Dr. Angelina Pedroso smiles while standing in front of a sign for the Pedroso Center.

Friday, October 9, 2020

This week, Northeastern Illinois University lost one of its great champions, Dr. Angelina Pedroso. As a tireless advocate for students, faculty and staff, Dr. Pedroso, affectionately known as “Doctora,” served Northeastern for 44 years, and the Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs bears her name. Read about Dr. Pedroso’s life and contributions to Northeastern and more in this week’s edition of Noteworthy at Northeastern.

Around the Commons

Remembering Dr. Angelina Pedroso

Professor Emerita Angelina Pedroso, for whom Northeastern named its multicultural center after her 44-year career as a respected Spanish language and Hispanic literature educator, died on Oct. 7 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. She was 90 years old. “I arrived at Northeastern long after Dr. Pedroso’s retirement, but I was lucky enough to meet her last year,” President Gloria J. Gibson said. “She was warm, friendly and served as an example for how each of us can make a difference at Northeastern. I am confident that Dr. Pedroso’s influence will endure through the important work of the Pedroso Center and the students she mentored.”

Voting information

Three Northeastern locations will be used as polling places for the national election. El Centro will host early voting in its lobby from Oct. 14 through Election Day, Nov. 3. The times are 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 6 a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day. The Main Campus will host early voting in Alumni Hall from 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 28 through Oct. 30. The Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies will host voting in its lower level from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. Mail-in ballots for Chicago voters can also be returned to secure drop-boxes at all early voting locations. Northeastern’s COVID-19 Task Force is in regular communication with the Chicago Board of Elections to determine procedures that will keep the University community, election judges and general public safe.

Virtual Bookstore

Northeastern will launch a new Virtual Bookstore this fall. The new store will continue to be operated by Follett and will offer the same access to purchase and rent printed books, online and e-books, other course materials, school and office supplies, technology devices as well as expanded retail items including NEIU spirit gear. The transition to the Virtual Bookstore is tentatively scheduled to be completed by early November. As part of this transition, the on-site Bookstore will close. Right now, all NEIU branded merchandise including spirit gear, apparel and novelty items are on sale. Save 25% off branded merchandise through Oct. 21 by visiting the current NEIU Bookstore website. This sale is accessible only online as the on-site store remains closed due to COVID-19 pandemic precautions.

And there’s more!

To Do

LGBTQ+ History Month Scavenger Hunt

Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month with a virtual scavenger hunt! The University community is invited to participate for a chance to win a variety of prizes. To play, download the Scavify app to your mobile device and search for “LGBTQ+ History Month.” New tasks will be added daily.

Coming next week!

In the media

  • Karl Gnaedinger (B.S. ’19 Environmental Science) and late Northeastern Professor Robert Betz were featured in a Chicago Tribune article regarding the conservation of the Gensburg-Markham Prairie. 

Student Support Spotlight

Study Spaces

For the Fall 2020 semester, the Student Union and Ronald Williams Library offer students study spaces by reservation only. These spaces provide access to Wi-Fi, computers and copiers/scanner/printers. A color copier/scanner/printer will be available in the Ronald Williams Library only. Students may reserve a two-hour block for use of either the Student Union or Ronald Williams Library. Please note that there are limited spaces available in each building. The Ronald Williams Library continues to offer Grab & Go services for physical library items.

Student Counseling Services

Students are welcome to contact NEIU’s Student Counseling Services to set up an appointment to talk either by phone or their online platform for teletherapy. To access NEIU’s Student Counseling Services, call (773) 442-4650 or send an email to counsect@neiu.edu. The hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, students may also reach a counselor for more urgent consultation by calling the main number and pressing “2” during the outgoing message.

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