Eastern's search for a new president is in its final stage, negotiations.

Students, faculty, members of the International Students Program and members of the community gathered in the Tarble Arts building at 4 p.m. Thursday, for the fourth annual International Poetry Reading.

Seven students competed in Roberson Auditorium in Lumpkin Hall Wednesday for the annual Smith-Merritt Public Speaking Contest.

The announcement of the election results and the presentation of a State of the Senate address by Speaker of the Senate Joe Robbins, the Student Senate resolved old issues while tabling new ones surrounding state education grants, a bill allocating funds to the Student Recreation Center and a bill to strengthen senate diversity requirements.

The signs in polling places warning voters in Student Government elections not to write in candidates were a result of The Daily Eastern News' endorsement of junior speech communication major Tim Edwards for student vice president for student affairs, Student Body President Hugh O'Hara said Wednesday.

The Eastern Symphony Orchestra will perform its final concerts of the 2001-2002 season this weekend.

After a year of suffering callbacks and a cut to higher education's base budget, state legislators are proposing another $200 million in cuts, about 8 percent of higher education's total budget.

Adam Strood, a freshman business major and Vanashia Mason, a freshman accounting major, get hot dogs at the campus picnic that was held by the campus pond Wednesday evening.

Underage students will have more to be aware of the next time they try to buy alcohol or drink at a bar if a new bill passes the Illinois Congress.

Joe Robbins, speaker of the Student Senate, assured senate members that the state of the senate is "brighter than people realize" in his final State of the Senate address at Wednesday night's senate meeting.

Students at Eastern may no longer be able to register for advanced classes before meeting prerequisite requirements.

An increase in the number of polling places helped to make the turnout for this week's Student Government elections the highest in years.