Graduate anthropology student Steve Jankiewicz listens as anthropology professor Dan Gebo explains the history of the discovery of human origins in Africa. Participants traveled to Madison, Wisc., to hear from Donald Johanson of Arizona State University. He discovered the most complete skeletons of one of our earliest human ancestors: Lucy. Johanson's talk, The Story of Us: Becoming Human, was sponsored by National Geographic Live.

Psychology graduate student David Boveri plays an Irish flute with band members during Wednesday's Celtic Jam event at the House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway. Every last Wednesday of the month the House Cafe hosts a special Irish music jam where musicians of all skill levels are invited to play traditional Irish pub and dance music.

Kamila Krupiarz, junior mechanical engineering major, co-led the Adventure Center's Moonlight Snowshoe event in Afton Forest Preserve Tuesday night.

A new Discovery Channel documentary series will feature the work of biology professor Karen Samonds. Samonds has been unearthing fossils in Madagascar for 10 years in an effort to discover the origins of Madagascar's unique biodiversity. Montgomery Auditorium was full Friday night for one of the first U.S. screenings of the documentary. "Voyage of the Continents" will air in the United States later this year.

Shannon Channell, a student at Kishwaukee College, plays the "bodhran." The NIU Irish Music Club held a session at the House Cafe Wednesday night in typical Irish fashion. "Groups come together to practice and play at local bars and pubs all over the Irish countryside," said group leader, "Daiv" Boveri, a psychology doctorate student. "We learn all of our music by ear, so these sessions are critical." The group meets at 9:30 pm in the World Music Room (102) of the Music Building Wednesday nights and at the House on the last Wednesday of the month. ​

Adrian Smith reads a personal speech Thursday night at the Holmes Student Center's Duke Ellington Ballroom during a speech and concert performance. Thursday's event celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and marked a close to the campus-wide Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service week.

This photo shows the deconstruction of Douglas Hall on Dec. 16, 2014. NIU continued its deconstruction of Douglas Hall as part of the Master Plan Thesis during winter break 2014. The residence hall, which was shuttered at the beginning of the fall semester, is being removed so Lucinda Avenue may be extended.

Alumnus Jim Gilbert, of North Aurora, prepares for battle during the Nerf Gun Wars Saturday night in the Duke Ellington Ballroom of the Holmes Student Center. The Nerf Gun Wars featured capture-the-flag style play using white cardboard boxes wrapped in yellow caution tape as their flag, one marked "R" and the other "B."