Since the angel Gabriel blew his trumpet it seems that men have dominated horn playing, at least in the realm of jazz.
That's not the case this month when DIVA, an all-female 15-member Big Band also known as No Man's Band, comes to the campus of WIU to headline WIU's 24th annual Jazz Festival, which runs Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 20-22.
Dale Hopper, WIU's director of bands and coordinator of the Jazz Festival, said women have been almost excluded from the jazz professional ranks, except as vocalists and pianists. Bringing female jazz musicians into the clinics and performances of the Jazz Festival is an opportunity he likes.
"I think having DIVA as this year's featured artists will be especially great for all the young ladies and women directors participating in the festival," Hopper added.
DIVA will perform the highlight concert, co-sponsored by WIU's Bureau of Cultural Affairs, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 in Western Hall. Tickets ($9, $11 and $13 for public and $6, $8 and $10 for WIU students) are available through the WIU Union Box Office, telephone 298-1254. DIVA was the idea of Stanley Kay, a former manager and relief drummer for the Buddy Rich Big Band. He was impressed by drummer Sherrie Maricle and set out to find other women musicians with a similar caliber of musicianship.
During the WIU Jazz Festival, DIVA musicians also will participate with guest artists in Friday and Saturday clinics for some 1,000 junior high, senior high, college and university students and directors.
Area jazz aficionados can ease into the Jazz Festival weekend beginning Thursday, Feb. 20 at two Macomb establishments. Guest artists, faculty and student combos will entertain from 7-10 p.m. at The Change of Pace and Club 67.
Friday's activities will include all-day university and college competitions in the Union Grand Ballroom. At 4:30 p.m. guest artists and the award-winning WIU Jazz Studio Orchestra (JSO) will perform in the Ballroom. DIVA's concert will follow at 7:30 p.m. in Western Hall.
Saturday's activities will include junior high and high school competitions throughout the Union. An awards ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Union Grand Ballroom followed by a festival-ending concert by WIU's JSO and guest artists at 6 p.m.
Daily admission to Jazz Festival activities in the Union is $5 for the public and $2 for students. For more information, contact the WIU Band Office at 298-1505.
WIU Athletics will unveil new athletic logos Saturday, Feb. 15 at the WIU basketball doubleheader vs. Valparaiso University. The women's contest is at 3 p.m. and the men play at 7:35 p.m. in Western Hall.
The updated image features WIU's initials and bulldog mascot Rocky using traditional purple and gold colors. The letters are bold and move forward in a sweeping design.
"Western Illinois University Athletics is unique in that our men's teams compete as the Leathernecks and our women's teams as the Westerwinds," said WIU Vice President for Advancement and Public Services Larry Mortier. "A common thread is our bulldog mascot Rocky which has represented the total program since the early '60s."
The new design also offers considerable flexibility to incorporate both nicknames, sports and the traditional Leatherneck globe and anchor insignia. The new logo was designed by Chris Henwood at JanSport, Inc., Appleton, WI, a national sportsware manufacturing firm. Representatives of JanSport will be recognized at halftime of the men's basketball game. Representatives of the athletic program and University design staff reviewed JanSport proposals throughout the development stages.
"The WIU athletic logo will be used for men's and women's intercollegiate teams," said Helen Smiley, director of WIU Intercollegiate Athletics. "The design will be phased in as uniforms and equipment are replaced."
New logo decals will be placed on the Western Hall basketball court. Western's mascot Rocky will have a new wardrobe. Promotional basketballs, shirts, decals and cups will be available at the Feb. 15 event.
Western licenses its logos, symbols and name and earns income when merchandise is sold bearing the University's name and symbols. Proceeds from licensing support athletics, alumni programs, student services and other campus programs.
The University and JanSport began working on the project in summer 1996. JanSport donated the design work on the project. The company recently completed art logo work for Illinois State University and Central Michigan University and athletic franchises including the Green Bay (WI) Gamblers hockey team.
Students and faculty at Western Illinois University have raised $230,000 of their $325,000 goal during this year's Annual Alumni Phonathon.
Each year students and other volunteers contact alumni and ask them to invest in the University's future. Funds raised during the Phonathon are used to help with department, college and University-wide needs, including student scholarships, facilities, equipment, technology and campus beautification.
The Fall Phonathon ended in December with a record-breaking $215,000 in pledges. The Spring Phonathon began Feb. 2 and is expected to continue through April.
"The success of this year's Phonathon is due to the tremendous efforts of our students and volunteers," said Amy Spelman, director of annual giving for the WIU Foundation. "The time and commitment they have given and continue to give is exactly what a program like this needs in order to be successful."
Spelman added the Phonathon is an excellent way to raise money for the University and for students to gain valuable communication, marketing, and fundraising experience.
Western Illinois University 1997 spring semester enrollment is 11,036, down from the 1996 total of 11,293.
New freshmen increased from 54 in 1996 to 94 this spring while transfer enrollment on campus dropped from 358 in spring 1996 to 283. Total on-campus enrollment this spring is 8,705 compared to 8,983 in 1996.
The number of students enrolled in extension classes in 1997 is 1,977 compared to 1,980 in the spring 1996 semester. Enrollment at the WIU Regional Center in Moline is 354, up 24 from last year. Students at the Regional Center have 57 classes available this spring, 10 more than a year ago.
The typical Regional Center student is enrolled in two or more courses, according to Joyce Nielsen, associate dean of the School of Extended and Continuing Education. Undergraduate degrees available through the WIU Regional Center include a bachelor of business in accounting, a bachelor of business in management, a bachelor of science in education in elementary education, a bachelor of science in manufacturing engineering technology, the Board of Governors bachelor of arts degree and a bachelor's degree in law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA). Julie Gilmere, associate professor of LEJA, will be a resident faculty member at the Center.
WIU is seeking approval to offer degree programs at the Regional Center in four other areas: bachelor of business in information management; bachelor of business in marketing; bachelor of science in recreation, park and tourism administration; and bachelor of science in education with a major in special education.
The Western degree program requests forwarded to the Illinois Board of Higher Education coincide with the University's move into its new facility in fall 1997. WIU purchased and is renovating the former IBM building at 3561 60th Street, Moline for use as a central educational facility for classes, faculty and administrative operations.
Nereida AvendaNo, Galesburg, has been named assistant to the director of Cross-Cultural Educational Programs and the Hispanic Program at Western Illinois University.
A graduate of Catholic University Andres Bello in Caracas, Venezuela, AvendaNo holds a bachelor's degree in industrial relations. She is currently completing her master's degree in interdisciplinary studies with the WIU department of educational foundations.
AvendaNo has extensive experience in human resources administration in Venezuela businesses and was the director of operations of her own business before moving to the United States with her family in 1990. For the past six years she has been involved with multicultural programs in area schools. She has worked with limited English proficient students and served as a liaison between schools and parents.
AvendaNo is the chair of the Hispanic Advisory Council in the Quad Cities and a member of the Hispanic Advisory Council in Galesburg and the Quad Cities Higher Education Committee.
AvendaNo will be involved in extending WIU resources through design and delivery of cross-cultural initiatives for educational advancement.
AvendaNo's office is located at the WIU Regional Center in Moline. For more information about the program, contact AvendaNo at 309/792-5330, ext. 234.
"New Orleans-Style" soul food is the featured menu at the 9th Annual Soul Food Festival slated for Friday, Feb. 28. The social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and the banquet gets underway at 6:15 p.m. at the Union Lamoine Room.
The menu is the main event at this taste sensation and includes seafood gumbo, creole jambalaya, red beans and rice, French bread, bread pudding with rum sauce, beignets and beverages included in the ticket price.
There is limited reserve seating available for parties of six, and tickets must be purchased by Friday, Feb. 21.
Children 4 and under are admitted free. Adult ticket prices are $14.50.
For more information or to reserve tickets call the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center at 298-2220.
A presentation of Igor Stravinsky's "L'Histoire Du Soldat" ("The Soldier's Tale") featuring performances by WIU faculty from the music, theatre and dance programs will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 in the Browne Hall Hainline Theatre.
The 1918 work was a collaboration by Stravinsky and Swiss author C.F. Ramuz. It is based on a Russian short story about a fiddle player who matches wits with the devil. The work evokes the character of the cabaret and street entertainment, and is presented in a series of brief tableauxs through which the work is read, mimed, danced and played.
The cast includes Sonny Bell as the Devil, Gene Kozlowski, as the voice of the Devil and Paul Calenberg as the soldier, all the WIU theatre department; and Adam Kozlowski, of Macomb, a veteran of various Summer Music Theatre productions, as the voice of the soldier. The role of the Princess will be portrayed by Heidi Clemmens, an associate professor of dance at Western. The narrator will be Catherine Sheagren, an alumnus of the department of theatre and a resident of Macomb.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and are available at the door. For more information, 298-1552.
Conversational Spanish is held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays at the Casa Latina Cultural Center for anyone who cares to practice speaking Spanish in an informal setting. For more information, contact Casa Latina at 298-3379.
McDonough County Red Cross-APO Blood Drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 18-19 in the Union Heritage Room.
Appointments can be arranged by calling 298-1950.
Blood supplies are low, and Type O Positive and all negative types are particularly needed.
Secondary school teachers, university seniors and graduate students teaching or preparing to teach about the U.S. Constitution may apply for a $24,000 federally-endowed fellowship through the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation.
The fellowship program, designed to strengthen instruction about the Constitution in the nation's schools provides for master's degree level graduate study of the framing and history of the U.S. Constitution.
Application deadline is Saturday, March 1. Locally, WIU history professor Virginia Leonard has fellowship information and applications. She may be contacted through the WIU history department, 298-1053.
Information also may be obtained through the James Madison Fellowship Program in Iowa City, IA, telephone toll free 1-800- 525-6928.
The 1997 competition for Phi Kappa Phi research papers is now open to any senior in any academic discipline. Faculty should advise students that papers must be single authored and show independent and original library, laboratory or field research projects done while a student at WIU. Papers should be limited to a maximum of 30 pages. Excellent research and good writing are required. Winning students and faculty mentors will be recognized at the PKP spring luncheon on Sunday, April 6. Student's name, phone number, campus address and faculty mentor's name and department should be included on the title page. Prize money is awarded: first place, $250; second place, $200; third place, $150; and fourth place, $100. For more information, contact Cheryl Cohen, 298-1058 or 298-1820.
The deadline for submission of papers is 4 p.m., Friday, March 7.
Ever wanted the luxury of a personal trainer to guide you through the pitfalls of getting fit? Thought personal trainers were way beyond your budget?
If you answered yes, then consider the affordable and flexible personal training program offered this semester by WIU's physical education department.
The program consists of basic fitness screening followed by 12 individual 30-minute training sessions with personal trainers. Trainers are available from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday; 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; and 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Participants can arrange their 12 sessions according to their own schedules.
The total program cost is $44, which includes the $20 semester fee to join the Brophy Hall fitness room and a minimal charge of $2 for each training session.
Anyone over 40 or those with medical problems will be required to present a copy of a physical examination completed within the past year or show consent of their physician before beginning the program.
The program will be held in Brophy Hall Room 135.
For more information about the program contact Cathy McMillan, 298-1758.
The prints of the winners of the 1996 Junior Duck Stamp competition are on display at the WIU Wildlife Art Gallery, Waggoner Hall 271.
The prints are the work of 12 young artists.
The Wildlife Art Gallery is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays while the University is in session. Appointments to visit the gallery can be made by calling 298-1546.
Paul Nolan, Macomb, retired WIU building service janitorial supervisor, died Feb. 4 at McDonough District Hospital in Macomb.
Nolan was born Feb. 26, 1926 in White Hall to Jasper and Iva (Short) Nolan. He married Marilyn Gamage in 1987; she survives. He is also survived by two sons, Gene of Virginia Beach, VA, and Kevin, of Jacksonville; two daughters, Carol Lester of Colchester and Beverly Kaskadden of Lake Saint Louis, MO; two stepsons, Scott Wisslead of Macomb and Jim Heaton of Hamilton; one stepdaughter, Connie Foulk of Macomb; two brothers, Howard of Riverside, CA and Bob of Mesa, AZ; two sisters, Goldie Rienbolt of Jacksonville and Mary Vincent of Noblesville, IN; and, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
Nolan was a WWII veteran and had worked at WIU for 27 years until his retirement in August.
Funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 6 at Dodsworth-Piper-Wallen Funeral Home, Macomb.
A new program for WIU faculty and staff makes dining on campus as easy as the swipe of an identification card.
All faculty and staff ID cards have been programmed to be accepted at all dining facilities on campus. The U-Dine Club allows employees to charge up to $25 per day at any residence hall cafeteria or Union dining service including Burger King, Gourmet Bean, Aurelios, Lincoln Room, the Delta Deli and vending machines with card readers.
Daily menus are available by calling 295-DINE (3463).
A monthly bill will be sent to employees. The University's internal offset policy requires employee accounts to be paid in full by the second billing notification.
If you lose your card you should report it to the Vali-dine office as quickly as possible. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 298-3329. On weekends contact the Office of Public Safety, 298-1949.
Employees can decide to deactivate their cards by calling the Vali-dine office located in Seal Hall, at 298-3325.
WIU faculty and staff can now charge O.L. Champion Golf Course season memberships, merchandise, equipment and cart rentals, green fees and gift certificates to their University account. Charge forms are available in the Auxiliary Service Office, Sherman Hall 317. For information, contact Jackie Thompson or Lisa Waller at 298-1988.
New Employees: Rebecca Heick, secretary III (trans), WIU Regional Center, 2/10/97; 309/792-5330; Donna Schroeder, secretary III (trans), WIU Regional Center, 2/6/97, 309-792-5330; Nancy Thomson, secretary III (trans), financial aid, 2/17/97, 298-2446.
Promotions/Transfers: Teresa Coplan, secretary III (trans), Alumni promoted to secretary IV (trans), Honors Program, 1/21/97; Sheila Downin, secretary III (trans), Financial Aid, transferred to Human Resources, 2/6/97; Linda Tribbey, secretary III (trans), marketing and finance, transferred to placement office, 2/19/97.
Resignations: David Burnham, police officer, Public Safety, 1/10/97; Melinda Kluge, licensed practical nurse II, Health Center, 12/20/96; Debra Kreps, data entry operator III, Public Safety, 1/31/97; Roland Smith, laboratory animal care technician II, laboratory animal care, 1/24/97.
Retirements: Harry Griffith, police sergeant, 2/28/97.
Employees at the WIU Macomb campus may schedule individual conferences with a counselor from the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Tuesday through Thursday, March 4, 5 and 6.
The deadline for scheduling a confidential appointment is Friday, Feb. 21. Call Nancy Sherer at 298-1853 to schedule an appointment.
WIU employees at the Western Illinois University Regional Center in Moline may meet with a SURS retirement counselor on Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 25 and 26. Call Bill Sadowski, 309-796-1311, ext. 1242 to make an appointment. Deadline for scheduling an appointment at Blackhawk Community College is Friday, Feb. 14.
Eligible WIU employees may save for retirement on a tax deferred basis. Employees may select from eight approved companies. Employees may begin or increase deductions with a copy of the maximum exclusion allowance (MEA) from the company and a completed payroll deduction card. The MEA calculation will be valid for the calendar year if more than one change in the deduction is made.
The number of deduction changes in a year is no longer limited. Because of IRS regulations, deduction changes must be received in Human Resources by the last business day before the effective pay period.
To request a list of the approved companies, see the Benefits Update Bulletin Board on the network or call Human Resources. Questions should be directed to Nancy Sherer at Human Resources, 298-1853.
The Civil Service Employees Council has announced that Jan Johnson, Human Resources, has been selected Employee of the Month for February.
Jan is a human resources officer III. Her enthusiasm and professionalism with her position at WIU expedites the filling of civil service positions across campus.
Please join the CSEC in congratulating Jan for helping make WIU a great place to work.
Nominations are being accepted for the annual employee awards recognizing community service and contributions to the University. The awards will be presented at the Employee Recognition Ceremony Tuesday, April 29.
The Community Service Award recognizes outstanding service by one Council of Administrative Personnel (COAP) and one Civil Service employee of WIU to or through any not-for-profit community organization. Nominees must be full-time administrative employees or status (certified) Civil Service employees. Service must be non-partisan, secular and voluntary. Such service must have been performed while the nominee was employed at WIU, but it is not limited to any geographic area. It shall not be related to regular WIU job responsibilities.
Nominations, in the form of a letter, no more than two pages, explaining the individual's accomplishments and how the activity contributed to the well-being of the community, should be submitted by Wednesday, March 12 to Virginia Helm, Sherman Hall 211.
The Administrative Recognition and Service Award honors one administrator for unusual and significant contributions to his or her profession, organizational unit or other areas within the University. Contributions may take the form of personal effort on the job, unusual technical expertise, leadership, creativity or significant work with state, federal or professional organizations.
Nominees are to be COAP members, associate or assistant vice presidents, deans, associate or assistant deans or department chairpersons. Nominations may be submitted by any eligible individuals or by the supervisor. A nominator must secure the permission of the person to be considered. Letters of nomination should be submitted by Wednesday, March 12 to Virginia Helm, Sherman Hall 211, and should include specific supportive information and details of distinctive contributions.
The Civil Service Recognition and Service Awards acknowledge initiative, innovation, or dedication to service at WIU. Suggested areas of emphasis include overall job performance, innovative ideas leading to improved services, contributions to enhancing the positive public image of WIU, ideas to improve safety and contributions to improved efficiency. Three awards will be presented to status (certified) Civil Service employees who have three or more years of full-time employment at Western.
Nominations may be made by any employee or University-recognized group or association. A nominator must secure the permission of the person to be considered. Submit letters of nomination including details of distinctive contributions by Wednesday, March 12 to Virginia Helm, Sherman Hall 211.
Helen Smiley, athletics, has been selected to serve on the NCAA Women's Basketball Mideast Regional Advisory Committee for a three-year term.
F. Gene Miller and Phyllis Plank, elementary education and reading, received $40,000 from the Illinois State Board of Education for the project"Development Guidance Activity Guide."
Anita Magafas and Katharine Pawelko, recreation, park and tourism administration, co-authored the chapter "Therapeutic Recreation Evaluation: Problems and Possibilities" published in the textbook Issues in Therapeutic Recreation: Toward the Millennium, David M. Compton (ed), Champaign: Sagamore Publishing, 1997.
Meckinley Scott, mathematics, co-authored "Quality-Related Measures of Unreliable Machines with Preventive Maintenance" published in Computers and Operations Research, 1996.
Carol Bell and Letha Clark, Macomb ProjectsMacomb Projects, conducted curriculum integration activities and workshops for assistive technology staff and classroom personnel at Just Kids Early Childhood Learning Center in Middle Island, NY.
Letha Clark and Sharon Doubet, Macomb ProjectsMacomb Projects, were keynote speakers at the 8th Annual Pre-K Kindergarten Kaleidoscope Conference with "Could You? Would You? With a Mouse" and "Software Olympics" in Mount Vernon. They also presented "Software Olympics" at the Chicago Metro AEYC Conference.
Letha Clark, Sharon Doubet, Carol Bell and Marisa Beard, Macomb Projects, provided a mini-lab at the Chicago Metro AEYC Conference. Beard and Bell also presented "Once Upon a Time: Empowering Children, Families and Teachers with Technology" at the conference.
Tim Kupka, theatre, designed the lighting for three dance concerts in January presented in Michigan by the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble.
Jeanette Thomas, biology, presented "Using Bioacoustic Techniques to Study Marine Mammals" at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia.
The "Art for Gifted and Talented Students" summer art program at WIU will offer study in drawing and painting, computer art and three-dimensional expression for students from fourth to eighth grades.
Programming for students in grades 4-6 will run Sunday, June 15 through Friday, June 20.
Programming for 7th and 8th graders will run Sunday, June 22 through Friday, June 27.
Cost for the camp, including tuition, supplies, extracurricular activities and room and board in a WIU residence hall is $295. Cost for commuter campers is $210.
For more information or to register, contact the WIU Office of Non-Credit Programs, 298-1911.
A four-part workshop on "Starting or Expanding a Small Business" will be held on four consecutive Thursdayevenings from 6 to 9 p.m. beginning Feb. 20. Sessions will be held in the Center for Management and Professional Development, Stipes 506. Registr ation is $39 per person for all four sessions. Married couples or business partners may attend for a discounted fee of $59 per couple.
The workshop explains how to improve chances for success with a small business. Instructor of the workshop is Dan Voorhis, director of the Small Business Development Center at WIU.
Session dates are Feb. 20, 27, March 6 and 13.
For information or to register, 298-1555.
"Problem-Based Learning Across the K-12 Curriculum," a conference intended to give participants an overview of problem-based learning and demonstrations and discussions about the reasoning needed to resolve ill-structured problems, will be held on Fri day, April 11 at The MARK of the Quad Cities, 1201 River Drive, Moline.
Presenter Bill Stepien, director for the Consortium for Problem-Based Learning, will lead the conference.
Registration, including instruction, materials and refreshments, is $60 per person. A $5 discount per person is offered for three or more registrants from the same organization.
Registration deadline is Friday, April 4. For more information or to register, contact WIU's Office of Continuing Professional Education, 309/792-5330, ext. 222.
A University Relations Publication