WAM 3 Communicator

  Headshot of Dr. Ryan Hendrickson, courtsey of USF Newsroom Dr. Ryan Hendrickson is set to make his first public appearance on campus as president of the University of St. Francis. On Tuesday, August 26th, Dr. Hendrickson will be holding a Meet and Greet with students from 1PM to 2:30PM out on the Quad Pavillion.  The same event will also be held on Wednesday, August 27th, at the same time and location. A rainout location has also been announced at San Damiano Hall, although no rain is predicted in the forecast.  Dr. Hendrickson was named the tenth president of USF on February 18th, 2025, relieving former president Arvid Johnson. According to the press release by the university, “ Dr. Hendrickson brings to USF more than 25 years of experience in higher education, ten of which have been in senior leadership positions at Eastern Illinois University, including his current role as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. ” Hendrickson graduated with a bachelor's degr...

Photos via: Joliet Patch A Crest Hill woman is facing multiple charges following a crash that left her vehicle flipped over with her children inside. Kaitlyn Aimaro, 33, is facing DUI and child endangerment charges after crashing her vehicle over the weekend. Joliet Police responded to the call on Draper Avenue around 9:05pm in the late afternoon of August 22nd that reported a vehicle found flipped over on its hood. Inside of the vehicle were Aimaro and her two daughters, ages 6 and 7. Joliet Police reported Aimaro was found with, “bloodshot glassy eyes and was very uncooperative with officers as well as medical staff and would not answer basic questions”, according to the Joliet Patch . The children were left with minor injuries.  Aimaro was officially booked with two counts of aggravated DUI and two counts of endangering the life and health of a child. This is not Aimaro’s first time facing DUI charges. This incident marks her fourth time receiving a DUI charge. The now Crest Hil...

  The Big Chill and Grill is a local family owned fast food restaurant in the Joliet area serving a diverse variety of food on their menu such as hotdogs, burgers, pizzas, sandwiches and more. Located on 623 Wilcox St. the Big Chill and Grill is a small business that serves their customers with determination and loyalty. The Big Chill and Grill can even be viewed as an occasional hang out spot for the students of the University of St. Francis, a college that is located one block away from the restaurant itself.  Much like any other restaurant in the Joliet area, The Big Chill and Grill has gained positive reviews for their food and customer service. The Big Chill and Grill is also known for their love of sports as their is decor for the Chicago Cubs seen near the drink station as customers walk in, another major factor for this dining establishment is The Big Chill and Grills drive through, although it is not as huge as the typical drive through you would see at McDonalds or P...

 The Council Chambers, located on the second level of Joliet City Hall at 150 West Jefferson Street, will host a special meeting of the City of Joliet Boards of Fire and Police Commissioners on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 5:30 PM. A number of significant issues pertaining to city operations and staff will be discussed at this meeting.  The public is welcome to attend, as is the case with all city meetings. If a citizen is unable to attend in person, they can send written remarks to publiccomment@joliet.gov by email beforehand. There will also be time throughout the meeting for citizens to voice their opinions on agenda issues; each speaker will have a maximum of four minutes. It is crucial to remember that this part of the discussion is intended to give residents a direct chance to express their opinions to the Commission rather than to serve as a Q&A session. A Secretary's Report, a Closed Sessions to address state law personnel issues, and the outcome of the hearing ...

 BY: Morgan Jensen     The St. Joseph Chapel is the main chapel at the University of St. Francis. The chapel is located on the third floor of the Motherhouse on the University's main campus. The chapel is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week when school is in session. Between mass at other chapels on campus and the St. Joseph Chapel, mass service takes place every week on days Sunday through Friday. The St. Joseph Chapel is an important part of University Ministry because of the school's Franciscan values.      The University Ministry has four foundational cornerstones that capture their intentions within campus ministry. Prayer, discipleship, community, and service are the center of the ministry. Prayer is aided by many prayer rooms on campus. Discipleship is focused on by connecting students on campus through their own faith journeys. To create a tight knit community, there are many interfaith programs that the ministry sponsors so that all students are abl...

  The University of St. Francis Art Gallery has opened its new art exhibit which is displaying the works of ceramics and clay from Kuchinski and Stoiber. The exhibition of art is running from August 21 to October 7.  USF alumna, Peg Stoiber, is displaying her works of intricate woven art in a dialogue of material, body and narrative. Marina Kuchinski is the creative behind the ceramics and mixed media that is displayed alongside Stoiber.  These works of art are intended to challenge social constructs as well as question what the true boundaries are between species.  Both artists draw inspiration from nature and animals but how they interpret and portray those ideas vary. Stoiber’s handwoven textiles encapsulate the beauty of fiber and include knowledge of decades of education in color, pattern and texture. Stoiber showcases her technical mastery while continuing her curiostiy with texture and dimensionality.  Stoiber’s portion of the exhibit comes at an interse...