Illinois State University students took time to de-stress during finals season with Milner Library’s “Turning the Page on Stress” event. From Dec. 4-13, a study-related resource table was available to students in the back northeast corner of the library's second floor. This semi-annual event provided students with fidget toys, Milner Library journals, coloring pages, snacks and Student Counseling Services flyers. Outreach and Student Engagement Librarian Stephanie Burnham shared the importance of this event in the campus community. “The goal of this program is to [provide] a de-stressing table so that students can really step away from their studies and just decompress and de-stress in the library,” Burnham said. Burnham said that taking a moment to breathe and reflect during these stressful times is critical to student success. Several signs were displayed throughout the second floor leading students to the secluded area. Burnham explained why the location was chosen. “Tucked away in a quiet corner of the library, so that could really be a time for reflection and some alone time if [students] want it to be that way,” Burnham said. Milner Library offers many resources and events throughout the school year. Burnham listed other resources the library provides. “All year-round, Milner Library has the space for [students] to be able to study. We have a variety of collaborative spaces as well as individual study spaces, and we have subject librarians that are experts in each major,” Burnham said.

To help Illinois State University students cope with the stress of finals, Milner Library handed out a free “Finals Thriving Kit” at the service desk on the main floor of the library. The partnership between Milner Library and Redbird Well was a hit with students, as they distributed over 100 kits to students in need. Outreach and Student Engagement Librarian Stephanie Burnham helped put the kits together and believes they had a positive impact on students. “Student success is one of Milner's core values. We do that academically by providing access to materials, research, expertise and things like this," Burnham said. "We also recognize that we need to make sure we are supporting students outside of academics.” “We knew that a ton of students were already using our space to study for their finals, so this was really good [for students] to take a break, decompress and have some snacks to keep the morale high,” Burnham continued. Burnham also recognizes the stress that students go through during finals week. “We wanted to congratulate students on their hard work and dedication. Essentially, this was like a little treat so students could keep spirits up,” Burnham said. The kits contained a Milner Library sticker and office supply kit, a flyer for Redbird Well, a Student Counseling Services pen and a snack. While the kits were in limited supply, Burnham wanted students to know that the Milner Library was there for them. “We provide something at all times. One of the big things that Milner does and promotes is the personal librarians. We have a bunch of librarians here who each have a discipline or a major that they specialize in, and they can support students in that work,” Burnham said. “If a student has a major or discipline-specific question, we have experts ready to help them.” “Coming up, when we get back for the spring semester, we are working on putting together some fun welcome back program,” Burnham continued.

Milner Library and Health Promotion and Wellness hosted the final PAWSitively Stress Free event of the semester Tuesday on the third floor of Milner Library. PAWSitively Stress Free is an event aimed at helping students de-stress with therapy dogs, wellness activities and free massages. Junior economics major Jacob Ciesielski attended the event and said that it helped ease his stress. “I definitely think [it's] helping me navigate this week, with it being the most stressful year I’ve had so far at Illinois State with harder classes towards my major. Having a break and ease of mind helps out,” Ciesielski said. Ciesielski enjoyed seeing all the dogs and other students attending the event. “I love that there are so many different kinds of dogs and seeing so many people take advantage of this opportunity,” Ciesielski said. Bill Hein, a freshman creative technologies major, also thought the dogs helped relieve his stress. “I’ve only pet one dog so far and I already feel 10 times better and stress free from it,” Hein said. Hein shared that visiting the dogs at the event reminded him of his four-legged friend back home. “It really helps me considering I have a dog at home and my dog always helps me when I’m stressed,” Hein said. Head of Instruction and Student Engagement Jennifer Sharkey said that PAWSitively Stress Free is a great event for students who are not only missing a pet at home, but may need a break from the overwhelming stress of finals week. “It’s a way for students to take a break from studying and relieve a little bit of stress and anxiety that they may have,” Sharkey said. “The purpose of the dogs is to help alleviate these emotions at these times.” Sharkey believes that it is important for students to take breaks and focus on their mental health, especially during finals. “The more [students] address their stress levels and anxiety, it ensures that they are going to do better on finals and assignments. It enables students to sleep better, they make better choices with food and other life choices,” Sharkey said. Sharkey likes that the event focuses on the well-being of students, which explains why it is always successful. “We are very happy this is a well-attended event, that students enjoy it, and we’re happy to provide an event that is less academic focused and more about having positive feelings,” Sharkey said. As this event has been going on for years, Sharkey said there is no intention of discontinuing it. “We don’t see this event or partnership ending anytime soon. As long as there are handlers and dogs to come to an event like this, we will be hosting it here at Milner,” Sharkey said.

Illinois State University’s Redbird MMA held its first “Winter Fight Night” event last Friday at Kingdom City Boxing, a faith-based boxing gym in Normal. The event saw two brackets: jiujitsu and boxing, with one surprise bracket. Jared Gahm, owner and operator of PSF Legacy, was the referee for the jiujitsu bracket and Matthew Ganson of Redbird MMA was the referee for the boxing bracket. Several students who trained with both PSF Legacy and Redbird MMA fought in the tournament. One of them was Steve Rendon, the winner of last spring’s surprise full-contact MMA match which had been introduced at the end of the “Rage in the Birdcage” tournament. History repeated itself at Friday’s tournament; another full-contact MMA match was announced in the middle of the boxing bracket. Steve Rendon once again took the mat, going against Will Hadden from Bloomington American Jiu-jitsu, also known as Team One. Rendon said he arranged the fight with a coach from Bloomington American Jiu-jitsu shortly before. Rendon defeated Hadden, using each style in full-contact MMA to fight. “I had a jiujitsu match earlier, and that warmed me up for this fight,” Rendon said after the match. “I feel like God gave me this opportunity tonight, I took it and look what happened.” Redbird MMA member Liv Purcell fought in the jiujitsu bracket. Purcell reflected on her performance. “I feel like I could have done better, but I’m really glad that I came out,” Purcell said. “I grew up doing MMA and I’ve always loved jiujitsu.” Redbird MMA member Josh Schleich also fought in the jiujitsu bracket. He shared his martial arts journey so far. “I don’t have as much grappling experience,” Schleich said. “When I was 16, I started karate and I’m still doing it a little bit, but I’m switching over to jiujitsu now.” “Martial arts are a blast,” Schleich continued. “I think if you look around and you find something that works for you, you can really get a lot out of it.” Redbird MMA member Cade Ho fought in the boxing bracket. Ho won by knockout. “Overall, I think I did great,” Ho said. “I started off as a Muay Thai guy, then I did some judo and I got into boxing last.” “Big shoutout to everyone who came,” Ho continued. “I didn’t know there would be this many people here.’ Redbird MMA member Todd Andreas also fought in the boxing bracket and won his match. He discussed his training methods for the fight. “[I did] a lot of cardio training with my roommate, and my friends Blair and Mikeal—they were a big help,” Andreas said. “We did a lot of pad work, combo work and mentality work. I need better cardio—you can never be fully prepared with cardio.” Redbird MMA member Lesly Hernandez discussed how she prepared for her fight in the boxing bracket, as well. “I do a lot of conditioning on my own,” Hernandez said. “Overall, I do a mix of cardio and then just going to MMA club.” After the tournament, executive board member of Redbird MMA and emcee Braden Beasley discussed what he wants for the next tournament. “The whole point of the event is it’s for new people to get a feel,” Beasley said. “At the next 'Rage in the Birdcage,' we want a bigger venue, more chairs and more fighters. We’re going to be inviting quite a few gyms to have actual tournament-style fights.” PSF coach Jared Gahm reflected on his time working with the members of Redbird MMA until the tournament. “Seeing how everyone has matured has fighters as been incredible and I feel like the lucky one to guide them along the way.” The next Redbird MMA fight night is expected to take place next spring. A recording of Redbird MMA's "Winter Fight Night" can be viewed here.

Milner Library and Health Promotion and Wellness will host the final PAWSitively Stress Free event of the semester from 1-3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, on the third floor of Milner Library. This event is for students to de-stress during finals week with therapy dogs and wellness activities. There is no cost for attendance. More information is available on Redbird Life.

Illinois State University's Student Government Association met Wednesday evening to hear from Executive Director for Well-being and Recreation Dawn Pote about TimelyCare, a virtual mental health and well-being service. “We started to think about those things that are critical in supporting student mental health,” Pote said. “We want to make it easier to refer students to invest in health resources.” The app features both on-demand and scheduled services, including options to talk to someone immediately or make an appointment with a health coach or counselor. In addition, it features community discussions where individuals can make a post to share how they are feeling or get support from others. “If I were to hit confirm [for the on-demand feature], I would be connected with someone,” Pote said. “We have found that as soon as you hit confirm, in less than a minute, someone is calling you.” As a virtual platform, TimelyCare gives students access to mental health and well-being resources. Following the presentation by Pote, Secretary of College Affordability Ross Vancil shared a resource for students not going home for winter break. “Winter break food bags will be available at the police station over winter break for those who need food, as some people cannot go home and the dining halls are closed,” Vancil said. “Students do not have to call somewhere to pick them up. They can just go in and get it.” Secretary of Governmental Relations Sam Majka also gave a report after attending the Town of Normal Council meeting on Dec. 2 to revise the ordinance regarding nuisance gatherings following the “pop-up party” in September that resulted in one death and one in critical condition. “Some of the students expressed a general sense that this was a measure taken by the town that did not give them the freedom they felt they deserved,” Majka said. “Some students had a particular issue with the high levels of fines.” Student Body President Cobi Blair went on to comment on how the council made corrections to the ordinance after concern was first raised during the Town of Normal Council meeting on Oct. 21. “People [may] still have their own personal feelings about it one way or the other, but I just want to put in the context that the town did everything they were asked to do, including raising the minimum number of people from three to 10,” Blair said.