Western Illinois University alumna Tyanna J. Buie, of Detroit, MI, is one of five artists chosen to collaborate on a 7,400-square-foot mural in downtown Milwaukee, called “Voting Rights are Human Rights.” Buie received her bachelor’s degree from WIU in art in 2006, and is now an assistant professor and printmaking section chair for the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. The mural, by internationally-acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey and his Obey Giant team, was started on the north side of the Colby Abbott building last week. The central image is of an African American man... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — According to the Western Illinois University Presidential Search Committee, six finalists will be considered for the position of Western’s 12th president. Interviews will begin Monday, Oct. 19. The finalists who will participate in virtual on-campus interviews include: Monday, Oct. 19: Martin Abraham, interim president, Western Illinois University. Tuesday, Oct. 20: Bahman Ghorashi, former provost and vice president for academic affairs, Tennessee Tech University. Wednesday, Oct. 21: Cady Short-Thompson, provost, Hope College (Holland, MI). Friday, Oct. 23: Steve... Read More

Champaign, IL, artist Steven Hudson will have a solo exhibition of his paintings, “Adaptations,” on display through Friday, Nov. 20 at the Western Illinois University Art Gallery. According to his artist statement, Hudson’s work navigates the space of an imagined post apocalypse, depicting a remnant human presence that navigates a bleak landscape. The people and animals exist without direction or purpose among the familiar debris of our time. The work forebodes our current environmental annihilation. Hudson seeks to record a sometimes beautiful, but always melancholy, portrait... Read More

The Western Illinois University Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition by the Experiencing Veterans and Artists Collaborations (EVAC) Project through Friday, Nov. 6. Through “Bridging the Gap,” EVAC uses storytelling and art to educate the public about life in the military. EVAC curators have interviewed veterans about their experiences and artists have made an edition of prints based on their interpretation of those stories. Veterans who participated in the project served from W.W. II through the post 9-11 period, in all branches of the armed services. Sections of the interviews are... Read More

MOLINE, IL – A collaborative research paper about Quad Cities bicycle trails by one Western Illinois University graduate student and one alumna, along with their professor, has been projected to “make a major contribution to the field,” with its findings related to diversity among those who use the trails. Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (RPTA) graduate student Sadie Parker, of Redlands, CA, and RPTA alumna Haily Hinson, of Hohenwald, TN, are in the process of making edits to their paper, “Spatial Accessibility of Bicycle Routes in the Quad Cities: Impacts for Environmental... Read More

MACOMB, IL – Two members of Western Illinois University’s Housing staff have been honored at the national level for their work to make the University’s campus safer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant Director of Residence Life Jessica Butcher and Assistant Director of Residential Administration Bridget McCormick were honored by the Heroes Program of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I). The program recognizes the leadership of campus professionals during times of significant challenge. Butcher and McCormick were nominated for the... Read More

MACOMB, IL — Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Western Illinois University’s Family Day and Dads’ Day, both traditionally held during the fall semester, will be shifted to a Family Weekend event, which will also include Moms’ Day (typically held during the spring), in Spring 2021. According to Ashley Katz, Director of the University Union, the Family Weekend tentatively set for Spring 2021 is dependent on federal, state and local regulations and protocols in place. Additional details, including the date of Family Weekend, will be finalized and announced at a later date.  Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Surveillance testing is underway on Western Illinois Unviersity’s Macomb and Quad Cities campuses. Each week, approximately 700 students, faculty and staff will receive an email encouraging them to get a free COVID test provided by Beu Health Center. According to Executive Director of Auxiliary Services and Risk Management Joe Roselieb, the University is now using the self-administered BD Veritor nasal swab tests, which are completed on-site at the test distribution center on the Macomb Campus. The Quad Cities campus will continue to administer a saliva-based test that... Read More

MACOMB, IL – Two Western Illinois University professors, who are members of the McDonough County League of Women Voters, are bringing voter registration information to the WIU community. Anthropology Professor Heather McIlvaine-Newsad and Political Science Professor Julia Albarracin are teaching students how to register to vote. They are also working with a group of students, organized by Erbin Zejnuloski and University Television, to create a video encouraging voter registration. “In 2020, Millennials and Generation Z students will compose the largest share of eligible voters, and we want... Read More

MACOMB, IL — This year’s annual visit to the corn maze at Western Illinois University’s Horn Field Campus will be administered in a new way to follow the University’s event protocol. The maze will be open Saturdays and Sundays in October, beginning Oct. 10. Reservations will be required to attend the activity this fall. Planning and preparation take on a whole new scenario as we want to do our best to maintain the safety of our participants. The event is limited to 50 attendees at one time, so reservations will be taken in one hour blocks on Saturdays and Sundays in October. Social... Read More