Teaching children about reality, racism and respect is crucial to the way they will view life when they become an adult.

That is a continued theme that will be recognized at a conference entitled, "The Other 3 R's: Reality, Racism and Respect."

The conference will focus on race and its relation to children.

Cathy Lubbers, academic adviser for TLRN, thinks the conference is a good opportunity for students studying education.

"The focus of the funding for this conference is for students majoring in early childhood studies," Lubbers said. "This age group is consistent with the certification they receive from the State of Illinois."

Professors Joe Feagin and June Gordonwill be speaking at the conference.

Feagin is the graduate research professor of sociology at the University of Florida. His primary research interests concern the development and structure of racial and gender prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination, Lubbers said.

In addition to his research, he is the author of more than 160 articles on gender, racial and urban issues, and he has written 44 books on the subject matter of race issues.

Gordon, who is an associate professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, focuses on issues dealing with economic impacts and educational access and success of marginalized student in the United States, Britain and Japan, according to a recent press release.

"This conference is made possible by the generous contributions of an anonymous donor," Lubbers said. "The donor is providing this to the students in the early childhood studies program as an opportunity to learn from and interact with nationally recognized experts in early childhood studies."

Lubbers thinks this conference is important for children.

"Young children, ages 3 to 5, develop racial views at an early age and many adults find themselves in denial of this," Lubbers said.

The 2003 NIU Student Conference on Southeast Asian Affairs was attended by 50 students, professors and Southeast Asia enthusiasts Saturday at the Holmes Student Center's Illinois Room.

The conference, hosted by the Southeast Asia Club and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, was an opportunity for students to present papers about "religious accommodation and conflict in Southeast Asia."

"[The conference] can provide a general background into the history, politics and culture of Southeast Asian countries. We work to spread knowledge about them," said Jessica Rinehart, president of the Southeast Asia Club.

Five papers were presented by graduate students from the political science and anthropology departments.

Topics ranged from women in Indonesian politics from the Islamic perspective and the influx of Buddhism and the role of Buddhist monks in politics to Muslim-Christian intermarriages in the Philippines.

Each presentation was followed by commentary from an expert on the subject and left open to questions from the audience.

The highlight of the conference was keynote speaker Kathleen Adams from the Loyola University at Chicago anthropology department.

"I have a fond place in my heart for NIU," Adams said. "The library has some of the best resources in Southeast Asian studies."

Adams, a cultural anthropologist of Indonesia, gave a presentation on "Images of peacemaking and conflict in Eastern Indonesia." She presented local examples of peacemaking attempts using linguistic and artistic means through her paper and a slide show presentation.

Maria Ernita Joaquin's paper about unfounded mandates in the Philippines won the best paper at the end of the day and was awarded $250.

Daniel Unger, an associate professor in the political science department, brought an end to the days discussions with a brief talk about accommodation, conflict and survival in Southeast Asia.

"I enjoyed hearing some of the discussions on the hot topics," said Jenn Weidman, an anthropology graduate student who attended the conference. "It provided greater awareness and depth of the issues."

Neil Foley, an associate professor of history and American studies and associate dean at the University of Texas, will speak at 6:30 p.m. today in the Moot Courtroom at Swen Parson Hall, Room 170.

Foley will discuss the issue of the construction of a Hispanic identity in America.

"He grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, with an Irish father and a Mexican mother," said J.D. Bowers, chair of the history graduate student colloquium committee. "His scholarship and work reflect the border of ethnic identity with a specific reference to south central Texas."

His book, "The White Scourge: Mexicans, Blacks and Poor Whites in Texas Cotton Cultures," addresses how the different cultures interacted in the cotton industry of Texas.

"It is about identity, race and the legal process," Bowers said. "He will bring up issues of legality where Hispanics have challenged the law."

Bowers expects to get a fairly large audience to attend the lecture.

"I have gotten calls from other colleges," Bowers said. "We definitely expect a large audience of students and a widespread audience. I expect mostly students to attend."

People attending the lecture will learn that our identity and race are negotiated and are not predetermined, Bowers said. It is a more complex issue far more than somebody's skin.

For students who are looking to withdraw from NIU, the process may seem overwhelming. But it can be managed without a huge hassle.

There were 518 students who withdrew from July 2001 to June 2002, said Robin Hendricks, assistant director of Registration and Records for records, public contact and transcripts.

However, those who do withdraw often do so because of a medical problem, a military duty or an experience of extraordinary hardship.

Kathy Jahns, administrative assistant at Student Affairs, said students who want to withdraw for a medical reason have to have a condition that prevents them from completing the semester.

They must submit their medical documents to NIU's Health Services which will then determine the severity of the condition and decide whether or not to approve the request for a medical withdrawal.

Jahns said students then must request permission to withdraw from their major college's advisement office.

Generally, a withdrawal form needs to be completed and an explanation needs to be given.

After being approved by both Health Services and the college advisement office, students should ask Student Affairs to review their case and determine what refund, if any, will be awarded.

Students who need to withdraw because they have been called to serve in the military must complete a similar procedure.

Jahns said they must notify their college advisement office, and they must also submit a copy of their military orders to Student Affairs.

Students looking to withdraw under the hardship category have to be experiencing a life situation, though not necessarily financial, that prevents them from continuing their college careers.

Jahns said these students must also get approval to withdraw from their college advisement office, and they must submit a letter explaining their situation and any supporting documentation to Student Affairs.

Students who wish to withdraw for reasons other than those of medical, military or hardship should not call Student Affairs but should discuss the situation with their college advisement office, Jahns said.

Students who withdraw from NIU may get some of their tuition and fees back, but the amount depends on when the student withdraws and the reason for withdrawal.

Hendricks said a full refund is given if a student withdraws within the first 15 days of a semester.

After this time, the amount is prorated, or dependent upon how many days of the semester the student has completed versus how many days of the semester are left.

Hendricks also said a 50 percent refund can be given from Feb. 22 through March 14, and a 40 percent refund can be given from March 15 through March 21. After March 21, no refund is given unless extraordinary circumstances are involved.

Students planning to withdraw must also talk to Student Housing and Dining Services if they are living in the residence halls.

David Dunlap, the coordinator of marketing and public relations at Student Housing and Dining, said students must notify them of their intent to withdraw in writing. The date the letter is received determines how much money is returned.

Dunlap said if a student signs a contract for the fall semester and then decides to not attend NIU, he or she may cancel it between May 2 and July 1 and only be charged $50, and if a student cancels after July 1, the charge is $125.

However, Dunlap also said if a student desires to withdraw from NIU and cancel the contract after the first 16 days of a semester, he or she is still required to pay for the room unless there are special circumstances involved.

Some of the dining plan money may be given back depending on how long the student has resided in the room.

For information on NIU's withdrawal procedures, look at the online 2002-2003 Undergraduate Catalog at www.reg.niu.edu/ugcat/.

People of all ages and cultures filled the basement of the Newman Catholic Student Center on Friday night to celebrate Southeast Asian culture.

The night began with a Buddhist blessing ceremony performed by several monks from Rockford.

The monks also read palm leaves in languages representative of their cultures.

Susan Russell, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, gave the opening remarks.

"This is an event we do three or four times an academic year," she said. "We do these to introduce people of NIU to the different cultures of Southeast Asia."

Dinner was served, buffet style, from Rockford's Phai Nam Restaurant.

The food ran out quickly because the turnout was bigger than anticipated, but more was served an hour later.

"I'm here to hear the music," said Kristin Glidden, a senior music major. "Although, that food looks really good."

Jorai Tribal Gong music from Vietnam by Dr. Han's Troupe filled the air while the audience ate dinner.

Thai dancers from Chicago performed a dance that later was followed by a Filipino love song and a Burmese performance by the NIU Burmese Students.

The Burmese students described their performance as a type of "Burmese rap" that touched on issues such as the budget crisis in Illinois and and the possible war in Iraq.

After the Burmese performance, a show displaying the typical dress of Southeast Asia cultures was displayed, including outfits from countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia.

People representing the ethnic Chinese had a sing-along love song, with words on the screen so the audience could participate.

NIU Malaysian students did a candle dance, representative of a romantic story.

The night ended with another dance by the Thai Dancers of Chicago and a Thai traditional song called, "My Beloved Full Moon."

"I think the night went really well," said Martin Mercado, a sophomore industrial engineering major. "The food was good, and I really enjoyed the Malaysian dance and the [Burmese] rap."

Commuters may have noticed a sharp increase in gas prices in recent months, a trend that is caused by several factors.

The average price of a regular gallon of gas in Illinois was $1.69 on Feb. 28. This is up 19 cents from last month, and 45 cents from a year ago, according to the AAA Web site.

Although the Web site did not offer statistics for DeKalb, it did state that the Rockford average was $1.61. This was up 15 cents from a month ago, and 51 cents from a year ago.

One of the major factors for the increased gas prices is the turbulence in Venezuela, said Ron Planting, manager of information and analysis at the American Petroleum Institute. Workers went from producing three million barrels a day to producing almost none during a recent strike. Although production has resumed in the past three months, the lost oil has not been replenished.

Weather also has been a factor in increased prices. This winter has been colder than normal, raising demand for crude oil, Planting said.

Speculation about war has caused a fluctuation in the price of crude oil as well, said Norma Cooper, manager of community affairs at AAA Chicago Motor Club. Prices often increase because of a fear of interruption in supplies.

A fire in the largest refinery in Indiana most likely helped raise gas prices on a local level as well, Cooper said.

The rises in oil prices don't only affect motorists. An increase in gas prices has the potential to impact other aspects of the economy. It can raise unemployment and inflation rates, said Carl Campbell, associate professor of economics at NIU.

Increases in unemployment and inflation occurred during the oil price hikes in the late '70s and early '80s, and in the early '90s. Although the increase is fairly recent, and such effects would take time, they are a possible consequence, Campbell said.

An end to the increased gas prices is impossible to predict, Planting said.

"There's a lot that's beyond anyone's control," Planting said.

Although prices have been uncharacteristically high during the winter months, an increase in price is normal during the shift to summer. This is because of increased demand for gasoline for seasonal vehicles, such as golf carts and for vacations, Cooper said.

In an effort to discuss different global events, members of the NIU community are invited to attend the annual International Women's Day Luncheon to celebrate both the past and present.

The luncheon, sponsored by the University Resources for Latinos, the University Resources for Women and the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Holmes Student Center's Chandelier Room.

"Women's Day is an international celebration that is years and years old," said Sharon Howard, director of the University Resources for Women. "Internationally, Women's Day is celebrated on March 8, but we celebrate it on the first Wednesday of March at NIU."

Howard said International Women's Day began in 1857 by women textile workers in New York who were striking over the working conditions they were forced to work in. In 1909, the first women's day was celebrated in the United States. It wasn't until 1977 when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization declared it an official international holiday.

"There have been three world conferences since 1977," Howard said. "It is usually celebrated mainly at college campuses around the country and it also coincides with March being women's history month."

Sylvia Fuentes, director of University Resources for Latinos, said the luncheon boils down to seeing what else is going on in the world.

"I really hope that we can discuss what's going on globally," Fuentes said. "We need to recognize what the rest of the world is doing."

The luncheon began at NIU about 15 years ago. This year, guest speaker Dr. Josephine Mendez-Negrete from the University of Texas, San Antonio, will speak about "Writing as Healing: Testimoniando Stories of Betrayal," from her latest book. Past speakers have included women from Sri Lanka, Africa and Costa Rica who have spoken about women's development internationally.

Mendez-Negrete also will speak Wednesday night in an intimate book reading at 7:30 p.m. at the Holmes Student Center's Sky Room. A book signing, as well as a question and answer session, will follow. She also will speak Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room, along with another book signing and refreshments. Fuentes said both events are free and open to all, including men.

"People have been very excited about the luncheon," Howard said. "As soon as we advertise it, reservations fill up fast. Right now we have 98 people attending."

The fee for the luncheon is $7.50, which includes the lunch and the speakers.

Greek leaders will unite Saturday at the 2003 Fusaro Leadership Institute at the Holmes Student Center's Carl Sandburg Auditorium.

Each executive board member of NIU's Greek chapters is expected to attend this noon conference.

Speakers at the conference will target executive board members such as presidents, recruiting chairs and new member educators, said Darnell Bradley, program coordinator for Greek affairs.

The conference aims at giving students an idea of how to do their jobs better, common mistakes to avoid and how to be a better member of the Greek community.

The first hour of the conference will be a Town Hall panel discussion in which students can ask questions to campus administrators, city officials and Greek affairs professionals.

Educational sessions for the members of the executive boards will follow.

Keynote speaker Heidi Anderson will talk about the future of Greek life and how to improve the Greek image.

"People have the image that all Greeks do is party and drink, and that's absolutely not true," said Bradley. "Being Greek is to live up to their rituals, brotherhood/sisterhood, academic success and serving the community."

In the past, these conferences have gone on for six to seven hours, said Chris Juhl, activities adviser for Greek affairs.

"It will be more relevant if we can condense it and say presidents go to this session and treasurers go to that [session],"Juhl said.

A college student who decided to try drinking and got drunk ended up in jail because she stole a chicken suit from a guy outside a chicken diner.

Years later, a question on her bar exam asked if she had ever been arrested. One night and one question decided the fate of the Harvard law student.

Mike Green, a motivational speaker and a recovering alcoholic of 25 years, recounted this story to an audience of about 600 students at the Holmes Student Center's Carl Sandburg Auditorium Wednesday night.

Green, who was speaking on the topic of substance abuse, focused on the life-long consequences of one night's irresponsibility.

He used jokes, questions to the audience, personal stories and props like shot glasses, liquor bottles and T-shirts to get his message across to the audience.

Green, who was an alcoholic in college and a bartender for almost 10 years, was able to connect with the students using his personal stories. In one such story, he recalled the time when he passed out drunk in the wrong house after running eight blocks from a pseudo police siren.

"He came down to our level and didn't make us seem dumb," said Larkin Harris, a freshman undecided major who attended the discussion. "He didn't lecture."

Green said that he did not expect students to give up drinking and made a distinction between drinking socially and getting drunk.

He held up a shot glass and said that it could be looked at as a sipping glass or as a killer shot.

"This is used to fill oil in your car, not as a social cocktail glass," said Green as he held up a funnel in his hand.

Green gave the audience practical reasons to reconsider their drinking habits.

An average drinker can spend up to $10,000 on beer in his or her four years of college.

Getting back on track as a team never felt so good.

NIU's persistence paid off as it ran away from Toledo down the stretch to claim a home victory 69-57 on Saturday.

With the win, NIU (12-14, 8-7 MAC) clinched a No. 7 or No. 8 seed and a will have a home game on March 8 in the first round of the MAC Tournament.

"Everyone knows we've been struggling this whole entire season," senior guard Kristan Knake said. "[Friday], we just had a good heart to heart as a team ... We came out today ready to play and ready to have fun. We just came out today to play basketball."

Knake finished the game with 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

The Huskies found themselves down nine to the Rockets (18-8, 11-4 MAC) at halftime. They turned the tables in the second half, however, outscoring the Rockets 45-24. For the second half, Toledo shot just 7-of-28 from the field while NIU shot at a 14-of-23 clip.

"In the second half, I thought we were a lot more patient," NIU coach Carol Hammerle said. "All five players on the court were looking for one another. We had some great passes into the post into Jen [Youngblood] and Joi [Scott]."

The inside combo of Youngblood and Scott combined for 24 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for the game. The duo scored 20 of their 24 points in the second half.

The Huskies' surge was keyed with 10:16 to play on a Monique Davis three-point basket as the shot clock buzzer went off.

The three helped NIU to a 16-2 run and gave the Huskies a lead they would never rescind.

"This is the best I have ever seen Monique operate as our floor general," Hammerle said. "She was incredible; she just took charge, she made good decisions, she worked hard at both ends of the floor and she made some huge three's for us."

For the game, Davis scored 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting and added five assists.

The game also marked the return of Kim Boeding to the lineup. Boeding played for the first time since Jan. 22. (See page 19 for more.)

The loss amounted to a missed opportunity for Toledo. Ball State lost to Eastern Michigan on Sunday keeping both schools with a tie in the loss column for the MAC lead.

The controversial future of Title IX has moved into the hands of U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige after the Commission on Opportunity in Athletics submitted its final report last week.

Paige used Title IX's 30th anniversary to create the commission in 2002 to evaluate the law, address the controversy surrounding it and present recommendations the Department of Education.

"That controversy extended into the commission's debates and continues in the interpretations ascribed to various parts of the final report," said Cary Groth, NIU's athletics director and one of the 15 members of the commission.

Title IX is the part of the 1972 Education Amendments that requires equal opportunity for men and women in education programs. The law has been credited with allowing an increase in women's participation in sports and has been blamed for the cutting of some men's programs.

Four themes were presented in the commission's report -- commitment, clarity, fairness and enforcement.

The commission wants Education to reaffirm its commitment to Title IX's goal of providing gender equality. The report states that during the commission's public hearings there was no testimony suggesting that Title IX should be repealed. However, it heard from people who question the sincerity of the government's commitment to Title IX.

Clarity and consistency about the purpose and enforcement of Title IX is a problem the commission wants Education to resolve. It would like to see a national campaign by Education to educate institutions on the ways to be compliant with the Title IX. One specific area of confusion institutions face when trying to comply with Title IX is the use of private funds to support underfunded teams.

Universities and secondary schools across the country facing tighter budgets are being accused of cutting men's teams to remain compliant with Title IX, according to testimony before the commission. In order for Title IX to be fair to both men and women, the commission is calling upon Education's enforcement branch, the Office of Civil Rights, to make it clear that the cutting of teams for the sole purpose of being Title IX compliant is not an acceptable practice.

The commission recommended Education to encourage institutions to use sound financial practices concerning athletics expenditures. The commission also suggested that Paige recommend to Congress that college athletics receive an antitrust exemption.

Enforcement of Title IX received the most attention in the report with nine of the 23 recommendations addressing how the Office of Civil Rights ensures educational institutions remain compliant.

Besides asking the Office of Civil Rights to consistently enforce Title IX, the commission made several recommendations on the best way to deal with problems athletic programs are facing when using the "proportionality" prong of the "three-part test."

The three-part test refers to the ways in which an institution can demonstrate compliance to Title IX. The institution can show compliance by providing opportunities for women and men in intercollegiate sports that are proportionate to their respective enrollments. Another method is to show a history or continuing practice of providing equal opportunities for men and women in the institution's athletic program. The third method of compliance is to show the program has "fully and effectively" catered to the interests of the members of the under-represented sex. An institution only needs to pass one of these tests to be considered compliant.