Coming events

The Saluki men's basketball team hosts Indiana State at 7:05 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the SIU Arena. Tickets are $18 to $20 in the lower bowl; $12 in the upper bowl; $8 for high school-aged students and younger. SIUC student tickets are free with a valid SIUC student ID on game day.

United Church of Christ pastor Rev. Karen Lipinczyk, former clinic manager for Planned Parenthood and Cleveland director of the Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, presents the second “Faithfully Pro-Choice” lecture, "Righteousness and Outrage," at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 1, in the Student Center's Illinois Room.

Christopher Reed, a professor of art history at Lake Forest College, presents a lecture, "Bachelor Japanists: Western Fantasies of Japan," at noon, Friday, Feb. 2, in the University Museum Auditorium. The event is part of the School of Art and Design's Visiting Artist Program.

The SIUC indoor men's and women's track teams host the McDonald's Invitational this weekend, Friday, Feb. 2, and Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Student Recreation Center. Friday's events begin at 4 p.m.; Saturday's events start at 10 a.m.

The School of Music hosts the Heartland Honor Bands Festival at 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3, at Shryock Auditorium. Admission is free.

The SIUC men's swimming team hosts Western Kentucky at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Student Recreation Center's Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium.

The stars of WWE Smackdown and ECW come to the SIU Arena at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3. Tickets for WWE Smackdown/ECW's Road to Wrestlemania are $60 for floor seating; $20 to $40 for lower level seating; and $20 to $30 for upper level seating. Tickets may be ordered through Ticketmaster at 866/646-8849, at any Ticketmaster outlet, or in person at the SIU Arena ticket office or the Student Center central ticket office. In addition, there are opportunities to meet ECW's and Chicago-native CM Punk for an autograph signing from 2 to 3 p.m., Saturday, at Buffalo Wild Wings, 14235 E. Main St. Carbondale, and Smackdown's Chris Benoit, the United States Champion, from 4 to 5 p.m., Saturday, at Ward Chrysler Center, 1412 W. Main St., Carbondale.

Architect Rocio Romero will present a lecture at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 5, in Brown Auditorium, Parkinson 124. A reception and exhibition of her work in the University Museum follows the presentation. Admission is free.

Students from the School of Music will perform classical music for babies through pre-kindergarten children in Klassics for Kids, 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 6, in Altgeld Hall, Room 112. Performances are free.

Journalism faculty members and students will explore the competing interests between the news media and the companies that advertise with them during a symposium at noon, Tuesday, Feb. 6, in the dean's office, Communications Building, Room 1032. The event is free and open to the public.

Former governors Jim Edgar, R-Illinois, Christine Todd Whitman, R-New Jersey, will discuss the future of moderates in state and national politics at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 6, in Student Center Ballroom D. Former governor and current U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska, will join the panel via satellite. The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute sponsors the event. Admission is free.

The 2007 Journeys Productions: Bill A — which consists of new plays by SIUC student playwrights — is set for 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 6, in the Christian H. Moe Laboratory Theater. Performances are also scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 8, and Saturday, Feb. 10. Bill B performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7, Friday, Feb. 9, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11. The box office is open from noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and one hour before each performance. Tickets are $15 for adults; $12 for senior citizens, $6 for students and children. Call 618/453-3001 to charge by credit card.