Watterson Towers at Illinois State University is a 28-story tower complex that can house 2,800 residents at a given time. Being the tallest point between Chicago and St. Louis, the 1966 building is quite complex, being an architectural wonder that can be seen from miles away.
For five years now, Walk Up Watterson has been an annual tradition for students to partake in. The event allows residents to race to the top of Watterson, stopping at checkpoints to ensure they are completing the entire challenge. And what a challenge it is indeed. Walking up multiple flights of stairs is no easy feat, but sophomore Caleb Stevens made it look easy, being the 2024 first-place winner by completing Walk Up Watterson in just five minutes. Stevens noted, “I feel pretty accomplished; it’s a pretty big goal, and I was also able to get a pretty good workout in.” For advice for future Walk Up Watterson participants, Stevens recommends stretching beforehand, “or else you’ll cramp up.”
Jacob Pourchot, service area coordinator of Watterson Towers, took on the planning of Walk Up Watterson as part of his professional experience with University Housing Services for his master’s program in sport psychology and physical activity. Pourchot started planning the event in August 2023 to give staff time to prepare for April. Pourchot worked with the University Housing Services Marketing team to create all the fliers, event stickers, and t-shirt designs. Pourchot also received help from peers, the residence hall coordinators, the resident assistants, and direct supervisors Scott Calovich and Cristian Lucas.
As participants worked their way up Watterson Towers, they needed to get a punch card filled. Each breezeway floor of Watterson Towers had a different campus partner(s) on each level to ensure all participants could take part in the entire event. On the ground level, Pourchot worked with Student Access and Accommodation Services. On A House Pourchot collaborated with the Student Recreation Center and the ISU Police Department Community Engagement Unit. In B House, Pourchot had Watterson Trivia with pictures of the building returning to the 60s. In C House, resources donated by the Office of Sustainability were given out to participants. In D House, Student Counseling Services represented the checkpoint. In E House, Redbird Life was represented, and resources donated by the Queer Collation were given out. On the top level, Pourchot organized to have Reggie greet participants once they crossed the finish line.
Pourchot collaborated with many different departments and groups on campus for the event, including the Watterson Towers Leadership Association and Watterson Towers Diversity Collation. Pourchot noted, “the student leaders in these two groups funded most of the event; it would not have been possible without them.”
“I always heard about this being an annual event in my undergrad when I worked from 2020 to 2022 in Watterson, but I never thought I could complete it due to my disability. But last April, I participated in the event and finished it. As an athlete with a disability, accessibility is crucial to me, and that is why the event started on our Ground level, as it is the most accessible entrance to the building. That way, participants with disabilities could take the elevator if they to participate.”
-Jacob Pourchot
Pourchot continued, “I would like to thank all the folks who hosted the event over the past few years and the resources and knowledge they shared with me to make the event the best it could be. I appreciate that everyone trusted me to organize such a special event for Watterson. I could not be more excited to see how this event grows and changes in the future.”
Walk Up Watterson typically happens in April of each year. Be on the lookout for next year’s Walk Up Watterson by following University Housing Services on Facebook and Instagram at Redbird-Housing.
