WARNING: This article contains mentions of suicide. Full disclosure: this article was also published on WGLT by the same author. As part of its annual Veterans Day celebration, Illinois State University hosted a panel discussion Monday, focusing largely on the mental health effects on those serving in the military. Panel members, who gathered in the Prairie Room at Bone Student Center, included veterans, close family members of veterans, ISU student veterans and ISU faculty who are familiar with military and mental health studies. Steve Krippel, a professor of military science with the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps [ROTC], introduced the panelists and posed questions, many of which focused on veterans’ mental health and suicide rates. “It is estimated that 22 veterans commit suicide each and every day, or approximately 8,000 ever year,” Krippel said. ISU Counseling Services staff psychologist Alex Doup, who has researched suicides among veterans over the age of 50, said there often are a series of contributing factors. “There can be a period or adjustment similar to [what] we see among individuals who are coming out from service and the adjustment to different roles and identities as well, too," Doup said. "With that, I think there’s a number of different stressors that occur throughout different stages throughout the lifespan.” Jess Ray, Normal Township supervisor and retired ISU director of veterans and military services, spoke on veteran suicides, focusing specifically on Vietnam veterans. “One of the things I hear a lot of veterans say is, ‘That thing [help and/or counseling] is there for someone else — they need it more than I do,” Ray said. “The culture, at least in the experience that I’ve had in the military, is that you suck it up, buttercup, and you move on.” Ray also served as an infantry soldier and sergeant in the Illinois National Guard, noting he's seen veterans struggle to ask for help. Ray also served as an infantry soldier and sergeant in the Illinois National Guard, noting he's seen veterans struggle to ask for help. “Back in the day, if you asked for help, that could impact your security clearance or opportunities for promotion,” Ray said. “I think the challenge is getting the information out to people so they know that there are resources out there and then to follow-up to figure out what to do to encourage people to take advantage of those resources.” ISU professor of psychology Eric Wesselmann offered ways to detect symptoms of mental health issues among veterans. “Social connection, or on the other side, a sense of isolation — of alienation — seem to be a major predictor for post-traumatic stress symptoms,” said Wesselmann, adding one way civilians can make a difference is by acknowledging the sacrifice that veterans have made to establish a sense of connection. Ray expressed appreciation for those in the Bloomington-Normal community who have made a difference. “We have people attending who really do try to make a difference in the community,” Ray said. “They let us know, those of us who have served, even if they don’t understand it, that we’re actually cared about. Former Lt. Col. Eric Murray from the Gold Star Mission shared how Gold Star families would like to talk about their fallen loved ones. “Asking the simple question, ‘Just tell me a funny story about them,’ because that’s what they want to do is share how they lived,” Murray said. “That’s the best way of capturing their character."

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, an open forum known as ISU in Conversation was held to discuss the emotions and thoughts of the 2024 presidential election results. Interim Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Professor Byron Craig led the discussion at 4:30 p.m. For some individuals, Donald Trump winning the election felt like a victory. However, in this discussion, the results of the election brought forth a tremendous amount of fear and anxiety for the future. Craig encouraged students to allow themselves space for grief. “I’ve been on social media today going back and forth with people that are saying it’s all going to be okay, and I don’t think we’re at that point yet…have your grief moments because it’s a real scary situation,” Craig said. Interim Associate Dean of Academics Susan Hildebrandt attended the discussion. She encouraged students to do something to fill their time, after they have had time to grieve. “I recommend that, it may be hard, but do something that fills your cup,” Hildebrandt said. “Find community, find those connections, warm your heart.” One student, a member of a fraternity on ISU’s campus, asked how he could be a better activist in his fraternity. He explained how his fraternity held sessions to review election misinformation, and he said he wished he participated more in those. Craig responded that he should look into the activist movements the ancestors of his fraternity had participated in. He encouraged the student to try to encourage his brothers to investigate those running in local elections as they are just as important as national elections. “I think we don’t think enough about local politics and what it means for us,” Craig said. On the discussion of being informed about the election, another student discussed how they felt they didn’t take enough time to become fully informed about the race. “I feel like I’m on the outside looking in. I plan to become more informed, especially for the next election,” the student said. Craig told the students to learn and understand both sides of the political landscape. Craig said that as times change, there will continue to be lots of shifts. Craig’s biggest encouragement was to keep learning. “You should read what you’re assigned to read, and then read more,” Craig said. One student discussed how she felt traumatized by the election. She had woken up early in the morning to hear her roommates crying as they learned that democratic candidate Kamala Harris had lost the election. A few of the young Black students said they felt such a shift in the air. Many mentioned how they felt people looked at them differently as if they expected them to react. “[Regarding the election results] It just feels like people don’t want us around,” another student said. The results of the election led students to feel that their wings, which once kept them soaring, had been clipped. The students agreed that they felt they have hit the ground. “It’s a f***** up world we live in, truly,” a student said. An education major said she felt at a disadvantage because of belonging to multiple marginalized communities. “It may be hard to believe, but I just want to teach kids algebra,” she said. An international graduate student said that what drove him insane was how a criminal was elected as president, and he was saddened for everyone. “If I had a choice between a criminal and a kid fresh out of college, I would choose the kid,” he said. Students agreed that one good thing that derived from the election was that the mask had been ripped off America, there would be no way to hide the façade of a perfect country any longer. As much as the students felt like taking time off, some mentioned that it can feel incredibly difficult. Missing class as a college student is difficult as it is a critical time in the semester. “It’s just draining to have to go all the time no matter what,” a student said. The students were encouraged by Craig and other attending members to treat a mental health day just as they would if they were physically sick. It was repeated that no work could be done if you are unwell mentally as much as physically. At the end of the forum, Byron encouraged the students in attendance to learn and take what was learned and apply it to thinking about change. “Where we are now in order to move away from that, it takes change,” Craig said. A second conversation took place Thursday night at which several faculty and staff members gathered on the second floor of Fell Hall to discuss their post-election thoughts. “[The conversations] give us a chance to build community,” Hildebrandt said. “Especially during trying times. We’re reminding folks to take care of themselves and to take care of one another.” Those in attendance had exclusively voted for democrat Kamala Harris. Craig said that everyone had been welcome to join. “People who voted differently—they were welcomed also,” Craig said. “This is an open atmosphere. This wasn’t an attempt to keep anyone out who voted differently.” “What can we do at the university level to start thinking about concerns,” Craig said, posing a question. Conversations revolved around education workers’ next steps, what the university’s next steps could be and dangers of the internet and the spread of false information.

The Business Association for Cultural Unity, Mentorship, Education and Networking (Business ACUMEN) at Illinois State University will host a Mock Interview Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, in State Farm Hall of Business Room 370. This event is for students to practice their interview skills and gain feedback. The dress code is business professional. If possible, attendees should bring multiple copies of their resume and business cards. Students can RSVP here.

A hidden gem on Illinois State University's campus is The Lois Jett Historic Costume Collection (LJHCC), located in Room 126 of Turner Hall. This collection was originally created by a professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Lois Jett, in 1962. The LJHCC has added a new installation this semester titled "Herstory: Extraordinary Women In History." This exhibit was curated by former ISU students Kehinde Ayedun and Nina Patricia Floresca. Both of whom graduated in 2023. Director of the exhibition and ISU professor Jennifer Banning explained how each exhibit is developed. “Each of our exhibitions is student-designed and installed, which provides an exceptional hands-on learning experience in applying content learned in classes in a creative way. Our usual pattern is to have a new exhibition open each fall and each spring semester," Banning said. The exhibitions feature replicas of clothing items that curators have compiled together. Over the years, the LJHCC has expanded to over 2,000 articles of clothing and accessories. With this new installation, the focus is on minority women. Several women, such as United States Sen. Tammy Duckworth and American activist Marsha P. Johnson are featured in the exhibit. Other women featured in the exhibit are Holocaust victim Anne Frank, singer Selena Quintanilla Pérez and former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy,ll represented by replicas of their most iconic outfits. “The exhibition is important because it helps students learn about a wide range of women and their accomplishments. Because each woman is represented through garments similar to what they would wear, it allows a more personal view of each individual," Banning said. Each semester, an intern the the LJHCC is in charge of setting up the new exhibition for each semester. This semester, senior fashion merchandising major Ellie Schunke is the intern at the LJHCC. She was in charge of taking down the previous exhibit as well as setting up the current one. Schunke is currently in the process of curating the Spring 2025 exhibit for the LJHCC. Schunke said that setting up this exhibit was interesting and rewarding. Schnuke also explained that every piece the LJHCC has can be used as an opportunity to teach. “We have pieces here that relate to a lot of majors, and students are encouraged to interact with the pieces we have here,” said Schunke. While there is no set title, Schunke explained that the next exhibit will be centered around agriculture and fashion with a focus on how clothing is made through materials such as cotton, wool and silk. “You can't have fashion without agriculture,” Schunke said. Schunke also wanted to emphasize agricultural organizations such as the 4-H nonprofit organization and the National FFA Organization, two organizations that are dedicated to helping students learn and develop skills. The current Herstory exhibit will be available until Feb. 7, 2025, and is free for students to visit.

The Lift the Ban Coalition hosted a town hall Thursday to discuss the current ban on rent control and their mission to overturn it. Currently, there are no rent control laws, allowing landlords to raise rent by any amount and treat renters unfairly. The coalition’s goal is to gain the right for local governments to limit rent increases, gain more rights for renters in need of maintenance and reduce renter harassment. Junior cybersecurity major Katie Hamende helped organize the event with Lift the Ban campaign coordinator Diego Morales. There were guest speakers and a presentation to explain and discuss the issue of rent control, as well as providing time for students to voice their concerns and ask questions. McLean County Board member Krystle Able began with a story about an Illinois State University graduate student who was forced out of her apartment due to raised rent. She had a child and was living off student loans. “Luckily for her, she was able to quickly buy a house and move in there, start her family and live comfortably, but that is not the case for a lot of students we are seeing at ISU,” Able said. Senior political science major Alex Duffy, who was elected to the McLean County Board Nov. 5, said he believes there is a lot of potential for change in the community. “I think it’s super important that we continue to fight at the local level, especially because we have so much momentum already, and I think the sky's the limit for us in terms of things we can get done if we continue at the rate we are,” Duffy said. Morales gave a presentation about the ban on rent control, how it impacts the people involved and what advocating for change could do. Freshman sociology major Calli Adams said this issue will affect her next year, and she wanted to learn about how she will be impacted. “I just want to learn more about it because it seems like it can help the community, and it’s a way to connect with people who believe the same things as me,” Adams said. Sophomore geography and philosophy double major Nolan Owens said the event was organized well, and he liked hearing from not only the speakers but the attendees as well. “I liked hearing the testimonies from the people who are experiencing it; it makes it more real,” Owens said. A big takeaway from Morales’ presentation was for students to get involved or join the coalition. He pushed for students to contact U.S. Rep. Sharon Chung to express the need for housing stabilization. The coalition can be contacted at info@ltbcoalition.org or at 773-548-7500.

In the latest episode of the Democracy’s Future podcast, you’ll hear ISU students react to Donald Trump’s election as the 47th president on Wednesday. Junior secondary math education major Benjamin Mota, from Frankfort, said he voted for Trump and was satisfied with the results of the election. “It went exactly as expected,” Mota said. “I was paying attention [to] how Donald Trump was running his campaign and how Kamala Harris was running [her] campaign, and overall, it felt like Kamala Harris’s was not well-rehearsed or well-planned.” Mota said that Trump’s victory over Pennsylvania—a key state in the race—came as a surprise. Mota said he believes democracy is not in danger, but the opposite. “In a weird way, I think it’s going to unite people more than it’s going to disconnect [them],” Mota said. “I’ve learned from one political aisle that I came out voting for Trump and I’ve been getting a lot of hate … especially being a minority, whereas when I was more [leaning Democratic], nobody really cared whether I was a Democrat or not.” Mota said that as a Mexican American, he hears of beliefs in his community that they are in favor of illegal immigrants entering the country, but that it most likely comes from others who have entered the country illegally. “We don’t want to be stigmatized with them,” Mota said. Senior mass media major Julia Acke from Palatine voted for Democrat Kamala Harris. She said she now feels embarrassed as an American. “I personally thought the public would sway more towards Kamala just because he [Trump] is a convicted felon, but apparently not,” Acke said. Acke explained why she believes Trump’s presidency will be a danger for democracy. “I think our country is going to be divided severely, especially with comparing it to the 2020 election,” Acke said. “I don’t think he will do many good things for this country.” Acke shared her background in politics and why she chose to vote for Harris. “I grew up a Democrat because of my parents, and then once I was able to make the decision, by myself, it is still the same as my parents,” Acke said. Junior elementary education major Leah Reyna, originally from Hoffman Estates, voted for Harris. She said she was shocked at the results. “I was very overwhelmed,” Reyna said. “I think there’s the potential for it [Trump’s victory] to be very damaging. I think that his plans that he’s talked about and everything in place so far has the potential to be very catastrophic—especially for my position being an elementary education major.” Reyna said she thinks Trump’s popularity among younger voters is surprising. “I think the fact that these different demographics have been increasing in voters for him is very unusual considering everything that he’s said and everything that he’s shown that he stands for,” Reyna said. Junior biology teacher education major Oliver Gaddis from Springfield voted for Harris. He explained why he is scared for the future of the country. “It seems so dystopian that it’s kind of hard to think about,” Gaddis said. “It wasn’t played out very well by the Democrats in a lot of ways.” Senior communications major Drew Porter, originally from Antioch, did not vote in this year’s election. He shared that he was not driven to vote for either Trump or Harris. “With the candidates that were there, I didn’t really trust either side,” Porter said. Porter said his family had wanted him to vote due to being an African American who wouldn’t have had the right to vote until 1870. Porter said he believes Trump is a very good businessman, but that he doesn't trust Trump as president. “To run a country—it’s not just about business,” Porter said. “For him to be our leader, I don’t really trust him to make the final say. ” Porter said he believes Trump’s increased popularity among minority voters is because of social media. “If you put the right type of stuff out there to get into people’s heads and get into people’s feeds, they’re going to instantly think one thing because that’s all they see,” Porter said. “I feel like social media is really corrupt nowadays.” Freshman undecided major Emily Zamora, originally from Chicago, voted for Harris. She said she believes women will lose several rights they currently have. “It’s just really sad that he has won after seeing his policies,” Zamora said. Zamora said she believes that rights for LGBTQ+ individuals, those working in education and people of color will now change significantly. Zamora hypothesized that Trump’s increased popularity among Hispanic voters may be due to an increase in citizens from Venezuela in the Chicago area. “In Chicago, there’s like a mini debate going on because many people who seek refuge [in Chicago] have overtaken little villages and neighborhoods which I think [influenced] Mexicans and Americans to vote for Trump,” Zamora said. Sophomore education administration major Kavarrion Newson, originally from Chicago, voted for Trump. He said that Trump supports the things that he personally believes in. “He best supports people of my color—black and brown,” Newson said. Newson said he believes Trump has set a good example by fighting for leadership. “The last four years and what we’ve seen is that [Trump fought relentlessly] trying to be the president or trying to be the leader of this country," Newson said. "I really believe it shows that, despite the naysayers and despite the things that may be against you, if you still strive for a goal and if you still strive for something that you want and pursue it enough, it may be in your favor.” Newson said he is inspired by Trump’s motivation. “For me, it’s his political stance and, like I said, his resilience to not give up,” Newson said. Please give us your feedback on this series. Email us at news@wglt.org. Subscribe to Democracy’s Future on the NPR App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Illinois State University has been home to the 23-acre, biodiverse Horticulture Center for 19 years. Students and community members are welcome to explore several gardens at the center. Their core beliefs are centered around three things: students, research and outreach. The Horticulture Center allows students to gain hands-on experience with gardening and nature, regardless of their major. Students can intern at the center, complete independent studies and fulfill the requirements for honors classes. Faculty can utilize the space for their students and classes in the Outdoor Classroom. The center also offers paid student positions as well as several volunteer opportunities. The Bloomington-Normal community is welcome to visit the center. Volunteers from the community help keep the center thriving, and it is very popular among high school students in the area for homecoming or prom pictures. Horticulture Center Director Jessica Chambers is very enthusiastic about her position in the center and believes it is a very useful tool for both the community and students. “It’s all education," Chamber said. "It's all about teaching people, and people connect to plants in different ways. When you’re dealing with nature it is very diverse.” The Horticulture Center capitalizes on diversity; there are over 10 gardens for visitors to pass through. There are also “literary gardens,” which include informational signs for visitors to learn more, such as how midwestern authors like Shel Silverstein used nature to inspire their work. Highlights include the Betty Norris Fairchild Children's Discovery Garden, where younger visitors are allowed to have a hands on experience with nature. The Herb Garden is a way for visitors to interact with herbs in four categories: culinary, historical, themed and fragrance. Chambers said her favorite garden at the center is The Prairie, inspired by Illinois's nickname as The Prairie State for the large amounts of prairies that once were throughout the state. Chambers described it as "a parade of colors with the medley of grasses and plants," adding that “they all find their way together.” Chambers enjoys guiding visitors through The Prairie. “What I have learned here over the last 20 years has motivated me to show visitors this garden," Chambers said. Chambers spoke about future projects, sharing that Illinois State University Professor Ruth K. Burke will be working to create the Illinois Iteration of Domestic Rewilding. This will serve as an acknowledgment of the land of the indigenous Kickapoo and Miami tribes that were once living in the Bloomington-Normal area. Chambers expressed the desire for more students to come and experience the center. The Horticulture center is free to the public with the exception of special events and it is open daily from dawn to dusk.

Professor Aaron Smith hopes to make students of Illinois State University aware of linguistics through a weekly bulletin board series called “Talking Points”. Smith launched the bulletin board series during the 2024 spring semester. Each week, Smith writes about a new topic related to language from a linguistic perspective. The linguistics bulletin board has been around for the 22 years Professor Smith has worked at ISU, but he has noticed a lack of engagement with the board. “I noticed that nothing ever very interesting was on [the board] and it changed maybe once every two years,” Smith said. Some of the topics Smith covers with his weekly series include sign language, language extinction and why languages change. “I hope the board is going to teach people more about what we do in linguistics,” Smith said. “I hope that other teachers in other kinds of classes will take inspiration [from the board] to talk about some of the linguistic points because they are very important.” The “Talking Points” bulletin board can be found on the fourth floor of Stevenson Hall in the English Department, near the 420 offices.

Long lines stretched throughout Illinois State University's Bone Student Center for much of the evening on Tuesday as voters anxiously awaited to perform their civic duty. It should come as no surprise that the facility—which served as one of the many voting centers in McLean County—saw "record-breaking" numbers on Election Day. Paige Buschman, associate director for the Center for Civic Engagement, assisted at the Bone Student Center from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, and talked about the massive turnout numbers. “Record-breaking is an understatement in many ways. We anticipated once early voting was getting such massive traction, that Election Day might be busy, but I think we didn’t really expect 3,000 until we were a few in, and then were like ‘oh wow, I think we might actually hit 3,000,'” Buschman said. According to Buschman, 3,233 individuals voted at the Bone Student Center on Election Day, which was approximately equal to the number of early voters seen throughout the last two weeks. During the busiest early voting days, Buschman said the maximum votes cast in a day at the Bone Student Center hit around 500 people, compared to Election Day, which saw an average of 300 voters per hour. When asked if the polls ran into any issues, Buschman cited long lines as the only concern they encountered. “There were some points where it was getting a little congested, and the line was getting a little long," Buschman said. "At one point, in peak mid-day, the line was so long that it went from the Brown Ballroom, all the way out the back doors of the Bone by Milner Library.” “We saw a really significant amount of same-day voter registration, and that’s actually where the line came from," Buschman continued. "Folks who were already registered had almost no wait for getting into the polling place.” For the line of voters already registered, the longest Buschman observed the line to be was 10 people. This was not something unique to the Bone Student Center, as voters across the country had experienced long lines on Election Day. Buschman provided her thoughts on the issue. “All things considered, we do prepare for worst-case scenarios and major, major issues on Election Day, and none of those things really happened. If long lines are the worst we can say, I think we’re very pleased with that,” Buschman said. Buschman shared what the Center for Civic Engagement took away from the significant turnout. “What we learned is that we're going to push our online registration and early voting efforts a lot in the future,” Buschman said. The Center for Civic Engagement are currently in the process of brainstorming ways to execute this push for online registration and early voting. Buschman listed potential tactics like opening up an additional voting room and holding longer early voting periods. Although there remains work to be done, Buschman is very proud of the voter encouragement provided by the Center for Civic Engagement. Often voters—especially in a non-swing state like Illinois—question if their vote truly matters, and have lost faith in the democratic process. Buschman insisted that voting and elections are essential to our democracy, and its value cannot be overstated. “It’s an opportunity to honor the people who have fought for our right and privilege to vote,” Buschman said.

With Election Day in the rearview mirror, here are the winners for local politics impacting the McLean County area: 17th Congressional District U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen won a second term on Tuesday night over Republican challenger Joe McGraw. Sorensen won 53.8% of the vote and won McLean County easily with 61% of the vote, according to WGLT. Illinois State Senate District 46 Democratic state Sen. Dave Koehler is headed to a sixth term after defeating Republican challenger Sally Owens. Koehler was leading Owens with 57.5% of the vote as of Tuesday night, and WGLT had him ahead by more than 13,000 votes with all precincts reporting across the district. Illinois House of Representatives District 91: Like Sorensen, U.S. Rep. Sharon Chung won a second term over Republican challenger Desi Anderson. Chung won 53% of the vote, and defeated Anderson by about 3,500 votes, according to unofficial totals compiled by WGLT and WCBU. Other issues on the ballot A push to eliminate the office of McLean County auditor failed for the second time after WGLT data said that 55% of voters opposed the ballot question. Statewide, Illinois voters opted to impose a tax increase on residents with income greater than $1 million, penalize political candidates for interfering with election workers and expand reproductive health coverage.

Donald Trump has been voted back to the White House following a tightly contested race over Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump's win over Harris marks his political comeback after losing to President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, and he will become the first president to serve non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland. As of Wednesday morning, the Associated Press has Trump at 277 electoral votes, putting him over the 270 threshold. After losing the popular vote in both the 2016 and 2020 elections, Trump received 51% of the votes nationwide, compared to 47.5% for Harris. While Trump earned victories in key battleground states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina and Wisconsin to help secure the presidency, he was unable to carry Illinois. Harris earned 53.3% of the vote in the state with Trump receiving 45.3%, per WGLT. If Trump serves a full term, the 78-year-old will become the oldest U.S. president in history, surpassing Biden, 81, who dropped out of the race this summer over concerns about his age and electability.

Illinois State University students got a chance to get educated on politics and see it in action during Tuesday's Election Day watch party on the third floor of Milner Library. The Center for Civic Engagement partnered with Devotees to Democracy, Heartland Community College, Illinois Wesleyan University's Center for Engaged Learning, the Student Government Association and the ISU School of Communication’s Social Media Analytics and Command Center to host the event. Co-host of the event, Devotees to Democracy President Keara Gray, believes the watch party is a way for students to be informed about the Electoral College. “Watching a live broadcast the day of the election shows you what is going on nationally. It shows you what different states are leaning more towards Republican or Democrat,” Gray said. "It also helps you educate yourself on how the Electoral College works. More specifically, you get to see some political leaders there who have commentary as well.” Freshman financial accounting major Elizabeth Hollis, among others, primarily attended the watch party to stay informed with the live updates. “I wanted to be more actively informed rather than just sitting in my dorm room not knowing what is going on,” Hollis said. With this election, senior human resource management major Matt Saldivar felt more inclined to cast a vote, as he did not vote in the last presidential election, despite being able to. “Ultimately, because I was more aware of the news, I felt like my vote definitely mattered a lot this time around,” Saldivar said. “I felt like I was much more informed than the first time.” Junior cybersecurity major Jacob Marcotte also felt informed, asserting he felt confident when casting his vote. “I realized that I could actually back a candidate who I really liked,” Marcotte said. “I did not have to vote for the lesser of two evils. I could vote for someone who I feel is genuinely good.” Freshman political science major Abigail Glackin attended the watch party to see just how important each vote is. “It is my very first election voting, so it is already important. I believe democracy is what we are voting for, and it is good to get out there and vote and protect democracy,” Glackin said. “It is good to know what states are leaning towards where and especially how your vote is being used,” Glackin continued. “A lot of people feel like their vote does not even matter in Illinois. But it does matter, and it is good to see your vote being put towards a cause and seeing it come out to whatever it be.”

On Election Day, Nov. 5, droves of students showed up to vote and register to vote in the Brown Ballroom at the Bone Student Center. As the day continued, the voting lines increased, with students waiting one to three hours to cast their ballot. The line included sophomore general marketing major and first-time voter Sophia Ramos, who waited an hour and 40 minutes to register and vote. Some students who initially entered the Bone Student Center to vote saw the lines and left after realizing how long it would take to make it into the Brown Ballroom. Ramos worried that the long lines discouraged voters. “Yes, [it is discouraging] just because it is a long line. However, we still pushed ourselves to come,” Ramos said. Many Illinois State University students are first-time voters this election. The long voting process raised concerns among some students about voter discouragement. “Even I could see that the line was long,” Olabisi Kuku, a senior psychology major, said. “Thank goodness I registered to vote earlier, but, yeah, I think that would sway potential voters away.” Kuku, along with several others, mentioned registering early. Most people in the line were unregistered and planned on registering and voting at the Bone Student Center. While unregistered voters waited hours, registered voters could nearly cut the entire line and only had to wait about 10 to 15 minutes. Adam Fiaz, a junior secondary education major, and his friend Lucas Smith, a junior finance major, also expressed their discouragement when arriving at the Bone Student Center. “I would definitely say 75% of people are probably discouraged by this line. We were definitely one of those,” Fiaz said. Smith blamed registering as the main problem for the long line. “I don't think the polling stations are the problem. I think it's just registering,” Smith said. Although these two voters decided to stick it out, many potential voters left the line after realizing its true length. When Ramos entered the Brown Ballroom, she did not know what to expect. “I was definitely shocked and very confused,” Ramos said. Although most of the Bone Student Center voters were first-time voters, a few had already voted in the 2020 election. Among those 2020 voters was Lane Nichols, a senior physics major. “The first time I voted, the experience, overall, was kind of different because I am from a small town, so, I walked in, there's a room with maybe 30 people…this time, it’s a lot more chaotic,” Nichols said. Nichols expressed much more willingness to stay in line as a second-time voter, even though he still said he was frustrated with the wait times. Sophomore physics major Jarrett Webb described the experience as being “painful.” “It's a bit of a pain,” Webb said. “A lot of people say, ‘Oh, I don't want to stand in line for 30 minutes.’” Webb had vastly underestimated the line length when he entered the Bone Student Center. Many who had waited nearly two hours expressed much more frustration. “There should be more voting locations than just the Bone, this is a university of, like, 20,000 students,” Webb said. Multiple students said there should be more places to vote on campus to shorten lines. Nichols proposed another solution. “I think the big thing with just ISU in general is encouraging a lot of these students,” Nichols said. “Have their teachers talk about it in class, registering earlier” Although students expressed frustration with the lines, excitement to cast a ballot was still in the air, especially for first-time voters. “I am very excited. I think there is no better time than this election to vote,” Fiaz said. “I think the country is just very divided, so I think voting is something that brings people together.” The Bone Student Center’s Brown Ballroom voting location will close at 7 p.m. However, voters who are still in line at 7 p.m. are entitled to vote.

Illinois State University is giving students the opportunity to vote today on campus for the 2024 election. Students can vote from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Brown Ballroom at the Bone Student Center. When entering the first floor of the Bone Student Center, students can vote and register to vote at the Brown Ballroom, visit tables answering questions regarding voting and high-five Reggie near the voting location. If voters are still in line at 7 p.m., they are entitled to vote. At 10 a.m. today, the line outside the Brown Ballroom of interested voters was short and moved fast. However, the line inside the Brown Ballroom was long. The Center for Civic Engagement has encouraged students all semester long to vote early to avoid waiting in a potential long line on Election Day. ISU students said this year's election has caused them anxiety as they are worried about how it will impact the United States moving forward. Senior physical education major Julie Crews is anxious about this election and shared why she decided to vote. “I just knew it was a big election. I was not going to do it at first, but I was reminded of how big this election was,” Crews said. “I just thought that I should vote, and I’m glad that I did.” Senior special education major Amanda Stringer shared her joy in being able to vote in this year’s election. “It feels good,” Stringer said. “It feels like I’m really making a change and really impacting the world. I just can’t describe the feeling.” Junior finance and economics major Alessia Lowe explained why she chose to vote on Election Day as opposed to voting early. “It just feels more official and authentic. There’s just something special about voting on Election Day,” Lowe said. Senior horticulture and landscape management major Tommy Hayes said he feels prepared for the election. “I feel good, my faith comes first in everything I do. I try to make it that way, and I feel that this is the first time I’ve used my faith and made this election my own thing, as I have researched both candidates,” Hayes said. This year is the first time Hayes is voting in a presidential election. Hayes said the voting experience feels “insane.” “[This] feels kind of nuts,” Hayes said. “I was about six or seven months too young to vote in the last [presidential] election. The last one was also crazy and being able to have a say in this one is also kind of nuts, but I’m excited.” Hayes also chose to vote on Election Day for more “intention” rather than participating in early voting. “I was always used to seeing my parents vote on Election Day. It just feels like the intentional way to do it,” Hayes said. “That’s what Election Day is for.”

On Oct. 28, the Illinois State College Democrats and College Republicans had their annual debate Students gathered in the Brown Ballroom of the Bone Student Center to watch three representatives from each party go head-to-head. Nine questions were asked, the topics ranged from national to local issues. Some of the topics included criminalization of abortion, bans on assault weapons and campus safety. “I don’t think women should be prosecuted for the crime of abortion. I think criminalization should fall on the responsibility of the doctor. They know better. They know what abortion entails. They understand that life begins at conception, but they perform abortions for profit [and] political gain,” ISU College Republicans member Braiden Gonzalez said. While Gonzalez strongly expressed his opinion on the topic of abortion, ISU College Democrats representative Delaney Reynolds opposed. “The College Democrats stands with women and trusts their choices for their own bodies...First, I really want to address the separation between church and state. [The] First Amendment says [that] government should not impose religious beliefs on any individual. Many who oppose abortion do so based on personal or religious views. But our laws must reflect the diverse beliefs of the citizens in the United States,” Reynolds said. One topic both parties agreed on was student teachers’ wages. “Absolutely, we should be paying student teachers to ensure that we attract more diverse and more educated student teachers to benefit our future generation,” Reynolds said. Campus safety was covered, referencing an incident on campus this past August where a hate crime was reported. It was one of several incidents reported at ISU. The representatives were asked how they feel ISU should handle these situations. “We have to be proactive. We can’t have a hate crime incident occur...I want to stress the importance of ISU administrators being proactive and transparent. We’ve had issues with that in the past,” ISU College Democrats Alex Duffy said. Duffy also condemned the racism occurring, especially on the social media platform known as Yik Yak, following the recent “pop-up party” shooting. Both parties stated their desire to encourage students to get out and vote. “The purpose [of this debate] is to educate people, but I think more so this year is heavily important. We were seeing this almost as a final push to students on campus [to vote]. If you don’t know who you mare voting for, this is a great way to see who and what party you are voting with,” Reynolds said.

Illinois State University’s Police Department (ISUPD)’s K9 therapy dog, Pawfficer Sage, passed away yesterday, just over two weeks after her recent retirement from the ISUPD. Pawfficer Sage joined the ISUPD in 2019 and quickly became a fixture on campus. According to the ISUPD, she attended over 1,000 events and impacted more than 71,000 lives. Pawfficer Sage became ill last July and was unable to recover by her retirement date on Oct. 18. Her immune system had been weakened by Neospora Caninum and an unidentified neurological condition, according to the ISUPD. Memorials may be made for the ISU Police Enhancement Fund in order to continue the therapy K9 program. To learn more, click here. For students needing support, contact Student Counseling Services at 309-438-3655.

Student Counseling Services is holding several in-person spaces to help students manage their election-related stress with election-focused wellness drop-ins. Drop-in sessions have been held every Monday since Oct. 14. These spaces are open from 3 to 4 p.m. in Room 320 of the Student Services Building. Upcoming sessions will take place on Nov. 11 and Nov. 18. Multi-cultural outreach coordinator for Student Counseling Services, Venique Chappell, has helped organize these spaces. Chappell provided an overview of what the events look like. “This specific space is to create a safe environment for students to be able to express their concerns or even learn effective stress management techniques,” Chappell said. Chappell shared some of the potential topics that will be covered in the sessions. “A lot of the stuff that we will be sharing with the students is [asking] 'what can you anticipate,'" Chappell said. What is anticipation anxiety? What are some things that you would be able to do to prepare yourself?” Outside of these election-focused sessions, Student Counseling Services offers virtual “Let’s Talk” drop-in sessions from 11 a.m. to noon every Wednesday and 1 to 2 p.m. on Fridays. These sessions offer students a space to chat with a counselor and see if counseling might be right for them. Dean McCullough, the staff counselor for Student Counseling Services, is one of the counselors speaking with attendees of the election-focused wellness drop-ins. McCullough shared important details about the sessions. “It is thought of as a 15-minute consultation with a therapist, so it’s not a formal assessment,” McCullough said. Upon seeing many students seemingly on edge this season, Chappell and McCullough both theorized what could be sparking this election-related stress. “I would say the unknown, the political speech that has been occurring and what this means overall for our society,” Chappell said. “There is real life consequences of elections… People are thinking about what each candidate would mean for their life,” McCullough said. Chappell emphasized the importance of their drop-in space and what Student Counseling Services is hoping students gain from attending. “We are hoping that they get resources, they are able to be seen and heard and validated, as well as to have possibly a different thought about what’s occurring for them,” Chappell said. For those who can’t make it to the sessions, Chappell provided some advice in the midst of election season. “Take your time, Chappell said. "Know what your capacity is. If you need to step away from social media, if you need to step away from conversations…give yourself permission to do that." Following the post-election de-stressing theme, ISU is offering free yoga sessions through election week. For more information, click here.

All semester long, Illinois State University's campus has been dominated by the loud and disruptive sound of construction. One of the most noticeable sites is the Bone Student Center parking lot, which has been under construction all semester. Many students feel frustrated with the constant construction, despite the university having ample time in the summer to work on it. “I think that sometimes the spots getting constructed don’t need it and when it takes more than two months to be finished, it gets annoying, so I try to avoid it at all costs,” said Taylor Trax, a senior integrated marketing and communications major. The long journey that many students take to class has been further aggravated by the fact that the construction is still ongoing. “It's frustrating to deal with construction because it seems to be going on in so many areas in town. It takes me longer to get to work, school, anywhere. It makes it hard to believe it’s organized and planned very well,” said Sydney Murphy, a junior publishing major. Megan O’Brien, a senior communication science and disorders major, said of the construction, "the fact it is still going on is crazy.""I understand the point of making it all look like one, but at what cost? Getting to the Bone can be miserable due to the back stairs still being under construction, and on top of that, they reangled the stairs that, for some reason, are driving me crazy,” said O'Brien. Laila Lones, a sophomore nursing major, said, “Construction always feels like such a bother. I'm always wondering why they didn't do it when school wasn't in session or how long will it take before they finish.” Disappointment and disbelief struck students when they returned to campus in August and discovered the ongoing construction. The frustrations of the ongoing construction were echoed by the experience of students living in the dorms. “The construction is very inconvenient to me because I use those stairs by the Bone a lot,” said Sophia Minchuk, a sophomore cybersecurity major. “I am always coming from Tri [Towers] and want to go up to the library and must go through the Bone or all the way around just to get there. I also must find another way around now when I am leaving Starbucks instead of going down those stairs.” The continued presence of construction on campus has significantly affected students' daily routines, making their journey to and from classes even more difficult. “The construction around campus has caused some inconvenience just because it is in the main pathway that students walk," said Kaitlyn Minniear, a sophomore interior design major. "I now must find other routes to make it to my destination instead of being able to take the straight shot path.” “Usually, the construction areas are in the way of most entrances and currently have hindered some of the pathways so far,” said Frank Truong, a sophomore engineering technology major. “The workers do try and make it somewhat safe and clean, but at the end of the day it’s still a hassle and very annoying.” The construction on campus has caused disruptions and challenges for students, but some have stayed optimistic and focused on the upside. “I honestly don’t mind the construction since it doesn’t affect my main route to class or activities,” said Ariana Akiti, a junior history and social science education major. “I think they’re trying to space out construction around the school so not everything is being worked on during the same time, or they might not have enough people to do every project all at once.” Although the construction has added short-term challenges for students and the broader campus community, the final result could bring positive changes to the campus community.