The Independent

Letters of Leadership: CESA

Leslie Contos, Letters of Leadership Contributor

May 24, 2016

Greetings all, I am proud to have this opportunity to share a bit about CESA, our student organization with a mission to promote networking, personal and professional growth among NEIU counselor education students. CESA is a chapter of the Illinois Counseling Association and includes a chapter of Chi Sigma Iota honor society....

Volunteers and mentors from NEIU and UIC at The Corkery Elementary Back-to-School Kick-Off.

Letters of Leadership

October 6, 2015

Sprouting leaders is proud to be at NEIU. We’re a volunteer-based, non-profit, organization dedicated...

Co-Editor Rebecca Rios with Rep. Luis Gutierrez and Editor-In-Chief Alyssa N. Villegas Rodriguez

Letters of Leadership – Que Ondee Sola

January 13, 2015

Que Ondee Sola (QOS) was established in 1972 and remains the oldest Puerto Rican & [email protected] student pu...

Members of Feminist Collective and event attendees gathered at “Take Back The Night” event at NEIU.

Letters of Leadership: The Feminist Collective

October 21, 2014

As a transfer student, I am fortunate to be a member of a wonderful club here at NEIU: the Feminist Collective. I joined in the fall of 2013, my fi...

SCEC members hanging out: Joselyn Badillo, Alysha Gillani, Chad Ziarko (from left to right).

Letters of Leadership: Student Council for Exceptional Children

October 7, 2014

The Student Council for Exceptional Children-NEIU chapter is a not-for-profit student directed organization...

Letter from the (new) Editor-In-Chief

Luis Badillo, Writer

June 3, 2014

The end of the spring semester at NEIU is usually the herald of change here at the Independent. Our senior staff usually graduate and move on to their lives beyond college, which gives way to a breed of new staff. And with this staff comes fresh ideas and renewed commitment to the values of the paper. It's a process...

President’s Pen

June 3, 2014

The Allied Student Social Work Club, (ASSW) is an organization that promotes advocacy and social justice at NEIU and the com...

President’s Pen

February 21, 2013

“Opportunities are global.” That is the tagline used by Northeastern Illinois University’s (NEIU) International Business Conference (IBC). With business changing constantly and exchanges occurring between businesses all over the world, it is important for students to be aware of business practices in different...

President’s Pen – Hillel

December 5, 2012

Meet the Officers & Advisor of Hillel NEIU Ilana Ostro Ilana Ostro (President) is a senior studying Marketing and finishing up her Bachelor’s degree here at NEIU. She enjoys dancing, playing basketball, making people laugh, snowboarding, and singing to herself in the car when no one is listening. She has a great passion for Judaism and the Jewish culture, loves to meet people and get people involved in all sorts of activities. She loves every Hillel event and cannot pick just one. Look for her in the College of Business and Management building, (all of the time) studying or procrastinating. NEIU Mati Zuckerman Mati Zuckerman (Vice President) is a senior studying Mathematics. He enjoys solving math problems, conversing with others, and watching movies (as long as they’re good). His favorite Hillel event to date was when Hillel brought Sukkot to Campus: SukkahMobile. “It had the best atmosphere, we got to sit in a real sukkah while Rabbi Posner answered questions and we had an open discussion; there was a bit of rain, but it didn’t stop us from having fun!” Look for him tutoring in the LSC (Learning Support Center) math lab finding ways to solve all your (calculation) problems! NEIU Rafi Massey Rafi Massey (Treasurer) is a junior studying Biology and has as passion for science. Some of his favorite things to do are playing the banjo, dancing the tango, socializing and he also LOVES hummus! His favorite Hillel event up until now was the SukkahMobile event and loves the Hillel display case! He would like to see it happen again and many more future events for Hillel. Find him dipping his pita into his hummus after performing the tango for everyone around campus. NEIU Aaron Massey Aaron Massey (Secretary) is a freshman and undecided about his field for study but is studying everything until then. He enjoys playing guitar, watching movies, listening to music, playing hockey and taking long walks on the beach. His favorite Hillel event to date was bringing in Alex Cicelsky to talk about Kibbutz Lotan. He showed us how we could be more eco -friendly no matter where we are and how we could use waste to build a community anywhere in the world! Find him wandering through the concrete paths of NEIU’s campus looking for something new and interesting to do. NEIU Teodora Burian Dr. Teodora Burian is not only Hillel’s advisor, but she is a mother and a professor too. She loves learning about Judaism and works in the English Language Department while enjoying the company of her students a great deal! She is a huge motivator and dedicates her time showing her huge support to the Hillel and without her, things would not happen. When she gets some free time she enjoys to read, bake and just recently took up knitting. A fan of rock climbing and biking, you can find her climbing up the walls of Lech Walesa Hall through her window and into her office LWH 2048. Upcoming Events for Hillel, Don’t Miss Them! Tuesday December 4th at 3 pm: Chanukah on Camus: Olive Oil Making Workshop, Golden Eagles room in the Student Union (103) Taboun Grill will be served (CrC, Kosher Middle Eastern/Israeli food) Wednesday December 5th from 12-4 pm: Stress & "Fress" to Make You Feel Best! BBH (Science building) Room 229 (subject to change). Kosher pizza will be served if you need to study, take a break, socialize or grab a quick bite! More information? Questions? Want to get involved? Simply contact any of Hillel’s officers: Ilana Ostro [email protected] / (847)921-6361, Mati [email protected], Rafi [email protected] , Aaron [email protected]

President’s Pen – NEIU United Greek Council

November 14, 2012

Officers: President: Chakira Hamilton (Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.) Internal Vice President: Shevy Booze (Theta Chi Omega National Multicultural Sorority, Inc.) External Vice President: Kyle Thomas (External Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc.) Treasurer: Abdel Velasquez (Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc.) Secretary: Yasmine Acosta-Aguayo (Gamma Theta Chi Multicultural Sorority, Inc.) Social Chair: Juan Martinez (Omega Delta Fraternity, Inc.) Academic Chair: Christine Ellasos (Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.) Philanthropy Chair: Maggie Dudzinska (Theta Chi Omega National Multicultural Sorority, Inc.) Expansion Chairz: Denny Esquivel (Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc.) Greetings from the United Greek Council. The United Greek Council (UGC) was created as a governing and uniting body to mediate and moderate the active Fraternity and Sorority population on the NEIU campus. The UGC coordinates strategic programming to maintain high standards, promote higher education, increase community outreach and enhance leadership opportunities for NEIU students who opt to participate in Greek-Lettered Organizations and their activities. We also serve as a liaison between the UGC, the university student body and administration to enhance the quality of student life at the university. Each year, five officers and four chairs are elected from the pool of active Greek orgs who are registered with the council. This year, the executive board consists of members from seven unique incorporated collegiate sororities and fraternities who oversee various functions of the organization. These officers meet approximately twice monthly, with representatives from each of the 15 registered Fraternities and Sororities to tackle issues that impact the Greek community. Guests and spectators are welcomed and encouraged. Most recently, the UGC sponsored Greek Week (Oct. 29 – Nov. 2). Greek Week consisted of six days of inter-organizational bonding, fund-raising for charity, and school spirit activities including a Homecoming dance, pep rally and flag football game. The council also works with the Office of Student Leadership Development (SLD) to create an annual publication for students who may be interested in fraternity and sorority activities, which can be found in the SLD office. For students interested in learning more about Greek life, or the UGC, there will be an Informational meeting on Nov. 15, 2012 in Lech Walesa Hall 3005 from 3:05 – 5 p.m. Students can have their questions answered, meet members of the Greek community and view a presentation about the offerings of the organization on campus....

The French Club – Bonjour

October 31, 2012

My name is Antoinette Senjanovich. I am the president of the French Club at NEIU as well as a French Studies and secondary education major. Our current adviser is Mary-Ellen McGoey, who is also the associate professor of French for our Department of World Languages and Cultures. Our club's current mission statement...

President’s Pen – NEIU’s GLBTQA

October 3, 2012

My name is Juan Manuel Gonzalez and I am the current president of the GLBTQA. With each change in leadership comes a new perspective and a new sense of direction. Under my leadership comes a shift to our roots, a return to what makes us who we are. Our organization started on these following principals: Humanity, Acceptance, and Education. Within the principal of Humanity we have the understanding that all people have something which makes them unique, whether it be their sexuality or gender identity. Within the principal of Acceptance comes the understanding that we will not discriminate against anyone under any circumstances, we are all interconnected due to our pride for who we are on an individual level and who we are as an organization. And finally under the principal of Education. Within Education we thrive and strive to educate the NEIU Community as well as the surrounding community as to what we stand for, and matters in which we find pertinent to the LGBTQA Community. I am extremely excited for this school year and I am especially excited to be leading this wonderful organization with the assistance of the rest of my wonderful executive board. My name is Hector Escarpita and I am the vice president of the GLBTQA at Northeastern Illinois University this school year. We are a very open group and have amazing members who have become not only mine but Juan’s family. We meet every Thursday during Activity hour, in B-152 unless otherwise mentioned, so please join us! I promise you will not regret it. The club is fun and we have frequent weekly activities so do not hesitate to stop by. I am very excited to get so much done this semester with our new executive board. So far working with them has been wonderful! The GLBTQA will be hosting several upcoming events. The first is a National Coming Out Day event on October 10, 2012 from 11-2 PM. We will be showing a movie, and offering popcorn and other various snacks. In the Spring we will also be hosting our ever-popular annual drag show. At every meeting we have a fun activity, as well as once a month we have a birthday cake for all members in celebration of that month’s birthdays. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more information, and check our board located down the hall from the Information Center....