Coming events

A presentation, "Honoring your Heritage Through Scholarship," begins at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 27, in the Student Center’s Kaskaskia Room. The event is part of Black History Month.

The SIUC Wind Ensemble and SIUC Symphonic Band under the direction of conductors and School of Music assistant professor Christopher L. Morehouse and instructor Andrew L. Tucker, perform at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Shryock Auditorium. Tickets are $7.50 for the general public, $5 for students of any age.

The 30th annual Big Muddy Film Festival, one of the longest-running University/community film festivals in the nation, continues through Sunday, March 2, with "Best of the Fest," a showing of the top films selected by a committee of organizers and film jurors. The festival features a wide selection of experimental, animated, narrative and documentary films shown at local coffeehouses and theaters, the SIUC Student Center and other locations on campus. The complete schedule of events can be found here.

The SIU women's basketball team hosts Bradley at 12:05 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, at the SIU Arena. Tickets are $5 for adults, and $3 for senior citizens, SIUC faculty and staff, and children. SIUC student tickets are free with a valid SIUC student ID on game day.

Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka, the 1986 Nobel Prize laureate for literature, presents a lecture at 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, in Student Center Ballroom D. The lecture is sponsored by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. Admission is free.

Printmaker Carmen Colangelo, dean of the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, presents a free lecture at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, in Lawson Hall, Room 121. His visit is part of the Visiting Artist program.

The Saluki baseball team hosts Northern Illinois in a three-game series to open the home portion of SIU’s baseball schedule this weekend. The Salukis host NIU at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 29, at Abe Martin Field. The two teams square off again in single games that start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, and Sunday, March 2. Admission is free.

Nationally recognized glass artist Rick Beck, who earned a master’s of fine arts degree from SIUC in 1989, presents a free lecture at 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 29, in University Museum in Faner Hall. An exhibition reception is from 4 to 7 p.m. Beck’s exhibit is on display now and runs through April 17.

Nobel Prize laureate Wole Soyinka's play, "Death and the King's Horsemen," is performed at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, in McLeod Theater. Performances are also set for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29, and March 1, and 2 p.m. March 2. The play is produced in cooperation with the St. Louis Black Repertory Theater. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens, and $6 for students. Tickets are available at the box office or by calling 618/453-3001. Box-office hours are noon to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before each performance.

The Saluki women's softball team, 9-4 this year, opens its home schedule this weekend with the annual Kay Brechtelsbauer ‘Coach B’ Southern Classic at Charlotte West Stadium. Day passes good for all games either Saturday March 1, or Sunday, March 2, are $6 for adults; $5 for high school students and younger. All-tournament passes are $10 for adults, and $8 for high school students and younger. SIUC students are free with a valid SIU student ID. A complete scheduled, along with tournament information and rosters is available here. Upcoming tournament games at Charlotte West Stadium involving the Salukis are:

• Saturday, March 1: 10 a.m., Western Illinois; 4 p.m., Kansas.
• Sunday, March 2: 3 p.m., No. 2-ranked Northwestern; 5 p.m., Bradley.

The SIU women's basketball team hosts Northern Iowa at 2:05 p.m., Saturday, March 1, at the SIU Arena in the final home game of the season. Tickets are $5 for adults, and $3 for senior citizens, SIUC faculty and staff, and children. SIUC student tickets are free with a valid SIUC student ID on game day.

The Saluki men's basketball team hosts Illinois State to close the regular season at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 1, at the SIU Arena. Tickets in the upper bowl are $12 for adults, and $8 for children; $13 in the Big Dog section. Lower level seating is sold out. The game is televised on Missouri Valley Conference television.

Students from the School of Music and guests perform classical music for babies through pre-kindergarten children in Klassics for Kids, at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 5, in Altgeld Hall, Room 112. Performances are free.

The Saluki baseball team hosts Middle Tennessee State in a mid-week two-game series. SIU plays single games at 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 4, and Wednesday, March 5, at Abe Martin Field. Admission is free.

San Francisco jazz vocalist Sony Holland performs along with the New Arts Jazztet at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 5, at McLeod Theater. Admission is $10 for the general public; $5 for SIUC students with a valid SIUC student ID. Tickets are available at the McLeod Theater box office. Box-office hours are noon to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and one hour before each performance. For ticket reservations, call the McLeod Theater box office at 618/453-3001.