Living on campus may be something abnormal for the people who are new to the campus.

As the stresses of life pile on, students often find themselves desperately searching for ways to cope.

While chasing academic and career dreams at Illinois State University, some find the love of their life in the process. Students explain their evolution from Redbirds to love birds.

Although the health benefits of a vegan lifestyle are numerous, many struggle to adapt to this diet or see it as extreme.

Though snow still falls, Bloomington-Normal residents can enjoy springtime produce at the Downtown Bloomington Association's February Farmers’ Market.

College students' heads are as filled with as many dreams as their campus is with people. Though winning the lottery typically remains a fantasy, Illinois State University students contemplate what they would do if that dream became reality.

In lieu of Illinois State’s new project, “Redbird Impact,” it is important to remember the value of volunteering and making a difference in others’ lives.

Looking for a barber away from home? Look no further because Campus Cutz Barber Shop has all the mastery and supplies.

Senior food, nutrition and dietetics major Kriston Love, 22, feared she missed out on a full college experience as a transfer student. Now, Love, of Kankakee, fills her life with clubs and studies.

One of the most troubling questions on a night out is where to eat. There are simply too many options to choose from.

At one time or another, most students have probably contemplated going through college with a furry friend by their side,. The process of taking in a pet as a student, however, can be complicated.

For a number of students, their time as undergraduates at Illinois State University is winding down as they hit the home stretch of their college career.

After a long winter break, students must return to a new semester of classes. Although this can be exciting, it can also be difficult to get back in the routine of going to classes after a break.

With the holidays spent gorging on delicious food and desserts, it becomes hard to find the motivation to hit the gym and get back in shape.

Senior psychology major Amanda Rhodes, 21, of Batavia, Illinois, wasted no time impacting Illinois State University. A leader in two registered student organizations, she ultimately enjoys helping others.

After a long-needed winter break of sleepy mornings and every episode of “Taken” on Netflix, the start of second semester can be a drowsy one for students because the readjustment to fast-paced college life is stressful.

A new semester means new goals for all students. While some students seek to earn better grades, others wish to find new clubs.

Each new year brings a new energy. With the passing of 2017, students have time to reflect on areas in which they wish to improve in the new year, thus bringing about New Year’s resolutions.

eigning in the year with new goals is not exclusive to students. Illinois State University professors share their 2018 New Year's resolutions.

The first year of school brings many tough adjustments along with the many rewards of independence. For the first time in his or her life, a student has the opportunity to create his or her own lifestyle.

Upon running the everlasting cycle of classroom preparations and performances, professors are just as relieved as students when winter break approaches. Illinois State University faculty and staff share their plans.

There are many things Illinois State University students should do before they walk across the stage to receive their diploma. After spending several years at this university many have called home, it is only acceptable to leave their time as a student on the right foot.

Art is everywhere. Art is beaut, it is real and sometimes, it is completely odd. Classical and modern art opens doors and inspires, not just for the artists but for the art consumers, too.

Home to seven billion people as well as 8.7 million different types of species and 391,000 different types of plants, the Earth is teeming with importance.

The holiday season brings a bundle of cheerful celebration and fun, but with all of that comes a cost. Although this time of the year can cause a dent in the bank account, there are ways to save some cash during this giving month.

Seeing faces illuminate while opening gifts is a heartwarming experience. However, once people resume checking their bank accounts instead of Christmas lists, the holiday cheer dissipates into sneers.

Most college students live their lives on a tight budget, with tuition and living expenses taking up most of their funds. It is even worse when the holidays roll around.

Every month represents something. February is Black History Month, March is Women’s History, October is Breast Cancer Awareness and November is National Diabetes Awareness Month.

As Thanksgiving approaches and students prepare to spend time with family and dine on delicious food, vegetarians search for meat-free alternatives. Thanksgiving is also known as Turkey Day, and for those who have committed to a meat-free diet, it can be a challenge to find dishes at family …

In college, food choices can seem repetitive and boring. Nothing beats the feeling of a home cooked meal, besides Thanksgiving dinner.

Thinking of the big glazed turkey, grandma’s sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie can get one’s mouth watering. Many would argue Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays due to having an excuse to stuff your face with delicious food.

Winter's frigid winds of change bring many welcome events, such as football and the holiday spirit intensifies. In addition, the previously unforeseeable semester break becomes a reality.

For millennia, dogs have scratched and pawed to defend their title as "man's best friend" against feline counterparts. Illinois State University weights in on the longstanding popularity battle between domesticated beasts.

Professors spend hours lecturing and countless more preparing future lessons. Illinois State University professors share their interests when class ends and the books close.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, now is the time to get into the spirit. That said, what better way to get festive than decorating?

With leaves changing to a robin red and temperatures dropping to a chilled 50 degrees, it can only means one thing: fall is here. It is time for students to swap sunscreen and short sleeves with some necessary items that are essential for this fall season.

Illinois State University offers female students an opportunity to participate in the Body Project. This program is developed to help maintain and practice a positive body image.

It is not easy to be relaxed all the time, especially when a paper is due on Tuesday and there is a test on Friday. College students are prone to stress; but that does not mean there are not ways to get rid of it.

With Halloween quickly approaching, Casey’s Garden Shop provides an abundance of affordable fall-themed classes for customers to participate in while indulging in their creative side.

Halloween is one of the best times of the year to show off one’s amazing skills and scary looks. Here are some tips that students can use to not only save money, but win the best look of the night.

With classes, organizations, work and the hectic schedule college brings, it is hard to find the time to volunteer in the community. Clear a Sunday in the schedule to get in the spirit of giving, because there is no feeling quite like it.

Students can practice mindfulness and meditation at the Koru Basic Mindfulness class.

There is more to the Illinois State University’s Recreation Center than just dumbbells and treadmills. They offer a wide range of services and classes students can participate in.

Roaring sounds of pop music, children’s laughter and smells of popcorn filled the air Saturday at Uptown Normal’s Worldwide Day of Play.

Expand beyond normal thinking and attend the third annual TEDxNORMAL. Those who attend will walk out inspired and ready to take on life with a new mindset.

“I’m a chocoholic,” author Kelsey Timmerman said.

Students are invited to join Health Promotion and Wellness, Campus Recreation and other organizations to kick off their SEVEN program.

Illinois State University students can reach new heights in leadership, communication and teamwork in the upcoming year. 

In college, nothing is certain except debt and mental taxation. While debt is difficult to avoid, Illinois State University provides guidance and resources to combat overwhelming feelings of "burnout.”

Heading back to campus after a long summer break inevitably means new coursework, new friends, new opportunities and new germs.

As Illinois State University rolls into its third week of classes, students are getting hit with early year homesickness.

Breakfast carries the moniker "most important meal of the day." However, the International Journal of Behavior and Nutrition discovered breakfast is the most skipped meal of the day. For unsure students chomping at the bit to start with a meal, here are five options.

September 11, 2001: What started as a serene day featuring portrait-worthy weather ebonized into an authentic nightmare in American history. Afterward, many citizens greeted Muslims with closed hearts and fists. Flashing forward to today, widespread generalizations and constant coverage of I…

College is a time for personal growth, building relationships and making lifelong memories. Illinois State University has a handful of opportunities in making these years unforgettable, and one of those ways is going Greek.

Coming back to Normal means one thing — classes are in session. With a new year underway, some beneficial health tips will provide comfort in the impending weeks to come.

Ignorance is not bliss for people harmed by others' misunderstandings about mental illnesses.

It is not everyday someone has the opportunity to know an admirable individual. Luckily for the world, there are still driven people with a passion to better society.

People spend their lives dreaming about it and then suddenly they find themselves engulfed in it. The experience never seems real but it continues every moment.

More than just a place to jog or bike, Constitution Trail has plenty to offer. Many Blo-No residents are familiar with the name of the historic site but not with what all it entails.

Students need to look no further for a fun spot to travel to for adventure on the weekends; Evergreen Lake and Comlara Park has it all.

If students’ summers do not consist of worldly adventures or an extravagant get away, they can enjoy their days by exploring the places Bloomington-Normal has to offer.

Motherhood brought more than children for sisters and Illinois State University graduates Kait Lawson, Whitney Strong and Tara Bauman. The gifts of Strong and Bauman's first children (Rivers Royal Blood and Brecken Reese respectively) birthed an online clothing boutique for women and childre…

A radiant sun peeking through clear skies piques warm-weathered people's interest. Swimming is summer's cardiovascular answer for fun-in-the-sun workouts suitable for most ages.

Starting out having no plans of attending college to now graduating with aims of receiving a master's degree, Jason Wynn owns a determined, disciplined personality that was made to be used in front of a classroom. His understanding, warm persona may have been developed through caring for a y…

Although cornfields and flat land surround Illinois State University, students find pleasure running, walking and biking on the town of Bloomington-Normal’s hidden treasure: Constitution Trail.

Student Government Association recently elected its new executive branch for next school year. Each student plans to bring new initiatives to impact the lives of students on Illinois State’s campus.

Jack Blahnik, a freshman secondary math education major, has lofty aspirations for Redbird Gaming, ISU’s game-based RSO. Blahnik and fellow executive board member Eleno Soto recently obtained the control of Redbird eSports and decided to change the name of the group to Redbird Gaming. The na…

When thinking of what is most synonymous with Illinois State University, the bird is the word. Since hatching in 1981, ISU mascot Reggie Redbird flies first class.

Of its many offered majors, Illinois State University stands out above other universities for its music and education programs.

Since September, 20 local high school students have been learning how to use 3-D printers, digitally scan items and design final products at the Open Source Classroom.

Yep. It’s that time of year again — where the nights are just as long as the days, full of studying and stressing about finals. The time where you consider working at Walmart as a career. And the time where you question will you make it through without pulling your hair out. With these tips …

With a combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation, people can work to make a difference in the civic life of their local and global communities. Through both political and non-political processes, civic engagement can promote the quality of life within a community.

Graduation is right around the corner. As cliché as it sounds, to many seniors it feels like yesterday was move-in day into the residence halls to start freshman year.

On the first Friday of each month, Downtown Bloomington Association (DBA) holds an event it calls, unsurprisingly, First Friday. Local businesses will stay open late and DBA will bring in street performers and vendors. This month, First Friday will be home to the May Artists Invitational. Lo…

Illinois State University history professor Amy Wood duals as an accomplished researcher who focuses on the prison system. Wood's latest accolade is a prestigious Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship, which supports Wood's current studies on criminal history and viewpoints.

Twin Cities School of Dance, a nonprofit school in Bloomington, provides quality dance instruction for all ages, with a primary focus on proper ballet technique. Since December, Twin Cities students have been rehearsing for Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet, "Cinderella," which is set to premiere  a…

The Bloomington Kiwanis Club is hosting its eighth annual Mother’s Day Flower Sale next weekend. The sale will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 10, 11, 12 and 13. The sale will be at The Shoppes at College Hills between LOFT and Yankee Candle.

Prom evokes milestone memories for countless American women and numerous lucky guys. Meticulous planning goes into “promposals,” picking the right dress, hairstyle and hangout locations. In fact, Visa reports an average of $324 spent on “promposals” alone.

Illinois State University is known for producing excellent teachers through the School of Education. These ISU teachers in-training share their enthusiasms and anxieties on joining the work force after graduation

As a Divine Nine organization on a primarily white campus, challenges can arise. A Divine Nine organization is one of the nine historically Black Greek letter organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Despite these challenges, the women in the Gamma Rho chapter of Sigma G…

In Room 379 of the Student Services Building, there are three desks strategically placed around the office to have an open and friendly feel to it. One in the farther back corner of the room, another at the other end of the room and the last one next to the window, facing the middle of the o…

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and while the semester winds down, it is easy for students to get bogged down with the stress of finals. But as college students, it’s important to take this time to care for ourselves.

About 6.4 million Americans age 12 and older—2.4 percent of the population—abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, released in fall 2016. That being said, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, that totals …

A popular economic saying states “there is no such thing as a free lunch.” However, there really (really) is a free market. Since July 10, 2011, Bloomington-Normal hosts the monthly Really Really Free Market (RRFM) event. May’s market operates 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in Miller Park.

The field of LGBTQ studies is an up-and-coming area of study due to increased acceptance in our society.

College is the time when students can experiment within their fields to create something extraordinary they never even thought they could do.

Spring dance concert

Illinois State University offers some fairly odd jobs to its students. There’s the people who hold the door open at Watterson Dining Commons or the students who spend all day in the Braden Box Office, even though there’s nothing going on in the Bone Center. The most peculiar job, or possibly…

After a student graduates high school, they may think they know exactly what college they will attend and how their life will turn out. Little do they know, life is always subject to change.

College Experience, an event planning and promotional organization at Illinois State University, is made up of motivated students who are determined to host the highest quality of programs on campus — including the upcoming In Living Colour Week celebration.

The Illinois Heart & Lung Foundation is hosting its 19th annual Women’s Health Night, free to the public, 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Illinois Wesleyan Shirk Center with keynote speaker Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

Those who attend Illinois State University’s Symphony Orchestra Concert can expect a rare event multilayered with lots of emotions and history.

Nearly 4,000 students declare a business-related field as their major. When troubles or complications arise, most will flock to Room 129 inside the State Farm Hall of Business seeking immediate answers and contingency plans.

Illinois State University anthropology graduate student Lindsay Earl is one of 273 students honored nationwide as a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow. She is the first student recognized in ISU history for this achievement.

Imagine going day by day without having the assistance needed to support a 21st-century lifestyle. It can be difficult and frustrating when a person doesn’t receive the proper help they need.

Dogs famously carry the moniker "man's best friend.” Unfortunately, the book of life's plot twists often make maintaining this relationship impossible. For unfortunate dogs, Bloomington's adoption shelter Wish Bone Canine Rescue ensures new chapters of companionship are ready to be written.