News

December 1999

MLK Winners Announced

Jorge Garcia of Glen Carbon has been named the winner of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship and Humanitarian Award and S. LaVernn Wilson, director of the SIUE Early Childhood Center, has been named winner of the MLK Jr. Faculty-Staff Humanitarian Award..

Both will receive the award and special recognition during the University's Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration luncheon Thursday, Jan. 20, in Meridian Ballroom.

Garcia's award includes a $100 cash stipend and a scholarship that provides for tuition or fees or housing for one academic year of full-time undergraduate or graduate study at SIUE. Wilson will received a plaque honoring her contributions.

Wilson's impact in early childhood education has been felt beyond the SIUE campus. She has served as president of the National Coalition for Campus Child Care and as a board member and secretary of the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children. Her expertise has been sought as a member of several advisory boards and she has been awarded professional honors including recognition as a Danforth Associate and as an Outstanding Teacher for the Socially Maladjusted Child.

Garcia, a junior studying business, has a cumulative grade point average of 3.38. Beginning undergraduate work after serving five years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Garcia has been the recipient of the Johnetta Haley Scholarship and is a member of the Dean's List Honor Society. Among the activities he has taken part in on the SIUE campus is a term as secretary of the SIUE Latin Awareness Student Organization and participation in the Student Leadership Development Program. Garcia also has been active in Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois, Habitat for Humanity, and Prairie Share, a good co-op based out of Protestant Welfare in Granite City.

Donald J. Harris, a junior from Edwardsville, received an honorable mention in the competition for the Scholarship and Humanitarian Student Award.

The 11:30 a.m. luncheon will feature Madison County Circuit Judge Ellar Duff who will deliver the keynote address at 12:45 p.m. Tickets for the luncheon are $10; students, $8. Reservations are being accepted by calling (618) 650-2660.

SIU Board Appoints Eight SIUE Members To Search Committee

The SIU Board of Trustees has announced 16 members of an advisory committee composed of faculty, staff, and students-eight of whom are from the Edwardsville campus-who will assist in the search for a new SIU PresidentThe members from SIUE are:

• CAS Dean Sharon Hahs, committee chair, representing SIUE deans;

• Gloria Atkins, assistant vice chancellor for Administration, professional staff;

• Professor Sid Denny, chair of the Department of Anthropology, Faculty Senate;

• Assistant Professor Wayne Ellis of the School of Nursing, Faculty Senate;

• Gail Erb, an adviser in the Office of Student Financial Aid, civil service;

• Professor Marvin Finkelstein, Faculty Senate;

• Heather Mueller and Juan Rosa, Student Government

Members were chosen from nominations made to the Board by the constituency groups of both campuses.

The first meeting of the committee will convene Thursday, Dec. 16, at the Mt. Vernon (IL) Outland Airport, in an executive session with representatives of the Board of Trustees and David McCarthy, a nationally based recruiting consultant in the education field, to discuss the search process.

"We are interested in building a strong pool of quality candidates for President of SIU," said A.D. VanMeter Jr., Board chair."We encourage anyone with with the names of qualified candidates to submit them to us as soon as possible."

Deadline for applications is Monday, Jan. 3. The Board will review applications, conduct preliminary interviews, and determine at least three finalists for further consideration by the chancellors and the advisory committee.

Nominations may be submitted to: SIU Board of Trustees, attention Sharon Holmes, 1400 Douglas Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901-6801, or, by calling (618) 536-3357. More information is available on the web: www.siu.edu.

IBHE Approves Staff Recs On SIU FY01 Budget

The Illinois Board of Higher Education has approved its staff's recommendations for an operating budget increase of more than $14 million for Southern Illinois University during FY01.

The IBHE will send its entire spending plan for higher education to Gov. George Ryan for his consideration. The Governor will then send his budget proposal for all state government to the General Assembly in early February. A final state budget should be completed sometime in April or May.

For SIUE, the proposal includes funding increases for library materials, new academic programs in the Schools of Engineering and Education, as well as planning money for a proposed renovation and expansion of the Science Building and for infrastructure repair on the Edwardsville and Alton campuses.

In addition, the recommendations call for a 3-percent salary increase for employees, with 1 percent salary increases for retention and recruitment of critical faculty and staff. Another 1 percent would come from internal reallocations and is not part of the IBHE voting package.

Chancellor David Werner praised the staff proposed recommendations. "This is a solid set of budget recommendations for SIUE," Werner said. "The recommended funding level provides a strong base of support for our academic programs and critical capital needs.

"I am particularly pleased by the recommendations for the BS in Manufacturing Engineering, which will provide skilled employees for Southern Illinois industries and for the information technology program, which is designed to draw liberal arts graduates into the information technology field."

Major capital project recommendations for SIUE includes $1.1 million in planning for proposed renovations and expansions for the Science Building and $3.1 million to replace four chillers at the Heating and Refrigeration Plant. Also under the IBHE recommendations, SIUE would be provided $2 million in capital renewal funds for infrastructure repairs at Edwardsville and at the SDM.

In addition, SIUE would receive $173,000 in deferred maintenance funds. In addition to more than $3.1 million for salaries, the IBHE recommendations include:

• $68,000 for the increasing costs of library materials;

•$585,000 to support instructional technology programming;

•$172,000 to enhance the School of Dental Medicine;•$100,000 to establish four professional development schools; and

•$130,000 for the Illinois Education Research Council, whose mission is to provide research support for the Joint Education Commission.

Grant From "Good Hands" Helps Family Resource Center

SIUE has announced the receipt of a $10,000 grant from Allstate Insurance Company to assist in programming for University Housing's Family Resource Center.

Gary Doyle, an agent with the Edwardsville Allstate office, presented a check to university officials earlier this month. "The Family Resource Center has been a great addition to the University Housing program," said Housing Director Michael Schultz.

"We are happy that Allstate Insurance has seen the importance of the program and has invested in it to make the program even stronger."

The Family Resource Center, located in the Cougar Village apartment complex, serves the needs of the 140 student families who reside on campus. The center provides tutoring programs, adult education parenting programs, SIUE and community services information, and family-oriented clubs and organizations. Audrey Johnson, an SIUE graduate assistant working toward a master's in Public Administration and former programming coordinator for the Family Resource Center, worked with Doyle in writing and submitting the proposal to Allstate.

Funds were requested to support new programs for the center, including homework assistance for children, audio and video educational materials, reading books, and other educational supplies. "The money will allow the center to strive and create programs that will continue to serve our surrounding and SIUE communities," said Schultz.

Easter Seals Locates Discovery Site In SIUE's University Park

They came, they saw, they ... built a child care center.

Borrowing a child care concept from the Italians, and capitalizing on the advantages of University Park, Easter Seals Illinois will open a new Discovery Depot in June. This is the fourth Discovery site for Easter Seals.

The 12,000-square-foot facility in University Park will be licensed for 131 children ages six weeks to six years and will mix children with special needs with all children.

Other key components of the concept include:

• Children stay with the same teacher for three years;

• Children work in project teams, learning to work with each other and accept the abilities of each child;

• Learning takes place using multiple media.

"As the first childcare center of its kind in the region, we expect the center to be the focus of teacher learning, conferences and observation," said Brenda Sammonds, who will manage the center.

Ground-breaking for the facility began Friday, Dec. 10. It is located between the GeneraLife building and the University Park Administrative Building. The center will employ 26 people.

SIUENet To Join ICN For Speedy Internet Connection

According to Jay Starratt, dean of Library Information Services and associate vice chancellor for Information Technology, SIUENet had been operating since October with three T-1 connections, but next month the new DS-3 connection will equal the speed of 28 T-1 connections. "In addition to speed, joining the ICN will mean a considerable savings, especially when we move our interactive video network and video classrooms on to the system," Starratt said.

ICN was developed by upgrading and joining existing networks through the efforts of the Higher Education Technology Task Force, a committee of educators including Starratt. The task force was established by the IBHE, with support from the state's Board of Education, the Community College Board, and the Department of Central Management Services. Funding for the ICN came from the General Assembly to the tune of $25 million.

"With this new connection, e-mail correspondence or access to the web will no longer be slowed by our connection," Starratt said. "Downloading large files from off campus will be faster for the most part, and using video and audio academic sources on the web also will improve for on-campus users.

"We're constantly looking for ways to improve SIUENet by upgrading and reconfiguring it, but we're particularly pleased with this move to the ICN."

November 1999

SECA. Don't forget to complete your State and University Employees Combined Appeal (SECA) form by Nov. 30. Details are enclosed in the SECA booklet that was sent to employees recently. SECA enables employees to choose among 15 charitable organizations to support. Last year, the university community contributed more than $42,000 to the joint campaign.

Nursing Students Are Using CDs To Teach What?

It must be a sign of the times when nursing students can use a CD to learn how to help first-time mothers breast-feed their babies.

Mothers have been breast feeding since the beginning of time, haven't they? And without the help of computers, so, why does the practice have to be taught at all? And in such a high-tech manner?

Laura Bernaix, assistant professor of Nursing, says the CD method is almost perfect. "Most nursing students are thrown into the clinical setting without having had the opportunity to learn the practical skills required to help first-time mothers breast feed," Bernaix said. "Because the CD is interactive, and students can move through it at their own pace, this is an excellent medium for learning."

Bernaix said there also are sociological implications regarding the practice of breast feeding. She said that the practice had fallen out of favor, but is once again becoming the choice of first-time mothers. "Because breast feeding had become a less prevalent practice, we basically have a generation of nursing students and the general population who view the female breast in purely sexual terms," said Bernaix.

"That means they are unfamiliar with the lactation process. We are learning more every day about the short-term and long-term benefits of breast feeding. So, it's even more important that nursing students learn more about it and are able to pass that knowledge on to mothers, with a goal of making breast feeding a positive experience for the mom and the baby."

The instructional CD is part of a semester-long course, Care of the Child-Bearing Family, designed to help SIUE nursing students better understand maternity issues. Bernaix developed the idea for the CD and wrote the instructional content. Steve Huffstutler, coordinator of SIUE's Faculty Technology Center, created the technical design.

The FTC is the faculty's resource for help in giving students online access to course material. "We take course material that the faculty gives us and put it on the web so students can review it at their own pace.

"In Laura's case, she needed something that would show students proper techniques and give them an additional way to build their knowledge of nursing."

FTC Is Here To Help Faculty

In the far corner of the Faculty Technology Center, past the computers packed tightly in the work room and behind a stack of electronic gadgets, a human peeks up from his work.

He is part of a growing wave of people who are most at home when surrounded by advanced technology and who can't tell you what they do during a work day without putting their hands on a computer.

In Steve Huffstutler's case, what he does is join the ancient art of pedagogy with the ultra-modern internet and other computer-related methods of getting an instructional point across. "What we do," Huffstutler said, "is help make course material more accessible. We give instructors another avenue for teaching, and students another avenue for learning."

He creates web pages for instructors that include course notes so that students can review the material at their own pace. A new service, WebCt, lets instructors put their entire course on-line. Course notes, assignments, quizzes and tests can be accessed by the students at any time. Built-in chat, mail, and bulletin board functions make communication with other students and the instructor just a mouse click away.

But, no, the sites are not a ready-made excuse to cut class. One of his latest projects is a CD that helps nursing students instruct new mothers on breast feeding their infants. It's a point-and-click approach designed to look like a book. Click and the page turns. On the quiz pages, keys correspond to possible answers. The right key opens the door.

Besides the CD, the FTC also numbers the digitizing of tribal languages among its accomplishments.

Demand for the services provided by the Faculty Technology Center, the FTC, is going up-quickly. "We're doing more workshops, some open houses and mainly relying on word of mouth to let people know we're here," said Huffstutler. "At the same time, this is a growing and learning process for us. We're getting a better idea of what everyone wants and how we can help provide it.

"People get scared by technology. But, we want faculty members to know that we'll do the work for them. In fact, they don't even have to come up with new material. We can use what instructors are using in the classroom. Many times an instructor only has an idea of something they would like to do. We talk to them about possibilities and then help them create and implement their ideas."

The FTC is a joint effort by the offices of Academic Computing and Audio-Visual services. It was created to provide a centralized location offering this type of assistance to all faculty members. More funding and graduate assistant help has enabled the FTC to handle the increased workload.

For more information about the FTC, call Ext.5697.

Auction: SIUE students are preparing for the 18th Annual Friends of Art Auction, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville. Works may be previewed between 6 and 7 p.m. Friends of Art is a support organization for the SIUE Department of Art & Design; proceeds are used for student scholarships and educational enhancement programs. Admission to the auction is $2; students admitted at no charge. A number of well-established area artists, along with SIUE art faculty, students, and alumni have donated more than 200 pieces for the event, including paintings, drawings, prints, mixed media pieces, ceramics, sculpture, and glassworks. Smaller pieces, including hand-crafted jewelry, will be offered in a silent auction. Shown here are junior Jodie Lercher and senior Sara Dahlmann, both of Belleville; and Chris Campbell, a third-year MFA candidate from Houston, Texas. For more information, call the SIUE Department of Art and Design, (618) 650-3071, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 3071.

Funny Man Mark Russell To Grace The A&I Stage

Can we trust a guy who wears a bowtie and makes jokes about the top politicians in the country? Sure. Because he's Mark Russell, and, he's funny to boot.

PBS's favorite funny man and his special brand of political humor and song come to the Arts & Issues stage Nov. 15 at SIUE. The series is in its 15th season of bringing quality entertainment and provocative presentations to Southwestern Illinois audiences.

Russell will appear at 7:30 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom, co-sponsored by the Dick H. Mudge Jr. Endowment Fund.

Russell's no-holds-barred political commentary, highlighted with droll one-liners and bouncy tunes, refuses to take politicians as seriously as they take themselves.

A political satirist, a syndicated columnist, an errant pianist, and a staple on PBS Television for more than 20 years, Russell delivers stand-up comedy while accompanying himself on piano.

In addition to writing a column and recording CDs and videos, Russell also is a weekly commentator on CNN's Inside Politics Weekend. And, he's on the road with his show during most of the year. His answer to the frequently asked question, "Do you use writers?" is "Yes, 535 of them-100 in the Senate and 435 in the House."

Admission to the Nov. 15 Arts & Issues event is $18; students, $9, which includes free parking in the lots behind the Morris Center and Dunham Hall. For ticket information, call (618) 650-2320, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2320; or write: Arts & Issues, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1083; or by e-mail, rwalker@siue.edu. For the complete Arts & Issues season, go to http://www.siue.edu/ARTS_ISSUES on the World Wide Web.

Dean Lashley Is Distinguished. Felissa Lashley, dean of the School of Nursing, recently received the Illinois Nurses Association Distinguished Nurse Researcher Award, which was given at the ISN's annual Awards Banquet last month. The award was given Dean Lashley for her research, which has "increased Nursing's knowledge in areas of education and practice."

What Makes Hendey Run?

In the fifth century B.C.E, a Greek warrior, Pheidippides, supposedly ran from Marathon to Athens, a distance of more than 35km, to bring the news of a victory to the people of Athens.

Pheidippides had a reason for running nearly 26 miles. But runners today can't always articulate why they participate in marathons.

Bill Hendey knows. It's about competition and about a certain kind of spirituality. Hendey, assistant director of Academic Counseling and Advising, lives for the next marathon. In fact, he set out to run six in 1999-one for each decade he's been alive. He turned 60 on Jan. 2 and he just finished his fifth marathon.

When asked the ultimate question about why he runs, Hendey becomes thoughtful and says that the truth lies somewhere between wanting to stay fit and some sort of spiritual place. "The late George Sheehan, sort of the runner's guru in those early years, was a cardiologist but also a philosopher who wrote a book called Running and Being which dealt with the spiritual side of running.

"Many assume I run for health reasons, but the weight thing was as close as I got to that and then it became a competitive thing. I was running in road races every weekend, in training seven days a week. If I missed a day, it felt awful.

"I discovered that spiritual side," Hendey said. "I came to realize that even if I didn't compete, I would still run. I do some of my best thinking when I'm running; I don't know if it's biocehmical, but things seem so clear and I become so focused."

Leading up to his 60th birthday, Hendey decided he would do something to commemorate that milestone. "Dylan Thomas wrote 'Do not go gentle into that good night, / Old age should burn and rave at close of day; / Rage, rage against the dying of the light' / and I thought to myself that it was time for me to start burning and raging."

This past year Hendey has run in the Olympiad Marathon, Chesterfield, Mo., in February; Lake County Races, Zion, Ill., in April; the Hoosier Marathon, Ft. Wayne, Ind.,; and the Heart of America Marathon, Columbia, Mo., in September.

He just finished 9,060th at the Chicago Marathon in late October with a 3:57 time. That wasn't good enough to win, of course, but keep in mind there were nearly 30,000 runners, 5,000 of whom didn't finish. That means Hendey finished ahead of 15,000 other runners. "I felt good and bad," Hendey said. "I would have liked to have finished higher up, but I did finish. And, that's not bad for a 60-year-old with a bad leg." In December, Hendey is heading for the Memphis Marathon to complete his sextuplet.

His all-time best marathon was in 1982 at age 43 at Marion, where he ran a 2:38 time. He won the master's division and was awarded a free trip to the Boston Marathon. However, he injured himself and couldn't run that year. He did go back five years later to Boston where his time was 2 hours, 53 minutes. He was 48.

"Those earlier races were much easier for me than running marathons these days," Hendey said. "That's because I was 20 pounds lighter and 17 years younger. Now, I have chronic knee problems. But, I enjoyed the Chicago Marathon so much that I know I'll go back. I've run in Boston and LA marathons, but Chicago is the biggest.

And, with a twinkle in his eye, Hendey said: "I'll continue to run in marathons but I probably won't do six in a year again anytime soon. But, maybe I'll do seven the year I turn 70."

MOVEMENT: Tickets are available for Dance In Concert '99 to be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 11-13, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, all in Katherine Dunham Hall theater. Dancers shown here, top to bottom, are: Kathy Mordini, Jeff Bulkley, and Erin Hartmann. The evening of creative movement will include original music written by Dave Carter, a composer and recording artist of "post-modern mythic American music." Carter, who performs with Tracy Grammer, has won several awards at West Coast folk music festivals. He wrote music especially for Address Unknown, a piece choreographed by J. Calvin Jarrell, professor of theater and dance and director of dance for the university. Tickets are $7; SIUE faculty and staff, senior citizens, and students, $5. For more information, call SIUE's Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888)328-5168. (SIUE Photo)

Campus Solid-Waste Study Completed By EHS Office

A troop of strangely dressed creatures landed on the SIUE campus recently and began digging through the university's trash barrels. No, they weren't aliens.

They were conducting a solid-waste composition study, an investigation performed by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) in cooperation with the Department of Civil Engineering.

Every five years the university is required, by law, to conduct the study. This year, student and staff volunteers, led by Assistant Professor Susan Morgan, spent three weeks sorting the university's trash. About 12 representative dumpsters from various areas on campus were sampled, their contents spread out on tarps, and divided into recyclable and non-recyclable materials.

"A solid-waste study gives us a good overall view of the university's solid waste stream," says David McDonald, EHS coordinator. "The goal of this study is to use the observations we make to improve the University Recycling Program."

For example, according to McDonald, recyclable materials were found in various containers on campus. The discovery of such materials may mean that additional education is necessary, encouraging everyone on campus to use the recycling program properly.

From its implementation in 1992, SIUE's program has recycled more than 600 tons of paper-that's equivalent to more than 10,200 trees. Currently, the university provides for the recycling of newspaper, magazines, aluminum cans, cardboard, and mixed office paper. "The key to the recycling program is for people to remember to use it," says McDonald.

One item found by the study was a bag of office paper, thrown in a trash can rather than in a designated recycling receptacle. "It's discouraging to see such waste," McDonald said. "Collection containers are available all over campus. If people just take the time to think about what they're throwing away, and put their recyclable materials in the proper place, we all benefit."

For more information about the solid-waste composition study, or about the university's recycling program, readers can visit the Environmental Health and Safety webpage at ehs.siue.edu.

ROTC Cadets Make The 'Ranger Challenge' A Goal

Weeks of hard work paid off for the university's ROTC unit that trained for the Ranger Challenge and came in sixth out of a field of 16 college units from the Midwest in the recent competition.

During the past several weeks of training for the Challenge, most SIUE students were still in bed while 12 university Army ROTC cadets were up and out on 10km road marches across campus.

At 6 on those mornings the cadets were moving at a fast clip with a 35-pound, fully equipped pack on their backs-just one of the exercises they were engaging in as they prepared for the "varsity sport" of the Army ROTC.

The 12 cadets eventually were culled to 10 who then travelled by a UH-60 Army helicopter to Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Mo., to compete in the brigade level of the Challenge on Oct. 29 - 31. Around the country, university ROTC teams compete at a preliminary level such as this one, and teams placing first and second move on to regional competitions in the spring.

The SIUE unit won't be going to the regionals, but they finished with their heads held high. As part of the overall finish, the unit came in third in the patrolling event and fourth in the one-rope bridge event.

"This competition isn't just about physical endurance," said SIUE Cadet Matthew Cloud. "It's about motivation and building a team. The 12 cadets we had preparing for the Challenge are a pretty motivated bunch-they are really into it. Their motivation motivates me to come in each day and work with them."

While women have competed in the past with SIUE's Ranger Challenge teams, this year's team consisted of only men. The team represents the approximately 80 men and women enrolled here in the Army ROTC program as they prepare to become junior officers in the Army Reserve, Army National Guard, or Active Army. Those who successfully complete the ROTC program normally earn commissions as lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

One such SIUE graduate and now army lieutenant is Matthew Sims who has competed in the Ranger Challenge before and who helped with this year's SIUE team training while awaiting his first Army assignment. "There is a lot of hard work and training involved in getting ready for the Ranger Challenge," he said.

Says Capt. Bak: "This competition is not only a test of physical achievement, but it's a process that helps these individual develop into good leaders," he said.

November 16, 1999

Sanders Announces He Will Leave In February For ECS

SIU President Ted Sanders has announced his plans to leave Southern Illinois University and has issued the following statement:

Everyone hopes for, but few find a challenge that fits perfectly with their interests and abilities. It has happened to me only a few times in my career. And now it has happened again.

Today [Nov. 16, 1999], the Education Commission of the States will announce my appointment as its next president. The Commission was established 30 years ago by statutes enacted in each of the states and territories. Its role in bringing together the key actors from across the nation to help shape the best of education policy in elementary, secondary, and higher education fits perfectly with my interests.

No organization in America can match the character, depth, and policy potential of ECS. I look forward to the challenge of making maximum use of those assets. ECS is headquartered in Denver, Colo.; the appointment is effective in February. Beverly and I have enjoyed our time here. We leave with deep affection for and, confidence in the future of Southern Illinois University.

For additional information, refer to the SIU web page: www.siu.edu.

Choirs To Provide Holiday Revelry At Dinner, Concert

Joel Knapp has been on campus for only a few months and already he's in the Christmas spirit.

The new director of choral activities has planned two holiday celebrations featuring the university choirs-the Concert Choir, University Singers, and the Community Choral Society-for later this week.

"These concerts should be the highlight of the holiday season in the Edwardsville area," says Knapp, referring to the SIUE Madrigal Dinner at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sunset Hills Country Club, and the Annual Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Boniface Catholic Church, also in Edwardsville.

The Madrigal Dinner, a first for SIUE, will feature pageantry and "lively" entertainment as "revelers" come to enjoy a seven-course meal surrounded with "all the pomp and festivities of an evening in Renaissance England," Knapp said. "Trumpet fanfares announce each course, and as the 'Lord of the Castle' proclaims it suitable for all guests, there will be food, music and merriment."

Tickets for the dinner are $25 and may be obtained by calling Ext. 2034. Reservations are required by tomorrow. The three choral groups also will present the traditional SIUE Christmas Concert at St. Boniface, performing a wide variety of music including Benjamin Britten's Ceremony of Carols, featuring harpist Darryl Coan, and John Rutter's Gloria, with brass and percussion.

Tickets for the Christmas concert are $3; senior citizens and students, $2; and are available by calling Ext. 2034.

Grand Opening. Health Services, Room 0214, Rendleman Hall, celebrated its grand opening recently to show off the new facility. Additions include a larger waiting room and a multi-purpose room. Two additional exam rooms were added, bringing the total to six. And, the pharmacy now has a separate waiting area, which allows for more privacy and confidentiality for patients and better traffic flow.

Dr. Johnson Cited. Lee Johnson, MD, physician director of SIUE Health Services, recently was honored for 25 years of membership in the American Academy of Family Physicians. Johnson was cited for his involvement in the organization.

Holiday Crafts. The 29th Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair is set for 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 1-2, in the Morris Center. Hand-crafted items including clay, weaving, fiber, fabric, wood, metal, glass, leather, graphics, photography, and paintings will be available for purchase at the holiday fair.

Signs of the times. The new electronic message boards-on University Drive, at the Route157 (east) entrance, and on New Poag Road-have been in place for more than a month and messages have been streaming across their brightly lighted faces on a regular basis. If your University-related organization has a message to put on the sign, here are the guidelines and a submission form.

Taking Simone de Beauvoir Seriously As A Philosopher

Editor's Note: What follows is a reprint from the Nov. 9 edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education's website. Hypatia is edited by SIUE's Margaret Simons, professor of Philosophical Studies.

Many scholars no longer consider the works of Simone de Beauvoir a rehash of her more rigorous philosopher-lover, Jean-Paul Sartre, to judge from the articles in this special issue of [Hypatia] the journal of feminist philosophy.

First presented at two international conferences in 1998, the pieces indicate a "shifting paradigm" since 1985, when Hypatia last published a Beauvoir issue, notes Margaret A. Simons, who edited both volumes. The earlier articles assumed a Sartrean philosophical foundation for Beauvoir's The Second Sex, a thesis that has been "radically challenged by discoveries based on posthumous texts," writes Ms. Simons, a [professor of Philosophical Studies] at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

In addition, contemporary scholars are expanding what counts as philosophical discourse by reading Beauvoir's life as well as her writing. While a previous generation of feminists condemned The Second Sex as male-centered, Karen Vintges calls it an "exemplar" of contemporary feminist thinking. Through the "personal art of living," Beauvoir lays out a third path between the press for equality and an identity-based politics that stresses women's difference.

"She advocated the creation of identity as a project of positive moral commitment, whereas at the same time she criticized universal moral truth," writes Ms. Vintges, an associate professor at the University of Amsterdam.

In another article, Gail E. Linsenbard, an assistant professor at New York University, finds in Beauvoir arguments about universal human rights that converge with recent perspectives by African philosophers. "One particularly encouraging trend," concludes Ms. Simons, "is the readiness of the community of Beauvoir scholars to engage critically and fully with one another."

Copyright (c) 1999 by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Posted with permission on the SIU Edwardsville website. This article may not be published, reposted, or redistributed without express permission from The Chronicle. To obtain such permission, please send a message to permission@chronicle.com. For subscription information, send a message to circulation@chronicle.com.

November 30, 1999

Stressed For The Holidays? Join The Club; These Tips Can Help

Gift shopping, party going, seasonal decorating, card sending, turkey stuffing-it can all add up to a tense and stressful month as we head into the holiday season.

But in recognition of "National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month"-a December awareness event sponsored by the Florida-based Parenting Without Pressure organization- SIUE faculty and staff are offering some tips to keep everything merry and bright.

"Above all," said Andrew Pomerantz, assistant professor of Psychology, "schedule some personal relaxation time into the daily schedule. Don't allow the rush and the bustle of the holidays to overwhelm you to the point of not having time to find a relaxing activity or just sit and rest."

Pomerantz recommends mapping out the holiday season ahead of time to allow for organization of responsibilities. And with that, he suggests maintaining realistic expectations about what can be accomplished each day. Trying to accomplish too much in a 24-hour period only adds to the tension. "Also maintain realistic expectations for interpersonal interactions," he said.

"Some people try to see too many people or expect too much from friends and family. People don't change who they are just because it is the holidays." Another important consideration to keep in mind, Pomerantz advises, is to maintain healthy eating habits, a thought echoed by Mary Baya, coordinator of SIUE's Wellness Center. "It's so easy to over indulge because it's the holidays and there are so many special treats," she said.

"Enjoy them but do it with moderation. Take time in making choices about eating." In an effort to moderate eating and avoid those overindulgences, Baya suggests using the palm of the hand as an indicator. "The amount of food you could hold in your palm is a reliable measure of what is a healthy serving of most foods. And, vary the selection, mixing in fruits and vegetables along with the holiday sweets and goodies."

Both Baya and Pomerantz recommend thinking ahead and planning for exercise to ward off stress and extra pounds during the holidays. "If you've had a large sit-down meal, get the friends and family up from the table and go for a walk," Baya said. "Make exercise a priority during the holidays, but don't let it add to stress. That's counterproductive. But, doing something in the form of exercise is better than doing nothing at all."

One other reminder Baya has for holiday revelers: "Drink responsibly. Remember, there's absolutely no nutritional value to alcohol, and excessive drinking can pack on the pounds just as easily as overeating." Even with these precautions, the holidays can still become overwhelming. If that happens, Pomerantz recommends trying to "reframe" stressful situations, emphasizing the positives rather than the negatives.

If the problem becomes too hard to manage alone, he recommends talking with a licensed mental health professional. "Keep a sense of perspective as much as possible throughout the holidays," he said.

"Keep in mind, the holidays are to be enjoyed, not become a source of stress and unhappiness. Plan ahead to manage the pressure for a happy, healthy holiday season."

SIUENet To Join ICN For Speedy Internet Connection

Beginning later this month, sending and receiving e-mail, in most instances, will increase in speed ninefold. Sounds Biblical, doesn't it?

In late December, SIUENet becomes part of the Illinois Century Network, an internet provider operated by the state Board of Higher Education. What this means for e-mail and web surfers on campus is a faster connection to the outside world.

According to Jay Starratt, dean of Library Information Services and associate vice chancellor for Information Technology, SIUENet had been operating since October with three T-1 connections, but next month the new DS-3 connection will equal the speed of 28 T-1 connections. "In addition to speed, joining the ICN will mean a considerable savings, especially when we move our interactive video network and video classrooms on to the system," Starratt said.

ICN was developed by upgrading and joining existing networks through the efforts of the Higher Education Technology Task Force, a committee of educators including Starratt. The task force was established by the IBHE, with support from the state's Board of Education, the Community College Board, and the Department of Central Management Services. Funding for the ICN came from the General Assembly to the tune of $25 million.

"With this new connection, e-mail correspondence or access to the web will no longer be slowed by our connection," Starratt said. "Downloading large files from off campus will be faster for the most part, and using video and audio academic sources on the web also will improve for on-campus users.

"We're constantly looking for ways to improve SIUENet by upgrading and reconfiguring it, but we're particularly pleased with this move to the ICN."

SIUE Constructors "Crush" The Competition In The Cube Contest

"Cementing" their claim to first place, three School of Engineering students won the American Concrete Institute's (ACI) International Concrete Cube Competition, on Oct. 31 at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

With 30 percent more strength than the second place finisher, the SIUE team's concrete cube proved to be nearly invincible, withstanding a remarkable 28,500 pounds per square inch of pressure.

Joining forces to create this "super-block" of concrete, seniors Timothy Vaughan and Christopher Freeman and junior Matthew Breeze spent much of the summer producing and testing 2-inch cubes that each weighed less than two-thirds of a pound, met the extensive rules of the competition, and could withstand high levels of compression.

Ultimately it took 80 attempts before the winning formula was finalized. "It takes some time to find the right combination of ingredients, changing one thing at a time in each attempt," said Vaughan. "You have to baby the cubes along and pamper them by curing them in water. Just finding out what curing process works best takes time," said Freeman.

The most reliable method of curing, the team found, involved the use of a refrigerator and a crock pot. Asked just what made their cube so strong, the three exchange glances before Vaughan states, "It's a top secret formula." Vaughan concedes that the formula is impractical for general concrete manufacturing-it would be prohibitively expensive in mass quantities.

"We can tell you this much," he said. "It was the use of steel fibers in the mix that helped hold the cube intact under pressure. While a team from Mexico took second place, their cube lasted only through 19,000psi. As the pressure mounted on both the SIUE team and its cube, it took an additional 9,500psi to crack it-the cube, that is, not the team.

"It was a total blow out," said Vaughan. "Our cube was even 20 percent stronger than last year's first place winner." In fact, though it lasted through 28,500psi, the SIUE cube never did explode and crumble as all the other entries eventually did. While regular concrete resists between 3,000psi and 4,000psi, the average resistance of the competition entries was 10,000psi to 12,000psi.

With 20 college and university teams from four different countries competing, Vaughan noted that the judging process is long and involved. The ACI began the competition in 1980 in an effort to teach students the mechanics of concrete and help them learn the fundamentals. A team from SIUE won that first competition, but it's been eight years since the last time an SIUE team has captured the first place prize.

"One of the things that keeps it challenging is every three years ACI changes the rules on how the cubes can be manufactured," said Luke Snell, the team's faculty advisor, School of Engineering professor, and chair of the school's Department of Construction.

For their efforts, the first place team received a $300 award and a copy of "seeMIX," a computer software program on concrete mix design, from Shilstone and Associates, a concrete consulting firm. SIUE team members also received a certificate of recognition, a one year ACI student membership, and a five-volume set of the ACI Manual of Concrete Practice for the School of Engineering's library. Breeze, Freeman, Vaughan and their cube will be featured in Concrete International magazine.

Survey Shows Patients' Reluctance To Use Managed Care Benefits

If people considering psychotherapy were aware of the negative views most psychologists have regarding managed care, would they still seek help, use their managed care benefits to pay, or expect to benefit from the therapy?

Andrew Pomerantz, assistant professor of Psychology, has found through a research study that survey participants were much less likely to enter therapy or use managed care benefits to pay for it when informed about the role managed care would play in their treatment.

Pomerantz presented his study, What If Prospective Clients Knew How Managed Care Impacts Psychologists' Practice and Ethics?-An Exploratory Study, at the American Mental Health Association (AMHA) national conference in Portland, Ore., Nov. 6. The paper is to be published in the journal, Ethics & Behavior, next summer.

Pomerantz's interest in the issue began when he read a study by three Indiana State University researchers questioning the role of managed care cost-containment measures in psychotherapy. The findings of Impact of Managed Care on Independent Practice and Professional Ethics-by Michael J. Murphy, Caren R. DeBernardo, and Wendy E. Shoemaker-were based on a survey of more than 400 private practitioners in the American Psychological Association.

The study concluded that the typical psychologist in private practice believes managed care has a very negative influence on psychotherapy. Among the negative effects psychologists cite are loss of control over clinical decisions, harm to patients due to managed care companies not maintaining confidentiality, inappropriate or insufficient treatment, pressure to alter diagnoses to ensure payment, and rejection of patients with certain diagnoses.

"What if prospective clients knew this?" asked Pomerantz. "Although therapists are aware of these problems, many clients have no idea that managed care can have such negative effects. Some mental health professionals have argued that clients should be told up front. I was interested in finding out how they would respond if they were informed."

With these concerns in mind, Pomerantz developed a survey he presented to participants drawn from the undergraduate Psychology courses at SIUE. His findings were disconcerting. "Participants in the survey were asked to consider seeing a hypothetical therapist both before and after being informed of the responses to the Indiana managed care survey," he said. "The results showed that when a participant was told of the practitioner's views toward managed care, their own attitudes toward therapy changed significantly.

"The majority of participants in the study said they were less likely to seek psychotherapy once they learned how their insurance benefits impact treatment," he said. "People tend to waver on the issue of seeking treatment in the first place. The study suggests that knowing these issues can negatively tip the balance for someone seeking therapy."

The statistical analysis demonstrated that informed participants were less inclined to expect benefits from treatment. Likewise, they were less likely to expect to form a strong working relationship or trust that the therapist would consistently work in their best interest. "Given these results, should psychologists provide their perceptions of managed care to prospective clients?" asks Pomerantz. "On the one hand, it can be argued that psychologists should not provide this type of information for a variety of reasons, including their concerns about its negative impact on the client or the therapy relationship.

"On the other, it may indeed constitute the 'significant information regarding the procedure' that is inherent in informed consent. At the very least, it seems that prospective clients should be allowed to ask questions about it.

"The results of this study suggest that when a person considers or enters therapy, the therapist may need to present information about the ways in which managed care may affect treatment in order to obtain truly informed consent," Pomerantz said. "Prospective clients, as represented in this study, feel overwhelmingly entitled to this information."

Holiday Musicales. The Department of Music is offering the 12th Annual Three Holiday Musicales house tour from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. Participants will visit three Edwardsville homes, decorated for the holidays, where they will hear jazz, classical, and vocal music performed by SIUE music students and faculty. In addition, holiday refreshments will be served. Tickets for the event are $10; proceeds support music scholarships. For more information or to obtain tickets, call the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774. Tickets also are available at TheBANK of Edwardsville or from Friends of Music members.

Holiday Presentation: The SIUE Opera Workshop will present Amahl and the Night Visitors at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, both in Lovejoy Library auditorium. Composed especially for television, Gian Carlo Menotti's one-act opera was first seen by a national audience on Christmas Eve 1951. Admission is $3. For more information, call the SIUE Department of Music, (618) 650-3900.

Holiday Theater. Season for the Child, a series featuring theater for the entire family, will present its holiday show, The Little Fir Tree, at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, in the Katherine Dunham Hall theater. The series is sponsored by the Friends of Theater and Dance and TheBANK of Edwardsville. Presented by The Imaginary Theatre Company, the professional touring ensemble of The St. Louis Repertory Theatre, The Little Fir Tree is a musical treat for children and a special holiday event to share with the entire family. Tickets for the performance are $5; proceeds benefit scholarships for SIUE theater and dance students. To order tickets, call Ext. 2774.

October 1999

Surprise Grant Helps CDC

When the executive recruiter for Target Stores called Jean Paterson, SIUE's director of the Career Development Center, to his office, she had no idea it was to hand her a check for five grand.

However, she had no trouble deciding what to do with the donation. As a result, the CDC has expanded and upgraded its Career Resource Center in order to provide better service to both students and alumni.

And Scott Taubenheim, the one wielding the monetary muscle for the Dayton Hudson Corporation store, said the donation signals appreciation for the University and the CDC. "SIUE and its Career Development Center have been great partners with Target," said Taubenheim. "We've had a number of talented executives come to our stores as a result of our relationship with the school, and we wanted to reward the Center for its work in the past and our continued good relations in the future."

SIUE's CDC is a comprehensive center for the development of career objectives and direction for students and alumni. The center assists students and alumni in relating their academic majors to career fields, the exploration and confirmation of career and major choices, and the development of job search strategies.

Noting that SIUE was at the top of the list of the 10 schools Target honored from a six-state region, Taubenheim said of the six, only three schools were recognized with grants.

Says Paterson: "Receiving this unexpected gift from Target has allowed us to move ahead in offering expanded and improved resources for our students and alumni." The Target contribution is the first such gift to the CDC that Paterson could recall. Once she got over her initial surprise, she set about improving the Career Resource Center by adding eight computer stations that allow students and alumni to do job searches, run career guidance software, and search for information on employers throughout the world.

The expanded center, which is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, also should prove a boon to alumni who do not have computer access at home.

For more information on the Career Development Center, call 618/650-3708.

Just What The Doctor Ordered

While everyone is talking about the Y2K bug, let's not forget that it's also time to be considering another well-known bug-the flu variety.

And, the Illinois Department of Central Management Services is once again ready to help in the fight by offering free flu immunizations to full and part-time employees and retirees covered by a state-sponsored HMO, POS, or the Quality Care Health Plan. Dependents are not eligible.

Books, Books, Books

The fifth "Book in Every Home" campaign, headed by Beverly Sanders, wife of SIU President Ted Sanders; Kay Werner, wife of SIUE Chancellor David Werner, and Nancy Jackson, wife of SIUC Chancellor John Jackson; continues through Nov. 19.

Books collected during the campaign are given to preschoolers enrolled in SIU's Head Start programs. In four years, more than 14,000 books have been collected. This year's goal is 3,000 books. SIU operates 17 Head Start programs in Jackson, St. Clair and Williamson counties.

The programs focus on meeting the social, intellectual, emotional and physical needs of preschool children in low-income families. "Head Start recognizes the importance of parents as their child's first and most important teacher," Sanders said. "It supports family literacy efforts and encourages parents to read to their children. The first step in developing a love of reading is to have books available in the home."

Donors can put books in specially marked boxes located in libraries, student centers, lobbies, offices and residence halls on the Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses as well as at the East St. Louis Center, the School of Dental Medicine in Alton and the School of Medicine in Springfield. The books will be handed out in December.

In choosing books for children ages 2 to 6, pick books with large, colorful illustrations and large print. The books should tell stories that are easy to follow and understand. Books written in both Spanish and English are acceptable.

Judge Enlists Wilson's Help

Rudy Wilson calls them "kids" and is optimistic when he speaks about his unique role in the sentencing of four men convicted of a hate crime.

Wilson, who is known for his cultural awareness and diversity training programs for employees, said he was surprised to learn that Madison County Circuit Judge J. Lawrence Keshner had put these men in his care as part of their sentencing.

Assistant provost for cultural and social diversity for SIUE, Wilson said he had never before planned a court-related program, but would use his techniques as models to provide positive lessons to the men. "I'm not going to preach to them, I'm not going to use scare tactics," Wilson said. "I will be there to help them help themselves."

He refers to the men as "kids," even though they are in their late teens and early 20s. "They have behaved like children, but we are going to help them discover some things about themselves," Wilson said.

When asked if he holds animosity toward the men, Wilson emphatically shakes his head. "I want to create a series of dialogues with these men to take a look at how they've arrived at this type of behavior. We all have biases but we need to learn how to deal with these feelings in constructive ways. When we act on those biases to hurt others, that's where the problems begin."

SIUE's Pathways to Harmony program, conducted by Wilson, is a series of sessions to help participants become aware of differences and to embrace those differences as part of everyday life. The program recently was selected for inclusion in the Western Justice Center's free online database listing more than 1,000 professional associations, educational institutions and community organizations providing training or resources in intergroup dialogue, cross-cultural collaboration, mediation, or other conflict resolution skills.

Wilson said he will conduct the sessions for the four men at an off-campus location within the communities where the men reside. "I want this to be a community experience and not related to the university."

As part of their punishment, Keshner also ordered the men to watch films, such as Schindler's List, with themes of racial prejudice and injustice, to pay $500 each toward an educational trust fund for the daughter of the Glen Carbon family at whose home the incident occurred, and to perform 100 hours each of community service.

Standout Bozue Is Modest About Her Track Accomplishments

It's hard to imagine sophomore Amanda Bozue as not a very good runner in high school. But that's the way she classified herself.

She is being modest. At Joliet Township High School she holds the 800-meter record with a time of 2 minutes, 18 seconds, and was a four-state qualifier named All-Conference, All-Regional and All-Sectional all four years.

And, at SIUE, Bozue leads the women's cross country team as the top finisher in all three meets this season; as a freshman, she was the top finisher in five of the seven meets for the Cougars including the NCAA Regionals.

Bozue broke an eight year old SIUE record for top freshman in the 5,000 meter at the All-Missouri/Border State Championships with a time of 18 minutes, 32 seconds last year. Her performance there also earned the No. 8 spot on the women's cross country top overall 5,000-meter performers at SIUE. In the first year of the women's 6,000 meter, she finished No. 1 and 2 on the list of SIUE top freshman in the 6K. Bozue also earned the No. 2 spot on the top overall 6K list with a time of 23:24, which she set at the 1998 Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships.

"My parents bribed me to get a scholarship to run by saying they would buy me an Eclipse," said Bozue with a bit of embarrassment. "And I still don't have an Eclipse." Bozue said her parents wouldn't even give her a car for school. "I am a very family-oriented person, so I miss home a lot. They're afraid if I have a car, I will come home all the time," said Bozue laughing.

But, it wasn't the promise of a new car that got Bozue running to begin with. It was her family, more specifically her siblings. "I have seven brothers and sisters. The first one started running and then we all just followed. And, I thought since I was the last of seven, I would keep up the tradition."

Sitting on the steps outside the Vadalabene Center, she is quick to admit she is "goofy" on meet days. "I am pretty much the peppy one on the team, everyone else is usually telling me to be quiet," said Bozue. "I just get goofy. Most people get really serious, but I just look at the (meet) as an opportunity and I am lucky to be out here."

Her laid back approach on meet days, doesn't mean she forgets to prepare. "I focus the night before and think about what I am going to do during the race. If I sit and focus before the race, I am going to get nervous and it is not going to help," said the Joliet native. "If I am having fun and loving what I do, then I am going to perform well."

You will get no argument from her coaches when it comes to her leadership on and off the course. "The most important thing she has done is gathered the freshman on the team and taken them under her wing both on and off the course," said assistant coach Kenny Hammel. "She is an unspoken leader in both practice and meets, always consistent and the most dedicated person on the team."

Bozue had her pick of a number of Division I schools, but decided against it after some visits to the schools. "It seemed like a lot of the girls were there for the money and recognition and were not having fun with it (running)," explained Bozue. "But here they are having fun with it."

Majoring in human resource management with a minor in sports management, Bozue is juggling practice, meets and 18 credit hours this semester. "I am outgoing and like to have fun, but right now I am more concerned about school." But for now, she is happy just to be running. "I am just out here because I love it, I don't need the recognition."

Smithson Recognized By NASFAA

Marian Smithson, director of Student Financial Aid at SIUE, continues to receive national recognition. This time the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators has slated her for its annual Leadership Award.

Smithson has been at the helm of SIUE's financial aid office since 1993. She will receive the award in October at the midwest NASFAA conference in Cleveland.

The award is presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the financial aid profession at the national, regional, and state levels over a sustained period of time. Criteria for the award includes exhibiting high integrity and character; showing creative leadership; and inspiring and encouraging others to participate actively in professional development activities.

Smithson has served nine years of her 25 years of service in the financial aid profession as an officer or executive committee member in the Ohio, Illinois, and Midwest region financial aid administrators associations. During the past year, she has made presentations about student loan issues at two national meetings. She also has served on several committees at the state, regional, and national levels.

For the past two years, Smithson has chaired the National Direct Student Loan Coalition, an alliance of 1,200 Direct Loan schools in the country. In this role she has represented the group's interests to Congress, other higher education associations, and to the U.S. Department of Education. Last spring, she chaired a customer service task force for the department and served as a negotiator for the Higher Education Action Act Negotiated Rulemaking.

"I am honored to join others in my profession who have been recognized by NASFAA," Smithson said. "My colleagues and I are committed to making college possible for all students by working toward more financial aid program legislation and appropriations. Educating the public about college financing options has also been very important to me."

Polite Named SOE Dean

Mary M. Gallagher-Polite, who has been associate dean for Academic Programs in the School of Education since 1997, recently was named dean of the school.

She succeeds Gary Hull, who retired after 11 years in the position.

Before her duties brought her to the SOE dean's suite, Polite had been associate professor of Educational Leadership for eight years. Before coming to SIUE in 1989, she had been a magnet and elementary school principal for Decatur Public Schools.

Polite earned a bachelor's in elementary education in 1975 from Augustana College, a master's in educational administration in 1980 from Illinois State University and a doctorate in the same discipline from ISU in 1989.

SUSPICION: With the Salem, Mass., witchcraft trials of 1692 as a backdrop, Arthur Miller created a fascinating tale in his award-winning play, The Crucible, which will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 15-16, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, all in Katherine Dunham Hall theater. When The Crucible opened on Broadway in 1953, audiences immediately saw a connection between action in the play and the ongoing McCarthy hearings in the U.S. Senate. Events in the play spiral out of control with strict Salem law fueling the hysteria. Shown here are Randall Middleton of Overland, Mo., as John Proctor, who must confess to witchcraft if he wants to live, and Sarah Maxfield of Highland as Abigail Williams, with whom Proctor had an affair which now threatens to destroy his marriage to Elizabeth, played here by Regina Hankins of Granite City. Tickets are $7; students, SIUE faculty and staff, and senior citizens, $5. For ticket information, call the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2774. (SIUE Photo)

JAZZIN': Veteran St. Louis musicians Russ David and Dottye Bennett were on hand recently at the Jazz Supper Dance, the annual Friends of Music event to benefit music scholarships at SIUE. Also there to sing the night away was the "diva of jazz," Mae Wheeler (below), a mainstream entertainer who has been a staple on the St. Louis jazz scene for many years. Pianist David held forth for decades on St. Louis radio with his weekly Pevely Playhouse, while singer Bennett was a regional star in her own right, also entertaining for many years on St. Louis radio and at local night spots.

October 19, 1999

Annual: SIUE Chancellor David Werner spoke to a packed Meridian Hall for his annual State of the University Address. He pointed out the current fall enrollment is the largest its been since 1977 and also that the face of SIUE is changing from a commuter campus to a university where some 2,300 students reside.

Book Co-authored By Allan Ho Causes Stir In Music Circles

Allan Ho thought, perhaps, his latest book would cause discussion among fellow musicologists but he was not at all prepared for the hostile barbs that have been thrown at him and his collaborator, Dmitry Feofanov, in the months following publication of their book, Shostakovich Reconsidered(Toccata Press).

"We're dealing with issues that involve academic freedom and integrity," said Ho, a professor in the SIUE Department of Music. "We've attacked some sacred cows and we've caused some Shostakovich scholars to rethink what they have written in the past about the Soviet composer."

However, some of the more well known among those scholars are up in arms about Ho and Feofanov's book. "Some of these musicologists have focused their careers on Shostakovich studies," says Ho, "putting forth the idea that the composer was a Communist toady, sacrificing his artistic capabilities to conform to the Soviet ideal."

In publishing the 800-page book, which was six years in the making, Ho and Feofanov took advantage of the opening of Soviet archives and accumulated testimony of those who knew the composer. What they've found is that Shostakovich was a survivor of Stalin and subsequent Soviet leaders, and, like so many in Soviet Russia, a survivor who learned to cope with Soviet oppression and still remain true to his musical creativity.

To a civilian this may all sound like a tempest in a teapot, but the music world has been abuzz with Shostakovich Reconsidered. The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune have written about the book, calling it highly controversial. Discussions of the book also have aired on NPR, CBC, and BBC radio, as well as Euro News television.

Just before its publication, Ho gave a paper about his findings at the Midwest meeting of the American Musicological Society. He was met by calls for his banishment from future presentations at AMS meetings. "Many of these scholars have made a career out of denouncing Testimony but our book finds that, in fact, Testimony is authentic."

Testimony is the posthumous memoir of Dmitri Shostakovich, published in 1979 by Solomon Volkov, a young Russian journalist who interviewed the famous composer before his death four years earlier. Upon publication, Testimony was attacked as fraudulent. Its image of the composer as a closet dissident, whose works often included hidden, deeper messages for his contemporaries, was dismissed by many scholars as pure fabrication and they continued to malign the composer's memory.

"For nearly 20 years, prominent scholars in Russian/Soviet music, especially in the United States, have failed to report any of the evidence that corroborates Testimony and vindicates Volkov," Ho said. "Feofanov and I have raised the question of whether this has been because of a cover-up to protect personal egos and professional reputations; or complacency, believing the issue of Testimony's authenticity had long been settled; or, incompetence."

According to Michael Mishra, an associate professor of music at SIUE and one of Ho's colleagues, Shostakovich Reconsidered finally confronts head on the questions that have arisen since Testimony was published. "The question of (the book's) authenticity was first raised by Laurel Fay, after she had discovered passages in the book which appeared to have been plagiarized from earlier (articles by Shostakovich)," Mishra pointed out. Fay is a musicologist now with G.Schirmer music publishers.

"Fay certainly had every right to ask questions, given what she thought she had found," Mishra said. "Raising a legitimate question is one thing; passing judgment without further investigation is something else. Yet, this is exactly what has happened over the last twenty years. Despite the obvious lack of serious probing into the matter, many chose simply to interpret Volkov's refusal to answer the charges as proof of guilt."

Mishra, who also is bringing out his own book, A Shostakovich Companion (Greenwood Press), said Fay's speculation unfortunately became the reality within the music world. "What started out as a piece of speculation ... was soon elevated to the status of 'conclusive finding.' Reading Shostakovich Reconsidered, one becomes convinced that Testimony is exactly what Volkov has always claimed it to be-not a scholarly document in which every 'i' is dotted and every 't' is crossed-but a sincere memoir dictated in difficult conditions, such as we can only begin to imagine, in which the true voice of Shostakovich can be clearly heard."

After Shostakovich Reconsidered was published, Ho gave another paper on his findings at the annual AMS meeting, which was featured in the N.Y. Times. The Times article states: "For the record, despite occasional shouts and derisive laughter and much speaking out of turn, no blows were struck."

Ho points out that, so far, none of the scholars who have decried Testimony have come forward to confront the facts as presented in Shostakovich Reconsidered.

In the October issue of Commentary magazine, music critic Terry Teachout echoes Mishra's thoughts: "... the evidence presented ... in Shostakovich Reconsidered, if not absolutely dispositive, still appears sufficiently convincing to ensure that Testimony will henceforth be generally acknowledged as what Volkov has always said it was: the autobiography of Dmitri Shostakovich."

SIUE Invests In The Future

On the heels of President Clinton's recent visit to East St. Louis in which he encouraged private re-investment in the city, SIUE's East St. Louis Center has announced an "educational investment" it is making in the community.

The University opened the doors in late August to the East St. Louis Center's charter school for area youth who have not finished high school, offering them the opportunity to continue their education and to earn diplomas.

As part of their orientation, new faculty members visited the charter school located in classrooms of the former Metropolitan Community College building.

"The SIU East St. Louis Charter School offers students and their parents a choice to re-enter a new environment in which the students can succeed," said Willie Epps, director of the center and a driving force for the establishment of the school. "More than 700 students leave school each year before finishing, but we have seen a demand through our GED program that tells us East St. Louis youth want to complete their education."

The school is open for 14- to 19-year-old students who have left school without receiving a diploma. Students must agree to attend classes, maintain a C average and abide by a strict discipline policy which forbids drugs, alcohol, weapons, harassment, and verbal or physical abuse.

A comprehensive high school curriculum will be offered, complete with science courses in the fully equipped science labs and computer education in two state-of-the-art computer labs. "In limiting the school to 75 to 125 students, we are offering small class sizes for individualized attention," said Epps.

Leatrice Tyler-Riddle is the school's principal. She comes to the new school after seven years with the Ferguson-Florissant (Mo.) School District. Most recently, she was that district's re-entry program coordinator.

Though initial plans for the East St. Louis Center to open a charter elementary school were turned down by East St. Louis School District 189, efforts to establish the charter high school succeeded with the school board.

While operated by the SIUE center, the charter school receives its funding-roughly $500,000 for the coming year-from the Illinois State Department of Education by way of School District 189 as a reimbursement for each student.

Epps says the new school will maintain and strengthen its relationship with the school district over the course of the school's initial five-year charter. "I am confident our students will learn and achieve."

The MPAGs Are Here!

MPAG. Sounds ominous, doesn't it? It stands for Multidisciplinary Project Action Group Program, which has been bringing down traditional barriers around campus since its inception earlier this year.

Seven projects have been funded and 10 more applications are expected for MPAG's second year by the Dec. 1 deadline, according to Kevin McClearey. "In the past, when faculty or staff from two departments or units wanted to work together, it was difficult to obtain cross funding for projects," he said.

"MPAG helps cut through that red tape and makes seed money available for research projects that cross lines of discipline. We are trying to break down those unintentional barriers that are inherent in an academic setting."

Steve Hansen, dean of the SIUE Graduate School, and McClearey are the ones who initiated MPAG on this campus. McClearey is a professor of Speech Communication currently on assignment in the Graduate School. They're following a model published in a journal of the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA).

MPAG brings together research teams whose members are from various disciplines. McClearey explained this year's MPAG funding of $30,000 was available because of indirect cost funds received when SIUE faculty and staff get external funding for their research, public service, training, and demonstration projects.

"In addition, we plan to recycle 25 percent of any indirect costs we obtain when an MPAG project gets external funding," McClearey said. "So, this entire system feeds itself."

Some of the projects under the MPAG program include research in: endodontic lesions, with various disciplines from the School of Dental Medicine; mental health and aging, with team members from public administration and policy analysis, management, marketing, and gerontology; women's health issues, with members from kinesiology, nursing, and public administration and policy analysis; and disability studies, with members from Disability Support Services, special education, nursing, social work, and psychology.

"The other benefit of this program is that MPAG has brought together faculty and staff who otherwise might not have met," McClearey said. "And, while some projects don't work out, there are members of the campus community who have gotten together for the first time and who now are keeping in touch because they have found similar interests."

Cycling Made Easy At SIUE

Strung together from railroad right-of-ways and the old Inter-Urban trolley route is one of SIUE's best-known secrets, the Delyte W. Morris trail.

The trail is a bicyclist's delight, a 2.8-mile route that winds through some of the campus' most scenic areas. A trail for bicyclists and hikers was part of the original plan for the SIUE campus and students have used the Morris trail from the very beginning.

Bob Washburn, director of SIUE's Office of Facilities Management, says that the trail was included in the initial master plan for the campus back in the early 1960s. "Much of the trail follows old railroad right-of- ways and remained undeveloped because of the utility tunnels that ran beneath the property," he noted.

The trail has always been popular, Washburn said. SIUE students and employees commute regularly on the Morris trail. "I know for a fact that we have several university employees, including a few professors, who use the trails to get to work each day. It certainly helps the environment to have the trails here for bicyclists and it helps to ease the traffic congestion somewhat when people bike to the university."

According to Campus Recreation Associate Director Ann M. Schonlau, once people began to use the Morris trail they wanted more. "Fitness has driven the usage of the trails more than anything else," she said. "People get a more exciting workout than they do in a gym and they wanted connectivity." Connectivity is what SIUE cyclists got when work on the Madison County Transit Nature Trial (formerly the Vadalabene Bicycle Trail) was completed in 1997.

Madison County Transit undertook the massive project in late 1992. The project transformed railroad right-of-ways and rutted farm paths into a network of smooth surfaced trails perfect for bicycling, roller-blading, or pushing a stroller. The increase in the trail connectivity is a boon to SIUE as well as the surrounding area. "A lot of the trail users are St. Louis residents who come in just to ride the trail. Edwardsville is a very bike-friendly place and SIUE in particular has a very good attitude toward bicyclists," Schonlau observed.

University Police has officers who regularly patrol the Morris trail and the University maintains the area, checking for downed trees and other safety hazards. "Many times a cyclist will call us to tell us about a problem on the trail," Washburn said. "The trail users really help maintain it."

The safety of the Morris trail has often been a concern for its users. Washburn concedes that parts of the Morris trail need work. "After heavy storms, the trail is sometimes impassable. Many times a significant rain will wash out parts of the trail, especially in the spring." But, good news may be on the horizon for trail users.

Improvement of the trail network is one of SIUE's priorities, according to Vice Chancellor for Administration Kenn Neher. "We think the network of bike and hiking trails is an outstanding feature of SIUE. We're actively seeking grants and cooperative agreements to improve them."

Neher said that the university is waiting for word on funding for a project to pave, widen and straighten the Morris trail network throughout the campus. An additional spur is planned for accessing the campus from University Park..

"The Morris trail is one of the oldest trails around here," Schonlau said. "People use the trails all the time. I think it definitely improves the quality of SIUE life."

Worth makes the man,
The lack of it, a fellow,
The rest is all, but
Leather and prunella.
-Alexander Pope

DFS Joins Forces With The East St. Louis Center To Help Women

Alexander Pope's reference to the ideal notwithstanding, SIUE's East St. Louis Center has formed a new partnership with Dress for Success of Southern Illinois-an organization dedicated to helping women who would like some "leather and prunella" for job interviews.

Through Dress for Success, a client can receive a complete business outfit-a suit, shoes, handbag, accessories, and hosiery-for an interview. In addition, a client may be coached for the interview, given hair styling and make-up assistance, and also may be provided a mentor.

If an interview is successful, the client may also return for another complete outfit. One measure of the program's effectiveness is that 70 percent of the women come back for that second suit.

And, once a client has been hired, Dress for Success continues to help. Once a month, women from professional ranks volunteer to speak to participants on subjects such as time management, budgeting, and coping with work stress. Mentoring also continues and can be expanded to involve a client's family.

Dress for Success, 614 North Seventh St., East St. Louis, is operated by Barbara and Sandy Parker who believe the program is more than "just come in and look pretty." They point out that the program helps women set long-term professional and personal goals.

The Dress for Success coordinator at the East St. Louis Center is Curtiseena Ellis-Wilson, who is also the Head Start Parent Involvement coordinator. Camille McCaskill, Kay Werner, and Gloria Atkins serve on the advisory board.

The East St. Louis Center, through its partnership with Dress for Success, recently conducted a fall/winter suit drive and also plans a spring drive. Items for women only are needed, such as business suits, blouses, pants suits and dresses appropriate for the office, and accessories such as costume jewelry, belts, scarves, and bags, shoes, and new (packaged) hosiery.

Donations also are gratefully accepted; checks should be made to Dress for Success, Southern Illinois, and may be sent to the organization: 2221 Greenfield Drive, Belleville, IL 62221. Clothing items may be dropped off in Room 2051 or 2071 of the East St. Louis Center, 411 E. Broadway.

Other drop-off locations include St. Joseph's Head Start Center (HSC), 1501 Martin Luther King Drive, East St. Louis, (618) 875-9812; Bluffview HSC, 8100 Bunkum Road, Caseyville, (618) 394-8897; Bel-Mac HSC, 912 Carlyle Road, Belleville, (618) 277-4681; or in Room 2228 of SIUE's Rendleman Hall, (618) 650-2536.

Appointments to help clients are currently scheduled from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, as well as from 9 a.m.-noon on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. All clients must be referred by an agency.

Volunteers are an integral part of the operation and the Parkers will provide training. Those interested in volunteering may call Curtiseena, (618) 482-6948, or the Parkers, (618) 531-8391.

Perhaps, the best endorsement for the program comes in a story Barbara Parker likes to tell. "We were booking some meeting rooms at a local motel when the clerk heard we were from Dress for Success and said: 'I love you; I love you. I am wearing one of your suits.' I can't think of any better endorsement," Parker said.

Memo to A. Pope: Leather and prunella can make a big difference.

Garbage In-Energy Out
Can St Louis County find an economical and sustained electrical energy alternative for its county government complex in downtown Clayton, Mo., one that will reduce electricity costs?

And, if the county does find an alternative, can that electrical source be generated from ... garbage?

That's the $75,000 question. It's a question that a team of engineers from the SIUE School of Engineering will attempt to answer as a result of a $75,000 grant the university received recently.

"The county wants to examine whether electrical generation from local landfills may be an alternative energy source when deregulation is implementation," said Susan Morgan, assistant professor of civil engineering at SIUE. "If it is, then there will be a local alternative energy source available that may be cheaper for the county than conventional electricity sources.

The SIUE research project-The Effect of Deregulation on Efficient Energy Utilization of Building Complexes-will examine what impact the deregulation of electrical utilities will have on the possible use of this alternative by the county.

Morgan is joined on the project by a team of SIUE civil, environmental and electrical engineering researchers. Says Morgan: "A landfill will generate methane gas for 20 to 30 years, perhaps even longer. Depending on the type of electrical generation equipment that is used, this method to generate power can be more 'environmentally friendly' than venting the gas into the atmosphere."

Some area landfills already are producing electrical energy.

September 1999

The O: It's Not Just On Paper Anymore

After 20 years of printing The Observer, we felt it was time to begin using the computer technology available on campus and take this publication to the next level.

Welcome to The O, the cyberspace version of its newsprint predecessor. But, this is about more than just saving paper (after all, The Observer was recyclable); it's about bringing you the news and information you want and need in a more efficient and exciting way.

In the past, we had to wait until The Observer came out fortnightly on Tuesdays. However, with The O, breaking news can be put on the wesbite in a matter of minutes. It's immediate, it's quick, it's fun, it's The O.

In planning the future of The Observer, we also took the financial picture into consideration, determining that the savings in budget and human resources could not be ignored.

We began planning the new publication in March of this year when we suspended printing of The Observer in order to clear the decks and put our time and energy into designing and creating an exciting website.

Once we had a design in place, we pulled together a group of 24 SIUE employees, consisting of faculty and staff, who formed a focus group. Throughout summer they came up with several great ideas for The O and we've tried to incorporate those. We continued testing with the group and others, and the reactions have been very favorable.

We owe them a debt of thanks in helping us work out the bugs. This is a relatively new technology and a new way of making the campus' official publication available. We may yet hit a snag in this brave new world, but the comments and suggestions our group provided helped to speed the process.

Whenever you want the news from campus, just click on the "Publications" portion of the SIUE website (www.siue.edu) and go to The O. There's also an easier way: make The O one of your favorite bookmarks on your World Wide Web browser and you'll always have it at hand. We're also going to be sending e-mail messages to the entire campus community every other Tuesday (or when news is breaking) and you'll be able to navigate right to The O from there.

General news items will be on the right portion of the main page; just click on the words in blue and you'll be able to read all the details. On the left portion of the page will be more specific information for you, such as the familiar Changes column, along with retirement listings and Academic Affairs Transactions news. In addition, obituary information also will be available as soon as we obtain that information.

But, there are some new "faces" in that column, too. There's the Rumor Mill, where we collect the rumors we hear in the hallways and byways of campus. Plus, if you send us a rumor, we'll check it out and report on it to get to the bottom of things. We also plan to have a little fun with it, too.

Also in the left column is the Weather Channel's website set for current weather conditions in the Edwardsville area, the Intercollegiate Athletics website for your favorite Cougar sports, the Carbondale website for SIU Board of Trustees activities, and a place to check on SURS news and retiremement fund updates.

And, in the near future, we're expanding the technology to include video and audio clips with SIUE In The News, one of the buttons on the left side of the page. We'll feature news clips, both video and audio, when we can obtain them, about happenings on campus that affect us all.

If you have questions or comments-and we'd love to hear what you think of The O, and any story ideas you may have-just click here or e-mail us at: The_O@siue.edu. Or, call 650-3607.

We hope you'll enjoy The O as much as we'll enjoy bringing it to you. Look for important news but also look for the slightly off-beat, the little surprises, to help brighten your day.

See you in The O.

Fall Term Begins; Things Are Happening On Campus

Fall term is under way and the campus is buzzing with activity as students settle into the routine.

But, things are also different. More students then ever are living on campus and the face of SIUE is changing. Enrollment is up, there was a waiting list for housing, more activities have been planned for students, the new Fitness Center addition just opened, and Welcome Week attracted large crowds, including evening events.

And, the physical face of the campus is changing with the Engineering Building taking shape on the west side of campus, while the university opened a charter school in East St. Louis in the former Metropolitan Community College building.

Instructor Nancy Lutz Witnesses East Timor Turmoil First Hand

We were always vulnerable, but never directly in any physical danger," said Nancy Lutz, assistant professor of Anthropology, in speaking of her recently concluded visit to the Indonesian controlled province of East Timor. "I think word had gone out amongst the ranks of the opposition militia that foreigners were not to be harmed," she said, "but at night we could hear gunfire just reminding us that

Ambassador Jamsheed Marker, personal representative of the UN Secretary-General, speaks with voters on polling day in Manatuto. (UN Photo by Simon Davies)

they were out there." Lutz departed from the East Timor capitol of Dili on Sept. 4, shortly after the announcement of the election results favoring independence-and as violent opposition began to erupt.

Even before the election, the province had a climate of intimidation and some isolated fighting, she said. Selected by the Carter Center-the Atlanta-based nonpartisan public policy institute founded by former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn-to serve in a fact-finding delegation that would observe the Indonesian province, Lutz departed for East Timor in late July.

It was not the SIUE instructor's first visit to East Timor, having spent the summers of 1996 and 1997 there on research projects. However, this time she would be spending six weeks touring the region, observing preparations for the election on the issue of autonomy for the former Portuguese colony. East Timor has been under Indonesian control since 1975.

The Carter Center's mission was to assess whether a free and fair climate existed for the election. Lutz was witness to the historic developments that led to the decisive mandate. Turning out in unexpected and dramatic numbers, voters arrived by the thousands for the 6:30 a.m. opening of the polls on Aug. 30. With a 99 percent turnout of registered voters, and nearly 80 per cent of the votes cast calling for independence, the SIUE professor was moved by the courage of the East Timor citizens.

"Shortly before the election, I attended a peace mass of priests, nuns, villagers and opposition militia," said Lutz. "By the end of the evening, everyone had pledged to work for a peaceful and just resolution to the issue of autonomy, even the militia members. Tragically, since the election results were announced, a great number of the individuals who took part in the mass have been killed."

Lutz has returned to her classroom and is sharing her experiences and observations with students this fall. She continues to monitor the situation, and is encouraged by talks of U.N. peacekeeping forces moving into the troubled country.

Summer Fun!

Summer seemed to go by in a hurry, as usual, and while many of us spent some time relaxing, the campus was a veritable hotbed of activity. Here's a quick look at the more visible projects completed this past summer:

• Ralph and Donna Korte donated $1 million to the School of Business

• Construction began on B. Barnard Birger Hall

• The University Museum has a new home in back of Supporting Services

• The Wagner Complex was turned over to Lewis and Clark Community College

• The U.S. Open brought some of the world's finest track and field athletes to campus.

• The Student Fitness Center addition was completed

• The Engineering Building moved closer to completion

• SIUE opened a charter school in East St. Louis

• For five days in June and July, the Youth Nationals gathered boys and girls from around the nation for a chance to qualify for the World Youth Championships in Poland.

• After playing host to numerous events at the Prairie State Games for the fifth consecutive year, Korte Stadium was the site of the State Games of America.

• A new conference facility was completed at School of Dental Medicine

• Completion of the Nursing Psychomotor Skills Lab

• SIUE finished third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference All-Sports Trophy Competition

• The service road behind Peck/Founders/Alumni halls was resealed

• New concrete footings were poured and sidewalks replaced in front of Rendleman Hall

• Payroll office moved to Personnel Services

• Korte Stadium was renovated

• Bricks in the Stratton Quad were repaired

• Health Services offices were renovated

Will The Real P-7 Stand Up

OK, let's try to pay attention for a minute.

The parking lots have been renumbered to close gaps created when some lots were eliminated to build University Park.

Here's the new numbering system: The lot behind the Vadalabene Center has been renamed Lot F; meanwhile, Lot P4 (one of the fan lots) is now called WH (Woodland Hall). The other four lots in that row are now called P4 through P7; the two red lots in the back row have become P8 and P9.

Still with us? The Cougar Lake Recreation Area lot is now P10 and the red lot across from the Early Childhood Center is now P11.

Whew! Call Parking Services, Ext. 3680, if any questions.

Archives In MUCG Spotlight

The jazz is hot but the exhibition in the Morris Center Gallery is full of warm memories of area and national musicians who have contributed throughout the years to the jazz music scene in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

The exhibit "A Celebration of Syncopation: The 25th Anniversary of the National Ragtime and Jazz Archive" will be on exhibit through Oct. 15 in the second-floor gallery. The archive was established by the SIU Board of Trustees in 1974 to maintain materials on the subject of ragtime and jazz in the American cultural experience.

The archive documents early-recorded jazz and the lives of notable jazz musicians from the St. Louis area. The John Randolph Collection, with approximately 10,500 78-rpm records, provided the basis of the archives record collection. Today there are more than 20,000 records in the collection, as well as audio and videotapes, sheet music, piano rolls, photographs, and oral history materials.

"The Celebration of Syncopation" exhibition will feature more than 100 photographs from the archive as well as records, sheet music, posters and excerpts from oral history interviews.

Honored at an opening reception earlier this month for their contributions to the archive were The Old Guys Jazz Band, consisting of SIUE faculty members. The Old Guys gave concerts and issued and sold recordings to benefit the archives. The ensemble included Jack Ades, Jim Austin, Warren Brown, Bill Feeney, Jim Hansen, Dan Havens, Ray Helsel, Lyman "Zeke" Holden, Jean Kittrell, and Deane Wiley.

Donors of materials and musicians who participated in the oral history interviews were also recognized at the reception for their contributions. Donors honored included John Randolph, Bernice Brown, Philip Havens, Jean Kittrell, Jack Luster, Peg Meyer, Dan Stevens, Trebor Tichenor, W. Cecil Trotwein, and KMOX Radio.

Among the many jazz musicians represented in the archive through their oral history interviews are Willie Akins, Eubie Blake, Robert Carter, Singleton Palmer, and Eddie Randle.

Archives To The Rescue!

A 17-year rescue mission has been successfully completed and the hero is the Louisa H. Bowen Archives at Lovejoy Library.

Library and Information Services Dean Jay Starratt recently announced that a "remarkable" collection of 19th and early 20th century Madison County legal records, which had been given sanctuary in the archives for 17 years, is being moved to a permanent home at the Illinois State Archives Regional Depository on the SIU Carbondale campus.

Starratt said the staff of Lovejoy Library has provided a public service to Madison County citizens by preserving what he called "invaluable documents" for nearly two decades. "We are pleased that Ms. Judith Nelson, chief deputy in the circuit clerk's office, and the judges of the court, have collaborated with the Illinois State Archives to assure the permanent safety of these records and to provide enhanced accessibility to their contents."

The records consist of the original paper files of many Madison County legal cases from 1803-1924, including proceedings in law and proceedings in chancery. The records are considered extremely valuable to historians and to genealogists because they contain substantial information about personal circumstances and interests of early Madison County residents. The entire collection consists of approximately 270 linear feet of case files.

Associate Counsel Named

Prior to her appointment, Singer had been a legal associate with Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin, LLP, in St. Louis, where she was experienced in the litigation-at-trial and appellate levels of employment and school law. Previously she had served as a legal associate with Gallop, Johnson Neuman, L.C. of St. Louis and as a law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

A 1991 graduate of Saint Louis University School of Law, Singer also holds a master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor of Social Work from Southwest Missouri State University.