Rock 'n' roll bands performed Thursday night at Otto's Niteclub in an effort to bring organ donor awareness to NIU.

Public Relations Student Society of America, hosted its third annual organ donor bash for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois.

Past events were held at Amnesia, but they wanted to try something new.

"The past years were very successful," said Marcelyn Love, PRSSA's president and a senior communication major. "The shows were outside before and you couldn't really judge the crowds."

PRSSA is in competition with other chapters to raise the most money, and Love said NIU has been in the top three in the past years.

Jorie Vonohlen, a junior psychology major and audience member, received a liver transplant when she was 3 years old.

"I want people to be aware that there is a great need for organ donors, especially in our age group," Vonohlen said. "The act of it is very selfless."

Vonohlen suggests that students tell their family they want to be donors. Some people could die suddenly in a car accident and it would help the family look beyond that by knowing that can benefit others in need, she said.

Raffle tickets were given out to audience members at the door. Prizes included gift cards from Applebee's, Glidden Florist, VCB and Ritz Camera. There also was an autographed hockey puck from Blackhawks player Steve Sullivan and Poison tickets sponsored by WMKB radio station.

Sound technician Alex DeForest said he was excited for the event.

"This is a good event," he said. "Hey, the sound guy is an organ donor."

The event also was sponsored by Alpha Sigma Alpha.

The first annual Convocation for Academic Excellence will be held 5 p.m. Sunday in the Holmes Student Center's Duke Ellington Ballroom.

In years past, the University Honors Program held their own ceremony, and the other awards were given out at commencement.

The ceremony will honor graduating honors students and selected honors students for their work over the past year.

"It will be a very nice ceremony," said Michael Martin, master of ceremonies and director of the University Honors Program.

Among those being honored this year are 2003 Presidential Teaching Professors Gerald Gabris and Robert Chappell and Presidential Research Professorships William Baker and Christine Worobec.

A number of distinguished graduate students will also be honored for their work at NIU.

The reception following the ceremony will be held in the Holmes Student Center's Regency Room.

About 40 people listened and discussed the changing images of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community at the Holmes Student Center's Heritage Room Thursday night.

Joe D'Emilio discussed and analyzed his most recent book, "The World Turned."

"The World Turned" is a book of essays about D'Emilio's experiences as an activist and member of the LGBT community.

"[D'Emilio] enhanced so much insight about Ruston who has been overlooked too often. He really emphasized the principle of non-violent demonstration within the gay community," said NIU alumna Cordelia Parham.

After D'Emilio spoke about his experiences and read from his book, he allowed ample time for questions concerning his book, or just the LGBT community in general.

"We are living through a period of change in our community," said D'Emilio, responding to a question about his opinion of today's LGBT community. "We are becoming a more open society, and that is why I titled this book ‘The World Turned.' We truly are turning our appearance to society."

The presentation was done to coordinate with the Women Studies in English class.

D'Emilio stayed for a question-and-answer session, as well as talking to people one-on-one.

Clothing drive donations sought at NIU luncheon

NIU's Presidential Commission on the Status of Women and Kishwaukee College's Employment Resources Center will conduct a suit drive on April 9. Donations of new, gently worn women's suits and dresses, as well as accessories such as bags, shoes and new, packaged hosiery are being sought.

Individuals may drop off their donations between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday at the School of Nursing's east door entrance, Office of Records and Registration and the Human Resource Services. Clothing donations also may be accepted at a networking luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m on April 9 at the Holmes Student Center.

The luncheon is open to the community and will feature Barbara Cole Peters, private collector of 20th century women's clothing. For luncheon reservations, call 753-9614 before April 4.

School of Music hosts weekend activities

The School of Music will host a Clarinet Cornucopia on Saturday and Sunday. The two days will be packed with classes, recitals, concerts and rehearsals. Students, amateurs, teachers and fans are welcomed to join NIU's clarinet faculty, as well as noted guest artists and even a certified hand therapist. Activities begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday with registration at the Music Building Concert Hall lobby. For information, call Renee Page in the Office of External Programs at 753-1450.

NIU Gallery presents Lewis deSoto exhibition

The NIU Art Gallery in Chicago is pleased to announce Lewis deSoto: Paranirvana (self-portrait), an exhibition that will run April 4 through May 24, with a public reception for the artist from 5 to 8 p.m. on April 4. The artist will present a gallery talk at 3 p.m. on April 5. DeSoto's 26-foot-long air-inflated installation, Paranirvana, will be inflated daily at noon and deflated at 4:30 p.m. each day of the exhibition.

The NIU Art Gallery is located at 215 W. Superior, 3rd Floor, Chicago. Gallery hours are 11a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free and open to the public. For information, call (312) 642-6010.

Vermeer Quartet to finish Beethoven series

The world-renowned Vermeer Quartet will complete its performances of the complete string quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven at 8 p.m. on April 3 in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall at the Music Building. The Vermeer Quartet has achieved international status as one of the world's finest chamber music ensembles. A pre-concert lecture featuring Jan Bach takes place at 7 p.m. in the Concert Hall. The public is welcome and there is no charge. For information, call Lynn Slater at 753-1546.

Percussion Ensemble to perform spring concert

The NIU Percussion Ensemble will present its spring concert at 8 p.m. on April 2 in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall. The concert is free and open to the public. The focus of the spring concert will be on classic literature for percussion ensemble, including historic works, new works for quartets to large ensembles and world-influenced compositions. For information, call Robert Chappell at 753-7973.

Women's Studies program sponsors case study

The Department of Geography, along with the Women's Studies program, is sponsoring "Family Photography and Domestic Spacings: a Case Study" at 3:30 p.m. on April 2 at Davis Hall, Room 308. It is an exploration of how mothers work with family photos to create their own interpretation of self, time and space.

Alumni who live and work in the heart of downtown Chicago now have a piece of NIU close by.

The NIU Alumni Association finished work on their Alumni and Visitor's Center in Chicago on April 1. The center is located at the Chicago Athletic Association Building, 12 S. Michigan Ave.

"We started planning this since Sept. 2001," said Joseph Matty, assistant director of outreach services. "It was a slow moving process, but we wanted to do it right. Both the University of Illinois and Illinois State University have alumni centers in Chicago, and we have more alums living and working in Chicago than those two schools."

Matty is referring to the 160,000 alumni in Illinois, with the majority of them around Chicago. The center was built for convenience, entertainment and keeping the alumni in touch with NIU, something that has been difficult in the past.

"The function of the center is to utilize different events, especially for the three Chicago chapters," Matty said. "We haven't decided whether or not we will have an official grand opening ceremony. We feel that because of the current budget time, we are unsure about publicizing in that manner. We feel that the center is in the alums' best interest."

According to Northern Now, the center will coordinate and consolidate activities, programs, services and events for NIU in the heart of downtown Chicago.

The funds for the center came directly from the Alumni Association operating budget, Matty said.

"Our alums are very excited about this," Matty said. "We appreciate all the help and support we have received from the university. We feel that we are catering to the alums' needs."