Wong Delivers Seventh Convocation

In his seventh fall convocation, NMU President Les Wong continued to stress the need for change at the university, despite swirling uncertainty at the state level regarding the economy and the implications of a new governor and overhauled legislature.

Wong reported that the first phase of the two-step plan he announced last April has been completed. Seven proposals for restructuring units, increasing efficiency and reducing costs were implemented by the target date of June 30. Full Story

Hunt Hall Earns Silver LEED Certification

Another NMU residence hall renovation has achieved sustainability benchmarks set by the U.S. Green Building Council. Hunt Hall earned a silver designation from the council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Van Antwerp and Meyland previously received silver and certified designations, respectively. Full Story

Summer Dining Services Changes Completed

The Wildcat Den is exclusively an all-you-care-to-eat venue, a new Café Libri is open in the NMU Bookstore, the Marketplace was renovated to facilitate trayless dining and the JXJ Java Cart will provide a food service presence in the main classroom facility on campus. It has been a hectic summer of change for Dining Services. Full Story

WiMAX Expands to Ishpeming, Sawyer and Gwinn

Northern's WiMAX network is operational in Ishpeming, Sawyer and Gwinn. The expanded coverage brings broadband wireless Internet access to more off-campus students and allows NMU to partner with government and education officials to develop programs and services that take advantage of the wireless network. The WiMAX coverage area now totals about 40 square miles.

Dave Maki (Information Technology) said the next step will be working to improve coverage in Harvey. "We've got WiMAX all around the NMU Golf Course and in the Lakewood Lane area, but we don't have a tower that covers the area on Highway 41 from the rock cut to about Jack's Foods. That's the last place we have to fill in."

NMU Named Military-Friendly Institution

Northern is on the list of 2011 Military Friendly Schools released this week by G.I. Jobs. The annual designation honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America's veterans as students, according to a press release distributed by the publication. Full Story

A/P Contract Approved

Northern’s administrative/professional union, UAW Local 2178, ratified a new three-year contract by an 89-22 vote. The union is composed of about 180 members. Its previous contract expired Oct. 1, 2009. Full Story

Forest Roberts Theatre Season Preview

Forest Roberts Theatre will present a French farce, a Steinbeck classic, a movie-based musical and a journey to Neverland. Season tickets are $42 for adults and the general public and $28 for NMU students, plus a $6 processing fee. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. on their respective dates, with an additional 1 p.m. Saturday matinee.

The season will open with “A Flea in Her Ear” Oct. 6-9. Paul Truckey will direct this "masterpiece of marital mayhem and mistaken identities" by Georges Feydeau. Depicting a scene from the show, which has yet to be cast, are Denise Townsend and Benjamen Filipowicz. Full Story

International Performing Arts

Series Lineup Announced

Five diverse musical acts will highlight the

2010-11 NMU International Performing Arts Series. Their styles include New Orleans jazz/funk, a musical mosaic of Israel, folk variations from Finland, Argentina and Quebec, and modern jazz trumpet.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue will kick off the series on Thursday, Sept. 16, at Kaufman Auditorium. Full Story

New Wildcat Market Opens Sept. 1

The Wildcat Market, a new monthly entrepreneurial fair where students, faculty/staff and student organizations can sell goods and services they create, will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, in the Academic Mall (rain site: lower level of the Learning Resources Center). Full Story