Community Calendar

Every Wednesday, September 13 to October 4

9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

This course covers four main topics: the history of Islam, diverse cultures of Islam, and Islam and the Western World. There will be introductions to the life of the Prophet Muhammad, the development of Islamic law and theology, and the spread of Islam across the Arabian Peninsula. We will also explore the significance of the five pillars of Islam, the diversity of Muslim practices and beliefs, and the role of Islam in different regions of the world. Finally, examination of the historical and contemporary relationships between Islam and the Western world will include issues such as immigration, terrorism, and lslamophobia.

Convener: Mohammad Labadi was born in Jerusalem, Palestine, and moved to the U.S. when he was 19. He graduated from NIU with a bachelor’s degree and earned a master’s in business management from the Keller Graduate School of Business. Mohammad is deeply committed to positively impacting his community and is passionate about volunteering and helping others whenever he can.

All sessions meet in HSC Illinois Room.

Every Tuesday, September 12 to October 31

9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

This lecture series will pick up where the previous one left off, describing the contributions of · Michelangelo as a major figure of both the High and late Renaissance in Italy. It will then proceed to major developments in the art and literature of Rome, Venice and other Italian cities throughout the sixteenth century, including Giorgione, Titian, Cellini, Veronese, Ariosto, Stampa, Tasso, and the literary phenomenon of Petrarchism. The lectures conclude with certain developments of the early seventeenth century, especially the scientific revolution of Galileo whose view of the universe stands in marked contrast to the medieval notions of Dante, the subject of the first lecture series.

Convener: Christopher Nissen received his Ph. D. in Italian from the University of California at Berkeley, then taught Italian language and literature at NIU from 1988 to 2019. He is the author of numerous studies of Italian literature.

All sessions meet in HSC Illinois Room.

Every Thursday, September 14 to October 5

9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Recently, there has been a growing international enthusiasm for the repatriation of cultural objects to their “rightful origin.” However, much of the current clamor is rooted in [objects to their ‘rightful place of origin’] ethical and patriotic concerns that may not be held in their country of origin. This right-headed, “Western concern has often led to wrong-headed, misguided initiatives. The processes involved in a “return” being surprisingly complicated. The lecturer was involved in an agonizing 20-year effort to right such a cultural wrong through the return of a rare, stolen, 11th century Burmese Buddha image. A variety of other examples will be discussed.

Convener: Richard Cooler was a professor in the School of Art (1970-2002) and the founding Director of the Center for Burmese Studies (1986-2002).

All sessions meet in HSC Illinois Room.

Tuesdays, 1 to 3 p.m. These sessions will be introduced by an LLI member.

September 12, Willrett Flower Co.

September 19, 26, Byers Brewing Company

October 3, ID Theft and Cybersecurity

All sessions meet in HSC Illinois Room.

Every Wednesday, September 13 to November 1

1 to 2:30 p.m.

Since its beginning, LLI has featured weekly talks by experts, primarily NIU faculty. We’ve learned about topics from ancient Rome to swarming robots. This fall’s topics include the physics of football, social media’s influence on health behaviors, understanding the disease of addiction, artificial intelligence, brewing whiskey, and more. As always, there will be time for questions of our speakers.

September 13
Understanding the Baffling Disease of Addiction
Paul Priester
NIU School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions

September 20
Distilling Whiskey in the Corn Fields
Jamie Walter
Whiskey Acres Distillery, DeKalb

September 27
The Questionable Influences of Social Media on Your Health Behaviors
Lynn Herrmann
Public Health

October 4
From Research to Practice: Chronic Disorders in Hearing & Balance
Blythe Kitner
NIU Audiology Program

October 11
Is This the Party to Whom I Am Speaking: How Automation & Artificial Intelligence Are Changing How We Communicate
Andrea Guzman
NIU Dept. of Communication

October 18
The Physics of Football
Mike Eads
NIU Dept. of Physics

October 25
Making Education Out of Jefferson in an Age of Racial Reckoning
Kerry Burch
NIU Dept. of Leadership, Educational Psychology & Foundations

November 1
TBA

All sessions meet in HSC Illinois Room.

Thursdays, (Part 1) September 14, 21 and (Part 2) October 19, 26, and November 2

1 to 3 p.m.

Do you have plans to travel to a Spanish speaking country, just want to learn some travel phrases in Spanish or maybe just practice Spanish? All these opportunities will be available in this five-week class emphasizing useful Spanish travel vocabulary. All levels are invited, whether you know not one word of Spanish or you have a strong background.

Convener: Jan Modloff taught high school Spanish for many years, and in the past 20 years she has presented various LLI classes [mostly about the Spanish language, literature and travel].

All sessions meet in HSC Illinois Room except for Thursday, Oct. 19, when we'll meet in HSC Room 406.

The Whiteside Forum kicks off their 2023-2024 Season with guest expert Wolf Koch speaking to ENERGY TODAY 2023 –– FACTS & FICTION on Sunday afternoon September 24 in the Community Room of the Odell Public Library in Morrison. This event will begin at 2:00pm and is located at 307 S. Madison St. and is open to everyone free of charge.

More than 40 years ago, in 1977, the US Department of Energy was created and charged with managing US energy interests. Since that time we have experienced oil and natural gas shortages and surpluses, large fluctuations in energy prices, the emergence of new energy sources, and the birth of biofuels, photovoltaic and wind generation industries.

Much has changed in the regulatory landscape with mandates on emissions, consumption, the use of biofuels and electric vehicles. During this time, the public has been exposed to a barrage of countless soundbites, politically-biased rhetoric and fearmongering, with a dearth of actual, objective facts and data on which to base opinions and decisions for viable energy alternatives. This presentation will focus on today’s issues with transportation fuels usage, pricing and outlook, covering changing mandates, materials compatibility problems with biofuels and review the ever changing landscape of electric alternatives.

Wolf Koch has been providing presentations and seminars on energy topics for over two decades. His experience in the energy industries spans more than 45 years, starting with petrochemicals process development, moving to corporate strategic planning at a major oil company, managing process development and strategic planning for alternative fuels, including processes for generating liquids from coal and natural gas. Dr. Koch founded Technology Resources International, Inc. in 1995.

Please join us for a thought provoking presentation and the all important question and answer session that follows

Every Wednesday, September 13 to October 4

9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

This course covers four main topics: the history of Islam, diverse cultures of Islam, and Islam and the Western World. There will be introductions to the life of the Prophet Muhammad, the development of Islamic law and theology, and the spread of Islam across the Arabian Peninsula. We will also explore the significance of the five pillars of Islam, the diversity of Muslim practices and beliefs, and the role of Islam in different regions of the world. Finally, examination of the historical and contemporary relationships between Islam and the Western world will include issues such as immigration, terrorism, and lslamophobia.

Convener: Mohammad Labadi was born in Jerusalem, Palestine, and moved to the U.S. when he was 19. He graduated from NIU with a bachelor’s degree and earned a master’s in business management from the Keller Graduate School of Business. Mohammad is deeply committed to positively impacting his community and is passionate about volunteering and helping others whenever he can.

All sessions meet in HSC Illinois Room.

Every Tuesday, September 12 to October 31

9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

This lecture series will pick up where the previous one left off, describing the contributions of · Michelangelo as a major figure of both the High and late Renaissance in Italy. It will then proceed to major developments in the art and literature of Rome, Venice and other Italian cities throughout the sixteenth century, including Giorgione, Titian, Cellini, Veronese, Ariosto, Stampa, Tasso, and the literary phenomenon of Petrarchism. The lectures conclude with certain developments of the early seventeenth century, especially the scientific revolution of Galileo whose view of the universe stands in marked contrast to the medieval notions of Dante, the subject of the first lecture series.

Convener: Christopher Nissen received his Ph. D. in Italian from the University of California at Berkeley, then taught Italian language and literature at NIU from 1988 to 2019. He is the author of numerous studies of Italian literature.

All sessions meet in HSC Illinois Room.

Every Thursday, September 14 to October 5

9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Recently, there has been a growing international enthusiasm for the repatriation of cultural objects to their “rightful origin.” However, much of the current clamor is rooted in [objects to their ‘rightful place of origin’] ethical and patriotic concerns that may not be held in their country of origin. This right-headed, “Western concern has often led to wrong-headed, misguided initiatives. The processes involved in a “return” being surprisingly complicated. The lecturer was involved in an agonizing 20-year effort to right such a cultural wrong through the return of a rare, stolen, 11th century Burmese Buddha image. A variety of other examples will be discussed.

Convener: Richard Cooler was a professor in the School of Art (1970-2002) and the founding Director of the Center for Burmese Studies (1986-2002).

All sessions meet in HSC Illinois Room.