Illinois State University President Aondover Tarhule and the College of Applied Science and Technology cordially invite you to the Vertical Farm at Illinois State University Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the Vertical Farm, located adjacent to the Office of Sustainability at 305 N. School Street, Normal.Free parking will be available in the Bone Student Center pay lot.If you need a special accommodation to participate, please contact Rachel Caracci at (309) 438-8790 or rrcarac@IllinoisState.edu. Please allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.The Vertical Farm is a collaborative effort with the College of Applied Science and Technology, the Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Sustainability.

Join us for the opening reception of Saima Afreen’s “Apricity” solo exhibition of acrylic paintings, showcasing the artist’s unique perspective on embodied narratives in academia. The reception will be held at the Rachel Cooper Art Gallery from 4–5:30 p.m. on May 1, 2025, with refreshments served.Afreen is a transnational Ph.D. student in English at Illinois State University. Through her paintings, she explores the experience of Long Covid, aiming to decolonize literary studies, challenge ableism, and incorporate visual storytelling by sick bodies. The exhibit’s title, “Apricity,” refers to the warmth of the sun during winter, reflecting the artist’s adaptation to her new, chilly Midwestern environment.The artwork on display includes abstract representations of the artist’s veins, evoking a river-like imagery, as well as vibrant, glittery paintings of skies, nebula, and cosmic galaxies made from incorporating expired make-up.The exhibition is free and open to the public during gallery hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, from May 1 to October 31, 2025.

It’s almost over! You need one last effort to finish strong this semester. This workshop will help you develop a successful study strategy for final exams, including how to make the most of your study tools, how to manage stress, where you can study most effectively, etc. Call 309-438-7100 or stop by the Visor Center to sign up!

Today is the last day to complete the final exam conflict form (having three or more finals on the same day). Students can complete the form in their My.IllinoisState.edu account.

April 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2 (Fridays) 9:30-11:30 a.m.Attend in person at ISU’s Alumni Center, 1101 N. Main St., Normal            ORWatch Online via ZoomFEES:$35 for Senior Professional members (includes all six sessions)$45 for non-members (includes all six sessions)For in-person participation, pricing is per person.For Zoom participation, pricing is one registration per household.Price includes:Five 2-hour sessions (one Academy of Seniors class).$15 single-session option available for in-person attendance (pay at door).Register online at seniorprofessionals.illinoisstate.edu or call (309) 438-2160.Zoom participants will receive a Zoom link a week prior to the start of the class(es) and again on the day of each session.Class DescriptionsASSESSING THE START OF THE SECOND TRUMP PRESIDENCYApril 4Dr. Bradley will assess whether all, some, few, or none of the campaign promises made by President Trump have been fulfilled. Have grocery prices dropped sharply? Has the war in Ukraine ended? Has the federal workforce been significantly cut? Have millions of undocumented immigrants been deported? Have the January 6th rioters been pardoned? Does the Department of Education still exist? Is Liz Cheney in jail? Is Canada the 51st state? These and other promises will be explored, including whether Americans are less polarized.Robert Bradley, Professor Emeritus, Politics and Government, ISUTHE ART OF RESISTANCE: CREATIVE OPPOSITION TO DICTATORSHIP IN CHILE (1973-1990)April 11In Chile on September 11, 1973, a military coup violently ushered in the brutal military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, which would last through the transition to democracy in 1990. With freedom of expression under assault, many opponents of the regime left the country, either forced into exile or voluntarily seeking asylum. The so-called “brain drain” was crucial for denouncing human rights violations and organizing international opposition to the dictatorship. So too were the efforts of those who remained in Chile, forging their own modes of resistance from within. In a context where freedom of expression is compromised and political opposition violently persecuted, creative forms of protest emerge in every sphere of creative expression: visual art, literature, theater, film, music, craft, and everything in between.Juliet Lynd, Associate Professor of Spanish and Chair of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, ISUANIMAL WELFARE, HUMAN INFLUENCE AND THE ROLE OF REPUTABLE INSTITUTIONS LIKE MILLER PARK ZOOApril 18Each year, millions of visitors visit reputable zoos and aquariums across the nation. Tremendous activity occurs behind the scenes and on a global scale, contributing to conservation and public education. This session will include a brief history of zoos, along with their role in acting as stewards for animals and nature, while encouraging the same in everyone. Examples from our own Miller Park Zoo will be included, providing glimpses into what the future may hold for MPZ’s little accredited facility.Jay Pratte, Director, Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington, ILMADE IN KANKAKEE: AN INSIDE LOOK AT ILLINOIS’ HOME FRONT IN WWIIApril 25Few people today are aware of the range of military supplies that Illinois produced during WWII or the significant role played by the Kankakee Ordnance Plant (later, along with the Elwood Plant, redubbed the Joliet Arsenal). Drawing on recorded fact and inside stories, this presentation will offer an overview of Illinois’ contribution to home-front production. With a focus on the Kankakee plant and the explosion at the Elwood Plant (deadliest ammunition plant disaster in US history), this presentation combines history with science, offering insights not available through most sources. Learn about how vast the production was and the employees who worked there, how the sudden influx of people changed the area towns, how dangerous the work was and how it affected the lives of those who served.Mary Ryder, Distinguished Professor Emerita of English, South Dakota State UniversityTHE LEGACY OF MEDIEVAL ANTI-JUDAISMMay 2Discover the medieval origins of anti-Judaism and its connection, if any, to modern antisemitism. Until around 1050 the Jews were largely integrated into northern European society, but, paradoxically, the church’s subsequent attempt to establish on earth a society governed in accordance with Christian norms, the movement that emphasized a personal relationship with Christ, preaching, the building of Notre Dame and the founding of hospitals and universities led to the demonization, massacre and expulsion of the Jews.John Freed, ISU Emeritus of History, ISU

All international students are invited to celebrate the end of the semester and recognize those who will be graduating or completing their program of study. Those wishing to attend must RSVP by Wednesday, April 30.