Fall 2019 Speakers and Events
CHECK BACK SOON for MORE EVENTS TO COME!
See additional events for the campus 2019-20 Theme "Fact or Fiction" here!
August 2019
Welcome (back) to campus!
September 2019
McLean County Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Held at Rivian Automotive in Normal
Volunteer opportunities available (must be 18 yrs or older) - sign up for a 3 hr shift
here: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?ap=1711455354.
Interested in volunteering at the 2019 McLean County Household Hazardous Waste Collection held on Sept 9? The Ecology Action Center could use your help! In a change from past
practice, the 2019 event will be appointment-only in order to regulate traffic flow more evenly;
residents must sign up for an appointment (appt deadline at noon on Friday, September 6). Full event details including event location will be shared as part of the appointment confirmation
process. To carry off this huge event, many volunteers are needed. Please consider signing up for a shift or two to help this event run smoothly. Roles include traffic control, survey taker, information
distribution, and e-waste unloading. No volunteers will deal directly with hazardous
waste. Sponsored by the Ecology Action Center
Annual Environmental Studies Picnic
Sunday, September 8, 2019
4:30-6:30 p.m.
Sugar Grove Nature Center
RSVP required - more information to come!
The Environmental Studies Program will host its annual picnic at the Sugar Grove Nature Center. This is a great time to gather outdoors, meet new people, and enjoy some down time
with your ES faculty and fellow students. Basic staples of burgers (locally sourced)
and veggie burgers, as well as drinks will be provided. Faculty and students are encouraged
to bring a potluck item to share. In years past, this has been an opportunity for
a great feast. So come and join in on the fun! Transportation will be provided from
campus, if RSVP in advance (departing 4p, returning 7p). Sponsored by the IWU Environmental Studies Program.
"Fact or Fiction” Course Cluster Kickoff Workshop"
Wednesday Sept 11 @ 11a-1p (lunch provided)
Young Main Lounge, Memorial Center
This year's Illinois Wesleyan Annual Intellectual Theme is Fact or Fiction and 29 classes are part of a cluster that relates to the theme in some way. The kick-off
event for the Fact or Fiction Course Cluster is Wednesday, Sept. 11. It will be held
from 11-12:30pm in the Young Main Lounge (second floor of the Memorial Center). There
will be a buffet-style lunch line setup specifically for this event in the Joslin
Atrium (adjacent to Young Main Lounge). Please use this buffet line to help us streamline
everyone getting lunch and being seated. Students with a meal pass will swipe at the
buffet line. Students without a meal pass will be able to sign in near the buffet
line for lunch. The event will include activities highlighting fact and fiction.
"It’s Getting Hot in Here: A Conversation about Climate, Clean Energy, Jobs and Justice"
Thursday, September 12, 2019
6-8pm (6:00-6:30 refreshments; 6:30-8:00 forum and public input)
First United Methodist Church, Normal (211 N. School Street)
Did you know central Illinois currently averages 7 days above 100 degrees? By 2035,
that number will be 41 days! How will this affect the elderly and children? Outdoor
farm labor and agriculture? Families without air conditioning? Join a presentation
of a new Union of Concerned Scientists report: “Killer Heat in the U.S,” and discussion
by panelists with participation from you (community members) about what we can do
to mitigate it. The Clean Energy Jobs Act is giving Illinois the opportunity to lead
the charge in lowering emissions while creating jobs and ensuring economic justice.
We need bold action to prevent the worst from happening. Co-sponsored by Illinois People’s Action (IPA), Union of Concerned Scientists, Prairie
Rivers Network, Citizen's Utility Board, and the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition. For
more information, contact IPA through email @ Admin@illinoispeoplesaction.org or by calling the office at (309) 827-9627.
Taking the Road Less Traveled
Monday, September 16, 2019
4:00 p.m.
State Farm Hall 102 (Case Study Room)
Come hear stories from students who recently studied abroad in places off the beaten
path, showing how they not only survived, but thrived while abroad. The lineup of student presenters this year is: Sam Berghoff — Argentina (SIT), Khayla Caruthers — South Korea (CIEE), Anaol Dalle
— Philippines (Freeman Asia Internship- FNRI), Dilyetna Gebru — Philippines (Freeman
Asia Internship- IRRI), Kate Hoffacker — Philippines (Freeman Asian Internship- FNRI),
Jasmine White — China (IES Abroad). Refreshments will be served! And all are welcome.
Co-sponsored by: the Development Studies Team of the IWU International Studies Program
and the International Office.
Human Rights and Social Justice Dinner Workshop - Fact or Fiction
Thursday, September 19, 2019
4:30-7:00 p.m.
Turfler Room in the Memorial Center
Free (dinner included) but pre-registration required @ this link: http://bit.ly/2kGNdXF.
Join faculty, staff, alumni, community leaders and students for IWU's Center for Human
Rights and Social Justice annual human rights workshop (dinner included), where we
will--through small group case study discussion and large group conversation--consider
the various "facts and fictions" of urgent human rights issues in our community and
world. Topics will include: human rights treaties; art and activism; LGBTQ inclusion
and The United Methodist Church; Immigration and the U.S./Mexico Border; Social Media;
and the construction of identity in conflict zones. Come for great conversation and
learning, dinner, and an opportunity to network with campus and community leaders
and activists! Co-sponsored by the Center for Human Rights and Social Justice, and the Office of
Diversity and Inclusion. The workshop is part of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion's
3D series and is part of the annual intellectual theme proceedings for the year.
Climate Strike
Friday, September 20, 2019
Uptown Circle (Normal)
12:00 pm rally and speakers, 12:30 pm march to ISU Bridge
The climate crisis requires action, and we have the opportunity to get involved. This
Friday, September 20th, climate strikes will be occurring around the world to protest
"business as usual" and demand immediate action from world leaders. There will be
a strike/rally happening in Normal this Friday. The Global Climate Strike is an international
event inspired by the FridaysForFuture school strikes, which were started by the young
Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg. For more information about the Global
Climate Strike, FridaysForFuture, or the strike in Normal, check out these sites Global Climate Strike; FridaysForFuture; Search "Climate Strike Normal" on Facebook. Global event sponsored by Global Climate Strike.
Deep Green Faith: Healing Our Spiritual Relationship with Nature
Facilitators: Dr. Robin Gottfried and Rev. Jerry Cappel from The Center for Religion
and Environment,
Monday, September 23, 2019
7pm
First United Methodist Church (211 N. School Street in Normal)
FYI
IWU students can ride local Connect Transit busses for free with ID a check routes
& download App-see
www.connect-transit.com/
Interested in deepening your own spiritual connection with nature? Consider attending
one or more of these public events on Deep Green Faith. The main event will feature
Dr. Robin Gottfried and Rev. Jerry Cappel from The Center for Religion and Environment,
who will lead participants in these events. Appropriate for adults and teens of any
religious background. Sponsored by the First United Methodist Church in Normal.
"What We Did Last Summer": Poster Presentations by the IWU Freeman Asia Interns
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
4-5:30 pm
Joslin Atrium, Memorial Center
This is a public presentation by the 2018 IWU Freeman Asia Interns. Interns will give
poster presentations about their experiences while participating in the Freeman Asia
Internship program. Refreshments will be available during the poster session. This
event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Hart Career Center.
"Global Patterns and Consequences of Current Lake Warming"
Dr. Catherine O'Reilly
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
7pm
Center for Natural Sciences (CNS) C101
Dr. O’Reilly is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography-Geology at Illinois
State University, and an internationally known authority on freshwater ecology. Global
climate change has a wide range of impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Lakes around
the world are warming and losing ice cover at unprecedented rates. This talk explores
global patterns in lake warming trends, describes how these changes are related to
climate and other factors, and discusses the consequences this warming will have for
lake ecosystems, water quality, and management of precious freshwater resources.
This presentation is free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by the IWU Environmental Studies Program, Biology Department, and JWP
Audubon.
Sneak preview of "Seasons of Change on Henry’s Farm" documentary film
Followed by Q&A with film subject Henry Brockman and filmaker Ines Sommer
Find out more about the film @ http://www.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
7pm
The Normal Theater (209 N Street, Normal, IL)
Illinois State University’s new Food Studies program is hosting a sneak-preview of the documentary Seasons of Change on Henry’s Farm. The film follows the lives of Henry and Hiroko Brockman, who have run an organic vegetable farm in the Mackinaw Valley of central Illinois for 25 years. The farm has many loyal customers and is very successful, but farming takes a toll on his aging body and Henry dreams of scaling back. So he puts his former apprentices in charge while he takes a personal “fallow year” with his wife Hiroko in her native Japan. Nothing, however, turns out as planned. While former intern Kris leads the farm crew, record rainfall devastates the crops. Daughter Aozora, a brand-new college graduate and poet, returns to work long hours on the farm while longing to write. Meanwhile, being in Japan frees Henry’s mind to wrestle with the reality of the tenuous and fragile future of farming. He is forced to acknowledge that he must transform the farm in the face of international climate change. By turns lyrical and hard-hitting, the film explores how biodiversity, adaptability, and resilience are key to survival in an ever more unpredictable future. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with film subject Henry Brockman and filmmaker Ines Sommer, who teaches in Northwestern University's MFA in Documentary Media program.The free event marks the launch of the University’s food studies minor and is open to the public. Hosted by the Illinois State University’s new Food Studies program and sponsored in part by the Harold K. Sage Fund and the Illinois State University Foundation.
October 2019
IWU Freeman Asia Internship Information Sessions
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 (also Monday December 9, 2019)
4:00 - 5:15pm.
Myers Welcome Center Auditorium
Illinois Wesleyan University
Learn more about the remarkable summer 2019 internships in Asia (e.g., Philippines,
Thailand, Hong Kong, and Japan) through the IWU Freeman Asia program. Thanks to the generous support of the Freeman Foundation, IWU will be able to support
students to do internships in Asia for two months. This opportunity is available to U.S.
citizens and permanent residents who are currently sophomores and juniors and who
will return to the IWU campus for at least a semester following the internship. More
information about the information sessions and the Freeman Asia Internship Program
will be available on the Hart Career Center website. This event is free and open to the public. Application deadline will be Jan 2020 with details TBA . For more information, contact Professor Teddy Amoloza at tamoloza@iwu.edu. Sponsored by the Hart Career Center.
"Environmental Facts & Fictions Workshop"
Thursday October 24, 2019
4:30-6:30pm
Hansen Student Center
Illinois Wesleyan University
Workshop RSVP form - REQUIRED
This dinner workshop (4:30 - 6:30) will explore a variety of environmental issues
that are impacting the world today. How do we discern fact from fiction in news about
natural disasters, environmental injustice, species collapse, toxic pollutants, climate
change and more?
Participants will attend short, interactive information sessions, discuss what they
learned in table conversation over dinner, and share concerns and strategies for moving
forward in large group discussion. RSVP required. Open to all in the IWU community. This is a 3D Program (Diversity, Dialogue, Dignity) and a Fact or Fiction course cluster
theme event. Co-sponsored by the IWU Environmental Studies Program and the Office
of Diversity and Inclusion.
Field Trip to Midwest Fiber Recycling
Wednesday October 30, 2019
3-5pm (meet at Hansen Student Center at 2:50, depart by 3p, return to campus by 5p)
RSVP here by Tues Oct 29
We have the unique opportunity to take a field trip to Midwest Fiber Recycling on Wednesday Oct. 30th from 3-5 pm. Midwest Fiber is the plant in Bloomington-Normal to which IWU sends its recycling. This eye-opening experience will help us to understand how our recyclables are handled, the type and level of contamination in the recycling, and how IWU may improve its recycling habits. A 15 person university van has been reserved for this trip, and carpooling can be arranged if we need more transportation. Attendees will meet at Hansen Student Center at 2:50 pm, depart by 3 pm, and return to campus by 5 pm. IMPORTANT: If you want to attend this trip, please RSVP here by next Tuesday, October 29th. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Leah Bieniak (lbieniak@iwu.edu) or Dr. Laurine Brown (lbrown@iwu.edu).
November 2019
"Making Buildings Safe for Migratory Birds"
Annette Prince, Director of Chicago Bird Collision Monitors
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
7pm
Center for Natural Sciences (CNS) C101
Come learn from Annette Prince, Director of Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, about
“Making Buildings Safe for Migratory Birds.” An incredible number of birds migrate
through the United States in the spring and fall. However, up to a billion birds
are killed each year in North America as a result of window collisions. Join Annette
Prince as she discusses the bird-safe building laws that are being developed currently
in Chicago and around the region. She will talk about bird-friendly building designs
and practices, and discuss how to become a bird-safe building advocate. This presentation
is free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by the IWU Environmental Studies Program, Biology Department, and JWP
Audubon.
"BAG IT" Film Screening
Wednesday November 20, 2019
7pm-9pm
Hanson Student Center (Center Court)
Join us for this FREE showing of Suzan Beraza's documentary, BAG IT. This film takes students on an eye-opening and light-hearted global tour to unravel the complexities
of
our
crazy-for-plastic world
. What starts as a film about the ubiquity of plastic bags evolves into a wholesale
investigation into other single-use plastics and their impact on our environment and
oceans... and even our own bodies! You can learn more about the film here!
Sponsored by the Sierra Student Coalition, Environmental Studies Program.
December 2019
"Fact or Fiction" Course Cluster Open House
Wednesday December 4, 2019
11am - 1pm
Ames Library
A variety of student work will be showcased at the Course Cluster Open House from
many different IWU courses, including some environmental studies courses. Free and
open to the public.
IWU Freeman Asia Internship Information Sessions
Monday December 9, 2019
4:00 - 5:15pm.
Myers Welcome Center Auditorium
Illinois Wesleyan University
Learn more about the remarkable summer 2019 internships in Asia (e.g., Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Japan) through the IWU Freeman Asia program. Thanks to the generous support of the Freeman Foundation, IWU will be able to support students to do internships in Asia for two months. This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are currently sophomores and juniors and who will return to the IWU campus for at least a semester following the internship. More information about the information sessions and the Freeman Asia Internship Program will be available on the Hart Career Center website. This event is free and open to the public. Application deadline will be Jan 2020 with details TBA . For more information, contact Professor Teddy Amoloza at tamoloza@iwu.edu. Sponsored by the Hart Career Center.
Click here for a sampling of Spring 2019 Events and Speakers