawn Paulson, Robert Petersen, Sheila Poffinbarger, Elyn Pogliano, Jennifer Porter, Kathy Reed, Richard Roberts, Wanda Kay Robinson, Kathreen Ryan, Sonya Schuette, Michael Shirley, Cecil Smith, Deborah Smith, Jennifer Stout, Thom Strohecker, Max Swango, Merry Toberman, Norma Updegraff, Steven Vickroy, Donna Wagoner, Wafeek Wahby, Wanda Wallace, Joe Walsh, Susan White, Susan Woodyard, Keith Wortham and Timothy Zgonina.

5 years -- Shawn Ames, Leslie Ashley, Andrea Beals, Donna Binns, Rhonda Brotherton, Julie Chadd, Jonathan Coit, James Coleman, Ayse Costello, Thomas Costello, James Davis, Paula Davis, Sace Elder, William Elliott, Stanley Evermon, Marie Fero, Rebecca Fogarty, Brian Fritts, Pete Grant, Larry Grigg, Stephen Hallett, Thomas Hawkins, Shelley James, Sandra Johnson, Terri Johnson, Melissa Jones, Kristina Keck, Karla Kennedy-Hagan, Vanesa Landrus, Florentina Laribee, Jana Lawson, Mei-Ling Li, Albert Lyons, April Marchuk, Michael Moncel, Jason Murphy, Robert Ogden, Gregory Oles, Jeffrey Owens, Kiran Padmaraju, James Painter, Mildred Pearson, Chad Perry, Clayton Roan, Philip Rogers, Paul Rogowski, Linda Sauzek, Cheryl Siddens, James Smith, James Toner, Scott Tremain, Charles Welch, Richard Wilkinson and Jie Zou.

Faustwork Mask Theatre, which captivates audiences with a unique synthesis of theatre, masks, physical comedy, dance and poetry, is coming to Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

"The Mask Messenger," a series of vignettes ranging from comic to bizarre to poignant, is set for 7 p.m. Friday, March 6, in The Theatre. Admission is $5. The performance is not recommended for younger children.

First, the performers present a brief and informative mock-lecture about the myriad uses of masks in cultures throughout the world. The performers then demonstrate the power of transformation by removing the masks from the wall and assuming the emotional state expressed in each face.

The show, which uses a variety of masks created by the company, has been performed more than 2,000 times at festivals, corporate events, universities and in theatres throughout the United States and the world.

For more information on the Faustwork Mask Theatre, please see http://www.faustwork.com. This performance is sponsored by the College of Arts and Humanities Excellence in Fine Arts Fund and the Department of Theatre Arts.

To purchase tickets or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services at 217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu, or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in any of the university lots at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Special guest conductors will join the Eastern Illinois University Wind Symphony for its "Art of the Wind Band" concert at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 1, in EIU's Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The concert, to be held in the Dvorak Concert Hall, will include selections from the EIU Wind Symphony, with guest conductors Timothy Reynish of the United Kingdom and Russel Mikkelson of The Ohio State University Wind Symphony.

The Wind Symphony is also planning an encore performance of Grammy Award winner Libby Larsen’s “Introduction to the Moon," directed by Milton Allen, EIU's instrumental division director and director of bands at Eastern. When the symphony performed the song while Larsen was composer-in-residence with the EIU music department in February, she described the performance as “the finest realization of the piece I have ever heard, and probably ever will hear.”

The EIU Concert Band and EIU Brass Ensemble will also perform under the direction of EIU's Barry L. Houser. The EIU Faculty Brass Quintet will be featured in Rick DeJonge’s “Wayside Festival,” which the Wind Symphony recently performed with visiting artists, the Boston Brass.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students; seating is open. For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Eastern Illinois University Dancers will present their annual spring concert, "True Expression," at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7, on the stage in McAfee Gym.

Doors will open at 7 p.m.

The concert will feature traditional forms of ballet, modern, tap and jazz to varied musical artists such as Tony Bennett, Aerosmith, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Billy Joel, Michael Buble and The Pussycat Dolls. The event promises to be a foot-tapping, energetic production enjoyable for all ages. The public is invited to this admission-free event.

The Eastern Illinois University Dancers is a university-recognized organization sponsored by the kinesiology and sports studies department, and is under the direction of Jeanna McFarland. This year's group is made up of 14 university students with many different majors.

Auditions are held in September and rehearsals start immediately for a spring concert.

There has been an annual spring concert sponsored by the physical education department (now kinesiology and sports studies) since 1934; the current group is a continuation of that tradition. Originally the performances consisted of modern dance only. This group was founded in 1981 and has expanded to perform many various dance forms, including ballet, jazz and tap.

McFarland is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and furthered her dance studies in New York City at different studios, including those of Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Finus Jung and Luigi. She came to Eastern in 1991 as a faculty member.

Representatives from school districts from across the United States and overseas will be seeking new employees at the upcoming Mid-America Educators' Job Fair at Eastern Illinois University.

The public is invited to the free job fair, which is set for 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, in the MLK Jr. Union ballrooms. It is sponsored by EIU Career Services.

A list of participating schools and available jobs, including teaching, administration and specialist positions, is available via links at http://www.eiu.edu/careers.

Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and bring plenty of resumes.

"If Civil War battlefields saw vast carnage, the Northern home-front was itself far from tranquil. Fierce political debates set communities on edge, spurred secret plots against the Union, and triggered widespread violence.

"And at the heart of this turmoil stood Northern anti-war Democrats, nicknamed 'Copperheads.'"

This is how Oxford University Press introduces "Copperheads: The Rise and Fall of Lincoln's Opponents in the North" (Oxford, 2006), written by Jennifer L. Weber, assistant professor of history at the University of Kansas.

The author will continue to look at this powerful faction when she presents Eastern Illinois University's Lincoln Bicentennial Lecture, "The Civil War at Home: Abraham Lincoln and the Copperheads," at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, in the Lecture Hall of the Doudna Fine Arts Center. Admission is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the talk.

This event is sponsored by the EIU History Department, with support from the Robert and Nancy Hennings Fund.

Weber will focus her talk on the problem of anti-war dissent and Lincoln's reactions to that problem.

According to the book's introduction, "The Copperheads came perilously close to defeating Lincoln and ending the war in the South's favor. Indeed, by the summer of 1864, they had grown so strong that Lincoln himself thought his defeat was 'exceedingly likely.'

"Passionate defenders of civil liberties and states' rights -- and often virulent racists -- the Copperheads deplored Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus, his liberal interpretation of the Constitution, and, most vehemently, his moves toward emancipation," the introduction reads.

"Weber reveals how the battle over these issues grew so heated, particularly in the Midwest, that Northerners feared their neighbors would destroy their livestock, burn their homes, even kill them. Indeed, some Copperheads went so far as to conspire with Confederate forces and plan armed insurrections, including an attempt to launch an uprising during the Democratic convention in Chicago.

"Finally, Weber illuminates the role of Union soldiers, who, furious at Copperhead attacks on the war effort, moved firmly behind Lincoln. The soldiers' support for the embattled president kept him alive politically in his darkest times, and their victories on the battlefield secured his re-election."

Weber began her professional life as a journalist and later worked as a political aide in the California State Legislature. A life-long interest in the Civil War eventually spurred her to pursue academics as a career at Princeton University, where she received her doctorate. Weber is current researching a book about conscription in the North and South during the Civil War.

The public universities of Illinois play a critical role in the lives of our state's citizens and in our state's ability to compete in the national and global economies. We know your expectations of us are great as are the dividends of a high quality system of public higher education in Illinois.

In good times and bad, our institutions are here for the people of Illinois. We never waver from the commitment to fulfill our missions of education, research, health care and public service in ways that earn your trust. In these difficult financial times, we want to communicate directly with you, the people of Illinois.

To students and their families. A quality education is crucial to our students' future. Providing it is our fundamental purpose and we pledge to do so in ways that work for you. Tuition is a significant burden for many. We will strive to keep tuition as low as possible in order to maximize access and minimize financial burdens. State support is also crucial to controlling tuition costs. Funds for financial aid from all sources are critical.

To elected officials. Public universities with total enrollment of more than 200,000 students are collectively the state's most valuable asset in enabling citizens and the state to have prosperous futures. Our governing boards and administrators take this responsibility seriously. We will provide a quality education for as many qualified students as possible, and fulfill our missions to supply clinical health care, research and public service. We recognize the enormous financial pressures placed on our state leaders and legislators. We are committed to careful stewardship and sound management of the budgets entrusted to the state's universities; we are also committed to ensuring efficient operations in order to control tuition costs and to provide financial aid.

To members of our home communities. From DeKalb to Carbondale, Charleston to Macomb, Chicago to central Illinois, we are major employers and we provide good jobs, pay and benefits. We produce the building blocks for economic strength across the state and enhance the quality of life in our hometowns through those we educate, our research innovations and our cultural opportunities. We strive to be good citizens. We appreciate your support, and we look forward to strengthening the partnerships with our communities in the difficult days ahead.

To faculty and staff and their families. The human capital on our campuses is our most valuable asset. It is our employees and students who make us great. You are foremost on our minds as we manage through this economic recession. We will do our best to continue to be dependable employers.

The public universities of Illinois have served the state and its people since the latter half of the 19th century; most have been in existence for more than 100 years. All have stood the test of time and the trust of Illinois' people. Higher education and our state's public universities have never been more important than now. You can count on us as we move forward and navigate these difficult times.

Sincerely,

Dr. Frank Pogue, Interim President, Chicago State University

Dr. William L. Perry, President, Eastern Illinois University

Dr. Elaine Maimon, President, Governors State University

Dr. C. Alvin Bowman, President, Illinois State University

Dr. Sharon K. Hahs, President, Northeastern Illinois University

Dr. John G. Peters, President, Northern Illinois University

Dr. Glenn Poshard, President, Southern Illinois University

Dr. Samuel Goldman, Chancellor, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Dr. Vaughn Vandegrift, Chancellor, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Dr. B. Joseph White, President, University of Illinois

Dr. Paula Allen-Meares, Chancellor, University of Illinois-Chicago

Dr. Richard D. Ringeisen, Chancellor, University of Illinois-Springfield

Dr. Richard Herman, Chancellor, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Alvin Goldfarb, President, Western Illinois University

"Survivor: Tocantins" contestant Debra (Staton) Beebe was forced to lie to her employers -- the Auburn (Ala.) Board of Education.

"They were led to believe I was going to take leave without pay in order to visit other countries to examine their school systems," Beebe said. "Luckily, (the board members) trust me. They thought I was out to change the world."

And why wouldn't they? Beebe, a 1985 graduate of Eastern Illinois University, had been employed in the Auburn school district for 16 years, working her way from junior high physical education teacher to principal of J.F. Drake Middle School. In addition, she was named Alabama's 2007-2008 middle school principal of the year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

There was absolutely no reason for board members to suspect that their valued employee was, in reality, competing against 15 other individuals in Brazil for the title of "Sole Survivor."

"I had no choice," Beebe said about her lie. "We were forbidden to tell anyone."

So how did the board react when they found out the truth?

"They laughed. They know me, and they know I'm a little out there. And that means they never know what I'm going to do next," Beebe said, chuckling.

Actually, at that point, even Beebe wasn't quite sure what she was going to do next. She didn't even know where she was going next.

"They didn't tell us where (the contestants) would be going beforehand," Beebe said. "But it didn't really matter. I knew I couldn't take anything along with me, so packing wasn't an issue."

What the long-time "Survivor" fan did know is that she had been recruited to participate in the 18th season of the popular CBS series. To this day, she's not sure how they got her name.

She recalled that she had applied to be a contestant for season two ("Survivor: The Australian Outback"), but was turned down "for a number of reasons." Since she had applied under a different last name back in 2000, Beebe said she couldn't see how her early attempt at "Survivor"-ship could have had any bearing on her recruitment.

After formally -- and enthusiastically -- agreeing to apply, Beebe filled out an application, made a video and was then flown out to Los Angeles for a round of interviews.

Then she returned home to Alabama to wait.

"I immediately began working out at a local gym from 4:30 to 6 every morning," Beebe said. "I knew that if I were chosen, I'd have to be at the top of my game."

And at age 46, she knew by watching previous episodes of "Survivor" that if she made the cut, she'd probably be one of the older contestants.

"That part bothered me a little bit. I pride myself on looking and acting a lot younger than what I am," she said, matter-of-factly. "I don't go spreading my age around. And now it's going to be out there for the whole world to see!"

Standing at 5-feet, 2-inches, Beebe acknowledged that she has always been an athletic and high-energy individual. The Palatine, Ill., native was a physical education major while at Eastern, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, and she spent all four years of her time at the university (1981-1985) as a cheerleader.

"I'm a Panther!" she added. "I still know Eastern's fight song!"

And, she added, with a touch of pride in her voice, "Sean Payton (now head coach of the New Orleans Saints) attended there at the same time!"

Interviewed a week prior to the Feb. 12 premiere of "Survivor: Tocantins," Beebe faced limitations on what she could and could not say about her adventure. In fact, a CBS publicist sat in during her telephone conversation, and did not hesitate to break in -- nicely -- when forbidden topics were brought up.

He did allow her to say that the location of the filming was "horribly hot."

And Beebe could talk about the last moments she shared with her family -- her husband and her two children and three stepchildren, who range in age from a freshman in high school to a sophomore in college.

"The goodbyes were really hard," she said. "It was very, very difficult to walk out of my life. They took my cell phone -- all means of communication were gone."

Beebe left on her adventure in October and returned "sometime before Christmas." The fact that she was gone for approximately two months is in no way indicative of how well she did on the show.

"The contestants all came home at the same time, regardless of if and when they were voted off," she said. The group is tentatively scheduled to reunite sometime in mid-May for the show's finale and the naming of the "Sole Survivor."

Whether Beebe gets voted off or is named the winner of this season's show, she insists that she's a better person for having participated. "I'm stronger than I've ever been," she said.

She's also enjoying the support she's seeing from her family, her colleagues, and the 900-plus children who attend J.F. Drake Middle School.

"All of them have been supportive and very excited," Beebe said.

And some were shocked. By her own admission, Beebe is a "high heel" sort of woman -- a lady who likes to dress up and look nice.

"One of my students described me as 'Barbie shopping at the mall,'" she added, chuckling. "And that is the real me!"

Pianist James Litzelman, an Eastern Illinois University graduate, will perform at his alma mater to raise funds for a scholarship honoring the memory of a much-respected music professor.

The concert, which will benefit the Alan R. Aulabaugh Music Scholarship, is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall. General-admission tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students.

"It is a special honor to have Jim Litzelman perform at EIU in memory of Alan Aulabaugh," said Marilyn Coles, an EIU faculty member who is coordinating the concert. "As a student of Alan's while at EIU, Jim became a very special family friend, and it means a great deal to the family that he is willing to perform this benefit concert.

"He is a wonderful performer and very active in his field, so it is an honor for Eastern that we benefit in this way from his return to campus."

Litzelman, who studied with Aulabaugh while earning a bachelor's degree in music (piano performance) from EIU in 1984, is the director of the graduate program in piano pedagogy at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he has been on the faculty since 1993.

He has performed and lectured in the United States, China, Russia, Mexico and throughout Europe.

Litzelman is the son of Donald and Christine Litzelman of Ste. Marie, a village in Jasper County. As a student at Newton High School, Litzelman was very active in the band and chorus, and he studied piano with Sandra Clark, also one of Aulabaugh's former students.

The Alan R. Aulabaugh Music Scholarship was established to honor Aulabaugh, who taught at EIU from 1957 until his retirement in 1986. He died in July 2007 at the age of 81.

During his tenure at EIU, Aulabaugh was an active member of the university community and was awarded both the Outstanding Faculty Member Award and the Distinguished Service Award. He was also a piano soloist, chamber musician and accompanist across the Midwest.

For Doudna tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in the any of the university lots found at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

If Eastern Illinois University campus and community residents hear emergency sirens sounding on campus on Friday, Feb. 20, they should react accordingly.

It won't be part of the drill.

University officials have announced that a portion of the institution's staff will be participating in an active shooter training exercise that may also include involvement by emergency personnel from the city of Charleston, Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center and other law enforcement entities.

It should be made clear, however, that the drill will not include the actual use of any of the campus's emergency sirens, Web-based/e-mailed emergency announcements or text-messaging systems.

"It is important that there be no confusion in case a real emergency occurs," said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs. "We want to keep these methods of communication open for the use with which they are intended.

"If the sirens are sounded -- or if students and staff members receive an Alert EIU text message -- the community should know that a real threat is imminent," Nadler said.

Many details of the training exercise are being kept confidential for obvious reasons. Officials have announced, though, that a portion of Buzzard Hall in and around the building's auditorium (first and second floors) will be closed until noon to all students, faculty and staff.

Classes/operations scheduled to take place elsewhere in the building will not be affected; however, students and faculty may need to enter the building via doors outside their custom.

"We are sensitive to the fact that classes will be in session and we will do our best to minimize any disruptions," Nadler said.

Activities associated with the drill may also involve other areas of campus, including Health Service and sections of the MLK Jr. Union. The campus community is likely to see additional emergency vehicles at EIU, as well.

Nadler emphasized that all activities associated with the drill will be treated as a real active shooter emergency. And that, he added, means observation by non-participants will be discouraged.

Illinois law mandates that universities stage at least one emergency drill annually. However, Eastern has participated in emergency preparedness exercises regularly for several years. The most recent occurred in 2008, when university and city representatives gathered for a table-top exercise examining Eastern and the city of Charleston 's response to a tornado touching down in the area.

The work of Ferrante and Teicher, a piano duo that sold 88 million albums over four decades, will be celebrated in an upcoming Eastern Illinois University concert featuring Teicher's own daughter.

The concert, "Dueling Pianos," is set for 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, in the Dvorak Concert Hall, Doudna Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students. Seating is reserved.

Louis Teicher and Arthur Ferrante had a number of hit songs in their long career, including the movie themes to "The Apartment," "Exodus" and "Midnight Cowboy."

Susan Teicher and Richard Robert Rossi, both EIU music faculty members, will perform two of Arthur Ferrante and Louis Teicher's two-piano arrangements, "Fiddler on the Roof" and "West Side Story." They will be accompanied by the Eastern Symphony Orchestra.

Also featured will be pianist Jeffrey Brown, who will perform Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Opus 18, one of the world's most popular piano concertos. Brown is director of keyboard studies at Christopher Newport University.

Louis Teicher died in August at the age of 83, and his daughter, who followed in his music-making footsteps, is looking forward to celebrating his extraordinary life with this performance.

"It's great fun to bring these arrangements for two pianos and orchestra back to the concert stage," Susan Teicher said. "Their music brought a lot of pleasure to a lot of people, and it is a privilege for me to have the opportunity to perform it."

Ferrante and Teicher were nicknamed "The Grand Twins of the Twin Grands," and their showmanship and style -- including matching jackets, black-rimmed glasses and dark pompadours -- drew comparisons to Liberace.

The duo estimated they played 5,000 concerts, attended by 18 million people. Countless more welcomed the duo into their homes via television variety shows.

In their early days, the duo experimented with the inner workings of the piano to make different, strange sounds, but after joining United Artists in 1960, they adopted a more mainstream, easy-listening style, leading to their place as one of the best-selling instrumental easy-listening groups of the decade.

The "Dueling Pianos" concert is sponsored by the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation, Eastern Symphony Orchestra sponsors and the EIU music department.

For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus. Free parking is available in the any of the university lots at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center. The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

While many recognize Feb. 12, 1809, as the date on which Abraham Lincoln was born, few realize that the 16th president entered into this world on the same day as naturalist Charles Darwin.

And just as individuals and groups world-wide make plans to honor the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, others are joining efforts to celebrate Darwin and his contributions to modern society, humanities and the sciences. British-born Darwin, known primarily for his efforts at introducing the idea of evolution through natural selection, is recognized internationally as the author of "The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection," published 150 years ago.

This year, Eastern Illinois University will once again commemorate Darwin's contributions by sponsoring educational programs designed to teach others about Darwin and related topics. As part of this commemoration, Eastern plans to host five separate events, all of which are free and open to the public.

"Charles Darwin: The Concise Story of an Extraordinary Life," a lecture by Timothy Berra of Ohio State University, will be presented at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, in Coleman Hall Auditorium (Room 1255).

Berra also will present "Chasing Nurseryfish and Avoiding Crocodiles in Northern Australia" at noon Monday, Feb. 9, in Buzzard Auditorium (Room 1501).

"A Chat with Charles Darwin" will be presented at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, in Life Sciences, Room 2080. John Wagner of The Field Museum will be the guest speaker.

Michael Zimmerman will discuss "The Clergy Letter Project, the Evolution/Creation Controversy and Why it Matters" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, in Coleman Hall Auditorium (Room 1255).

To conclude the series of events, the best documentary award-winning film, " Darwin vs. Kansas," will be shown at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Life Sciences, Room 2080.

Boston Brass, a lively quintet that combines quality musicianship with humor and personality, is to perform at Eastern Illinois University on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

The concert, which will also feature the EIU Wind Symphony, is set for 7:30 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for EIU students. Seating is reserved.

Boston Brass features classical arrangements, vocal harmonies, jazz standards and more. The group has been featured in national media, including CBS's "The Early Show" and National Public Radio's "Performance Today," and it has recorded several albums.

The Doudna concert will include "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" by Franz Liszt, "Largo" from the New World Symphony by Antonín Dvořák, “Autumn Leaves” by Josef Kosma and Johnny Mercer, the jazz classic “Caravan” by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol, and other works of equal variety.

The EIU Wind Symphony, comprised of students from the EIU music department, is conducted by Milton Allen.  The ensemble, which has received acclaim from composers and conductors alike, has the distinction of recently premiering pieces by a variety of contemporary composers.

For reservations and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. This concert, part of the yearlong celebration of the reopening of the Doudna Fine Arts Center, is funded in part by the college’s Excellence in Fine Arts Fund.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus.
For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Romance will be in the air when Eastern Illinois University's Choral Ensembles present "Songs of Love" to wrap up the Valentine's Day weekend.

The concert, featuring the EIU Concert Choir and Camerata Singers (conducted by Richard Robert Rossi) and the University Mixed Chorus (conducted by Adam Stich), is to begin at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

They will be joined by EIU music department faculty member Katie McBain on horn for a special presentation of Libby Larsen's "Sweet and Sour Nursery Rhymes," which personifies the characters in "There Was a Little Girl," "Little Boy Blue" and "Try, Try Again."

Tickets for general-admission seating are $5 for adults and $3 for students. For tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The concert is sponsored in part by a gift from Christine Gordon.

The Yellowjackets Jazz Quartet, which is up for two 2009 Grammys, will help Eastern Illinois University's jazz festival celebrate its golden anniversary with "A Valentine’s Day Concert."

The concert is set for 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall. Seating is reserved; tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for EIU students.

As another highlight of the 50th annual EIU Jazz Festival, Yellowjackets saxophonist Bob Mintzer will perform with the EIU Jazz Ensemble in a free concert at 5 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union. Mintzer also leads the Bob Mintzer Big Band and performs with the New York Philharmonic.

Since gaining public and critical acclaim with its first album in 1981, the Yellowjackets Jazz Quartet has continued to make waves in the jazz world.

The quartet has been nominated for 2009 Grammy Awards in two categories: Best Contemporary Jazz Album for "Lifecycle" featuring Mike Stern; and Best Instrumental Composer for Russell Ferrante's composition "Claire's Closet," which is on the "Lifecycle" album.

"The basic foundation, that initial spark of innovation, is still there," said bassist Jimmy Haslip. "We're very open-minded and are always looking to the horizon to see what's up ahead. We're very dedicated to our craft, and we're constantly trying to progress. That ultimately is a motivating factor in keeping a band like this going. It's a laboratory, in essence, where some great experiments have taken place."

The Yellowjackets' performance is a Consolidated Communications Artist Series program of the New and Emerging Artists Series.

For Doudna tickets and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please see http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus.  Free parking is available in the any of the university lots found at the corner of Ninth and Garfield and immediately south of the center.

An Eastern Illinois University faculty member will present the keynote address celebrating the national traveling exhibition, "Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente and African-American Identity," on display at Booth Library.

Robert S. Petersen, an associate professor of art, will present "Kente in Context" as part of the opening program beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, in the library's West Reading Room. Admission is free and open to the public.

A reception and opening ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. in the Marvin Foyer of the library.

Kente cloth has an important symbolic meaning in Ghana, especially with regard to royal ranks and public honors. It has, in recent times, also become powerfully evocative as a broader symbol of African culture abroad. Petersen's talk will examine the development of kente traditions and some of its traditional uses within Ghana, as well as some of the more recent works that kente cloth has inspired.

Petersen teaches courses covering Africa, India, Southeast Asia, China and Japan . He graduated with a bachelor's degree in art from the University of Santa Cruz, a master's degree in performance studies from Brown University, and a doctorate in Asian theatre from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

In 1988, Petersen received a Fulbright scholarship to study the traditional arts of Indonesia and has since published numerous articles and essays on popular and traditional culture in India, Southeast Asia and Japan.

"Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente and African-American Identity," is scheduled to be on display Feb. 1 through March 10.

Tickets will be on sale through Wednesday, Feb. 4, for the 2009 African-American Heritage Celebration banquet, being held on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

This year's event, set to take place Friday, Feb. 6, will feature the one-man autobiographical play, "A Killing in Choctaw," presented by Carl Ray. While being questioned by a white man in 1962, in the small town of Butler, Choctaw County, Ala., the then 18-year-old Ray responded by saying "yes' and "no" instead of "yes, sir" and "no, sir," which was the customary response when addressing white people. He was severely beaten for being disrespectful and, an hour later, the man went to Ray's home and shot his father as Ray looked helplessly on.

"A Killing in Choctaw" examines how this incident defined Ray's life, and how he eventually reached the point for forgiveness and healing. The play will be followed with a question-and-answer session by Ray. (See http://www.carlraye.com/ for more information.)

The banquet will begin with a 5 p.m. social, followed by the dinner at 6 p.m., in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. Tickets, priced at $15 for adults and $8 for students, are available at Eastern's Gateway Office (581-6692), Blair Hall, Room 2170. No credit cards accepted.

Additional activities are also scheduled to take place on the EIU campus in commemoration of African-American Heritage Month 2009. Admission to all events is free (unless otherwise noted) and open to the public.

Events scheduled for the week of Feb. 1 through 7 are as follows:

• "Eating for a Healthy Life and Soul," presented by James Painter and Karen Armour, EIU School of Family and Consumer Sciences, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, Oakland Room, MLK Jr. Union.
• "Yes We Can: A Celebration of History in the Making," 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, 7 th Street Underground, MLK Jr. Union (basement, east wing). Folks are invited to come and share their experiences as to where they were and how they felt when they heard that the United States had elected its first African-American president.
• "Hope and History: The Obama Presidency and the Fate of Racism," presented by Dave Roediger, the Kendrick C. Babcock Professor of History at the University of Illinois, 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, Coleman Hall, Room 1255.
• "Diversity in America and Its Impact on Education," presented by EIU's Office of Faculty Development, noon to 1:30 p.m. Charleston/Mattoon Room, MLK Jr. Union.
• "China in Africa," panel discussion, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, Coleman Hall, Room 1255.
• "The Mis-Education of a Black Greek," presented by Phi Beta Sigma, 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, Lumpkin Hall, Room 2030.
• S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Women's Workshop, facilitated by Rhonda Bowdry, EIU School of Family and Consumer Sciences, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, Effingham Room, MLK Jr. Union.
• Gospel Explosion, presented by the Unity Gospel Choir, 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union.
• "Miracle at St. Anna" (movie), 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, Buzzard Hall Auditorium.

The Eastern Illinois University Honors College will hold its 24th annual Scholastic Bowl Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 7, on the second floor of Coleman Hall.

The tournament will begin at 8:30 a.m. with opening remarks and greetings from Bonnie Irwin, dean of the Honors College.

The round-robin tournament consists of 24 high school teams from the surrounding area that compete in head-to-head competition. All teams are guaranteed at least three matches. The winners from each bracket advance to the five championship rounds scheduled to start at 12:15 p.m.

At approximately 4 p.m., an awards ceremony will begin in Lumpkin Auditorium.  Trophies are scheduled to be given to the top seven teams, and medallions will be awarded for an All-Tournament Team. This team will consist of the five players who score the most points in the first three rounds of the tournament.

The following area high schools plan to participate: Arthur, Casey-Westfield, Charleston, Cumberland, East Richland, Edwards County, Effingham, Fairfield, Georgetown-Ridgefarm, Glenwood Chatham, Hutsonville, Mattoon, Mt. Carmel, Neoga, Newton, Oakland, Oblong, Paris, Robinson, Salem, St. Anthony (Effingham), St. Thomas More, Teutopolis and Windsor.

All interested persons are welcome to attend.

For more than three years, a semitrailer has crisscrossed the nation, hauling three tons of special -- and very colorful -- freight to museums, schools and libraries.

Eastern Illinois University's Booth Library has become the most recent stop in the series, and now invites all interested persons to the national traveling exhibition, "Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente and African-American Identity," scheduled to be on display Feb. 1 through March 10. Special commemorative guides will be available at the library.

In addition, several exhibition-related events are being planned.

"Wrapped in Pride" examines both the art and symbolism of kente cloth in Ghana and its expression of identity in African-American communities.

The cloth called kente, made by the Asante (Ashanti) peoples of Ghana and the Ewe peoples of Ghana and Togo, is the best known of all African textiles. It is hand-woven in one very long strip that is cut into identical lengths and sewn edge-to-edge to form a larger fabric.

This strip-woven cloth began as festive dress for special occasions, traditionally worn by men as a kind of toga and by women as an upper and lower wrapper. In addition to its well-known use as spectacular apparel, kente also appears in many other important forms of regalia among the Asante and Ewe, including drums, shields, umbrellas and fans.

Over the past 40 years, the cloth has been transformed into hats, ties, bags and many other accessories worn and used on both sides of the Atlantic. Individual kente strips are especially popular in the United States when sewn into religious and academic robes or worn as a stole. Kente patterns have developed a life of their own, appropriated as surface designs for everything from adhesive bandages and balloons to beach balls and Bible covers. Kente, for many, bridges two continents, evoking and celebrating a shared cultural heritage.

The Booth Library exhibit is divided into two broad sections. First, it traces the roots of kente and its widespread use in Africa as garment and ceremonial cloth. Second, it explores kente as a meaningful do cument of dress, art and identity in American cultures, especially among African-American communities in the U.S.

"Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente and African-American Identity" was made possible through NEH on the Road, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and was brought to the EIU campus by Booth Library and the Mid-America Arts Alliance. This version of the exhibition was developed by the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History in Los Angeles, and is based on an earlier exhibition co-organized with the Newark Museum, Newark, N.J.

More on the national exhibition can be found at http://www.maaa.org/nehotr/Exhibitions/kente.php.

Grammy Award winner Libby Larsen, one of America’s most-performed living composers, will present a lecture and perform a concert of her original works at Eastern Illinois University on Feb. 10.

Larsen's lecture will begin at 6 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Recital Hall. It is free and open to the public.

The concert, part of "A Year of Celebration: The Reopening of the Doudna Fine Arts Center," will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Doudna's Dvorak Concert Hall. It will feature the EIU music department's Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, and faculty and student performers. Tickets for general-admission seating are $5 for adults and $3 for students.

For Doudna reservations and information, or to arrange accommodations for persons with special needs, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services (217-581-3110, doudnatix@eiu.edu or www.eiu.edu/doudna) or visit the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.

The lecture and concert are part of Larsen's short residency at EIU. While on campus, she will work with composition students in a master class and lecture to other music students about her career and the new music/creative process in general.

Larsen has created a catalog of more than 400 works spanning virtually every genre from intimate vocal and chamber music to massive orchestral works and more than a dozen operas. Larsen is much sought-after for commissions and premieres by major artists, ensembles and orchestras around the world.

Her works are widely recorded on prominent labels, including Angel/EMI, Nonesuch, Decca and Koch International.

She received a 1994 Grammy for producing "The Art of Arlene Augér," an acclaimed recording that features Larsen’s "Sonnets from the Portuguese." Her opera "Frankenstein, The Modern Prometheus" was selected as one of the eight best classical music events of 1990 by USA Today.

Larsen has been hailed as “the only English-speaking composer since Benjamin Britten who matches great verse with fine music so intelligently and expressively” (USA Today); as “a composer who has made the art of symphonic writing very much her own” (Gramophone); as “a mistress of orchestration” (Times Union); and for “assembling one of the most impressive bodies of music of our time” (Hartford Courant).

Her music has been praised for its “clear textures, easily absorbed rhythms and appealing melodic contours that make singing seem the most natural expression imaginable” by the Philadelphia Inquirer. In the Wall Street Journal, Larsen was lauded for making "contemporary opera both musically current and accessible to the average audience." According to Fanfare, “Her ability to write memorable new music completely within the confines of traditional harmonic language is most impressive.”

Larsen was the 2003-2004 Harissios Papamarkou Chair in Education at the Library of Congress and recipient of the Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

The first woman to serve as a resident composer with a major orchestra, she has held residencies with the California Institute of the Arts, the Arnold Schoenberg Institute, the Philadelphia School of the Arts, the Cincinnati Conservatory, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Charlotte Symphony and the Colorado Symphony.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities, Charleston, Ill. Doudna Fine Arts Center public arts programs are funded by the New and Emerging Artists Series Fund, the Excellence in Fine Arts Fund and other patrons as listed.

Eastern Illinois University's Board of Trustees on Friday approved an increase in room and board rates for students living in EIU housing during the 2009-2010 school year.

According to Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, the new rates cover increases in operations including, but not limited to, fixed costs (e.g., utilities), student-employee wages, and food.  Three percent of the increases will be dedicated to capital projects.

Nadler added that EIU retains one of the lowest housing rates among Illinois public universities, and is still among the "greatest values in the state."  In a recent residential survey, 93 percent of respondents indicated satisfaction with on-campus housing.

Students living in EIU's residence halls and Greek Court will see increases of $217 to $245 per semester (a 6.45 percent increase), depending on the chosen meal plan. Room and board rates will range from $3,584 per semester for a 7 Plus Meal Option to $4,039 for the 15 Plus Meal Option.

The four meal-plan options each permit students a specified number of dining center meals per week, plus a specified number of "dining dollars" that can be used to buy additional meals in any dining center; make purchases at Eastern's Food Court, Java B & B and Panther Pantry in the MLK Jr. Union and at the university's two residence hall convenience centers; and to provide dining center meals to guests.

Students living in University Apartments will also see an increase in the rates they pay. The plan calls for increases of between $12 and $13 per month, with rent ranging from $398 to $447 a month, depending on the type of apartment being rented (one-bedroom, efficiency or super efficiency).

Rate increases will not affect students living in University Court, a university-owned apartment complex for sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students. Rates there will continue to range from $2,263 to $3,025 per semester, depending on the type of apartment being rented.

According to Mark Hudson, Eastern's director of Housing and Dining Services, the university froze rates at University Court in order to remain competitive with student-oriented off-campus housing in the Charleston area.

Approximately 350 students reside in the 146-unit University Court, where phone, high-speed internet and cable television are provided in the cost of rent.  Meals, electricity and water are not provided as they are in the residence halls.

Occupants are eligible to purchase university meal plans, which enable them to eat at any of the campus dining centers.

Making its eighth appearance on the campus of Eastern Illinois University, "Beyond Words: Museum of Oppression" continues to provide insight into the issue of oppression through a self-guided historical and experimental walking tour.

Sponsored by Eastern's Office of University Housing and Dining Services, this three-day event will be open to the community. Participants are invited to walk through a series of sensory experiences presented through the written word, audio, video and staged displays to gain a realistic perspective of what marginalized groups have faced in our society.

Admission to the museum, located in the Grand Ballroom of the MLK Jr. Union, is free and open to the public. Doors will be open from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28. Each tour usually takes 30 to 35 minutes to complete.

A new exhibit to the museum this year, the Human Race Machine, is a computer program that allows visitors to view on a monitor what they would look like as one of six different races (http://www.humanracemachine.com). University Housing and Dining Services is co-sponsoring this exhibit with the EIU chapters of the National Residence Hall Honorary and the Residence Hall Association. This exhibit will be open daily during the regular operating hours of the museum, and will also be available from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, in the MLK Jr. Union's Alumni Lounge (second floor, east wing).

Also this year, adding to the museum's experience, is a series of free presentations, all taking place at 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom.

Lisa Rogers Taylor from EIU's School of Family and Consumer Sciences will present the keynote address Monday. Her talk will introduce the museum and its theme, "Break Through to Change."

Michael Stewart, founder and director of Liwalo na Liwe Foundation Inc., will present "Street Children in Iringa, Tanzania: Problems and Solutions" on Tuesday. Stewart, an alumnus of the University of Illinois, will discuss the street children crisis in Iringa, Tanzania, and his efforts to raise awareness and facilitate solutions to this problem. The speaker will make specific references to his film, "Watoto wa Mitaani," and non-profit organization, the Liwalo na Liwe Foundation. The presentation will conclude with the organization's views on progressive education and a summary of its boarding school projects in Africa and North America.

On Wednesday, "The House We Live In," an exhibition piece and documentary shown in conjunction with the Human Race Machine, will be presented by the University Housing and Dining Services' Committee for Social Justice and Diversity Education. "Race may be a biological myth, but racism gives a different group vastly different life chances. Forty years after the Civil Rights Movement, the playing field is still not level and colorblind' policies only perpetuate inequality." This documentary will address this issue and discuss how these ideas may continue to shape the world's future.

For information on "Beyond Words: Museum of Oppression," contact Quiana Stone at 217-581-7689 or at qmstone@eiu.edu.

Financial aid staff from Eastern Illinois University, in association with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the Illinois Association of Financial Aid Administrators, will present two College Awareness and Preparation Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshops.

These workshops are available for any parents in the surrounding area who have college-bound students for the 2009-2010 academic year.  It does not matter whether your child plans to attend EIU or another college or community college.

Reservations are requested so a sufficient number of staff members will be available. The workshops are free as a public service to the residents of Charleston and surrounding communities.

The sessions will begin with a brief overview of the financial aid process and what families can expect after FAFSA completion.  Participants will be taken step-by-step through the 2009-2010 FAFSA Worksheet with an online demonstration of FAFSA on the Web.

It is recommended that participants bring their 2008 federal income tax return, if complete, so they can actually complete the FAFSA Worksheet and be ready to file their own FAFSA on the Web. Questions will be answered in a group or individually. Participants' privacy will be respected.

Interested persons may attend either of the two workshops, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, and 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26.  Both will be held at the Neal Welcome Center, located at the intersection (southeast corner) of Lincoln Avenue and Douglas Street in Charleston.

Please RSVP by calling 217-581-3714 or e-mailing pbailey@eiu.edu.

Pamela Gay, who has been chosen by the United Nations to serve as the "new media expert" for the International Year of Astronomy, is to speak at Eastern Illinois University this month.

Her lecture, "The Once and Future Role of Citizen Science: The Great Discoveries of Public Astronomers Across History," is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, in the EIU Physical Science Building's Phipps Lecture Hall. Admission is free.

The event will kick off EIU's yearlong celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, a worldwide commemoration of many historic astronomical achievements, including the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first look through a telescope and the 40th anniversary of man’s first steps on the moon.

Gay, an assistant research professor at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, describes her lecture as follows: "From William Herschel to Hanny van Arkel, regular everyday people with a passion for astronomy have found ways to make memorable discoveries. Every day, citizen scientists are building an ongoing legacy that includes documenting variable stars, discovering asteroids, tracking supernovae rise and fall, and even capturing the optical afterglow of gamma-ray bursts."

Gay's "Astronomy Cast" Internet radio show is one of the most popular in the world, consistently ranking among the top 25 of the Science and Medicine podcasts section on iTunes. Each month, listeners download more than 200,000 shows.

Jim Conwell, the EIU physics professor who is organizing EIU's IYA events, said Gay's talk should appeal to "anybody interested in not only astronomy but in communication and podcasts -- anything to do with new media."

"We are very lucky to bring her," Conwell said. "She's the expert. If it's good enough for the United Nations, it's good enough for us."

In 2007, the United Nations named Gay the "new media expert" for this year's International Year of Astronomy. In that role, Gay has many responsibilities with the IYA website (http://astronomy2009.us), including designing, programming maintaining and editing online content, calendars, RSS feeds and forums.

For more information about Gay, see her blog at http://www.starstryder.com. She describes its content as being "focused on astronomy, academia and the scientific method, with occasional editorial content related to teaching, the boundary between science and religion, and life as an astronomer."

All of EIU's IYA events, including Gay's appearance, are sponsored by the EIU College of Sciences and the EIU Department of Physics.

Conwell is currently finalizing EIU's IYA celebration, which is expected to include five additional guest speakers, an astromurals exhibit in the Physical Science Building, and the department's regular monthly open houses at its observatory.

Through donated funds, the physics department will be sponsoring 12 podcasts during "365 Days of Astronomy: Daily Podcast of the IYA" which can be found online at http://365daysofastronomy.org. The sponsorship will provide worldwide exposure for the department.

In addition, a donor has provided funds to purchase a Galileoscope for every third-grade classroom in Charleston. The telescopes should ready for use in the fall, Conwell said.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. March and Candlelight Vigil Monday, Jan. 19, on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a march from the Thomas Hall lobby to the Grand Ballroom, located in Eastern's MLK Jr. Union. The program there - scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. - will feature Cordell Ingram, principal of the Robertson Charter School in Decatur, speaking on "Shifting a Dream into a Plan."

Ingram, who received his master's degree in education administration from Eastern, taught in the Decatur public schools for eight years prior to joining RCS in 2003. He was also formerly the head football coach at MacArthur High School in Decatur.

Monday's program will include musical selections by Eastern's Unity Gospel Choir and soloist Essence Allen, accompanied by Brandon Jelks on the piano. Allen and Jelks are both students at EIU.

In addition, Alpha Phi Alpha will honor Charleston resident Bill Ridgeway, EIU professor emeritus, for his efforts in helping to organize the local chapter 40 years ago.

Three awards will also be presented -- the Alpha Image Award, given to a faculty/staff member who serves as a role model to Eastern's student body; the Annie B. Singleton Award, given to a female student involved in campus organizations and community service; and the MLK Jr. Essay Award (a scholarship), to be presented to a Charleston High School senior.

Interested persons need not participate in the march to attend the program, although organizers invite all attendees to participate if weather and health allow.

Admission is free.

Eastern Illinois University students are continuing a 128-year-old tradition of keeping Charleston's daily weather records for the nation's top official weather organizations.

The work, which relies on old-fashioned analog equipment and on-site observation, allows the Charleston station to retain its "historical climate station" status, while providing students with valuable experience they can't learn from a textbook.

"If you can engage the students in a hands-on experience in data collection, then they understand how important this data is," said Cameron Craig, the EIU geology/geography faculty member who oversees the online EIU WeatherCenter. "Now students have a reason to come in and participate in the daily functions of the WeatherCenter. Hopefully, they can use this foundation in their future."

The station is considered a "historical station" because the data has been collected at the same times (8 a.m. and 6 p.m.) daily, continuously, since Jan. 1, 1880. In the 1960s, the duties were taken over by Eastern's geology/geography department, using on-campus equipment. In the mid-1970s, the equipment was moved to the home of the department's chair, Dalias Price, and he handled the recordings nearly single-handedly for four decades.

In October 2008, the station returned to the EIU campus, where students collect important climate data for the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The non-digital system uses an analog thermometer and precipitation gauge. Measurements are made by humans, not machines. "The real meat of observation is going out and looking at the thermometers with your eyes," Craig said.

Craig trains the students, who are then in charge of making the observations on their own. Twice each day, students visit the weather station to record their observations. They also share their reports with Craig via phone calls or text messages.

"I want to make sure that their data are accurate," Craig said, explaining he can use existing digital stations as a guide to double-check the observations. "We hope to continue the accurate observation for many years to come in honor of Dalias," Craig added.

For more details on the historical climate station, plus photos, please click here.

Three individuals have been invited to participate in on-site visits as Eastern Illinois University moves forward in its search for the institution's next vice president for business affairs.

William V. Weber of Charleston, Patrick D. Kirby of Buda, Texas, and Donald Chrusciel of Ames, Iowa, have been invited to participate in on-site interviews during the month of February.

According to Robert Augustine, chair of the committee that conducted the national search, Eastern received 39 applications for the VPBA position. The post became available when Jeff Cooley, who served as vice president for business affairs since 1999, announced his Dec. 31, 2008, retirement.

The VPBA reports to the president and serves on the President's Council and as treasurer of Eastern's Board of Trustees. He/she is responsible for the supervision, coordination and administration of the Budget Office, Business Services, Information Technology Services, Human Resources, Facilities Planning and Management, Environmental Health and Safety, Records Management, and broad areas of service related to these units.

Each of the three candidates will be on Eastern's campus for a day-and-a-half. Open sessions (faculty, students and staff) will take place from 4 to 4:50 p.m. and community sessions (community, campus, EIU Foundation) will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. the first day of each candidate's visit. All open sessions will take place in Booth Library, Room 4440, unless otherwise noted.

Full candidate information and interview schedules may be accessed at http://www.eiu.edu/~graduate/vpba/vpba-interview-schedules.pdf .

Candidate William V. Weber currently serves as associate vice president for academic affairs, director of Summer Sessions, and interim university budget director at EIU. He holds both his master's degree and a doctorate in economics and a bachelor's degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of Kansas, Lawrence. Weber has previous experience in administration as the associate dean of the College of Sciences and holds the rank of professor of economics at Eastern.

Weber will interview on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 11 and 12.

The second candidate, Patrick D. Kirby, currently serves as associate vice president for financial affairs at St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas. He holds a master's degree in business administration from New Hampshire College and a bachelor's degree in business from the State University of New York, Albany. Kirby has previous administrative experience that includes the position of chief budget officer at Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colo.; the director of Institutional Research and Budget Development at Salem State College, Salem, Mass.; and senior financial project manager for Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine.

Kirby will interview on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 16 and 17.

The final candidate, Donald Chrusciel, currently serves as associate director of Facilities Planning and Management at Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa. He holds a doctorate in industrial education and technology from Iowa State University; a master's degree in management information systems/operations management from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; a master's degree in business administration from California State University; and a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Michigan State University. Chrusciel has previous administrative experience as director of General Services and associate director of Facilities Planning and Management at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater.

Chrusciel will interview on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 23 and 24.

The Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences at Eastern Illinois University will offer sessions for individuals who are considering hearing aids or for those who already own hearing aids and would like to maximize their benefit.

Sessions will focus on understanding and coping with hearing loss, and provide good communication skills and strategies.

Spouses, family members and friends are invited to attend, as well.

Participants will attend a series of four sessions, with each session meeting from 10 to 11 a.m. on consecutive Mondays on the second floor of Eastern's Human Services Center. Three series of sessions are planned: Jan. 26, Feb. 2, 9 and 16; Feb. 23, March 2, 9 and 23; and March 30, April 6, 13 and 20.

The registration cost for each series is $20.

To register, please call 217-581-2712 or e-mail Linda Huddlestun at ldhuddlestun@eiu.edu. Detailed information regarding parking passes and a campus map will be sent after registration is finalized.

Charleston residents -- especially those from neighborhoods near the planned Illinois Route 130 location of Eastern Illinois University's Renewable Energy Center -- will have two public opportunities to discuss the facility's design with President Bill Perry.

Perry would like to hear suggestions from residents regarding the design of the facility, with particular attention to suggestions on external appearance. The date, location and time of this first meeting is 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Neal Welcome Center, located at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Douglas Street.

The second meeting, scheduled to discuss design and appearance changes that could be made, based on suggestions from residents, will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, at the Charleston Public Library, 712 Sixth St.

These meetings were scheduled in response to a series of three earlier informational meetings regarding the energy center to be constructed on campus.

The structure will be an economical and ecologically friendly answer to Eastern's critical power needs, made necessary by the deterioration of the university's current coal-fired power plant. Built circa 1925, the plant has been plagued by persistent equipment failures and replacement parts have been difficult, if not impossible, to find due to the age of the equipment.

The new construction will be a "biomass gasifier" that will supply the university's heating and cooling needs by burning plant matter.

Approximately 630 summer and fall graduates plan to participate in Eastern Illinois University's formal commencement ceremonies, scheduled to take place Saturday, Dec. 20, in Lantz Arena.

Ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Guest tickets are required for admission.

Graduating seniors from the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences and the College of Arts and Humanities will march in the morning ceremony, while students from the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Sciences and the School of Continuing Education (Bachelor of Arts in General Studies Degree) will march in the afternoon. Graduate students will march with their respective colleges.

President William L. Perry will preside over the ceremonies. Music will be provided by the EIU Wind Symphony.

Vincent Gutowski, who has been named the 2008 recipient of the Luis Clay Mendez Distinguished Service Award, will be publicly recognized at 2 p.m. for his superlative service to Eastern, to his profession and to the community during his 25 years at the university. This award is presented annually by Eastern's Faculty Senate.

Don Gher, co-founder and retired managing director/CIO of Coldstream Capital Management, will present the "Charge to the Class" during the morning ceremony. Sue Payton, secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, research and development, will speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony. Both Gher and Payton are EIU alumni.

Also addressing graduates will be Faculty Senate Chairperson John Henry Pommier and Student Body President Levi Bulgar.

Representing Eastern's Board of Trustees will be Julie Nimmons of Litchfield at 10 a.m. and Robert Webb of Mattoon at 2 p.m.

Traditionally, a commencement marshal leads the commencement procession while carrying the university mace, a symbol of honor accorded a faculty member. The commencement marshal for the 10 a.m. ceremony will be Kathleen O'Rourke, associate professor in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences, who will represent the Graduate School. Representing the School of Continuing Education at 2 p.m. will be Joy Russell, assistant professor of special education.

An EIU tradition also allows faculty members the honor of carrying the college banner for their colleges during the procession. Honorees are chosen by their respective colleges.

This year's faculty marshals for the morning ceremony are Rigoberto Chinchilla, assistant professor with the School of Technology, representing the Graduate School and the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences; Carla Honselman, assistant professor with the School of Family and Consumer Sciences, representing the LCBAS; Edmund Wehrle, assistant professor of history, representing the Graduate School and the College of Arts and Humanities; and Allan Horney, professor of music, representing the CAH.

This year's faculty marshals for the afternoon ceremony are John Dively, assistant professor, educational administration, representing the Graduate School and the College of Education and Professional Studies; Rebecca Barnett, instructor, student teaching, representing the CEPS; Ronan Bernas, professor of psychology, representing the Graduate School and the College of Sciences; Kathleen Bower, associate professor of geology/geography, representing the COS; and Richard Wandling, professor of political science, representing the School of Continuing Education.

Joseph Astrouski just wanted to get away, but he ended up getting so much more -- invaluable life lessons; a new self-image; and two national awards, including one for using his exchange-student experience to its fullest.

Astrouski chose to attend Eastern Illinois University in large part due to its impressive study-abroad offerings. His original plan was to spend a semester studying abroad, and when Eastern joined the National Student Exchange in Fall 2007, he added a U.S. exchange experience to his to-do list.

"I kind of just wanted to get out," the Belleville native said. "I guess you could call it wanderlust. I've lived in Illinois all my life -- same town, same house, for goodness' sake."

Through National Student Exchange, he packed his bags to head to Keene State College in New Hampshire for Fall 2008. It was there that he honed in on journalism as a major, thanks to his many exciting hands-on experiences and encouragement from faculty.

Due to New Hampshire's important role in the presidential election, he met several political power players. When Bill Clinton spoke at Keene State, Astrouski was in the front row and shook his hand.

And the presidential candidates were everywhere. He missed a chance coffee-shop encounter with Barack Obama by mere minutes, but he was able to attend speeches by John Edwards and Bill Richardson, talk shop for several minutes with Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul, and be one of a handful of people present for Rudy Guiliani's visit to a Republican donor's home.

"There I was in a living room with a presidential candidate," Astrouski said. "It was just so cool."

Other highlights of his time at Keene included working with the Citizenship Symposium, where he was able to escort filmmaker Ian Cheney and activist Javier Angulo around town; and attending lectures by Sister Helen Prejean (of "Dead Man Walking" fame) and Holocaust survivor Ernest Michel.

His big stories for the student newspaper -- including covering the mayoral race from start to finish, the New Hampshire primary and Michelle Obama's visit -- earned him the newspaper's Reporter of the Semester honor.

He won a national award for his coverage of riots that followed the Red Sox's World Series win, but nearly as noteworthy to him is the fact that he got hit by tear gas while interviewing revelers for the story.

"At the time, it was not that fun, but in retrospect, it was pretty cool," Astrouski said.

In Spring 2008, he shifted gears to spend a semester in Europe, participating in EIU's study abroad program. He studied at a university in Dublin, Ireland, and immersed himself in the city's environment.

"I would walk the streets of Dublin," Astrouski said. "When you live in the culture -- you do mundane stuff, you buy groceries, you mail a package -- you get to know the culture from the ground up."

Through his time living in Ireland and visiting 10 other European countries, perhaps the most educational moments came when dealing with the unexpected "rough stuff," he said.

"You think, well, if I can manage to get around Italy on the wrong train in the middle of the night, I can do anything," he said. "It changes your outlook on the world and the way you feel about yourself."

Astrouski's future plans might include working away from Illinois, but eventually, he wants to make his home in the Midwest. An EIU Presidential Scholar and member of the EIU Honors College, he credits his time away from home with further equipping him for success, not only from a resume standpoint, but also from a personal one.

"Aside from all the big experiences, one of the greatest things about my time away was meeting people my age with different backgrounds, who have the same kinds of questions about where they want to go and what they want to do as I do," he said. "That was worth the trip by itself."

Bonnie Irwin, dean of the EIU Honors College and EIU's National Student Exchange coordinator, said Astrouski has set a wonderful example for future EIU students who participate in the program and beyond.

"Joe values every opportunity he is given," she said. "He is an exceptional young man in many ways."

This fall, Astrouski learned he was the winner of the NSE's Bette Worley Student Achievement Award. The honor, which includes a $500 cash award, goes to the student who demonstrates the best use of his NSE participation, exemplifying the NSE president's high standards.

"In his one short semester at Keene State College, Joe was more involved in his temporary community and campus than most students can say after spending four years here," wrote a Keene State official in nominating Astrouski for the award. "Though Joe’s active participation while at KSC will indubitably have a lasting impact on him for years to come, Keene State is a better place after having Joe Astrouski attend for one semester."

Astrouski said the experience did, indeed, change his life, in two major ways.

"NSE gave me a sense of career -- the sense that there was something in particular that I wanted to do," he said. "It also gave me a greater sense of independence. I got to chart my own course, to experience things that were completely new, and to have an experience that was my own, and that's something that I really appreciate."

One mention of the name "Vincent Gutowski" and words of praise start flowing from Godson Obia's mouth.

"A stellar academic and a great person," Obia said of his friend and colleague. "Vince is such a giving person -- both to his students and to his department."

Kind words such as these and the truth behind them are what led to Gutowski being named the 2008 recipient of Eastern Illinois University's Luis Clay Mendez Distinguished Service Award, presented by the university's Faculty Senate.

The award, given annually since 2004, honors the memory of Clay, an EIU Spanish professor who died in 2003. Recipients must exemplify Clay's dedication via service to the university, their profession and the community-at-large (local, national and/or international).

Gutowski, a professor of geography at Eastern since 1983, will formally receive his award during the 2 p.m. commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 20, at Lantz Arena.

"I am pleased to be recognized for this award," Gutowski said. "People rarely have the privilege to know the individuals behind awards or scholarships. In this case, I did know Luis and this award is special to me because I knew his character.

"I first met Luis on the racquetball court, where he was the most aggressive, dominant player at the university. Luis was also a locker room philosopher. In more than one conversation with him, he explained how we should live our lives with 100 percent effort, whether at home, at work or at play. He was the type of person who practiced what he preached. He was tireless in all aspects of university duties and interactions with those around him.

"I have tried to take his advice and attitude and combine them with examples given by others who have positively influenced me over my lifetime. Life is short, live it to the fullest -- for your sake and for those around you who depend upon your actions. Thank you, Luis."

Obia, also a professor of geography and associate dean of Eastern's College of Sciences, said he and Gutowski met in 1994 when Obia arrived at the university. "Even then I saw the love he was putting into (Eastern's geography/geology) program," Obia said.

In fact, Gutowski has been credited for reviving the university's geography major, which had been eliminated just after his arrival to the school. The program has now grown to nearly 60 majors annually.

"And (Gustowski) has been instrumental in training some of our best students," Obia continued. "Every research project he does has student participation."

Obia further explained that Gutowski's research is the "quintessential university outreach."

Gutowski has participated extensively in local environmental issues, including serving on the Embarras River Management Association's board of directors and as chair of the council of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation 2000 Program. He has participated in several projects in Charleston, Coles County and Decatur, Ill., all while maintaining a strong career as a publishing scholar and an exemplary teaching record.

Obia added that Gutowski's teaching has extended beyond the traditional classroom as he has led students on field trips throughout the United States, including the southern Appalachians, the Coastal Plain and the Southwest. Multiple trips have been made to Wyoming, South Dakota and Colorado .

"It's important that our students get hands-on experience in this field," Obia said. "And (Vince) has made sure they received it."

In addition, Gutowski has generously used personal funds made via his consulting work to buy equipment for student use in EIU laboratories. He's been instrumental in helping his students receive scholarships, and frequently, along with his wife, Pam, hosts students at his home or takes them out to eat.

"So much of what he does is for the benefit of his students," Obia said. "And he does not look for credit.

"He gives so much. When he retires from here in 2010, he will leave a big hole -- a BIG hole."

Eastern Illinois University Treasurer Paul McCann has been chosen by President Bill Perry to serve as interim vice president for business affairs following the Dec. 31 retirement of Jeff Cooley.

A national search is currently underway for Cooley's permanent successor. Officials hope to have a candidate in place by April 1, 2009.

"I am very pleased that Paul agreed to serve Eastern as interim vice president," Perry said. "He will be very valuable to the university in this role, as we move into the upcoming legislative session and move forward with our university programs and projects."

McCann began serving Eastern as director of business services/treasurer in June 2006.

He received his bachelor's degree in business/accounting from Augustana College in Rock Island. In addition to his work at Murphey, Jenne and Jones (now known as Peat Marwick), McCann has served as a partner with the accounting firm of Doehring Winders and Co., LLP, and as chief financial officer with Behnke and Co., Inc., a Decatur insurance firm.

He also serves as treasurer of Macon Resources, a Decatur endeavor which offers job opportunities for the developmentally disabled.

Cooley, an EIU graduate and 25-year employee of the institution, was appointed vice president for business affairs in June 2001 by then-president Carol Surles, following a national search. He was no stranger to the office, having served as assistant vice president from 1997 to 1999, and as acting vice president for business affairs following the 1999 resignation of Morgan Olsen. Previously, Cooley served as director of internal auditing (1983-1997) at EIU.

A few small piles of overturned dirt are the only visible sign of Eastern Illinois University's plans to move forward with a new home for its Textbook Rental Service.

But officials know that those small mounds will soon be replaced by a 19,200-square-foot facility equipped to house the approximately 220,000 textbook volumes supporting the university's academic programs. In fact, the new building is expected to be completed by the end of the Fall 2009 semester.

"Over the past century, our students have saved literally tens of thousands of dollars -- if not more -- by having the opportunity to rent, rather than buy, the textbooks required of them for their classes," said Roger Kratochvil, chair of Eastern's Board of Trustees, as he prepared for the building's recent groundbreaking.

"It gives me great pleasure to be here today as we take the next step toward providing this very important service with a permanent building of its own."

The finished structure, to be located on existing university property along Edgar Drive and a few blocks west of Illinois Route 130, will house a loading dock, a receiving area, a workroom and staff offices. It also will be equipped with a stand-alone geothermal heating/cooling system.

Kratochvil was joined by students, staff, administrators and his fellow trustees for the groundbreaking, which took place immediately after a recent meeting in which the board authorized the issuance of revenue bonds for the project. Trustees also approved the hiring of contractors for the $2.85 million project.

Earlier in 2008, the board approved a $1-per-credit-hour increase to students' Textbook Rental Service fee. That fee, approved with EIU student support, will help pay for the new facility.

The history of Eastern's Textbook Rental Service began with the opening of the university in 1899. Students paid $1 for the benefit of being able to rent, rather than purchase, the books they would need for their classes.

The service originally was housed in Old Main. The move to its current location -- Pemberton Hall -- took place in 1969.

"By then," Kratochvil said, "the university had two new gymnasiums; there was no longer a need for the much smaller 'crackerbox' gymnasium located in (Pemberton Hall). Textbooks took over the space once used by school athletes and their fans."

Other than being temporarily housed in Buzzard Hall while some renovation work was taking place (circa 1980), the service has remained in Pemberton Hall ever since.

EIU's Textbook Rental Service currently reports an inventory of 220,000 volumes worth nearly $8 million. Some of those volumes -- time-honored novels, for example, as those used in English classes -- have been around for decades. Many others -- some costing upwards of $200 each -- need to be updated much more frequently.

"On average, our students save $600 to $800 annually by renting, rather than buying, their textbooks," Kratochvil said. "It is easy to figure out why the service is so popular among these young men and women -- and their parents."

(Shown, from left to right in the accompanying photos, are Roger Kratochvil, chair of Eastern's Board of Trustees; Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs; Carol Miller, director of Eastern's Textbook Rental Service; Julie Nimmons, member, BOT; Eric Wilber, executive vice president, Student Government; Levi Bulgar, student body president; Kyle Collom, student senator; and EIU President Bill Perry.)

Community residents are invited to join Eastern Illinois University's students and staff during the coming week for "Winter Wonderland" -- two festive gatherings scheduled to take place in Old Main (the "Castle").

Guests are welcome to attend the two holiday events, the first of which is scheduled to take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, and the second from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4.

Parking is available in most university lots (excluding handicapped spaces) after 5 p.m. Guests attending Thursday's "Winter Wonderland" gathering should park in the "X" lot, located east of Old Main.

Following an annual tradition, "Winter Wonderland" will showcase six holiday trees, five of which feature decorations made by students of Ashmore, Carl Sandburg, Jefferson, Lake Crest ( Oakland ) and Mark Twain elementary schools.

Refreshments and holiday music will be available at both gatherings.

EIU and President Bill Perry invite all to stop by and enjoy this year's holiday celebrations.

The Eastern Illinois University Department of Music will present its traditional historical rendition of the famous King’s College "Service of Lessons and Carols" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11.

The free concert, featuring the EIU Concert Choir and Collegium Musicum, will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2206 Fourth St., Charleston.

"Lessons and Carols," adapted from the service performed at King's College in Cambridge, England, since 1918, tells the Christmas story through Bible readings interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols and hymns.

The musicians will perform traditional carols, as well as Buxtehude's "Das Neugeborne Kindelein" and Schütz's "Hodie Christus Natus Est," accompanied by Sinfonia. The ensembles are led by Richard Robert Rossi, conductor.

The concert is sponsored in part by a gift from Christine Gordon.

For more information on this and other EIU music events, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra and EIU Choral Ensembles will present two classic holiday pieces -- "The Nutcracker Suite" and "Gloria" -- at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.

The Holiday Concert, which will also feature soprano Janet McCumber, will be held in the Dvorak Concert Hall, Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" No. 1, Op. 71, was an instant hit when it was first performed in March 1892. The piece, which includes the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," was Tchaikovsky’s last ballet and one of his final works.

Francis Poulenc's "Gloria," written in 1959, was also one of his final works. Some critics said it bordered on the sacrilegious, and Poulenc -- described by Claude Rostand as “something of the monk and something of the rascal" -- seemed pleased with the reaction. Poulenc said that in writing "Gloria," he thought of Gozzoli's frescoes "where the angels stick out their tongues" and also of some serious Benedictine monks he one day saw playing soccer.

McCumber is in her 13th year as the director of the Concert Choir and three extracurricular ensembles at Villa Grove High School. She also teaches music theory and music appreciation, as well as running a private voice studio in her home. McCumber, who is active in the Illinois Music Educators Association District V and the Illinois chapter of the American Choral Directors’ Association, has adjudicated at festivals and contests in the area, and has conducted choral festivals in northwestern and northeastern Illinois.

McCumber holds a bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Illinois and is currently working on a master's degree in orchestral and choral conducting at EIU, where she sings in the Concert Choir and Camerata Singers.

Tickets are $12 for general admission, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students. Reservations are strongly recommended. For reservations, contact Doudna Patron Services at doudnatix@eiu.edu or 217-581-3110, or visit the Doudna Box Office 2-6 p.m. weekdays (closed Nov. 24-28).

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Eastern Illinois University's outstanding wind, brass and percussion students will help usher in the holiday spirit with a concert featuring well-known carols in a variety of genres.

The Instrumental Division Holiday Concert, a new EIU tradition, is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in the Dvorak Concert Hall, Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The concert, sponsored by the EIU Department of Music, will include genres from jazz to classical, performed by chamber groups to large ensembles.

The program includes "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "Silent Night" and "Angels We Have Heard on High" by the Castle Brass; Beethoven's "Quintet" Op. 71 and IV. "Rondo" by the Doudna West Winds; "Coventry Carol" by the Flute Choir; "Horns A'Caroling" by the Horn Choir; "Good King Wenceslas" by the Jazz Ensemble; "Carol of the Kings" by the Percussion Ensemble; Dvorak's String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96 “American” by the String Quartet; "Sleigh Ride" and Gruber's "Stille Nacht" by the Wind Symphony; and "Rondo" by the Wind Symphony Clarinet Quartet.

The student groups are coached by EIU studio faculty Rebecca Johnson (flute), Magie Smith (clarinet), Katie McBain (horn), Terence Mayhue (percussion) and Maureen Murchie (violin/viola), with additional instruction provided by studio instructors Joe Martin (oboe), Sam Fagaly (saxophone), Mark Degoti (trumpet), Al Horney (trombone/euphonium) and Todd French (tuba).

Paul Johnston (piano), David Fink (bass) and Fagaly provide instruction for featured jazz studies students.

Fagaly is the conductor of the EIU Jazz Ensemble; Mayhue, the EIU Percussion Ensemble; and Milton Allen, the EIU Wind Symphony.

Tickets are $12 for general admission, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students. Reservations are strongly recommended. For reservations, contact Doudna Patron Services at doudnatix@eiu.edu or 217-581-3110, or visit the Doudna Box Office 2-6 p.m. weekdays (closed Nov. 24-28).

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

Eastern Illinois University President William Perry announced today that items related to the institution's proposed Renewable Energy Center have been pulled from the agenda of Friday's (Nov. 21, 2008) Board of Trustees meeting.

He also issued the following statement:

"A new steam plant for Eastern Illinois University is the first step in providing reliable capacity of thermal energy necessary for our campus. The need for replacement is not in doubt, given the age of our current steam plant. We began consideration of a 'green' steam plant in 2007. Over the period of development, many individuals devoted considerable time and expertise to this project.

"During the development of the project, an unforeseen factor, the current economic downturn, has adversely affected the feasibility of the project. Specifically, credit markets have in the past few weeks considerably tightened. The energy savings under the project must be sufficient to finance the project. The interest rates and terms available in the credit markets do not allow this for a project of this magnitude. Therefore, the project is being put on hold, pending further analysis and assessment of credit markets.

"We are still committed to a 'green option' to our steam plant replacement. This is consistent with our university priority of sustainability and our past achievements and actions in recycling, cutting energy consumption, and cutting water consumption. Given the ongoing uncertainty in credit markets in the near term, we will also consider alternative funding models for steam plant replacement.

"We have learned from our open informational meetings that many in our community were not aware of the most recent campus master plan changes made in 2002, despite the approval of the changes in a public Board of Trustees meeting and any related press coverage that may have occurred. Those campus master plan changes included a planned relocation of the steam plant function to the location proposed in the current project. Since the location and form of a replacement steam plant are major issues, I will be forming a group, to include community members, for consultation with regard to these and associated issues.

"The university's Council on University Planning and Budget recommended in Spring 2008 that another update to the campus master plan update occur. I accepted that recommendation and we will be updating that plan. The community will have representation on the task force that works on the update. We will use Web sites, press releases, open forums and other means to fully inform campus and community on the details of the proposed update, well in advance of any formal action."

Since its inception in 1953, the Eastern Illinois University Foundation has been dependent upon the generosity of its members and volunteers to fulfill its mission of support to the university.

And, since 1993, the foundation has honored philanthropists in recognition of their gifts and dedication to EIU. This year was no exception.

Harold Marker, Wesley Whiteside and Patrick and Genie Lenihan, all of Charleston, have been named the EIU Foundation's Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year.

Harold Marker, who attended Eastern from first grade through college, earning a degree in physics in 1937, became one of the nine founding members of the EIU Foundation in 1953. He has maintained a continuous membership since that time and, therefore, is the longest serving member in the foundation's history.

Marker also served as board president from 1959 to 1961, and is an honorary lifetime member in the foundation. He recently established the Dorothy and Harold Marker Fund to enhance educational opportunities for EIU students.

Wesley Whiteside retired from Eastern after more than 27 years as a professor of botany. He is known for his botanical gardens that are showcased in the Garden Ramble each Memorial Day weekend.

Through a planned gift, Whiteside created a living trust which will someday transfer his farmland, house and more than five acres of arboretum and botanical gardens to the foundation. He has also established the Wesley Whiteside Botanical Gardens Fund, which he has funded via an endowment that will provide sufficient funds to allow the university to nurture and maintain the gardens.

Patrick and Genie Lenihan retired from Eastern after a total of 54 years of combined service. Patrick Lenihan served as a professor of economics, while Genie Lenihan supervised the psychology department's master's program. The couple's gifts represent a first in graduate education at Eastern -- the creation of the very first two graduate fellowships. The Genie Lenihan Graduate Fellowship in Clinical Psychology and the Patrick Lenihan Graduate Fellowship in Economics were funded with endowments and will be given to master's degree-seeking candidates with a preference to students who plan to pursue careers in those selected fields.

In addition to its more traditional awards, the EIU Foundation also honored a fifth individual -- Charleston resident Ivan "Ike" Kennard -- by naming him to the Honorary Lifetime Member Class. Past inductees into this prestigious class, which recognizes exceptional and significant support for the university, include Harold Marker, Lou Hencken and Jan Tarble.

The Little Campus restaurant, affectionately known as Ike's, was a popular destination for generations of students. But owner Ike Kennard's impact on the university and its students extended far beyond the walls of his restaurant. In friendship and support, Kennard went out of his way to assist EIU students, serving lunches to those who couldn't pay, lending an ear to those who wanted to talk and giving jobs to those who needed work.

For decades, Kennard remained not only a friend, but a standard institution in Charleston and at Eastern, becoming the best source of information on the "who" and "where" of other alumni who, to this day, consistently ask about "Ike." Kennard continues to be a steadfast supporter of EIU, the Panther Club and student athletes.

The Eastern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble will present a wide variety of jazz in its Nov. 20 concert, which will feature many excellent student soloists, as well as faculty jazz pianist Paul Johnston. The concert is to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Dvorak Concert Hall.

Among the selections are fresh arrangements of well-known standards, including “April in Paris” and “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” a masterful medley arrangement of “Come Saturday Morning” and “Theme from Daphnis and Chloe,” and many other traditional and contemporary pieces for big band.

 The EIU Jazz Ensemble is directed by Sam Fagaly. The group has received numerous awards, including Outstanding Ensemble and Solo Performance citations at the Notre Dame and Elmhurst College jazz festivals, as well as Downbeat magazine's prestigious "DB" award.

The band released its first CD, "Eastern Time Zone," in 1994. Its latest recording, "In The Pocket," is currently available. The group has been featured at many conferences and festivals, including the Illinois Music Educators Association conference and the International Association for Jazz Educators convention.

Each year, the EIU Jazz Ensemble performs with special guest artists, which have included legendary figures such as Mel Torme, Dizzy Gillespie, Diane Schuur and Joe Williams.
Admission will be $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students. Advance tickets are available in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via email at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

This program is presented by the EIU music department in cooperation with the Doudna Fine Arts Center, divisions of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities. The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

Doudna Fine Arts Center public arts programs are funded by the New and Emerging Artists Series Endowment, by the Excellence in Fine Arts Fund, and by the EIU departments and other patrons as listed. For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Eastern Illinois University officials recently announced plans to move forward with construction of a Renewable Energy Center on the east side of campus.

The result will be an economical and ecologically friendly answer to Eastern's critical power needs, made necessary by the deterioration of the university's current coal-fired power plant. Built circa 1925, the plant has been plagued by persistent equipment failures and replacement parts have been difficult, if not impossible, to find due to the age of the equipment.

In an effort to share information and answer questions about the new facility, a series of three informational meetings have been scheduled: 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, Life Science Building, Room 3080, EIU campus; 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, Charleston/Mattoon Room (third floor), MLK Jr. Union, EIU campus; and 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, Charleston Public Library, Rotary Room A.

The public is invited to any or all of these meetings, where campus officials plan to present the concept of the new center and respond to all questions.

Plans have groundbreaking scheduled to take place in Spring 2009, with a plant "commissioning" in Fall 2010. The new construction will occupy existing university property located near the intersection of 18th Street (Illinois Route 130) and Edgar Drive.

In short, the new Renewable Energy Center is a "biomass gasifier" that will supply the university's heating and cooling needs by burning plant matter. Eastern will be permitted to burn two-inch virgin, or non-treated, wood chips obtained as by-products from the lumber industry.

While considering alternatives to the old steam plant, university officials factored in campus needs, as well as environmental impact. The location of the Renewable Energy Center along Illinois 130 -- a site chosen in accordance with Eastern's Campus Master Plan -- will allow easy access to semitrailers hauling product, while keeping the heavy vehicles off the narrow roads in the center of campus.

According to Gary Reed, director of EIU's Facilities Planning and Management, the Renewable Energy Center will normally receive four to five semitrailers a day during normal business hours (between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays). There may be additional trucks on Fridays as the university prepares accordingly for the energy needs of the coming weekend.

The wood chips being delivered will be much more "clean burning" than the coal used currently, thus reducing the overall air emissions being released into the environment. Reed said that wood gasification is similar in many respects to a gas furnace in most homes, and that area residents need not worry about odors or smoke like those associated with a regular wood stove.

Ash from the burns will be collected in closed dumpsters at a rate of about one cubic yard in a 24-hour period. According to Reed, the university is looking into uses for the ash, which is high in potash and could possibly be used as fertilizer.

"EIU is no stranger to initiating environmentally friendly projects," Reed said. "Since 1995, the university has reduced its consumption of electricity, fuels and water by more than 30 percent. We were extremely proud when the 93rd Illinois General Assembly recognized Eastern as the university having the lowest energy cost per square foot among all Illinois public universities."

Aesthetically speaking, the center will sit 125 feet west of Illinois 130. The tallest object on the project will be an approximately 120-foot-high bucket elevator, responsible for loading wood chips into the fuel silo. The wood gasifier chimney will stand at approximately 50 feet. (For comparison purposes, Eastern's water tower south of Old Main is 135 feet tall.)

According to Reed, plant operation will be neighborhood-friendly -- quiet with low light, especially during the evening hours. "Treescape" will be maintained to soften the development and blend into the neighborhood environment as well as possible.

The projected cost of Eastern's Renewable Energy Center represents approximately half of the roughly $80 million Eastern intends to spend on renovations and new energy conservation projects identified through a campus-wide audit conducted by Honeywell International. Measures identified by Honeywell are designed to be self-funded with energy savings, and Honeywell guarantees that Eastern will have utility and/or operational cost savings at least equal to the costs of financing the conservation projects.

In addition to the power plant, the audit examined electrical upgrades, upgrades to the university's electrical grid connection and possibilities for wind energy generation.

As a result, Eastern is also planning to construct a small wind farm -- composed of three 1.5 megawatt General Electric wind turbines -- somewhere near the Charleston community. Exact locations have not yet been announced, pending ongoing discussions, Reed said.

Eastern Illinois University's theatre arts department will present "Medea," a 1946 adaptation of Euripides' classic fifth-century B.C. drama, this month in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Black Box.

Performances of Robinson Jeffers' play are set for 7 p.m. Nov. 14, 15, 17, 18, as well as 2 p.m. Nov. 16. Admission will be $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students.

"Medea," one of the great tragedies of classical Greece, evokes powerful emotions through the story of a strong woman who is pulled in many directions and ultimately chooses total revenge upon those who would wrong her.

The production is directed by Jean K. Wolski. Members of the cast are Cyndi Golata as The Nurse, David Stevens as The Tutor, Katy Kruzic as First Woman of Corinth, Amber Nail as the Second Woman of Corinth, Shelly Hanson as the Third Woman of Corinth, Bailey Murphy as Medea, Tim Lindeman as Creon, Tim Tholl as Jason, Robert Mendoza as Aegeus, Kirk Dulin as Jason's Slave, Elyse Waggoner as the Nanny, and Anastasia and Lily Zerbst as The Children.

Advance tickets are available in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

Doudna Fine Arts Center public arts programs are funded by the New and Emerging Artists Series Endowment, by the Excellence in Fine Arts Fund, and by the EIU departments and other patrons as listed.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Eastern Illinois University Music Theatre and Opera will present "A Comedic Evening of Overbearing and Manipulative Women … and the Men who Love Them" as its first production in the new Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Performances of these humorous one-acts are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 15, in The Theatre. All of the segments will be performed in English.

The evening will begin with the opening two scenes from "Rita" by Donizetti, where we meet the sweet (we think) Rita and her clumsy, bumbling, abused and overall pathetic husband Beppo. Quickly, we see how she changes from sweet to sour when he admits to having shattered “her favorite antique.”

Joseph Haydn’s "La Canterina" ("The Songstress"), a classic opera buffa in that it was designed to be rather silly, is about a beautiful young maiden (Gasparina) learning to sing, and her pompous benefactor and teacher (Don Pellagio), whom she uses for every penny he has. Caught up in the mix are Gasparina’s overbearing “mother” figure (Apollonia) and a young, naïve, scared suitor (Don Ettore).

“The Little Harlequinade," an intermezzo by Antonio Salieri, will be given a modern setting. A woman who has invited two men to become her husband leads to an altercation when they all arrive at the park on the same wedding day. Some unexpected twists and turns ensue.

The stage and musical director is Adam Stich, who joined the EIU music department this fall and also conducts the University Mixed Chorus. This production marks his directing debut at EIU.

Stich, who previously spent five years teaching music and theatre in South Carolina public schools, is an accomplished actor, having performed in more than 40 productions, including "Into the Woods" (as The Baker) and "Little Shop of Horrors" (as Seymour).

Stich received his bachelor's degree with a double major in music and theatre from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., before winning a graduate assistantship to the University of South Carolina, where he completed his master's degree in conducting, as well as the coursework for his doctorate in choral conducting.

Tom Hawk is handling set and lighting design, and Jayne Ball-Saret is in charge of costume design. Natalia Negru is the accompanist.

Admission will be $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students. Advance tickets are available in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via email at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

This program is presented by the EIU music department in cooperation with the the Doudna Fine Arts Center, divisions of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities. The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

Doudna Fine Arts Center public arts programs are funded by the New and Emerging Artists Series Endowment, by the Excellence in Fine Arts Fund, and by the EIU departments and other patrons as listed.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

The Eastern Illinois University Wind Symphony and Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School Concert Band will present a Veterans Day concert, "The Call of Duty," as a tribute to those who have served our country.

The concert is to begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center’s Dvorak Concert Hall.

The first half of the program will feature the PBL High School Concert Band, directed by a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps, Timothy Hess, who currently serves in the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest. Their portion of the program will include Harold Walters’ "Duty, Honor, Country," a piece featuring narration of text adapted from an address given by Gen. Douglas MacArthur in May 1962.

The second half of the concert will feature the EIU Wind Symphony, the flagship ensemble of EIU music department's band area. The 47-member Wind Symphony is conducted by Milton Allen, Eastern’s director of bands, with guest conductors Barry Houser (associate director of bands) and Joshua Kumpula.

The EIU Wind Symphony program will incorporate a diverse array of music influenced by the American spirit, including Randall Thompson’s "Alleluia" and "Armed Forces Salute," a medley featuring each branch of the U.S. military which will honor veterans in the audience.

Admission will be $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students. Advance tickets are available in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via email at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

This program is presented by the EIU music department in cooperation with the the Doudna Fine Arts Center, divisions of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities. The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

Doudna Fine Arts Center public arts programs are funded by the New and Emerging Artists Series Endowment, by the Excellence in Fine Arts Fund, and by the EIU departments and other patrons as listed.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Mike Lawrence contends that what many Illinois residents are calling a state budget crisis is really a leadership crisis.

"Leaders have let us down by not dealing squarely with the state economy," he said, adding that neither the media nor the public has held public officials as accountable as they should have.

Lawrence, former press secretary and senior policy adviser to Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar for nearly a decade, will discuss his topic at length when he presents "Illinois in Crisis: How Our Leaders Have Failed Us and How We Have Failed Ourselves." Admission to his address, set to begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, in Eastern Illinois University's Buzzard Hall Auditorium, is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the presentation.

Lawrence comes to the EIU campus as the third speaker in the Edgar Lecture Series, established in 2007 by Edgar and his wife, Brenda, in continuing support of their alma mater. The series allows the university to host two speakers a year -- one in the fall and one in the spring. Lectures are to focus primarily on state government and shall address current issues in state government and their historical implications.

The Edgars personally launched the series, with the former governor speaking a year ago and Mrs. Edgar taking her turn behind the lectern in Spring 2008.

Lawrence, who retired in October as director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, said he was honored to be invited as the series' third speaker and looks forward to seeing the former governor in attendance.

Lawrence joined Edgar's staff after working as a journalist for 25 years. During his newspaper career, he specialized in Illinois state government and politics. He served stints as managing editor and editorial page editor of the Quad-City Times and wrote a political column that was syndicated to more than 40 Illinois newspapers.

Lawrence capped his newspaper career as chief of the state capital bureaus for Lee Enterprises and the Chicago Sun-Times.

He was honored by the Associated Press Editors Association for exemplary service to other journalists and newspapers in Illinois and received the Paul Simon Award for Public Service from the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

Lawrence was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1998 from Knox College, his alma mater.

He served on the Illinois Courts Commission, which decides cases in which disciplinary charges have been brought against judges. He and the former president of Governors State University were the first non-judges appointed to serve on that commission. He also served as one of only three members on the State Board of Ethics.

A live telephone interview with Eastern Illinois University alumna Joan Allen will highlight this week's Embarras Valley Film Festival, which honors the Oscar-nominated actress's much-celebrated work.

EIU alumnus and Charleston native Dann Gire, a film critic for the Arlington Heights Daily Herald and president of the Chicago Film Critics Association, will conduct the interview as part of his keynote presentation, "Joan Allen: Eastern's Elusive Alumna," at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Lecture Hall.

The film festival, Nov. 4-8, will include speakers, film screenings (including "The Crucible," "The Contender" and "Pleasantville"), a reception and more. A complete schedule is available online at http://www.evff.net. All events are free and open to the public.

Joan Allen attended EIU, where she met actor John Malkovich before transferring to Northern Illinois University. Malkovich later invited her to join the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago.

Fitting for a festival honoring an EIU alumna, many of the EVFF presenters are EIU alumni who have found major film-related success.

Craig Titley and Luke Ryan, both EIU alumni and Mattoon natives, will lead a screenwriting workshop at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Room 2690, Doudna Fine Arts Center. Titley was a screenwriter for “Scooby Doo," as well as “Cheaper by the Dozen” and its sequel. Ryan, screenwriter for the “Harold and Kumar” franchise, is now vice president of theatrical productions at MGM Studios.

EIU graduate Andrew Rodgers, executive director of the RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., will be among speakers during the Friday afternoon symposium in the Doudna Lecture Hall.

The festival is co-sponsored by the EIU College of Arts and Humanities Excellence in Fine Arts Fund; the Doudna Fine Arts Center; Booth Library, EIU; the Coles County Arts Council; and the Charleston Public Library.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus in Charleston, is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. Its public arts programs are funded by the New and Emerging Artists Series Fund, by the Excellence in Fine Arts Fund, and by other patrons as listed. For Doudna information and Patron Services, email doudna@eiu.edu or call 217-581-3110; information is also available at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Three of Eastern Illinois University's premier music ensembles will present music by one of the world's greatest composers in their "Mostly Mozart" concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16.

The 4 p.m. concert -- featuring the Eastern Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Collegium Musicum (Early Music Ensemble) and Concert Choir, as well as special guest artist Magie Smith on clarinet -- will be held in Dvorak Concert Hall, Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Selections are to include Mozart's Eine Kleine Nacht Musik, "Ave Verum” and Regina Coeli, K276 in C Major, and "Movement II: Adagio" from his Clarinet Concerto in A Major, KV 622.

“Mozart in his music was probably the most reasonable of the world’s great composers," Aaron Copland once wrote. "It is the happy balance between flight and control, between sensibility and self-discipline, simplicity and sophistication of style that is his particular province. ... Mozart tapped once again the source from which all music flows, expressing himself with a spontaneity and refinement and breath-taking rightness that has never since been duplicated.”

Magie Smith, the concert's guest artist, joined the faculty at EIU in 2006. Smith, who has been an active solo, orchestral and chamber musician, holds a master's degree in clarinet performance from The Ohio State University, where she is also currently a doctoral candidate.

While at Ohio State, Smith served as the graduate teaching associate for the clarinet studio and also held responsibilities in the music education department.  She also holds a bachelor's degree in clarinet performance from Western Kentucky University. Her principal teachers include John Carmichael, Tod Kerstetter, Lee Levine and James Pyne.

Admission will be $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and EIU employees, and $5 for students. Advance tickets are available in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance. Tickets may also be reserved via email at doudnatix@eiu.edu.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, a division of EIU's College of Arts and Humanities, is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue in Charleston.

Doudna Fine Arts Center public arts programs are funded by the New and Emerging Artists Series Endowment, by the Excellence in Fine Arts Fund, and by the EIU departments and other patrons as listed. The Eastern Symphony Orchestra is sponsored in part by the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

On-campus students at Eastern Illinois University will open their doors to area children to provide a fun and safe environment to go trick-or-treating this Halloween.

All activities are free of charge.

On Oct. 31, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council will host "Ghost, Greeks and Goblins" from 5 to 8 p.m. in Greek Court, EIU's on-campus fraternity and sorority housing complex. Each chapter will welcome trick-or-treaters at their individual houses, with fun and games being hosted by the entire EIU Greek community in the Delta Zeta chapter room. Scheduled activities include pumpkin painting and a mummy wrap (with toilet paper) for all children wishing to participate.

Greek Court is located on the southeast end of campus, just off Roosevelt Avenue.

Not to be outdone, some residence halls will open up their main lobbies to trick-or-treaters. Children will be welcomed in Taylor Hall from 5 to 8 p.m. and in Lawson Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. Halloween night. (Both halls are located just off Fourth Street, north of the Newman Catholic Center and south of EIU's Coleman Hall.)

Both halls will host activities, with the residents of Lawson Hall focusing efforts on showing children how to make paper pumpkins and cookie decorating.

Parents are asked to escort their children at all times, to wait for an EIU escort to assist them while in buildings, and to use a separate bag for candy collected in the residence halls, Greek Court and off-campus locations.

The fourth annual Embarras Valley Film Festival, honoring Eastern Illinois University alumna Joan Allen, will take place Nov. 4-8 on the EIU campus and in downtown Charleston.

Allen will be interviewed via telephone by EIU alumnus and Charleston native Dann Gire as part of his keynote presentation, "Joan Allen: Eastern's Elusive Alumna," at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Lecture Hall. Gire is a film critic for the Arlington Heights Daily Herald and president of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

Throughout the week, there will be afternoon sessions and evening film screenings with discussions led by members of the EIU faculty, as well as film screenings at the Will Rogers Theatre and an afternoon reception at Miller's Banquet Hall on Saturday.

A complete schedule, as well as information on Allen's career, is available online at http://www.evff.net. All events are free and open to the public.

Many of the EVFF presenters are area natives who have found major film-related success.

Craig Titley and Luke Ryan, both Mattoon natives and EIU alumni, will lead a screenwriting workshop at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Room 2690, Doudna Fine Arts Center. Titley was a screenwriter for “Scooby Doo," as well as “Cheaper by the Dozen” and its sequel. Ryan, screenwriter for the “Harold and Kumar” franchise, is now vice president of theatrical productions at MGM Studios.

And EIU graduate Andrew Rodgers, executive director of the RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., will be among speakers during the Friday afternoon symposium, also to be held in the Lecture Hall.

Other speakers during the week will include Julia Lesage, founder and publisher of “Jump Cut: A Review of Contemporary Media”; Chuck Kleinhans, co-editor of “Jump Cut"; and Murray Pomerance, editor for several books on film, including SUNY Press' "Horizons of Cinema."

The EVFF will also feature activities for area youth. A stop-motion animation workshop for ages 11-18 will begin at 10 a.m. Nov. 1 at the Tarble Arts Center. A workshop for younger children, "Magic Picture Shows," and a story hour will be held the morning of Saturday, Nov. 8, in the Charleston Public Library, 712 Sixth St.

The festival will conclude Saturday, Nov. 8, with showings of two critically acclaimed Joan Allen films at the Will Rogers Theatre, 705 Monroe Ave.: “Pleasantville” at 2 p.m., and “The Contender” at 7 p.m. They will be introduced by Dann Gire and Chuck Koplinski, who reviews movies for WCIA-TV in Champaign and several newspapers, including the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette and Springfield’s Illinois Times.

Between films, a reception with a 1950s flair will be held at Miller's Banquet Facility, featuring period food and music. Student films created during the stop-motion workshop and by students in Effingham and Teutopolis high schools’ film production programs will be screened at the reception.

The festival is co-sponsored by the EIU College of Arts and Humanities Excellence in Fine Arts Fund; the Doudna Fine Arts Center; Booth Library, EIU; the Coles County Arts Council; and the Charleston Public Library.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center, located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus in Charleston, is a division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities. Its public arts programs are funded by the New and Emerging Artists Series Fund, by the Excellence in Fine Arts Fund, and by other patrons as listed. For Doudna information and Patron Services, e-mail doudna@eiu.edu or call 217-581-3110; information is also available at http://www.eiu.edu/doudna.

Eastern Illinois University will celebrate the formal rededication of the newly expanded and renovated Doudna Fine Arts Center next weekend with the help of three Illinois arts legends. The celebration, to take place Oct. 24-26, will include the dedication of a major sculpture by Ruth Duckworth, a concert by legendary gospel and soul great Mavis Staples, and comedy by the venerable comedy troupe Second City.

The weekend will also include several other special events and performances.

Events begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24, with the dedication of Duckworth's major bronze sculpture “Attendant Spirit" at the north entrance. Duckworth is a world-renowned Modernist sculptor whose work has been shown at the Smithsonian and on CBS's "Sunday Morning."

That evening, gospel and soul great Staples will present the rededication concert at 7:30 p.m. in Dvorak Concert Hall. Staples rose to fame as part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Staple Singers in the 1960s ("I'll Take You There," "Respect Yourself") and has gone on to a critically acclaimed solo career.

According to a Chicago Tribune review of a recent Staples performance, she "sang with a voice that has long distinguished her from the R&B greats of her era and those who reach for that crown today.” Rolling Stone magazine recently proclaimed, “Mavis Staples is the most underrated diva of the century. She has an almost superhuman ability to implant the pure power of passion and emotion."

Second City -- known for helping to launch the careers of comedy greats including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Mike Myers and Stephen Colbert -- will perform “The Pratfall of Civilization" at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 in The Theatre.

The rededication ceremony of the Doudna Fine Arts Center, set for 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, on the south side of the building, will include comments by Antoine Predock, the internationally acclaimed architect who designed the center.

Predock will also speak at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in the Lecture Hall. Predock is the 2006 recipient of the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement and the 2007 Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum's Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Design.

Charleston native Krin Gabbard will present a reading from his latest book, "Hotter Than That: The Trumpet, Jazz, and American Culture," at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 in the Lecture Hall. A question-and-answer period and book-signing will follow. Gabbard --  the son of two long-time Eastern faculty members, the late Glendon “Gabby” Gabbard and the late Lucy Gabbard -- is a professor of comparative literature and English at Stony Brook University.
A campus and community open house will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Tours will be available, and children's activities are planned.

The rededication celebration will conclude at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, with a showcase concert of major ensembles from the EIU music department to rededicate the center’s Dvorak Concert Hall.

All events are free, and the public is invited. However, due to limited seating, free tickets are required to attend the Staples concert, Second City performance, and Dvorak rededication concert. To obtain these free tickets, contact the Doudna Box Office at 217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu.

For more information about these and other Doudna events, see www.eiu.edu/doudna, contact the Box Office, or email doudna@eiu.edu.

The Doudna is located one block west of Ninth Street at Garfield Avenue on the EIU campus.
The building contains five public venues -- the Dvorak Concert Hall, The Theatre, the Black Box studio theatre, a recital hall and a lecture hall -- and also houses EIU's departments of art, music and theatre arts, as well as the office of the dean of the College of Arts and Humanities.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center offers a full array of arts programming and special activities for area schools. Programming includes the New and Emerging Artists Series, other series and performances, lectures, exhibitions and related events. A division of the EIU College of Arts and Humanities, the Doudna Fine Arts Center’s public arts programs are funded by the New and Emerging Artists Series, the Excellence in Fine Arts Fund, and by the departments and other patrons as listed.

Tsuyoshi Hasegawa's 1995 book, "Racing the Enemy: Stalin, Truman and the Atomic Bomb," compelled historians to re-think the end of the World War II.

Members of the EIU and local communities will have the opportunity to judge for themselves when Hasegawa speaks on Eastern's campus at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. Admission is free and open to the public for the event, scheduled to take place in the Lecture Hall of the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Hasegawa, a specialist in modern Russian/Soviet history and the Cold War, promises to present a revised understanding of the end of the war in the Pacific. The conventional understanding has been that the Japanese surrendered as a consequence of the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Hasegawa's investigation into the Japanese, Soviet and American archives -- itself ground-breaking, since very few historians of the period have working knowledge of all three languages -- and Soviet archives (which have only been accessible since the 1990s) revealed that the Japanese responded less to the threat of atomic bombs than to the threat of the Soviet invasion and rapid advance into Chinese territory.

Historians believe this revelation compels a reconsideration of America's decision to drop the two atomic bombs, said Anita Shelton, chair of the EIU history department, a co-sponsor of the event.

Hasegawa, a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has research interests in two areas -- the Russian Revolution of 1917; and foreign relations involving Russia, Japan and the United States, specifically on Russo-Japanese relations, the end of the Pacific War and the Cold War in Asia. He is also the former co-director of UCSB's Center for Cold War Studies.

In a more recent work -- a collection of essays titled "East Asia's Haunted Present: Historical Memories and the Resurgence of Nationalism" (Praeger Security International, 2008) -- Hasegawa and Kazuhiko Togo, public policymaker-in-residence at UCSB, explore the bitter historical memories that have resurfaced in recent years and have led to contentious issues between Japan and its neighbors.

Hasegawa's lecture at Eastern will be followed by a question-and-answer session. His appearance is being co-sponsored by the James Jones Society, the EIU College of Arts and Humanities, and the history and English departments.

A century ago, Eastern Illinois State Normal School became home to the Illinois' only state-funded residence hall, allowing students to live on campus for the first time.

A lot has changed since 1908, including Eastern Illinois University's name, but Pemberton Hall -- and the camaraderie it inspires among the women who live there -- remain the same.

To honor the 100-year milestone, Eastern Illinois University's Alumni Association is planning several events for Pemberton Hall alumnae and the community at large. The festivities coincide with EIU Homecoming.

"Celebrating the Legacy and Embracing the Future: Commemorating 100 Years of Pemberton Hall" will begin with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at Pemberton Hall. Tours of the building and the rest of campus will be offered.

The Pemberton Hall Centennial Commemoration is to begin at 4 p.m. Friday in the former dining hall, featuring speakers and the dedication of a time capsule.

Two EIU graduates who lived in Pemberton Hall, Jill Nilsen (1974, 1975) and June Giffin (1942), will talk about the history of the building and share memories of their time there.

Nilsen is now EIU's vice president for external affairs, and Giffin's EIU career included working as a substitute teacher at the lab school before working in three campus departments. Other officials expected to attend include EIU President Bill Perry and EIU Board of Trustees Chairman Roger Kratochvil.

Former residents will be donating items for the Ladies of Pemberton Hall Time Capsule, which will remain on display in Pemberton Hall. It is expected to be reopened in 2058.
A time capsule buried in 1961, when an addition was built onto the north side of the building, is to be dug up by current hall residents at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on the north east end of the building. Any recovered items will be exhibited at the open house.

Many other historic items will be on display, as well, including the original china and silver from the dining room. A 1942 graduate provided the etiquette book she received as a Pemberton Hall resident; its rules included being in the rooms by 10:30 p.m. and dressing up for dinner each day. Boys were not allowed in the hall.

A new acrylic portrait of state Sen. Stanton Pemberton of Oakland, who secured funding for the building after five years of championing the cause in the Legislature, will be unveiled. The painting, by current Pemberton Hall secretary Sandee Ibbotson, will reside in the building. Ibbotson also painted a watercolor of the building's exterior, and each person who attends the festivities will receive an 11-inch-by-14-inch copy.

Ten current Pemberton Hall residents are to be dressed in period costumes for each decade Pemberton has been in existence, bringing some of the building's history to life.

Events have been coordinated by Chelsea Frederick from the EIU Alumni Association, with much help from Mark Hudson, director of University Housing and Dining Services.

"Celebrating our history and reflecting upon it is an important part of understanding who we are," Hudson said.

Marian Kidwell, a 1940 graduate who lives in Donnellson, is the most senior alumna who plans to attend.

Kidwell vividly recalls her years living in Pemberton Hall, from the nightly get-togethers in girls' rooms (including having food delivered from the restaurant across Fourth Street) to the meals in the lovely dining hall (the food was typically good, she said, excluding the so-called mutton served on Fridays).

Kidwell lived in one of the most coveted rooms in the building, Room 206, a single room on the south end. It had a bay window and was just steps away from the gymnasium door.
"It had a lot of girls kind of wanting it and wishing for it," Kidwell said.

In the first few years after she graduated, she visited Pemberton Hall a few times.
"Of course, I'd always go back to the room I lived in, because it was home," she said.

Each Pemberton Hall resident who attends the reunion festivities will be asked to sign a floor plan and mark the location of her room.

The former residents' emotional response to the events has been amazing, Frederick said.

"They are absolutely thrilled," Frederick said. "I've gotten whole life stories, even from those who cannot come back. There's just a closeness for ladies who lived in Pemberton Hall, I think, more than any other residence hall on campus."

Recipients of the Eastern Illinois University Alumni Association’s 2008 alumni awards will be honored in conjunction with Homecoming activities.

“We are honored to be able to recognize such an extraordinary group of alumni for their accomplishments and the varied ways in which they have represented their alma mater,” said Steve Rich, executive director of the Alumni Association. “Their successes reflect well on Eastern Illinois University and motivate current and future students to follow their own dreams.”

Distinguished Alumni Awards will go to Roger Claar '67, '68; Kenneth Damann Jr. '66; Daryll Fletcher '75, '76; Ted Gregory '81; Barbara (Shelton) Hundley '65, '69; and Robert C. Manion '66.

The Outstanding Young Alumnus Award will go to Anthony Pleasant '06; the Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award, to Jim Erdmann '59, '61; and Distinguished Educator Awards, to John Marsaglia '76 and Dorothy Bennett '74, '80.

Details on this year’s award winners can be found on the Alumni Association Web site.

Established in 1973, the Distinguished Alumni Award is the most prestigious award bestowed by the Alumni Association. It is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves in either academic or literary fields, business, public service and/or service to the university, and who, through their accomplishments and service, have brought prestige to their alma mater. Past recipients have included an Illinois governor, Oscar-nominated actors, an NFL head coach, a nuclear physicist, CEOs, educators at all levels and many others.

Award recipients will be honored at a dinner, set to begin with a 6 p.m. social on Saturday, Oct. 18, in the Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union.  Dinner will follow at 7.  Anyone wishing to attend should phone 217-581-3619 or 800-ALUM-EIU by Wednesday, Oct. 15.  Tickets are $25 per person.

A weeklong series of events in celebration of Homecoming 2008 at Eastern Illinois University will once again culminate with a fun-filled day of activities, including an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, a 2.5K race and a parade, on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Early risers can start the day off with a warm meal, courtesy of the Charleston Rotary Club and EIU Homecoming Committee. Serving for the ninth annual pancake breakfast will take place from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Domino's Pizza, located at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Seventh Street. Prices are $6 for adults and $3 for children under 10. The menu includes pancakes, sausage, orange juice, milk and coffee.

All proceeds from the breakfast will go to support local Rotary projects, as well as Rotary International's efforts to eradicate polio.

Well-fed individuals can then cheer their favorite athletes on as they participate in the ninth annual EIU/Charleston 2.5K (1.5-mile) Homecoming race, which begins at 9 a.m. Runners/walkers will begin at the corner of Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue, make their way north on Seventh Street to the Charleston Square, then return to EIU's Old Main via Sixth Street.

Runners may register from 7:45 until 8:45 a.m. in EIU's Old Main (the "Castle") the day of the race. The entry fee is $9. Awards will be given to the first-place male and female in each category (run, walk and wheelchair). In addition, McDonald's will provide a gift pack, food and drink to all racers after the event.

More than 100 entries are expected to follow the same route as the race when Eastern's 2008 Homecoming parade begins at 9:30 a.m. On-lookers will see the traditional parade floats, as well as the EIU marching band and Pink Panthers, walking floats, decorated cars and more, representing this year's Homecoming theme, "Rock 'n' Roll, Pop 'n' Soul."

Bill Hill, Charleston's Citizen of the Year, will serve as grand marshal. High school bands from Charleston, Cumberland, Paris and Stewardson-Strasburg are also expected to participate.

The annual Homecoming football game, in which the EIU Panthers host Southeast Missouri, begins at 1:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased the day of the game at O'Brien Stadium at a cost of $15 for adults, $13.50 for senior citizens, and $5 for children. EIU students will be admitted free at Gate 1 with their Panther Card ID.

Football fans are invited to arrive early and show their Panther Pride at this year's Tent City, where representatives and alumni from each of Eastern's colleges will be gathered to renew old friendships. This event, scheduled to officially begin at 11:30 a.m., will be located behind O'Brien Stadium, and is open to all.

Earlier events occurring during Homecoming week include a pep rally featuring the Jesse White Tumblers at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, in Lantz Arena. Community members are also invited to come and cheer on the EIU Panthers. Admission is free.

Other EIU Homecoming 2008 events are also planned:

• Family Movie Night, 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, Will Rogers Theater, 705 Monroe Ave., Charleston. Movie-goers will have their choice of "Hairspray" or "Little Giants."
• Homecoming Coronation Ceremony, 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, Lantz Arena.
• Faculty vs. Student Basketball Game, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, McAfee Gymnasium. Admission is free, but a $1 donation is suggested for EIU's "Nothing But Nets" campaign, designed to help save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa . Proceeds will be used to purchase anti-malaria nets for those in need.
• Family Fun Night, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union. This evening of family entertainment will feature games, prizes and giveaways.
• Yell Like Hell! and Who Wants to be a Mascot? Competitions, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, McAfee Gymnasium.
• "Bleed Blue" Blood Drive, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, Andrews Hall basement.

For up-to-date information on all of these events, plus other events open to the general public on EIU's campus, please see http://www.eiu.edu/calendar/events/.

Allen Lanham, dean of Library Services at Eastern Illinois University, has been named the 2008 Illinois Academic Librarian of the year.

A special reception in his honor will take place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Booth Library, Room 4440. The public is invited to attend.

Lanham received the award at the Illinois Library Association Conference held at Navy Pier in Chicago. The award is given annually by the Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries. The Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries of Illinois (CARLI) sponsors the monetary award on behalf of the association to individuals who have performed outstanding service for the Forum and for the Illinois Library Association, as well as providing leadership and exemplary library service in an academic setting.

Lanham has been a professor and the dean of Library Services at Eastern since 1992. Prior to coming to EIU, he served at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico for 16 years. He oversaw the $22.5 million renovation and expansion of Booth Library completed in 2002.

In addition to his many university responsibilities, Lanham served as president of the Illinois Library Association in 2004-2005, and has been on numerous ILA committees. He has also served on the Lincoln Trails Library System Board of Directors since 2004, and he was elected to the CARLI Board of Directors in 2008. Lanham has also made significant contributions to the Illinois State Library, serving on a variety of committees and as a mentor for their SYNERGY library leadership program.

Lanham encourages his staff and academic colleagues to share their experiences in person and in professional publications, and is a frequent conference presenter himself. He has presented at conferences worldwide, including Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Peru and South Korea. He is a strong advocate for international librarianship and has assisted the Mortensen Center for International Library Programs at the University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign.

Lanham has also hosted many international librarians at Booth Library, providing an opportunity for the sharing of ideas and information.

As primary investigator for the Art and Architecture in Illinois Libraries project, Lanham and his staff developed an exhibit that traveled to 65 academic and public libraries highlighting selected works. In August, he presented a paper based on that work at the International Federation of Library Associations conference in Quebec.

Four Eastern Illinois University faculty members will examine the economic and political ramifications of the $700 billion financial sector bailout during a panel discussion at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Two economists (Noel Brodsky and James Bruehler) and two political scientists (David Carwell and Andrew McNitt) will discuss possible consequences of the measure and present alternative measures that could have been implemented.

The free event, to be held in Lumpkin Hall's Roberson Auditorium (Room 2030), is sponsored by the EIU economics and political science departments, the Economics Club and the Political Science Association.

Linda Ghent, chair of the economics department, will serve as the moderator. She said there will likely be a time for questions from the audience.

"Both our students and faculty from other departments have been calling and asking about this issue," Ghent said. "We want to invite anyone who has an interest in this topic to come."

For more information, please contact Ghent at 217-581-5429 or lsghent@eiu.edu.

Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University has been awarded a $100,000 Library Services and Technology Act grant for "Art and Architecture in Illinois Libraries, Part II."

The Illinois State Library, a division of the Secretary of State's Office, administers LSTA grants with funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The original Art and Architecture project established a mechanism for collecting data about academic, public and research libraries in Illinois, especially information about public art and artists represented; their buildings and architects, including renovations and new buildings; and digital images related to these areas of the libraries. The project has been well-received by libraries across the state, and data review and processing has been on-going since 2006.

"Art and Architecture in Illinois Libraries, Part II" will allow for completion of this project. A total of 950 libraries within Illinois are to be included in this study.

New funding will provide travel monies for the research team to visit the approximately 350 remaining libraries throughout Illinois. The grant will also provide funds for clerical staff and student research assistants to explore relevant information from newspaper archives and journal backfiles, adding to the richness of the online resource.

Expected outcomes of this project include:

• An electronic database containing information on more than 950 Illinois libraries, featuring, but not limited to, the art in those libraries and the architects of their buildings;
• A resource highlighting the role libraries play as cultural centers in Illinois communities;
• Increased access to information on works of art and their artists, thereby promoting research, especially on Illinois artists, many of them unknown outside their region; and
• Increased exposure, heightened awareness and better understanding of the prevalence of art in Illinois libraries, including the development of local inventories of such collections, and the influence of Illinois architects on regional library design and the look of Illinois communities.

The principal investigator for "Art and Architecture in Illinois Libraries, Part II" is Allen Lanham, dean of Library Services at Booth Library.  Marlene Slough and Nackil Sung, both of the Booth Library faculty, have major roles with the research team.

Booth Library serves the academic community of approximately 12,000 students and 1,800 faculty and staff, in addition to providing services to the citizens of east central Illinois. Booth makes its materials available via interlibrary loan to the entire Illinois population and beyond, and maintains collections of more than one million volumes, 1.3 million microtexts and more than 100 electronic databases.

The library has developed a reputation for quality exhibits and educational public programs and resides in a recently renovated 165,000 square foot facility.

What started as a simple research project for Neoga sixth-graders has blossomed into a mutually beneficial partnership with Eastern Illinois University education majors.

The 54 middle school students spent Wednesday, Oct. 1, on the EIU campus, with activities including researching planets at Booth Library, visiting the observatory and finding six campus landmarks using GPS technology with help from Mattoon High School students.

It all started earlier this year when Neoga teacher Donna Kastl, an EIU graduate, contacted the EIU Department of Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle Level Education for assistance in teaching her students to research space exploration at Booth Library.

The department agreed to help with the library visit, but it wanted to do even more. EIU faculty member Dan Carter and the 22 students in his "instructional methods" class were quick to see the benefits to a partnership, and they got to work planning a full day of activities.

All of the students in Carter's class volunteered their time for the project.

"Although this particular activity is new for our department, it is another example of how we believe in being responsive to our constituents and providing our students with integrative learning experiences," said Joy Russell, department chair.

The partnership actually began on Sept. 24, when the EIU students went to Neoga to meet the sixth-graders, breaking the ice with a scavenger hunt and a lesson on how to use a book for research.

"Our trip to Neoga helped establish rapport and trust with the students, hopefully leading to more effective learning and cooperative spirit," Carter said.

Wednesday's events were planned to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of NASA. Each group of sixth-graders is researching a different topic, including the Apollo missions, the first walk in space and the International Space Station.

The students spent most of the morning in Booth Library, with the sixth-graders learning how to determine good sources for their papers, how to find those sources, and how to arrange their research.

Carter's brother Mike Carter, a science teacher at Mattoon High School, brought six of his students who plan to be teachers. The high schoolers helped with a moon-phase project in the morning, and then led the GPS exploration in the afternoon.

In assuming the teacher role, each EIU student gained invaluable experience in honing their leadership, management and teaching skills. "Each of them is interacting back and forth between student and teacher," Dan Carter said of all participants.

"A lot of good hands-on experiences are happening," said sixth-grade teacher Carol Smith.

Kirk Hacker, another sixth-grade teacher, said he was proud that his students were learning even outside of the classroom. "It's nice to get them out of town and help them get something different from their usual day-to-day activities," Hacker said.

The Neoga teachers said that although the experience was great for teaching their students the basics of research and space exploration, there were greater lessons being taught, including the fact that a college education is accessible for each of them.

"We constantly tell them, 'You can go to college. You can be whatever you want to be,'" Kastl said. "It's such a neat opportunity for us."

Visiting Booth Library was one of the highlights for sixth-grader Kaleb Yurs. "It blew my mind," he said.

Booth Library was also a high point for Trentin Sheehan, another sixth-grader, who said he'd been on campus before, but only in one building. He was enjoying getting a better look at the rest of campus, and now he's pretty sure he'll return to campus as a student in seven years.

"It kind of helped me make up my mind," said Sheehan.

All of the sixth-grade teachers are EIU graduates, as are MHS teacher Mike Carter and EIU faculty member Dan Carter. And now, several Neoga students are likely planning to join their ranks in the future.

"Most of these kids said they'd never been to Eastern," said one EIU student assisting with the project. "I'm from a small town, and I know how it is to think, 'Oh, college is so far away. Only Chicago kids go to college.' Everything I do, they want to copy me, so hopefully they'll try to go to college."

The Eastern Illinois University History Department, in conjunction with the Barry D. Riccio Memorial Fund, will host a "Symposium on the New Deal in Illinois " on Thursday, Oct. 9.

The event will feature a talk, one panel presentation, and an early evening keynote address by Donald Ritchie, associate historian to the United States Senate.

Most events are free and open to the public; no registration is required. However, those wishing to attend the luncheon address, or who have questions about parking and/or accommodations, should contact Edmund F. Wehrle (fwehrle@eiu.edu) for lunch tickets, priced at $10 per person.

A tentative schedule is planned as follows:

"FDR at the Wheel of the New Deal" (luncheon address), 1:15 p.m., University Ballroom. This address will be presented by Margaret Rung, an associate professor of history and director of the Center for New Deal Studies at Roosevelt University.  Rung received her doctorate from John Hopkins University, and is the author of "Servants of the State: Managing Democracy and Diversity in the Federal Workplace, 1933-1953."

"Politics and Programs: How the New Deal Played Out in Illinois " (Panel Discussion), 2:30 to 4 p.m., Charleston/Mattoon Room, MLK Jr. Union. Scheduled panelists include Cecilia Stiles Cornell, author of "The Capital in Crisis: Springfield in the Interregnum," University of Illinois at Springfield; Gregory Pratt, author of "Politics on Credit: Chronicling the Distribution of the New Deal in Illinois," University of Illinois at Chicago; and Michael Swinford, author of "Rustic Relief: The Civilian Conservation Corps in Illinois," Eastern Illinois University. David Maurer, emeritus history professor, EIU, will be the commentator.

The keynote address, "Learning from FDR: The Long Impact of the 1932 Election," will begin at 5 p.m. in the University Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union.  A reception will follow the address.

Ritchie holds a doctorate from the University of Maryland at College Park and has authored numerous books, including "Our Constitution" and, more recently, "Electing FDR:  The New Deal Campaign of 1932."

Barry D. Riccio joined Eastern's history faculty in 1995 and proved himself to be an outstanding teacher and colleague. Following his death from cancer in 2001 at the age of 46, his friends, family and colleagues established the Barry D. Riccio History Fund in his honor.  The generosity of fund donors has allowed the department to bring "many of the leading lights of American intellectual history" to Eastern's campus.

State Rep. Chapin Rose, who once had the lead in a Charleston High School musical, will return to the stage this weekend to help inaugurate The Theatre in Eastern Illinois University's new Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Rose (R-Mahomet), a Charleston native who spent much of his youth on EIU's campus, will make a homecoming of sorts to play Teddy Brewster, a character who believes he is Teddy Roosevelt, in the classic comedy "Arsenic and Old Lace."

"I haven't done anything like this since Camille (his wife) and I had the leads in our high school play in 1992," Rose said. In that show, "Annie Get Your Gun," they played Annie and Frank.

Those who would like to see Rose's return to comedic acting in "Arsenic and Old Lace" have four opportunities: 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday; and 2 p.m. Sunday.

"He told us it was his favorite play and he'd like us to do it someday," said J. Sain of the EIU theatre department. "He's doing a wonderful job."

Rose said it's been a lot of work, but he's thoroughly enjoying the experience.

“This is a blast. The students are doing a wonderful job. They’re very professional. Unfortunately for them, they’re having to work with me," he joked.

"Arsenic and Old Lace," written by Joseph Kesselring, is about two charming old ladies who populate their cellar with the remains of their "socially and religiously acceptable" rooming-house tenants.

Longtime EIU theatre director Clarence Blanchette, who retired last year, has returned to direct this production. Another EIU theatre alumna, Jayne Ball-Saret of Charleston, is in charge of costuming.

The production is being staged in memory of the late Nancy Paule Chandler, an EIU alumna who was a costumer for the EIU theatre department for several years in the 1970s and 1980s.

Tickets -- $12 for adults, $10 for EIU employees and senior citizens, and $5 for students -- may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office (217-581-3110) from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or one hour before each performance.

Tickets may also be reserved via e-mail at doudnatix@eiu.edu. A confirmation e-mail will be sent, and reserved tickets may be paid for and picked up at the box office at the time of the performance.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center also offers a "pick your own season" season ticket program. Purchase tickets for any four performances to receive a 10 percent discount; six performances for a 15 percent discount; and eight or more performances for a 20 percent discount.

Eastern Illinois University wants prospective students and their parents, as well as other interested individuals, to take a close look at what's taking place on its 320-acre campus.

And to help those folks take that in-depth look, Eastern has joined more than 300 universities and colleges nationwide by becoming a featured institution on the College Portrait Web site, launched earlier this week.

The site provides high school students, parents, guidance counselors and other stakeholders with access to basic, comparable information about student characteristics, costs, student experience and learning outcomes for 302 public four-year colleges and universities.

The information is presented in a user-friendly format. The Web site provides an overview of the College Portrait report, plus an interactive map with links to all participating colleges/universities.

Each portrait is divided into three sections: Student and Family Information, Student Experiences and Perceptions, and Student Learning Outcomes. Data elements were identified based on input from student/family focus groups, feedback from the higher education community and higher education research.

College Portrait is a product of the Voluntary System of Accountability project, a partnership between the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) with funding from the Lumina Foundation for Education.

Since unveiling the College Portrait report format and initiating the recruiting effort in November 2007, nearly 60 percent of the 520 member institutions of the two higher education associations have agreed to participate in the project. This represents four-year institutions enrolling some 3 million undergraduates and nearly 60 percent of the total undergraduate enrollment in four-year public colleges and universities.

"The College Portrait places America 's four-year public colleges and universities at the forefront of the higher education accountability movement," said Peter McPherson, president of NASULGC. "College Portrait is designed to be a trustworthy source of reliable data for prospective students, families, policymakers and the general public. It becomes the only voluntary accountability program that includes student learning outcomes and easily comparable information for a majority of the nation's public four-year colleges and universities."

"No one should be surprised that public higher education has taken the lead on accountability," said Constantine W. (Deno) Curris, president of AASCU. "Our institutions have a long history of commitment to public accountability and learning outcomes. College Portrait is being unveiled at a time when severe financial constraints for both families and state governments increase our obligation to provide dependable, accurate information in keeping with our public trust."

Jane Lockett, an Eastern Illinois University alumna who taught at Arcola High School before moving into corporate leadership roles, will speak next week as the EIU School of Business' current Executive-in-Residence.

The public is invited to hear Lockett's open presentation, "Executive Management 101," at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, in Lumpkin Hall's Roberson Auditorium (Room 2030).

Lockett is senior vice president of customer operations for ConnectEdu, which, according to its Web site, is "the nation’s leading technology firm dedicated to providing students, educators and employers with comprehensive solutions to successfully navigate education and employment transitions."

She is a retired consulting principal for IBM Global Services. Prior to working for IBM, she consulted for five years with other computer corporations, as well as national and state professional organizations supporting the public sector.

During her 11-year tenure as a teacher in Illinois, Lockett served four years as chief negotiating officer for her local teachers association while teaching at Arcola High School. She also consulted part-time while teaching full-time.

Lockett received her bachelor's and master's degrees from EIU.

As part of the School of Business Executive-in-Residence Program, Lockett will be on campus Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, meeting with faculty and students, as well as speaking to classes.

The Executive-in-Residence Program is designed to motivate students by bringing real-world business experience into the classroom, providing them with a greater understanding of the concepts and processes fundamental to the business world.

For more information on the Executive-in-Residence Program, please see
http://www.eiu.edu/business/community_executive.php.

Rachel Z. Fisher didn't think Eastern Illinois University and the city of Charleston should get left behind while the rest of the nation celebrated. So she, too, organized an event in commemoration of National Neighborhood Day.

And she's inviting all interested persons to the party.

Beginning at noon Sunday, Sept. 21, Charleston residents, including EIU students, are invited to Charleston's Morton Park for a family-friendly social which will include free snacks and drinks (while they last!), games, prizes and special performances.

Included will be a 45-minute presentation by Springfield, Ill.-based Chris Camp, "The Whip Guy," who is a world champion whip cracker/entertainer. According to Fisher, interim director of EIU's Student Community Service Office, Camp will begin his performance at 12:30 p.m.

"This event is a great way to help the community and allow students and year-round residents to meet each other as neighbors," Fisher said.

The social will follow an earlier event, which will see individuals participating in a neighborhood clean-up from 9 a.m. to noon.

Eastern Illinois University has once again offered an exclusive beverage contract to one of the country's two soft drink giants.

The university has notified Pepsi MidAmerica of its intent to enter into a five-year partnership, with an option for an additional five-year period. The formal contract signing is expected within the next two weeks.

Pepsi-Cola is no stranger to Eastern. The company's beverage products have been served throughout the university campus for more than a decade; Pepsi MidAmerica has been Eastern's sole beverage supplier for the past 10 years.

"Pepsi has been Eastern's exclusive beverage provider since the company was awarded the previous pouring rights contract by Eastern's Board of Trustees," said Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs. "We are pleased to recommend a continuation of this long-standing partnership with Pepsi under this new agreement."

The partnership will apply to fountain drinks in dining services, the MLK Jr. Union Food Court, and at athletic events, as well as to vending machines located around campus.

Vending machines will continue to be furnished with debit card capabilities in order to accommodate the EIU Panther Card.

The available product line will include Pepsi-Cola, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, 7-Up, Crush (orange, strawberry and grape), Squirt, Mug Root Bear, Lipton Tea, Dole and Ocean Spray juices, Hawaiian Punch, Isotonics and energy drinks, and Aquafina and Crisp-N-Clear bottled water.

Under the agreement, Pepsi-Cola products will be served exclusively during university-related functions, as well as in all food service outlets operating at the university.

In addition to debit card capabilities, Eastern's benefits from the exclusive beverage partnership include monetary contributions for academic and athletic program support.

"Exclusive beverage contracts offer attractive economic incentives in the form of additional revenue and lower product costs," said Monty Bennett, EIU director of procurement, disbursement and contractual services.

"While the exclusive relationship will limit consumer choice on campus in return for these benefits, the community surrounding Eastern's campus provides substantial access to competitive beverages for those who do not favor products included under this exclusive beverage agreement."

As part of the agreement, Eastern shall receive guaranteed pricing for five years. It is estimated that the cost of the product that the university acquires shall not exceed $400,000 per year. The actual cost will depend on actual quantities of product purchased.

During the initial five-year term, Eastern will receive $1.15 million in guaranteed commissions, $250,000 for academic program support, $315,000 for athletic program support, $50,000 for student program support, and $30,000 in donated products.

"This is the second exclusive beverage contract (both with Pepsi) of its kind on Eastern's campus, Bennett said. "We believe it's a good one, an advantageous one, bringing value for both parties involved."

Singer/songwriter Charlotte Martin, a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and Charleston High School, will make a public appearance at EIU with her husband, music producer Ken Andrews, on Friday.

The visit will provide an opportunity for Martin's local friends to say hello, as well as provide a chance for music enthusiasts to speak to the Los Angeles-based couple about the entertainment industry.

At 2 p.m. Friday, the campus and community are invited to a meet-and-greet on the main floor of the Doudna Fine Arts Center, in the glass area by the metal stairs. Questions regarding the music business -- from current and future trends in the performance and recording business to the latest happenings in technology -- are welcome.

At around 3 p.m. Friday, they will be given a tour of the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

On Thursday, they are to give a presentation on the inner workings of the music business for an EIU music class taught by her father, Joe Martin.

Charlotte Martin, who earned an opera degree from EIU in 1998, spent five years with RCA Records before leaving the label in 2005. She later formed Dinosaur Fight Records with her longtime collaborator and co-producer Andrews, who is best known for his work with Pete Yorn, Year of the Rabbit and Failure.

For details on these two artists, please visit their Web sites at www.charlottemartin.com and www.kenandrews.com.

"Expedition Nature's Realm," a documentary by an Eastern Illinois University faculty-and-student team, will be celebrated with a special screening and reception on Sunday, Sept. 21.

The event is set for 2-4 p.m. in Buzzard Auditorium in Buzzard Hall, between Seventh and Ninth streets on the EIU campus. Refreshments will be served. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by Thursday, Sept. 18, by calling 1-877-PBS-WEIU (1-877-727-9348).

"Expedition Nature's Realm," an eight-part series that previously aired on WEIU-TV, was directed and produced by Cameron Douglas Craig, an EIU geology/geography instructor/climatologist; and Kevin H. Jeanes, an EIU student from Naperville.

At the screening, Craig and Jeanes are to speak about the film's exploration of the co-existence between humanity and nature, highlighting important issues that concern the future sustainability of our natural environment.

The screening is to include compelling clips of Yellowstone National Park and music composed by the co-directors.

Craig and Jeanes, along with some of the experts interviewed for the film, will be available for a question-and-answer session with the audience.

"Expedition Nature's Realm" is the second of four films Craig and Jeanes have created together. The first, “An Illinois Winter,” about the harsh winter of 1830-31, was produced with help from other EIU students. It was aired on WEIU and went on to receive wider PBS exposure; it was also viewed by many online.

Craig and Jeanes' third documentary, “Stinging Dust & Forgotten Lives,” is about the Dust Bowl. The educational version aired on WEIU last fall; the full version should be available on DVD in November.

For their most recent documentary, "The Evolution of the Plow: Agriculture in America," they served as producers. The film, which was directed by student Cameron Hopman, is to air on WEIU in October.

For more information about Craig and Jeanes' work, please visit www.tempestasproductions.com.

Nearly a year ago, Eastern Illinois University President Bill Perry determined that a total enrollment of near 12,000 was optimum for the institution with its resource base.

"And I would say we pretty much hit it on the button," said Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, commenting on Eastern's Fall 2008 on- and off-campus enrollment of 12,040.  "I am very happy with this number."

Numbers reflect an on-campus enrollment of 10,863 and an off-campus count of 1,177.  A year ago, the number of students taking on- and off-campus classes was 11,013 and 1,166, respectively, for a total enrollment of 12,179.

"We achieved the enrollment level we wanted in spite of the fact that we have recently been seeing very sizeable graduating classes," Lord said.  "And it speaks to the solid work we do as a campus in retaining our students, as well as the fine work of our Admissions Office in recruiting and enrolling new students."

A breakdown of Eastern's 10,261 undergraduate students (down from 10,410 last year) is as follows (with Fall 2007 figures in parenthesis): freshmen, 2,649 (2,581); sophomores, 1,966 (2,099); juniors, 2,448 (2,396); and seniors, 3,198 (3,334). Graduate students number 1,779, a slight increase from last year's 1,769.

EIU officials are particularly pleased with a continued increase in minority students (from 1,488 to 1,655). Minority students now make up 13.75 percent of total enrollment, up from 12.22 percent in 2007, and 11.35 percent in 2006. Those enrollments, broken down, are as follows: black, 1,151 (997); Hispanic, 324 (299); Asian/Pacific Islander, 141 (148); and American Indian/Alaskan Native, 39 (44).

The Charleston Area Charitable Foundation, a longtime supporter of the Eastern Symphony Orchestra, recently awarded another $10,000 grant to boost the orchestra's offerings at this important point in its history.

The opening of Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Fine Arts Center, one of the finest facilities of its kind in the Midwest, deserves the best art, music and theatre offerings possible, and this gift will help make that possible, said Richard Robert Rossi, ESO director.

"Receiving the funding from the foundation is particularly important this year," Rossi said. "As we move into the new Doudna Fine Arts Center, there are expectations that need to be met by the ESO in continuing to present to the students and community at large. The funding will help tremendously with meeting our goals in presenting these quality performances."

The orchestra blends the talents of EIU's best student musicians with contracted professional quality players from the community. It has grown over the past few years, due in large part to the foundation's support, Rossi said.

"At this point in the development of our program, the funds are helping to provide the experience necessary for our students to have a well-rounded education," Rossi said. "And as our program continues to grow, especially in our fine arts building, we're hoping that the orchestra will continue to attract high-caliber students to Eastern."

The ESO also provides a unique opportunity for the area's exceptionally talented high school and middle school orchestral students through the Symphonic Honors Initiative Program, which began more than three years ago because there were no string/orchestral programs in Coles County schools.

Rossi praised Terry Coulton of Charleston for her extensive work in initiating SHIP and preparing many of its participants.

"Through this professional orchestral experience, talented students are prepared for future orchestral opportunities," Rossi said.

The sky is the limit for the Eastern Symphony Orchestra, Rossi said.

"It is my plan to continue to move the ESO to higher levels and to awaken the surrounding community’s awareness of our mission to foster and promote the arts," he said. "It is my hope to continue to build the orchestra into a reputable and essential element not only in our community and surrounding communities, but in the state of Illinois and eventually on national and even international levels."

Those dreams are very much dependent upon the support received from donors, with the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation leading the way, he said.

"I would like to reiterate my humble thanks to President Michael Metzger and the members of the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation," Rossi said.

For more information on the Eastern Symphony Orchestra, including its 2008-2009 schedule, please see http://www.eiu.edu/music/ensembles_eastern_symphony_orchestra.php.

Since the success of students in doctoral programs can be one measure of the quality of instruction at the undergraduate level, officials at Eastern Illinois University are feeling pretty good about their institution.

Recently released results from the Survey of Earned Doctorates -- a federal agency survey, or census, conducted annually by the National Organization for Research -- indicate that many Eastern graduates have done their alma mater proud by continuing their education, seeking doctorates and achieving their educational goals.

The survey reports that 313 EIU graduates obtained doctoral degrees in the years 1997 through 2006.  This means that as a baccalaureate-origin institution, Eastern ranked number one among 22 master's colleges and universities within Illinois, and number 26 among 570 master's colleges and universities in the United States, for that ten-year time period.

(Only schools with 10 or more recipients were included in the study.)

The SED gathers information annually from 45,000 new U.S. research doctorate graduates about their educational histories, funding sources and post-doctoral plans.  (Only recipients of research doctorates were included in the survey.  Therefore, recipients of professional degrees, such as medical doctors, veterinarians, dentists, attorneys, etc., are not included.)

The SED survey is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

The public is invited to view Jupiter, plus hear about local plans for the 2009 International year of Astronomy, at Eastern Illinois University’s observatory open house at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29.

Even if it’s cloudy, the observatory will be open for tours, said EIU physics professor James Conwell.

In 2009, International Year of Astronomy will commemorate the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s use of a telescope to study the skies, Kepler’s publication of "Astronomia Nova," and many other historic events in science.

Eastern's plans for celebrating IYA include hosting six guest speakers; holding special open houses with themes, such as how to use your telescope; displaying large astro-murals via print and/or digital projection; creating podcasts; and helping to supply each Charleston third-grade classroom with a Galileoscope, an inexpensive yet high-quality instrument similar to what Galileo used to view the skies.

Eastern's observatory, which houses a state-of-the-art, 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, is located in the southwestern corner of campus between O'Brien Stadium and the intramural softball fields. A map is available online at http://www.eiu.edu/~physics/campusmap.pdf.

Those who attend may park their vehicles in the lot north of Wesley United Methodist Church and then walk to the observatory site.

For more information, please call the physics department at 217-581-3220.

Latino Heritage Month Celebration activities at Eastern Illinois University will once again take place during September and October, with the major event -- the annual Latino Heritage Month Banquet -- set for Sunday, Sept. 14.

Folks interested in good food and music -- Latino-style -- have until Friday, Sept. 5, to purchase tickets for this year's banquet. Tickets, priced at $15 ($8 for EIU students), can be purchased in the EIU Gateway Office, Blair Hall 2170. Cash or check only. For ticket information, phone 217-581-6692.

The Latin-American banquet, which will begin with the dinner at 6 p.m., will also include a performance by the Chicago-based Hector Silveira y su Orquestra -- "The young voice of Cuban music."

According to Juanita Cross, Latino Heritage Month Committee chair, Silveira "is really excited about sharing his music with EIU and our community." (A Web site, with photos, bio and video clips, can be found at http://www.hectorsilveira.com/.)

The evening's activities will close with more music and dancing, courtesy of a disc jockey playing Latino tunes.

This year's menu will be chicken picante (spicy chicken); cheese quesadillas; black bean, corn and pepper salad; Cubanos frijoles (Cuban beans); green poblano rice buñuelos (cinnamon crisps); and fruit salad.

Other Latino Heritage Month Celebration events scheduled to take place in the coming weeks include a series of three dance lesson events. Jeanna McFarland, an EIU faculty member and adviser to the EIU Dancers, will introduce interested folks to a new dance each week:

· The cha-cha, 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, in the University Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union;

· The salsa, 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, in the Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union; and

· The rumba, 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, in 7th Street Underground, MLK Jr. Union.

All lessons are free and open to the public. Beginners will be welcomed.

In addition, Jose Deustua, assistant professor of history at EIU, will discuss "Latin American Music: From Salsa to Reggae to Cumbia to Shakira," at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, in the Effingham Room, MLK Jr. Union. His presentation "will analyze and deal with old-style forms of music, such as rumba, to discuss and listen, moving on to much more popular and contemporary salsa."

All are invited to attend and learn more about the great variety and history of Latin American music. Admission is free.

For up-to-date information on these and other events, please see http://www.eiu.edu/calendar/events/.

KERNVILLE, Ore. -- Kevin Duckworth, a two-time NBA All-Star who spent the majority of his 12 NBA seasons as the Portland Trail Blazers' center, has died. He was 44.

Duckworth died Monday in Kernville, Ore., near the coastal town of Lincoln City. His death was confirmed by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. Duckworth was in town as part of a Trail Blazers group hosting a free kids' basketball clinic, Fox 12 reported on its Web site.

The cause of his death was not released this morning.

For more on Mr. Duckworth's death and career, please see here.

Most people would probably agree that the standard recipe for joy does not include long division and a written essay.

But Melinda Mueller's 10-year-old daughter, Katie, might beg to differ.

Mueller, a political science professor at Eastern Illinois University, remembers seeing her daughter step off a school bus last spring and begin jumping joyously into the air. When questioned about the origin of her good mood, Katie told her mother about her day's successes in long division and on an essay she'd written about Martin Luther King Jr.

"And since that day," Mueller said, "I've thought about how wonderful it would be if all of us could jump in the air like a fourth-grader over something we've learned during the day."

As Eastern's 2008-09 Faculty Laureate -- the university's official spokeswoman on the importance of a general liberal arts education -- Mueller hopes to promote her idea to students of all majors.

"A liberal arts education is a concept so embedded in my mind that it is difficult for me to imagine higher education in another form," Mueller said. "I want to do my part to promote intellectual curiosity. I want our students to not be ashamed of wanting to learn.

"I want them to take the best advantage they can of their opportunities to explore the unknown, and not just know what they need to learn for a test."

Mueller recalled that she was "blessed with parents who said go out and learn whatever you want to learn."

And she did just that.

"I did not attend college to choose a major or a career, but, rather, to learn," Mueller said. "I loved my political science major, but I also adored my English minor, and consumed classes from other disciplines with gusto."

At Eastern, Mueller teaches both Honors and traditional sections of "American Government." She acknowledged that some students adamantly proclaim in the beginning that they "don't like political science and that they don't want to be a politician."

She tries hard to help them realize that government is important to all their lives, no matter what their major. Education majors, for example, often take special interest in No Child Left Behind legislation.

Another student, Mueller recalled, did research on laws that govern paintball and its safety standards. "It was a special interest of his and it turned out to be a really cool paper to read," she said.

She has established three broad goals for her undergraduate students.

"First, I want my students to build critical thinking and writing skills," she said. "It is important that my students learn how to think and write about a problem then simply to memorize the 'right answer.'

"Second, I encourage intellectual curiosity; the joy of learning can get crushed when students focus on standardized testing and memorization. With intellectual curiosity, students can be life-long learners, able to more easily adapt to changing environments and society."

And finally, "I want students to recognize their role as global citizens. While no tool exists to create 'good' citizens, a liberal arts education plays a significant role. Whether my students get involved in service learning or write essays envisioning their future civic life, my hope is (that) they consider voting, volunteering, socializing their children or even running for office."

Mueller's first official act as this year's faculty laureate will be to deliver the keynote address at this year's fall Convocation, set to take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, in the Grand Ballroom of the MLK Jr. Union. The faculty laureate is chosen by Eastern's Council on Academic Affairs.

Mueller said she is humbled by the honor and by the praises of her fellow faculty members who nominated her.

"I am delighted to be on the faculty at Eastern, where our general education program represents the ideals of a liberal arts education," she said. "General education is not a useless set of courses to plow through, simply to pursue a major. Learning in general education courses is essential for learning in the major or minor, and essential for life-long learning and citizenship."

For the ninth consecutive year, Eastern Illinois University has been named one of the top Midwestern public universities in its class by U.S. News & World Report.

EIU is again ranked 14th among all Midwestern public universities offering a full range of undergraduate degrees and some master's degree programs. The region encompasses Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin .

The rankings - part of the magazine's 2009 edition of "America's Best Colleges" - are based on schools' academic reputations, student selectivity, faculty resources, graduation and retention rates, financial resources and alumni giving.

The numbers show that EIU has retained its focus on personal attention. For example, the student-faculty ratio dropped to 15:1 (from 16:1 the previous year), and only 4 percent of all classes have 50 or more students.

In addition, EIU touts the highest freshman retention rate and the highest graduation rate among all Illinois public universities in its class.

" Eastern Illinois University consistently ranks well among our peers, and for good reason," said EIU President Bill Perry. "Our dedicated faculty and staff make each student's experience here an overwhelmingly positive one. We continue to improve the Eastern experience by enhancing our academic programs and integrating the academic and personal development of our students."

The real-world stock market experience provided by the Eastern Illinois University College of Business' Securities Analysis Center recently helped MBA student Jake Byrne edge out students from UCLA, North Carolina, Cornell and Yale to land a competitive Wall Street internship with Merrill Lynch.

Byrne, a former key member of the Panthers basketball team who earned a bachelor's degree in finance with a 3.93 GPA in just three years, says EIU's facilities and its people made the difference in preparing him for the internship.

With Merrill Lynch, Byrne's duties as a global markets analyst have included three weeks each in equity research sales, global equity linked product sales trading and credit sales.

We caught up with Byrne toward the end of his internship to see how things were going on Wall Street.

What duties have you performed?

I have performed several different duties of all types, which has been excellent. Each rotation consists of an end project that you work on in your spare time and present to the heads of the desks at the end of your rotation. Mine varied from picking a few stocks and pitching them based on a global theme, examining a credit and pitching it, and coming up with a derivative strategy for a company.

In addition, I have done numerous tasks/projects for the people that I work with. With the three rotations, I have been exposed to many different areas and people. They will normally have a project that you can do for them which could be as simple as putting together spread sheets and plugging in data to something pretty complex like doing hard research and analyzing companies and stocks to give good insight and value to the person you’re working with. They keep us pretty busy with these projects, so it really makes the time fly.

What has the experience been like?

The experience has been one of the best I’ve ever had. I get to wake up every morning in my room right by Times Square and go to work for one of the best financial firms in the world.

I love working on the trading floors because it’s a dynamic group of people. They’re not only extremely smart but also generous with their time and teach you so much.

Also, I’m with 60 other interns from across the country and many have become great friends of mine. We get to see each other every day at work and at the same time hang out on the weekends in one of the coolest cities in the world.  I will leave Merrill Lynch having learned so much and having met so many great people.

Do you have any particularly interesting stories to share about it?

Wow, there would be so many. Every week we do events together where we can meet employees from the firm and also spend time with the other interns. We have heard from Merrill Lynch senior executives, including Chairman and CEO John Thain.

One of the most unusual activities was a citywide scavenger hunt, which consisted of running around the city for four hours and seeing and doing everything we possibly could, ranging from taking a picture riding down a NYC firepole to taking a picture driving a cab to finding construction hats and taking a pic with workers wearing our hats. It was so much fun to do. We’ve done golfing events, Yankees’ games, bowling, etc… It really has been excellent.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned this summer?

Hard work pays off. Once you become an intern, it’s a blank slate, and it’s up to you to show what you can do. It doesn’t matter where you came from or what major you’ve done or are in, what matters is the quality of your work and how you can provide value. You are sitting by extremely busy people, and if you can help them out and add value to their day, they appreciate it. That is what we try to do every day.

The internship has been fun, but it is also a lot of hard work and sometimes really long days. But when you get to the end result and you worked 'til 10 at night and got in at 6 in the morning to work on it, and it results in your supervisor being happy, that is when you realize it paid off.

The most valuable lesson would have to be that your hard work will show and no one is going to be constantly over your shoulder to get you to work on it -- it’s up to you to set your sights on what you need to do and to get it done.

Has your time in 'the real world' changed the way you view Eastern and what it offers?

I love Eastern and wouldn’t have changed my attendance there for anything. I’m a firm believer in "you get what you work hard for"; that can apply to any part of your life, and for me, that was always sports or school. EIU was close and had an excellent business program, and it was a no-brainer for me.

That is why ML is so great, because they give smaller school students a chance. As far as what Eastern offers, I think that it is great. We’re not a huge name, but we have an excellent business program, and I felt really prepared when I walked in my first day.

The only struggle is the switch from book knowledge into street knowledge, and that only comes from experience, regardless of what school you go to. You can’t just know your definitions; you need to know how they apply and what their effects are on everything. The Wall Street Journal is a must, and luckily EIU encouraged the reading of it during school, which gave me a good head start.

My time in "the real world" hasn’t really changed my view on Eastern, and I am very much so looking forward to coming back in a few weeks to finish up grad school.

Some local residents will undoubtedly hear sirens going off Monday and Tuesday (July 28 and 29) as Eastern Illinois University tests the newest additions to its emergency notification system.

Crews will be installing two new sirens and public address speakers, according to Gary Hanebrink, campus safety officer. And as the new installations will need to be tested, EIU employees and Charleston residents who live and/or work near campus are likely to hear emergency notification sirens, as well as tornado warning sirens and public address messages, sounding numerous times over the two-day period.

Jeffrey Ryba, president of Braniff Communications Inc., added that the bulk of the testing will take place during normal business hours on Tuesday, and that each test will likely be "limited, short in nature -- a minute or less."

If case of actual threatening weather over the city, the testing of the siren system will be discontinued.

The two new sirens will supplement an existing siren located near the center of campus, and are expected to enhance the effectiveness of the current system.

In case of a crisis, the emergency notification siren (recognized as a pulse tone) signals EIU students, faculty and staff to check their EIU-assigned e-mail for information regarding a possible non-weather-related threat on campus.

This siren should not be confused with the normal continuous tone used by the Coles County Emergency Management Agency as a severe weather alert.

Both are regularly tested on the first Tuesday of each month -- one (continuous tone) at 10 a.m. and the other (pulse tone) at 10:30. Normal testing of the systems is scheduled to resume on Aug. 5.

Registered nurses now have the opportunity to take interactive online courses to earn bachelor's degrees from Eastern Illinois University, thanks to a three-year, $623,000 federal grant.

"We're confident that this addition will meet the needs of our nurses so they can more easily go back to school," said Dianne Nelson, Ph.D., R.N., director of EIU's nursing program, which is beginning its second year. "This is going to allow us to offer so many more things and allow so many more students to get into the program."

In a twist on usual online courses, the EIU nursing classes will be interactive. Using a program called Elluminate, online students will use the Internet to see, hear and talk to faculty and students in the actual classroom.

"This is a way that we can provide the benefits of online learning while still having personal relationships with our students," Nelson said.

Lectures and related materials will be stored online for students to review at a later time. In addition, faculty members will be able to use the online technology to meet with students and other faculty via the Internet.

Students who don't have access to a computer and can demonstrate financial need may be provided a computer to use. Other first-year benefits include the expansion of the nursing program's electronic library holdings, as well as the addition of a part-time faculty member and more secretarial support.

The grant, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration, will provide $173,534 to EIU in its first year. It is expected to award $250,373 and $199,369 in the following two years.

"Funding of the grant indicates strong support for the program in our area," Nelson said.

Nelson applied for the grant with the "instrumental" assistance of Bob Chesnut of EIU's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

"As the first new degree program at Eastern in many years, receipt of this grant after only a single year of operation represents a major accomplishment for Dr. Dianne Nelson and the program," said Blair Lord, EIU provost and vice president for academic affairs.

"The funds to be received over the next three years will allow us to move the program to the next level of achievement much faster than we previously had anticipated being able to do. This is a very significant step for the program and for Eastern."

EIU’s program, often termed an “RN to BSN completion program,” aims to help registered nurses improve clinical practice; gain expanded career opportunities, such as working as nurse managers; or move on to graduate school to become advanced practice nurses or educators in higher education.

EIU’s curriculum builds on the nurses’ existing knowledge base and experience, avoiding repetition.

"The inaugural year of the EIU nursing program was quite successful, and Director Nelson and her staff are exemplary," said Mary Anne Hanner, dean of the EIU College of Sciences. "We are excited that this grant will allow us to further enhance access to the program for nurse professionals and ensure that we have state-of-the-art technology to support the program."

Because the new format expands the number of students the nursing program can accommodate, applications are still being accepted for the fall semester.

To apply or receive more information, please contact the nursing program at 217-581-7049 or nursing@eiu.edu, or view the website at http://www.eiu.edu/~nursing.

Eastern Illinois University will no longer be relying on an outside company for shuttle bus service for its students.

Instead, the institution will operate its own service with leased buses and university personnel as drivers.

"This decision is in no way a reflection on past bus service," said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs. "It's just that we've talked about doing this for years. And with our contract with H & H expiring, we thought this would be the perfect opportunity for us to pursue the project."

Schedules and routes will remain essentially unchanged, Nadler said. Two 2007 Ford Arcraft-Allstar shuttle buses are due for delivery on campus by Aug. 10. Each bus will hold up to 20 passengers, and each is handicapped accessible.

Midwest Transit Equipment Inc., based in Kankakee, will supply the vehicles, which will be easily recognized by the EIU markings on their exteriors.

"We're excited about this new endeavor, and anticipate providing our students with a high quality service," Nadler continued. "And by providing our own shuttles, we also hope to keep a handle on operating costs. Our goal is excellent stewardship of student fees and cost avoidance in the future."

According to Monty Bennett, director of Eastern's Department of Procurement, Disbursements and Contract Services, the university will be responsible for general upkeep (i.e., oil changes, windshield wiper replacement, etc.) of the buses. But if more major problems occur, there are local businesses equipped to handle the repairs as per the agreement with Midwest Transit.

Eastern began offering shuttle bus service to its students in 2002, contracting with H & H Shuttle Services/Taxi Inc. of Charleston.

Reprinted by permission from the The Daily News of Newburyport, Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Few people in this world can look up into the sky at night knowing that somewhere, floating above them, there is a astronomical object with their name on it.

Paul McCartney, Sean Connery and John Cleese can. Lou Gherig, Mark Twain and Beethoven could, as well.

Now, Newburyport resident and retired Eastern Illinois University physics professor Scott Smith can add his name to the list of asteroids, joining the ranks of famous astronomers, actors, singers, novelists and philosophers that also have planetesimals orbiting with their namesake.

"It really surprised me," said Smith, 85. The retired professor received a letter in April notifying him that a former student, Robert Millis, had discovered an asteroid and named it in Smith's honor.

"He was an outstanding teacher," said Millis, now the director of Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz. He said that Smith made physics interesting and exciting, even though it is extremely complex for many people.

To thank the doctor for the significant influence he had on the astronomer's career, Millis had asteroid (132792) Scottsmith officially sanctioned by the International Astronomical Union.

"The influence he had on me sent my life in a completely different direction," Millis said. "Had I not encountered him, I would have never pursued a career in astronomy." Millis explained that originally he had planned to become a high school teacher, but Smith encouraged him to attend graduate school at the University of Wisconsin where he obtained his doctorate in astronomy.

"I felt very honored by his feeling that I had contributed so much to his life," Smith said.

The asteroid Scottsmith, which circles the Sun at a distance of three astronomical units (three times the distance from the Earth to the sun), is located in the asteroid belt, a ring of frozen bits of rock located between Mars and Jupiter thought to be remnants of a planet, or pieces of a large astronomical body that never formed.

Millis explained that once an astronomical body is discovered, a series of observations must be done in order to establish the body's orbital path is stable, and that the object cannot stray from its orbit and become "lost." Once the calculations show a consistent path, the International Astronomical Union approves a number and title for the body, allowing the discoverer to present an option for a name.

"This was an opportunity at long last to honor Dr. Smith in an appropriate and lasting way," Millis said.

During his 40-year stay at Eastern Illinois University, Smith was a physics lecturer as well as a faculty sponsor for the Student Senate. Smith said that he encountered Millis both in class and in the senate, their similar interests eventually establishing a friendship.

Smith, originally from Richmond, Va., began his career in physics at Cornell in 1940, where he completed his bachelor's degree in physics and chemistry in 1943. Smith then worked in the physical optics division at a naval research laboratory in Washington, D.C., from 1943 to 1945, where, among other things, he studied how to detect ships with infrared. These detectors later became integral parts to space satellites.

But Smith's work at the naval lab only fed his interest in physics even more, convincing him to return to Cornell and work toward a doctorate degree. In 1951, Smith received his doctorate in physics from Cornell. He finally settled in as a professor at Eastern Illinois University from 1953 until 1990.

Since finishing his career at EIU, Smith has worked his way back to the east coast to be closer to his daughter. Despite his move away from the school, however, Smith continues to hold a steady interest in physics and quantum mechanics. He explained that he remains intrigued by the origin and formation of the asteroid belt and the topic of space exploration and discovery.

And while Smith repeated several times that the recognition was "no big deal," it's hard to hide his excitement as he holds the plaque with a diagram and statistics of the asteroid's location.

"I have never encountered an individual so capable of teaching physics," Millis said. "He is remarkable."

Written by Melanie Graham, staff writer for The Daily News of Newburyport

An experienced educator and accomplished researcher and author has been named as the new chairman of Eastern Illinois University's Department of Psychology.

John H. Mace, chair and associate professor at the University of New Haven (Connecticut), will assume his duties at the Charleston campus on July 1.

"I am very pleased that Dr. John Mace will be joining our psychology department and the College of Sciences," said Mary Anne Hanner, college dean. "Dr. Mace is an experienced department chair who has an excellent academic record in teaching and research. His research in the area of involuntary memory resulted in two of the first books on the topic. We are looking forward to working with him at EIU."

Mace, who has served in his current position as department chair since 2004, has taught at the University of New Haven since 2001. Previously, he taught at Queens College, Brooklyn College and Lehman College (City University of New York).

"I am eager to join the psychology department at EIU as chair," Mace said. "The department's high level of research, scholarship and dedication to a quality education in our field -- at both the undergraduate and graduate levels -- clearly established its eminence at EIU and in our discipline.

"I'm honored to have been selected as chair of such a very fine department. I'm also excited about coming to EIU. As one of the finest institutions in the Illinois state system, EIU is a testimony to the success of public higher education."

Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs at Eastern Illinois University, has announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31, 2008.

"Jeff's retirement will be a huge loss to Eastern's administrative team," said EIU President Bill Perry. "His work has been absolutely critical to me in my first year at Eastern. His leadership and knowledge of fiscal matters, of the university and of state offices has been of great benefit to Eastern for many, many years.

"We will miss Jeff's energy, great sense of humor, expertise, ideas and dedication to the university's best interests. I wish him well in his upcoming retirement."

In announcing his plans to retire, Cooley said he had been "truly blessed" during his tenure as vice president.

"I've had the opportunity to work with some very dedicated and extraordinary people," he said. "It wouldn't have been nearly as much fun, though, without the support I've received from the members of my staff and the President's Council over the years. They've been great.

"I've especially enjoyed the opportunity to work with President Perry this past year. His vision for Eastern, and the leadership he provides, made my decision to retire more difficult than I would have preferred."

But, Cooley added, the opportunity to spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren ultimately was more inviting.

Cooley, an EIU graduate and 25-year employee of the institution, was appointed vice president for business affairs in June 2001 by then-president Carol Surles, following a national search. He was no stranger to the office, having served as assistant vice president from 1997 to 1999, and as acting vice president for business affairs following the 1999 resignation of Morgan Olsen.

Previously, Cooley served as director of internal auditing (1983-1997), and spent four years (1979 to 1983) working in the private sector as a senior accountant in the Taylorville area. He is a certified public accountant, internal auditor and fraud examiner.

Cooley received his bachelor's degree in accounting from Eastern in 1979.

According to Perry, a search advisory committee will be selected this summer and will begin its work in finding a new vice president for business affairs this fall.

A rare tropical plant, the titan arum, is producing its first flower following six and a half years of vegetative growth in Eastern Illinois University’s H.F. Thut Greenhouse.

The titan arum, which produces the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world, is on the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Threatened Species.

The plant is also sometimes called the carrion flower or the corpse flower, as the flowers produce a scent similar to rotting meat.

The university is preparing for large crowds to view and photograph the flowering plant. The greenhouse has extended its hours to from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. On the day the plant blooms, expected to be around June 21, the greenhouse will stay open until midnight. It is visible through the window on the south side of the greenhouse when the greenhouse is closed.

A page has been created on the EIU Department of Biological Sciences' Web site to provide daily updates and images of the flower as it develops: www.eiu.edu/~biology/news/titan_arum.htm. A map to the greenhouse (just north of the Life Sciences Building) is available on the page, as well.

Steven Malehorn, manager of Thut Greenhouse, has tended to the titan arum since it was planted. He's never witnessed a flowering titan arum before; in fact, it's so rare, not many people have.

The plant, discovered in 1878, grows wild only in the tropical forests of Sumatra. It first flowered in cultivation in London in 1889; since then, more than 100 cultivated flowers have blossomed.

EIU obtained the seed in 2001. Its "grandparent" seeds were collected in 1993 from the only titan arum found in fruit during a BBC expedition filming "The Private Lives of Plants." The seeds were distributed to U.S. and British conservatories and greenhouses for cultivation.

The bud on EIU's plant first started coming up in April following the plant's regular six-month dormancy, Malehorn said. He originally thought it would be a leaf, like the 20-foot-by-15-foot one that appeared last year.

The world-class Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps will hold an open rehearsal to showcase what it has accomplished during its annual 11-day camp at Eastern Illinois University.

The Cavaliers, the 2006 Drum Corps International champions, will perform from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at O'Brien Stadium. The public is invited, and there is no admission charge.

For their 60th anniversary season, the Cavaliers are presenting "Samurai," which celebrates the ancient Japanese warrior's culture of honor, courage and discipline in a way that honors their heritage and breathes new life into their legacy.

Featuring original music and complex choreography, the show offers a compelling interpretation of the Samurai's heroic history in four dramatic movements: "Bushido -- The Way of the Warrior," "Ronin -- Masterless Samurai," "Ken-jutsu -- The Art of the Sword" and "Fumeiyo yori shi wo -- Death Before Dishonor."

The all-male Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, with most members in high school and college, is based in Rosemont, Ill.

The group's 2008 tour, which officially begins June 21 and runs through Aug. 10, includes more than 50 performances in 17 states and Washington, D.C.

For more information on the Cavaliers, please see http://www.cavaliers.org.

An Eastern Illinois University chemistry major whose very first research project yielded significant findings in her field has now earned the distinction of being named a 2008-2009 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar.

Rebecca C. Grove is one of only 321 students in the country to be honored by the scholarship program, which is the premier undergraduate award of its type in science, math and engineering.

Grove, who just finished her junior year, will receive $7,500 toward the completion of her undergraduate degree.

Grove, a member of the Honors College who earned a four-year scholarship as an EIU Presidential Scholar, is quick to give credit for her success to the many faculty and staff members who have worked closely with her at EIU. She said the Goldwater Scholarship reflects not only her own accomplishments, but also the work of the people who helped her achieve them.

"There is a lot of attention and one-on-one interaction at Eastern that I don't think I'd get at any other university," she said. "There have been a lot of faculty that helped me. It's been a collaborative effort. It certainly wasn't something that I did by myself."

Kraig Wheeler, associate professor of chemistry, has been a "wonderful" research adviser, she said, adding that he pushes her as a student and as a chemist. "He is the whole reason I've been doing research," she said.

In preparing for the Goldwater competition, Grove worked very closely with Wheeler and Sara Schmidt, an Honors College adviser, in preparing her formal application, as well as writing and revising her essay.

Titled “Interpreting Molecular Shape and Recognition through Quasiracemates,” Grove's essay examined her participation in ongoing research directed by Kraig Wheeler and posited how the research might be further expanded in the future.

In her lab work with Wheeler, Grove studies the crystal growth of organic compounds, and then views their individual atoms using X-ray diffraction. The findings could eventually be applied to other fields, such as nanotechnology and medicine.

Grove's first research project with Wheeler turned out so well that her findings were published in a major research publication, one that usually is reserved for work coming out of Ph.D.-granting institutions. In June, she is to present that paper at a conference.

"It never happens that you get a brand new person in the lab who has a major impact in your field, but Rebecca certainly did that," Wheeler said. "She has just been unbelievably successful. Over the last year, she has won numerous awards well beyond my comprehension. Everything she has touched has turned into gold."

Grove is working in the lab this summer as part of her relentless dedication to achieving her goals.

Grove's future plans are to earn a doctorate in organic chemistry, teach at the university level and conduct research in organic synthesis.

Locals who have an interest in Italian food and wine can learn from an expert this month without leaving central Illinois.

Massimo Coppetti, who teaches at Italy's Apicius Culinary Institute of Florence, will lead two short-term courses at Eastern Illinois University, starting Monday, May 19.

The courses may be taken for credit if desired, but a noncredit option is also available.
For information on cost and registration, please call the EIU School of Continuing Education at 217-581-5116.

-- Mediterranean Culture and Cuisine will explore how geographical and cultural influences shaped the use of food products, cooking methods, service styles and the many other factors that have led to the current cuisine of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

It will also closely examine the typical products that characterize the Mediterranean diet -- such as olive oil, pasta, rice, vegetables, fruits and dairy products -- including their history, economic relevance, production, nutritional value and uses around the Mediterranean. A selection of traditional dishes from Italy, southern France, Spain, Greece and Morocco will be presented, discussed and prepared.

This course will be offered twice. The first section will meet from 5-7 p.m. May 19-22 (Monday-Thursday); the second section will meet from 5-7 p.m. May 27-30 (Tuesday-Friday).

-- Introduction to Wine Tasting will cover the fundamentals of wine making and wine tasting. Students will be taught how to understand Italian labels and wine classification.

Major grape varieties and their historical roots will be presented, as well. Extensive wine tastings will help students to better appreciate wines and understand their differences.

This course will be offered twice. The first section will meet from 7:30-9:30 p.m. May 19-22 (Monday-Thursday); the second section will meet from 7:30-9:30 p.m. May 27-30 (Tuesday-Friday).

Many will agree that Eastern Illinois University is not a large university.

That didn't seem to matter, however, when the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded David Raybin a grant for more than $116,000, thereby enabling the veteran English professor the opportunity to represent the university abroad. He and his wife, Susanna Fein (a professor of English at Kent State University), plan to team-teach a four-week summer seminar in London and Canterbury, England, beginning June 22.

The seminar, titled "Chaucer's Canterbury Tales," will be geared toward teachers of grades K through 12. Fifteen individuals, representing schools from across the U.S., have enrolled, having been chosen from among more than 75 applicants.

Raybin, who spent nearly two months writing and re-rewriting the grant application -- "17 pages, plus appendices" -- admitted that "although we turned in the best proposal we could, I wasn't optimistic. There were just so many proposals under consideration."

And, he added, "If you review the grants, you'll notice many of them go to much larger schools -- schools such as Columbia or Harvard," Raybin said. "Many of these seminars are led by persons from major universities; they often do them every two years."

And usually, he added, the seminars are held on the campus where the teacher is from.

So it was with much delight that he and Fein received the news that their grant had been chosen as one of only 15 in its class to be funded.

Raybin noted that the NEH has traditionally supported Chaucer activities.

"But it couldn't have happened without the full support of the university," Raybin said, explaining that Eastern actually receives the money and administers the grant. Funds will go toward housing, salaries and administrative costs, as well as books, supplies and guest lecturers, and provide stipends of $3,000 to participating teachers/students.

"That $3,000 doesn't pay all their expenses," Raybin said. "The experience ends up costing them some out of their own pockets."

That, he added, proves how highly self-motivated these teachers are.

"And working with this sort of person is highly enjoyable," Raybin said. "These teachers truly want to study, and really fine teachers love their subjects. That matters tremendously to me."

The group will spend three weeks at the Mile End campus of Queen Mary College, University of London, and one week at Canterbury Christ Church University in Canterbury. The class will meet in a classroom setting, but also have time to tour sites "related to Chaucer," who Raybin calls "one of the great writers."

Both Raybin and Fein are well versed in their subject. Raybin is the joint editor of "Closure in 'The Canterbury Tales': The Role of the Parson's Tale," and is the author of numerous articles on medieval subjects, including Chaucer. Since 1989, he has directed annual public workshops on Chaucer and other authors for high school teachers and librarians under the sponsorship of the Illinois Humanities Council.