MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — COVID-19 surveillance testing is underway at Western Illinois University and will continue as the semester progresses. Additional open appointment times may be added periodically for those who would like to be tested,but have not been selected as part of the surveillance test population. In addition, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has added select dates for free test clinics on the WIU-Macomb campus (see below). Each week, approximately 700 students, faculty and staff* will receive an email encouraging them to get a free COVID test provided by Beu Health... Read More

Western Illinois University will celebrate Black History Month throughout February, with a variety of activities, speakers and events planned. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the events vary from virtual to in person. The Black History Month schedule for the remainder of the month includes: • Wednesday, Feb. 24 – 5-6:30 p.m. – “We Got Us,” a leadership workshop: This event is presented by The Underrep’d, an organization for Black college students who attend Predominantly White Institutions. Success tips will be offered and the event is open free to the public. The event can be joined... Read More

The Bureau of Cultural Affairs (BCA) at Western Illinois University is offering a free virtual show tonight for the Spring 2021 semester as part of “On the Couch – Virtual Arts Series.” The production company, BiCoastal Productions, is offering free shows to presenters like BCA during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to offer exposure to the arts to audiences. Each show begins at 7 p.m. on a series of Wednesdays. Tonight’s show is: • Feb. 24 – The Silhouettes® – America’s Got Talent: The Champions! was founded in 2009, and was the first runner-up on “America’s Got Talent”... Read More

Western Illinois University’s Community Music School (CMS) is offering adult group piano classes starting Wednesday, March 3. The class is designed specifically for adults to learn in a fun, no pressure environment, and is geared toward beginners with little or no prior experience in piano. Classes are offered for ages 18 and up, and will be held every Wednesday at the Piano Lab in Browne Hall, room 213, from 5:30-6:20 p.m. Topics to be covered in class include basic rhythms, music reading and keyboard patterns. The cost for Spring 2021 classes is $150 for a 10-week session (March 3 –... Read More

Paul Rumler, president/CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber, is among concerned local leaders who want the state of Illinois to consider another public institution to replace Western Illinois University on the Moline riverfront. “The best intentions started with great promise, and then in the last few years, it’s fizzled,” he said Friday, noting negatives in WIU enrollment, marketing and change in leadership. There have been well-publicized discussions among Western’s Board of Trustees, dating back two years, and faculty senate, questioning the value of the Moline campus, he said. “You’ve... Read More

Western Illinois University will celebrate Black History Month throughout February, with a variety of activities, speakers and events planned. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the events vary from virtual to in person. The Black History Month schedule for the remainder of the month includes: • Friday, Feb. 19 – 6 p.m. – movie night, “Moonlight,” virtual event: The LGBT*QA Resource Center and Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center will celebrate Black History Month with a free, online movie night. The film is a powerful and inspiring coming of age drama of a young Black man growing up in Miami.... Read More

Restrictions in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic have forced the cancellation of the annual performance of “The Vagina Monologues” at Western Illinois University; however a series of activities have been planned in its place between Feb. 22-24. “Although we are not having the play this year, I feel like students will benefit and have a true understanding of what ‘The Vagina Monologues’ is if they attend the events,” said WIU Women’s Center Graduate Assistant Trameka Pope. “We are incorporating interactive activities while also educating those... Read More

Just over six weeks into his new job as Western Illinois University president, Guiyou Huang wrote to Gov. JB Pritzker this past Tuesday, Feb. 16, about ongoing discussions regarding a potential transfer of the WIU Quad-Cities campus in Moline to another state institution. To date, Western has not been included in the discussion, he noted, copying Moline Mayor Stephanie Acri and Quad Cities Chamber president/CEO Paul Rumler. Acri responded that she’s had concerns about the impact of WIU in Moline and she’s scheduled to meet again with Huang on March 2. “In our conversation in my office this... Read More

Western Illinois University’s student-run broadcast news and sports media have been named finalists for the annual National Undergraduate Student Electronic Media Competition, hosted by NBS. “Their hard work and dedication continue to pay off,” said Quintin Parker, sports broadcasting director. “They’ve really been impressive lately, and they will only get better as time passes. Right now, we expect them to be the best, but we’re still willing to do the work it takes to be the best, so we’re in a good place right now.” NEWS3 staffers and Broadcast... Read More

Western Illinois University (WIU) Libraries will hold a virtual presentation of Robert Lopresti’s award-winning book, “When Women Didn’t Count” in March, in recognition of Women’s History Month. Robert Lopresti, a retired government information librarian from Western Washington University, (WWU) will discuss his award-winning book, “When Women Didn’t Count”(Praeger, 2017). The presentation is sponsored by WIU Libraries in acknowledgment of Women’s History Month. It will be held virtually at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 18. Lopresti retired in 2018,... Read More