Nov. 12: Bloomington, Ill.
Post-game social (about 4 p.m.) for alumni, parents and friends following Big Blue football vs. Illinois Wesleyan  at The Loft in downtown Bloomington. The Big Blue Club, MU's official athletic booster club, and the alumni relations office will provide hors d'oeuvres; cash bar also available. The Loft is located upstairs at Central Station Cafe,  220 E. Front Street, just east of Route 51 (Main Street). Ample street parking is available, as well as city lots nearby. Click here for a map. Please RSVP by e-mail or call 1-877-JMU-ALUM so that we may know how many to expect.

Nov. 20: Chicago
The athletics department will host a open house for Chicago-area high school seniors and their families from 2-4 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel, 1909 Spring Road. Prospective student athletes and their families will have the opportunity to meet MU coaches, athletes, alumni and admission staff member. Athletes interested in attending the open house can RSVP or get more information by calling 1-800-373-7733, ext. 4 or visiting the athletics website.

Dec. 3: St. Louis
Post-game social at the Venice Cafe for alumni, parents and friends following the 7 p.m. Big Blue men's basketball game vs. Webster. 56 Hope Road will perform at the cafe from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Chicago- based band is made up of MU alums Chad Sanders '99, Anne Hamilton '94, Matt Katzfey '96, Steve Goveia '99, Greg Fundis '99 and Dave Hamilton '90. The Venice Cafe is located at 1901 Pestalozzi St. Click here for a map. Please RSVP by e-mail by Dec. 2 or call 1-877-JMU-ALUM by that date so we'll  know how many to expect. 

Hot links
Vesper tickets are now available. Performances are Dec. 3 and 4 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Kirkland Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. Tickets are available at the KFAC ticket office, by phone at (217) 424-6318 or online here.

We have new additions to our website of photos from this fall's homecoming. You might see someone you know! Click here to check it out. Click here to take our homecoming survey to help us make Homecoming 2006 the best event yet!

FREE MU desktop wallpaper for your computer here.

The Big Blue basketball season kicks off Nov. 18.  Check out Sports.

Big Blue wedding album. Submit your wedding photos and info to be included in our online album. Send them to us by e-mail, or call toll-free to 1-877-JMU-ALUM for details. 

Business owners: Add your business information to Big Blue Biz, our online directory of  alumni-owned businesses. Click here to add your info.

Add high school students to MU's mailing list for prospective students. MORE

Shop online: 
First Step Records

Millikin bookstore 
Get your Millikin wear here!
 
First Step Publishing

All alumni actors, artists, writers, singers, dancers and musicians: Send us details of upcoming engagements or releases for the Millikin website. Drop us an e-mail, or fax your performance schedule to 217-424-3755. Click here to see where your fellow alums are appearing. 

THE REPORT IS IN.  
Millikin scored well on a survey that determines how effectively colleges and universities are contributing to the student learning process. According to the 2005 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) report, MU students study and live in an engaged, active and collaborative learning environment. MORE

VOLLEYBALL ADVANCE TO NATIONAL TOURNAMENT.  
The Millikin volleyball team has received an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament at Wittenberg University. The Big Blue (28-9) open NCAA play against No. 23 ranked Capital on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m. (EST). ESPN Radio 95.9 FM will be airing the games both on the radio and on the Internet for fans who can’t make the trip.  MORE

PROFESSOR RECEIVES AWARD FOR BOOK.
A Tabor School of Business professor has received a Calatagan award from the Philippine American Writers and Artists Inc. for his new book, "Land of My Birth.”  The award honors individuals and organizations that have contributed to the Philippine American literary and cultural scene. MORE

IT'S FOR THE BIRDS.
A Millikin professor and his students are helping conduct two national research projects on wild bird behavior to determine preferences in bird feed and feeders. Alumni and community members are invited to get involved with the study. Sign up at www.projectwildbird.org. MORE

And ThE WINNER IS... 
Ellen Johansen of Wood River, Ill., is the raffle winner of the two Busch Stadium seats! Ellen, a life-long Cardinal fan, is mother of Chuck Johansen '78 and grandmother of Keith Johansen '02. The raffle raised $475 for Millikin's Gateway Award, which is presented to a deserving student from the St. Louis area each year. 

CANADA, EH? 
Ready to begin planning that relaxing summer vacation? Looking for a way to help Millikin? We have the trip for you! Join alumni and friends as they travel through the Canadian Rockies, June 22 to July 1, 2006. Destinations on this 10-day vacation include Vancouver, B.C.; Kamloops, B.C.; Lake Louise in Banff; and Calgary, Alberta. Experience the icefield glaciers, view Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, and stay at the highly praised "Castle in the Mountains" - and give to the Millikin Fund, too! The cost of the trip includes a $50 gift to the Millikin Fund that will be matched by the travel agency. For more info, click here for a pdf file of the brochure, or call or e-mail Jan Devore, director of alumni relations, at 1-877-JMU-ALUM. An initial $100 per person deposit is due by Jan. 22, 2006. 

THIS NEW LEGISLATION 
HELPS YOU HELP MORE.
New legislation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is a boon to charitable giving as a whole, because it maximizes the amount of deductible charitable contributions you can give, not only to Katrina relief efforts, but to any qualified recipient (such as Millikin). Don't delay; this window of opportunity will close Dec. 31, 2005. Click here to learn more and be sure to consult your financial advisor as to whether this is a good choice for your particular tax situation.  

THIS COULD BE EVENT-FULL.
The Millikin Club of Central Illinois steering committee is planning future events for members of this new, free club for alumni. Be sure to watch for upcoming event updates! Interested in joining the club? Contact Jan Devore, director of alumni relations, by e-mail or at 1-877-JMU-ALUM (locally, dial 424-6383). 

IT'S GREEK TO ME.
Γειά σου (Geia sou). That is Greek for "hello" as in, "hello, it's trivia time again." Let's see how many of you know Millikin Greek life history...

Most national Greek organizations developed from local fraternities or sororities that were unique to each university. Which Greek organization began at Millikin as Chi Sigma Phi? 

A. Sigma Alpha Epsilon
B. Tau Kappa Epsilon
C. Pi Beta Phi
D. Delta Delta Delta

Send your guess to alumnews@millikin.edu and be sure to include your name and address. Five winners will be selected from a random drawing of all who respond correctly and each will receive a prize! 

Last month's winners --

Jean Wolgast Moore '89
Joe '72 and Evie Coen Gill '73
Greg Lange '01
Caylee French '01
Dena Kareotes Arendt '83

...each won an MU leather coaster for correctly guessing that Lock, Stock and Barrel is the popular Millikin hangout that has remained in the same location for more than 25 years.