From the founding of the University’s first student organization 167 years ago to a memorable concert featuring a Redbird alum, historian Tom Emery explores this month in Illinois State University history.
October 9
Extracurricular activities have long been part of the fabric of student life at Illinois State. On this date in 1857, the first of those activities was founded.
Just four days earlier, the first classes in university history had begun. Students were eager to expand their horizons, however, and a meeting was held, in the words of one source, for “elevating and extending their moral character and intellectual attainments.”
The result was the creation of the Normal Debating Society (NDS), which eventually split into two groups, due to a disagreement on presidential powers for the society. Supporters of the NDS president called themselves the “Philadelphians,” a nod to the belief (and Pennsylvania city) of Brotherly Love. The topic for the first debate was, “is a lawyer justified in defending a bad case?”
A rival society, the Wrightonians, was formed the next spring, named in honor of Simeon Wright, an ISNU Board of Education member. With the completion of Old Main in 1860, both societies had their own halls on the third floor of the building, and a friendly rivalry ensued.
Literary societies like the two at ISU were a staple of American college life for decades, and spirited competitions between the Philadelphians and Wrightonians were a part of Illinois State until both disbanded in 1952.
As university historian Bob Aaron wrote in 2007, the initial meeting of the NDS on October 9, 1857 “began the university’s tradition of offering students a rich blend of educational, social, cultural, and athletic experiences beyond the classroom.” That tradition continues today on the vibrant ISU campus.
October 15
Today is the final day of Latinx Heritage Month, a time to celebrate Latinx history, culture, and contributions. One of the leading Mexican actresses in recent years is Cecilia Suarez, a 1995 graduate of Illinois State.
Suarez has appeared in countless television and movie roles in Mexico, the United States, and Spain. In 2018, she was the first woman to earn the Premio Cuervo Tradicional, the Mexican lifetime achievement award for film and television. That same year, she also received a lifetime achievement award in Spain.
Originally, Suarez planned to be an attorney, but decided to pursue acting in high school. She arrived at ISU in 1991 and later was awarded the Jean Scharfenberg Scholarship, for a graduating acting major with “extraordinary potential.”
In addition, Suarez received the Steppenwolf Theatre Acting Fellowship Award and was part of the Steppenwolf Company during their 20th anniversary season. During her final summer in Bloomington-Normal, she was part of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
A breakout role for Suarez was the 1999 Mexican movie Sex, Shame, and Tears. She recalled that the experience helped her become “a part of the story of the cinema in my country.”
Another early major role was Alicia Olmedo in the Mexican telenovela La casa del Naranjo in 1998. Suarez appeared in all 75 episodes of the series. From 2000-01, Suarez played in 260 episodes of the popular telenovela Todo por amor, which aired on TV Azteca.
More recently, she appeared in 25 episodes of Locas de amor on Mexican television in 2010 as well as 26 episodes of Capadocia, a highly acclaimed series on HBO Latin America that depicts the story of women imprisoned in an experimental penal facility in Mexico City.
Because of Suarez’ skilled portrayal of Aurelia Sosa, she became the first Spanish-speaking actress to be nominated for an International Emmy for Best Actress. While she was on Capadocia from 2008-12, she also played in 63 episodes of the Mexican television series El Sexo Debil.
In 2018, Suarez began a starring role in the dark Netflix comedy The House of Flowers, which takes on multiple diversity issues with a non-stereotypical emphasis. Suarez, and her depiction of Paulina de la Mora, have been lauded by critics for her remarkable acting ability.
Top roles in the United States include 16 episodes of the Lifetime legal drama For the People in 2002. Suarez has also appeared in American movies like Spanglish, The Air I Breathe, and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.
Just as important as her critical acting praise is Suarez’ activism, as she has used her celebrity and acting ability to promote safe childbirth while speaking out against sexism and femicide, among other human-rights issues. She has also worked on behalf of the protection of Mexican crop production.
On October 29, 2012, Suarez returned to Illinois State to attend the Latino Cultural Dinner. She is one of many successful alumni who have remained active, and interested, in the School of Theatre, Dance, and Film at Illinois State.
October 21
On this date in 1989, country music supergroup Alabama, along with Illinois State alum Suzy Bogguss ‘80 and fellow country star Ricky Van Shelton, performed at Illinois State. The concert at Redbird Arena (now CEFCU Arena) was a highlight of that year’s Homecoming festivities.
The lineup also reflects the elite quality of entertainment that has appeared at various venues at Illinois State through the decades (check out a list of the top 50 concerts over the past 50-plus years at Illinois State).
Alabama is considered the most successful band in the history of country music, with 75 million records sold and 33 number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country charts, including at least one each year from 1980-93.
The group was named the industry’s Entertainer of the Year three-straight times from 1982-84 by the Country Music Association (CMA), and five straight years from 1982-86 by the Academy of Country Music (ACM).
In all, Alabama has earned over 200 awards by various organizations in the group’s illustrious career. In 1989, the same year that Alabama performed at Illinois State, the group was named Artist of the Decade by the ACM.
Van Shelton was at the early stages of a career that saw him chart 20 songs on the Billboard Hot Country charts, including 10 No. 1 hits. Twelve days before his Redbird Arena appearance, he had won the Male Vocalist of the Year award at the CMA awards.
But for ISU and Bloomington-Normal fans, the biggest draw may have been Bogguss, who was coming off a big award win of her own. Six months before the Redbird Arena concert, she had received the Top New Female Vocalist Award from at the ACM awards.
The night before the performance at Redbird, the Bloomington Pantagraph profiled Bogguss’ return. By contrast, the paper devoted a minimum of space to Alabama, one of the top-selling musical acts of all time.
In the article, Bogguss, a native of Aledo who majored in art, recalled that, during her time at ISU, “I’d just take my guitar everywhere and sort of became the Bob Dylan of the campus.” Bogguss also remembered her varied musical interests at Illinois State, including Janis Ian, Elton John, Carole King, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt.
Her solo career reportedly began at The Gallery in then-Downtown Normal. Bogguss was paid $7 for her first booking at The Gallery, and became a regular for two years, ultimately earning the grand sum of $22 for one night.
By the time she returned to ISU in 1989, Bogguss had toured with, or opened for, the Oak Ridge Boys, Chet Atkins, Ricky Skaggs, Dan Seals, and the Statler Brothers, a perennial favorite at Redbird Arena.
A performer with great versatility, Bogguss charted six top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country list in her career and won a Grammy in 2005 for Best Traditional Folk Album. In both 2003 and 2007, she created albums that landed in the top 10 of the jazz charts.
October 30
On this date in 1915, former President William Howard Taft delivered an address at Illinois State. He was welcomed by an enthusiastic audience as he discussed current issues, particularly with World War I raging in Europe.
After his re-election defeat in 1912, Taft was a faculty member in law at Yale from 1913-21 and also contributed to a number of national magazines. In addition, Taft toured the country as a speaker, which brought him to Normal.
His topic related to the world war in Europe, which had erupted 16 months before. Even though many Americans favored neutrality, Taft was keenly aware that the nation may be dragged into the conflict, and his speech, “Our National Defenses,” addressed the need for “national preparedness,” in the words of the Bloomington Weekly Pantagraph.
Taft, who was traveling by rail, had arrived late in Normal, and was the guest of Col. Dudley C. Smith on University Street. The former president was then honored at a reception provided by university President David Felmley and the faculty in the main office of Old Main, the original campus building. Dinner was then served in the arts building.
It was just part of a warm welcome for Taft. The Pantagraph reported that “it may be safely said that no number on any year’s program [of speakers] proved so popular as that given by Mr. Taft,” who appeared before “a record-breaking crowd, drawn from central Illinois.”
At the main event, Felmley introduced Taft, who discussed the need for an adequate military for “reasonable preparedness.” The former president believed the nation should “have a navy at least equal to that of any nation with a large standing army” as well as “a second line” of improved “coast defenses.” Taft also called for the “present mobile army” to be increased from 25,000 to at least 100,000.
Though he conceded his plans would be expensive, he reasoned that “it would be more than worth the cost” and “we owe it as a protection and insurance” to American citizens.
At the conclusion of his talk, the Pantagraph reported that Taft “held an informal reception on the stage, shaking hands with many citizens.”
After leaving Bloomington-Normal, Taft traveled to Springfield, where he met with Illinois Gov. Edward Dunne before catching a northbound train for Chicago. He then returned to Connecticut for his duties at Yale.
Taft never really wanted to be president; rather, he had always dreamed of serving as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1921, he was appointed to his coveted position, which he held until his death in 1930. He remains the only person to serve both as president and chief justice.
Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher who, in collaboration with Carl Kasten ’66, co-authored the 2020 book Abraham Lincoln and the Heritage of Illinois State University.
