WIU Professor Part of National Discussion Group

Western Illinois University Professor Peter Cole has participated in a roundtable group of historians in which they discuss and the television show “The Wire.” The discussion comes in the form of a series of recently published academic papers in Labor, the leading peer-reviewed journal of labor and working class history in North America.

Cole, a professor of history, was part of the group that wrote a series of articles, “Postindustrial Noir: Assessing ‘The Wire,” that first evolved out of a workshop for labor historians at the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2008. During that workshop, several of the attendees, including Cole, realized they had a common love for “The Wire” television show.

The group then created a panel for a 2009 American Studies Association meeting in Washington, DC.

Other roundtable participants include Thomas Jessen Adams from Tulane University, Jennifer Luff from Georgetown and Jennifer Klein from Yale.

All of the essays can be read and downloaded at lawcha.org/wordpress/2013/05/04/postindustrial-noir-assessing-the-wire/ and more information can be found at facebook.com/LABORonTheWire.

Working for Western at Western: Beu Health Ed’s Grad Student Andy Lehr Talks Experience

Andy Lehr, a graduate student in Western Illinois University’s College Student Personnel Program, is pictured here at the University Union in March, where he helped Beu Health Education with the implementation of Kick Butts Day, a national event sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. The event increases awareness about the hazards of smoking and using tobacco.

As Spring 2013 Commencement Weekend commences at Western, many soon-to-be WIU alumni are looking toward the world of work that lie ahead. And while it may be daunting to go out into wilds of the job market (particularly in a still-recovering U.S. economy) with not-so-much work experience, many students—both undergraduate and graduate—have had the chance to gain experience working in some capacity for WIU. Andy Lehr is one of those students.

A graduate student in Western’s College Student Personnel program, Andy has been working for Beu Health Education this past semester. He will continue his post at Beu Health Ed in Fall 2013, too. (He also serves as the assistant complex director at Tanner Hall for WIU Housing and Dining Services.)

When I met Andy earlier this year, he was filled with positive energy and ideas about how to help Beu Health Education with its outreach efforts. Recently, he took some time out of his busy grad-student schedule to answer some questions about what he does for Beu and how the experience has helped him acquire skills that he’ll be able to use when he finishes his master’s program.

Q.) What do you do for Beu Health Education?
I am a practicum student for Beu Health Education. It is a requirement of the College Student Personnel master’s degree program that I am in here at Western. As a practicum student, I work for Beu Health Education for eight hours a week.

Q.) What kinds of duties/tasks do you do for Beu Health Education?
My main role is to manage the social media for the office. I work with Twitter and Facebook in order to help and send different health and wellness information out to the WIU community and anyone else that wants to follow Beu Health Ed. I have also assisted in the facilitation of the training for the certified peer education program, Students T.A.L.K., that Beu Health Education offers. In addition to those things, I also sit in on a variety of meetings (such as the weekly update meetings for the AOD [Alcohol and Other Drug] Center and Beu Health Education).

Follow Beu Health Ed on Twitter @BeuHealthEd

Q.) How do you use social media to help disseminate info. to students at WIU?
I use social media to get quick health and wellness facts out to all of those that follow us on Twitter and Facebook. I try to focus on one certain topic each week and then Tweet four or five facts and tips a day about the topic. The topics usually align with “Stall Talk,” which are put out weekly by Liz Andrews, the Beu Health Education graduate assistant.

Through the Beu Health Ed Twitter account, I also follow many other health and wellness sites that offer quality information, and I will often retweet that information out to the WIU community. I have also found that using social media to promote different events happening on campus, (Beu Health Ed related events or general campus events) is a great way to help get the word out and support other departments across the WIU campus.

Q.) What are some of the most rewarding/informative experiences you’ve had in your work for Beu Health Education?
So far, the most rewarding thing has been getting to work in a department outside of what I have been used to. Most of my previous work has been focused on residence life, and it has been very exciting for me have this new experience. Getting to work with Liz Andrews, JoAnn Hairston-Jones [Beu Health Education Coordinator], and everyone else that I have been able to work with, has been a really great experience. I enjoy being able to build new relationships and meeting new people, and without this practicum opportunity, I probably would not have had the opportunity to meet the great people who work in Beu Health Education.

Along with social media, I have come across a lot of other useful information because of working with Beu Health Education. Beu’s Health Education Office promotes the health and wellness of students here at WIU in many different ways. As a student, I try to take advantage of some of the services that are offered. For example, there is a stress-management technique called “Freeze-Frame,” which is used here, and I have been able to use that myself to try and help manage my own stress. Also, while doing research to find information that I want to tweet about, I have been able to increase my knowledge on the different aspects of wellness.

It has been a great experience for me to work for an office that focuses on health and wellness, because I feel everything that I work on I can relate to my own life in some way. I mean, I’m sure that a lot of people talk about stress, health, and wellness in their daily conversations with their co-workers, but I don’t know how many other opportunities exist where the goal of the office is to promote different health and wellness techniques and information. I’m really grateful to have been given this opportunity, and I enjoy the hours that I am able to come into the office each week to work.

Q). How do you think your work for/with Beu Health Education will help you in your future career?
First, I feel as though working with social media will turn out to be an important experience. We are living in a world today where the many different types of social media play an important role in our lives. People seem to be attached to their phones, constantly checking for Facebook and Twitter updates. While some may view this as a negative aspect—given that it seems as though there can be a dependence on technology at times—it is also a great opportunity to do a lot of good. If there are good messages that can be sent out through different outlets of social media, it is important to be using those in the right way.

I think the experiences I have had so far this semester have taught me some of the tools necessary to know how to use social media for good reasons. To have an understanding of social media and how to use it effectively, I think could be very important for me moving forward in whatever it is that I do.

Q). What are your future career plans?
Even though I am working toward my master’s degree in Western’s College Student Personnel program, I am still not sure what my future career plans really are. I decided to pursue this degree because I love working with others and especially because of the opportunity to be able to work on a college campus. College just seems to be such a fun and unique environment to be in, so I can see myself continuing to work in some capacity in student affairs. I’m not sure where I will end up after completing my master’s program here, but I know I want to be working with others in a position where I am able to make a positive impact on others’ lives.

Q). Anything else you think should be included/highlighted I didn’t ask you about?
I would just like to share that there are so many great opportunities and services offered here in Beu Health Education. I hope that students continue to utilize the different resources offered from this office. I wasn’t very aware of Beu Health Education before I became a practicum student here, but after working and seeing everything that goes on here, I now know there are some great services and resources that are beneficial to the WIU community. There are different outreach programs and presentations throughout the year, which are often conducted and implemented by student leaders from Beu Health Ed, and then there are also individual consultations available to help handle concerns, such as sleep management and tobacco cessation.

I encourage everyone to check out the office to see if there are any services provided that may be beneficial, even if only in a small way, to their daily health and well-being. Other than that, just make sure to follow us on Twitter @BeuHealthEd! And thank you very much for taking the time to let me share my experiences!

WIU intern in Arizona makes local news

For WIU senior Mandy Alexander (Roseville, IL)—a recreation, park and tourism administration major who, earlier this month, finished up an internship with the town of Gilbert, Arizona—the warm weather and experience would have likely been enough to make her internship experience a memorable one.

But, in late March, a story about her work for Gilbert was published in The Arizona Republic (and on the AZCentral.com website), which provided an added bonus. The story, “College intern revs up Gilbert tourism approach,” talks about her work with a city official there to “improve Gilbert’s regional visibility.”

Mandy is pictured here with Gilbert’s Parks and Recreation Manager Scott Anderson. Mandy’s work for her internship was featured in The Arizona Republic article, “College intern revs up Gilbert tourism approach.”

Just as her internship was ending, Mandy answered a few questions about how she was able to secure her internship and about how the experience benefited her.

Q). How did your internship in Gilbert come about?
Since I had family in Arizona, I knew I would have a place to stay. Plus, the warm weather in the spring, I knew, would be a huge bonus. I went about this internship by just simply calling as many Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Chamber of Commerces, or any tourism- related businesses in the Phoenix Metro area, and asked if they had any tourism internship positions available. Out of several phone calls and emails, Gilbert seemed to match with my goals the best. This internship lasted from January 13-April 5.

Q). What was the most unexpected experience of your internship?
The most unexpected experience I had during the internship was having to present our Tourism Strategic Plan in front of the town mayor, town manager, all of Gilbert’s Town Council members, manager of economic development, and other higher end positions held within the town.

Q). What about your favorite experience or experiences?
Wow, it is hard to just pick one favorite moment because there were SO many exciting things that happened! I will say I became a regular at Bergie’s Coffee Roast House, which allowed me to meet some extraordinary people and become very familiar with Gilbert’s downtown area. The staff I worked within the Gilbert Parks and Recreation Department were exceptionally wonderful and easy to work with and willing to help me. I am so lucky to come across such a great internship experience.

Q). What kinds of tasks/activities do you do on a daily basis in your internship?
Day one of my internship, I was given a list of 10 goals from my agency supervisor, Scott Anderson. He was hoping I could make headway on this before my internship was over. I successfully completed all but a couple of these goals and the few that haven’t been completed are long term and were not able to be determined before my internship ended. The ten goals in “Scott’s 18-month Tourism Plan” included:

1. Implement tourism website and maintain operation
2. Assist in development of mobile app for Heritage District
3. Assist in development of app for Riparian Preserve
4. Assist in producing and distributing small wonders advertising guide/map
5. Meet with Mesa CVB staff and discuss Prop 302 Fund
6. Purchase Smith Travel report for Gilbert, Arizona
7. Visitors’ Center (establish a concept) (location-long term)
8. Develop an “Experience Gilbert Brochure”
9. Identify 3-5 top advertising opportunities and begin campaign
10. FAM tour development

Q). How do you think your internship experience will help you in your future career endeavors?
During this internship, I was able to provide Gilbert with a solid tourism foundation and a tentative plan for the future. I have always been passionate about tourism, and this internship was able to give me that full-time experience in the industry that I love. I have learned a great deal about advertising and promotions, professional communication, money management, preparing for presentations and presenting the material, helping develop the brochures and critique websites. These are only some of the many skills I learned in my internship. I believe they set me up with a good solid foundation for future opportunities.

Q). What are you career plans once you graduate?
I am keeping all options open at this point, but I definitely plan on applying for a position within the Town of Gilbert. I do believe I would like to pursue a full time job in Arizona; however, I will seek different opportunities around home as well.

Boot Camp Program Designed by WIU Alum Recognized One of 10 Most Creative

When Western Illinois University alumnus Joe Decker (’98, B.S.) designed his Gut Check Boot Camp in San Diego, CA, he wanted people to learn how to enjoy working out.

Recently Decker’s company made the top 10 list of “most creative” workout camps in the United States, as released by the Coca-Cola Journey website. The website bills the camps as being taught by “instructors who focus on motivation and muscle-building, not humiliation.”

“I feel extremely honored to be a part of the list of the ‘most creative boot camps’ in the world,” Decker said. “There are a handful of things that have helped to climb to the top of my industry: growing up on a farm in the Midwest, serving in the military and graduating from WIU.”

Decker was named the Guinness Book of World Records’ “World’s Fittest Man” in 2000 after a 24-hour physical fitness challenge.

His 60-minute hardcore fitness program features high intensity exercises, which sometimes use nature’s bounty, such as rocks, as tools.

Decker has made his mark on the fitness world by being the first two-time winner of the Spartan Death Race, a 48-hour fitness challenge in Vermont, billed as “totally unexpected and totally insane.”

He has also designed his own fall challenge on a Fulton County farm, called “The Suck.” The 36-hour fitness challenge is held in Decker’s hometown of Cuba and includes a variety of outdoor physical and mental challenges.

The Coca-Cola Journey website says the trainers at the Gut Check Boot Camp get high marks for encouraging students and “emphasizing a team-based atmosphere where no one is left behind.”

“If you decide to try it, you’ll sweat buckets and burn hundreds of calories, but Decker designed the program so it’s more about getting healthy and learning to love being active than spot-reducing or reaching a goal weight,” the website says. “Voted ‘Best Boot Camp of San Diego,” by a local magazine, this tough routine is not for the faint of heart.”

To see the list of all 10 boot camps, visit coca-colacompany.com/stories/boot-camp-workouts-for-everyone. To learn more about Decker’s program, visit gutcheckfitness.com.

eXtreme Social Responsibility

Social responsibility is taken eXtremely seriously at WIU. It’s one of the University’s four core values (academic excellence, educational opportunity, personal growth, and social responsibility), and throughout each academic year, many students and student organizations put innumerable hours into planning, publicizing, and implementing an array of events that raise funds for good causes.

From Big Pink Volleyball (also known at BPV, a breast cancer fundraiser held every fall semester at Western) and eXtreme Dodgeball for Diabetes held in the spring (both held at the WIU Campus Recreation Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center) to such fundraisers as St. Baldrick’s and Haunted Higgins 19 (planned through students and staff working in University Housing and Dining Services) and community service and philanthropy via the University’s Greek organizations (in Fall 2011, 28 Greek organizations performed 3,530 hours of community service and contributed nearly $18,875 in chapter philanthropy), the events generate thousands of dollars and provide students with fun ways to contribute to many causes that go way “beyond the bell tower.”

See more photos from WIU’s 9th Annual eXtreme Dodgeball for Diabetes at on.fb.me/13bzY0O.

At last month’s 9th annual Dodgeball for Diabetes, 45 students participated, resulting in some awesome photos on the Western Illinois University Rec Events Facebook page.

According to Amber Bedee, who is studying in Western’s College Student Personnel program and serves as a graduate assistant at Campus Recreation, this year’s event raised $295 for the Illinois Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“This foundation conducts research surrounding three facets of diabetes, including a cure, treatment, and prevention. Finding a cure for type 1 diabetes is the highest priority. In addition to funding research, the funds donated will also go toward education,” Bedee noted. “For this year’s event, Campus Recreation collaborated with the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH). Campus Recreation coordinated the marketing and t-shirt design, as well as sign-up and logistics of the event. NRHH was key to promoting the event in the residence halls and coordinated prizes for the top two teams. This year they sponsored purchasing t-shirts for the winning team.”

The events also enable students to hone their professional skills.

“Helping to organize this year’s Dodgeball for Diabetes enabled me to work on my skills in regard to planning and implementing a program of this size,” Bedee said.

WIU Alum Displays Pride in University

Proud Western Illinois University alumnus U.S. Army Capt. James Nardelli characterizes himself as proud former student who displays his University pride through carrying a Western banner with him through a variety of military deployments.

Besides spending two tours in Afghanistan, he has been stationed in Fort Benning, GA, Fort Campbell, KY and Fort Huachucah, AZ.

“I have brought this banner to both of my deployments; the first in Kahdahar Province, Afghanistan, and the second in Nangarhar Province,” he said.

Before his initial deployment, Nardelli was commissioned into the U.S. Army through the WIU ROTC program. He said he continues contact with fellow classmates and with his fraternity brothers from Sigma Pi.

“WIU taught me some invaluable skills that have been tremendously helpful throughout my career thus far. In addition, the leadership skills I honed while attending WIU made me who I am today,” Nardelli said. “WIU has some of the best leaders from which to learn and mirror. From ROTC, to my fraternity and the professors, it was an experience that I believe has made me so successful.”

Nardelli, a 2008 Western graduate with a management degree, came to WIU from Libertyville High School in 2004. After graduation, he was commissioned in the U.S. Army Infantry Corps as a second lieutenant and stayed on at WIU as a Gold Bar Recruiter until December 2008, to work with prospective ROTC candidates.

Between his deployments and serving at various U.S. locations, Nardelli was promoted to captain in 2011.

During his last deployment to Afghanistan, Nardelli said he served as Company Executive Officer. He was part of a Security Force Advise and Assist Team for an Afghan National Army Light Infantry Kandak (Battalion).

“I was in charge of running our own Coalition Force Team and advising four Afghan National Army Majors,” he said. “Our goal was to teach, coach and mentor the kandak (battalion) to be able to conduct independent combat operations without CF support, which is part of the overall drawdown plan of Afghanistan.”

Nardelli is now assigned to Fort Huachucah, AZ, where he is becoming a military intelligence officer and will attend the Military Intelligence Captains Career Course. His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, NATO ISAF Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge and the Parachutist Badge.

Spring Break on the Road Fulfills Students’ Dreams

A spring break road trip by college students is not unheard of, but when a group of Western Illinois University students piled into a rental car in mid-March it was to fulfill a life-long dream.

Chinese students Xin Tan, Shi Yong Li and Nolan Zuo are pictured with one of the shopkeepers they encountered on Route 66.

Three international students, spearheaded by the dream of visiting broadcasting scholar Nolan Zuo, of China, drove nearly the entire length on the historic Route 66, which stretches from Chicago, IL, to Santa Monica, CA. Zuo was joined on the trip by Western English as a Second Language (WESL) students Xin Tan and Zhi Yong Li, both also of China.

While Western was on spring break, March 11 – 15, the three friends drove 3,000 miles of the route in six days, pausing at car museums and information stops along the way. Their section of the trip began in Springfield, IL.

“This was one of my biggest dreams in America,” said Zuo, who is studying in America through May. “I had heard about how important the route was to the area and a lot of people have never given up on this old road – we saw a lot of people trying to protect it. We really enjoyed talking to people along the way who had great stories.”

Li said he was interested in the trip because of his study of history and about how important Route 66 was to the expansion of the west. Tan said a popular car advertisement in China references Route 66, which piqued his interest in the trip.

During the trip, Tan took charge of navigation, and Li took most of the photographs.

Prior to departing on the trip, the trio spent many hours mapping out their route and the places they hoped to visit each day. During the final stop in Santa Monica, CA, Zuo said the three friends could reflect on everything they’d seen.

“When we got to Santa Monica, we could see the Pacific Ocean, and we just relaxed and enjoyed the view,” he said. “It was so interesting that on the other side of that ocean is our home in China.”

The three friends said they enjoyed a variety of American cuisine along the way but also looked for Chinese food in larger cities.

All three men said they would like to plan a return trip to enjoy Route 66. All three also have numerous other American sites they would like to see before their return to China.

For more information about stops along the route, visit historic66.com.