Category Archives: Illinois State Redbirds

ISU announces Allie Matters as head volleyball coach

ISU announces Allie Matters as head volleyball coach

By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Illinois State University has named Allie Matters the eighth head coach in the history of the Redbird volleyball program. “I am so grateful for this opportunity to lead the Illinois state volleyball team,” Matters said in a news release. “I want to thank President Terri Goss Kinzy, Director of Athletics…MORE

ISU updates face covering requirements

ISU updates face covering requirements

By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Face coverings will be recommended, but not required in most facilities starting March 21 at Illinois State University. In a coronavirus update, the university said its updating the guidelines to reflect the state and CDC face covering guidance. Face coverings will still be required in clinical settings, at university events…MORE

ISU athletics receives $3 million gift commitment for indoor practice facility

ISU athletics receives $3 million gift commitment for indoor practice facility

By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Illinois State University Athletics has received a $3 million gift commitment for the indoor practice facility project from entrepreneur Dee Miller, his wife Sheila Marshall-Miller ’94, and former Illinois State student-athlete and professional football player BJ Bello. “We are incredibly grateful to Dee, Sheila, and BJ for their commitment to…MORE

ISU reveals cost of supplying KN95 masks to all on campus

ISU reveals cost of supplying KN95 masks to all on campus

By HOI ABC NORMAL – All students, faculty, and staff at Illinois State University are receiving KN95 masks at no cost to them, but it’s costing the school $23,000, a university spokesperson said Thursday. ISU is paying that amount for industrial supply company Grainger to quickly deliver 25,000 KN95s, said university spokesperson Eric Jome. He…MORE

ISU distributing KN95 face masks to campus community

ISU distributing KN95 face masks to campus community

By Neil Doyle and HOI ABC NORMAL – KN95 face masks are being distributed to the entire campus community at Illinois State University. ISU is procuring a stock of KN95 masks to make available to every student, faculty, and staff member, according to a university coronavirus update. “KN95 masks are shown to provide wearers with…MORE

ISU Homecoming Parade this weekend

ISU Homecoming Parade this weekend

By Neil Doyle NORMAL – The annual Illinois State University Homecoming Parade is making its return in a more traditional format this weekend. The typical parade route will be in full force with over 100 participants and plenty of candy. There is also a way to watch the parade if you can’t be there in…MORE

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…