Most NIU employees will receive a 2.5 percent salary increment in the March 30 payroll, thanks to a March 1 vote of the Board of Trustees.
The modest base increment is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2012. Employees at the higher end of the salary curve will receive less than 2.5 percent.
This month’s boost in pay is the second phase of a multi-year salary stabilization program launched in October 2010for faculty and staff. Tenured and tenure-track faculty also will receive a merit-based increment that represents approximately 1.75 percent of base salaries.
NIU President John Peters, who brought the salary increments to trustees, says the stabilization program represents the university’s best possible response to the state’s lack of prompt payment for employee health insurance claims.
“Illinois is now almost a year behind in paying routine health insurance claims for university employees,” Peters said.
As a result of those long delays, employees of NIU and other state agencies have endured a significant decline in health care benefits. Many health care providers have been forced to require payment up-front from university employees, Peters said.
“I wish I could report that the situation has been resolved. Unfortunately, the state’s lack of prompt payments to hospitals and medical providers in the region is now even worse than what it was in January 2011,” Peters said.
“Establishing and maintaining competitive faculty and staff salaries is, and always will remain, a top priority. Ever since I arrived on this campus in 2000, the state has either frozen or reduced its support of our operating base,” he added.
“This is the very best we can do under the difficult financial circumstances we face, circumstances not of our own making, but nevertheless, circumstances which we are forced to navigate for the indefinite future.”
Date posted: March 15, 2012 | Author: Bradley Hoey | Comments Off on Salary increments to come in March 30 payroll
Northern Illinois University President John G. Peters sent a video message to NIU faculty and staff Friday, February 10, regarding a recent analysis of Illinois’ public pension problem.
Colleagues,
The prestigious Illinois Institute of Government & Public Affairs has released an insightful analysis of Illinois’ public pension problem and proposes a set of reforms for the SURS that meet the standards of the Illinois constitution and provides fiscal sustainability for the system going forward. It is built on the concept of shared responsibility among the state, its universities and employees.
Please take the time to view the video and to click the link below for more information about this insightful report and the proposal contained within. Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration.
The Mid-American Conference Champion Northern Illinois Huskies will close out a record-setting 2011 season versus Arkansas State, champions of the Sun Belt Conference, on Sunday, Jan. 8 in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala. The announcement was made Sunday by Northern Illinois Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Jeff Compher, GoDaddy.com Bowl president Jerry Silverstein and Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, Commissioner of the Mid-American Conference.
The Huskies (10-3, 7-1 MAC) and Arkansas State (10-2, 8-0) will face off in Mobile’s historic Ladd-Peebles Stadium at 8 p.m. (CST). The game will be televised nationally by ESPN. NIU will finish its season by playing in a bowl game for the fourth consecutive year and the sixth time in the last eight seasons.
Tickets for the 2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl game can be purchased for $45, or access the link through the Bowl Central page on the Northern Illinois Athletics’ website at www.NIUHuskies.com beginning at 9 a.m. (CT) Monday, Dec. 5. Fans can also call the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center at 815-752-6800 during regular business hours.
Northern Illinois will offer free tickets to NIU students who can attend the game. Students can pick up their free ticket (one per student) at the NIU Convocation Center Ticket Office beginning Thursday, Dec. 8 at Noon. Proper identification will be required.
Information on travel to Mobile, including fan and student bus packages, will be available on NIU’s “Bowl Central” website on Monday. Fans are also invited to check the bowl’s website at www.godaddybowl.com for information on bowl events, parking, Ladd-Peebles Stadium, the city of Mobile and more.
Northern Illinois, which claimed its first Mid-American Conference Championship since 1983 Friday night in Detroit with a 23-20 comeback victory over Ohio, has won at least 10 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history. The Huskies have a chance to match last season’s school-record 11-win season and will ride an eight-game winning streak into the bowl game.
Compher was enthusiastic about carrying the excitement of the MAC Championship game win into 2012.
“This invitation to the GoDaddy.com Bowlin Mobile caps off a great weekend for the Huskies and our fans,” Compher said. “Our team is excited to represent the Mid-American Conference as league champions in the GoDaddy.com Bowl, a bowl that has a long history with the MAC. Mobile is a great destination, especially in early January, and I know the city will welcome our team with open arms. We hope many Huskie fans will enjoy the holidays with their families and then come to Mobile to watch this championship team play one final time.”
NIU Head Coach Dave Doeren, who helped take teams to bowl games eight times as an assistant, leads the Huskies into the GoDaddy.com Bowl in his first season at the helm of the Huskie program.
“We are very excited to represent the MAC and play Arkansas State, the champion of the Sun Belt Conference in Mobile at the GoDaddy.com Bowl,” said Doeren. “We were the first selection among teams from our league which is an honor. It’s a great opportunity to showcase our players and our program on national television the night before the national championship game.”
Doeren said the benefits of playing in a bowl game carry over into future years, recruiting and other aspects of the program.
“Anytime you can extend your season, you create an opportunity for additional practices for your football team, which is huge in the development of our young players,” Doeren said. “It is like having an additional spring ball. This is also a reward for our fans, boosters, players and families who have the opportunity to travel to a bowl site and enjoy all the events and activities surrounding the game.”
Northern Illinois is led by senior quarterback Chandler Harnish, who won the Vern Smith Leadership Award as the top player in the MAC, and was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year. Harnish, who owns 20 Northern Illinois school records, has accounted for more than 4,300 yards of total offense in 2011 with 1,382 rushing and 2,942 passing yards. He is responsible for 37 touchdowns with 11 rushing and 26 passing. The Huskies’ defense, which held Ohio scoreless in the second half of Friday’s MAC Championship game to allow the NIU comeback, features Mobile native Jimmie Ward, a sophomore safety who ranks second on the NIU team in tackles with 93.
Northern Illinois extends its consecutive bowl game season streak to four and the Huskies will make their sixth bowl appearance in the last eight seasons. The GoDaddy.com Bowl will be NIU’s 12th bowl game all-time. A year ago, NIU defeated Fresno State in the 2010 uDrove Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho, 40-17, to improve its record in bowl games to 4-7. The Huskies are 3-3 in bowls since moving to the “Major College” (now Football Bowl Subdivision) ranks in 1969.
The Huskies played in the International Bowl in Toronto, Canada on Jan. 3, 2010 to conclude the 2009 season and battled Louisiana Tech in the 2008 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. Northern Illinois also played in the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego, Calif. and in the Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose, Calif. in 2004.
Northern Illinois and Arkansas State will meet for the first time since the 1996 season, and the bowl contest will mark the eighth all-time between the teams. NIU owns a 6-1 lead in the series, which included three games played as Big West Conference foes from 1993-95. Northern Illinois won the last meeting, 31-30, on Sept. 21, 1996 in Jonesboro.
The Red Wolves won the Sun Belt Conference title outright with a 45-14 victory over Troy Saturday at ASU Stadium to improve to 10-2 overall, 8-0 in the league. Arkansas State is just the third school in SBC history to finish undefeated in league play and the Red Wolves won 10 games for the first time since 1986.
The Mid-American Conference has had a relationship with Mobile’s bowl game since 2001 and the Huskies will be the eighth different league school to play in the game. A year ago, Miami (Ohio) defeated Middle Tennessee State, 35-21, in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
Date posted: December 4, 2011 | Author: Bradley Hoey | Comments Off on NIU accepts invite to GoDaddy.com Bowl
The Northern Illinois volleyball team earned an at-large spot in the 2011 NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, announced live on ESPNU during the tournament selection show.
The Huskies (28-6, 14-2 MAC) will be matched up with Miami (Florida) (25-4, 16-4 ACC) in the Minneapolis Regional on Friday, Dec. 2, at 5 PM CT in Ames, Iowa, at Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum.
The postseason NCAA appearance will be NIU’s first since 2001 and sixth overall in school history. The only other time the Huskies have received an at-large bid was in 1998.
The body of work that swayed the selection committee to include NIU (28-6, 14-2 MAC) in the tournament’s field of 64 teams was too overwhelming to leave NIU out for the second year in a row. Claiming the Mid-American Conference West Division and regular season championships, the Huskies’ 28 wins are the fourth most in the nation and in school history, and their .818 winning percentage is 20th in the nation. NIU has maintained a top 30 RPI position all year, currently at No. 17, and no team with a 30 RPI or better has ever been left out of the tournament. The Huskies have also received votes in the AVCA Top 25 Poll on five occasions this season, including a season-high 15 votes in the last two polls.
Stay tuned to NIUHuskies.comfor further information on the Huskies NCAA postseason run.
Date posted: November 27, 2011 | Author: Bradley Hoey | Comments Off on NIU earns at-large bid into NCAA Volleyball Tournament
DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen announced today that an arrest has been made in the shooting death of Steven R. Agee II, 22, of Park Forest.
Chaz Thrailkill, 19, of Markham, Illinois, was arrested on a warrant for first degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm. Bail was set at $3,000,000. Thrailkill was picked up in the 1100 block of Varsity Bl., in DeKalb, at 10:42 a.m. Thrailkill is not a NIU student and was visiting a friend.
The DeKalb Police Department responded to 809 Edgebrook Dr. at 2:10 a.m. reporting that a person had been shot. Officers arrived on the scene within one minute of the 911 call and found one victim who had been shot in the chest. The victim was transported to Kishwaukee Hospital and was pronounced dead a short time later.
“This was an isolated incident that occurred as a result of an argument that escalated between Agee and Thrailkill at an off-campus party,” said Chief Feithen. “The investigation is ongoing.”
Thrailkiill is scheduled to appear in DeKalb County bond court Friday morning, according to DeKalb County State’s Attorney Clay Campbell. Thrailkill faces a possible sentence of 20 years to natural life for the first degree murder charge and from six to 30 years in prison on each of the other two counts, Campbell said.
UPDATED 11:56 a.m.
The DeKalb Police Department will hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, at DeKalb City Hall, 200 S. Fourth Street, DeKalb, to provide an update on the investigation into the shooting that took place in the 800 block of Edgebrook Drive early this morning.
UPDATED 9:18 a.m.
Early this morning, Northern Illinois University officials were notified by the DeKalb Police Department that NIU student Steven R. Agee, II, age 22 of Park Forest, was fatally shot during a party at a private apartment complex in DeKalb.
DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen has informed NIU officials that there is no imminent threat to the community. Police say the situation was an isolated incident that occurred as the result of an argument that escalated between two people at a party.
NIU President John G. Peters, senior administrators and counselors immediately went to Kishwaukee Community Hospital to offer support and assistance to the Agee family and friends. The NIU campus community’s thoughts remain with the Agee family and friends.
Details of the incident are still unfolding, and an investigation is under way. According to DeKalb Police, the Police Department received a 911 call approximately 2:10 a.m. regarding a person shot at 809 Edgebrook Drive in DeKalb. Officers arrived on the scene within a minute of the 911 call. Agee was transported to Kishwaukee Community Hospital and died a short time later.
According to DeKalb Police, a suspect has not been taken into custody, but they are following every lead and continuing to follow witnesses. DeKalb police describe the suspect as an African-American male, approximately 20 years of age, approximately 5’8” to 5’11” in height and wearing a dark jacket. Anyone with information in this case is encouraged to call DeKalb Police at (815) 748-8400 or Crimestoppers at (815) 895-3272.
University authorities conferred with DeKalb Police and issued a text alert to all subscribers to the university’s emergency text alert system. Additional notification was posted on the university’s emergency information page and the university’s campus email advisory system was also utilized to distribute information
Tragic incidents such as this have a profound effect on each member of our community. NIU counselors are available to assist students, faculty and staff and can be contacted via calling the Counseling and Student Development Center at (815) 753-1206. Faculty and staff who feel the need to speak with a counselor can contact the Employee Assistance Program at (815) 753-9191.
As information develops, additional updates are made continuously to the university’s 24-hour news and information blog, NIU Today, www.niutoday.info, and the university’s emergency information website www.niu.edu/emergencyinfo.
UPDATED 7:09 a.m.
The DeKalb Police Department received a 911 call at 2:10 a.m. of a person shot at 809 Edgebrook Drive in DeKalb. Officers arrived on the scene within a minute of the 911 call and found one victim who had been shot in the chest. The victim was transported to Kishwaukee Hospital and was pronounced dead a short time later.
DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen indicated the shooting victim was a NIU student. The victim was identified as Steven R. Agee II, age 22, of Park Forest.
There is no imminent threat to the university or community at large because the situation was an isolated incident that occurred as a result of an argument that escalated between two people at an off-campus party.
The shooting suspect described as a male/black, dark complexion, 5’8” to 5’11”, about 20 years of age, wearing a dark jacket. Anyone with information in this case is encouraged to call DeKalb Police at (815) 748-8400 or CrimeStoppers at (815) 895-3272.
ORIGINAL POSTING 3:25 a.m. LAST UPDATED 6 a.m.
City of DeKalb police are investigating a shooting that occurred during the early morning hours on Wednesday at 809 Edgebrook on the city’s northwest side.
City of DeKalb Chief of Police, Bill Feithen said the incident was reported to police at approximately 2:12 am. According to Chief Feithen one male victim was killed in the incident.
The victim is reported to be a NIU student.
According to police the shooting suspect remains at large. DeKalb police describe the suspect as an African-American male, approximately 20 years of age, height approximately 5-8 to 5-11 and wearing a dark jacket.
The NIU Department of Police and Public Safety have issued a campus alert.
According to Feithen, there is no imminent threat to the university or community at large because the situation was an isolated incident that occurred as a result of an argument that escalated between two people at an off-campus party.
Chief Feithen said that anyone with information on the incident should contact the City of DeKalb police department at (815) 748-8400 or Crimestoppers at (815) 895-3272.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
Date posted: November 23, 2011 | Author: Bradley Hoey | Comments Off on Wednesday morning shooting incident at 809 Edgebrook in DeKalb
The Northern Illinois men’s soccer team saw its magical season end on Sunday afternoon, falling 3-0 to No. 2 seed Creighton in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Jays, the nation’s top defensive team, held NIU to just four shots in the contest.
Issac Kannah
“Creighton was the best team we have played in a long time, that is including Akron,” NIU head coach Eric Luzzi said. “(Akron) is in our conference and we play them once, sometimes twice a year. That team that we just played, on both sides of the ball, is about as good a team as I have seen in the last couple years. They [Creighton] are the complete package. On the ball (they are) very, very comfortable in possession. They don’t lose the ball easily or cheaply, the angles they create are good and technically they are very sharp. But on the flip side, defensively, they work very hard.”
Jose Gomez opened the scoring for Creighton (19-2-0) in the 21st minute when he one-timed a cross into the lower left corner past NIU junior goalkeeper Jordan Godsey (Ocean Springs, Miss./Ocean Springs). Eric Miller and Bruno Castro each recorded assists on the goal for the Blue Jays.
Creighton doubled its advantage just before halftime as Ethan Finlay received a ball from Greg Jordan and fired a shot past Godsey from 10 yards. The goal was Finlay’s 12th of the season.
Switching formations in the second half, going to more of a two forward attack, the Huskies held more of the possession in the final 45 minutes, but were unable to penetrate the Creighton defense, which posted its 17th shutout of the season, its eighth-straight.
NIU recorded its lone shot on target in the 61st minute as freshman Isaac Kannah (Plymouth, Minn./Prairie Seeds Academy) forced a save from Creighton goalkeeper Brian Holt.
Finlay closed the scoring with his 13th of the season in the 88th minute. Castro sent a free kick to the far post where Jake Brown headed back in front of goal and Finlay provided the final header for the goal.
“It isn’t easy to get a team in the NCAA Tournament and now our expectation is, moving forward we are going to be an NCAA team every year,” Luzzi said. “When we remove ourselves a couple days away from the sting of this one, this will be a season that everyone in our program, and I, will remember a long time because it is going to set the standard for our program.”
NIU finishes the season with a 15-6-0 record, matching the best single-season win total in school history. Northern Illinois also won 15 games while reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2006.
Trailing 2-0 to No. 6 seed Central Michigan and out of rhythm, the No. 1 seeded Northern Illinois volleyball team nearly dug itself completely out of a hole as the Huskies fell four points shy of winning the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship in five sets (21-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23, 11-15).
“I want to first say congratulations to Central Michigan,” said NIU Head Coach Ray Gooden. “They were probably the best team here this weekend, and they showed it today. We had a dogfight against them. For the first time in a while we came in pretty tight. The things we take pride in — serving and passing — weren’t quite as crisp as we needed it to be today. But I give credit to Central for the pressure the put on us.”
Last season, NIU (27-6) was swept in the title match by Ohio and looked as if the unthinkable would happen again. But The Huskies loosened up after a tight and uncharacteristically sloppy first two sets that saw NIU have 13 hitting errors, four receiving errors, and a combined .227 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, CMU (18-12) chalked up a 7-2 blocking edge and hit .321 in the first two stanzas.
Down 13-9 in the third set and staring a sweep in the face, the Huskies rallied out of a timeout with two straight kills from second team All-MAC selection Allison McGlaughlin (Morton, Ill./Morton) and two-time reigning MAC Player of the Year Lauren Wicinski(Geneva, Ill./Geneva) that jump started an 11-4 run that put NIU ahead 20-17. With momentum starting to shift NIU’s way the Huskies closed out the set to force the fourth set after a tip from Wicinski beat CMU’s block.
With CMU noticeably tight and not playing with the same energy, NIU jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the fourth set after McGlaughlin hammered down an overpass. Later in the set, CMU recovered and made a push for a 19-15 edge. Needing someone to respond, second team All-MAC selection Sarah Angelos(Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan) scored NIU’s next three points to close the gap to 21-19. After a CMU block, three straight Chippewa errors tied the set at 22.
Out of a CMU timeout, first team All-MAC selection Mary Kursich (La Crosse, Wis./West Salem) and MacKenzie Roddy(San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) teamed up for a huge block to put the Huskies up 23-22. Following a CMU kill, Wicinski took over with a kill and an untouched ace to force the fifth and match-deciding set.
In the fifth, a Wicinski tip gave NIU a 2-1 lead. The teams then exchanged points until CMU scored two straight to grab an 8-7 advantage at the turn. The first two plays after the switch changed all the momentum as Angelos misfired on a shot and Kurisch was blocked. Down 10-7, the Huskies called timeout to regroup but just couldn’t get anything going after that.
Handing NIU its first loss since Sept. 30th at Ball State and ending a 15-match winning streak, the Chippewas outhit NIU .321-.216 and were stout at the net with a 13-4 blocking advantage.
Three Huskies reached double figures in kills, led by Wicinski’s 20. McGlaughlin notched 17, tying a season high, and hit .316. Angelos tallied 14 and a .333 attack percentage. First team All-MAC selection Kristin Hoffman(Batavia, Ill./Batavia) racked up 62 assists.
Defensively, Amber Walker(Juneau, Alaska/Juneau Douglas/Western Oregon) led NIU with 17 digs. McGlaughlin and Wicinski had 12 apiece.
For the outstanding efforts in the tournament, Hoffman and Wicinski were named to the all-tournament team, NIU’s first such selections since 2001.
“For what we have done up until this point, this loss is going to be very difficult for our group,” Gooden said. “This season has been amazing and I’m proud of our group.
“We play Marquette next weekend in a pretty critical match. Then we have the NCAA selection show Sunday. We hope to be one of the top 64. We feel we have a pretty good body of work and hope the selection committee feels the same. It’s been an amazing season. I’m really proud to be a Huskie and so is our team.”
Next up for the Huskies is a 4 PM CT tilt with Marquette at Victor E. Court on Saturday, Nov. 26, as they hope for an NCAA Tournament appearance. Tune into ESPNU on Sunday, Nov. 27, at 5 PM CT for the NCAA selection show to see if the Huskies make the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
Date posted: November 20, 2011 | Author: Bradley Hoey | Comments Off on NIU volleyball falls to Central Michigan in MAC title match
The Northern Illinois University Department of Public Safety will conduct a test of its Campus Alert System on Thursday, November 17 at 1:55 p.m. Everyone who has subscribed to the text alert system should receive a text message that is clearly labeled as a test of NIU’s emergency text alert messaging system.
The following test message will be sent via text message (SMS) at that time:
Subject line: *TEST* NIU Campus Alert *TEST* Body of message: This is a TEST of the N I U Campus Text Alert system. This is only a TEST.
Additionally, when this text alert is triggered, the message should also be displayed on IPTVand on campus computer workstations running the Novell client, which include the workstations in campus computer labs.
As a result of upgrades that have taken place in approximately 20 buildings on campus, this alert will also be broadcast audibly through the fire alarm system. The installation of these upgrades will continue across campus until each building is capable of transmitting these messages.
The Campus Text Alert test is required on an annual basis to comply with the federal Clery Act. In the event of an imminent and verifiable threat to the lives and safety of the general campus population, the NIU Police will send a text message (SMS) notification to text-enabled cell phones.
NIU Campus Text Alert messages are designed to give a brief description of the situation and provide initial instructions to the community. Upon receiving an NIU Campus Text Alert, people should immediately share the information with those nearby.
“This is an important test in order to make sure the Campus Text Alert system is working properly,” said Darren Mitchell, director of NIU’s Office of Emergency Management & Planning. “We encourage people to register to receive Campus Text Alerts before the test takes place and also to report if they registered for but did not receive a text alert during the test.”
Students, faculty and staff may register and/or update registrations to receive text alerts at http://www.niu.edu/emergencyinfo/text_alerts/index.shtml. If after the test takes place on November 17, a registrant did not receive a test text alert, notify the ITS Helpdesk at (815) 753-8100 to report the problem.
Campus Text Alertsare only issued if there is an imminent threat to the lives and safety of the general campus population and are delivered via SMS.
Campus Email Advisoriesare timely notifications of potential emergency (safety, electrical/power outages in academic buildings and residence halls, criminal, health, hazardous weather) activity on or near campus where the threat is NOT immediate or life-threatening. Campus Advisories are delivered via e-mail, and the NIU community may register to receive this information by visiting http://www.niu.edu/emergencyinfo/advisory_emails/index.shtml.
“I encourage all faculty, staff and students, as well as parents of students to register for our emergency text alerts and to sign up with a preferred email address for advisory updates,” said NIU Vice President for the Division of University Relations Kathy Buettner. “Commuter students and students at NIU’s education centers in Rockford, Hoffman Estates and Naperville are especially encouraged to register for the advisory updates as a quick and convenient way for NIU to notify them if weather conditions result in class delays or cancellations.”
With 6:40 left in regulation time of the Mid-American Conference Championship match, sophomore Sean Totsch (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) became the hero for the Northern Illinois men’s soccer team, flicking a header into the back of the net off a free kick from freshman Isaac Kannah (Plymouth, Minn./Prairie Seeds Academy) to secure the MAC Championship for NIU over Western Michigan, 1-0.
“It’s hard to describe to be honest,” said NIU head coach Eric Luzziafter the match. “A lot of players, coaches and staff worked really hard for a number of years to make this happen. I thought we had a good team coming into the season and, as the season progressed, I thought we had a tournament-worthy team and we’re just ecstatic it’s official now. As has been our M.O. all year, we just found a way to win. It wasn’t the prettiest but we found a way. If that’s what we’re known for, we’ll take that any day.”
The match featured a tremendous amount of physical play, as the teams combined for 14 fouls in the first half, play would stopped on three different occasions during the match because of injury. The physical play meant that possession of the ball was in short supply while free kicks and 50/50 balls were a constant theme of the match. In the end, Western Michigan out-fouled NIU, 15-13.
The Broncos had the first good chance to open the scoring when, in the 30th minute; Kai Mendes rifled a shot off the crossbar that ricocheted back into the box. Mendes attempted to bicycle the rebound but fouled junior Rocco Taglia(Caledonia, Ill./Boylan) trying to clear space and ended his own scoring threat.
Seven minutes later, sophomore Gael Rivera(Oslo, Norway/WANG Elite Sports Academy) took a pass from sophomore James Stevenson(Falkirk, Scotland/St. Mungos) at the top of the 18-yard box and worked himself into a shooting position from point blank range, but WMU goalkeeper Sean Lewis was up to the task, deflecting the shot out for a corner kick.
NIU held a 4-3 edge in shots in the first 45 minutes; both goalkeepers were forced to make one save in the opening stanza.
Chances were few and far between in the second half as four yellow cards were shown and just five shots were attempted before the Huskies finally broke through in the 84th minute.
NIU drew a foul near the sideline to the right of the Western Michigan goal and Kannah went over to take the free kick. Kannah played the ball into a dangerous area inside the box and Totsch rose above a sea of Western Michigan black and Northern Illinois white, flicking the ball over Lewis and into the net for what would prove to be the game-winner.
“It was a great service by Isaac and I was just able to be the first one there,” said the Oswego, Ill. native. “The biggest thing with set pieces is just wanting it and that’s what got us a goal tonight.”
For Totsch, the goal was just the second of his NIU career, the first coming a week ago in the regular season finale at Hartwick.
Western Michigan tried to throw everything forward in the remaining minutes. The Broncos were able to earn one corner kick, but never tested NIU junior goalkeeper Jordan Godsey(Ocean Springs, Miss./Ocean Springs) as the Huskies prevailed to win their second MAC championship, the first since 2006.
With the victory, NIU improves to 14-5-0 and will await the NCAA Selection Showto find out when and where it will play in the NCAA Tournament. The selection show will be streamed live on NCAA.comon Monday, Nov. 14, at 3:30 p.m. CT.
For more information on Huskie men’s soccer logon to NIUhuskies.com.
Date posted: November 13, 2011 | Author: Bradley Hoey | Comments Off on NIU men’s soccer wins MAC Championship
As more students express an interest in participating in the Northern Illinois University Honors Program a recent announcement of a substantial financial gift to the program by two NIU alumni should help foster future opportunities for students engaged in honors studies.
Earl and Cindi Rachowicz of Evanston have designated the University Honors Programas the recipient of a $50,000 matching gift.
The Rachowicz Giving Challenge involves a pledge from Mr. and Mrs. Rachowicz to match any new or increased financial gift to the Honors Program up to $10,000 per year for a period of five years. The gift was announced Oct. 12 at an event held for Honors alumni and prospective students at Cantigny Park in Wheaton. Approximately 200 people attended the October event.
“Both Cindi and I have very fond memories of the Honors Program from our time as students at Northern,” said Earl Rachowicz, who graduated from NIU in 1973 with a degree in accountancy. “We’ve contributed to the accountancy program and the music program over the years, and we feel it’s the right time to do something significant for Honors.”
The University Honors Program has grown by 19 percent over the last year and now stands at 1,063 students.
Christopher Jones, associate vice provost for University Honors, believes the Rachowicz gift will not only help facilitate planned expansion of the program but will also encourage additional financial support from NIU alumni and supporters of the university’s honors initiatives.
“NIU is committed to improving special programming and academic opportunities for our honors students,” Jones said. “The Rachowiczes’ generous gift will help to perpetuate the mission of the University Honors Program and hopefully will inspire others to consider contributing their support to providing the best possible academic opportunities to students here at NIU.”
Earl Rachowicz acknowledges that exciting things are happening for the NIU Honors Program, and he hopes it gets more people involved in supporting honors students. “Whether it’s small dollars or big dollars we just want to get people motivated to help outstanding students at NIU.”
Jones said that the university will reach out to alumni and friends of the NIU Honors Program starting this month, and the program will extend its outreach throughout the academic year.
Date posted: November 8, 2011 | Author: Bradley Hoey | Comments Off on Honors Program benefits from alumni gift
Many alumni and visitors will be traveling to NIU this weekend for Homecoming events. The NIU Department of Police and Public Safetyrecognizes that the weekend’s activities will increase the demand for transportation services.
To enhance safety, better serve our community and address the unique demands of Homecoming weekend the Department of Police and Public Safety will be making modifications to the Late Night Ride Service.
On Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15 the Late Night Rides Service will utilize additional vehicles to accommodate more people. The service area will be reduced to minimize wait time and to provide enhanced service to those areas where the demand is greatest.
The Late Nate Night Service will maintain normal hours of operation from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Service will be provided within the following boundaries:
• Dresser Road (North) • Taylor Street (South) • Fourth Street (East) • President’s Boulevard (West)
The NIU Department of Police and Public Safety encourages those individuals who normally use Late Night Ride Services to travel to places outside this weekend’s service area to plan ahead. Alternative transportation options, such as the Huskie Bus Line, are available to patrons whose travel destinations are to Wal-Mart or other locations that extend beyond the service area.
The Late Night Ride Service will resume normal operations at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, 2011.
Homecoming is among the most exciting and enjoyable campus events of the year. The Department of Police and Public Safety recommends that students, alumni, and guests utilize good judgment and apply sound personal safety practices in an effort to help ensure a fun and safe Homecoming weekend for all.
Date posted: October 12, 2011 | Author: Bradley Hoey | Comments Off on Late Night Ride Service accommodates Homecoming weekend travel
Northern Illinois University’s College of Law will continue its professionalism series, “Introduction to the Legal Profession: History, Culture, and Values,” with a lecture from professor Geoffrey C. Hazard of the Hastings School of Law at the University of California.
Hazard’s presentation, “Competence, Conflicts of Interest and Conscience in Law Practice” will be held in the Capitol Room of the Holmes Student Center from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13.
A leading scholar is the fields of civil procedure and legal ethics in the United States, Hazard was the principal draftsman of the American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct – the rules governing the conduct of U.S. lawyers in most states.
In his presentation, Professor Hazard will use the case of Spaulding v. Zimmerman – a classic ethics case studied by law students and lawyers – to illuminate some of the core ethical concepts at work in the practice of law.
Hazard is the Thomas E. Miller Distinguished Professor of Law at the Hastings School. He has previously served as a Trustee Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Sterling Professor of Law at Yale University and as director of the American Law Institute.
He has taught law classes for 58 years in the fields of civil procedure, federal jurisdiction and professional ethics. He has been a member of the California State Bar since 1960 and is also a member of the Pennsylvania bar. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and an LL.B. from Columbia University.
The “Introduction to the Legal Profession” program is a new and innovative initiative being funded through the generosity of Cherilyn (’78) and Michael Murer, whose dedication to professionalism is infused throughout the series.
The program further integrates professionalism into the law school curriculum, in response to the growing recognition that law students (and lawyers) need more guidance in professionalism to further the highest values of the profession. The series consists of five lectures featuring nationally recognized legal practitioners and scholars discussing cutting-edge issues.
For more information on Hazard’s lecture, contact Melody Mitchell at (815) 753-9655 or mmitchell@niu.edu.
Date posted: October 10, 2011 | Author: Bradley Hoey | Comments Off on Law scholar Geoffrey C. Hazard to speak at NIU
