NIU Today

There are at least two things that incoming Huskies have in common: they never quit, and they will read Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. Noah’s collection of personal stories has been selected for NIU’s Common Reading Experience for the 2021-23 academic years. Originally from South Africa, Trevor Noah is the current host of the...

When Kathryn Olson was a student at Northern Illinois University, she became part of Huskie Service Scholars to network with peers and get involved in campus and community service projects. Because the program contributed to her career path, she gives back as an NIU volunteer to improve the lives of current students. After graduating as...

Jennine Capó Crucet will visit campus on Tuesday, Oct. 17, as part of the university’s Diversity Dialogues series of events. Crucet’s “Make Your Home Among Strangers“ was selected as NIU’s Common Reading Experience for 2017-2019. “Although Make Your Home Among Strangers is a work of fiction, there are many similarities between the book and the author’s...

Each year, different events take place centering on the themes of the Common Reading Experience (CRE). This year’s CRE is “Make Your Home Among Strangers” by Jennine Capó Crucet. This powerful novel’s themes include social justice, quality/access to education, first-generation students, immigration, ethics (plagiarism), diversity, inclusion, identity, relationships, socioeconomic class, race and leaving home. All...

First- and Second-Year Experience, in partnership with Lambda Sigma Sophomore Honor Society and the Common Reading Experience Student Organization (CRESO), would like to thank the NIU community for helping to collect 1,148 books for “The Storybook Project,” a service project connected with the 2015-2017 Common Reading Experience (CRE) and Sophomore Days of Service. The Storybook...

“Make Your Home Among Strangers” by Jennine Capό Crucet has been chosen for NIU’s 2017-2018 Common Reading Experience (CRE). Last year, over 70 percent of first-year students used the book in at least one of their courses. This year, the book will be required reading for first-year students in UNIV 101 (University Experience), UNIV 201...

In collaboration with Common Reading Experience Student Organization (CRESO) and First- and Second-Year Experience (FSYE), Lambda Sigma is collecting children’s books to donate to the Storybook Project, a national effort to provide a connection between incarcerated parents and their children. Donated books will be sent to imprisoned parents and they will record themselves reading the book. The...

If you missed Bryan Stevenson’s visit to NIU on Oct. 24, it’s not too late to find out what he had to say and continue the conversation around injustice, humanity and mercy. As an NIU faculty, staff or student, you have exclusive access to Bryan Stevenson’s remarks during his NIU visit using your NIU username...

A series of events linked to themes of the Common Reading Experience (CRE) book selection, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, continue this month. Students, faculty, staff and community members are welcome to participate in events that pique your interest. Events are sponsored by several different entities and focus on themes related to Just...

NIU faculty, administrators, staff, returning students and community members are encouraged to “Get the Book, Read the Book and Donate the Book” as a part of the Common Reading Experience (CRE) this fall. The book, “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption,” discusses author Bryan Stevenson’s work as a young lawyer fighting against poverty...

First- and Second-Year Experience (FSYE) invites faculty, staff, students, community members and the colleges departments and organizations they are affiliated with to share programs and initiatives associated with the themes of NIU’s Common Reading Experience (CRE) and “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.” In addition to outlining the benefits of submitting your program,...

NIU will award an honorary doctoral degree Friday, May 13, to interfaith activist Eboo Patel, president of the Chicago-based Interfaith Youth Core. Patel will earn his honorary doctorate during the NIU Graduate School commencement ceremony scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center. A Rhodes Scholar who earned a doctorate in the sociology of...