by Steven Barcus

Change is a constant at Illinois State. Academic programs have multiplied over time, faculty research initiatives now reach around the globe, and extracurricular activities have expanded beyond anything students of yesteryear could have ever imagined. And that doesn’t even touch on the renovated buildings or newly constructed facilities alums from every era are sure to see on any visit back to campus.

One of the most significant changes, however, is a bit more subtle. It’s found within the students themselves, who now rely on social networking as a means of staying connected.

The idea of making a phone call on a residence hall party line to find out where friends are headed is as outdated as the once popular Big Four Dances. Students today send text messages. They no longer look frantically for a piece of paper to trade phone numbers either. Cell phones are instead whipped out and contact information saved.

(more…)

Harry Thiel recalls 20 years leading the Vidette

From the first day on the ISU campus, I was amazed at the support I received to guide and advise the student newspaper. It started with a visit to the president, Gene Budig, and the two members of the newly established publications board: Francis Belshe, vice president of business; and Wenmouth Williams, communications professor. This support continued through the presidencies of Lloyd Watkins, Thomas Wallace, and David Strand. And for years, it was spearheaded by communications professor Michael Shelly, a Vidette editor of the early 1960s.

In 1976 the Vidette had a strong core of good students who bought into the idea of doing things right. The newspaper had begun publishing five days a week that fall, and in 1977 it added Daily to its nameplate.

Gradually it expanded its circulation beyond the downtown Normal business community into restaurants, convenience stores, malls, and other stores along Main Street, College Avenue, and Veterans Parkway. As the community grew, so did the advertising base. With each passing year the ISU and Bloomington-Normal communities seemed to accept the Daily Vidette as a positive enterprise.

In 1979-1980 the newspaper acquired its first in-house typesetting terminals and typesetter. It all was packed into Edwards Annex next to the Heating Plant. A converted World War II classroom for servicemen, the place was cold in winter and hot in summer. (more…)

 by Megan Murray ’09

Imagine one million letters, faxes, and e-mails flooding your office every month. Now imagine that absolutely none of it is for you.

While such an outrageous amount of mail is hard to fathom, it is a reality for Michael Kelleher ’89. As the director of the White House Office of Correspondence, he has the daunting task of selecting only 10 letters a day for President Barack Obama to read.

The only thing more fascinating than how Kelleher can do such a job is the way he came to it, considering he was a music major when he enrolled at Illinois State. He made the change to political science when he started seriously reading the newspaper.

“I became more interested in what was happening around our state, and around the country. The more I read, the more I wanted to be involved,” Kelleher said. “At first I thought I wanted to be involved through reporting. I worked at The Daily Vidette for two years, and worked as a reporter before joining the Peace Corps.” (more…)

In 1991 I proudly walked across the stage in the Bone Student Center to accept my diploma as a special education teacher. While I didn’t quite realize the amazing opportunities that were ahead, I knew Illinois State University had armed me with the knowledge, skills, and values to contribute to our society and perform at the highest levels.

Ten years later I had the opportunity to serve in the President George W. Bush Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and later moved over to Presidential Correspondence at the White House. I worked there from 2004 to 2006, initially as deputy director, and then as a commissioned officer. I served as special assistant to the president and director of Presidential Correspondence. I led the largest office in the White House.

The job reminded me of lessons learned while sitting in lectures on ISU’s campus. I remember being challenged to ask questions, probe issues, have independent views, and speak up. This reflected the freedom of our country, which I witnessed every day that I worked at Presidential Correspondence.

The incoming mail, faxes, e-mails, and phone calls ranged every week from thousands to tens of thousands. I was constantly impressed with what inspired people to write the president. Citizens would write about immigration, Social Security, September 11th, their teachers, our military, the economy, their family, their jobs or lack of jobs, salmon, trees, and every topic you could imagine. (more…)

My grandmother, Ina Elizabeth Sundberg, was born in March of 1905 to Swedish immigrant parents on a farm near Milford. She is the beginning of this four-generation ISU family legacy, which includes Ina; her daughters Luceille (Gleim) Werner and Mary (Gleim) Small; her granddaughter, Deborah (Small) Baker; her grandson-in-law Fred N. Baker; and her great-granddaughter, Sarah (Baker) Lukach.

Ina began school at the age of five. Her parents decided that to make it easier for Ina in school, only English would be spoken at home most of the time. There were no bilingual teachers.

The summer of 1922, after graduating from Milford High School, Ina and two friends enrolled at Illinois State Normal University. They lived in a home in Normal while attending a six-week summer school for those wanting to become a teacher. After passing the State of Illinois proficiency test, she received an Illinois teaching certificate.

So in 1922 at age 17, Ina began teaching at Casey School District 220. Her second year was at Laird School, located five miles southwest of Milford. She lived at home and drove her buggy and horse, Old Fanny, each day. As a one-room rural schoolteacher, Ina was responsible for teaching all eight grades in all subjects, including art and music. (more…)

by Phaedra Hise

On a typical business trip, Tom Deeb ’83 will wake up with the sun because he’s probably been sleeping outside. The “hotels” in the developing countries he visits frequently don’t have windows or doors, and can be so stifling that he sometimes takes his mattress into the yard. He carries his own water and energy bars. “It’s like the Peace Corps,” he admits.

But this isn’t volunteer work. It’s a successful business for Deeb and his wife, Maria Beug-Deeb, who spend a combined nine months or so overseas each year. Maria is the president and CEO of T&M Associates in Atlanta, Georgia, which consults with U.S. and global food companies on how to improve their supplier’s compliance with international food safety standards. Tom handles sales and marketing.

Deeb earned his bachelor’s in chemistry at Illinois State, then a Ph.D. in the same subject at Texas A&M. He spent 20 years working in product development at DuPont, and two more doing the same at Honeywell. His job for both companies was essentially to study the engineers’ crazy and creative lab experiments, and figure out how to turn them into marketable products. Some of the ones he worked on include StainMaster® and Resolve® Carpet Cleaner. (more…)

Basketball Hall of Fame to Honor Legendary NBA and Olympic TV Commentator and longtime Pro Basketball Reporter and Columnist at 2009 Enshrinement Ceremonies, September 10-11.

SPRINGFIELD, MA - (July 13, 2009) - Doug Collins, the highly respected player and coach who is now the lead commentator for Turner Sports (TNT) and for NBC Sports’ coverage of basketball at the Olympic Games and Peter Vecsey, the longtime pro basketball writer for the New York Post have been selected to receive the 2009 Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during Enshrinement festivities scheduled for September 10-11, 2009 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Gowdy Media Award is named in honor of the legendary sports broadcaster and former Basketball Hall of Fame President, the late Curt Gowdy.. This prestigious award is presented annually to members of the print and electronic media whose longtime efforts have made a significant contribution to the game of basketball.

“The Gowdy Media Award is an honor that is very proudly presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in memory of the late Curt Gowdy, one of the legendary figures of sports media,” said John L. Doleva, Hall of Fame President & CEO. “Doug Collins and Peter Vecsey have dedicated much of their professional careers to report on the game of basketball while they entertain and educate millions of fans, readers and television viewers around the world. The Basketball Hall of Fame is very proud to recognize their extraordinary efforts.” (more…)

by Kate Arthur

Enid Cardinal is only one person. She can’t do it all, and she’s not perfect. But you’ll never find bottled water on her desk. And if she sees someone throw a can away, she’ll pluck it out of the trash and drop it into a recycling bin.

Cardinal is the University’s first sustainability coordinator. Two years ago she moved from upstate New York, where she worked as an environmental consultant advising businesses and not-for-profit organizations. The chance to change a Midwestern university was too tempting. She joined Illinois State with the belief it can become the greenest campus in the state.

“I could have stayed in New York and had an impact, but not as profound of an impact as coming here. This is a community that’s really ready to do something,” she said. “I’m aiming to put Normal and ISU on the map for sustainability, and I think there’s a huge opportunity to do that.” (more…)

Enid Cardinal is only one person. She can’t do it all, and she’s not perfect. But you’ll never find bottled water on her desk. And if she sees someone throw a can away, she’ll pluck it out of the trash and drop it into a recycling bin.

Cardinal is the University’s first sustainability coordinator. Two years ago she moved from upstate New York, where she worked as an environmental consultant advising businesses and not-for-profit organizations. The chance to change a Midwestern university was too tempting. She joined Illinois State with the belief it can become the greenest campus in the state.

Read more about Redbirds going green.

Meet the president’s postman

Imagine one million letters, faxes, and e-mails flooding your office every month. Now imagine that absolutely none of it is for you.

While such an outrageous amount of mail is hard to fathom, it is a reality for Michael Kelleher ’89. As the director of the White House Office of Correspondence, he has the daunting task of selecting only 10 letters a day for President Barack Obama to read.

Read more about Jamie Siegel and Michael’s experiences.

Social networking 101

Change is a constant at Illinois State. Academic programs have multiplied over time, faculty research initiatives now reach around the globe, and extracurricular activities have expanded beyond anything students of yesteryear could have ever imagined. And that doesn’t even touch on the renovated buildings or newly constructed facilities alums from every era are sure to see on any visit back to campus.

One of the most significant changes, however, is a bit more subtle. It’s found within the students themselves, who now rely on social networking as a means of staying connected.

Read more about social networking at Illinois State.

Exporting expertise

On a typical business trip, Tom Deeb ’83 will wake up with the sun because he’s probably been sleeping outside. The “hotels” in the developing countries he visits frequently don’t have windows or doors, and can be so stifling that he sometimes takes his mattress into the yard. He carries his own water and energy bars. “It’s like the Peace Corps,” he admits.

But this isn’t volunteer work. It’s a successful business for Deeb and his wife, Maria Beug-Deeb, who spend a combined nine months or so overseas each year. Maria is the president and CEO of T&M Associates in Atlanta, Georgia, which consults with U.S. and global food companies on how to improve their supplier’s compliance with international food safety standards. Tom handles sales and marketing. 

Read more about Tom’s experiences.

Other Information

• First Word
• Table Of Contents
• University News
• Alumni Services
• Where Are They Now
• Alumni Perspective
• Alumni Events
• You’re Invited
  
• Class Notes
• Pause For Applause
• An Illinois State Legacy
• How We Met
• Support Your Passion
• Alumnus inspired to support student leaders
• Last Look

The St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Newman Center has been a place of worship for Illinois State students since the late 1950s. Alumni across generations have fond memories and strong ties to the fellowship of believers, who have gathered at “the large tan warehouse behind Avanti’s” since the 1960s.

That space has undergone significant change. A $3 million project to expand and transform the center began with a groundbreaking ceremony in April of 2008. Work is expected to be completed later this year.

Father Antonio Dittmer knows the project will impact the Illinois State students who worship at Newman Center, which also serves students at Illinois Wesleyan University and Heartland Community College.

The demolition and rebuilding work will result in a new 300-seat chapel, along with recreational, library, classroom, and office space. Dittmer is especially pleased that the changes will clearly separate the worship and recreation areas. Both activities are valued, as evidenced by Newman Center’s “play hard and pray hard” motto.

“It is important for the students to be social and spend time with their peers, and it is also important to spend time in prayer,” Dittmer said. “Students attending the center have come to know the importance of prayer in their lives, and they enjoy the time spent in prayer. The students also participate in activities such as cookouts, formal dances, movie nights, and volunteer work that is undertaken both locally and in other states.”

There are approximately 4,000 Catholic students at Illinois State. Many not only visit Newman Center for the Sunday service, but return for activities that are held throughout the week. Dittmer estimates that there are at least 50 to 100 students that come to the center each day. It’s not unusual for students to just “hang out” at the center and enjoy spontaneous activities.

“This is their home,” Dittmer said, noting the strong ties remain long after graduation. Newman Center is remembered fondly by alumni from generations. The center provides a comfortable environment to get together with friends, join in activities, and just hang out. The bond created brings alumni back to visit, with many staying involved after they have graduated.

“A lot of students consider themselves to be primarily St. Robert Ballarminian alums over Illinois State alums,” he said. “These alums make a point to stop by the center when they are in the area, or are visiting Illinois State campus.”

Newman Center has provided a “home away from home” feel for students since it was founded in the late 1950s. “There has been a center almost as long as Catholics have been in the area,” Dittmer said. “There was a time when the area was predominately Protestant, and Catholics weren’t exactly welcome.”

Eventually there became a large enough concentration of Catholics in the area for a place of worship to be built. The Newman Center was created for university students in 1967. It then became a permanent place for Catholic students to gather.

While the location has shifted and improved over time, the center’s mission remains unchanged: “The St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Newman Center is dedicated to the intellectual, spiritual and apostolic formation of university students for their own salvation and for the building up of the Kingdom of God on earth.”

Intellectual, spiritual, and apostolic elements are the three key aspects of the center’s mission, which Dittmer said ultimately exists so that students may “know Christ, love Christ, and share Christ.”

The educational goal is achieved by staff providing various opportunities for students to gain a deeper understanding about their faith. Free classes are offered. The spiritual facet includes prayer, as well as spiritual counsel and direction from staff members. Students are encouraged to share their faith with those around them.

Dittmer has seen the results of the ministry in many tangible ways over the years, including the decision of 13 students to become priests. There have also been many marriages between students who met at the center, not to mention friendships that remain strong over decades.

Dittmer hopes that alumni who return to the Newman Center will appreciate the improved space. He knows they will find that although the center’s appearance has changed, the foundation is the same from their collegiate days. Newman Center remains “a very special place to be involved spiritually,” Dittmer said, “as well as a place to make connections that will last a lifetime.”

Editor’s note: Father Antonio Dittmer has been reassigned to Immaculate Heart  of Mary Seminary in Wenona, Minnesota. The change occurred as a result of cuts made to the Newman Center staff in July. He hopes to return to campus when the chapel is dedicated next spring.