Illinois State University’s Parks and Recreation Society (PARS) offers unique opportunities for recreation and sports management majors through leadership and professional development training. Associate of ISU’s School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Lindsey Nicholson, has been teaching for 14 years and is very involved with PARS. “We meet once a month, and so those are all student-led. I don’t think our students realize how valuable it is to have those peer relationships outside of the classroom,” Nicholson said. President of PARS, Megan Golbeck, joined in Fall 2023. Golbeck said she was a volunteer coordinator in Fall 2024 and took the role of president in February. “My key takeaway from being involved in PARS is seeing how important being a part of something is, especially if it has a community of people who are in the same major program as you. I feel like if I didn't have PARS, I wouldn't have the great relationships with my peers and my professors that I have right now,” Golbeck said. Golbeck shared her favorite professional event that she attended with PARS. “One of my favorite events that I enjoyed most was our cookout in the park and the bags tournament,” Golbeck said. “That was the very first PARS meeting that I attended. I'm excited for our new members to experience that.” “I also enjoyed going to the IPRA/IAPD Conference in Chicago. This is held annually in January, and I have attended both last year's and this year's conference,” Golbeck continued. Treasurer Kaitlyn Koenigstein joined in Fall 2024. Koenigstein highlighted her positive experiences with PARS through networking and development opportunities. Koenigstein said she is excited for the future of the organization with expanded career prep workshops during their meetings. Nicholson, Golbeck and Koenigstein welcome students to reach out to them to learn more.

On April 1, the McLean County municipal elections set records for student voting at Illinois State University’s Bone Student Center. Center for Civic Engagement Associate Director Paige Buschman said there were 381 voters in the elections, with the majority of them being students. This was the highest number of voters ever for municipal elections on campus. “My goal was 200 [voters], and that was not necessarily ambitious, but it certainly is on the higher end of some of the engagement we’ve seen, so I’m actually very pleased with how many students we saw come through,” Buschman said. This year, voter turnout reached 25%. This was a notable increase from the typical 15% seen in previous municipal elections. Buschman explained the possible reasons behind the rise in voter participation. “We may have seen some increased engagement because of a diversification of folks running,” Buschman said. “We had two major mayoral races, and they both had three candidates, so that might have encouraged people to vote because they felt like they had more choices.” Buschman believes there is a trend of increased engagement, as November’s election similarly broke ISU records, with over 6,000 people voting in the presidential election. “I’m hopeful that this trend continues, and we can keep folks engaged and continue to build a culture of voter engagement on campus,” Buschman said. Caitlin Bradford, the CCE’s civic education and political engagement program assistant, said that student voters were excited to perform their civic duties. “Students seemed very motivated to come and vote and often came with friends and encouraged their friends to cast their vote,” Bradford said. Bradford highlighted the importance of students engaging in local politics. “Local politics have such a direct impact [on] everyone’s lives, and voting allows students to have a more direct say in who represents them and what policies they want to see implemented,” Bradford said. Buschman said that students should still vote in municipal elections, even if they only plan on living in Bloomington-Normal for the duration of college. “[Students] never know how long they’re going to be here because I didn’t expect to make Bloomington-Normal my home, but I did,” Buschman said. “Also, voting is just a means by which you tell the world what kind of community you want to live in, even if it’s not permanent.” Students can visit the Redbird Voter Guide for voting resources and information on future election events.

An open mic discussion with American political activist Charlie Kirk created a stir on Illinois State University’s campus Tuesday afternoon. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, held an open discussion with students at Milner Plaza as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” The tour consists of Kirk visiting several college and university Turning Point USA chapters across the country. Kirk covered ground at other schools in Illinois as well, with a stop at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scheduled after his ISU visit. Kirk fans and protesters attended the open discussion at ISU. Fans wore hats reading President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again” (MAGA). Some also wore hats with the number 47 written on them, in reference to Trump being the 47th president. Various topics were discussed, such as government morals and artificial intelligence potentially overtaking future career opportunities Kirk began the open discussion expressing his Christian faith. “Jesus is the way, the truth and the life,” Kirk said when he first approached the microphone. Junior business management and entrepreneurship major Pat Shadid appreciated Kirk for sharing his faith. “Charlie Kirk brings up Christ, and that’s something that I really love,” Shadid said. “He tries to keep Christian values in the world, which is very crucial to have [in] any sort of society. Whether we disagree or agree on everything with each other, I love that Charlie Kirk can come out here and preach Christ.” Shadid is also a member of the Turning Point USA at ISU chapter. Shadid said the group had been setting things up for the event since 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Shadid said he joined the Turning Point USA at ISU chapter after a friend of his, Matt Saner, became the organization’s vice president. “Our biggest mission is to open up conversations between different political parties or people who believe something different than us with this event,” Saner said, sharing his organization’s objectives. The event had a large number of attendees. Haters and lovers of Kirk crowded together within the barricades surrounding Milner Plaza, with some protesters remaining in a group of their own behind the crowd. The increasing volume of the crowd often overshadowed discussions between students and Kirk. Many attendees cheered or said vulgar phrases in response to Kirk’s comments and people’s questions directed to Kirk. An event titled “Free John Pork Rally,” inspired by a popular internet meme that emerged in 2018, was organized by protesters in the same location as Kirk’s discussion. Protesters held signs with anti-Kirk messaging while chanting, “Free John Pork.” Senior English major Emmanuel Reed was among the protesters at the “Free John Pork Rally.” Reed expressed a dislike for Kirk’s past comments. “Charlie Kirk is a racist,” Reed said. “He has a direct quote saying that if he sees a Black man flying a plane, then he’s going to pray to the Lord because he feels that Black people [are not] competent. There’s no evidence saying that a Black man has less qualifications than a white man to fly a plane–he just made that up.” On the topic of AI, Kirk said AI will soon replace many jobs due to its superior speed and accuracy compared to humans. “Artificial intelligence will replace 99% of all the jobs you’re getting degrees for. We’re going to have to re-train the entire country to use AI and to find other jobs,” Kirk said. “For example, in healthcare, there’s an entire profession where cardiologists read heart scans. But now AI does it quicker and more accurately,” Kirk continued. An anonymous attendee challenged Kirk on AI. He explained why he chose to enter the discussion. “Me being an industry professional, I didn’t feel comfortable letting him give that insight to the youth; it’s not something to worry about,” the attendee said. “AI is certainly not going to take jobs. I don’t think it will replace millions of jobs and certainly not [entire] workforces.” Regarding higher education, Kirk stated that it is useless for obtaining future career opportunities. Senior special education major Amanda Stringer said she was confused by Kirk’s statement. “I don’t understand why a man who hates higher education takes a [stance] against it, saying it's not useful for getting jobs, [and comes] to a college campus,” Stringer said. Senior history education major Matthew Ganson asked Kirk about his stance on college being unnecessary. “I ended up asking about the role of secondary educators,” Ganson said. “I ended up agreeing with a lot of what he said. I tend to be more left-leaning–I like to call myself an old-school liberal.” Ganson agreed with Kirk on other topics such as his views on antisemitism. “The most interesting thing is [that] Charlie Kirk [is] really into outing antisemitism. I think he does a good job finding the nuances,” Ganson said. An attendee named Jeffrey asked Kirk about his opinions on the legalization of recreational marijuana. “Legalization has made it more proliferated,” Kirk said. “Can you also acknowledge that some people who use marijuana also have increased depression and anxiety? Should the government make something that is terrible for your mind and brain legal?” Jeffrey explained why he believes marijuana should be legalized in all 50 states. “It may be the gateway drug to all other drugs, but if you can stick to weed–Snoop Dogg is someone who can advocate for that–if Snoop Dogg can advocate for just sticking to weed, it’s fine,” Jeffrey said. During his discussion with Kirk, Jeffrey said he turned to weed as a distraction after he lost his mother. He later said that God was who brought him through it. Attendees dressed in different costumes, including someone dressed as the devil. Jeffrey expressed disapproval of this costume choice. “That is terrible for the young minds to see. I believe everyone should follow God,” Jeffrey said. When the event ended, junior legal studies and criminal justice studies double major Abby Ortiz shared her takeaway from the discussions and thoughts about the behavior of other attendees. “My takeaway was that America has a serious problem right now,” Ortiz said. “We’ve become too comfortable in being stagnant in a set identity and its expected beliefs. So when someone challenges our personal ideologies, we can no longer have adult conversations and instead shut down and berate those who disagree with us, or even cancel them.” Ortiz added that it is important to hear other opinions even if one may disagree with them. “Most people at that event that screamed hateful things, or were rude to others or said things about Charlie Kirk did so just because everyone else on their side of the fence was doing it,” Ortiz said. “The amount of students who were booing and cheering, not even knowing what was being said just because the crowd was doing it, provided an ample demonstration of the lack of independence not only college students but American citizens everywhere have.” Ganson expressed satisfaction with the discussion. “There’s no better place to have this debate than outside of Illinois State. I’m happy with how the Illinois State student body handled it,” Ganson said. Kirk’s next on-campus visits include Purdue University, Michigan State University and Boise State University.

Illinois State University’s American Civil Liberties Union chapter (ACLU-ISU) will host an “LGBTQIA+ Film Night” from 5-6:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, in Schroeder Hall Room 204. Jennie Livingston’s “Paris is Burning” documentary will be the featured presentation. The film was selected to showcase drag-ballroom culture in 1980s New York City. A discussion about the importance of protecting LGBTQIA+ spaces and honoring trailblazers in the community will follow the screening. Additionally, ACLU-ISU will hold its executive board elections for the 2025-26 academic year at the film screening. More information is available here.

Concerned students participated in an “ICE off our campus rally” on Monday, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Illinois State University. About 25 attendees marched from Uptown Circle to the Quad, chanting phrases like “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.” “We have been working for a long time, a few months now, in trying to get the University to listen to our pleas, listen to our stories, “ said Anthony Zarate, a junior Spanish education major. “We deserve to be heard. That is why we shout. We hope that the University will start to listen to us a little bit more,” Zarate continued. Normal Township Advisor Krystle Able shared the importance of local politics regarding immigration issues. “The way we got here is because not enough people in our communities fight on a local level. Immigration is not just a national issue, it is an issue with every single level of government, including townships, city councils, mayors, and with your state representatives,” Able said. “We’ve seen the power that the state of Illinois has in being able to be a sanctuary state, and we also see the attacks that we’re under because of that,” Able continued. Anthony Tamayo, a freshman Spanish education major and representative for the Coalition Assisting Undocumented Student Achievement (CAUSA), also spoke at the rally. “I’m here with the Coalition Assisting Undocumented Student Achievement [where] we work to protect the students here on campus, whether they’re undocumented, mixed status, or anything between or beyond,” Tamayo said. “It is our goal to ensure the safety and well-being of these students, as well as all students here on campus. This can only be achieved by the University promising to uphold its DEI values and in turn, protecting and valuing its students,” Tamayo continued. Additionally, Tamayo said that ISU must revise its budget, ensuring that students, faculty and staff profit instead of the administration.

Full Disclosure: This coverage was published on WGLT by the same author. One of more than 1,000 “Hands Off!” rallies across the country took place in downtown Bloomington Saturday afternoon to oppose the government's agenda regarding cuts to the federal government and concerns about human rights under President Donald Trump's leadership. Hundreds of protesters filled the south lawn outside the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. “Hands Off!” is a nationwide effort that seeks to give power to U.S. citizens who oppose joint efforts by Trump and billionaire Elon Musk to make policy changes which would affect citizens’ rights. Crowd members of all ages held signs with written messages such as, “Don’t Turn Your Back on Humanity” and “Make America Moral Again.” "I'm seeing history repeating itself right now where real fascist ideals are being pushed on a democratic country," said attendee Todd Peterson. "I really feel we're going to have to take a stand on this." Peterson said the large crowd size was what he had hoped to see. The progressive advocacy group Voices of Reason, a local chapter of Indivisible, organized the rally, which included several speakers. “There are corporate-backed politicians and billionaires trying to gut the programs that keep our families and communities afloat. They are doing it behind closed doors with lobbyists whispering in their ears while telling the rest of us, ‘There’s not enough to go around,’” said McLean County Board member and newly-elected Normal Township Supervisor, Krystle Able, a Democrat. Able called out Republican U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood for “voting in favor of policies that would weaken Social Security and Medicare while protecting tax breaks for the wealthy.” Democratic State Rep. Sharon Chung for the 91st House District said Trump’s first four years in office were only a warm-up for what is to come. “We’re fighting for the soul and for the foundation of our country,” Chung said. “My parents were immigrants here—to the United States. This is not why they immigrated to the United States.” Chung gave congratulations to the United Faculty of Illinois State University for their agreement reached with the University’s administration, which was announced Friday evening. President of the Bloomington Education Association, Julie Riley, spoke about threats against schools and students at those schools. “As you know, our current president nominated and has seated a wrestling promotor to be the head of the Department of Education,” Riley said. “Wrestling is not the same as public education, folks.” Riley said students in need of speech support, social work minutes and physical therapy will be in danger of losing those services if their access to Medicaid is cut off. “Although our boards have been good to us, I don’t know what they’d do if they didn’t have federal funding to pay for special educators,” Riley said. “We don’t have the kind of money in our local school board budgets to make up that difference.” President of Bloomington's Prairie Pride Coalition, Dave Bentlin, wished to call out members of the LBTQIA+ community who don’t believe they are under serious threat. “This is just the start,” Bentlin said. “None of us [are] safe. They will come after all of us if we don’t take action.” Bentlin gave thanks to local businesses, namely Lucca Grill, who have supported the local LGBTQIA+ community. Bentlin said that before he arrived at the rally, he received a text message from another member of the LGBTQIA+ community who didn’t feel safe attending. “I honor that concern,” Bentlin said. The rally ended with the crowd participating in call-and-response chants and singing two songs, “This Land Is Your Land” and “We Shall Overcome.”

Illinois State University's Student Government Association (SGA) held its biweekly meeting Wednesday. A new member was appointed, two amendments were made to the SGA's bylaws and a bill was passed to fund the upcoming Redbird Market event. SGA unanimously elected to add sophomore Sandy Berg. She will be taking on a Greek life-adjacent role. “She’s going to be the ex-officio of the College Panhellenic Council. So she will be advocating for all the sororities on campus,” said Student Body Chief of Staff Maegan James. Members also discussed the upcoming Redbird Market. The market will sell art, clothing and other items. “It's an opportunity for students to be able to have a platform to sell their services–an opportunity for all other students to see what their fellow Redbirds are working on,” Blair said. Members unanimously voted to allocate $1,200 towards the Redbird Market event. “[The money] is coming from an already allocated spot from the dean of students' office and all of that money comes from general campus funds,” James said. The SGA's bylaws were also amended twice. The First Amendment now requires applicants for on-campus IT positions to have previous IT experience to be hired. The Second Amendment saw the addition of the SGA’s oath of office into the bylaws. The next SGA assembly meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on April 16 in the Old Main Room of the Bone Student Center.

The United Faculty of Illinois State University (UFISU) announced that a full tentative agreement has been reached with the University's administration Friday evening. UFISU and the University administration reached a tentative agreement after a lengthy 16-hour meeting on Thursday immediately followed by another meeting on Friday. "This monumental achievement would not have been possible without the demonstrated collective power of all of you—our members, our union siblings, out students and our communities," the online announcement read. The announcement expressed appreciation for those who have supported UFISU's movement over the last 13 months. This story will be updated.

A 16-hour-long negotiation session between the United Faculty of Illinois State University (UFISU) and Illinois State University on Thursday did not result in an agreement. UFISU released an update on the bargaining process with ISU's administration for fair wages Friday morning. "As of today, the 650 tenured and tenure-line faculty in the union may legally strike at any time," read a statement released by UFISU on Friday. Associate Professor of the Department of Finance and Law and co-lead negotiator for UFISU, Tice Sirmans, was quoted in the update. Sirmans said the 16-hour meeting only created more distrust. "While the administration continues to insist that they are prioritizing student and faculty needs, their actions repeatedly prove otherwise. Rather than focus on bargaining a fair contract that helps to ensure a high-quality education for students, President Tarhule and his team are prioritizing research and trying to pit faculty against one another for meager raises in a Hunger Games-like scenario," Sirmans said. Sirmans said UFISU is prepared to strike next week if necessary. Several UFISU members formed a last-minute gauntlet as they met with administrators Friday morning for another negotiation session. UFISU also scheduled a rally for Friday evening, but it was canceled due to the weather. "Our power is strong, and the ISU Admin know we can mobilize at a moment's notice if we have to," the UFISU rally cancellation post read.

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.

Frustration 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 (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.

The United Faculty of Illinois State University (UFISU) and Illinois State University reached three tentative agreements on Workload, Assignment of Duties and Identification of Union Representatives during a negotiation session on Friday. During this session, two additional sessions were added alongside the previously scheduled Wednesday, April 2, and Friday, April 4, sessions. The new sessions will be held on Tuesday, April 1, and Thursday, April 3. The negotiation session lasted around 13 hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. UFISU described the three tentative agreements as a “huge win” on its website. “We have been in discussion about paths to agreement on these topics for weeks (or, over a year if you count that we submitted the original proposal in our first bargaining session on February 28, 2024,” the UFISU website said in its bargaining update post. In an email sent to students, faculty and staff, ISU Media Relations said almost all non-economic issues have been resolved with these three tentative agreements, with focus shifting to economic issues like compensation and parental leave. Friday’s negotiation session had no involvement with a federal mediator. The choice not to involve a federal mediator follows the implementation of a March 14 Executive Order that decreased the size of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and “ended support to public-sector negotiations.” “While good progress was made with the mediator’s support, the University believes the parties have developed a productive working relationship that will allow negotiations to continue without the involvement of a mediator as Illinois State and the Union move toward contract resolution,” ISU said in its email. In the tentative agreement for Assignment of Duties, employees will receive more support from ISU in considering their course teaching preferences and earlier notification of what courses they teach in upcoming semesters. Department teaching loads were also discussed with Workload. Departments will develop workload policies according to their standards and service requirements. Employees with “sufficient scholarly and creative productivity, and assigned institutional and departmental service responsibilities,” will not be assigned over 18 teaching credit hours. UFISU and ISU continue to have economic discussions. ISU proposed an updated economic offer, involving base and promotional salaries. UFISU has described these “off-the-record” economic discussions as “intense.” On Monday, UFISU filed a Notice of Intent to Strike. If an agreement is not met between UFISU and ISU for a fair contract in the next negotiation sessions moving into April, the faculty union may strike as early as Friday, April 4.