Rod Library hosts INSPIRE conference

LAUREN MCGUILL Staff Writer

Rod Library will be hosting the Inspire conference student Research and Engagement on Monday April 3, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday April 4, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This confrence is a chance for undergraduate and graduate students to share their research and experiences,like internships and study abroad opportunities. The conference is sponsored by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Graduate College at UNI.

The conference began in 1994 as the CSBS student research conference. In 2018 it was extended to include engagement and the name was changed to INSPIRE Student Research & Engagement Conference.

Helen Harton, professor of psychology and graduate coordinator and

Windee Weiss, an Associate Professor in the Kinesiology & Physical Education Division, are the co-coordinators of the conference.

Registration is not required for the event, and all UNI students are welcome to attend. “This year we have around 100 students presenting nearly 90 projects from every college on campus. They can do poster presentations, where they show a poster related to their project and talk to people who come by during a session, or oral presentations, where they do a talk,” said Harton. Harton also mentioned other options like computer simulation presentations, and music performances. Each year, the conference has a little over 100 attendees. In previous years, the mayor and several other committee members attended.

Presentations however are limited to students and recent graduates. “It’s a great opportunity to see all the cool things that students are doing at UNI and the ways they are going beyond the classroom to increase their skills and help others,” stated Harton. tice carillon located in Jebe Hall to begin building excitement for the bells’ return. We had many students, alumni, faculty, and community members attend both in Jebe and over live stream. The concert lasted roughly a half hour and featured duet performances from all current members of our Guild. Also, Sandy Nordahl did an excellent job at lighting the practice carillon and transforming Jebe into the perfect venue for this concert.”

Harton encourages students to think about what projects they are willing to share in the following year. “It’s a great way to get feedback about your project, as well as to enhance valuable communication skills. It’s also fun to share with others things that you’ve spent months working on!” said Harton.

People interested in learning more about the conference should definitely attend to learn more about what amazing research opportunities UNI has to offer. And those interested in past conferences, can visit https://scholarworks. uni.edu/csbsresearchconf/ to read past students’ papers and view past presentations.

Carillonneurs At Work

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The Guild of Carillonneurs consists of an auditioned group of ten UNI students from multiple majors and disciplines. Even though the bells are down, that hasn’t stopped the Guild from doing other carillon-related outings.

Vice President of the Guild Ryan Gruman states, “After the bell removal, the UNI Guild hosted the Guild from Yale during their carillon tour. We shared a joint performance together and then traveled to Iowa State University, where both groups got to tour and play the Carillon in the Campanile on ISU’s campus. We also got to look at ISU’s traveling campanile, which is a small playable model that the ISU Guild takes to different events throughout the year.”

Most recently, on Sunday,

March 26, 2023, the Guild of Carillonneurs held a preliminary carillon performance from Jebe Hall at the Gallagher Bluedorn.

This 30-minute performance consisted of songs that included the UNI fight song and Alma Mater via carillon. Clouser stated regarding this pre-season concert,

“Yesterday we held a Carillon Concert on our prac-

As a student organization, the Guild is determined to be as active on campus as possible. Clouser says, “Our members have also been active at Student Organization Fairs for admitted students and on social media keeping students, community members, alumni and faculty up to date on project progress.

Another big project we took on was organizing and cataloging all the music and carillon pieces that have accumulated at the top of the campanile over the years.”

Clouser also stated in our interview that the Guild has over 300 carillon-specific musical pieces in its collection, with some written by late UNI Alum and University Carillonneur

Robert Byrnes.

Another exciting thing on the minds of the Guild is that the Campanile tower will celebrate its 100-year birthday next year in 2024. When the $2 million renovation is complete courtesy of “Our Tomorrow,” the Campanile will have in total 58 bells allowing for a four-octave range.

This will make the UNI Campanile the most comprehensive Carillon tower in the State of Iowa. According to a 2018 interview by UNI President Mark Nook, the Campanile represents UNI more than most realize, “The Campanile is a metaphor for UNI and what we are all about.

The University of Northern Iowa provides a very solid foundation through the education students receive here that allows our graduates to chase their dreams, to reach for the sky, and create a life that enhances the lives of the people around them.

The solid granite base of the Campanile is much like the education one receives at UNI.”

Due to the Campanile being a campus icon in the eyes of many, it is well overdue for the renovation and beautification it is currently receiving. Nevertheless, a consequence of this progress is a little bit more quietness around campus on the hour. All in all, the work being done this year will allow all Northern Iowans to enjoy the bells and music of the Campanile for decades to come.