PUBLICATIONS Inside Illinois Vol. 25, No. 21, May 18, 2006

brief notes

UI Chicago gallery
Art exhibitions features scholars, alumni
Billie Jean Theide, chair of the metals program in the UI School of Art and Design, is the common element connecting two shows on view through June 3 at I space, the university’s Chicago gallery.

• “Object Lessons” features art by Theide; Kent State University art professors Kathleen Brown and Stephen Litchfield; and Oklahoma State University art professor Chris Ramsay. Their work is presented along with objects from their personal collections. The featured artists are interested foremost in the function, meaning and cultural implication of the objects they collect and create.

• “Body: Internalized/Externalized,” curated by Theide, focuses on issues of sensuality, intimacy, sex, touch and thought, as represented through the work of UI alumni artists Yevgeniya Kaganovich, Yeonmi Kang, Natalya Pinchuk and Gary Schott.

The exhibitions coincide with the annual meeting and conference of the Society of North American Goldsmiths, May 24-27 in Chicago. A reception planned in conjunction with the conference is scheduled from 5-9 p.m. May 26.

The I space gallery is located at 230 W. Superior St., Chicago. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

University YMCA garage sale
You can ‘Dump & Run’ through May 26

The University YMCA is now collecting used items for its annual Dump & Run garage sale to be held in late August. The YMCA will be open for collections weekdays through May 26 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The basic philosophy behind the sale is the collection and recycling of reusable items that students and people in the community would normally throw out.

Donations may include clothing in nearly new condition, furniture, working electronics, backpacks, bicycles, school supplies, jewelry, shoes, kitchen items, CDs and records, books, computers, artwork, toys, sports equipment, non-perishable food items, soap and other household goods.

The YMCA cannot accept donations of sleeper sofas, sinks, tires, large appliances (stoves, washers, dryers), non-working electronics, non-working computers or computer parts, large exercise equipment and mattresses.
Call Rachael at 337-1500 for questions about the program or to schedule a pick-up.

New members welcome
Secretariat promotes ‘The Power of One’

The Secretariat, an organization composed of employees in civil service classifications with qualifications that meet or exceed those of Secretary III, is inviting new members to join and explore its 2006-07 theme: “The Power of One.” The theme is intended to reinforce how one person can make a difference.

Secretariat’s roots begin in 1948 when Kathryn G. Hansen organized a group of non-academic women employees in supervisory positions at the UI. The group met on a regular basis so they could meet others with similar positions, exchange ideas and hear guest speakers and panel discussion relevant to their careers.

For more information on membership, visit the Secretariat Web site.

Central Stores
New hours to serve campus better
In response to a recent survey, Central Stores has changed its hours of operation in order to operate more efficiently and serve its customers better.

Central Stores sales counter at 1609 S. Oak is now open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In order to accomodate personal purchases, hours will extend until 6 p.m. during the first two weeks of fall and spring semester and during final exams. For the Academic Year 2006-07, extended hours (8 a.m. - 6 p.m.) will be:

• Aug. 23-Sept. 6
• Dec. 11- 15
• Jan. 16-30
• May 7-11

Central Stores offers free delivery and will now deliver items purchased by faculty and staff members and students that are pre-paid personal purchases.

The Computer Center at the Illini Union will remain open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and orders can specify the Computer Center as a pick-up location. Beginning in the fall, the Computer Center will extend its hours to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on a trial basis.

Health, dental and vision benefits available for same-sex domestic partners
The UI will participate in the state of Illinois Domestic Partner Group Insurance Benefits program to provide health, vision and dental insurance coverage to same-sex domestic partners of university employees. Full details of the program are available on the CMS Web site. Select the “enrollment and information packet” link under the Domestic Partner section.

Interested employees should read the information packet carefully to understand the tax implications associated with enrolling a domestic partner as a dependent. There may be increased tax liability for an employee whose domestic partner does not meet the IRS tax dependent qualifications. Employees should consult with a tax adviser regarding tax consequences.

Employees who wish to enroll their same-sex domestic partner in the State Group Insurance Benefits program effective July 1 must do so during the current Benefit Choice open enrollment period now in progress. The Benefit Choice period will not be extended, so employees must apply for dependent coverage for their domestic partners by May 31.

If coverage is not elected by May 31, 2006, a domestic partner may be added to an employee’s coverage either during a future annual Benefit Choice period or upon experiencing a qualifying change in status.

To enroll, employees must complete the two forms included in the State Group Insurance Program Enrollment and Information Packet and submit the forms along with supporting documentation to the campus Benefits office.

The required forms are the State of Illinois Group Insurance Program Domestic Partnership Affidavit and the Domestic Partner Enrollment Form. Even if you already have a UI Affidavit of Domestic Partnership form on file with the university’s Benefits Service Center, you must complete the State Group Insurance Program’s affidavit in order to apply for this benefit. The university will continue to offer the current Domestic Partner Health Insurance Premium Reimbursement Plan. The decision to continue to offer the University Health Insurance Reimbursement Plan will be reviewed and evaluated on a year-to-year basis prior to the annual Benefit Choice open enrollment period. Information on the University’s Reimbursement Plan is available in NESSIE,

At this time, an employee with a same-sex domestic partner will have the option of participating in either the State Group Insurance Program or the university’s Reimbursement Plan, but not both.

For more information about the state of Illinois Domestic Partner Group Insurance Benefits, call CMS at 800-442-1300.
For information about Benefit Choice or the university’s Domestic Partner Health Insurance Premium Reimbursement Plan, or to meet with a Benefits Counselor, call your campus Benefits Service Center at 333-3111.

Krannert Center announces
2006-2007 performance season

“Diverse” summarizes the 2006-2007 performance season at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

Whether it’s the global perspective of artists drawn from around the world or a single performance that blends the styles of a dozen different genres, boundaries are blurred and borders are crossed in a celebration of the human experience in all its varied forms.

African drums, Russian ballet and Canadian folk music are all part of the eclectic mix, along with standout performances from well-known artists. Season highlights include an evening with American jazz legend Sonny Rollins, the spectacular pairing of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Fredrica von Stade, and Liz Lerman’s groundbreaking exploration of human genetic research through the art of dance, “Ferocious Beauty: Genome.” In the classical world, Krannert Center’s programming breadth moves from the fierce free-flow style of pianist Ivo Pogorelich to Alfred Brendel’s exacting interpretations of master composers, and from the spirited interpretive breadth of Andrew Manze with The English Concert to the celebrated artistry of Lorin Maazel with the Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic Orchestra.

Season brochures are now available. Single-event and series ticket orders will be accepted by phone, mail and direct purchases at the ticket office as well as online at KrannertCenter.com. Information for the new season also is at KrannertCenter.com.

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