A household name in Northern Illinois University’s proud history will be a central topic of a course being taught on campus this semester.
NIU’s vice provost of Academic Affairs Alicia Schatteman and assistant vice provost for Student Enhancement Andrea Radasanu will be co-teaching “Public Service Academy,” an undergraduate Honors course that will include exploring the life of John Peter Altgeld.
Altgeld was an attorney and became a judge for the Superior Court of Cook County from 1886-1891. He then served as Illinois governor from 1893-1897 and signed legislation on May 22, 1895, creating Northern Illinois State Normal School, now known as Northern Illinois University. Altgeld was a social reformer with deep concern for those left behind by the expanding post-Civil War economy, and believed the expansion of normal schools would upgrade the state’s educational level.
As one of the biggest events in DeKalb’s history, 30,000 people attended a ceremony as builders laid the cornerstone for Altgeld Hall on NIU’s campus in Oct. 1895.
When it opened in 1899, Altgeld Hall housed the entire university. Today, the fully renovated building remains a distinctive landmark at NIU, while Altgeld’s legacy lives on. Altgeld Hall on NIU’s campus is one of three buildings bearing the name at state universities in Illinois; five castle-like buildings in total were built during his tenure as governor.
“John Altgeld’s impact and legacy are still prominent today,” Schatteman said. “I am excited to teach this class and share the impact of his life to a new generation of students.”
The course will focus on six aspects of public service, based on Campus Compact’s Pathways of Public Service and Civic Engagement. These include community engaged learning and research, community organizing and activism, direct service, philanthropy, policy and governance, and social entrepreneurship.
As part of the course, NIU will host an event at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30 in the Altgeld Hall Ballroom to discuss the life and legacy of John Peter Altgeld. Schatteman will moderate a faculty panel of experts to talk about Altgeld’s life and legacy. RSVP to attend this event.
Check out the full story in NIU Today.
