Housing, taxes and the desire for fresh leadership took center stage at Tuesday’s Normal mayoral forum at the Bone Student Center. Candidates for Normal mayor, including the incumbent Chris Koos and Council Members Chemberly Harris and Kathleen Lorenz, first addressed the housing crisis that has plagued the community in recent years. Koos said the issue is common across the country, compounded by the cost of materials, labor and high cost of financing. “It’s going to take some time, this is not an easy issue to solve. Anyone who thinks there’s a quick solution doesn’t understand the problem. It’s very, very much a structural problem,” Koos said. While Koos concentrated on the broader national level, Lorenz pushed for local leadership to address the crisis. Lorenz has been involved with housing commissions and committees over the last five years and argued she had the “most qualifications” on the topic. “As [Normal’s] next mayor, I want to take bold action in coordination with our leadership in Bloomington, because it’s not a Bloomington issue, it’s not a Normal issue, it’s together a Twin City issue,” Lorenz said. “We’ve got to make it crystal clear to developers what the rules of the road are,” Lorenz continued. Harris hopes residents understand that the local government does understand the urgency of the crisis and is doing everything possible with the current resources available. “We do need to do a better job of communicating some of the things that we are doing so that our citizens are aware that this is not falling on deaf ears, and we are doing as much as we can at this particular time with what’s available to us,” Harris said. With prices rising throughout the community, candidates were pressed on the proposed 1% school sales tax on the ballot. The tax is expected to support McLean County schools and will reduce property taxes for at least five years if approved. Harris said she was undecided on how she will vote on the tax, but acknowledged, “this is a desperate time for our schools.” “A part of me wishes there were conversations before [this proposal] was put together, but we’re here, and so how do we move forward, how do we continue to support our education?” Harris said. Lorenz and Koos opted to keep their votes private for now. The Normal mayor admitted he is not “completely clear on the issue” and wanted to leave it up to the community to decide. Later in the forum, the candidates discussed the controversial usage of electric scooters and e-bikes. Koos stated that the Town of Normal has not formally banned the two-wheeled vehicles, “contrary to a popular rumor going around.” “My personal position on e-scooters—because I’m in the industry with things that have wheels—they can be dangerous, and sometimes dangerous to the people that are nearby [the riders],” Koos said. During closing remarks, Koos shrugged off any suggestions that new leadership is required. Koos, who has served as Normal’s mayor since February 2003, defended his tenure by citing the risk of “losing the steady hand” that has guided the town. “I’m the only candidate that has weathered storms like this. I’m the only candidate who has led during Donald Trump’s administration,” Koos said. “I’m the only candidate with the experience through these tough times because I’ve done it before, and I’m willing to do it again.” Lorenz thanked Koos for his 22 years of service but stressed the need for a new voice to lead Normal forward. “My platform is, it is time for new leadership and fresh perspective,” Lorenz said. “Serving with [Koos] for 10 of [his] 22 years, we can [still] be proud of the things we have accomplished.” Bloomington mayoral candidates tackle housing, homelessness at forum The housing and homeless crisis similarly dominated the discussion during the Bloomington portion of the mayoral forums. Participating candidates vying for mayor included incumbent Mboka Mwilambwe, Council Member Cody Hendricks and former state legislator Dan Brady. Mwilambwe said the city council has encouraged higher density housing through the exploration of an incentive package for developers and the revision of strict zoning procedures. “We definitely need to do something, we need to push forward really hard because [housing] is a problem in our community,” Mwilambwe said. Brady acknowledged that around 4,000 new homes are needed in the community, which must be affordable for all residents. However, he said zoning issues and red tape have slowed developments. “I sat through a committee hearing last month where [the proposal] was kicked over for another month just to be brought into code,” Brady said. “Those little things can cause great delays in your ability and your development.” Meanwhile, Hendricks criticized the city’s “slow approach” to tackling the housing issue. “This is a crisis and we need to treat it as a crisis. I think we need to be taking much quicker action,” Hendricks said. Hendricks proposed rehabilitating and repurposing existing buildings, an idea that resonated with his opponents, who echoed his sentiment about the housing crisis. All three candidates issued their support of a proposed shelter village that Home Sweet Home Ministries wants to build near its shelter on Oakland Avenue. Brady said the proposal is the “most immediate solution” to address the city’s homeless population, which does not call for city funding at this time. “From what I understand, the private side of this fundraising and what have you has certainly more benefits than anything else I’m seeing right now,” Brady said. Hendricks applauded Home Sweet Home Ministries’ shelter proposal and said he liked it because of the limited government involvement it would require. “It’s private property and does not have to have the city interact with it, where I’m fearful the government may slow any attempts at progress,” Hendricks said. Hendricks and Mwilambwe both voiced their support for the proposed county-wide school sales tax. Mwilambwe felt Bloomington residents would “strongly benefit from having a strong school system.” “If we do not [have a strong school system], then I don’t think we’re able to attract some of the larger companies we’ve been able to attract like Rivian and Ferrero,” Mwilambwe said. Brady said he was still researching how the sales tax would benefit the city and was not yet ready to take a position. Early voting is underway in McLean County, with Election Day set for Tuesday, April 1.

Illinois State University Athletics announced on Tuesday that the court inside the North Gym at Horton Field House will now be named The Lynch Family Court. The decision comes after a significant investment, known as the Lynch Family Fund, was put into the men’s and women’s basketball programs. The agreement was signed in the fall of 2024 and was agreed upon by the Illinois State Board of Trustees on Feb. 21, 2025. The Lynch Family Fund has contributed to new baskets and padding inside CEFCU Arena, which were installed in January 2025. In addition, their previous donations have supported various facility enhancements, including the purchase and installation of cold and hot tubs used for student-athlete recovery. With the support of the Lynch Family, ISU athletics can continue enhancing their current facilities and provide an improved experience for student athletes, coaches and Illinois State fans.

The Illini Cat Club returned for a show in Bloomington last Saturday and Sunday. This year's theme was March Madness. This is the second year the show has been in Bloomington instead of the Urbana-Champaign area. This year, more than 150 entries competed in an eight-ring show and 83 exhibitors were in attendance. One first-time participant was Margo Rodgers from Peoria. Rodgers came with her 7-month-old exotic shorthair, Einstein. Rodgers said she first attended a cat show two years ago. “When I came to my first show, I felt like these were my people,” Rodgers said. “They’re a nice group of people." The show was divided into four categories: 'Kitten' for cats under eight months, 'Championship' for cats over eight months that are not spayed or neutered, 'Premiership' for cats over eight months that are spayed or neutered and 'Household' for cats which are cared for in a home. Co-show manager Kim Webber came with her 2-year-old Norwegian Forest cat, Gabe. Webber said she has been participating in cat shows since 2022 but joined the Illini Cat Club last year. “It’s a sport where if you’re going to participate, you should join a club in the area to perpetuate it," Webber said. Another exhibitor was Mary Jane Tesdall. She brought her 2-year-old exotic shorthair, Buddy. Tesdall said she has been participating in cat shows since 1972, mainly in the midwest region. A ring event took place, during which accredited judges examined cats within each category. A new addition to the show this year was feline agility. Cats competed against the clock in an interactive obstacle course. Agility Coordinator Jill Sullivan said the importance of agility training was to help foster confidence in cats, as it helps their performance in ring events. Judge Brian Pearson has been judging for 35 years. He said he has judged all over the nation and in other countries. Pearson said the process involved with becoming a judge is quite lengthy. He said he had to breed cats for five to 10 years, followed by six to 10 training sessions throughout the country. “It was a learning process that helped me keep everything in perspective,” Pearson said. “Cats are like music and math; the love for them translates the same.”

Voting is officially underway for the 2025 student elections at Illinois State University. Voting ends at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5. The entire process is expected to take less than a minute, and students must hit submit to record their votes. Included on the ballot is a constitutional amendment that the Student Government Association unanimously supported earlier this year. The voting link is available here.

Several Illinois State University students and community members protested against President Donald Trump’s rhetoric Wednesday at Uptown Circle. Freshman history and social science education major Andrew Franson organized the protest independently but was disappointed with the low turnout. However, Franson did feel that it was a productive effort. “It’s important that we collectively stick together and organize these kinds of things because at the end of the day, collective power is how you win a genuine change for working people,” Franson said. “Being a leftist, it’s in the tradition. Leftists for about 100 years at this point have organized all sorts of social change,” Franson continued. Franson emphasized that Trump opposes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), which was especially concerning for him. He cited thatTrump blamed DEI for a plane crash involving an Army helicopter and a passenger jet about a month ago. “He’s going after DEI. Notoriously, Donald Trump said that a plane crash in Washington D.C. was because of DEI and DEI policies, and it’s important that we acknowledge that the development of his political ideology is borderline developing into fascism,” Franson said. Freshman music education major Aidan Hanley gave a short speech to those in attendance. “I’m visually impaired; I’ve never been seen as normal. I’ve been made fun of for not being normal… I need my accommodations in life, such as larger print or [a] paper menu if the menu is high up on the wall, and those have been generously offered to me,” Hanley said. “I appreciate that in my life because it shows that people care.” Hanley then connected his personal experiences to his concerns about the Trump administration. “These [are] accommodations that Mr. Trump, in power, wants to take away. He’s violating our rights, our protections, and with the stroke of a pen, our entire Constitution can be taken away. Do we want that?” Hanley said. Franson also gave a brief speech to those in attendance. “We have more of a surplus of goods than any society, than any system in human history, yet we’re not able to give people these goods and services because people are more interested in profits than actually helping working class people. This struggle is ours. We work together and stand together,” Franson said. ISU President Aondover Tarhule walked close to Uptown Circle as the protest was winding down, prompting jeers from some of those in attendance. Franson emphasized the importance of student participation in politics. “It’s important that students remain politically active and continue the working-class struggle because at the end of the day, the way capitalism functions is that it wants us to remain dormant and not challenge the system…it’s important that we just continue that kind of organization,” Franson said.

The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department and the Arts and Entertainment department will host a job fair from 4:30-6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, at Grossinger Motors Arena in Downtown Bloomington. The job fair will be on the North Concourse of the arena. The Parks and Recreation Department encourages applicants to meet current staff members and ask any questions they may have about open positions and job responsibilities. The City of Bloomington hires applicants ages 15 and up. “For the past couple of years, we’ve hosted the job fair at the arena in preparation for our busy season which is the summer,” said program manager of the Parks and Recreation Department, Neal McKenry. There will be several job openings ranging from camp counselors to lifeguards to swim instructors. The department also oversees the Ice Center and Miller Park Zoo for those interested. “This will be a great opportunity for everybody to have any questions answered and meet people face to face," said marketing manager for the City of Bloomington, Thom Rakestraw. “If they want to give a couple resumes to staff members, that’d be great, but really they just have to bring themselves,” Rakestraw continued. The Arts and Entertainment Department will also be attending the fair. They will offer job opportunities for those interested in concessions or ushering for the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts and Grossinger Motors Arena. There will be many seasonal positions open for applicants in aquatics, golf, youth sports and more. Other positions include van drivers and guest services. A complete list of positions can be found here. “We’re hopeful for a good turnout,” McKenry said.

In light of Career Readiness Week, Career Services hosted “Alumni Insights: Job Search Tips” on Tuesday to help students prepare to find jobs. The Zoom session was hosted by Assistant Director for Employer Management Andee Radliff. She was accompanied by three alumni panelists to talk about their experiences and answer questions. Panelist Megan Ruffin is a career adviser at ISU. She discussed how Career Services can help students and suggested starting job searching as early as possible to prevent stress. “My best advice is to meet with [a] career adviser. Don’t wait until it’s the end of senior year to do it,” Ruffin said. Ruffin emphasized that job searching can be difficult for students because they have never done it before. “It's a stressful transition. That’s why Career Services exist. That’s my job, and our job here [is] to support students through that process,” Ruffin said. “If [they] don’t know what websites to go to to look for jobs, that’s okay. My job is to help them with that.” Panelist Andrew Sutter said it is important to think about the environment and location when looking for a job, but it is equally essential to get a job as soon as possible after graduating. “[Students] need a first real job. It doesn’t really matter what it is, but the longer they go from graduating to their first job, the worse their resume looks,” Sutter said. Sutter shared his experience with imposter syndrome while he was job searching. “I’m looking at all these postings like, ‘Wow, I went to school for four years, and I can’t do any of these,’’’ Sutter said. Sutter shared this experience to show students that even though they may feel like they cannot do certain skills listed for a job, they actually can. Panelist Kristen Grimes agreed that one of the hardest parts of her job search was applying for jobs. “I think the biggest struggle was just not procrastinating on updating my resume, my references [and] all that stuff,” Grimes said. One of the things she finds important in a resume or application is ensuring that the references listed are good and reliable. Radliff connected to Grimes’s idea. “I know a lot of people will just put someone on there just to have someone on there. [Students should] let [references] know that they’re adding them as a reference for jobs so it’s not a surprise to them,” Radliff said. Career Services offers many resources to help students transition from college to a job, including job fairs and Zoom sessions similar to this one. Students can get further help or book a career advising appointment with Career Services.

The United Faculty of Illinois State University (UFISU), a chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois, came together on Thursday to celebrate the one year anniversary of bargaining for fair wages and the ability to work under humane conditions. Some attendees held out pamphlets that provided further context on UFISU’s goals. “We unionized back in 2023 because we wanted a labor agreement that allowed us to teach for fair wages and work under humane conditions,” the pamphlet read. “We also want good things for our students, including better instructional resources and greater support for mental health services.” The pamphlet made clear that ISU faculty are not on strike, but that they are working to show that they will strike if it becomes necessary. The crowd gathered near the flagpole on ISU’s Quad and then marched to Hovey Hall. There, faculty members continued to march in front of the building chanting phrases such as, “What do we want? Fair contract,” and “Gladly do we learn and teach! Give us more than empty speech,” among other phrases. Faculty members held signs which read, “On Strike For A Fair Contract.” Associate history professor Keith Pluymers said that the protest is practice for when the Union decides to go on strike if the university does not comply. In addition, he said that the Union had approached the ISU administration with a complete plan at the beginning of their bargaining efforts. “We came with a complete proposal, tossed it out on day one, February 28, 2024. It took them until December 18, 2024, to respond on key issues like salary, leaves and other things,” Pluymers said. “Their response was a ‘no’ on those or an insulting number, and so faculty are fed up.” Pluymers expressed his displeasure with having to resort to potentially going on strike. “I’m in this job because I love working with students. I love my classes, and I have great students this semester, and the idea that I wouldn’t be able to be with them in the classroom is heartbreaking to me,” Pluymers said. “But at a certain point...the administration decides that they want to choose a path not of respect and not of productivity and not of getting to a fair agreement but of conflict and antagonism.” English professor Gabe Gudding explained why the Union contract is important and his reasoning for attending the protest. “We’ve been bargaining for a year, and [the administration] are proposing ridiculous contract specifications and extremely low raises,” Gudding said. “We’re letting the administration know that we’re serious. We’re standing up for ourselves and the future of this institution.” Gudding said he believes ISU is a great university but that it is being degraded by poor pay and poor care for both faculty and students. “The crowded conditions for our students–we’re even trying to bargain for our students to get better mental health services,” Gudding said. “They chose to overcrowd our student buildings by over 20% this year. That has caused a mental health crisis among our students. You can see it, and you can feel it.” Andrew Ventimiglia, an assistant professor in the School of Communication, expressed his excitement for the large turnout at the protest. “I’m always thrilled to see other faculty that are working for their union,” Ventimiglia said. “We hope for a fair contract that shows that the University and the administration values the work that we do, and, in turn, that fair contract will help us.” Ashley Farmer, the lead negotiator for UFISU, said that the Union will not back down and go on strike if it is deemed necessary. “Today, we are clenching our fists. We would have preferred to have that open and extend it in hands and friendship, but that choice lies with this administration,” Farmer said The Vidette reached out to Director of Media Relations and Strategic Communications Chris Coplan for a comment on UFISU's Thursday protest. Coplan provided a comment from ISU's Contract Negotiations Status website. The comment from the website states, “The University remains committed to continued good faith negotiations to reach a contract agreement that reflects the needs of all Illinois State University stakeholders as promptly as reasonably possible.”

Illinois State University’s Student Government Association met Wednesday evening to discuss how to make campus more environmentally friendly. SGA members heard from Office of Sustainability Director Elisabeth Reed about the steps ISU is taking to be sustainable. “When I started looking at how we could accomplish zero waste at ISU, one of the ways was looking at some of the things that we were already doing and the strengths that we have here at ISU,” Reed said. “Our dining centers are already zero waste. They have been zero waste before we even labeled them as zero waste. So, all the [plates, cups and silverware] are reusable,” Reed continued. While the dining halls have been sustainable for some time, Reed knew that there were other ways for ISU to continue to improve its sustainability, which was achieved by making composting accessible. “Compost is even more challenging [than recycling]. What we needed to do to work with our compost haulers was to make them have restricted access. We wanted to ensure that our students, faculty and staff that participated in composting understood what can go in there and what cannot,” Reed said. “So, in order to access these kiosks, you have to go onto our website and take a short five-question quiz about [composting],” Reed continued. The compost kiosks are located outside Redbird Plaza, Tri-Towers and Watterson Towers. Reed also shared how sustainability is more than just food waste, as the Fix-It-Friday Repair Shop and the ISU Share Shop offer students the ability to mend items instead of throwing them away and shopping secondhand before buying something new. “We collect donations all year long from students, but also [from] faculty, staff and community members. People are dropping things off all the time,” Reed said. “It is clothing, but it is also household items, decorations, accessories, shoes, books and all kinds of everything you could imagine.” In the future, Reed hopes the Office of Sustainability will continue to expand for further accessibility. The SGA also discussed the upcoming local elections. “Local elections are coming up very soon on April 1. Until then, there are plenty of ways to interact with candidates in the local races. On Tuesday, March 4, SGA will be co-hosting a candidate forum,” said Secretary of Governmental Relations Sam Majka. The next SGA meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, in the Old Main Room at the Bone Student Center.

The Office of Sustainability offered a “share pop-up shop” from Feb. 24-28 at DeGarmo Hall. This event provided free, career-ready outfits for Illinois State University students. Director of the Teacher Education Center, Monica Noraian, spoke about the excitement of finding clothes. “It's been exciting to hear as they [the students] find something they're just so excited about and that gives them a renewed confidence,” Noraian said. “We've had 200 to 300 students come by,” said Noraian's director, Kelly Brown. Brown also spoke about why it is important to offer this oppourtunity to future Redbird educators. “Having career-ready clothes [is important because] students at college age don't often have a lot of them or a lot of disposable income to spend on it,” Brown said. The Share Shop pop-up shop is offered twice a year to give students multiple opportunities to increase the size of their professional closet. “We have been doing it twice a year in front of the career fair,” Noraian said. “We have boxes and request donations for the month of the share shop, then the rest of the clothing comes from the Office of Sustainability.” “We're also here during the year to help students if they need assistance at all,” Noraian continued.

Illinois State University's Student Government Association will hold a candidate forum from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, in Felmley Hall Room 133 ahead of its annual student elections. Students will have an opportunity to meet and hear from candidates running in this year's elections. Student elections will be held March 4-5. Additional information about the upcoming elections is available online.

Four people were found dead at a home northwest of Downtown Bloomington Sunday. According to authorities, this was one of the most violent incidents in Bloomington-Normal. One of the four victims was a 13-year-old Bloomington Junior High School student. The other victims included a 31-year-old mother, the mother's boyfriend and the mother's best friend. You can read more about this story here on WGLT's website.

Illinois State University’s Career Services hosted its Spring Career Fair on Wednesday at the Bone Student Center. The fair offered resume printing and complimentary headshots. In addition, students were able to meet representatives and recruiters from a wide variety of companies. With 85 employers in attendance, students had opportunities to network and make connections with companies that fit their interests. Sgt. Kiel Nowers of the Bloomington Police Department explained why he thinks students should look into joining Bloomington PD. “If you have a passion for wanting to change people’s lives, this is the place to go,” Nowers said. Bloomington Police Department is the highest-paid police department in the state, starting out at $78,000 and by the third year at $107,000. For students who have an interest in criminal justice or the police force, Bloomington Police Department prides itself on being a safe community to live in and having phenomenal relationships with every group in the community. “You can wear the uniform with pride,” Nowers said. For more information, students can visit Bloomington Police Department’s website. State Farm’s large internship program is another opportunity for students from all majors. “From finance to marketing to claims, we have all types of positions for students,” State Farm Talent Acquisition Specialist Hope Mineau said. State Farm’s internship program hires in the fall. This year, they are on track to bring in nearly 800 interns. Job openings and internship opportunities can be found on State Farm’s website. Students from various majors attended the Career Fair, aiming to find a suitable career. Other companies of interest were EVO Marketing, Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services, and CIRCLE Academy School. “I’d like to get into event planning, and I’ve looked at EVO Marketing and Hy-Vee,” Senior organizational and leadership communication major Truman Arie said. A variety of schools attended the fair, giving education majors plenty of opportunities to connect. “I’m looking to be a school counselor or career advisor, so I’m interested in any of the schools here today,” Senior history major Peder Sevig said. Students can check to see what employers plan on attending career events by checking the Career Services website and filtering companies by industry to find those that best suit them. Career Services advises students to plan ahead by utilizing their drop-in hours for resume workshops and career advising for assistance on how to connect with employers. Students can check out the Career Services website for more information on upcoming events and opportunities for professional development.

Pi Sigma Epsilon [PSE] at Illinois State University hosted a Family Feud Trivia Night last Thursday at the Bone Student Center. More than 100 participants competed for cash and raffle prizes. Sophomore marketing major and event coordinator Addy Weyrauch said she spent countless hours planning the event. “I started preparing about a month and a half ago,” Weyrauch said. “Leading up to the event, I probably spent four hours a day just going through the little logistics, making all my slides and then figuring out what tasks I needed to delegate to my committee.” Weyrauch said she believed this idea was a perfect mashup of group-style trivia and Family Feud. “I'm always looking to do events where a large group of people can all enjoy going to—that all have different interests and things,” Weyrauch said. Freshman Quentin Gueffier said he heard about the event from a friend at PSE. “I really enjoyed the question variety,” Gueffier said. “Most of the base questions were pretty easy to answer, but when you get to the bottom ones, you have to think more. I thought that was pretty cool.” Weyrauch said she felt the stress that comes with such a large campus event. “It was a little stressful at times, but the overall turnout was great," Weyrauch said. I feel like everybody picked up their work really well. Everybody worked together and it ended in a great result.” Freshman business major and PSE member Benjamin Thomson said this was one of the first large events he took part in. “I think that the event was really well put together. I really liked the raffle and I thought it was all overall a very fun environment,” Thomson said. Weyrauch shared her highlights from the night. “Highlights I saw were people getting really excited about the answers,” Weyrauch said. “I like when people say how much they liked it. That just makes me very happy.” Weyrauch said the event could make a return in the future.

Illinois State University faculty and students alike voiced their frustrations with the University during Friday's Board of Trustees meeting. Members of the United Faculty of Illinois State (UFISU), Students for Justice in Palestine at ISU (SJP-ISU) and a student concerned about the impact of new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies spoke during public comment. The board also approved several University requests, including a 5% increase in room and board rates for the 2025-26 academic year. UFISU had an especially large presence at the meeting. The union has been in negotiations for a year, and members are frustrated that a contract agreement has not been reached. “My message today is simple: we need a fair contract—now," said lead negotiator Ashley Farmer. "The faculty at ISU are frustrated and angry at the slow pace of negotiations." Farmer pulled out a thick stack of papers as she spoke, representing the union’s “militant majority” that would authorize a strike if an agreement was not met. “Everyone in this stack—a militant majority—has committed to vote to authorize a strike, withhold their labor during a strike and walk a picket line should we fail to reach an agreement in a timely manner,” Farmer said. Jessica Rick, a professor in the School of Communication, said that she would have struggled during her pregnancy if she were employed at ISU at the time. “As a new faculty member, I currently have 45 hours of sick leave. I would not have been able to make half of my prenatal appointments with those 45 hours being used up,” Rick said. Rick stressed the necessity of such appointments. “I currently teach four days a week, I would have missed several days of class to go to my doctor’s appointments. My life was at risk, I had no other choice,” Rick said. Adding to students' frustrations, room and board fees will increase by 5% during the next academic year, representing a $578 increase for undergraduate students. The total cost will be $29,942 for those in programs with differential tuition, and $28,132 for all other undergraduate students. Tuition and mandatory fees will remain unchanged. During public comment, several members of SJP-ISU addressed their ongoing frustrations with the University’s lack of divestment from companies they claim are supporting Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war. “I have two cousins who I have never hugged, for war has torn us apart across worlds. I have ailing grandparents that I cannot come to serve, as they have served me when I was sick and young… I am constantly checking the news, constantly worrying about never properly saying goodbye to my family,” said SJP-ISU President Aya Hussein.“(Roughly) 318 members of our local community have endorsed divestment… how long until the very students you welcome as a part of your diversity can feel as though they truly belong?” Hussein continued. Anthony Espinoza, a senior Spanish education major, outlined several concerns about ISU's approach to ICE’s tougher stance on illegal immigrants after meeting with “various groups of students.” “We demand (ISU Police) and ISU (administration) not comply (or) work with ICE if and when they arrive. We demand a centralized webpage with a list of resources for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and undocumented student resources," Espinoza said. "The current webpage on the website has not been updated since 2022, and as such, it needs to be updated with current resources,” Espinoza continued. Other demands included hiring an immigration lawyer and creating an undocumented student resource center similar to one at Northern Illinois University. Members of the audience chanted, “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” after Espinoza spoke.

The Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) hosted “Navigating Two Worlds: The Latino American Experience” on Thursday in the Multicultural Center (MCC) to provide a safe space for Latin-American students to share experiences of growing up in the United States. Attendees shared experiences from four stages of their lives in an open discussion. These stages included childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and the present/future. Sophomore Ashley Sanchez, ALAS co-special events chair, emphasized the importance of this event given current issues. “Based on all the community issues that we've been having, we thought that this event would be necessary. Not only that but in general being a Latino is kind of hard and that sense of community can be hard to find as well,” Sanchez said. Senior Integrated Marketing Communication major Karla Alvarez, ALAS co-special events chair, hoped to create a place for students to realize they are not alone in their experiences. “I hope attendees leave this event feeling seen, heard and validated in their experience of navigating two cultures,” Alvarez said, “Many of us have struggled with balancing our Latino heritage and American identity and this event was about creating a space for attendees to share, reflect and embrace that duality with pride.” ALAS events focus on unity, diversity, inclusion and equity. Sanchez found comfort in the community that ALAS has built and wanted others to feel the same way. “Freshman year was really tough and it was really hard to find that community. I know personally I struggled a lot with depression and mental health, and ALAS really helped me through that,” Sanchez said. Junior geography major Jacqueline Zarco did find comfort in the community created at this event. “I think this event made me realize that you’re not alone and even though you feel like you’re alone, there are people with your shared experiences,” Zarco said. Having the space to host events for the community and to feel safe is important to the students in ALAS and similar RSOs. “I would attend events like this in the future and I’m here pretty often just because this program is important and the people who come here are important. Even though you may not see people of your identity and background out and in classes, seeing everyone here uplifts you,” Zarco said. Zarco said the uncertainty of the future makes this event, and others, even more important, along with the MCC as a whole. “I hope everyone in the university keeps these places open, keeps funding us, and notes that we are here and we need this space. We are important for this university. I hope that they take us into consideration,” Zarco said.

The Board of Trustees at Illinois State University will vote on increasing room and board rates by 5% for students living on campus on Friday. Several students shared their opinion on this raise. Freshman finance and economics major, Jack Richardson, said he thinks the university should do something different to raise money. “I suppose they could do a fundraising campaign instead to try and raise some money,” Richardson said. “I hope they find a better solution.” Richardson said he wishes students had been notified earlier about the increase. “I think this is unfair to college students who don’t have a lot of money, a job or aren’t able to provide for themselves,” said freshman English major Megan Spreadbury. “Some students who can’t provide for themselves have to rely on their parents who might not have a lot of income, and that’s going to end up being detrimental to their futures at this school.” Senior early childhood education major Patrick Rondael also disapproved of the proposal. “I think it’s really unfair, especially for me because I came from a low-income family,” Rondael said. “I came to ISU to become a teacher, and paying tuition alone is very expensive while trying to find an apartment. A 5% increase is going to make it a lot harder for those who want to have a great education in good facilities. “The first time I moved here, they rejected me for the dorm; they told me they were overbooked,” Rondael said. “They already have a lot of students coming in. The university is a great place and there are so many students coming in, but that makes it more difficult for those who are struggling in other ways to make it here.” Freshman zoology major Claire Johnson said she is not in favor of the proposal, specifically due to the living conditions of her dorm. “The dorms are not nice enough to be raising the prices to live in,” Johnson said. “Who knows what’s inside the vents, like mold? There is mold in my room and I’m allergic to it.” Johnson said she found growing in her closet in her dorm room at Hewett Hall. “I don’t think it’s a good idea because I pay for my own college,” said freshman biology major Dominika Zborek. “If they raise the prices, where am I supposed to get the extra money? It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is; so many people pay for their own college and I don’t think they should be raising the prices anymore.” Sophomore business administration major Michael Latwis said the university has a good image but is a business at heart. He said he doesn’t believe this proposal to be fair. “Being a person who doesn’t have a lot of scholarships, I’m already having to pay a killing,” Latwis said. “I don’t even want to think about the loans I’m taking out for it or anything like that or the stress that it’s causing me for the long-term future. Them raising the prices like that will make it all exponentially worse.” “It’s not making it fair for people who aren’t under scholarship or who are here paying full price for everything,” Latwis continued.

Illinois State University held its annual Founding Celebration on Thursday as the University celebrated 168 years of existence. The Bell Ringing Ceremony took place in the Prairie Room at the Bone Student Center, where 168 nominated ISU board members, staff, students and other community members each rang the Replica Old Main Bell to honor the University’s founding. Pat Vickerman, vice president for University Advancement, hosted the ceremony and shared his pride in serving at Illinois’ first public university. “The Founding Celebration is a time when we can look back with pride on the heritage and traditions of Illinois State University,” Vickerman said. “It is also a time to honor the many students, faculty, staff and alumni who have made special contributions to our mission, vision and values over the past year.” ISU President Aondover Tarhule recognized the importance of tradition, as each Redbird generation has faced its own unique challenges. “We acknowledge those challenges, and we remember most of all their accomplishments and triumphs because those accomplishments provide the foundations for the next stage of the journey,” Tarhule said. “So today, we ring this copper bell as a symbol, not just of the past, not even just what we are or who we are today as an institution, but just as importantly, what we can and wish to become as an institution. It is about the past as much as it is about the present and future,” Tarhule continued. Vickerman then went on to address the influence of the bell ringers. “We recognize that each member of the Illinois State community brings something unique, and that is the true measure of our success,” Vickerman said. “Our individual folks help make Illinois State University special, and the bell ringers to be inducted today are no different. They are true testaments of dedication and perseverance to Illinois State University,” Vickerman continued. School of Communication professor Cheri Simonds rang the bell at the ceremony and believed that it offered a sense of fulfillment as a member of the ISU community. “It restores some of that Redbird pride that we all have. And even in hard times, we can always reflect on where we came from,” Simonds said. During the ceremony, protesters stood along the walls to show their disapproval of the university and said that ISU needs to cut ties with war profiteers. Andrew Franson, a freshman history and social science education major, voiced his disapproval. “This is the place to get attention and do what we have to do in order to protest where our college funding is going,” Franson said. Franson then advocated for democracy at ISU. “Illinois State University needs to start listening to its students. We are [roughly] 22,000 students against eight board members," Franson said. "When we organize collectively and try to challenge and change the power structure, it is not them who is going to win.” Following the ceremony, faculty and staff were invited to attend an appreciation luncheon and awards ceremony.

One day they zipped around campus and Uptown Normal—the next, they were gone. The Town of Normal’s decision to ban electric scooters in December 2024 sparked debate among Illinois State University students. James Hansberry, a freshman digital media major, was particularly unhappy with the ban. “I think it’s going to be hard for those who need transportation to get where they need to go,” Hansberry said. “It hurts transportation in general, and it also hurts those who already bought a scooter.” The Town of Normal cited safety concerns as the main reason for the ban. Will Stanley, a freshman game design major, agreed with the town's reasoning. “I think it’s great,” Stanley said. “I got shoulder-checked the other day by one and almost ate grass.” Others were split on the all-out ban of e-scooters, with some urging for a happy medium to be met instead. “I think it’s crazy they banned them outright,” said Lucas Iversen, a freshman communications major. “I think it’d be better if (the town) made (the scooters) road only, but a full ban is bad. They’re overstepping.” “I think the Town of Normal is overreaching their power,” said Ethan Scotti, a sophomore business administration major. “It’s not that serious I don’t think. I think they could be used safely.” Others felt the ban was a more positive move taken by the Town of Normal concerning ISU's campus. “I don’t think our campus is big enough where you need a scooter like that,” said Hayden Nitz, a freshman finance major. “I live in Tri-Towers and I can walk from there to Watterson pretty quickly.” Many universities across the United States have e-scooters on campus available for rental. Some students wondered whether this system would be implementable at ISU if the ban were lifted. “I went to the U of I one weekend and there were scooters littered everywhere,” said Landon Kienitz, a freshman cybersecurity major. “They were in the street, and half the time they were broken. It’s (a good idea) in concept, but not good in actuality.” Patrick DuBrock, a freshman business administration major, said the infrastructure would have to improve first before allowing electric scooters. “The sidewalks are small now as is and have too many people walking around who could get hit. I almost have before,” DuBrock said. For now, e-scooters will remain off the streets in Normal. Whether the ban remains permanent is unclear, but one thing is certain—transportation on and around ISU’s campus just became a little less electric.

The Illinois State University Board of Trustees will hold its quarterly meeting at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, in the Old Main Room of the Bone Student Center. The Board will review a new resolution to increase student fees for room and board by 5%.The change would take effect in the 2025-26 academic year. Meeting materials of the board suggest that increased minimum wage and other raised costs are what prompted the proposed increase. This increase will apply to all on-campus residence halls, including Cardinal Court apartments. Tuition fees will remain unchanged. Other meeting materials can be found online.