NIU students will have a new place to call home in 2012.
Northern Illinois University President John Peters broke ground at noon Monday, April 18, for an on-campus, 1,000-bed residential facility for NIU students. Construction will take place north of Lincoln Hall.
The new living complex is scheduled for completion by fall 2012 and will consist of two residential buildings and a community center. The buildings will feature cluster-style living arrangements with enhanced privacy, private bedrooms, semi-private bathrooms and a common space that includes a study area, living area and kitchenette.
The community center will contain a food court-style dining area, a recreation facility, multipurpose rooms and a wireless lounge/gaming area.
Construction of the new residential complex is one of several multi-year renovation projects that will transform the NIU campus through upgrades to existing facilities and creation of a new outdoor recreation complex.
The NEW|NORTHERN LifeStyle initiative will enhance NIU’s efforts to provide the best learning and living environment possible – from technologically sophisiticated residence halls with modern amenities, to comfortable, functional public spaces.
Phi Beta Delta, the honor society for international scholars, recently presented its 2011 Edward S. Blankenship Outstanding Staff Award toPamela K. Rosenberg, business manager for the Division of International Programs and treasurer of the Zeta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Delta.
The Blankenship Award recognizes outstanding leadership and support of the development and activities of a local chapter of Phi Beta Delta. As treasurer of NIU’s chapter, which was founded in 2004, Rosenberg has been instrumental in maintaining a high level of continuing support from NIU faculty, staff and students inducted into the chapter.
“Pam’s outstanding performance as chapter treasurer has greatly facilitated the development and growth of Zeta Gamma Chapter,” said Deb Pierce, associate provost for International Programs, who nominated Rosenberg for the national recognition. “To her business acumen she adds a passionate dedication to the goals of international education and to those of Phi Beta Delta.”
Anne Seitzinger, director of Study Abroad, and Sara Clayton, administrative assistant, also appreciate Rosenberg’s leadership in ensuring the financial viability of Zeta Gamma Chapter. “She welcomes any challenge and has the capacity to go above and beyond in dealing with everything from finances, policies and customer service to new initiatives, projects and more,” Seitzinger said.
With a strong base of continuing members and with excellent faculty leadership, including current chapter presidentChristopher M. Jones, chair of the Department of Political Science, Zeta Gamma Chapter has twice been named “Outstanding Midwest Regional Chapter” of the international society.
“Membership in Phi Beta Delta is an excellent way to recognize NIU faculty, staff and students engaged in international education,” Jones said, “and a superb conduit to promote global understanding across the university community.”
Date posted: April 15, 2011 | Author: Joseph King | Comments Off on International Programs business manager wins national Phi Beta Delta award for leadership
NIU Media Studies graduate assistant Matthew Zingale will premier his new documentary film, “Product of Society [the film],” at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at The House Café in downtown DeKalb.
“Product of Society [the film]” follows the progress of independent comic book writer Jon Michael Lennon as he struggles with finishing a new publication in time for Chicago Comic-Con 2010.
Zingale and Lennon became friends nearly 17 years ago while in middle school. He says the thought of creating a documentary about Lennon’s endeavor came to him while contemplating his thesis project for graduate school.
“I was struggling coming up with ideas and my mind went straight to him,” Zingale says. “Besides having a famous name which he’s had to deal with his whole life, he’s a very humorous and interesting artist.”
Zingale co-directed the short documentary “Running on Empty,” which screened at the Middlewest Music and Arts Festival and NIU’s Reality Bytes Independent Student Film Festival. This is Zingale’s first full-length documentary.
It’s ironic that a mathematician such as Harvey Blau often finds that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
But Blau’s educational philosophy, some of it formed on basketball courts and in musical rehearsal spaces, embraces just that.
“I volunteered as a basketball coach for my wife’s teenaged special education students during the first years after we came to Illinois. In this role, I realized the importance of teaching literally one small step at a time,” Blau says.
“I was impressed by the Suzuki system of music instruction when my children studied violin. The curriculum separates, teaches, reinforces and then integrates every relevant component of technique and musicality, and is structured so that kids have fun,” adds Blau, who also applies that same technique to the choir that he founded and continues to direct in his local Jewish congregation.
And so it is in Blau’s classroom that connected increments of learning are most effective.
Quizzes each class period help students to measure how well they are understanding and mastering content.
Those “kept us on our toes and inspired us to immediately apply what we had just learned,” says Lisa Grilli, an instructor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences and a former student of Blau’s. “It created a buzzing atmosphere of ongoing learning.”
“Professor Blau challenges students to think about problems at a range of difficulties so that everyone learns in his class,” student Ashley Case says. “If a student needs to see a second example of a particular concept, then he is willing and able to provide one.”
When students are puzzled in the classroom, Blau gladly starts over and clarifies each step of the solution. When students pose questions about the homework, he offers hints rather than answers.
When students are struggling, he offers to hold out-of-class seminars. When the professor returns graded homework, it is covered in his valuable feedback, positive and constructive.
“It’s labor-intensive, but effective,” he says. “My piano teacher in college gave me a small wooden mouse with big ears as a reminder to listen when I practiced. I try to listen to what my students are telling me in their responses, and to how my teaching is being received.”
Blau, a member of NIU’s Department of Mathematical Sciences faculty since 1969, earned his bachelor’s degree at Reed College in Portland, Ore., and completed his master’s and doctoral degrees at Yale.
He has written study notes for several NIU math courses and, when asked to take over a geometry course required of all mathematics education undergraduate majors, he revised the course materials and then wrote what has become the text.
Blau also designed, wrote and taught a graduate-level course in geometry, numbers and algebra for the department’s new master’s of science in teaching program with a specialization in middle school mathematics education.
Blau is an active research mathematician with more than 50 publications that include joint projects with colleagues in Israel, Germany and China. He has supervised four NIU Ph.D. dissertations, and has four current Ph.D. students.
He created and organizes his department’s yearly math contest, advised the Math Club and has escorted various student groups to the annual meeting of the Illinois section of the Mathematical Association of America.
“The greatest motivation I can give students is the knowledge that they are becoming better at doing something useful and important,” Blau says. “Of course, human limitations can impede progress. Nurture won’t always trump nature. But I believe that any good teacher must proceed as though it will.”
Date posted: April 15, 2011 | Author: Joseph King | Comments Off on Ongoing learning ‘one small step at a time’
Murali Krishnamurthi learned more than industrial engineering in college.
The life’s lesson – to teach the “whole” student – came as he was struggling financially, eating only one meal a day, teetering on the verge of homelessness and preparing to drop out of school.
A caring professor noticed – and made a difference.
“He invited me to his office, made me open up about my difficulties, wrote me a check on the spot for rent and groceries without any questions asked, and helped me get through my difficulties until I was able to get back on my feet,” Krishnamurthi says.
“I (now) make it a point to get to know each student in my class, let them know that I am available for them to talk to me regardless of what the issue is, listen to them without judgment and help them with what I can.”
Krishnamurthi, who came to NIU in 1991, recognizes that teaching is about student-learning. He inspires and motivates students to exercise their full potential: “As the Pygmalion principle suggests, students are more likely to do well if they know that their teachers believe in them.”
He also teaches students to “learn how to learn.”
“Teaching is not about dumping information or finishing the syllabus, regardless of whether students are learning or not,” he says. “It is about facilitating their learning process so that they are capable of mastering the subject matter and continuing that process on their own in the long run.”
Graduates of his courses affectionately call him “Dr. K.” One alum even gave her child the middle name of “Murali.”
“He is never too busy to help his students,” graduate Marissa A. Vallette says. “He always found time to have me come into his office where I was able to get the extra help I needed. I could always count on Dr. K for advice, whether it was helping me choose a master’s project topic, preparing me to present at an international conference or writing a letter of recommendation for me when I was applying to doctoral programs.”
Nonetheless, he is a taskmaster in the classroom.
“Dr. Krishnamurthi kept us on our toes with many surprise quizzes to ensure we assimilated the material cohesively,” says alum Shanthi Muthuswamy, now an assistant professor of engineering technology at NIU. “He had very rigorous standards with report-writing and he refused to accept subpar work … it has had a positive impact on my career, for the managers and my clients always appreciate well-structured, objective-oriented reports.”
Krishnamurthi earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Madras in his native India. He completed a master’s degree at Ohio University and his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University.
In the summer of 1998, he designed and taught NIU’s first fully online course, acquiring and using the necessary technology without any centralized support.
That fall, he added a second responsibility atop his teaching: director of the Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, where he is humbled by the opportunity to promote effective teaching strategies to his colleagues.
But students and their education remain Job No. 1.
He is passionate about helping international students acclimate to the United States. He also established and served as faculty sponsor to the NIU chapter of Alpha Pi Mu, the industrial engineering honor society, which earned national recognition in only its second year.
And, amazingly, he is walking in the shoes of those he teaches.
“Since fall 2008,” he says, “I have been taking courses from 100- to 300-levels to reorient myself to being in the classroom as a student.”
Date posted: April 15, 2011 | Author: Joseph King | Comments Off on ‘He is never too busy to help his students’
The event, which is free and open to the public, takes place at 7 p.m. in the Carl Sandburg Auditorium of the Holmes Student Center.
Choi was thrust into the national spotlight March 19, 2009, when he came out on the Rachael Maddow Show. Since then, he has been advocating for the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which prohibited him and other non-heterosexual individuals from serving openly in the military.
In this lecture, Choi will share his dynamic personal story of military service, honor, sexual orientation, race and the drive to stand up for those whose voices have been silenced.
This event is co-sponsored with NIU’s Campus Activities Board, Student Association, Presidential Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Prism, Military Student Services, Off-Campus and Non-Traditional Student Services, the Asian American Center, the Latino Resource Center, Unity in Diversity, College of Law-Gay/Straight Alliance, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of DeKalb Social Justice Committee, and the Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) DeKalb County Chapter.
NIU’s LGBT Resource Center serves as a vital link where LGBTQ individuals can find a sense of community and everyone can learn about LGBTQ identity and culture. It strives to create an inclusive campus community by providing support services, educational programs, advocacy and opportunities for leadership development.
For more information, call (815) 753-5428 or e-mail lgbt@niu.edu
Date posted: April 15, 2011 | Author: Joseph King | Comments Off on Lt. Dan Choi will talk ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ during NIU visit for LGBT Awareness Month
Northern Illinois men’s basketball head coach Mark Montgomery announced Wednesday that Marquavis Ford, Keith Gray and Kevin Gray have signed national letters of intent to join the Huskie basketball program in the fall.
Ford is a 6-foot-2 guard from Saginaw High School in Saginaw, Mich., while Keith and Kevin Gray are 6-foot-7 twin forwards from Brooks College Prep Academy in Chicago.
“We are very excited to have these three young men joining our program,” Montgomery said. said. “Marquavis, Keith and Kevin all represent the type of student-athlete we are looking to bring here to NIU. They are skilled, hard-working players that have excellent athletic ability and will be valuable additions to our team.”
Marquavis Ford was a Detroit Free Press Class A All-State Second Team selection while averaging 22 points, six assists, five steals and three rebounds per game at Saginaw High School. Ford helped lead the Trojans to a 20-3 record and the Saginaw Valley Conference championship.
Ford was a first team all-conference selection and was also named to the Saginaw Valley Dream Team. He was also recruited by Central Florida, Louisiana Tech and Wright State.
“Marquavis is very quick; he is one of the top combo guards in the State of Michigan,” Montgomery said. “He can shoot from the outside and is a very talented offensive player. What sets Marquavis apart is his defensive skills and his passion to play defense. He has excellent anticipation on that end of the floor, which allowed him to average five steals a game in high school. He is an excellent student, was a scholar athlete at Saginaw High, and was also the quarterback on the football team.”
Keith Gray averaged 15.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while helping to lead Chicago Brooks to a 28-3 record and a third-place finish in the Illinois Class 3A State Tournament. Keith Gray was named to the Champaign News-Gazette All-State Second Team and was selected to participate in the Chicago Public League Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game.
Keith Gray scored 22 points and grabbed 18 rebounds this season in a game against Chicago Simeon, the ninth-ranked team in the nation by USA Today. Keith Gray was recruited by St. Peter’s, UC Irvine, Illinois State and Indiana State among others.
“Keith is an excellent scorer and has the potential to play three positions in college,” Montgomery said. “He is a versatile player that can play the four-spot and the wing. He is an all-around player whose game is constantly improving. Keith is very athletic and can do a lot of good things offensively. He has an excellent feel for the game; he is a terrific passer and is a very good shot blocker with both hands.”
Kevin Gray helped Chicago Brooks to a third-place finish in the Illinois Class 3A State Tournament. Kevin Gray averaged 11.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists while helping Brooks to a 28-3 record. Kevin Gray, who was recruited by St. Peter’s, UC Irvine, Illinois State and Indiana State, was chosen to play in the Chicago Public League Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game.
“Kevin has a tremendous upside,” Montgomerys said. “He is a very good defensive player and has the ability to guard many different positions on the floor. Kevin is an excellent rebounder, particularly offensively, which will fit with the style of play that we are looking to have here at NIU. Both Kevin, and his brother Keith, were extremely well coached at Brooks by Chris Head and Bobby Locke, and that shows in the intelligence they display on the court.”
Ford and the Gray twins join Zach Miller from Glenbard East High School in Lombard, Ill., and DeAndre Barnette from Liberty Tech in Jackson, Tenn., as members of the NIU 2011-12 signing class. Miller and Barnette signed during the November signing period.
For more information on NIU men’s basketball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com
Date posted: April 15, 2011 | Author: Joseph King | Comments Off on Montgomery inks trio during late signing period
To earn the honor for the first time in his career, Gonzales was flat-out dominant in a 2-0 win over Miami (Ohio) on Sunday, which gave NIU a 2-1 series win over Miami (Ohio) at home, the Huskies’ second MAC series win in a row. The senior put together his first career complete game shutout and third career complete game as he allowed just three hits and struck out seven, tying his season high.
“(Jeremy) pitched a gem out there; it was a pitcher’s day, but Jeremy has seemed to make Sundays a pitcher’s day for a while now,” said NIU head coach Ed Mathey, who has had 14 pitchers and 14 hitters take home a MAC weekly award since 2003. “He challenged Miami to hit the baseball; he was in the strike zone all day. He kept his pitch count down early in the game, which enabled him to finish the game. It was a strong outing for us.”
Furthermore, the Bakersfield, Calif., native had a perfect game through 5.2 innings, retired the side in order in all but the sixth, eighth and ninth innings, and allowed only one base runner to reach second base. His no-walk performance is the first for NIU since 2007. He only went to a full count four times in the 30 batters he faced and 109 pitches thrown, 73 for strikes, en route to becoming the fifth Huskie, and second in as many weeks, to garner a weekly MAC accolade.
Gonzales’ third win in a row gave him his fourth overall on the season, tying his win total from last year. While improving to 4-4 on the season, he also extended his scoreless innings streak to 25.2, most of which has come in league play. In MAC starts this season, the conference’s hottest hurler is 3-0 and has yet to allow a run. In 24 MAC innings, Gonzales has given up just 11 hits and five walks with 18 strikeouts and has held hitters to a measly .136 batting average.
“As I talked to Jeremy afterwards, he was just happy that he was able to help us get the series win,” Mathey said. “I like when guys are concerned about the team and that can be contagious. He’s put up goose eggs in four of his last five starts. He’s done a six inning job, seven inning job, eight inning job and now nine inning job. Hopefully next time out it won’t take him 10 innings. I’ve been here for nine years and I don’t recall a starting pitcher being on a scoreless streak quite like this. I hope he keeps continues to have this approach. I hope he continues to work diligently in his bullpen sessions. And knowing Jeremy, he’s going to. I’m very happy for Jeremy and very proud of him.”
Sharing the honor with Gonzales is Western Michigan’s Brian Stroud, who earned a 5-1 win over Ohio after allowing four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in a complete game effort.
The right-hander joins teammates Troy White (March 1), Alex Jones (March 23), Zach Oates (March 23) and Joe Etcheverry (April 4) on the list of Huskies honored as MAC West Players of the Week.
The Huskies return to action at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, as they travel to Illinois State for a non-conference game.
As of Friday afternoon, Northern Illinois linebacker Devon Butler’s status has been upgraded from “critical” to “serious,” according to officials at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford.
Butler, a junior from Pembroke Pines, Fla., was the victim of an off-campus shooting in DeKalb earlier this week. He was transported to the Rockford hospital shortly after the incident and had been listed in critical condition since his arrival.
NIU head coach Dave Doeren, linebackers coach Tom Matukewicz and Jeff Compher, associate vice president and director of Athletics, have provided an almost constant Huskie presence at the hospital. Butler’s family has been with him since Wednesday afternoon.
Doeren also announced that the Huskies will return to practice Saturday, April 9, with an 11:45 a.m. non-contact session at Huskie Stadium.
NIU is in the middle of its five-week (15-practice) spring football practice period. Last Thursday morning’s scheduled practice was postponed and will be made up at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, April 10
Date posted: April 15, 2011 | Author: Joseph King | Comments Off on Huskie Devon Butler’s status upgraded
The Friends of NIU Libraries is sponsoring its annual Book Appraisal Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, in the Rare Books and Special Collections Department of Northern Illinois University’sFounders Memorial Library.
Appraisals will be provided by Thomas Joyce of Thomas J. Joyce & Co. and the Chicago Rare Book Center, and by William Butts of Main Street Fine Books in Galena. Joyce previously has appeared on HGTV’s “Appraisal Fair” program. Butts, who has extensive experience with appraising ephemera and autographs, has appeared on PBS’s “History Detectives.”
Individual appraisals cost $10 per title.
Members of Friends of NIU Libraries will receive their first three appraisals free of charge and subsequent appraisals at the discounted rate of $5 each. Visitors can sign up as new members that day to take advantage of the member rate for appraisals. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Friends of NIU Libraries.
Free parking is available at NIU on weekends in most campus parking areas. A campus map is available online. For more information on the Book Appraisal Fair, call (815) 753-9838
Date posted: April 15, 2011 | Author: Joseph King | Comments Off on One for the books
NIU faculty and students engaged in honors now have enhanced opportunities to study abroad thanks to a substantial financial gift to the NIU Honors Program.
John and Nancy Castle of DeKalb have designated the university’s Honors Program as the recipient of $1 million through a charitable remainder unitary trust. NIU President John Peters announced the gift Friday, April 8, during remarks at the Honors Program’s 40th anniversary reception at Maggiano’s restaurant in Oak Brook.
While Northern is committed to improving programming for honors students, Peters said he believes that external funding and support are also vital to the continued success of the university’s Honors Program.
“My Vision 2020 effort has highlighted the importance of encouraging the pursuit of international studies as a way to prepare world citizens. The Castle gift furthers this directive,” Peters said.
John Castle hopes the additional financial support encourages students and faculty to seek further engagement in the international community.
“The Honors Program gives students who are very bright, very curious, who have a lot of imagination the opportunity to grow and flourish,” Castle said. “If they can grow and flourish in an international environment, I think it’s even better.”
President Peters also acknowledged Honors Program director Daniel Kempton for his efforts to emphasize the importance of real-world learning and global educational experiences, while also focusing on increasing alumni engagement.
“Dr. Kempton’s efforts have dovetailed with my Vision 2020 for the university’s future, which calls for Northern’s continued development into the most student-centered public research university in the Midwest,” Peters said. “It is a vision integral to NIU’s future, and one that can be realized when we gather around a cause as worthy as the Honors Program.”
Date posted: April 15, 2011 | Author: Joseph King | Comments Off on NIU Honors Program receives major gift
Incoming freshmen will have a new place to call home in 2012 as Northern Illinois University President John Peters will break ground for a 1,000-bed residential facility for first-year students.
The ground-breaking ceremonies will be held at noon Monday, April 18, at the new residence construction site north of Lincoln Hall.
The new living complex is scheduled for completion by fall 2012 and will consist of two residential buildings and a community center. The buildings will feature cluster-style living arrangements with enhanced privacy, private bedrooms, semi-private bathrooms and a common space that includes a study area, living area and kitchenette. The community center will contain a food court-style dining area, a recreation facility, multipurpose rooms and a wireless lounge/gaming area.
Construction of the new residential complex is one of several multi-year renovation projects that will transform the NIU campus through upgrades to existing facilities and creation of a new outdoor recreation complex.
The NEW|NORTHERN LifeStyle initiative will enhance NIU’s efforts to provide the best learning and living environment possible – from technologically sophisiticated residence halls with modern amenities, to comfortable, functional public spaces.
Date posted: April 15, 2011 | Author: Joseph King | Comments Off on NIU leaders to break ground April 18 to begin new on-campus residential complex project
