The Daily Vidette

Concerts on the Quad to entertain this summer

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The popular summer attraction "Concerts on the Quad" began Monday and will continue throughout July with varying styles of music each week.

The five concert series is free and open to the public. Each concert will be held on Monday night starting at 7 p.

Illinois Shakespeare Festival receives honor

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival received the Educating Illinois in Action honor this past April for its scholarly programs and goals.

Students are given the chance to earn course credit for involvement in the Festival, and are able to have one-on-one time with theatre professionals.

Illinois State to be first to offer service learning major

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Illinois State University, in conjunction with State Farm Companies Foundation, will be offering students a Service Learning minor.

Illinois State will be the first public university of higher education to acknowledge service learning as a minor. With approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the University's Board of Trustees, the new minor should be available for registration starting the 2010-2011 school year.

Partnership to improve Central Illinois foster care

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

In an effort to enhance foster care services in Central Illinois faculty members of ISU's School of Social Work/Center for Adoption Studies recently established an endearing partnership with the Department of Children and Family Services.

The Permanency Enhancement Project partnership has emphasis on the reduction of Central Illinois children who enter and remain in long-term foster care without a family.

Remodeling continues across campus

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

While work on Stevenson Hall is close to completion, remodeling in Turner Hall and the Watterson Food Court has just begun.

Watterson remodeling work began earlier this month, with phases one and two underway.

"They were able to begin on phases one and two and 90 percent of the demolition for phases one and two has been done," Tracy Widergren, marketing coordinator of Campus Dining Services, said.

Summer camps on ISU campus offer learning experiences for all

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Philip Lasseigne

Daily Vidette Features Editor

The motto for ISU is "�and gladly would he learn and gladly teach�" Even though the University is home to thousands of students during the academic year, the motto takes on a different meaning during the summer months.

Battle of the sexes: a depressing truth in professional hoops equality

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

As I sat back and watched the 2009 NBA Draft about a week back, a peculiar irony caught my attention. At a commercial break, a WNBA advertisement aired in complement with its counterpart.

But as I saw the smiles and boastful glee on some of these young men's faces during the draft, I knew it wasn't just elite competition these players were looking forward to; it was the light at the end of the tunnel�the illustrious paycheck.

Brownlee leaves coaching realm as a winner in the passing of the torch

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The 2009 season came to a close for the ISU baseball team, but it was more than just the end of another year of baseball. It was the passing of a torch.

Jim Brownlee, ISU's head coach for the past seven seasons, officially retired and passed the torch to Mark Kingston, who took over almost immediately after the Redbirds' season concluded.

Springer ends ISU throwing career with resounding power

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The town of Tremont is a mere 40 miles away from Bloomington-Normal. Despite the proximity from her hometown, Redbird women's track and field thrower Sam Springer had to take a step back when she first arrived on Illinois State's campus four years ago.

A leap from a town with a population of a little more than 2,000 to a campus with well over 20,000 students was far from an easy alteration.

Twitter not just for twits

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Despite initial skepticism and almost excessive simplicity, Twitter has blown up. This popular tool, designed for social networking through instant status updates, has been effectively utilized by users such as Snoop Dogg, the New York Times and even the United States Air Force.

Where's the party?

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Republican Party is finding itself on the defensive again.

After taking subsequent beatings at the polls in 2006 and 2008, the party has been experiencing a loss in leadership, ideas and ideals.

The latest example of the party's identity crisis came after South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was literally missing in action for days.