UIS Observer

BIG WIN FOR THE STARS: Kaden Griffitts blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift UIS to a dramatic 10-8 victory over the University of Indianapolis in the first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship Tournament on Thursday at the UIS Baseball Field.

UIS led for most of the game, including 5-2 in the ninth inning, when Indy plated six runs, including a grand slam, to go up 8-5. UIS scored three in the bottom of the ninth, punctuated by a two-out solo homer from pinch hitter Drew Ezard, to tie the game.

Then Griffitts walked it off in the bottom of the 10th with a homer over the right-field wall.

UIS’ next game in the double-elimination tournament will be 2 p.m. Saturday at UIS.

Photo caption: The UIS baseball team crowds around home plate to celebrate Kaden Griffitts’ walk off home run that secured a 10-8 win over Indy on Thursday. (Photo by Jason Piscia)

Be sure to stop by the information table in the lobby of the BOS Center on Saturday to pick up your copy of our commemorative graduation newspaper. They’re free. And don’t miss the story on the back page featuring places to eat and things to do around downtown while friends and family are here.

Commencement is this Saturday! 🎓 Here’s what you need to know if you’re attending:

• Two ceremonies will be held at the BOS Center in downtown Springfield at 12:30 and 5:30 p.m. The ceremonies are being divided by college. Learn more: uis.edu/commencement.

• Tickets are required to attend the UIS commencement ceremonies and have been provided to each graduate for distribution to their guests. Doors to the BOS Center main hall will open one hour before each ceremony.

• Due to other events happening in downtown Springfield, allow extra time for arrival and to locate parking. A number of options are available, including parking ramps, parking lots, and street parking (meters are free on weekends).

• Overflow seating with live streaming for guests without tickets will be available in the lower level of the BOS Center. The ceremony will also be streamed at uis.edu/uislive.

• Each ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes to two hours.

➡️ View more FAQs: uis.edu/commencement/commencement-faqs

The Observer, the UIS student news outlet, hasn’t printed a newspaper in several years. But we’re back today with a special end-of-school-year edition featuring the Top 10 stories of the year and much more. We’ll be dropping off copies at several locations around campus over the next day or so. Pick up your free copy as a keepsake to remember the year that was at UIS.

Also, if you see any small newspaper racks around campus like the one pictured here, let us know. Our old ones have vanished.

We're looking for content creators to help us report on the news, features and sports stories important to the UIS community. Join us in Fall 2026 as a member of The Observer staff. Message us for more info!

Many people will tell you the panini sandwiches at the Student Union are legendary. Now, we have more proof. For the second straight year, the panini has been voted the best thing to eat at the Union in the Observer's "Best of UIS" contest. Read more about UIS' favorites at https://uisobserver.com/news/2026/04/21/2026-best-of-uis-and-beyond-contest-winners/

* Photo created by AI because real UIS paninis are consumed too quickly to be photographed. :)

BREAKING NEWS: The professors' strike is over, and classes resume on Monday.

University announces tentative agreement with professors’ union; classes resume All classes at UIS will return to normal schedules on Monday after tenure and tenure-track professors who had been on strike for the past two weeks reached a tentative contract agreement, UIS administrators announced early Monday. The details of the three-year deal were not immediately announced. Th...

As we enter Day 7 of the professors' strike, the union and administration still appear to be far apart on an agreement that would return them to the classroom. The union continues to push for raises that will keep up with rising costs of living. Meanwhile, administrators stress the university needs to control spending to stop the campus' financial bleeding. In addition, union supporters have started to more loudly suggest that UIS Chancellor Janet Gooch should step down.

UIS strike Day 6: Negotiations continue with professors UIS’ striking tenure/tenure-track professors spent their sixth day on the picket line Wednesday as the union and administration met for 4 1/2 more hours in an attempt to hammer out a deal that has remained elusive for 11 months. Neither side on Wednesday announced any significant progress made. Te...

Who's the best men's athlete at UIS Athletics? Vote now in this and other categories in The Observer's "Best of UIS" contest. Our nominees include (top row from left) Luke Pennington (UIS Tennis), Jordan Rice (basketball), (bottom row from left) Corey Boyette (baseball), Dez Olivier (basketball) and Joe Brudnak (UIS Men's Soccer).

Anyone with a UIS email address can vote once per day through April 12. The more you vote, the better chance you have to win some great prizes. Visit www.uisobserver.com to vote now!

Where do you go to find the best tacos in Springfield? Vote for your favorite now in the "Best of UIS" contest. Our "best taco" category includes popular spots including The Taco Joint, El Dorado Taqueria, Aztca Mexican Grill, Taco Bell and La Fiesta Grande. Anyone with a UIS email address can vote once per day through April 12. The more you vote, the better chance you have to win some great prizes. Vote now: www.uisobserver.com.

(Image generated by AI. Disclaimer: Real tacos look and taste better.)

Today's updates:

* The professors' strike continues
* The union and administration are getting together again today in an attempt to hammer out a deal.
* U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski is coming to campus to speak with strike participants.

Stick with The Observer website and our social channels for ongoing coverage.

UIS professors’ strike reaches day four as weekend negations fail to produce a contract The UIS tenure/tenure-track faculty strike entered its fourth day on Monday, April 6 as the weekend bargaining session failed to produce a contract. A statement on the University’s bargaining website stated that one tentative agreement was reached during the three hour negotiation on Saturday, Apr...