The Western Illinois University School of Music will present a Guest Recital featuring flutist Leslie Marrs at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2 in the College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) Recital Hall. Leslie Marrs is an associate professor of Flute at Drake University. The recital will be followed by a masterclass with WIU flute students, from the studio of Suyeon Ko. The program will include: Songs of the Open Road – Daniel Dorff (1956b) 1. Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road 2. However calm these waters we must not anchor here 3. Strong and content I travel the open road 4.... Read More

Chicago artist Ashley January will have a solo exhibition, “Human | Mother | Black,” on display Tuesday, Jan. 17 – Friday, Feb. 24 at the Western Illinois University Art Gallery. A reception for the artist will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31. The artist will speak about their work at 5 p.m. January creates contemporary paintings informed by her maternal experience. Due to pregnancy complications that led to her son’s premature birth, her body of work addresses the crisis of the Black maternal mortality and morbidity rate in America. Recently, January became the first... Read More

Western Illinois played two on Sunday, a doubleheader at Arkansas-Pine Bluff that saw the Leathernecks split the day, losing in the first game, but coming up victorious in the second. A massive day at the plate saw senior Gabriela Drager extend her hitting streak to seven games, as she went 5-6 with a walk, two runs, and two RBIs on the day. A Monday series finale saw the Leathernecks take a loss in a game dominated by pitching. The Leatherneck offense took a while to get going in game one, but Leatherneck starting pitcher Emily Price came out hot. Price struck out the side in the first inning,... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – – Have you thought about going back to school? The Western Illinois University School of Graduate Studies will offer multiple virtual information sessions this semester and summer. Individuals interested in pursuing a master’s degree, post-baccalaureate certificate or who want to take graduate level courses as a non-degree student are invited to attend and will be provided with the information needed to get started. Graduate Studies staff will provide a brief presentation and be present to answer any questions about degree options, curriculum, admission and... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – – Christopher A. Pynes, Philosophy professor at Western Illinois University, has been named interim director of Institutional Research and Planning, effective Jan. 15. Pynes has served as professor in the Philosophy department at WIU since 2014. Prior to that, he was an associate professor (2009-14) and assistant professor (2005-09) of Philosophy and co-director of the WIU Program for the Study of Ethics (2006-15), course director for the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Sciences (2005-11) and lecturer of Philosophy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — Three Western Illinois University College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) faculty were recently named winners of the 2021 COFAC Awards of Excellence. “The faculty in the College of Fine Arts and Communication continue to excel in all areas,” said COFAC Interim Dean William “Buzz” Hoon. “We are fortunate to have a number of dedicated, hard-working individuals educating our students and I am happy to recognize their achievements.” COFAC’s Award for Excellence in Teaching – Department of Art and Design Professor Bill... Read More

The Western Illinois men’s basketball team begins a four-game road stretch with a pair of games this week. The Leathernecks open the trip on Thursday, heading to Southern Indiana to take on the Screaming Eagles at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU along with the normal ESPN+ online stream and Q98.1 FM radio/online audio broadcast. The Leathernecks (12-7, 5-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play) follow that with a Saturday match at OVC leader, Morehead State. Western Illinois is coming off its first OVC loss of the season, a 58-57 defeat at the hands of Tennessee State inside Western Hall.... Read More

Housing renewal for current Western Illinois University students who wish to live on campus for the 2024-2025 academic year begins Friday, Jan. 26. Students were emailed individual renewal times and instructions late last week. Based on where students wish to live and the number of semester hours accrued, students will be assigned renewal times on the following schedule:   Same hall/same room (for qualified floors or qualified rooms): Friday, Jan. 26 – Monday, Jan. 29   Group moves: One day only – Wednesday, Jan. 31   Graduate student/seniors: Begins Thursday,... Read More

CHARLESTON– Nine-straight wins. A 5-0 start in Ohio Valley Conference play. And now, alone in first place. The Western Illinois men came up big at both ends down the stretch topping instate-rival Eastern Illinois 63-60 on Saturday afternoon, extending their win streak to nine, improving to 5-0 in conference play and taking sole possession of first place in league play. Jesiah West’s layup with 29 seconds left gave the Leathernecks a 62-60 lead, then a block shot by Drew Cisse with two seconds left saved the day, giving Western Illinois (12-6, 5-0) the win. James Dent Jr. split a pair of... Read More

Three Western Illinois University students were honored on December 4 by GoWest/McDonough County Transit for their work as GoWest security officers. • Officer Alexander Betinis, a freshman Biology Science major, of Maywood, IL, received the Guard of Semester award and was promoted to corporal. • Officer Ian Thomas, a freshman Forensics Chemistry major, of Dixon, IL, passed his probationary period. • Officer Sam Graeser, a freshman LEJA major, of Divernon, IL, passed his probationary period and received the Guard of Semester award. “I’m very proud of the Go West Security team and... Read More