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Braden Auditorium

The Braden Auditorium, housed in the Bone Student Center, is located on the campus of Illinois State University at the intersection of University Street and College Avenue. It first opened in 1973 as the University Union Auditorium. It was renamed in 1983 to honor the university’s tenth president, Dr. Samuel Braden. With the capacity to hold 3,457 attendees, the Braden Auditorium entertains and hosts Broadway shows, touring companies, concerts, ballets, and conferences. Seating is available in Orchestra, Mezzanine, and Balcony levels. Past performers include: Bill Cosby, Bruce Springsteen, David Copperfield, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Prince, Robin Williams, All-American Rejects, Whoopi Goldberg.

Samuel Braden

Samuel Braden was born in China in 1914. He later moved to the United States and attended the University of Oklahoma where he majored in economics and political science. He went on later to serve in the Air Force. Braden demonstrated integrity and hard work. He came to Illinois State University and served as the 10th president. He fulfilled three crucial years at the University. He bestowed the University when enrollment was 11,000 and by the time he left the University it had grown to 17,000. ISU was growing, yet the University encountered many issues during this time. The curriculum was changing and Braden launched over 400 new programs, including a University Program Committee to establish an academic plan to chart the development of the University in the coming decade. Braden needed to expand facilities and staff to meet the growing population at ISU. However, with declining state support, it proved to be problematic. Operating funds were cut from seven to two million. While the University encountered economic problems, a new issue began to surface. Activism began to sour regarding the Vietnam War and students began to speak out about Racial Injustice. “President Braden had to deal with the SDS, the Black Panther Party, Vietnam protests, racial incidents, protest against discrimination, marches, rallies, pickets, and acts of vandalism and violence." He watched over the interests of the students by listening and communicating to those who spoke out. The current issues had turned the University upside down. In one instance, two hundred black students had locked themselves in the Cage in the Union. While President Braden did intimidate the students by stating he would involve the police if the students did not unlock the facility, he invited those students to take part in a rally going on later that night. He tried his best to resolve the growing issues at Illinois State, but he began to find himself very overwhelmed and stuck at crossroads. While he enjoyed his position, it showed to be too much. Three years later after he joined the University, he resigned. His last statement was, “I simply find that I no longer enjoy grappling with the kinds of problems that confront a college president today. I will leave the University and the community with real regret”. Although his time at ISU was cut short, President Braden proved to be a strong leader and guided students and faculty through a treacherous time.

Braden Box Office

The Braden Box Office is located on the first floor of the Bone Student Center, near the Braden Auditorium. Business hours Monday through Friday are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Business hours on Saturday are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It accepts nearly all types of payment including: checks, cash, credit, and debit cards. Tickets can be ordered as, “Will Call” and can be picked up 48 hours after tickets have been purchased. Pick-up for these tickets is available Monday through Friday an hour after open along with a valid identification, credit card, and confirmation number. Besides providing tickets for purchase, the Braden Box Office provides the following services to Illinois State University students and staff:

• Personal check cashing for Illinois State students and faculty/staff (up to $50 with a fifty cent fee)
• Postage stamps in groups of 5 or books of 20
• Student disciplinary fines and class fees assigned by Community Rights & Responsibilites
• Participant payments for programs such as Alternative Spring Breaks, Leaders of Social Change, and Leadershape
• Student Involvement Center charges for mailings, date requests, and other services