MACOMB, IL – An original composition by Western Illinois University Music Professor John Cooper will be featured in a documentary that debuts on YouTube Thursday, Oct. 15. “The Governor of Forgottonia” composition is a tribute to Neal Gamm and his peaceful protests about the lack of funding western Illinois has received for road construction projects. The documentary, “People, Places, and Power: Fulton County Edition,” was produced by Matt Meachum, of the Illinois Humanities Council. “As a returning Vietnam veteran and theatre major at WIU, Gamm and others waged... 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

We’re falling into fall, and looking at some of the good news and positive things going on around the Quad-Cities, as we HAVE DONE (foreshadowing there) every month in What’s The Good News, Quad-Cities? Every month around this time, we’ve dropped this column on QuadCities.com and I appear on our media partner show, “Paula Sands Live” on KWQC-TV6 to give you a rundown of some of the cool things going on in and around the area. It’s all good news, all the time. AND… because this has been such a popular feature since it debuted three years ago, we’ve decided to give you... Read More

MACOMB, IL — The local nonprofit Western Illinois Dreamers offers up to $2,000 in rent/housing and utilities assistance for immigrant students (does not include international students) who lost income or suffered a hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic, such us increased health care costs. The information students provide is confidential. For more information, contact students Anthony Gomez, a-gomez6@wiu.edu and Alondra Lavariega, A-Lavariega@wiu.edu, or Professor Julia Albarracin. J-albarracin@wiu.edu at (309) 836-5202, or apply directly at forms.gle/Myg6URSKEhMqgcBs7.  Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University is waiving the $30 application fee for undergraduate, graduate, and international students who apply to WIU (wiu.edu/apply) between Oct. 1-31. Graduating high school seniors and transfer students, dual enrollment students, graduate students and international students, as well as those applying through the Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) program, who apply for admission to Western for the Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 semesters, will have the application fee waived during the fee waiver month beginning at 12 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 through 11:59 p.m.... Read More

MACOMB, IL — The Western Illinois University School of Music will present the Faculty Chamber Music Series Concert I, featuring members of the Camerata Woodwind Quintet and The Hopper Jazztet, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 in the College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) Recital Hall. Due to the restrictions currently in place, there are no general admission performances in the COFAC Recital Hall.This performance will be broadcast on the School of Music’s YouTube Channel and Facebook page. PROGRAM: Divertimento for flute, oboe and clarinet, Op. 37 – Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006) I.... Read More