What a week for Northeastern Illinois University as the grand opening of the new El Centro location in Avondale drew rave reviews. We’ve got everything you need to know about the warm reception to El Centro and more from around Northeastern.
Around the Commons
El Centro grand opening
Wow! After years of planning, Northeastern unveiled its new El Centro building on Tuesday, Sept. 30. Attended by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez and many more dignitaries, the grand opening was a huge success. “This building is a symbol of who we are and what we will be,” Durbin said. We completely agree. Check out our gallery of photos from the gala, then scroll down for links to all of the media coverage of the grand opening and ribbon-cutting.
At the HACU conference
Northeastern President Sharon Hahs will attend the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 28th Annual Conference on Oct. 4-6 in Denver, Colo., with a contingent from the University.
DCFS Latino Family Institute
Northeastern will host the 26th annual Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Latino Family Institute on Friday, Oct. 10. The theme for the event is Latinos Matter: Promoting our Identity and Culture in Child Welfare.
Music, media and education
Northeastern associate professor and assistant director of the Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies Lance Williams will participate in a panel discussion on Wednesday, Oct. 8, titled “How Music and the Media Affects Today’s Education.” The event, which is not open to the pubic, will take place at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills.
Undergrads welcome
Northeastern will host its fall undergraduate Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 8. With more than 70 faculty and staff on hand, we highlighted eight Golden Eagles who prospective students won’t want to miss.
In the media
Chicago loves El Centro
“This boldly sculpted academic structure is an eye grabber at any speed.” That’s how Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin described El Centro is in his review of the new building. Across the spectrum, reaction to Northeastern’s new location in Avondale was overwhelmingly positive:
- The Sun-Times published both a story and a video about the event.
- Students told DNAinfo Chicago that El Centro is great for the neighborhood.
- Hoy published a Spanish-language story about the grand opening with more than a dozen photos.
- Real Estate Journals focused on the details of the building.
- The Chicago Architecture Blog posted a thorough gallery of photos of El Centro.
- Univision, ABC7, CBS2, TeleChicago, World Construction Network and the Associated Press also attended the grand opening or published a story about it.
Speaking of architecture ...
Not to be forgotten, the Jerome M. Sachs Administration Building on Northeastern’s main campus was the subject of a fun architectural story on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight.”
Running for alderman
Talk about being active in the community: Northeastern student Peter Sifnotis is running for alderman in West Rogers Park. "I've always been interested in city politics," he told DNAinfo Chicago. "I love the city and want it to succeed."
Also in the media ...
- Michigan Avenue Magazine named Northeastern alumnus Carlos Jiménez Flores, a film director, one of eight Chicago movie men to know.
- The Mash, the Chicago Tribune’s publication for teens, launched an “ask the professor anything” column by featuring Northeastern associate professor of accounting Alireza Dorestani.
- Northeastern gerontology program coordinator Lisa Hollis-Sawyer was quoted in a Morris Daily Herald story about her involvement in a senior services event.
- Kim Tracy, Northeastern’s chief information officer in technology services, was quoted in a Tech Page One story about whether your piece of old technology belongs in a museum.
To do
Coming soon
Ensemble Español announced this week that it will present “Rotas,” a theater and dance production that examines issues related to domestic violence. Performances will take place in the Auditorium on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9. A question-and-answer session will be presented following each performance.
Mark your calendar!
- Voice showcase (free), 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7, Recital Hall. Students from the voice studio of professor emeritus Ronald Combs will perform.
- Student trumpet recital (free), 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8, Recital Hall. Katie Samayoa and Robert Alonzo will perform.
- Historias de España performed by Ensemble Español ($5-$6), 10:15 a.m. Oct. 9, Auditorium
- “bobrauschenbergamerica” ($10), 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9-11, 16-17 and Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Stage Center Theatre
- Hispanic Heritage Month Faculty/Student Symposium (free), 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 9, Student Union 214
- University Orchestra (free), 3:05 p.m. Oct. 9, Recital Hall. Brian Groner will conduct.
- Historias de España performed by Ensemble Español ($5-$6), 10:15 a.m. Oct. 10, Auditorium
#FollowFriday
Gotta be El Centro
It’s been an El Centro kind of week, so why don’t we extend that to social media as well? Northeastern’s gorgeous new location also is active on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check them out and say hello!
Do you have a story tip? Let the public relations department know!
Dana Navarro, director of public relations, d-navarro@neiu.edu, 773-442-4227
Mike Hines, assistant director of public relations, m-hines@neiu.edu, 773-442-4240
