Illinois State's 150th Celebration Continues

Related Link: www.ilstu.edu

Illinois State University continues its yearlong 150th Celebration with events highlighting the University’s history and visits by internationally-known historians and pioneers in filmmaking, music, education and technology. 

The 150th Celebration officially began on Founders Day, this past Feb. 15, and will conclude on Founders Day, Feb. 14, 2008.  For more information on the 150th Celebration and a schedule of events visit www.ilstu.edu

“Leadership Lessons from Abraham Lincoln” will be the subject of a presentation by Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin on Sept. 18.  Goodwin’s recent book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, examines Lincoln’s rise in American politics and his ability to guide a nation through war, while effectively working with the strong personalities and diverse political views within his administration.

Preeminent writer, scholar and critic Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will speak on campus on Oct. 4.  Gates has used his position as one of the country's most respected scholars to promote his theory of education reform, which calls for the expansion of black studies programs at universities nationwide and a broadening of the literature curriculum to include in-depth study of the works of authors from non-Western cultures. He currently serves as the W.E.B. Du Bois Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University.

Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns will discuss the new historical series on World War II when visits campus for “An Evening with Ken Burns” on Nov. 1.  Burns has been making films for more than 30 years and has produced some of the most acclaimed documentaries in American history.  His films include Jazz, Baseball and the highly-acclaimed series The Civil War. 

Country music superstar Naomi Judd will bring an inspiring message of hope and perseverance when she visits Illinois State on Nov. 8.  At the height of her musical career, Judd was diagnosed in 1990 with a potentially life-threatening liver disease.  Her optimism in the face of illness will be the subject of her presentation, “Love Can Build a Bridge.”

In keeping with Illinois State’s education mission, “Letters to a Young Teacher” will be theme of a presentation by author and education activist Jonathon Kozol on Nov. 14.  Throughout his career, Kozol has combined teaching with activism in the fields of literacy and education reform.

The Founders Day Convocation on Feb. 14, 2008 will officially bring the 150th Celebration to a close.  A vision of the future will be the theme of the event as inventor, author, entrepreneur and futurist Ray Kurzweil presents “The Acceleration of Technology in the 21st Century: The Impact on Business, the Economy, and Society.”  Kurzweil was the principal developer of the first CCD flat-bed scanner, the first omni-font optical character recognition, the first print-to-speech reading machine for the blind and the first text-to-speech synthesizer.

The exhibit, “Past Times: Remembering, Remapping, Recovering,” will be on display in the University Galleries from Aug. 21 to Sept. 16.  The exhibit illuminates the historic connection between the development of the University and the Bloomington-Normal community and features walking tours and photo exhibits that highlight the various uses of the South Quad during the past century and a half.

Illinois State’s Milner Library will host the traveling exhibit, “Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation,” from Aug. 23 to Oct. 5.  The large panel exhibit reexamines Lincoln’s efforts toward the abolition of slavery during the Civil War.  Free public lectures on Lincoln’s life and political career will be presented in conjunction with the exhibit.  Speakers include Bloomington attorney and Lincoln scholar Guy Fraker; Mark Plummer, Illinois State professor of history emeritus; Roger Bridges, executive director emeritus of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center; and Timothy Connors and George Buss, who will re-enact a portion of the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

“Spread the Red: 150 Years of Spirit” will be the theme of this year’s Homecoming celebration, Oct. 8-14.  The celebration will include a mixture of campus traditions and new events that bring together students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members to mark the University’s sesquicentennial.  

Tickets are available for the Sesquicentennial Gala on Oct. 13, during Homecoming.  The “red tie affair” features dinner, entertainment, an auction and “Jazz After Hours.”  For more information and reservations call University Events at (309) 438-8790.