November 14, 2022

News for and about the Illinois Wesleyan community

WGLT

Political Science Professor Tari Renner interpreted election results in McLean County.

WTMJ - Milwaukee

Sara Rodriguez '97 was elected Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin.

Broadway World

Emily Meyer '04 will perform violin and vocals for the production of Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol as told through puppetry and music at Writers Theatre in Glencoe, Illinois.

WGLT

Sharon Chung '00 was elected as representative for the 91st House District of Illinois, serving as the first Korean-American elected to the General Assembly.

The Pantagraph

The Normal Theatre showcased the new biopic "Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues” presented by Further Jazz, a nonprofit led by Glenn Wilson, former jazz director at IWU.

The Pantagraph

Thirty-six music students in Bloomington-Normal received scholarships from the Pratt Music Foundation, allowing students to receive individualized instruction in their chosen instrument at Illinois Wesleyan's Preparatory Music Program.

4 p.m., Auditorium, Myers Welcome Center — Careers in Computer Science Panel — Come join a panel of successful alumni working in technology fields. Computer science can take you in a number of exciting directions throughout your career. Sponsored by the Hart Career Center & IWU Association for Computing Machinery.

6 p.m., Zoom — Webinar: Catching up on Cannabis Research — Presenter Jason Kilmer, Ph.D., is an associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington. He has worked extensively with college students and student groups at campuses across the nation and locally with staff and students at Illinois Wesleyan University, Heartland Community College and Illinois State University. He will be answering questions for parents, caregivers and guardians about cannabis. 

11:30 a.m., Room E101, Center for Natural Sciences — So You Wanna Be A Dentist — Students are invited to learn more about the path to becoming a dentist, including resources and recommendations for networking. 

4 p.m., Henning Room, Memorial Center — 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.

4:30 p.m., Room 218, Joyce Eichhorn Ames School of Art Building — Kichwa: Language, Gastronomy & Culture of the Ecuadorian Amazon — Presenters Doris Castillo and Giacomo Rubini will give a live presentation from Ecuador. They will immerse us in the Language, Gastronomy and Culture of the Kichwa communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon, teaching about the characteristics of the Kichwa language, its relationship to Quechua, and about the connection of the language to people’s life. Castillo will give us a tour to “Maytu” restaurant in Quito, a cultural project to promote appreciation of the gastronomy of Kichwas. The experience will include a traditional Kichwa drink and small bites.

Sponsored by International and Global Studies; World Languages, Literatures and Cultures; and the Language Resource Center.

7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and Sunday at 2 p.m., Jerome Mirza Theatre, McPherson Hall — Sunday in the Park with George — This musical is Stephen Sondheim’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musing on pointillist George Seurat’s most-famous work, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte." Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Scott Susong directs this two-time Olivier Award-winning, timeless painting-brought-to-life. The reverie centers on a fictional version of Seurat — a wistful, obsessive artist engrossed in creating his masterpiece — and his great-grandson, a modern-day heir to Seurat’s unconventional genius.

7 p.m., Beckman Auditorium, The Ames Library — International Film Series: "Bolivia" — Presented by visiting Post-Doctoral Fellow in Political Science Lucia Luna-Victoria Indacochea. Most films in this series are shown in their original language with English subtitles; films are closely tied to courses or academic programs, and faculty members present a short introduction to each film, often with group discussions after the screening. 

5:30 p.m., Beckman Auditorium, The Ames Library — Curtain Talks Lecture Series: Illinois Art Station talk on George Seurat and History Through Art — Curtain Talks is a lecture series about the School of Theatre Arts production series and related topics. All events are free and open to the public. In connection with SoTA's production of "Sunday in The Park With George," we will host a Curtain Talk, "Seurat and Sondheim: How a French artist’s singular approach inspired the intrepid American composer."

7:30 p.m., Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall — Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra — The Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Glenn Block, will feature Director of the IWU School of Music Franklin Larey as piano soloist in Mozart's "Piano Concerto No. 12." The Symphony will also perform "Obertura Guarani" by Paraguyan composer Jose Echeverria and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5 "Reformation." The concert is free and open to the public.

1 p.m., Fort Natatorium — Men and Women's Swimming and Diving Invite

1 p.m., Shirk Center — Women's Basketball vs Capital University — Streaming live at www.iwusports.com/watch/.

3 p.m., Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall — Chih-Long Hu, Piano Master Class

3 p.m. Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall — Chih-Long Hu, Guest Artist Piano Recital

6 p.m., Hansen Student Center — Student Senate General Assembly Meeting

Class Registration for May Term

1 p.m., second floor, Hansen Student Center — Live Stream of U.S. vs Wales World Cup Soccer Game — Illinois Wesleyan's exhibit of “The Beautiful Game: Just Kicking It in Bloomington-Normal” will include live streams of each World Cup soccer game. This event is free and snacks will be provided.

• Yoga will take place at 12:15-12:55 p.m. on Monday and Thursday in the Niepagen South Classroom in the Shirk Center. 
• Personal Fitness will take place at 4:45-5:15 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday in the Niepagen South Classroom in the Shirk Center.
• Fitness Walking on Wednesday at 12:15-12:45 p.m. at the Shirk Center indoor track.

There will be no classes the week of Thanksgiving (Nov. 21-25).

"Gratitude is the best medicine. It heals your mind, your body and your spirit. And attracts more things to be grateful for."

Benefits Choice and Open Enrollment

Benefits Choice and Open Enrollment will be virtual again this year. For an overview of the BCBS Medical Plan options and other benefits, please plan to attend an open enrollment Zoom meeting at noon on Monday, November 14 or Tuesday, November 15.

Join the Zoom meeting here.

If you are unable to attend, the first session will be recorded and posted to the HR webpage.

Details about your benefits are listed in the 2023 Open Enrollment Guide. 

You will need to complete a new enrollment form:

• If you are NOT currently enrolled and want to enroll in the BCBS medical plan, Principal dental plan or BCBS/EyeMed vision plan for 2023
• If you want to change your BCBS medical plan option
• If you want to terminate coverage in the BCBS medical plan, Principal dental plan or BCBS/EyeMed vision plan
• If you want to add or terminate dependent(s) on your coverage
• If you want to contribute to a Flex Spending Account for 2023
• If you want to contribute to a Health Savings Account for 2023

All enrollment forms need to be completed and returned to HR by Friday, December 2, 2022. Elections or changes you make during the open enrollment period will become effective January 1, 2023. 

If you have questions, please contact Marie in Human Resources at mgiusti@iwu.edu or x3971.

Up to $5,000 in seed grant funding available to IWU students 

Do you have an idea that you are passionate about pursuing? Do you need significant seed grant funding to really advance and accelerate achieving your goals and dreams for your new product, service, or venture? You’re in luck! The Titan New Venture Challenge is awaiting your application. 

The Titan New Venture Challenge, open to current Illinois Wesleyan University students of all backgrounds and all interests, is designed to encourage students from all majors to develop their ideas for new products or services into profitable businesses and nonprofits. 

By participating in this program, you have a chance to receive a grant up to a maximum of $5,000. Plus, the connections made with others in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at IWU could prove to be invaluable. 

Participation Guide

Application

The application deadline is Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022.

The Titan New Venture Challenge demonstration showcase and pitch presentations will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Hansen Student Center, Center Court. The event is open to everyone to attend. Food will be provided. 

After reading the Participation Guide, please contact John Quarton at jquarton@iwu.edu if you have any questions. 

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.