Category Archives: Students

Global Health Gala, Solidarity Celebration April 19

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The sounds of traditional drums and the aroma of East African cuisine will mark an upcoming fundraiser from several Illinois Wesleyan University student health organizations trying to cure the world’s ills.

The Global Health Gala, which includes a traditional Swahili dinner and West African dance performance, will take place from 5-7 p.m., Sunday, April 19, in Hansen Student Center and will benefit four University groups, which are working toward global health equality. Tickets are free to students and will be available on the steps going up to the Dining Commons. Community members, faculty and staff can purchase tickets for $30 each at The Illinois Wesleyan University Bookstore, the Garlic Press in Normal and Crossroads Global Handcrafts in Bloomington.

The event will also replace the Save a Life, Win A Wii Solidarity Celebration that was originally slated for April 4, on the Illinois Wesleyan University Robert S. Eckley Quadrangle, also known as the Quad.

The event is a joint effort between student organizations, all of which have been established this academic year at Illinois Wesleyan.

John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference Marks 20 Years

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – As students begin their presentations at the annual John Wesley Powell Research Conference on April 18, they will be following a 20-year tradition at Illinois Wesleyan University. Throughout the past two decades the conference has evolved – expanding in numbers, encompassing more departments and integrating technology. The event, however, remains an example of one of the hallmarks of the University, a chance to celebrate the work of undergraduate research.

“Four-year, liberal arts institutions have the ability to develop students with research they would not experience until the graduate level at a large university,” said Roger Schnaitter, associate provost for academic planning and standards at Illinois Wesleyan, who coordinated the conference during the 1990s.

Illinois Wesleyan Students to Study Abroad at Oxford

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – During the 2009-2010 academic school year, two Illinois Wesleyan University students will study abroad in England at Oxford University. Chao Ren of Dongying, Shandong, China, a sophomore international student and history major, will study at Pembroke College as part of the Visiting Students Programme. Brandon Dorn of Glen Ellyn, Ill., a sophomore English literature major and economics minor, will study at St. Catherine’s College.

While at Pembroke, Ren will take history lecture and tutorial courses. He discovered the Pembroke Visiting Students Programme from former participant Sneh Rajbhandari, class of 2009. “It is a great opportunity for a history major to explore and experience the oldest university in the English-speaking world,” he said. “I hope that through an intensive immersion in history I will be able to better understand where and how our world came to be.”

Founded in 1624, Pembroke College admits less than 100 undergraduate students each year from schools throughout Great Britain and a small number of students from other countries for a total enrollment of approximately 400 students. Pembroke is one of 36 colleges that, along with seven private halls, make up Oxford University. Pembroke has a relationship with 12 U.S. colleges and universities: Barnard, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, George Washington, Georgetown, Haverford, Illinois Wesleyan, Tufts and the University of Pennsylvania. Illinois Wesleyan students have studied at Pembroke College since 1997.

Dorn will study at Oxford through Butler University’s Institute for Study Abroad. He chose Oxford University and St. Catherine’s College in particular because of his interest to live in a different environment. Dorn said that he hopes this experience will make him more comfortable as a citizen of the world.

New Student Organization Up ’til Dawn

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University has more than 165 registered student organizations (RSO’s), including government organizations, sport teams, Greek societies and philanthropic groups. This past year students on campus added another addition to the extensive list of RSO’s, Up ’til Dawn.

Up ’til Dawn is an organization dedicated to raising money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an internationally recognized research hospital that provides free care to children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Approximately 150 Illinois Wesleyan students participated in a letter-writing campaign, organized by Up ‘till Dawn, which raised over $19,000. All of the money will go towards the operation of the daily research and treatment of the hospital, which cost more than $1 million per day to maintain.

The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas, and is based in Memphis, Tenn. The hospital is financially supported by ALSAC (The American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities), the fundraising organization for the hospital.

“It’s important that a group like this exists so that we are given the opportunity to help children with catastrophic diseases improve their chance of survival. Since the first Up ‘til Dawn started at the University of Memphis ten years ago, college students across the nation have helped raise millions of dollars,” said Blake Bradley, director of fraternity and sorority life, and the faculty advisor of Up ‘til Dawn. “Plus, the leadership skills students on the executive board develop are valuable ways to learn and build their skill set for their careers after college.”

Students Take Spanish-Speaking Skills Into the Community

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – It seems a simple idea – assist a family in need. Yet that idea becomes more complex when language is a barrier.

Illinois Wesleyan University students have been working to break down that barrier by heading into the community and using their growing knowledge of the Spanish language to help not-for-profit organizations. The students are part of Spanish for Social Justice, which examines social justice issues, from housing and health care to education and employment.

“Students have a lot of opportunities to practice Spanish, but in their fieldwork they are learning so much more than just language,” said Chair and Professor of Hispanic Studies at Illinois Wesleyan Carolyn Nadeau. “Students have let faculty know they want a chance to work in the community, and this class gives them an opportunity to do that while experiencing an Hispanic culture.”

A discussion of projects with community partners will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8 at Beckman Auditorium in The Ames Library (1 Ames East, Bloomington). The presentations will be followed by the distribution of the first community-wide assessment of Hispanic families by one of the partner not-for-profit organizations, the Hispanic Families Work Group. Copies are free and available to the public, which is invited to the event.

“This is a great way to show the power of what students can do when we all combine our strengths with community partners,” said Deborah Halperin, vice chair of the Hispanic Families Work Group and coordinator of the Action Research Center (ARC) on campus. Halperin used her ARC connections to help Nadeau create projects with area not-for-profit organizations. “Projects such as the students working with Habitat for Humanity are a great example of bringing together students, community organizations and the University in a very meaningful way,” said Halperin.

Student Video Promotes Computer Security Awareness

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Junior Emily Akins, sophomore Jeremy Henle and senior Lucas Loury are the winners of The Ames Library/Internet Technology (IT) computer security awareness video contest.

Akins, an orchestral instruments major and English-writing minor, Henle, a biology major, and Loury, a history major and Greek and Roman studies minor, created their 30-second video based on the song “Internet Relationships” by MC Lars.

They plan to enter the video in a national contest sponsored by Educause, a not-for-profit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.

Students Take Philanthropic Spring Break

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – At 3:30 a.m. on March 14, 30 students and three members of the faculty and staff will embark on a week-long trip to provide disaster relief to a local community. These students are part of Illinois Wesleyan University’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB), an organization created through the Student Volunteer Center to give students the opportunity for a non-traditional spring break vacation.

This year, through both ASB and the IWU/ISU chapter of Habitat for Humanity, over 90 students, accompanied by select members of faculty and staff, will volunteer their time and efforts. The members of ASB will travel to Galveston, and Crossville, Tenn., and the members of Habitat for Humanity will travel to Henderson, Texas.

In Galveston, ASB students will assist with the process of disaster relief, as the town is still recovering from Hurricane Ike. However, the 15 volunteers assigned to Crossville will focus on environmental cleanup, as well as restoring a local nature trail.

IWU Habitat for Humanity volunteers in Henderson will be pair with other Habitat for Humanity volunteers from all over the country as part of the alternative break program, Collegiate Challenge. This program supports making connections with their peers, while providing safe housing for those in need. The students spend eight to nine hours a day building houses and then will have the evenings off to relax and explore the surrounding areas of Henderson.

“The opportunity provides students the chance to take their classroom experiences and apply them to the real world in an enriching and meaningful way. The ultimate goal is that upon returning from ASB programs students will continue a life dedicated, at least in a small way, to service. It is amazing the positive impact that one week of service can have on an individual’s life,” said Kevin Clark, director of the Student Volunteer Center.

Habitat for Humanity Receives State Farm Grant

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University chapter of Habitat for Humanity has received a $2,000 grant from State Farm Insurance Companies.

The Illinois Wesleyan University chapter applied for and received the grant in competition with numerous other campus chapters across the United States. State Farm, the national sponsor for all Habitat for Humanity youth programs, gave out a total of 28 matching grants to various campus chapters. The matching grants required the chapters to raise an amount equal to the grant before receiving the funds. The IWU chapter raised the amount through a number of fundraisers including Trick-or-Treat for Change and the Power of a Dollar, where each student asks friends and family to contribute a single dollar.

“State Farm has been a sponsor of Habitat for Humanity for many years, encouraging employees and community members to become involved with the program,” says Heather Paul, a specialist in public affairs for State Farm. “As a company, State Farm also holds a commitment toward young adults and youth involvement in the community.” Paul presented the grant to the chapter on Feb. 10 at an IWU Board of Trustees meeting.

German Chocolate Pizza and Other Market Research

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Students from a marketing class at Illinois Wesleyan University looked down upon their research subjects during a recent market survey – but that’s only because they were much shorter.

Nearly 30 Illinois Wesleyan students from Karen Bussone’s course on “Principles of Marketing” visited third graders at Grove Elementary School in Normal, hoping to gain insights on a topic generally loved by children – pizza.

“The goal of incorporating The Pizza Hut Challenge project into the classroom curriculum is to provide students an opportunity to conduct primary research with a given subject in a real world situation. “ said Bussone, a visiting assistant professor of business administration. Bussone asked Illinois Wesleyan students to create marketing concepts that target grade-school children and are geared to make a local pizza company more profitable. To assist them in their research, the students of Julie Swango’s third-grade class offered to take part in group surveys.

The children answered questions ranging from “Who is your favorite cartoon character?” to “If you could put anything on pizza, what would it be?”

“German chocolate on pizza? Yum!” said Kyle Borkowski after one third-grader’s response. Borkowski’s group posed more questions for the children, writing each answer. A junior business major from Crete, Ill., Borkowski said the interaction with the children offers a unique perspective. “We’re not just assuming what the kids like, or saying what we liked when we were kids.”

Graphic Design Class Tackles Social Issues

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University students are used to tackling controversial issues in the classroom, and in Professor of Art Sherry McElroy’s Graphic Design I course they’re doing it through the power of advertising.

Archived at the Student Graphic Arts Collection Web site, the advertisements feature research subjects that illustrate current social, political and economic conditions.

“The objective of the project is to explore visual solutions that best serve to educate, inform or call the audience to action,” said McElroy.

Many students in the class, which welcomes non-majors looking to fulfill a general education credit, chose the theme of gender inequality. “Earning Power,” an ad by senior accounting major Jennifer Daniels that demonstrates the pay inequality between men and women in Illinois, stood out to McElroy as particularly effective.

Underneath a one thousand dollar bill with a his-and-her-style piece cut out in the shape of the state, Daniels writes: “In Illinois, women earn 75 cents to every dollar earned by an Illinois male. … It may seem like just a few cents, but the wage gap between men and women adds up to enormous sums over the course of a working lifetime. Women working fulltime earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. For a female college graduate, that’s on average $1.2 million lost. … For the same work.”

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