See Article.

The Dean of Students Office is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Student Leadership Awards. These annual awards recognize Illinois State University students for excellence in student leadership and involvement. Nominations were accepted for the following awards: Ritamae Carroll Memorial First-Year Involvement Award recognizes a first-year student (freshman or transfer) who has been an active member of Illinois State’s campus community while staying in good academic standing. Mike Schermer Outstanding Student Leader Award recognizes a student who has made significant contributions to the Illinois State community and embodies leadership and excellence.  Billy Quigley Leader in Action Award recognizes student leaders who have a history of mentoring and guiding their fellow students and have a passion for creating social change at Illinois State. The Spangler Scholarship for Social Justice provides financial support to students who demonstrate a commitment to pursuing social justice activism in their future careers and are currently involved in a Registered Student Organization that explores LGBTQ+ or women's issues.  Tina and Mick Rowe Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students provide financial assistance for students of any major who have experienced life circumstances that put their dream of graduating on hold. This year, around 300 nominations were collectively submitted for the awards. Of those nominees, the following six students were selected to receive an award and a monetary scholarship: Ritamae Carroll Memorial First-Year Involvement Award: Audrey Jayne This award recognizes a student who, in their first year at Illinois State University, has become an active member of the campus community while maintaining good academic standing. The recipient of this endowed award receives a recognition plaque and a monetary award. This year's winner is Audrey Jayne, a first-year student in the Honors Program, double majoring in economics and political science.  Mike Schermer Outstanding Student Leader Award: Gabriela Ledesma This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Illinois State University community. This student exemplifies leadership and excellence through their service and dedication to the student body, demonstrated through a willingness and ability to work with others in an effort to better the quality of student life for all. This year's winner is Gabriela Ledesma, a senior studying international business and business analytics.  Billy Quigley Leader in Action Awards: Keara Gray and Kathleen Lyons William “Billy” Quigley Jr. was a dedicated student leader at Illinois State University at the time of his death on November 26, 2008, as a result of an automobile accident. This award honors student leaders at Illinois State in memory of Billy’s enthusiasm, dedication, and pride. The student should have demonstrated experience guiding fellow students through individual mentoring and supportive behavior and promoting a passion for creating targeted social change at Illinois State University. This year's winners are Keara Gray, a senior majoring in public health and Kathleen Lyons, a junior studying biological sciences with a concentration in physiology, neuroscience, and behavioral studies.  The Spanger Scholarship for Social Justice: Ella Woodruff The purpose of the Spangler Scholarship for Social Justice is to provide financial support to students who demonstrate a commitment to pursuing social justice activism in their future careers. The winner must be a past or present active member of a Registered Student Organization at Illinois State University that advocates for or explores LGBTQ+ or women's issues and must define their work and commitment to social justice on campus or in the community by submitting a personal statement. This year's winner is Ella Woodruff, a junior majoring in Political Science and Sociology with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Tina and Mick Rowe Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students: Le'Jardin Sterling Cobb The Tina and Mick Rowe Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students is designed to provide financial assistance for students of any major. The winner must have graduated high school, or completed GED, a minimum of 10 years before enrolling, hold junior or senior class standing and be currently enrolled at Illinois State University, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, and submit a personal statement demonstrating their determination to earn a college degree, acknowledging how life circumstances may have put their dream of graduating temporarily on hold. This year's winner is Le’Jardin Sterling Cobb, a junior majoring in Sociology. Award recipients will be formally recognized at the Redbirds Lead Celebration Reception hosted by the Dean of Students Office Leadership Education and Development unit on Friday, April 25, from 5:00–7:30 p.m. in the Aaron Leetch Stadium Club at Hancock Stadium.

Hi all! I am thrilled to let you know that a FREE copy of the Redbird Zine Club's first issue is available for download as PDF. Go under our tab titled "Documents" to download a copy! 

Students Ending Rape Culture (SERC), an Illinois State University Registered Student Organization (RSO), is delighted to share various Sexual Assault Awareness Month events happening during April. All events are free and open to the ISU community. Day of NO Silence Friday, April 11th, 2025; Schroeder Plaza; 11am-2pm Rain Location: Bone Student Center Concourse Day of (No) Silence is a nationally recognized day of action created to spread awareness about the impacts of bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students. SERC’s tabling is meant to help prepare for Friday, April 11 when individuals across the world break the silence to combat the repression and erasure of the LGBTQ+ community. GLSEN.org/dayofnosilence Consent Day Wednesday, April 16th, 2025; Schroeder Plaza; 11am-3pm Rain Date: April 23rd Consent Day, an event hosted by SERC brings together various campus organizations to explore the different ways consent plays a vital role in our daily lives. IPV/SA and LGBTQ Workshop “Implementing Supportive Practices for the LGBTQ Community with Stepping Stones” Thursday, April 17th, 2025; 11:30am-1pm This event is hosted by Queer Coalition and the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at ISU. Representatives from Stepping Stones will host a workshop on intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and the LGBTQ+ community. If you require accommodations to attend, please contact wgstudies@ilstu.edu Advanced registration is required: Register Here Clothesline Project Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025; Quad Flagpole; 11am-2pm (The event will be canceled if there is inclement weather.) The Clothesline Project is an art installation that displays T-shirts created by survivors of interpersonal violence from our community. Survivors can create their own shirts to add to the collection. Denim Day Wednesday, April 30th, 2025; Schroeder Plaza; 11am-2pm Rain Location: Bone Student Center Concourse Denim Day is a worldwide campaign that began after a rape conviction was overturned. The Italian Supreme Court justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she “must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent.” The following day, women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. We continue this tradition 24 years later. Join us in wearing denim to show your support for survivors of sexual violence and to help eliminate victim-blaming attitudes. DenimDay.org If accommodations are needed for Day of NO Silence, Consent Day, Clothesline Project, or Denim Day, please contact wellness@illinoisstate.edu    

Students Ending Rape Culture (SERC), an Illinois State University Registered Student Organization (RSO), is delighted to share various Sexual Assault Awareness Month events happening during April. All events are free and open to the ISU community. Day of NO Silence [Updated Date] Friday, April 11th, 2025; Schroeder Plaza; 11am-2pm Rain Location: Bone Student Center Concourse Day of (No) Silence is a nationally recognized day of action created to spread awareness about the impacts of bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students. SERC’s tabling is meant to help prepare for Friday, April 11 when individuals across the world break the silence to combat the repression and erasure of the LGBTQ+ community. GLSEN.org/dayofnosilence Consent Day Wednesday, April 16th, 2025; Schroeder Plaza; 11am-3pm Rain Date: April 23rd Consent Day, an event hosted by SERC brings together various campus organizations to explore the different ways consent plays a vital role in our daily lives. IPV/SA and LGBTQ Workshop “Implementing Supportive Practices for the LGBTQ Community with Stepping Stones” Thursday, April 17th, 2025; 11:30am-1pm This event is hosted by Queer Coalition and the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at ISU. Representatives from Stepping Stones will host a workshop on intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and the LGBTQ+ community. If you require accommodations to attend, please contact wgstudies@ilstu.edu Advanced registration is required: Register Here Clothesline Project Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025; Quad Flagpole; 11am-2pm (The event will be canceled if there is inclement weather.) The Clothesline Project is an art installation that displays T-shirts created by survivors of interpersonal violence from our community. Survivors can create their own shirts to add to the collection. Denim Day Wednesday, April 30th, 2025; Schroeder Plaza; 11am-2pm Rain Location: Bone Student Center Concourse Denim Day is a worldwide campaign that began after a rape conviction was overturned. The Italian Supreme Court justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she “must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent.” The following day, women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. We continue this tradition 24 years later. Join us in wearing denim to show your support for survivors of sexual violence and to help eliminate victim-blaming attitudes. DenimDay.org If accommodations are needed for Day of NO Silence, Consent Day, Clothesline Project, or Denim Day, please contact wellness@illinoisstate.edu

Career Services is pleased to announce that through a new Illinois state-wide partnership, Illinois State University students will now receive free access to Kaplan’s industry-leading test prep resources for graduate admissions exams, licensure, and credentialing exams, as well as skills development courses.  This new program, called Prepare for Illinois’ Future Powered by Kaplan’s All Access License is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). These educational tools augment any existing resources and help prepare students to take the next step in their career journey after graduation. This program will provide students with free access to over 40 courses, equipping them to take required exams such as the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT, and many more. Highlights of the program include: Test prep courses—The course options available will vary depending on their degree level. Cost—The test prep courses are completely free to Illinois State students. Access—The portal to enroll and begin courses is now available from the Career Services website. Students must sign up using their school email address to get the free resources.  Faculty/staff orientation Kaplan will host program orientation sessions beginning the week of March 24. The goal for the sessions include: Gain a deeper understanding of the tools and support available to certain program areas Discuss strategies for effectively utilizing Kaplan resources in your programs Engage with Kaplan experts and academic consultants “We are thrilled to offer this free and necessary resource to our current Redbird students,” said Career Services Director Quanisha Kumi-Darfour.  

Call for Nominees for the Commitment to Career Excellence Awards Nominations due April 7 Career Services is proud to announce the inaugural Commitment to Career Excellence Awards. These prestigious awards aim to celebrate the collective responsibility we uphold in preparing Redbirds for their futures. By recognizing the outstanding contributions of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and employers, this event highlights our shared dedication to career development. Nominations are now being accepted for Illinois State University students, registered student organizations, faculty, staff, alumni, and employers and are due April 7 by 4:30 pm. Access the award descriptions, nomination form, and more information at Commitment to Career Excellence Awards. Award Categories: Career Champion of the Year  Career Services Staff Member of the Year Employer of the year   Career Services Student Staff Member of the Year Employer of the Year (for-profit and non-profit) Engaged Alumni Award Internship Coordinator of the Year Intern of the Year RSO of the Year   If you have questions or require assistance submitting your nomination, please contact Tamanna Tasmin at ttasmin@ilstu.edu. Thank you for your support!  

Are you ready to advance your academic and professional journey? Whether you are interested in personal growth, career advancement, or changing careers, applying for graduate school is a major decision that can shape your future. “Your graduate degree can provide greater employment prospects, higher earnings, and industry-specific knowledge,” said Career Services Associate Director Scott Summers. “While you are learning, you will network with peers, instructors, and industry professionals that can help you identify jobs and opportunities to collaborate. Having an advanced degree can also help you move into leadership positions.” In addition, many professions require or prefer candidates with a graduate degree, which may also be essential for career progression. “Graduate school challenges students with experiences that can develop their critical thinking, problem-solving, and research abilities,” Summers said. “They will also have access to research facilities and be able to utilize other academic tools, which can enhance their learning. A graduate degree will help you be more prepared for your profession, in a way that is greater than with an undergraduate degree alone.” Assistance with applying to grad school Career Services assists Redbird students and alumni when deciding if graduate school is right for them by offering personalized career advising. A career advisor can help identify job market information, assist with graduate school applications, and help to identify the steps to one needs to be well-prepared and confident in graduate school. Graduate School Series Career Services also hosts the Graduate School Series. Offered each semester, students get helpful tips and insights such as how to choose the best graduate school program, financing graduate school, and much more. The Graduate School Series this spring includes the following sessions: Researching, Choosing, and Paying for Graduate School  Accepted? What’s Next? Life of a Grad Student Graduate school can be a transformative step in your academic and professional journey. With the support of Career Services, you can confidently navigate the decision-making process and take the next step toward achieving your career goals.

As the semester ends and you are preparing for the next step in your academic and professional journey, Career Services is pleased to provide you with free access to test prep resources for graduate admissions exams, licensure, and credentialing exams, as well as skills development courses.  Offered through the Prepare for Illinois' Future Powered by Kaplan's All Access License, you can access over 40 different graduate admissions, licensure, and credentialing exams, and skills development courses. Get expert guidance and comprehensive materials to help you prepare for crucial exams like the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT, and many more. To get started, visit go.kaplan.com/illinois for a complete list of available courses, registration details, FAQs, and guidance on how to best utilize these resources based on your individual goals. A direct link to the Kaplan site is also available on the Career Services website. "We are confident this program will be a tremendous asset as you pursue your career goals," states Career Services Director Quanisha Kumi-Darfour.

We are accepting submissions to be published in our very first zine issue! This issue is all about community and connection. Send us your creative writing, collages, drawings, comics, poetry, photography, etc about the theme and we will compile the submissions into our zine! Submissions are due 3/28

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

For the second year in a row, the Redbirds earned a bid to the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS) of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA). ISU Team 1069 plus five other teams advanced from the St. Louis regional to the next level of competition—ORCS. The other advancing teams were Loyola University (2 teams), Washington University in St. Louis, Indiana University, and the University of Iowa. The St. Louis regional was hosted by Washington University.   Illinois State’s 1069 Team won six ballots and lost two. The team’s competitors included Cornell College, Western Kentucky University, and DePaul University. ISU 1070 Team faced two Loyola teams, Washington University, and University of Iowa.  The 1070 team had the most difficult pairing of the 25-team regional, facing three of the top five teams. ISU 1070 garnered a 2-6 record. Senior Kyleigh Weir was named outstanding attorney for her performance. She was ranked top attorney by three judges and second place by a fourth judge. Illinois State University will compete at the ORCS in Geneva, Illinois on March 7-9. Twenty-three other teams will participate, including Northwestern University, the University of Notre Dame, and Ohio State University.  The members of Team 1069 are Leah Carcasson, Ava Knapp, Nick Kniebusch, Jackie Mykytiuk, Sara O’Dowd, Emmalie Parson, and Kyleigh Weir.  Team 1070 is composed of Grace Betts, Denise Flores, Jake Podvrsan, Jamani Reed, Audrey Salamon, and Katie Schafer. The mock trial team is led by head attorney coach A.J. Blodgett, a Bloomington attorney in private practice, and assistant coach Spencer Chikahisa, a McLean County Assistant State’s Attorney. Professor Tom McClure is the educator coach.

Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz, who is currently serving as the Head of the Constitution Reform Commission in Bangladesh, has submitted the Commission’s report to the Chief Advisor of the Interiem Government Professor Muhammad Yunus on 15 January 2025. The Commission was appointed on 7 October to review the current constitution and recommend reforms needed for democratization. The Commission is comprised of nine members including lawyers, professors, social activists and a representative of the students who spearheaded the popular movement which deposed Sheikh Hasina on 5 August, Nobel Laureate Yunus was appointed to lead the county. The Commission recommended sweeping changes in constitution including term limit for the Prime Minister and creating new state institutions which would bring representatives of legislature, executive and judiciary to work together on various national issues.

James M. Scott, University Professor and Chair, Department of Politics and Government, Illinois State University, USA and Patrick James, Dana and David Dornsife Dean’s Professor Emeritus of International Relations, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Southern California publish Conflict, Crisis, and War in a World of Politics: An Introduction. This topical textbook outlines conflict, crisis, and war central challenges in the international security arena, exploring their history, evolution, nature, dynamics, and trends. Patrick James and James M. Scott discuss the major approaches to analyzing conflict, crisis, and war and identify the key avenues for managing them. ‘In this timely, comprehensive, and thought-provoking book, Patrick James and James M. Scott offer an integrated approach to the study of conflict processes that brings together multiple levels of analysis. They masterfully blend existing scholarly work with unique visual tools and offer a wealth of illuminating examples from the real world. This authoritative text puts the pieces of the puzzle together in a highly accessible way, making it an extraordinary resource for all who are concerned with conflict in the contemporary global system.’ – Zeynep Taydas, Clemson University, USA

On Friday, January 24, from 9:00-11:00, Pi Sigma Alpha (PSA) students joined the Center for Civic Engagement to volunteer at the Midwest Foodbank for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Day of Service, which honors Dr. King's commitment and contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and social justice.  The Midwest Foodbank is a local nonprofit that partners with schools and food pantries. These valued partners then distribute food to 132,000 neighbors in need throughout Central and Southern Illinois. In addition, Midwest Food Bank commits to supplying food packs every Friday in local schools for 2,975 children who would not otherwise have food on the weekends. Students worked together to prepare bags of cereal for distribution.   

Hi everyone! It's Reid from Redbird Zine Club here to give you an update! We are currently working on room reservation forms and we are so excited to announce our participation in Winter Fest 2025!! It'll be our first time tabling at a university fest so we are so excited to be there. Come join us and stop by to learn a bit about zines and our club mission!! This semester we will be meeting and talk about our first issue about community on campus. We will hopefully start meeting in the next two weeks and will explain how submissions will work for the zine & our timeline. So excited to get the ball rolling on our first issue! Thanks for reading, Reid Karsen