BIG schedules forum for mayoral candidates The Boston Intercollegiate Government (BIG) will host a “Student Issues Forum” with the two main candidates for mayor, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and City Councilor Maura Hennigan, on Oct. 12. The forum, which is open to all college students with a valid ID, will be held in Metcalf Hall at Boston University at 4 p.m. Michael Dukakis, former Massachusetts governor, 1988 Democratic nominee for president and a Northeastern professor, will moderate the event. Tables representing each candidate will be featured, and students will have the opportunity to register to vote in the Nov. 8 election.
Groups collect Health Kits for Hurricane Katrina victims NU Christian Social Action and Lutheran Campus Ministry are collecting Health Kits for victims of Hurricane Katrina. A Health Kit should include one hand towel, one wash cloth, one bath-sized bar of soap, one adult-sized toothbrush, one five to seven-ounce tube of toothpaste, one comb, one metal nail file or nail clippers and six band-aids, all new and in good condition. Lutheran World Relief and Christian Relief Services will distribute the kits to shelters along the Gulf Coast. So far the response from the Northeastern community has been encouraging, University Chaplain Joyce DeGreeff said. “Several kits were dropped off the very next day after the announcement was made,” DeGreeff said. “It’s nice because it’s something a little more tangible than just sending money.” Kits can be dropped off in the Spiritual Life Center Office at 311 Ell Hall. The deadline is tomorrow.
Committee plans for Oct. 11 homecoming start The Homecoming committee began solidifying plans Monday night, and will now be holding weekly meetings until Homecoming week begins Tuesday, Oct. 11. Homecoming plans include traditional activities like a royalty court, a pep rally and Midnight Madness at Cabot Gym. The week’s festivities will also include the return of an old tradition, the “Mayor of Huntington Avenue” contest. Prospective “mayors” will submit applications and give speeches, and the winner will become a visible personality around campus throughout the week. The week will culminate in a carnival, parade and football game on Saturday, Oct. 15. The committee is working to draw as many student groups as possible into the festivities. “I’m trying to get different groups that haven’t really been part of the parade before, just to change it up,” said Tanisha Santos, the committee’s parade chair.
Northeastern introduces live mascot to campus For the first time since 1972, Northeastern has a live husky on campus serving as mascot. King, a seven-month-old Siberian husky, made his debut appearance at various events during Welcome Week. His owner and trainer, Margaret Cook, graduated from Northeastern in 1964. Throughout the year, King will appear at major sporting events, but his permanent home will be with Cook. “She’s an experienced breeder, so she has other dogs for him to play with. That made sense to us rather than having him live on campus,” said Emily Donahue, manager of communications and special projects in the office of the vice president of student affairs. Donahue said although King is shy at the moment, she hopes he will be a staple of Northeastern spirit for years to come. “He’s a little bit bashful right now because he’s still a puppy, but we’re hoping he’s going to be our official mascot for awhile,” Donahue said.
Meditation offered through Center for Spiritual Life Throughout the fall semester, the Center for Spiritual Life will offer weekly meditation in the Sacred Space. Meditation will be held Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Through September only, meditation will also be offered Mondays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Students do not need to sign up or make a commitment to come, but simply show up at their leisure. “The core group seems to change from week to week … it isn’t like we’ve got one little group that’s the same every week,” said Shelli Jankowski-Smith, director of the Center for Spiritual Life. “I think that’s cool, because you’ve got new people trying it out and old people coming back.” Jankowski-Smith said the center will probably offer meditation during the spring semester as well, but the schedule has yet to be determined. The Sacred Space is located on the second floor of Ell Hall.
Office seeks participants for Dialogues on Diversity The office of Affirmative Action and Diversity is looking for participants and facilitators for the Dialogues on Diversity series. The series will consist of five dialogue sessions, beginning Oct. 17 and ending Dec. 22. Facilitators will meet with the same circle of participants for each meeting, discussing topics relating to race and race relations. The office is seeking 20 facilitators and 150 participants. “We’re reviewing applications now,” said Malaika Edwards, diversity coordinator in the Office of Affirmative Action and Diversity. “We want people to be mature enough to handle facilitating a group of people where topics could get sensitive.” The deadline for applications to be facilitators is tomorrow. For an application, e-mail Malaika Edwards at [email protected]. Staff, faculty and students are eligible to be facilitators.
— Compiled by staff writers Hailey Heinz and Jennifer Nelson
