The Twelve Thousand Bombs seminar series on nuclear weapons will continue this fall with four eminent scholars and public figures speaking at ISU. The series, sponsored by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, was inaugurated in 2023 and aims to raise awareness of nuclear weapons issues in the Bloomington-Normal community.“Nuclear weapons will be on everyone’s radar this election cycle as Americans assess the fitness of the candidates to exercise the president’s nuclear authority,” according to Dr. Matt Caplan, the series organizer and professor in the ISU physics department. “With the U.S. preparing to spend $1.5 trillion modernizing its arsenal, nuclear weapons policy may be a defining feature of the next president’s administration. This is not an issue that can be overlooked this election.”Dr. Lili Xia—Assistant Research Professor, Rutgers UniversityProfessor Xia is a climatologist studying the impact that nuclear war would have on the global climate, and how atmospheric aerosols produced by a nuclear war can initiate a “nuclear winter.” Her 2022 Nature Food article shows how even a “small” nuclear war between nations like India and Pakistan can cool the planet enough to cause a global famine lasting years, potentially killing billions.

The Illinois State University Alumni Association believes in lifelong learning and career development even after graduation. The ISU Alumni Association Book Club provides members an opportunity to read, discuss, and interact through lifelong learning topics. As a part of the latest reading selection, Glory Be, members and nonmembers of the book club can hear from the author, Danielle Arceneaux. Be sure to register in advance to gain access to the talk.The first in a vivid and charming crime series set in the Louisiana bayou, introducing the hilariously uncensored amateur sleuth Glory Broussard. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club. *A Washington Post Best Mystery Novel of the Year* It’s a hot and sticky Sunday in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Glory has settled into her usual after-church routine, meeting gamblers at the local coffee shop, where she works as a small-time bookie. Sitting at her corner table, Glory hears that her best friend—a nun beloved by the community—has been found dead in her apartment. When police declare the mysterious death a suicide, Glory is convinced that there must be more to the story and, with her reluctant daughter, with troubles of her own, in tow, launches a shadow investigation in a town of oil tycoons, church gossips, and a rumored voodoo priestess. As a Black woman of a certain age who grew up in a segregated Louisiana, Glory is used to being minimized and overlooked. But she’s determined to make her presence known as the case leads her deep into a web of intrigue she never realized Lafayette could harbor. Danielle Arcenaux’s riveting debut brings for an unforgettable character that will charm and delight crime fans everywhere and leave them hungry for her next adventure.

Peach Pit with special guest Leah Marlene are coming to Braden Auditorium on Tuesday, September 24, at 7 p.m. in celebration of Illinois State University’s Homecoming.Tickets are $30 and $20 and will go on sale to Illinois State students, faculty, staff, and the public on Wednesday, June 5, at 10 a.m. at ticketmaster.com or at the Braden Box Office, located in the Bone Student Center, 200 North University Street in Normal.

Solo works by Olga Amelkina-Vera, Thomas Flippin, and Nikita Koshkin. Chamber works by Poul Ruders, Kenneth Fuchs, and Jurg Kindle. Guest performers include, Jillian Kouzel (oboe), Rachel Hockenberry (horn), and Igor Kalnin (violin).For additional information contact Dr. Favis (309) 438-7123

You’ve studied for the exams, you know your materials, you even tutored your roommates but you got to the exam hall and you just blanked out. You could not remember anything!! Test Anxiety is common to many students. While everyone feels some degree of anxiety during tests or exams, it becomes an issue when anxiety makes you feel anxious, ill, or develop brain freeze during an exam or test. This interactive workshop will explore the issue of anxiety from the students’ perspectives, what it is, and how to overcome it. Call 309-438-7100 or stop by the Visor Center to sign up!

Presented by CAST Connections and Student Counseling Services, this presentation is designed to give you the tools to reduce anxiety while communicating, while also presenting communications strategies to help improve conversations with classmates, professors, and more!