WIU in the News

Colleges/Departments

Upcoming Alumni & Friends Events

Popular Links

In this Issue

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for '79 Grad | Patterson Set to Return--NEW GAME TIME | Engineering and Nursing Programs Approved | Master Plan Includes Reorganization of Halls | WIU Students to Conduct Exit Polling

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Reality Show Surprises '79 Grad

WIU alumnus Stephen Grys '79 recently experienced a makeover--an extreme makeover. Grys and his family were recently chosen to receive an Extreme Makeover--Home Edition. The ABC reality show spent a week in Pekin, Illinois, making over the Grys home, thanks to hundreds of volunteers and crews who worked day and night. According to the Peoria Journal Star, Stephen and his family moved into their new home on October 28. One of his sons, Jake, suffers from a disease that causes his bones to break easily, as well as dwarfism. Now, thanks to the Extreme Makeover Team, Jake and the Grys family have a 4000-square foot home which is fully accessible to Jake.

To read more on their story in the Peoria Journal Star, click here.

To see the video of the “Move That Bus” scene, click below.

The episode will air in late December or January on ABC.

Video courtesy: Peoria Journal Star

Patterson Set to Return to Sidelines Saturday--NEW GAME TIME

Western Illinois University head football coach Don Patterson will return to the sideline in an official capacity on Saturday (today) when the No. 12 Leathernecks host No. 4 UNI in a battle between league leaders.

Patterson was diagnosed with tonsillar cancer in July and missed the first three games of the season while receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatments in Iowa City. He has been with the team for the last four games in an unofficial capacity, and will now resume his usual coaching duties.

"It's been fun to get back in the groove for a little bit," said Patterson. "I am officially back to full-time but I am definitely not able to work 18-hour days yet. I have been able to work in the afternoons and evenings and it has meant a lot to me to be a part of the game-planning and practice preparations again. It's great to be back."

Saturday’s kickoff is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. The Leathernecks (5-2, 3-1) and Panthers (6-2, 4-1) make up half of the four teams with just one conference loss heading into week nine. A win for UNI would mean sole possession of first place, while a win for the Leathernecks would give them a share of the lead with Southern Illinois (5-2, 4-1), which hosts non-conference North Dakota Saturday. South Dakota State, also at 3-1, could join the top of the ranks with a win against Missouri State Saturday.

Click here to read more.

Photo courtesy: Jamie Mullen

IBHE Approves Engineering, Nursing at WIU

In early October, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) approved Western Illinois University's requests to offer a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree and the four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

"The new engineering and nursing degrees are essential. They come at a time when there is a dire need for trained professionals both regionally and nationally," Provost Jack Thomas said. "We are excited to offer these new academic programs to our students, and to better serve the needs of our region and the state."

The engineering and nursing programs will begin in Fall 2009. A search will begin this fall for a School of Engineering director. Lea Monahan was named the director of Western Illinois University's School of Nursing in July 2007. Upon graduation, BSN students will be eligible to write for the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses.

Click here to read the full story.

Residence Hall Master Plan Includes Reorganization of Halls

Most Western Illinois University alumni remember with great fondness their days spent in Wetzel, Bayliss, Henninger, Thompson...among others. Recently, University Housing and Dining announced exciting changes to some of those residence halls.

Renovations and reorganization of Western Illinois University residence halls are two of the primary focuses of the University Housing and Dining Services (UHDS) Master Plan. The reorganization plan was recently distributed to the WIU Board of Trustees and will be on the agenda for discussion and approval at the Board's December meeting.

As part of Phase I of the UHDS Master Plan, Wetzel Hall will close following the completion of the Spring 2009 semester. Currently, eight floors in Wetzel, as well as Tanner Hall, are not in use.

"In order to remain an efficient organization, while providing the best service possible to our students, we determined that closing Wetzel Hall at the end of the Spring 2009 semester will allow us to begin the initial planning to renovate facilities," explained UHDS Director of Residential Facilities Matt Bierman '97.

UHDS staff has worked during the past 13 months to develop its Master Plan for current and future housing facilities. According to Bierman, the decision to take Wetzel Hall, which is currently housing 443 students, off-line fits in the plan, as well as into the University's Master Plan.

"We are excited to finally be able to put into motion the implementation phase of the UHDS Master Plan," said John Biernbaum, Assistant Vice-President for Student Services.

Click here to read the full story.

WIU Students to Conduct Exit Polling

The Western Survey Research Center (WSRC) at Western Illinois University and the WIU political science department will conduct exit polling during the Tuesday, Nov. 4 election.

According to David Rohall, associate professor of sociology and WSRC director, the goal of the polling is to give students firsthand experience at the procedures used in exit polls across the nation. Students from several departments will conduct the polls, and results will be shared with the community.

Click here to read more on this story.

**Congratulations to the November winner--Roger Glazer '68. He found Rocky on the "Move the Bus" webpage.

Can you find this exact Rocky (in black and white) some where else in the eNewsletter? If you find him, email us at A-Association@wiu.edu and let us know where he was placed. If you're the first one to email us, you'll win a WIU Prize Pack! Good luck.

**Congratulations to the October winner--Alex Drake '86. He found Rocky on the Student Life webpage.

Find Rocky story, by Lou Getman '05

You are receiving this newsletter because you are an alumnus or friend of Western Illinois University. Click here to unsubscribe.

Back to top