The Denim Day sexual violence prevention campaign event will take place at Rockford University on Wednesday, April 24 at 7 PM in the Regents Hall, Student Burpee Center. Rockford University is partnering with the Mayor’s Office on Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Prevention, Rockford Public Schools, Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling, and United Way to help bring this campaign to the Rockford community.

In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness month Peace Over Violence has run its Denim Day campaign on a Wednesday in April for over 20 years. The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. Following the overturn, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans to support the victim. The Denim Day campaign was developed by Peace Over Violence in response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against inaccurate and destructive misconceptions about sexual harassment, abuse, assault, and rape.

The Denim Day movement is a sexual violence prevention and education campaign. A panel of speakers from the Rockford area will discuss and answer questions focusing on sexual violence and college students. Wear jeans with a purpose, as a visible means of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual assault. There is No Excuse and Never An Invitation to Harass, Abuse, Assault, Rape.

Forum Series takes place on the Rockford University campus, 5050 East State Street, Rockford. With the exception of Performing Arts’ events Forum Series event tickets are free, but required and can be obtained by contacting the Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu.

This semester’s Forum Series continues through late April. View the full lineup at www.Rockford.edu/forum.

Rockford University, in partnership with MercyHealth, invites you to attend a nursing careers open house at the new state-of-the-art Javon Bea Hospital – Riverside on Tues., April 30. Anyone interested in learning more about how a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Rockford University can lead to a rewarding career in the MercyHealth system is encouraged to attend. A special behind-the-scenes tour of the hospital will also be given for those in attendance.

Rockford University’s nursing program provides students the opportunity to experience clinical and hospital settings to best prepare them for their future careers, while also offering a wide view of opportunities available for a nursing professional. Rockford University’s Nursing Department prepares registered professional nurses to provide quality nursing care to individuals, families, groups and communities with diverse health needs. Nursing students are challenged to think critically, act compassionately, and engage with their wider community.

Visit Rockford University’s website to learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree Program.

Doors open at 4:30 PM with the program beginning at 5 PM. Javon Bea Hospital – Riverside is located at 8201 E. Riverside Blvd, Rockford, IL 61114. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today. Register online at www.rockford.edu/nursingcareers. For questions or more information, contact Admission Counselor Faith Haley at fhaley@rockford.edu.

Bern Sundstedt, senior project specialist at Rockford University and former resident actor at New American Theater (NAT) in Rockford from 1977-1978 and 1990-1994, will perform the The Evils of Tobacco, a monologue serio-comedy written by Anton Chekhov as translated by Michael Frayn.

The performance and short discussion following is part of the University’s Brown Bag Series, a semester-long slate of presentations offered by University faculty and staff that feature topics of special interest to the presenters in order to spark the imagination of others and drive conversation and curiosity. This performance and talk-back will be presented on Monday, April 29 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center, Rockford University, 5050 East State St., Rockford, Ill. 61108 and is open to the public. Admission is free. The Clark Arts Center is accessible.

Sundstedt graduated from Rockford University in 1977. He completed his training at Yale School of Drama, receiving his MFA in 1981. He went on to appear on Broadway, Off-Off Broadway and in Regional Theatre. Returning to the Rockford region in 1990, he took up residence at New American Theatre, while serving as an adjunct instructor of theatre at Rock Valley College and as the technical director for Starlight Theatre.

Sundstedt first performed The Evils of Tobacco in 1991. While he has performed the play three other times by invitation and has attained a reputation as a Musical Lampoonist, this will be his first public performance of any substance since 1994 when he portrayed Michael Evans in NAT’s, Dancing at Lughnasa.

The Evils of Tobacco, written in 1886 as a high farce for Russian Vaudeville and Street Theatre, was one of Chekhov’s first pieces written specifically for performance. Over the subsequent 17 years, during which Chekhov wrote his major masterpieces, he re-wrote Evils of Tobacco five times. Each time the play’s tenor and content changed, reflecting the playwright’s evolving maturity, during which he became one of the world’s premier writers of realistic dramas.

The Evils of Tobacco, is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. Mr. Sundstedt appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers.

Professor of Philosophy Matt Flamm, Ph.D. will present the ‘Last Lecture’ on his talk titled “It’s All Connected” on Tuesday, April 16, 4 p.m. in Fisher Memorial Chapel, 5050 E. State St., Rockford. The Last Lecture is part of the Spring Forum series at the University and provides an opportunity for students to nominate a member of the faculty to deliver his or her ‘last lecture’ as the University nears the end of its academic year.

The Last Lecture series at Rockford University was inspired by Randy Pausch. Dr. Pausch was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University from 1997 to his death in 2008. Before his death he was asked to give the students his Last Lecture. Dr. Pausch delivered a laugh-filled session of teaching stories, about going after your childhood dreams, and helping others achieve theirs. The Last Lecture Series has been made possible through the generosity of the Father Robert J. Verstynen Trust; honoring Rockford University faculty members for their years of teaching and example of lifelong learning.

Professor Flamm was chosen based on nominations from students. To show how “It’s All Connected” Dr. Flamm will discuss love, work, teaching, and sing a few songs. He earned his AS from Portland Community College, his BA from State University of New York at Stony Brook, his MA from Texas A&M University, and his doctorate from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has enjoyed teaching at Rockford University since 2004. In addition to academics Matthew writes, records, and performs music which, as his presentation will showcase, goes hand in hand with his love of philosophy.

The Last Lecture is free and open to the public, however, tickets are required. Please contact the Rockford University Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu to reserve your tickets or for more information. Fisher Chapel is accessible.

The complete list of the Spring 2019 Forum Series events is available on the University’s website at www.rockford.edu/artslectures/forum/.

Rockford University welcomes Robbin Chapman, Ph.D., associate dean of diversity, inclusion, and belonging at Harvard Kennedy School on Tuesday, April 9 at 12 p.m., as she discusses “STEM and non-STEM Disciplines: Are They Mutually Exclusive?”

Dr. Chapman previously served as Associate Provost and Academic Director of Diversity and Inclusion, and Lecturer, Education Department at Wellesley College, and is currently serving a two-year term as a Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer. She earned her S.M. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research interests include designing computational tools for learning in public spaces and culturally-responsive pedagogy. Publications include the book, The Computer Clubhouse: Constructionism and Creativity in Youth Communities, and chapters in “Social Capital and Information Technology”, “Communities of Practice: Creating Learning Environments for Educators”, “Wiley Handbook of Learning Technology”, and the forthcoming “Injecting Multidisciplinary Perspectives of Race and Gender for Diversification in STEM.” Dr. Chapman is regional liaison, Ford Foundation Fellowship Program, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

With the exception of Performing Arts events, the Forum Series is free of charge. This event will take place at Fisher Memorial Chapel located on the Rockford University campus, 5050 East State Street, Rockford. Tickets are required and can be obtained by contacting the Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu. For a complete list of the 2019 Spring Forum Series events, visit Rockford.edu/ Arts & Lectures/ Forum Series.

Rockford University welcomes Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre on Wednesday, April 3, 7 p.m., in Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center, as part of the University’s Spring Forum Series. Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre is a MC, two-time National Poetry Slam champion, activist and educator.

Guante’s work explores the relationships between identity, power, and resistance. His work has been featured through many sources such as; Upworthy, Welcome to Night Vale, Everyday Feminism, MSNBC, the Huffington Post, and many more. In addition to being well known for his online presence, Guante has also performed live at the United Nations, given a TedTalk, and presented at countless colleges, universities, and conferences. Through his presentations, Guante strives to cultivate a deeper, more critical engagement with social justice issues based in both empathy and agency. An educator as well as a performing artist, Guante completed his Masters studies in 2016 at the University of Minnesota with a focus on spoken word, critical pedagogy, and social justice education. This knowledge can be seen reflected in his performances as he uses poems as jumping-off points for authentic dialogue, critical thinking, and community-building.

Across the globe, the spoken word movement has reignited poetry as a force for artistic expression, critical dialogue, and community-building. As both a specific form (writing poetry that is meant to be shared aloud) and a deeper cultural practice (tracing its roots back millennia), spoken word creates space for all of us to tell our stories, make our values concrete, and speak up about the issues and ideas that matter to us. Join two-time National Poetry Slam champion Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre for a performance and discussion on these topics and more.

There is no charge to attend, but tickets are required. This event will take place in Maddox Theatre, in the Clark Arts Center, 5050 East State Street, Rockford. Clark Arts is accessible. Tickets can be obtained by contacting the Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu.

This semester’s Forum Series continues through late April. View the full lineup at https://www.rockford.edu/artslectures/forum/.

Rockford University and Rock Valley College are hosting their bi-annual Career & Internship Fair on Wednesday, March 27, from 1-4 PM in Rockford University’s Regents Hall, Burpee Center located at 5050 E. State St. Rockford. The Rockford University and Rock Valley College Career & Internship Fair is an opportunity for employers to recruit job and internship seekers. This event allows employers the opportunity to meet with current students, alumni, and other members of the community.

Approximately 50 employers will be in attendance looking to fill internships, full time, and part-time employment opportunities. Employers in the Banking/Finance, Business, Healthcare, Education, IT/Tech, Staffing, and News/Media industries as well as many others will all be present. For the most recent updates please review the event information here. All candidates should dress professionally, and bring copies of resumes to give to employers. Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required. Job-seekers who pre-register will have their resume sent to employers before the fair. Walk-ins are welcome and registration at the door is free. This event is free to students, alumni, and the community.

If you have any questions please contact Clayton Duffy at 815-394-4287 or by email at cduffy@rockford.edu.

Rockford University welcomes Evie Ladin and Keith Terry on Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m., Fisher Memorial Chapel, as part of the University’s Spring Forum Series.

Evie Ladin (percussive-dancer, choreographer, singer, songwriter, banjo player, and square-dance caller) and Keith Terry (percussionist, rhythm-dancer, and educator) have helped cultivate the thriving International Body Music scene, performing rhythm-based multi-cultural music and dance works, reconnecting Appalachian music with other African-Diaspora traditions in the music world. The San Francisco Chronicle named Keith Terry “a unique master of percussive motion” while also highlighting Evie Ladin as “a natural entertainer with a gift for infusing folk practices with contemporary verve”.

Keith Terry, Artistic Director of the International Body Music Festival (IBMF) and Evie Ladin, Executive Director of the IBMF, are artists whose work explores the intersection of music, dance and culture through the human instrument. 

Body Music, also known as body percussion or body drumming, is the oldest music on the planet. Before people were hollowing logs and slapping rocks, they were using their bodies to stomp, clap, sing, snap and grunt their musical ideas. There are many traditional Body Music’s in the world, from African-American Hambone and Flamenco Palmas to Sumatran Saman and Ethiopian Armpit music. This literal hands-on seminar will introduce you to the sonic exploration of the instrument we all share, with skilled performances by the duo, and discussion of how the human arts shift and change with the political landscape.

With the exception of Performing Arts events, the Forum Series is free of charge. Events take place at Fisher Memorial Chapel located on the Rockford University campus, 5050 East State Street, Rockford. Tickets are required and can be obtained by contacting the Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu. For a complete list of the 2019 Spring Forum Series events, visit Rockford.edu/ Arts & Lectures/ Forum Series.

Rockford University’s international students will help prepare a wide variety of international dishes for Rockford University’s 11^th annual International Food Festival on Saturday, April 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. This popular annual event is open to the community. The event takes place in Regents Hall, 2^nd floor, Burpee Center on the Rockford University campus located at 5050 E. State Street, Rockford. The Burpee Center is accessible.

Sponsored by Rockford University’s Multicultural Club and the Office of Global Affairs, the International Food Festival features authentic recipes from more than 33 countries. Some of the countries represented at this year’s festival include Denmark, Germany, Philippines, Japan, China, Sweden, Turkey, Syria, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and France. Members from the Multicultural Club choose their favorite recipes so that visitors can taste and enjoy home cooked meals from their countries. International entertainment is also planned that features traditional songs and dances. Rockford University is currently home to more than 112 international students representing 23 countries.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door for adults, and children are $5 in advance and $6 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets please contact Rockford University’s Global Affairs office at globalaffairs@rockford.edu or call 815-394-5112.  

Website: https://www.rockford.edu/community/globalaffairs/iff/

Rockford University’s Bachelor of Science Nursing program (BSN) will move to a four-semester program effective for the Fall 2019 semester, changing from the previous five semester structure. Rockford University currently enrolls up to 80 students per year in its nursing program. Cohorts begin in both the fall and spring semesters.

Assistant Professor of Nursing, Program Chair and Nurse Administrator, Kim McCullough, DNP, RN says, “For more than 38 years, Rockford University has been a leader in providing students with the opportunity to receive a bachelor’s degree in nursing that is further complimented by a program grounded in the liberal arts tradition. This prepares our nursing graduates with the highly technical skills they need to be excellent medical professionals, along with important critical thinking and problem-solving skills that make them excellent employees and caregivers.” She adds, “Rockford University’s nursing students are a solution to the growing nursing shortage. They are now able to enter the workforce sooner, while still being trained with the rigor necessary to ensure they continually demonstrate the capabilities and compassion nurses require”.

Rockford University’s nursing program provides students the opportunity to experience clinical and hospital settings to best prepare them for their future careers, while also offering a wide view of opportunities available for a nursing professional. The mission of the Rockford University Nursing Department is to prepare registered professional nurses to provide quality nursing care to individuals, families, groups and communities with diverse health needs. Nursing students are challenged to think critically, act compassionately, and engage with their wider community. The mission of the nursing department can be seen woven into each of the courses and is built upon each semester.

Students interested in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree Program at Rockford University are encouraged to contact Rockford University Admissions at 815-226-4050.