Quick Hits 4/8

An eclipse with friends, a prom for diversity, and more stories are to be told in Quick Hits! Read this edition of “Quick Hits” to learn about these events and everything else you need to know about what has happened and what is to come on Illinois Central College campuses.

30-Second Stories

Eclipse Event

Today, the 2024 eclipse was visible to ICC students, who gathered outside the campus to view the sight. The last eclipse was August 21, 2017. 

An eclipse-watching event was hosted by a collaboration of Student Life, the library, and the Math, Science, and Engineering departments. The Riverfront Museum donated 2,500 pairs of glasses for students to wear for the eclipse, which were distributed at the event. Students were also provided refreshments that were themed around space such as Cosmic Brownies, Starry soda, Starbursts, and other snacks. There was also an event on the Peoria campus.

Steven Portscheller, a professor from ICC made a “light sound sonification device” which allowed visually impaired people to experience the eclipse through audio. When the time of the eclipse came, the music playing was paused, and the audio was played. 

Cosmo the Cougar also made an appearance and mingled among the students. There was a turnout of 255 people at the event on the East Peoria Campus. Students were able to enjoy time spent together while watching this rare sight.

Brody Hays, a student in his second year at ICC, said that ICC provided more opportunities to hang out with people during the eclipse. “It felt a lot more fun this year compared to 2017 because I feel like I got to be with people I was more connected with,” Hays said.

Kloey Burgess and Jessica Slonneger were interviewed together. 

“There was a lot of cool people, I had a great time hanging out.” Slonneger said. 

Burgess then added, “It was really cool. It was a cool cosmic party.”

Queer Prom

Last Friday, Peoria Proud hosted a queer prom at ICC’s Peoria campus. The night was filled with excitement with dancing, decorated cupcakes, an art project, and  proposal. 

The prom’s theme was “enchanted forest” and many of the people there did not shy away from dressing their part. Dresses were decorated with wings and other outfits with sparkly sequences. 

The dance held a community art project where guests could use paint markers to draw whatever they wanted onto a large board. This board had sections separated by lines so that everyone could have a small space to draw their art. These drawings ranged from pride flags, to Nintendo characters, to a Garfield with a trans flag saying “Garf says ‘trans rights’”.

There was also a sign-up sheet for “prom court” where the guests would vote on who would be the royals at the prom. The winners of the court were Keagan Missey with 25 votes and Charlie Ashenbremer with 12 votes. 

“I put my name down kinda as a joke just to have fun, and then people actually voted for me,” Missey said in an interview. “I think my favorite part was the proposal, because it was honestly really sweet. It made me pretty happy to see people could be comfortable enough in their environment to propose.” 

“It was really fun. I signed up as a joke to be prom king, and I ended up winning,” Ashenbremer said. He continued, saying his favorite part was watching everyone have fun. “It was really fun to see a bunch of couples not get judged.” 

Coming Soon to ICC

• Tuesday, April 9: Peggy West Artist Talk
  • When: 11:15 a.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, Gallery 336B
  • More Information
• Tuesday, April 9: Presentation about Rita Dove, The First Black Female Poet Laureate
  • When: 12-1 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, 212 C
  • More Information
• Tuesday, April 9: ICC Open House
  • When: 4-7 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, Student Services Lobby
  • More Information
• Wednesday, April 10: Sexual Assault (Wellness Wednesdays Series)
  • When: 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Student Lounge
  • More Information
• Wednesday, April 10: Open Mic Night
  • When: 5-7 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Student Housing, Clubhouse
  • More Information
• Thursday, April 11: Metaphors and Idioms (ESL & Conversation Partners Workshop Series)
  • When: 12:30 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, L318
  • More Information
• Thursday, April 11: Gentle Yoga
  • When: 1:30- 2:15 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, International Center, 304A
  • More Information
• Week of Monday, April 15-19: Arts Week
  • When: Many separate events
  • Where: Many separate events
  • More Information
• Thursday, April 18: Red Cross Blood Drive
  • When: 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.
  • Where:East Peoria Campus, AIT Building
  • More Information 
• Thursday, April 18-21: The Rocky Horror Show
  • When: Thursday, April 18 & 19 at 7:30 p.m., April 20 at 2:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., and April 21 at 2:30 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus Performing Arts Center
  • More Information
• Thursday, April 18: Illinois State University Transfer Center Table Visit
  • When: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, Transfer Center
  • More Information
• Thursday, April 18: Aurora University Transfer Center Table Visit
  • When: 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, Atrium
  • More Information
• Thursday, April 18: Sexual Assault (Awareness Month)
  • When: 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
  • Where: Peoria Campus, Student Center
  • More Information
•  Monday, April 22: SGA Popular Opinion
  • When: 9 a.m.- 12 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Student Lounge
  • More Information
•  Monday: April 22: National Cheese Fries Day
  • When: 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Student Lounge
  • More Information
•  Tuesday, April 23: One Book, One College 10th Anniversary Party
  •  When: 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, Skywalk and the library 
  • More Information
•  Tuesday, April 23: Hard Bop Jazz Band
  •  When: 7:30
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, Lecture Recital Hall, 127F
  • More Information
•  Wednesday, April 24: Mindfulness (Wellness Wednesday Series)
  •  When: 11:30 a.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Student Lounge
  • More Information
•  Wednesday, April 24: Overcoming Test Anxiety (Student Success Workshops)
  •  When: 5-6 p.m.
  • Where: Peoria Campus, Academic Support Center, S220
  • More Information
•  Thursday, April 25: University of Illinois Springfield Transfer Center Table Visit
  •  When: 10 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
  • Where: Peoria Campus, Student Center
  • More Information
•  Thursday, April 25: Dream Chasers Dialogue: Leveraging Your College Experience
  •  When: 11 a.m.- 12 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, 210
  • More Information
•  Thursday, April 25: Conversation Starters
  •  When: 12:30 p.m.
  • Where: Peoria Campus, Student Center, Academic Support Center, S220
  • More Information
•  Thursday, April 25: Gentle Yoga
  •  When: 1:30-2:15 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, International Center, 304A
  • More Information
•   Thursday, April 25: Agri-Business Club Evening of Etiquette
  • When: 6 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, Tranquility Room
  • More Information 
•  Fashion Club Spring Fashion Show
  •  When: 6:30 p.m.
  • Where: East Peoria Campus, Performing Arts Center, Dance Studio
  • More Information

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