As of January, all of the properties on the 3400 block of Bryn Mawr Avenue (between Bernard and Kimball) belong to the University. This is the planned site for the second phase of an effort to build residence halls for students at Northeastern, which has been the only university in the state without one. Construction on the first phase, which is located on the Main Campus just south of the Parking Facility, is on schedule to be opened in August and will be called The Nest. Phase two construction will not take place until sometime after the first phase is completed, and no formal timeline has yet been established for it. More information is available in a new FAQ document that has been posted on the Northeastern Neighbor's website.

The University, through its Student Advocacy program, has opened a Food Pantry to support Northeastern students who are experiencing food insecurity. The Pantry accepts both food and non-food items, which can be dropped off at a variety of locations around the Main Campus every Monday and Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visit the food pantry website for more information.

Last week, civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. addressed hundreds at NEIU who attended an event to hear him speak about how the current Illinois budget crisis is hurting public universities and the students who attend them. The Reverend told the standing-room-only crowd of students, faculty and staff that the key to change is voting. A video of Jackson's speech is available here.

The latest edition of the Northeastern Illinois University magazine, InCommon, is now available online. Also in this issue, read about how some students are taking advantage of travel awards, how one former student's research made international headlines, and how three sisters are extending a family legacy at Northeastern.