March 20, 2023

News for and about the Illinois Wesleyan community

The Pantagraph

Illinois Wesleyan has announced two new and expanding schools — including a new School of Business and Economics and the expansion of the School of Nursing to become the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Also reported by WMBD-TV and TV-10 News.

The Pantagraph

Illinois Wesleyan University's Collegiate Choir performed at several Illinois locations during Spring Break, with a final performance scheduled at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, at Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington.

WGLT Radio

"The American Passion Play" is concluding production with the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts after a 100-year history, which began with the vision of Delmar Darrah, a former professor of elocution at IWU.

Madison 365 - Wisconsin

Carla Vigue '96, director of tribal relations at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was named one of Wisconsin's most influential Native American leaders for 2023.

Clinton Herald

Jim '41 and Mary '43 Winn, who met while studying music at Illinois Wesleyan, are being honored through a scholarship in their name for Clinton Community College students who are active in sharing their musical talents with the community.

The Pantagraph

President Georgia Nugent addresses the U.S. News & World Report ranking system used by many colleges and universities, a tool she said can't adequately measure the full college experience for students.

The Southern Illinoisian

Megan Neely '02 was named the new Chief of Primary Care Service at Marion VA Health Care System.

ABC 7 - Chicago

Vice President of Marketing & Communications with the LaSalle Network Jessica Schaeffer '11 shared insight on professional development and career growth.

Academic Advising for Fall, through March 31

4 p.m., Office of Multifaith Engagement, lower level of Evelyn Chapel — ReligiosiTEA — The Office of Multifaith Engagement supports the diversity of worldviews present at Illinois Wesleyan – religious, spiritual, and secular. We seek to provide a venue for asking meaningful questions – including questions about who we are and what we are for. All are invited to our weekly gatherings to meet our Multifaith Ambassadors and enjoy refreshments provided.

6 p.m., Hansen Student Center — Titan New Venture Challenge — Open to current Illinois Wesleyan University students of all backgrounds and all interests, the Titan New Venture Challenge is designed to encourage students from all majors to develop their ideas for new products or services into profitable businesses and nonprofits. Students participating in this event have a chance to receive a grant up to a maximum of $5,000. The connections made with others in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at IWU could prove to be invaluable. Sponsored by The Petrick Idea Center.

7 p.m., Virtual — Law School Admissions 101 — Join Ryan Mellske '99, founder of Flex Arbitri PLLC, to learn more about law school and the steps you need to take in order to apply and be accepted. Register here.

7:30 p.m., Tucci Stadium — Men's Lacrosse vs Hope — Streaming live at www.iwusports.com/watch/.

8 p.m., Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington — IWU Collegiate Choir Tour Home Concert

7 p.m., CNS C101 – Ebony Murrell '02 on Sustainable Perennial Grains Agriculture – Dr. Ebony Murrell, a 2002 IWU biology alum, will give a talk on “New roots for fallowed ground: developing sustainable perennial grains agriculture.” Murrell, a Crop Protection Ecologist at The Land Institute, will provide an overview of the research conducted by the Land Institute and global partners on perennial grains systems.

Last day to withdraw from a second 7-week class

Last day to withdraw from a full semester class

4 p.m., CNS C101 – Natural Science Colloquium – Dr. Ebony Murrell '02 will speak on “What drives ecosystem services in cropping systems, and how can we use them to promote sustainable farming?”  

4 p.m., Beckman Auditorium, The Ames Library — Guest Lecture by Dr. Alejandro Velasco — Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of History at New York University Dr. Alejandro Velasco will present “The Many Faces of Chavismo.” This event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Political Science, Sociology, WLLC, and History departments.

4 p.m., Beadles-Morse Courts — Men's Tennis vs Augustana

7 p.m., through March 25, E. Melba Johnson Kirkpatrick Laboratory Theatre — School of Theatre Arts: Tintypes — Set amid a wave of immigration and innovation at the turn of the 20th century, Tintypes is a pastiche of Americana set in the shadow of World War I. Director of Marketing Andy Kreiss (BFA Music Theatre '86) directs this heart-warming, Tony Award-winning musical revue featuring toe-tapping tunes from the era by John Philip Sousa, Scott Joplin and Victor Herbert, to name a few.

12 p.m., Horenberger Field — Baseball vs Wabash — Streaming live at www.iwusports.com/watch/.

1 p.m., Inspiration Field — Softball vs Lake Forest: Mental Health Awareness Game — Streaming live at www.iwusports.com/watch/.

2 p.m., Niepagen South Classroom, Shirk Center — Deja Vu Dance Team Weekly Practice — Join Deja Vu for dances, laughs and an enormous amount of body positivity training as we explore dances from all across the world. We are a K-Pop and East Asian based team, but we try dance styles from everywhere to maximize the fun. All levels of experience are welcome.

3 p.m., Horenberger Field — Baseball vs Wabash — Streaming live at www.iwusports.com/watch/.

3 p.m., Inspiration Field — Softball vs Lake Forest: Mental Health Awareness Game — Streaming live at www.iwusports.com/watch/.

2 p.m., E. Melba Johnson Kirkpatrick Laboratory Theatre — School of Theatre Arts: Tintypes

6 p.m., Hansen Student Center — Student Senate General Assembly Meeting — All general assembly meetings are open to the entire student body.

Robert Harrington Endowed Professor of Biology Edgar Lehr was featured by National Geographic France in a story that examines the threat that drug traffickers bring to the Amazon rainforest.

Happy first day of spring! 

• There will be no yoga class this week. Yoga will resume next week on Mondays and Thursdays in the Niepagen South Classroom with Rhendy Bradshaw at the Shirk Center from 12:15 - 12:55 p.m.
• Personal Fitness takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays on the east end of the Shirk Center track with Grace Redman from 12:15 - 12:45 p.m.

"If you have the chance to make someone happy, just do it. Sometimes people are struggling silently. Maybe your act of kindness can make their day!"

Reminder about Upcoming Flexible Spending Deadlines

If you have a remaining balance in your 2022 Flexible Spending account:

• April 30, 2023, is the deadline for BPC to receive your requests for reimbursement

You can check your balance by contacting BPC at 877-272-8880 or by logging in to your account at www.bpcinc.com  

All Flex requests for reimbursement should be sent directly to BPC. Requests can be sent by mail, fax, online through the BPC website or by using the BPC phone app. If you need a reimbursement form, an electronic form can be found on the BPC website and the HR Employee Benefits webpage.

McLean County Unit 5 Referendum Informational Session

Illinois Wesleyan faculty and staff are invited to join McLean County Unit 5 Superintendent Kirsten Weikle for an informational session on the tax referendum that will appear on the April 4 ballot. The session will be on Thursday, March 23, at 4 p.m. in the Vinyard Room of the Memorial Center. There will be an opportunity for questions following the presentation.  

After a community engagement process, the Unit 5 Board of Education proposed the referendum as a solution to the district’s multi-million-dollar structural deficit in its education fund. The referendum failed to pass in the November election and the Board of Education voted to put it on the ballot again for April. 

If you have good news to share with fellow Titans (such as a birth, adoption or wedding), please send information to webedit@iwu.edu so we can spread the good cheer!



See Student Photo Directories by class year (photos viewable on the campus network).

Campus Weekly is an electronic newsletter from Illinois Wesleyan's Office of Communications, edited by Julia Perez, assistant director of communications. To submit items of interest, email webedit@iwu.edu.