Brief news stories from Illinois universities

ILLINOIS STATE

Community walkers invited to ISU event

NORMAL - Illinois State University wants to promote the idea of fitting exercise into daily routines, and it's inviting Central Illinois residents to take part in an awareness event about health.

The 30-minute Walk for Life, begins at noon April 11 on the quad with registration opening at 11:30 a.m. that day in the quad's northern area.

Sponsored by ISU's Leaders in Fitness Education club, the aim is to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles, while demonstrating the ease of fitting a 30-minute walk into an average weekday. The event is free.

Vendors will provide food and water to participants, and walkers will have a chance to win a prize, too.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

Stroke survivior support group starts

DeKALB - Northern Illinois University has launched a support group for stroke survivors in the Northern Illinois area and their family members. The group, called "SNAP," or Stroke Networking and Activity Program, will provide social support and health-related education.

Meetings will be co-led by Jamie Mayer, visiting assistant professor in the NIU Department of Communicative Disorders, and Lilli Bishop and Jennifer Heinisch, members of the department's clinical faculty.

WESTERN ILLINOIS

Comedian visits WIU, student to open

MACOMB - Zack Galifianakis will present his zany comedy at 9 p.m. Wednesday in the WIU Union Grand Ballroom.

Admission is free for WIU students with a valid ID and $5 for the public at the door. The first 10 Western Illinois students in line will receive a free copy of Galifianakis' latest DVD, "Live at the Purple Onion." He co-starred in the 2001 film "Out Cold," and has had small roles in several movies including "Corky Romano" and "Comedians of Comedy."

Opening for Galifianakis will be Western's own comedian, senior Ryan Budds, who has achieved recognition in just over a year of trying stand-up comedy. Budds, an English major, won Chicago's Loop 97.9 radio station's contest to open for Dennis Miller.

Michele Steinbacher of the Pantagraph, Dana Herra of The Daily Chronicle and Western Illinois University contributed to this report.