ISU Student Counseling Services staff discuss their election-focused wellness drop-ins
Student Counseling Services is holding several in-person spaces to help students manage their election-related stress with election-focused wellness drop-ins. Drop-in sessions have been held every Monday since Oct. 14. These spaces are open from 3 to 4 p.m. in Room 320 of the Student Services Building. Upcoming sessions will take place on Nov. 11 and Nov. 18. Multi-cultural outreach coordinator for Student Counseling Services, Venique Chappell, has helped organize these spaces. Chappell provided an overview of what the events look like. “This specific space is to create a safe environment for students to be able to express their concerns or even learn effective stress management techniques,” Chappell said. Chappell shared some of the potential topics that will be covered in the sessions. “A lot of the stuff that we will be sharing with the students is [asking] 'what can you anticipate,'" Chappell said. What is anticipation anxiety? What are some things that you would be able to do to prepare yourself?” Outside of these election-focused sessions, Student Counseling Services offers virtual “Let’s Talk” drop-in sessions from 11 a.m. to noon every Wednesday and 1 to 2 p.m. on Fridays. These sessions offer students a space to chat with a counselor and see if counseling might be right for them. Dean McCullough, the staff counselor for Student Counseling Services, is one of the counselors speaking with attendees of the election-focused wellness drop-ins. McCullough shared important details about the sessions. “It is thought of as a 15-minute consultation with a therapist, so it’s not a formal assessment,” McCullough said. Upon seeing many students seemingly on edge this season, Chappell and McCullough both theorized what could be sparking this election-related stress. “I would say the unknown, the political speech that has been occurring and what this means overall for our society,” Chappell said. “There is real life consequences of elections… People are thinking about what each candidate would mean for their life,” McCullough said. Chappell emphasized the importance of their drop-in space and what Student Counseling Services is hoping students gain from attending. “We are hoping that they get resources, they are able to be seen and heard and validated, as well as to have possibly a different thought about what’s occurring for them,” Chappell said. For those who can’t make it to the sessions, Chappell provided some advice in the midst of election season. “Take your time, Chappell said. "Know what your capacity is. If you need to step away from social media, if you need to step away from conversations…give yourself permission to do that." Following the post-election de-stressing theme, ISU is offering free yoga sessions through election week. For more information, click here.
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- Queer Coalition holds annual Transgender Day of Visibility SashayThe Illinois State University Queer Coalition hosted its fourth annual Transgender Day of Visibility Sashay on Monday. The sashay was co-sponsored by Pride for the second time with support from McLean County’s Prairie Pride Coalition. Transgender Day of Visibility is celebrated on March 31. The Human Rights Campaign describes the day as “a day to celebrate and honor the resilience of transgender and non-binary people.” Attendees were made up of students, faculty and community members. “Trans Day of Visibility is a day of celebration to highlight the trans people in our community and to support them,” Queer Coalition Co-President Karmine Beecroft said. Senior psychology major and Pride President Abby Odelson described what message she wants people to take from this effort. “It's about remembering how far we’ve come. Even if it’s just a personal progress[and] even if there are some things that are going backward, there are things that are progressing, and I think it's important to remember that,” Odelson said. An anonymous student expressed satisfaction with the event in regards to their career path. “As a special education major, I work with kids who are discriminated against. I have a trans student, and I think it is very important for me to be a voice for them,” theythe student said. Attendees gathered back in the Watterson Towers Rosa Parks Conference room to hear from Interim Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Byron Craig, Queer Coalition Co-President Brie Byers and Odelson. “Here at ISU, we’re committed to ensuring that visibility is not just symbolic because to be visible, one should also be supported,” Craig said. Odelson and Byers also made testimonies. “I encourage you all to be allies and advocates wherever you go because if we don't have each other's back, who will?” Byers said.
- Center for Civic Engagement to hold annual Bring it Back to Normal volunteer eventsThe Center for Civic Engagement at Illinois State University will hold its annual Bring it Back to Normal volunteer event on April 4 and 5. The Center for Civic Engagement will team up with local organizations like the Ecology Action Center and Normal Parks and Recreation to provide students with volunteer opportunities. More than 10 organizations will be hosting groups to participate from noon to 3 p.m. on April 4 throughout Bloomington-Normal. Students can RSVP via RedbirdLife and can find the waiver of liability required to participate. Students can engage in activities such as cleaning at Anderson Park and assisting at the Fell Arboretum. The Center for Civic Engagement and the Ecology Action Center have a farm clean up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 5 at the ISU farm. Transportation will be provided to and from the farm. Lunch will also be provided. Students interested in participating can RSVP and find the required waiver of liability in RedbirdLife.
- Ewing Manor to hold annual tour this weekendEwing Manor will host its annual architecture tour from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 5. Tickets cost $25 per person. Those interested in rich history are encouraged to attend. The tour will be available at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. Reservations are required. Space is limited to 12 people per tour. Guides will show all 44 rooms of the manor. The tour will last approximately two and a half hours. All details can be found here.
- How students might be impacted by a possible UFISU strikeStudents could be affected by the possibility of the United Faculty of Illinois State University (UFISU) beginning to strike as early as Friday, April 4. Here is a full rundown on how a strike might impact students: Classes Unless notified otherwise, students should still attend classes and are advised to check their ISU email inbox and Canvas for updates. Some classes may be modified, moved online or canceled for a short period during the strike. The University stated on its Frequently Asked Questions website that it prioritizes academic continuity and expects students to complete their coursework. According to ISU’s website, the University might also implement substitute instructors or combine class sections if needed. Students will earn course credit at the end of the semester regardless of a strike. The departmental units and supervising faculty will assign grades accordingly for each course. Summer classes are intended to run as scheduled. Graduation Seniors and graduate students graduating in May will still be able to participate in spring commencement. The strike will not affect spring graduating students receiving their degrees. Housing and dining services/events Housing and dining services will be unaffected by a strike. Performances, productions and similar events will be reviewed individually to determine whether they can continue. How to support UFISU Those interested in supporting UFISU are encouraged to follow the union’s Instagram and Facebook accounts for updates. UFISU also regularly updates its website with bargaining updates and other information. Students can write a letter to President Aondover Tarhule to bring in a fair agreement in support of UFISU. Attending future rallies is another way to support the faculty. According to their website, UFISU’s next rally will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 3, starting at the Old Main Bell on the Quad. Additional information is available on ISU’s website or by contacting StrikeQuestions@ilstu.edu.
- The Fight for Fairness: The breaking pointFrustration grows, and a strike is imminent as demands remain unmet. On Friday, Special Education Associate Professor Mark Zablocki and assistant history professors Taylor Soja and Camille Cole collaborated to provide updates on the United Faculty of Illinois State University (UF). At the end of February, UF announced that there would be discussions of striking due to the slow progress in reaching an agreement. Some members displayed signs outside their office doors indicating their readiness to strike. Significant steps have been taken toward action. In early March, Cole said UF had taken a strike authorization vote, which authorized their table team to file with the Illinois Labor Relations Board. “There was another mediation session immediately after, where the administration made a little bit of movement but really not the kind of movement that we need to see,” Cole said. “After, the table team did choose to file it with the board this past Monday.” UF members are currently undergoing the state-mandated 10-day cooling-off period. According to Soja, the earliest potential strike date would be April 4. Cole added to the discussion by reminding that UF will continue to hold sessions throughout this period. Sessions sometimes last for hours, with one even being held during bad weather. “The last mediation session, they were there for 11 hours–that day of the tornado–they all had to go inside the building. That's just to say that however long they would need to be in that room, that's what we're gonna do,” Cole said. In the event of a strike, students should anticipate that a professor participating in the strike will not conduct classes, update Canvas, check their email, do service work for the University or engage in other related activities. “There are also people who teach classes who are not part of our unit, so people who are non-tenure track faculty are not allowed to strike because of the way that U.S. labor law works. Those classes presumably will still happen,” Cole said. On Friday, a University-wide email was sent to all students and faculty. The response included tentative agreements reached by the parties during the session on Friday. It was stated that these agreements pertained to non-economic issues. “We're just focusing on the bargaining and on trying to make movement for the faculty at the table,” Cole said. According to the email, negotiation sessions are now scheduled for April 1-4. As a strike looms, rallies increase in numbers. On Thursday, over 200 individuals attended the UF rally on the Quad. Pressure was applied to the University as members chanted and marched around campus, continuing to demonstrate their willingness to fight for a fair contract. Illinois Representative Sharon Chung and Illinois State Senator Dave Koehler attended the rally to show support for UF. They gave speeches alongside many others who were there in support. “What really stuck out to me is what Camille was talking about: how this has kind of gotten people from different departments together who normally wouldn't get together,” Zablocki said. “For the past four years, we've been having conversations with people all across campus. We tried to talk to every single faculty member–650 of them–so we made every attempt to talk to everybody. I think yesterday was really a show of unity," Zablocki continued. Zablocki, Soja and Cole agreed that they have seen more interest from students due to the rallies growing in numbers. “I think a lot of faculty have been talking to students outside of class and answering the questions that they come to us with about what the union is and how it all works, but also what we're fighting for,” Soja said. “And I can speak for myself and say that, when I've talked to students outside of class, there's real frustration. I feel like they're very much in it with us," Soja continued. Cole said that students are able to contribute to UF’s efforts in numerous ways. Students can write to President Aondover Tarhule through the link on UF’s Instagram to urge him to direct his table team to work on an agreeable offer for everyone. “Follow us on socials… But also, talk to your friends, talk to your parents. The more that the community knows and that people who have a stake in the University, and the more that those people are also reaching out to the administration, the more likely it is that they settle a fair contract with us,” Cole said. At the end of the discussion, the three shared a few thoughts that summarized the emotions within UF. Zablocki shared that among the frustrations, he felt uplifted by the interest from students. “I teach pre-service teachers, and most of them will join a union. Talking more about unions and what they mean for the country has made me feel pretty good,” Zablocki said. Soja agreed with Zablocki’s statement and said the feeling was mutual. Cole also shared similar feelings. “I feel similar. Tired, frustrated, a little bit anxious. But I am also ready; I am ready to fight if that's what they're gonna insist on,” Cole said.
- Illinois State University and Heartland Community College to host Southeast Asian Cultural FestivalIllinois State University and Heartland Community College (HCC) will be hosting the Southeast Asian Cultural Festival from April 1 through April 4. These events are free and open to the public. Here is a full schedule of events being held: Tuesday, April 1 at HCC Main Campus There will be a guest lecture with speaker Robby Anggriawan from 9:30-10:45 a.m. in the Welcome Room of the Workforce Development Center (WDC). There will be a religious panel discussion with monk Bhante Rahula from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Leadership Room of the WDC. Lunch from Dang and Thai House will be served during the Le Hien Minh documentary showing and nail salon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Multicultural Room of the WDC. A presentation titled “Empowering Young Entrepreneurs: The Role of Education and Support Systems in Vietnam” will be given by Mai Nguyen Lisovich from 12:30-1:45 p.m. in the Leadership Room of the WDC. There will be a Muay Thai boxing event from 2-3:15 p.m. in the Welcome Room of the WDC. There will be a guided meditation session from 2-3:15 p.m. in the Multicultural Room of the WDC. There will be a screening of the “Cirque du Cambodia” film and director Q&A from 6-8 p.m. in Rooms 1406 and 1407 of the Community Commons Building (CCB). Wednesday, April 2 at HCC Main Campus There will be a Muay Thai boxing event from 9:30-10:45 a.m. in the Welcome Room. A presentation titled “Empowering Young Entrepreneurs: The Role of Education and Support Systems in Vietnam” will be given by Mai Nguyen Lisovich from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Leadership Room. Lunch from Dang and Thai House will be served during the Le Hien Minh documentary and nail salon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Multicultural Room. A presentation will be given by Professor Katherine Bruhn titled “Global Art and Visual Culture (Indonesia)” from 12:30-1:45 p.m. in the Welcome Room. Thursday, April 3 at ISU Vrooman Center There will be a yoga and breathwork workshop from 9-10 a.m. in the Marilyn M. Boyd International House. A presentation titled “Batik Art & Indonesian Traditional Games” will be given by Robby Anggriawan from 10-11 a.m. in the Eleanor Kong Room. There will be a lunch reception with a presentation from The Grand Cafe from 11:15 a.m. to noon in The Jaime Escalante Room. RSVP is required. A presentation titled “Empowering Young Entrepreneurs: The Role of Education and Support Systems in Vietnam” will be given by Mai Quynh Nguyen from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Jaime Escalante Room. There will be a Muay Thai boxing and Burmese Lethwei Martial Arts demonstration with Band of Brothers Martial Arts from 2-3 p.m. in the Eleanor Kong Room. A presentation titled "Balikbayan: A Photographer's Connections to the Philippines" will be given by Jason Reblando from 3-4 p.m. in the Jaime Escalante Room. There will be a Tinikling Dance Performance by the Asian Pacific American Coalition (APAC) Student Organization from 4-5 p.m. in the Marilyn M. Boyd International House. There will be a dinner reception with a presentation from Dang Boba, Poke and Banh Mi from 5-6 p.m. in the Jaime Escalante Room. RSVP is required. There will be a screening of “Cirque du Cambodia” with Director Joel Gershon from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Jaime Escalante Room. Friday, April 4 at ISU Vrooman Center There will be a guided meditation and mindfulness workshop with Jim Almeda from 9-10 a.m. in the Marilyn M. Boyd International House. A presentation titled “Global Art and Visual Culture [Indonesia]” will be given by Katherine Bruhn from 10-11 a.m. in the Eleanor Kong Room. There will be a lunch reception with a presentation from Thai House of Bloomington from 11:15 a.m. to noon in the Eleanor Kong Room. RSVP is required. There will be a violin performance by Chona Noble from noon to 1 p.m. in the Eleanor Kong Room. There will be a Muay Thai boxing and Burmese Lethwei Martial Arts demonstration with Band of Brothers Martial Arts from 2-3 p.m. in the Eleanor Kong Room. More information can be found here.