Mar. 11

ILLINOIS STATE

Library shows off 150th memorabilia

NORMAL - Illinois State University's library has found a way to do its part in the 150th anniversary celebration of the state's oldest public university - with an exhibit and walking tour of the library.

ISU librarian Toni Tucker and university archivist Jo Rayfield organized the exhibit of treasured photos and memorabilia, shown on various floors among 16 display cases.

The artifacts will be changed periodically throughout the yearlong observation.

Redbird sports memorabilia, the story of Milner Library, postcards of campus, catalogs from the early years of Illinois State Normal University and the history of campus facilities are part of the exhibit.

The university farm, student clubs, geology field trips and items contained in the school's Adlai Stevenson III exhibit also are displayed.

EASTERN ILLINOIS

Presidential finalists set to visit campus

CHARLESTON - Three candidates have been invited to participate in on-site visits as Eastern Illinois University moves forward in its search for the institution's next president.

Following off-campus interviews with nine semifinalists, the EIU Presidential Search Advisory Committee has invited William L. Perry, Blair M. Lord and Sue Kiefer Hammersmith to participate in on-site interviews the week of March 18.

Perry has been with Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, since 1971, and currently serves as vice provost. Lord has been provost and vice president for academic affairs at Eastern since 2001. Hammersmith has been the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay since 2002.

Following each of the on-site sessions, Eastern staff, faculty and students, as well as members of the community, will have the opportunity to offer written feedback. This information will be considered by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee.

A final decision is expected in late March or early April.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

Fees, housing costs may rise next year

DeKALB - Northern Illinois University students will see a 3 percent increase in their student fees and double-digit increase in room rates next year, if the board of trustees accepts a recommendation issued Thursday by its finance committee.

The committee recommended student fees increase by 3.32 percent, slightly less than the 5.55 percent increase students saw between 2006 and 2007. For a full-time undergraduate, the increase would mean about $56 per semester.

Room rates could go up anywhere from 12.7 to 14.3 percent, depending on which residence hall and what type of room a student lives in.

Eddie Williams, executive vice president and chief of operations, finance and facilities, said the increase is needed to offset the cost of retrofitting all the residence halls with sprinkler systems and because of Illinois raising the minimum wage.

Michele Steinbacher of the Pantagraph, Kate Henderson of the Journal Gazette and Times-Courier and Dana Herra of The Daily Chronicle contributed to this report.