At 4 p.m. on Thursday, the United Faculty of Illinois State University (UFISU) held the Big Union Family Rally on Illinois State University’s Quad. It was the last day before the union was allowed to initiate a strike. Before the scheduled march around the Quad, speeches were given by members and special guests regarding the demand for a fair contract from the administration. One of the two final speakers included Illinois’ State Representative Sharon Chung. “I am a union member myself. I have a lot of friends here, and also my background comes from being a faculty member as well. I’m always going to be standing up for workers’ rights,” Chung said. The rallies over the last few weeks have grown in numbers. The rally held today had multiple new faces as families and friends joined in solidarity. Members from the non-tenure track faculty union, the graduate student union, the local teamsters, family members of UFISU and local K-12 teachers attended the rally to put pressure on the administration. “We invited people from the community, so people can bring their families and pets. We wanted to make sure that people knew that we’re there for them and we appreciate everyone attending,” Special Education Associate Professor Mark Zablocki said. According to a media release from ISU, the university and the union met for the 46th negotiation session on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. The university presented an enhanced on-the-record economic proposal, as well as an on-the-record proposal on definitions. There were off-the-record topics discussed afterwards. These negotiations did little to increase the hope of an agreement for UFISU. “The goal today is to send a clear message to the administration that the faculty are not going to be pushed around,” UFISU Professor Keith Pluymers said. “We’re not going to see this university put a system that devalues student learning at every turn by telling us that if we focus on teaching, we don’t deserve to get paid a raise that keeps up with inflation.” Bargaining table sessions between UFISU and ISU have been long and grueling, as most sessions have gone for hours on end. A majority of the UFISU members have numerous emotions about the lack of response from the university administration regarding a contract. However, the support from the campus and Bloomington-Normal’s community has kept UFISU’s spirits lifted. “I think people are anxious and frustrated, but also really excited and feeling heartened by events like this, where community support is so obvious. We feel like we really have a big, diverse group behind us,” Assistant History Professor Taylor Soja said. Many students attended the rally in support of their professors and colleagues in UFISU. Freshman music education majors Nick Sleevar and Nathan James emphasized the importance of supporting the faculty. “We’re both future teachers and this concerns us; this is the well-being not only for us, but for our future students,” Sleevar said. “Not even just for teachers. It’s important for people to be unionized and to have a voice for their own contracts and their pay,” James said. The march began at approximately 4:37 p.m., and concluded at five. Members marched with signs that read “Take care of my dad, so he can take care of his students” and “Pay faculty, not lawyers.” Tension hung in the air after the group distributed. “We’re all feeling a lot of stress because we don’t want to go on strike. We are feeling sick at the decisions coming from President Tarhule and the whole administration team,” Pluymers said. “They look at [students] as nothing more than tuition dollars. We look at [students] as people, and we hope [they] understand the difference…We are absolutely fed up.”

Illinois State University students made their voices heard Tuesday during this year's McLean County municipal election. On the ballot for the April 1 election were Bloomington and Normal mayors, city councils, school boards, township leaders, community college boards and other local offices. The elections were sponsored by the Center of Civic Engagement, where voting commenced in the Founders Suite of the Bone Student Center. Celeste Brennan, a volunteer for the Center of Civic Engagement, shared the importance of voting for politicians who keep the public in mind. “Mayors are really important, especially in our town where there are two towns together and each is different,” Brennan said. “Each mayor has a different outlook, and just like any other election, you hope to have a mayor in office who is looking out for you.” Voter turnout in local elections is historically lower compared to the presidential and congressional elections, yet many students understood the importance of making their voices heard. “As a citizen of the United States, that’s my civic duty,” said Julia Gancarz, a sophomore French educational major. “It is my job to make sure the town I live in gets my vote, and I can get what I want.” “Local elections are important since it’s the fact that you live in that neighborhood that affects you the most,” said Estefani Lopez, a senior history and political science major. “You need to make your voice heard.” “If you want local change, going out and voting in local elections is what’s going to do that,” said Ari Palma, a senior social work major. Despite recent on-campus political turmoil following November’s presidential election, Center of Civic Engagement staff member Caitlin Bradford was satisfied with the student voter turnout. “The interest really seems to be there this year, which I’m happy about because oftentimes with consolidated elections, the turnout is usually lower than general or even midterm elections,” Bradford said. “I’m happy with how it went and we’re just happy to see students here and voting.” At the polling booths, students voiced their opinions on what needs improvement with new leaders at the helm. “I definitely think more money needs to go out to our roads. We’ve got a lot of really bad streets in town,” said Nate Eagles, a sophomore English education major. “I live out west too, so on my drive home near Rivian, there’s a lot of bad [roads].” Palma said she desires enhanced resources for immigrants and people of color in McLean County. “There’s so many different populations in this area that could definitely be built upon,” Palma said. “A lot of places and services only speak in English, [so] being able to have that diversity and showing that [you care] is important.” Students also highlighted the importance of voting as college students since legislative representation can have a direct impact on their field of study. “With my major, I’m going into education and I’m from here in town,” Eagles said. “I think the 1% sales tax increase is probably a good idea for our public schools, so I wanted to support it.” “I want to support the school boards here in town,” said Julie Webb, a freshman elementary education major. “I wanna be a teacher, so obviously it’s important for me to vote.” Tuesday’s election saw many students perform their civic duty, proving that local elections continue to matter, especially when they hit so close to home.

The 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 they want 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,” the 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.

The 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 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.

Students 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.