News

December 2004

December 6, 2004

A Season For The Child Continues At SIUE With Holiday Shows

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Holidays are a time for valuing friendships and Heidi delivers that message in a brightly wrapped package when A Season for the Child continues at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with stagings of the beloved Johanna Spyri tale at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, in SIUE's Katherine Dunham Hall theater.

Heidi, sponsored by the SIUE Friends of Theater and Dance (FOTAD) and TheBANK of Edwardsville, will be staged by the Imaginary Theatre (ITC), the traveling troupe of the Repertory Theatre Company of St. Louis. Heidi tells the story of a young orphan who is sent to live with her crotchety, reclusive grandfather, but Heidi's kind soul and simple joys win the old man's affections.

A Season for the Child is in its 16th year of presenting family-oriented theater to Southwestern Illinois audiences. The series features professional theater troupes from St. Louis that stage adaptations of various children's stories, using interactive techniques that not only delight children and parents, but also provide a learning experience.

Tickets are $5 per person and may be obtained through the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774. FOTAD offers its holiday show twice on Dec. 11 to accommodate those families that are busy during the holidays. Proceeds from the series benefit FOTAD's scholarship fund for theater and dance majors at the university.

Back to top

December 6, 2004

Holiday Musicale Set For Dec. 12; Sponsored By Friends Of Music

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The annual Holiday Musicale, sponsored by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Friends of Music, will be offered from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12.

This event showcases the musical talents of SIUE music students and faculty.

Edwardsville families in three private homes will play host to musical groups as visitors enjoy an "open house" setting, with jazz musicians performing at a St. Louis Street home; string students performing at a residence in Steinmeyer, and vocalists performing at a Stonebridge home.

The homes will be beautifully decorated for the holidays, and guests will have the opportunity to enjoy light refreshments while listening to delightful holiday music. A drawing will be offered at each house for a holiday wreath, donated by area florists. All proceeds will benefit the Friends of Music Scholarship fund, which helps promising musicians with the cost of their music education at SIUE.

Tickets are $10 and will include maps to the individual homes. Tickets may be purchased at TheBANK of Edwardsville (main branch), from any Friends of Music board member, or at the individual homes the day of the Musicale. For more information, call the SIUE Department of Music, (618) 650-3799.

Back to top

December 6, 2004

Faculty, Student Speakers Featured During Fall Commencement

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Two Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty members, one of whom won a Fulbright Scholarship in 2002, will be the featured commencement speakers at fall graduation ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 18, in SIUE's Vadalabene Center.

Nearly 880 students are eligible to graduate during the ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Speaking at the morning ceremony to graduate candidates in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Engineering and Nursing is Philosophy Professor John Danley. Mary Konya Weishaar, associate professor and program director for Special Education, will speak during the afternoon ceremony to graduate candidates in the Schools of Business and Education.

Student speakers addressing the graduating classes are Sherry McDowell, who will receive a bachelor of science in Nursing, during the morning ceremony, and Shaunte Griffin, who has completed a bachelor of science in Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources Management, during the afternoon ceremony.

Danley joined the SIUE Philosophy faculty in 1976. He earned a baccalaureate in Philosophy at Kalamazoo (MI) College; a master of divinity in the Philosophy of Religion at Union Theological Seminary, New York City; and a master's and a doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Rochester (NY).

Serving as assistant chair, acting chair, and chair of the Department of Philosophy at SIUE during one six-year period, Danley has been very active in departmental, school, college, and university governance for the university, serving on several committees over the past 28 years. He is the author of one book and 19 professional journal articles, and has made numerous grant proposals.

Danley was invited to participate in the Ruffin Lecture at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia for four consecutive years. His areas of specialization are social and political philosophy, ethics, and applied ethics in business and engineering.

Before coming to SIUE, Weishaar was director of Special Education for Collinsville Schools and also had served as Special Education Supervisor for the Mid-State Special Education Cooperative for Montgomery County-Carlinville Special Education Area. She also has been a Special Education teacher and counselor for Southwestern Community Unit School #7 as well as a Learning Disabilities teacher for Villa Park Schools.

In 2002, Weishaar lectured in Kiev at the University Ukraine under the Fulbright Scholar Program. She earned a bachelor of science and a master of science at Eastern Illinois University; she also received a doctorate at Saint Louis University. Her areas of expertise in Special Education include assessment, legal issues, and administration. She is the co-author of three books and 14 journal articles.

Back to top

December 22, 2004

Murals Depicting Growth Of St. Louis Given To University

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Four rare murals, by the acclaimed Missouri artist Michael Chomyk, have been donated to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville by retired financial planner and real estate investor Heinz Peter, in honor of his mother, Elise Peter.

The murals, painted by Chomyk who died in 1993 in Ironton, Mo., at the age of 82, are the only surviving examples of his large-scale paintings from what was once a significant body of work, including a mural above the ticket area of St. Louis Union Station when it was a railroad terminal during the city's heyday.

"The importance of works such as these frequently is forgotten and the pieces are abandoned and destroyed as buildings change ownership and are either renovated or demolished," said Eric Barnett, director of The University Museum at SIUE. "The public should be grateful to Mr. Peter for working to save the paintings and donating them to a public institution."

Chomyk was one of a select group of artists chosen by the Works Progress Administration beginning in 1935 to create works that document the evolution of American trade, exploration, and achievement. Chomyk is listed as an artist with the WPA project in the book, The Federal Art Projects in Illinois, by George Mavigliano and Richard Lawson.

The murals donated by Peter depict the rise of St. Louis from its founding as a trading post to the time when the murals were painted by Chomyk in 1955 for the Farm and Home Savings & Loan Association in downtown St. Louis. Six of Chomyk's smaller works are in the collection of the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Peter, who was born in Germany and educated in Switzerland, is an avid antique and art collector residing in Edwardsville. He donated the pieces to the SIUE museum so that they can be "kept together and enjoyed forever by the public.

"It gives me great pleasure to donate works of great historical value," Peter said, "especially from such an accomplished St. Louis artist."

Barnett said the murals will be cleaned, relined, and conserved over the course of the next several months. "We look forward to placing the paintings in a public space on campus so that the entire community can enjoy them," Barnett said.

Back to top

December 22, 2004

SIUE School of Business Students Assist Local Company

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) This past fall, the Information Technology (IT) Department at Royster-Clark Inc., in Collinsville, teamed with three graduate students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business to initiate a business process review of customer payments.

The focus of the project was improving operating efficiencies and funds available at Royster-Clark, a retail and wholesale distributor of mixed fertilizer materials, seed, crop protection products, and agronomic services to farmers. The company has more than 300 outlets primarily in the East, South, and Midwest.

Royster-Clark faced at least two challenges: receiving payments from 50,000 customers through two types of transactions and documenting and applying payment to a customer's accounts involving extra, unnecessary steps. Both of these challenges have financial impacts, such as delays in cash flow and additional costs to the company.

The SIUE graduate students-Gaston Reinoso, Mike Klaus, and Zhangfan (James) Lin-conducted nearly 50 interviews with Royster-Clark customers regarding payment of monthly statements. For more than two days, the students reviewed flowcharts, spreadsheets, and other data to identify processing efficiencies and ways to alleviate the delays.

One of the activities in which the students took part was a check float study. Four hundred checks were sent to 20 locations and were deposited over a five-day period. Each location received 10 checks and mailed two checks per day, one to a lockbox and one to a local bank depository or to the company's Collinsville office, whichever location was normally used. The bank float and the mail float were tracked to measure the length of time it took to reach the bank or the Collinsville office.

It was found that because of logistics and network traffic, a 10-mile destination for a letter could actually become a 100-mile trip.

As project coordinators, Timothy Schoenecker, associate dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Business, and Gertrude Pannirselvam, associate professor of Management, are pleased with the results of the students' experience. Not only were the students given a chance to put into practice what they have learned through coursework, but the company was able to benefit from the students' access to SIUE's academic library, where they could research practices of leading companies.

While the three graduate students have completed their portion of the project, more students from the School of Business will be working with Royster-Clark. Bob Paarlberg, managing director of Royster-Clark's IT department, said, "we want the SIUE School of Business to think of our office as a real life laboratory for their graduate school students. With this resource, we get to learn about emerging practices that are still in the incubator stage."

Back to top

BOT Authorizes Committee To Award Bids For SDM Clinic Expansion

The SIU Board of Trustees has authorized the board's Executive Committee to award bids for a $2 million expansion of the Main Clinic at the School of Dental Medicine. The project was approved at the board's April 8 meeting.

The board action was one of two taken at its regular meeting recently that pertained to projects on the Edwardsville campus. The meeting was conducted in the Morris University Center.

The board action concerning the School of Dental Medicine was necessary because the bids are expected to arrive in January, but the full board does not meet during that month. Giving the Executive Committee the authority to award bids would help ensure the project would be on target for its expected spring semester 2006 completion.

The clinic addition, to be known as the Advanced Care Wing, will add about 6,000 square feet to the clinic, providing space for 24 new clinical "operatories" and a classroom for 75 students. The additional space will allow the SDM to consolidate teaching in specialty disciplines-periodontal, endodontic, and pediatric, among others-and general dentistry to one location.

The cost of the project will be funded through the issuance of Certificates of Participation to be retired by dental school tuition revenue.

The BOT also gave project and budget approval for a $1 million renovation of the SimmonsCooper Baseball Complex at SIUE. The project would be funded through private contributions and gifts-in-kind.

In the SimmonsCooper baseball complex action, the board approved the project that would include new grandstands, a press box, field lighting, a building for public restrooms and concessions, a brick plaza, and a ticket booth and entryway. Many renovations already have been completed at the complex, such as new dugouts, locker and shower facility, and replacement of the security fence around the complex, to name a few.

The renovations at the complex have been made possible through donations from East Alton attorneys John Simmons and Jeff Cooper, as well as donations from former Cougar baseball players Fernando Aguirre and Steve Davis, and current assistant coach Steve Haug.

The baseball complex project, defined as a non-instructional capital improvement financed with local funds, must be approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). The IBHE is expected to consider the matter in December.

Illinois Gov. Blagojevich Names Sanders to SIU Board

Keith R. Sanders, former executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, was appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday, Dec. 1, to serve as a member of the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees.

"I am grateful that Gov. Blagojevich has given me the opportunity to serve my alma mater and the state of Illinois in this important role," Sanders said.

Sanders, who has had a distinguished career in higher education spanning four decades as a professor, dean, chancellor and state higher education executive in Wisconsin and Illinois, will fill the unexpired term of former longtime SIU Trustee Harris Rowe of Jacksonville, who resigned last month.

Sanders, who lives in Spring Grove, will serve in a temporary capacity until his appointment is confirmed by the Illinois State Senate.

The Benton native holds two degrees from SIUC and spent much of his career working for the campus and the SIU system.

Glenn Poshard, chair of the SIU Board of Trustees, hailed the decision. "Gov. Blagojevich has made an outstanding selection. I can't imagine a better appointment. Keith Sanders understands the work that lies ahead for this Board and will be an important part of moving the university forward."

Sanders earned bachelor's and master's degrees at SIU Carbondale and a doctorate in communication at the University of Pittsburgh. He served as a faculty member at SIUC from 1967 to 1989, including a three-year stint as governmental relations officer from 1980 to 1983 and then as dean of the College of Communications and Fine Arts from 1983 to 1989.

He served as a chancellor and subsequently as a senior vice president for administration and chief operating officer in the University of Wisconsin system from 1989 to 1997 before accepting the post of executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education in 1998. He served as IBHE executive director until his retirement in 2002.

While executive director for IBHE, Sanders was widely credited for the development of a compelling statewide agenda for higher education, creating a close working relationship with pre-K through 12 education interests and providing strong leadership in the area of technology and the development of the Illinois Century Network, which has increased access to higher education for students across Illinois.

In 2001, Sanders was appointed by SIU President James E. Walker to serve on the "2020 Vision Committee," a strategic planning committee created to plan SIU's next two decades.

Walker said he believes Sanders' understanding of higher education in Illinois and the SIU system will provide an excellent foundation for his new role on the Board. "Dr. Sanders will be an outstanding trustee," Walker said. "His service, experience and lifelong interest in SIU make him an excellent choice for our Board, and I look forward to working with him.".

Sanders and his wife, SIUC alumna Carol (Dial) Sanders, have one son, Mark Sanders, of Milwaukee, and two grandchildren.

Faculty, Students To Address Graduates At Commencement

Two faculty members, one of whom won a Fulbright Scholarship in 2002, will be the featured commencement speakers at fall graduation ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 18, in the Vadalabene Center. Nearly 880 students are eligible to graduate during the ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Speaking at the morning ceremony to graduate candidates in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Engineering and Nursing is Philosophy Professor John Danley. Mary Konya Weishaar, associate professor and program director for Special Education, will speak during the afternoon ceremony to graduate candidates in the Schools of Business and Education.

Student speakers addressing the graduating classes will be Sherry McDowell, who will receive a bachelor of science in Nursing, during the morning ceremony, and Shaunte Griffin, who has completed a bachelor of science in Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources Management, during the afternoon ceremony.

Danley joined the SIUE Philosophy faculty in 1976. He earned a baccalaureate in Philosophy at Kalamazoo (MI) College; a master of divinity in the Philosophy of Religion at Union Theological Seminary, New York City; and a master's and a doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Rochester (NY).

Serving as assistant chair, acting chair, and chair of the Department of Philosophy at SIUE during one six-year period, Danley has been very active in departmental, school, college, and university governance for the university, serving on several committees over the past 28 years. He is the author of one book and 19 professional journal articles, and has made numerous grant proposals.

Danley was invited to participate in the Ruffin Lecture at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia for four consecutive years. His areas of specialization are social and political philosophy, ethics, and applied ethics in business and engineering.

Before coming to SIUE, Weishaar was director of Special Education for Collinsville Schools and also had served as Special Education Supervisor for the Mid-State Special Education Cooperative for Montgomery County-Carlinville Special Education Area. She also has been a Special Education teacher and counselor for Southwestern Community Unit School #7 as well as a Learning Disabilities teacher for Villa Park Schools.

In 2002, Weishaar lectured in Kiev at the University Ukraine under the Fulbright Scholar Program. She earned a bachelor of science and a master of science at Eastern Illinois University; she also received a doctorate at Saint Louis University. Her areas of expertise in Special Education include assessment, legal issues, and administration. She is the co-author of three books and 14 journal articles.

Click here for more news in The O, the University's on-line newsletter

SIUE Breaks Ground For $3.26M Pharmacy Facility

State, regional, and local officials were on hand recently to take part in groundbreaking for a $3.26 million facility in University Park that will house the only pharmacy school in downstate Illinois.

The new School of Pharmacy, which will enroll its first students in August 2005. The new facility will house pharmacy laboratories, classrooms, and faculty offices. July is the expected completion date for construction of the 15,000-square-foot building.

On hand for the event were Illinois Sen. Frank Watson (R-Greenville), himself a pharmacist, Illinois Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Collinsville), and Illinois Rep. Tom Holbrook (D-Belleville), along with several members of the School of Pharmacy Advisory Board as well as members of the Illinois Pharmacy Association and the Illinois Council of Health-Systems Pharmacists.

Also in attendance were representatives of Walgreen's and Albertson's, national pharmacy chains, and Schnuck Markets pharmacies, located in St. Louis and throughout the Midwest..

SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift and School of Pharmacy Dean Phil Medon spoke at the ceremony and introduced other speakers on the platform. "So far, we have over 300 applications for the 75 spaces available in the new school," Medon said before the event.

"There are more job openings for pharmacists than there are pharmacists to fill those jobs, so we expected that this will be a popular program."

The need for pharmacists nationwide is expected to grow by 30 percent in the next eight years, while the need in Illinois also will grow by nearly 20 percent in the next six years.

Major corporate sponsors have stepped up to help the SIUE School of Pharmacy with its initial start-up goal of $2 million over the next two years. "We are pleased to have two important corporate partners who are showing their commitment to our programs," said Bill Mauer, development director for the School.

"Both Walgreen's and Albertson's have made initial substantial donations to help cover some of our start-up costs."

Contracts for the new facility were awarded in October to L. Wolf Company of Granite City, for general contracting ($2,006,001); Pyramid Electrical Contractors of Fairview Heights, for electrical ($333,970); France Mechanical of Edwardsville, for plumbing ($446,300); Hock Mechanical Inc. of Belleville, for ventilation ($421,845); and Bi-State Fire Protection, for fire prevention ($49,135).

The School of Pharmacy, which offers a professional program leading to a Doctor of Pharmacy, values excellence in teaching, pharmacy practice, research/scholarship and service. The program of study is based on current knowledge and technology from pharmacy and other disciplines, and is delivered through a variety of innovative teaching strategies.

The School will collaborate with rural and urban health care institutions to meet the health care needs of Central and Southern Illinois and the St. Louis metropolitan area.

SIUE Engineering Students, Alums Win National Contest

A team of SIUE Engineering students and alumni won the 2004 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Student Design Contest conducted recently in Southern California.

Members of the SIUE team included: Chad Burns of Bethalto (BSME '04; currently a grad student at U of I); Dennis O'Conner of Columbia (BSME '04; currently a grad student at SIUE); Andrew Rummer of O'Fallon (BSME '04); Jerrod Hock of Minock (BSME '04); Kevin Beck (BSME '04) and Nick Stalker (BSME '04), both of Godfrey; Dan Staake of Staunton (BSME '04); Patrick Zweigart of Evansville (BSME '04; currently a grad student at SIUE); and Chris Nobbe of Alton, Jennie Moidel of Glen Carbon, and Mark Dinsmore of Fairfield, all current SIUE students majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

The national robotics competition, dubbed "Mine Madness," was presented by ASME and sponsored by The Boeing Company. Organizers said the competition attracted some of "today's best and brightest mechanical engineering students from around the world" who demonstrated their model-scale prototype devices, designed and built to retrieve landmines and to "transport them out of harms way."

The competition was conducted in Anaheim, Calif., at ASME's Annual Congress. The SIUE team was pitted against teams from the University of Alabama, Carnegie-Mellon University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, LeTourneau University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, the University of New Mexico, North Carolina State University, Oregon State University, Santa Clara University, the University of Vermont, Villanova University, and Western Kentucky University.

According to the contest rules, the teams were to design remote controlled, landmine-seeking vehicles to navigate over and around obstacles, retrieve six simulated mines and transport them to a designated receiving area, all within a 3-minute time frame. The ASME contest was designed to showcase "the innovation, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork of mechanical engineering students."

Founded in 1880, ASME is a 120,000-member professional organization focused on technical, educational and research issues of the engineering and technology community.

SIUE's Professor Farley Speaks At Berlin Conference; Compares American, European Racism

Although the "whites only" signs of the past may no longer adorn the American landscape, a more subtle racism still exists in this country, says SIUE Sociology Professor John Farley. In fact, Farley points out, subtle forms of racism can be found throughout Europe and in other parts of the world.

He shared his findings recently at a conference in Berlin, where he compared types of racism in America and Europe.

Speaking last month at a workshop on "Barriers to Integration and Efforts to remove them: Racism, Discrimination, and Anti-discrimination," Farley discussed the idea that racism in various forms is much more subtle today than in the past. The conference was sponsored by the U.S. German Marshall Fund and was organized by the European Forum for Migration Studies.

"The traditional definition of racism, centered around belief in group superiority, doesn't capture racism as it actually works today," Farley said. "Today's racism is often more subtle, more 'underground,' more institutionalized, and sometimes so engrained or institutionalized that it is unconscious." Farley went on to say that even though some racism is outspoken in both America and Europe today, the subtle kind of racism is much more common and has greater impact.

Farley pointed out examples of subtle racism in America. "A recent study shows that employment discrimination is so strong that a white applicant with a prison record is more likely to be called back for a job interview than a black applicant with no prison record," Farley said.

"This is more subtler than "whites only" signs and other formal, open ways of discrimination in the past," Farley said. "Collectively, it adds up to a good deal of individual discrimination, sometimes combined with institutional discrimination."

Some examples of past institutional racism, Farley said, included school discrimination in America or apartheid in South Africa, or ethnic cleansing in parts of Eastern Europe after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.

"More often today, though, institutional racism is more subtle and, sometimes, it is unconscious or not necessarily deliberate. Actions such as these do not necessarily reflect a desire or intent to discriminate," Farley said. "Yet, they have the same effect as the 'whites only' signs of the past."

Farley also noted that Europe has a long history of conquering and control of one nationality or country over another. "There are strong, lingering effects of this history," Farley pointed out. In addition to the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia examples, Farley pointed to the situation in Ireland as another example. "Northern Ireland remains under British control and, despite some recent progress, remains a flashpoint.

"My sense is that European racism (aside from internal situations such as in Northern Ireland, Russia, or the former Yugoslavia) today is linked primarily to two conditions: Opposition to immigration, much of which arises from displacements resulting from the fall of Communism, and prejudice against non-European immigrants, often associated with countries that are former European colonies."

On the question of whether an affirmative action plan will work for Europeans, Farley said he would leave that debate to the Europeans. "Affirmative action is necessary in the United States because of lingering effects of internal colonialism against African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and Puerto Ricans," he said. "It is mainly these groups at which affirmative action has been aimed, at least affirmative action based on race/ethnicity." he said.

"To the extent that affirmative action is relevant to Europe, it is probably most relevant to three kinds of groups: Non-European immigrant groups, European minorities within countries that have a history of having suffered conquest, and groups from these two scenarios that have become displaced to other parts of Europe."

Associate Director Named Outstanding Housing Manager

Robert Legate, associate director of University Housing Facilities Management, recently received the Outstanding Facilities Management Award from the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO) at its annual meeting in Cleveland.

Legate was cited for his contributions to SIUE and excellence in his field, including his commitment to student learning, dedication to team building and empowerment, and customer service excellence.

In his 20 years of service to the university, Legate has been involved in the construction of three residence halls and a major renovation of an apartment complex. In addition he has coordinated with SIUE's Environmental Health and Safety committee, a self-sustaining recycling plant on campus, and created stronger relationships with the campus community.

Before accepting his current position at the university, Legate was an undergraduate at SIUE, serving as a resident assistant and residence director for University Housing. He graduated from the MBA program at SIUE.

Criteria for the award include significant contributions to an institution, excellence in overall job performance, initiative/ creativity in going above and beyond job description, educating other members of the department on facilities issues, demonstrating an understanding of students' needs and developing projects, programs, or initiatives to meet those needs, building strong relationships with the campus community, and fostering inclusiveness and an appreciation of differences.

GLACUHO, a region within the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I), was established in 1973 to support the mission of ACUHO-I on the regional and state levels.

ACUHO-I is the pre-eminent professional association dedicated to supporting and promoting the collegiate residential experience by creating value through services, information, and collegial relationships that are indispensable to its members.

SIUE Men's Basketball Vaults To No. 6 Nationally

SIUE men's basketball vaulted 10 spots earning its highest ranking in school history when the National Association of Basketball Coaches/NCAA Division II rankings listed the Cougars No. 6 in the country in today's poll.

The Cougars' previous highest ranking came on Jan. 23, 1989, when SIUE was ranked No. 7 in the NABC poll. It is only the third time that SIUE has been ranked in the top 10 of the poll.

SIUE is currently riding a school-record 13-game winning streak, the longest current winning streak in NCAA Division II men's basketball.

Cougars coach Marty Simmons has led SIUE to its best start in school history with a 14-2 record this season as they sit atop the Great Lakes Valley Conference with a 7-0 mark.

The Cougars are idle for the next set of GLVC games on Thursday (1/13). SIUE will be back in action as Quincy comes to the Vadalabene Center at 1 p.m. Saturday (1/15).

Cougars Start Defense Of GLVC Crowns

SIUE men's track and field team will look to continue its success from 2004. Last season, the men's team was crowned as champions in both the indoor and outdoor Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships.

Despite some key losses, the teams have their sights set even higher, and appear to be well on their way to achieving some lofty goals for the 2005 campaign.

This past off-season saw the loss of numerous key athletes for both the men's and women's team, but perhaps the biggest loss was the resignation of long-time coach Darryl Frerker.

New men's head coach David Astrauskas looks to keep the Cougars string of success going. He will be aided by new women's head coach Ben Beyers, as well as Eileen McAllister, who will focus on the distance events, and Kevin Koller, graduate assistant.

In the sprint, hurdle, and jumping events, the Cougars are stronger and deeper than ever. On the men's side, Jeff Fearday (Teutopolis) returns for his senior year. Last year, Fearday was an All-Conference selection in the 400m Dash, and anchored both the conference champion 4 x 400m relay and the school-record 4 x 100m relay. Fearday was joined on the 4 x 100m relay by Brad Blevins (Gillespie). Blevins is also the defending conference champion in the 55m Dash.

Phil Freimuth (Effingham) returns for his junior campaign and will be counted on heavily in the High Jump after All-Conference finishes in this event both indoors and outdoors last season after being crowned champion as a freshman.

Dustin Bilbruck (Gillespie) also returns for his junior season after winning the conference Long Jump title indoors last season.

In the hurdles, Jonathan Bannister (Plano, Texas) returns for his first full season in an SIUE uniform. After coming back from knee surgery in the fall, Bannister was able to garner All-Conference honors in the 110 Hurdles as well as lead off the conference champion 4 x 400m relay team.

Jeff Papenberg (O'Fallon) and Jason Hall (Chicago) are two returnees that will also be looked at to contribute heavily in this area.

These returnees will be joined by a very strong freshman nucleus of newcomers. Kyle Rose (Kankakee), Anthony Hyatt (Newton), and Matt Oskielunas (Frankfort) will do sprints. Aaron Cook (Moline), Wes Smith, and Chris Wright (Richton Par) will be involved in jumps. Ryan Nowakowski (Rochester) will help out in middle distance.

Anthony Weber (Marengo), a transfer from the University of Kansas, will help out with the pole vault. Adam Losch (Pittsfield) and Sam Jones (Belleville) are both students who have come out for track in college for the first time this year..

Another area that promises to stay strong this year is the distance areas. On the men's side, Cody Ellermeyer (DuQuoin) returns for his sophomore season looking to defend his indoor conference title in the 800m Run. Ellermeyer was also a provisional national qualifier last season in both the indoor and outdoor 800, as well as a member of the Outdoor Conference Champion 4 x 400m relay team last season.

Brian Taghon (East Moline) provisionally qualified for nationals last season in the outdoor 1500m Run, the 3000m Steeplechase, and was crowned as conference champion in the 5000m Run indoors.

Ryan Boyll (Normal) enters his senior campaign after earning All-Conference honors in the 3000m Steeplechase last season and provisionally qualifying for nationals in that event last season.

Joining these three as returnees will be Trae Cotner (Springfield), Josh Bozue (Fairborne, Ohio), and Nick Campbell (Charleston).

Complementing the returnees is a strong group of newcomers including Blake Marcum (Centralia), a transfer from McKendree College; Keith Patten (O'Fallon); Justin Crain (McLeansboro), a transfer from Rend Lake Junior College; Brian Getz (East Moline); and Eric Steffens (Moline).

The throwing events again show promise of strength for the Cougar teams. On the men's side, Lee Weeden (Ferguson, Mo) returns after taking the conference championship in the Shot Put both indoors and outdoors last season. Phil Freimuth and Dustin Bilbruck demonstrate their versatility, and will also be looked at here. Freimuth is the defending conference champion and provisional national qualifier in the Javelin, and Bilbruck took All-Conference honors in that event as well. Steve Landers (Auburn) and Ben Willard (Manito) also will contribute heavily in this area.

The Cougars open their 2005 season Jan. 15 at the Illinois Wesleyan Relays in Bloomington.

Cougars Look To Push Success Further

The 2005 SIUE women's track and field team will have its hands full attempting to match the accomplishments achieved in 2004. The women's team claimed the Great Lakes Valley Conference indoor championships last season.

Despite some key losses, the team has its sights set even higher, and appear to be well on their way to achieving some lofty goals for the 2005 campaign. This past off-season saw the loss of numerous key athletes for the women's team, but perhaps the biggest loss was the resignation of long-time coach Darryl Frerker.

"There is no replacing a guy with such experience and longevity in the program like Coach Frerker," said new women's head coach Ben Beyers. Beyers is joined on the staff by David Astrauskas, new men's head coach, as well as Eileen McAllister, who will focus on the distance events, and Kevin Koller, graduate assistant.

"Despite our losses, we are even deeper than last year," noted Beyers. "We are definitely in a position to make an even bigger splash this season and prove to everyone that last year was not a fluke."

The women sprinters, hurdlers, and jumpers will be lead by the Outdoor GLVC Conference Athlete of the Year from last season, Tairisha Sawyer (Chicago), who returns for her sophomore season after qualifying for nationals last season as a freshman in the 55m Dash, the 100m Dash, and the 200m Dash.

Sawyer was an All-Conference selection in all three of those events in addition to anchoring both the conference champion 4 x 100m relay team, as well as the 4 x 400m relay team, both of which provisionally qualified for the national meet.

Sawyer was joined on both national-qualifying relays by Jenny Jaquez (Aurora). Jaquez returns for her senior season after also provisionally qualifying for the national meet in the 400 Hurdles.

Another member of the record-setting 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relays last season was Valerie Simmons (St. Louis). Simmons, also a sophomore, looks for big things after winning the conference title in the 400 Hurdles and qualifying for nationals in that event.

The final member of last season's champion 4 x 100m relay also returns-Brittany Reeves (Hanover Park)who shows promise of coming back strong for her sophomore season after also provisionally qualifying for nationals in the 55 Hurdles last season.

Shavon Shegog (Anchorage, Alaska) returns after red-shirting outdoors last season. Shegog was injured after a great indoor season last year, while anchoring the conference champion indoor 4 x 400m relay that qualified provisionally for nationals.

Julia Scherer (Sumner), also a member of the indoor conference champion 4 x 400 relay, returns and will be looked at to contribute in all the sprint and hurdle events.

Joining these returnees will be an extremely talented set of newcomers. Asaki Carr (St. Louis), Jessica Levy (Des Plaines), and Christine Butler (Matteson), who were all very successful high school athletes.

Kimetha Williams (Bellevue, Neb.) is a transfer from the University of Illinois, and will contribute primarily in the long sprints.

The women's distance area also shows promise. Lee Ann Lomax (Georgetown) returns this year after red-shirting last season. Lomax was the 2003 GLVC Outdoor Conference champion in the 800m Run and was also All-Conference in the 4 x 400m Relay during that meet as well.

Mary Witte (Normal) returns for her senior year after a banner junior campaign in which she was both crowned conference champion and qualified for nationals in the 3000m Steeplechase. Witte was also a member of the indoor conference champion Distance Medley Relay.

Another distance runner that returns from a trip to nationals last season is Christen Carducci (Powell, Ohio). Carducci also was crowned conference champion indoors in the 3000m Run and earned All-Conference honors outdoors in both the 1500m Run and the 3000m Run. Joining these three as returnees will be Heather Zipparro (Mt. Prospect), Amanda White (O'Fallon), and Priscilla Rahn (East Alton).

Joining the returnees in this group are Jennifer Wilson (Springfield), Elizabeth Hall (Charleston), Kelly Flounders (Homer Glen), and Samantha Christie (Eureka).

Callie Glover (Bartlett) returns for her sophomore campaign after earning a trip to the national meet in the indoor Shot Put and garnering All-Conference honors both indoors and outdoors in that event. Glover also provisionally qualified for nationals in the outdoor Shot Put. Holly Noller (Pawnee)returns this year after being crowned conference champion in the Javelin last season.

These two returnees will be helped immediately with the addition of two very talented athletes. Lindsey DeFevers (Virden), a transfer from Northern Illinois University and Rachel Nelson (Okawville) will contribute right away to this area.

"Overall, I feel that we have better team than we had last year from top-to-bottom," says Beyers. The Cougars open their 2005 season Jan. 15 at the Illinois Wesleyan Relays in Bloomington.

Men's Basketball Boasts Nation's Top Division II Winning Streak

SIUE men's basketball coach Marty Simmons is proud that his team has won a school-record 13 games in a row, but Simmons knows that the streak can "spin the other way quickly."

The Cougars, ranked 16th in last week's NABC/Division II poll, currently hold the longest winning streak in NCAA Division II men's basketball. The next national ranking is due Tuesday (1/11) afternoon.

"We are excited about it," said Simmons. "Our guys know that if we continue to practice hard, pay attention to detail, and get better each and every day, we will have a chance to have a successful season. You have to keep your eye on the ball and stay focused."

SIUE, which also is ranked No. 1 in the first Great Lakes region poll, is 14-2 overall as it sits atop the Great Lakes Valley Conference with a 7-0 record.

The Cougars will entertain Quincy on Saturday (1/22) as they end a three-game homestand at the Vadalabene Center. "They have an outstanding team," said Simmons. "They can beat you in a lot of different ways. Every night (in the GLVC), whether you are at home or on the road, you can expect one heck of a battle."

The Cougars have gained the top spot in the conference with defense. SIUE is first in the GLVC in points per game allowed (58.1) and field goal percentage defense (38.8 percent).

Freshman J.B. Jones (Belleville) is another reason for the Cougars' success. Jones posted a career-high 19 points and six assists in a win over Saint Joseph's and a 17-point, five-assist effort in a victory over UW-Parkside. Jones ranks fourth in the GLVC with 5.25 assists per game.

"J.B. seems to be getting more confident," said Simmons. "He really picked it up in both games and got us going."

Senior Dan Heimos (Waterloo) also had a career-high night in the contest against Saint Joseph's. Heimos had his first career double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. He is second in the GLVC in field goal percentage (64.9 percent) and block shots per game (2.44) as well as leading SIUE in rebounding at 6.3 boards per contest.

"A lot of our success stems from him," said Simmons. "He is getting inside baskets, and he is rebounding very well."

Senior Tim Bauersachs (Pinckneyville) leads the team in scoring with 12.0 points a game and is fourth in the GLVC in field goal percentage (62.7 percent).

"I give the seniors a lot of credit," said Simmons. "They have done a great job with their leadership."

Anthony Jones (Centralia) and Michael Sams (Mt. Zion) were big contributors in SIUE's win over Saint Joseph's. Jones netted 17 points, including shooting seven of 10 from the field. Sams chipped in seven points going three of five from the floor. Senior Kris Crosby (Belleville) picked up some quality minutes in the win over UW-Parkside. Crosby had six points and five rebounds (four offensive) in 17 minutes.

The Cougars will face the Hawks at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Women's Basketball Moves Back To .500 Mark Overall

SIUE women's basketball coach Wendy Hedberg picked up wins over Saint Joseph's and UW-Parkside this past weekend. The two victories may have gotten her team back to the .500 mark at 8-8, but more importantly gave her team more confidence.

"It was big win for us in a lot of ways," said Hedberg, who needs one more victory to reach the 400-win plateau. "It just may be the thing we needed to get us going."

The Cougars are 3-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, tied with three teams for sixth place. Quincy, (9-5, 6-1 GLVC) who is tied for first in the conference, visits the Vadalabene Center on Saturday (1/22). "Quincy is a very good team," said Hedberg. "They are playing pretty well right now. We will have our hands full."

Freshman Whitney Sykes (Pontoon Beach) has been a big contributor to the Cougars' offense. Sykes is averaging 10.1 points a game and shooting 42 percent from beyond the three point line. In her last three games, Sykes has made 13 of 23 (56 percent) shots from long-range. "She is doing an outstanding job," said Hedberg. "That (three-pointers) is her game. When she adds the ability to put it to the floor and create, she'll be difficult to defend."

In a win over UW-Parkside, junior Alisa Carrillo (Santa Ana, Calif.) made her first career start count and managed a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds). Sophomore Jamie Kennedy (Colfax) chipped in eight points in the game against the Rangers. "Alisa and Jamie stepped up huge for us," said Hedberg.

Amber Wisdom (Geneso) had solid performances against Saint Joseph's and UW-Parkside. Wisdom went 6 of 11 from the floor and averaged 10 points, six rebounds, and six assists in the two contests. "Amber played really solid at point guard," said Hedberg. "We have been trying to get her to shoot more when she is open. She knocked down some nice shots over the weekend."

SIUE will battle the Hawks on Saturday (1/22) afternoon at 1.

Wrestling Entertains Missouri Valley

The SIUE wrestling coach Chris Whelan is still not satisfied with his team's 13th place finish at the Midwest Open. He believes that his team is capable of more.

"Even though it was the highest we have placed (at the Midwest Open) we are no where near where we need to be," said Whelan. "They were a little tentative in the matches."

The Cougars will look to get back on track as they take on Missouri Valley at home on Wednesday (1/19) and travel to William Penn on Friday (1/21).

Senior Branden Lorek (Bensenville) has a record of 8-10 on the year. He finished with a 4-2 mark at the meet for a fifth-place finish at 197 pounds. "He wrestled hard," said Whelan. "He was a match or two away from a great meet. He did a good job."

John Ficht (Burbank) finished in eighth place at 165 pounds going 2-3 in the meet, and he is now 9-8 on the season. "John is good at countering," said Whelan. "He needs to attack more. Overall, he wreslted hard."

Joe Rujawitz (Belleville) also placed sixth at 149 pounds.

SIUE will take on the Vikings on Wednesday night (1/19) at 7 in the Vadalabene Center before the 7 p.m. match up with the Statesmen in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on Friday (1/21).

Cougars Place 13th At Midwest Open

The SIUE wrestling team finished the Midwest Open in 13th place with 38.5 points thanks to four placewinners. Ashland University won the 19-team meet with 162 points.

Branden Lorek placed fifth at 197 pounds going 4-2 in the meet improving to 8-10 on the season. Joe Rujawitz finished in sixth place at 149 pounds.

John Ficht at 165 pounds and Pat Healy 174 pounds each placed 8th. Ficht finished 2-3 in the meet and he is 9-8 on the year.

SIUE returns home to the Vadalabene Center for the first time in 2005 with a dual meet on Wednesday (1/12) against Missouri Valley. The opening whistle is at 7 p.m.

And The Beat Goes On, 13 Straight Wins

SIUE basketball picked up its school-record 13th straight win, defeating UW-Parkside 67-52 this afternoon in Great Lakes Valley Conference action at the Vadalabene Center.

Freshman point guard J.B. Jones netted 17 points, shooting seven of 12 from the field with five assists for the Cougars, ranked 16th in the nation in the latest NABC/Division II poll. SIUE remains undefeated in GLVC play at 7-0 with a 14-2 overall record.

SIUE and UW-Parkside were tied 20-20 with 3:02 to go in the first half and the Cougars went on a 9-0 run to end the first stanza. The Rangers cut the Cougars' lead to 40-34 with 13:27 left in the second half before SIUE went on a 17-6 over next 5:09 run capped by a Anthony Jones three-pointer.

Senior Tim Bauersachs was one point away from a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. Dan Heimos chipped in 11 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and had four blocks. The Cougars held the Rangers to 33 percent (20-60) shooting as SIUE shot 44.6 percent (25-56) in the contest.

SIUE is now 12-1 when holding opponents under 70 points and 7-0 when opponents shoot less than 40 percent from the field.

Brad Ferstenou led the Rangers with 18 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. UW-Parkside recorded 10 blocked shots against the Cougars.

SIUE ends its three-game homestand as Quincy visits the Vadalabene Center next Saturday afternoon (1/15) at 3.

Carrillo's Double-Double Sparks Win Over UW-Parkside

Alisa Carrillo recorded a double-double in her first career start as the SIUE Cougars powered past UW-Parkside 62-56 this afternoon in Great Lakes Valley Conference action at the Vadalabene Center.

Carrillo netted 12 points, while grabbing 10 boards as the Cougars won their second straight GLVC contest to improve to 3-4 in the conference and 8-8 overall. UW-Parkside falls to 11-7 overall, and 5-3 in GLVC play. Carillo started in place of Julianne McMillen, who was away from the team on Saturday on family business.

The Cougars had a 34-26 halftime lead as both teams shot 40 percent in the first half. The Rangers cut SIUE's lead to 51-47 with 7:00 to go, but the Cougars withstood the pressure down the stretch to pick up the win.

Freshman Whitney Sykes continued her hot shooting, making three of four shots from three-point land and eight of 10 from the free throw line for 17 points. Sykes has made a three-pointer in 14 of the 16 contests this season. She is shooting 56.5 percent (13-23) from three-point range in the last three games.

Jamie Kennedy came off the bench to chip in eight points, and Amber Wisdom had seven points, six rebounds, and five assists.

The Cougars shot 21 of 29 (72 percent) from the free throw line , while the Rangers were 8 of 12 from the charity stripe. SIUE shot 45 percent (23-59) for the game, and each team committed 18 turnovers.

Sammy Kromm had 16 points and seven rebounds, Linda Glick chipped in 13 points, and Carrie Weir added 12 for UW-Parkside.

The Cougars will have the week off before they resume GLVC play next Saturday (1/15) as Quincy comes to the Vadalabene Center for the final game of a three-game homestand. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

SIUE Hires Marcuzzo, Viehl To Lead Golf Programs

SIUE alumni Mark Marcuzzo and Kyle Viehl have been named to take over the Cougar women's golf program and the recently re-established men's golf program.

SIUE Intercollegiate Athletics Director Brad Hewitt announced Tuesday (1/4) that Marcuzzo, a PGA Professional, will be the coordinator of both the men's and women's golf teams. Viehl will be an assistant coordinator for the two programs. Marcuzzo and Viehl take over for SIUE women's golf coach Larry Bennett, who announced his retirement at the end of the fall season. Both positions are part-time.

"We're very excited to have two alumni who have a wealth of golf knowledge and are ready to develop new golf talent at SIUE," said Hewitt. "We believe that by adding men's golf to the fold and continuing the level of commitment to the women's golf program that SIUE will become even more competitive in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Marcuzzo was an NCAA Division II All-American with the Cougars in 1984 under former head coach Harry Gallatin. He has been a three-time U.S. Open local qualifier, including medalist in 2003. After leaving SIUE with a physical education degree in 1985, Marcuzzo went on to serve as an assistant professional at several local golf courses. He currently is the director of Golf at Timber Lakes Golf Club in Staunton.

Viehl made three NCAA Tournament appearances in his four seasons as a Cougar from 1988 to 1993. He received a bachelor's in finance at SIUE in 1993 and currently works as a sales manager for Amerilight.

The SIUE men's golf program plans to start intercollegiate competition this fall. Funding for the men's golf program will be external in nature similar to the model being used by the Friends of Wrestling.

The SIUE wrestling program was to be eliminated after the 2003-2004 season, but with the help of several dedicated supporters and alumni, the wrestling program is being maintained on the intercollegiate level, funded primarily by private contributions.

The first SIUE men's golf program began during the 1968-69 season and was dropped as a sponsored sport in January 1995 as a result of recommendations made by the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee. The men's golf program previously produced two first-team All-Americans, two second-team All-Americans, one third-team All-American and six honorable mention All-Americans.

The Cougars made 16 national championship appearances under Gallatin, who also served as SIUE's first Athletics Director.

SIUE Men's Basketball Ranked No. 16 Nationally

SIUE men's basketball earned its highest ranking since the 1988 season when the National Association of Basketball Coaches/NCAA Division II rankings listed the Cougars No. 16 in the country in today's poll.

Coach Marty Simmons and his Cougars have reeled off 11 wins in a row, tying the school record for consecutive victories set in the 1985-86 season. SIUE has won all eight of its home games and completed the month of December with a perfect 8-0 mark.

The Cougars were last ranked in the national poll in January 1998 when SIUE got off to an 8-1 start under then-Coach Jack Margenthaler, with a ranking of 21st in the nation. SIUE was last ranked in the top 20 as No. 20 nationally on Feb. 20, 1989.

SIUE looks to break its consecutive win record on Thursday (1/6) when it plays host to Saint Joseph's in a 7:30 p.m. matchup at the Vadalabene Center.

Men's Basketball Look To Keep Winning Momentum

SIUE men's basketball team has rattled off 11 straight victories to tie a school record set 19 seasons ago. That includes a perfect 8-0 mark during the month of December, and the Cougars are looking to continue that trend in the new year.

SIUE coach Marty Simmons enjoys the streak, but he knows it can end as fast as it started. "We played a lot of good teams in that stretch," said Simmons. "It is a credit to the players. It is a good thing only if we can keep it going. That is the challenge that lies ahead."

SIUE is 12-2 overall and 5-0 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Cougars will return home to start a three-game homestand against St. Joseph's (7-4, 3-2 GLVC) on Thursday (1/6) night at the Vadalabene Center. "St. Joseph's players can shoot the three," said Simmons. "They can all penetrate. It is going to be a huge challenge for us."

Following the contest with St. Joseph's, SIUE will battle UW-Parkside on Saturday (1/8) at 3 p.m. before Quincy ends the home stretch on Jan. 15.

The Cougars are first in the GLVC in scoring defense (58.2 points per game), field goal percentage (49.8 percent), and block shots (67). SIUE ranks second in the GLVC in field goal percentage defense (39.0 percent) and three-point field goal percentage (39.3 percent).

Senior Tim Bauersachs (Pinckneyville) leads the team in scoring with 12.5 points a game and is third in the GLVC in field goal percentage (64.4 percent). "The thing that makes him so good are all the things that don't show up in the stat sheet," said Simmons. "He draws the top defensive assignment every night. He screens. He is a good passer. And he leads by example."

Freshman J.B. Jones (Belleville) is third in the conference in steals per game (1.93) and fourth in assists per game (5.21)

Anthony Jones (Centralia) is the other part of SIUE freshman backcourt duo. Jones netted 17 points in SIUE's 86-70 win over Bellarmine on Dec. 30. Jones was a perfect 5 for 5 from beyond the three-point arc in the contest. "Anthony gave us a big lift off the bench," said Simmons.

Dan Heimos (Waterloo) leads the Cougars in rebounding with 5.9 boards a game. He is first in the GLVC with 33 blocks and second in the conference with 2.36 blocks per game. Heimos is fourth in the conference in field goal percentage making 62.5 percent of his shots.

Women's Basketball Sets Eyes onOConference Games

The SIUE women's basketball team returns to the Vadalabene Center for a three-game homestand over the next two weeks. Coach Wendy Hedberg is looking for her club to gain some momentum as it starts the heart of the Great Lakes Valley Conference season.

The Cougars have record of 6-8 overall, and 1-4 in GLVC play. "We are struggling right now with scoring and hitting open shots," said Hedberg. "I am happy with our defensive effort. We are holding teams under their average scoring."

SIUE is allowing 63.6 points per game this season while holding their opponents' field goal percentage to less than 40 percent this year. "We are digging ourselves holes in games where we are always trying to come from behind," said Hedberg. "That is going to take its toll on your team."

The Cougars return home to face St. Joseph's (3-9, 1-4 GLVC) on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., before welcoming conference leading UW-Parkside on Saturday at 1 p.m. "A win would do a ton of good for us to build our confidence," said Hedberg. "Those will be two tough games for us," said Hedberg. "St. Joe's is a hard nosed team. Then you turn around and play (UW-) Parkside who has been playing great basketball."

Sophomore Julianne McMillen (Pana) is leading SIUE with 11.1 points a game. She is sixth in the GLVC in field goal percentage at 56.1 percent. McMillen recorded a double-double (23 points, 13 rebounds) in the loss at Bellarmine on Dec. 30. McMillen also is shooting 82.9 percent from the free throw line this season.

Freshman Whitney Sykes (Pontoon Beach) is fourth in the conference in three-point field goals made per game at 2.21, and 31 of Sykes' 40 field goals have been three -pointers this season.

SIUE Wrestling Has Met Tough Competition

The SIUE wrestling team may be 0-5 on the season, but the Cougars have battle some tough competition so far this season.

The Cougars recently faced off against three NCAA Division I programs (Maryland, Utah Valley St., and Missouri) at the Mizzou Duals on Jan. 2.

SIUE lost to all three teams, but Coach Khris Whelan believes his team can learn valuable lessons from facing the tough competition. "I wanted to see who my competitors are," said Whelan. "It was a great experience for them. It should motivate them to work a lot harder in the room."

The Cougars picked up a win from John Ficht (Burbank) at 165 pounds. He defeated Wayne Watts from Utah Valley State 3-1. Ficht now has a record of 7-5 on the year. "John is coming along great," said Whelan. "He really battled in his match picking up the win."

Freshman Cory Scott (Sterling) is 4-8 on the season wrestling at 184 pounds. "He did a phenomenal job," said Whelan. "He continues to battle everyday."

The Cougars will travel to Indianapolis, Ind. for the Midwest Open. "This is going to be more our level," said Whelan. "I told the guys not to get down after last weekend's performance."

The event is all day Friday and Saturday, (1/7-1/8).

Cougars Cruise To 11th Straight Win

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's basketball won its 11th straight game today, equaling the longest such winning streak in school history, with an 86-70 victory at Bellarmine.

The Cougars had its other 11-game winning streak during the 1985-86 season. The 12-2 start for SIUE is the best in school history. SIUE goes for its best-ever winning streak on Jan. 6 at the Vadalabene Center when it entertains Saint Joseph's. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

The Cougars also remained the lone team in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with an unblemished league record. SIUE improved to 5-0. Bellarmine falls to 6-5 overall and 2-4 in the GLVC with its first homecourt loss.

Bellarmine hung in with the Cougars in the first half, trailing by just one point at 38-37. The Cougars pulled away with a steady second-half performance, holding the Knights to 34.5 percent shooting while shooting better than 65 percent from the field themselves.

SIUE turned on the pressure in the second half behind Tim Bauersachs' 18 points. Anthony Jones hit all five of his three-point attemmpts and finished with 17 points. Joel Jaye and Justin Ward added 14 and 12 points, respectively. Dan Heimos was SIUE's fifth player in double figures with 10 points.

The Knights were led by a double-double effort from Nate Sexton, who finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Bellarmine Defeats Cougars 71-57

Bellarmine went on an 11-2 run in the first half and went on to defeat SIUE 71-57 Thursday night in women's college basketball at Knights Hall.

SIUE, 6-7 overall and 1-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, found itself down 45-31 at halftime as the Knights improved to 10-2 overall and 5-1 in the GLVC.

Bellarmine raced to the halftime lead behind Ashley Elmore, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Point guard Princess Wimsatt led Bellarmine in scoring with 17 points. Lynne Johnson added 14. The Knight shot 56 percent from the field in the first half on 18-of-32 shooting. The Knights cooled off in the second half with 38 percent shooting.

The Cougars picked up a big night from Julianne McMillen, who scored 23 points and added 13 reboounds. Lindy Carey was the only other player in double figures for the Cougars with 12 points.

Bellarmine's lead swelled to 24 points before the Cougars made a run of 19-6 to finish off the game. SIUE returns to action on Sunday (1/2) at Northern Illinois. Game time is 2:05 p.m. in DeKalb.

SIUE Baseball Features Winter Pitchers and Catchers Clinics

The SIUE baseball team will present its 2005 winter pitchers and catchers clinics Feb. 5 at the Vadalabene Center.

The clinics will provide individualized instruction in all phases of pitching and catching from some of the area's finest professional, collegiate, and high school coaches. The cost to attend the clinic is $60.

Coach Gary Collins and the SIUE Cougars also will feature major league scout Keith Champion, of the Chicago Cubs organization, and Kirk Champion, of the Chicago White Sox organization, as well as SIUE pitching coach Tony Stoecklin.

For more information, contact the SIUE Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, (618) 650-2871, or visit the SIUE baseball Web site: www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/BB/.

SIUE Softball Features Winter Hitting Clinic

The SIUE softball team will present its 2005 winter clinic Saturday, Jan. 22, at the Vadalabene Center.

Participants from grades K-5 will receive instruction from noon to 2 p.m. and grades 6-12 will receive instruction from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The cost for the clinic is $50.

Coach Sandy Montgomery, her coaching staff, and the 2005 Cougars will be on hand to provide instructional training in mechanics and swing improvement, basic hitting corrections, bunting, slap hitting and offensive strategies.

For more information, contact the SIUE Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, (618) 650-2871, or visit the SIUE softball Web site: www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/SB/.

Four Cougars Named to All-Region Team

Four members of SIUE's NCAA Division II national runner-up men's soccer team have been named to the Great Lakes Region All-Region team.

Senior Mike Burgund was SIUE's only first team selection. He tied for second on the team with six goals while adding two assists on the year. The backer led the team with a .261 shooting percentage.

Juniors Kevin Thibodeau and Brian Higgins and sophomore Mike Banner received second team selections. Thibodeau notched four goals and five assists for the Cougars, including three game-winning goals. One of those game winners came over Wisconsin-Parkside in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Higgins also had four goals and five assists with a game-winning goal over Indianapolis. Banner led the team in shots with 66, playing just 16 games for SIUE. He was second on the team with six goals and added four assists.

Burgund, Higgins, Banner, and Thibodeau were all Great Lakes Valley Conference all-conference selections. The Cougars tied the record for most wins in a season going 19-3-2 this year. SIUE will start next season with a 21-game unbeaten streak in GLVC regular season play.

Cougars Stun No. 4 Southern Indiana

Tim Bauersachs scored a career-high 20 points as SIUE toppled fourth-ranked Southern Indiana 75-70 in men's college basketball on Saturday (12/4) at the Vadalabene Center.

The win halted streaks and continued streaks alike. SIUE had not defeated Southern Indiana in 13 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 8, 1998, when the Cougars defeated then No. 1-Southern Indiana 96-86.

SIUE improved to 6-2 with a five-game winning streak, the longest since Marty Simmons became head coach. The Cougars also are 3-0 in GLVC play to start the season. It is the first time SIUE has won three straight Great Lakes Valley Conference games to begin the season since joining the league in the during the 1995-96 season.

The Cougars had to come from behind to throttle the Screaming Eagles. SIUE played its typical defense, holding SI to 39 percent shooting for the game. SIUE countered that with a strong offensive game, hitting 50 percent of its own shots.

Southern Indiana, which suffered its first conference loss in four games, had the momentum going at halftime, leading 38-31 and forcing two SIUE turnovers in the final minute of the first half. Southern Indiana is now 4-2 overall

The Cougars came out in the second half and played steady. Kris Crosby's bucket at 12:09 tied the game 42-42. SIUE then picked up a pair of free throws from Joel Jaye at 11:42 and did not relinquish the lead.

SIUE was steady from the line, hitting 32 of 36 shots. Bauersachs was perfect in five attempts. Justin Ward, who finished with 15 points, was perfect from the free throw line in six attempts. Joel Jaye, who had 17 points for the game, made all eight of his free throws.

Chris Thompson powered the Screaming Eagles with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Geoff Van Winkle scored 12 points off the bench for Southern Indiana, and Stacy Pearson added 10.

SIUE returns to the Vadalabene Center on Monday (12/6), playing host to Southwest Baptist. Tip-off time is 7:30 p.m.

Southern Indiana Downs Cougars

Jamie Truitt hit four three-pointers and all seven of her free throws to lead Southern Indiana to a 71-59 victory over SIUE in women's college basketball action Saturday (12/4) afternoon at the Vadalabene Center.

SIUE fell to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Screaming Eagles improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the GLVC.

The Cougars shot 28 percent in the first half and found themselves down 31-21 at halftime. The Cougars fell behind by as many as 16 points in the second half and didn't move any closer than eight points from Southern Indiana.

Tanya Guell led the scoring attack for SIUE with 16 points. Julianne McMillen followed with 10.

Southern Indiana had four players in double figures along with Truitt. Sabrina Brandon came off the bench for 12 points while starters Andrea Engleking and Megan Nelson finished with 10 each.

The Cougars did score 27 of their points off 26 Southern Indiana turnovers, but also suffered from 21 turnovers of its own. SIUE now has one day of rest before returning to the court Monday(12/6) evening for a 5:30 non-conference matchup at the Vadalabene Center against Southwest Baptist.

November 2004

African Rhythms, French Philosophy, Creative Movement All Adds Up To Dance In Concert 2004

Exciting South African rhythms and song will ring out during Dance In Concert 2004, set for Nov. 10-14 in Katherine Dunham Hall theater-but any similarities to The Lion King ends there.

J. Calvin Jarrell, professor of Theater and Dance, has choreographed a piece, Madiba Swing: Indumiso (A Song of Praise), that captures the spirit of African music as realized through the compositions of Corneille Hutten-Burger from Pretoria, South Africa.

Dance In Concert runs at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 10-13, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14.

But Jarrell's piece also might surprise the audience with a few jitterbug moves. "I've tried to create a fusion of African rhythms and contemporary African music with modern dance and traditional African movement," Jarrell said. "The name 'Madiba' was a nickname given to Nelson Mandela."

Jarrell said he gave a lecture at CIDA University in Johannesburg, South Africa, while on sabbatical last spring and became acquainted with Hutten-Burger and his music. The composer's song that Jarrell is using to accompany his dance is currently being considered as the official theme of the World Cup soccer match to be played in South Africa in 2010.

Hutten-Burger's melody is based on a traditional African folk song and is reminiscent of themes written for Disney's The Lion King. "In fact, Shaluza Max, the singer on Hutten-Burger's CD, was a consultant on the original production of The Lion King," Jarrell said.

The concept for the dance piece uses a theme of a "coat" that is made up of the colors of the South African flag, which in turn are the colors of the South African landscape. "Just like the Biblical Joseph and his coat of many colors, the dancers 'create' a coat from the African soil, connecting it to to the sky," he explained.

"The dance is built around the coat," Jarrell said, "and the thematic movement develops as more and more 'coats' appear." The piece is very colorful and the movement of its nine dancers also is reminiscent of choreographer Katherine Dunham's technique that Jarrell studied several years ago. "It's celebratory and very exciting."

Other pieces in the show are being choreographed by guest artist Heather R. Harris, dance faculty members Kerry Shaul and Michael Thomas, and students Ashley Manzo and Tyler Smith.

Tickets are $10; students, senior citizens, and SIUE employees, $6. SIUE students admitted free with a valid university ID. For tickets, call (618) 650-2774, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2774.

33rd Annual SIUE Holiday Crafts Fair Set For Dec. 1-2

The 33rd Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair is set for Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 1-2, in Goshen Lounge of the Morris University Center.

Vendors may rent booth space, based on a juried evaluation of arts and crafts to be exhibited and space available. Those interested in becoming a vendor should do so soon because spaces tend to be rented quickly.

Sponsored by the Morris University Center Print and Design Shop, the fair will be open from 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. both days. There is no admission charge to attend the fair and the public is invited.

Items at the fair will include original works produced by local and regional artists and crafts persons. Many types of handmade goods will be available for purchase, including pieces made from clay, weaving, fiber, fabric, wood, paper, metal, glass, leather, graphics, painting, photography, and other materials.

Selections for purchase will include many articles suitable for holiday gifts.

For more information about obtaining booth space or about the fair itself, call Tom Ostresh in the Print and Design Shop, (618) 650-2178.

ESLC Says Thank You At Annual Partners Reception

The SIUE East St. Louis Center welcomed partners during its Third Annual Partners' Reception Oct. 26 in the Multipurpose Room of Building D at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus.

Partners from the area and the SIUE community learned more about the Center's 14 programs. Representatives from local businesses, school districts and organizations were part of the crowd.

Addressing the audience were Dr. Vaughn Vandegrift, SIUE Chancellor; Dr. Sharon Hahs, SIUE Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Percy McKinney, St. Clair County Assessor and Chair of the SIUE East St. Louis Community Advisory Council; Carl E. Officer, East St. Louis City Mayor.

Reggie Thomas, associate professor of Music in SIUE's Jazz Studies program, and an SIUE Jazz Combo provided entertainment for the evening.

"We could not do the job we do with our children, our clients and our programs if it were not for the firm commitment and constant support we receive from our partners in the Metro East area," said Center Director Patricia Harrison.

"The reception is one small way of thanking everyone for their contributions and recognizing our powerful partnership," she said. "Together, the SIUE East St. Louis Center and its partners help empower people and strengthen communities."

Professor Teaches The Cold Facts About Concrete

One of the rules of laying concrete says to make sure the mix is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Seems reasonable ... unless you're a construction foreman in North Dakota or, say, Mongolia.

If the concrete is being poured in North Dakota, there are tricks of the trade to be used, such as introducing chemicals into the mix or using Styrofoam insulation placed strategically to contain the heat generated from the chemical process that occurs while cement dries.

Or, if you're in Mongolia, use bare wire with electricity running through it to warm the mix.

Wait. That doesn't seem safe. "I was shocked to find them using this process when I arrived in Mongolia two years ago," said Luke Snell, professor of Construction in the SIUE School of Engineering and director of its Concrete Construction Resource Unit.

But, since Snell and his wife, Billie, have been working with the construction industry in Mongolia, the future seems brighter for the developing nation. One of the most sparsely populated nations in the world, Mongolia is emerging from a modern history of political turmoil and looking to the west for assistance in its development. Mongolia is Asia's seventh largest country in area but with a population of about 2.5 million.

"When I arrived in that country two years ago," Luke Snell said, "I saw construction cranes everywhere. I thought the industry was booming, but upon closer inspection I saw the cranes were rusting and the construction sites had been abandoned." Thanks to the Snells and work by earlier visitors, the country's construction industry is beginning to modernize.

The Snells led the first Mongolian concrete conference in May of 2002, where they served as "good will ambassadors" for concrete as they toured the country. One might observe that the couple has cemented a relationship between SIUE and the Mongolian University of Science and Technology at Ulaanbaatar, resulting in educational exchanges between the two institutions.

It all began when a colleague from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology spent a year teaching at Ulaanbaatar and invited Luke Snell to organize the 2002 conference. The Snells are returning for their fourth visit in spring 2005.

Snell has been providing guidance to the industry in Mongolia and has high hopes for the country's continued progression into modern concrete applications. In spring, Snell will bring with him Frank Kozeliski, a longtime friend who is CEO of the Gallup (NM) Sand and Gravel Co.

"The country needs to begin developing companies that will manufacture and deliver a 'ready mix' concrete to construction sites," Snell explained. "Now, they mix the cement with the sand, gravel, and water on site, but that method is too difficult to control when you're talking about large quantities of cement needed to construct an apartment building. Frank will be advising them in the ready mix process."

A graduate student from Ulaanbaatar is studying this year at SIUE for a master's in Public Administration and Policy Analysis. Khishgee Radnaabazar already holds a bachelor's and a master's in civil engineering and hopes to effect change in the construction industry in her home country. "Khishgee also is studying cold weather concrete techniques with me," Snell said. "Next year, a professor from Ulaanbaatar will come to SIUE to also learn more about construction techniques," Snell said.

The SIUE Construction professor speaks proudly of the change he has been able to bring about during his trips to Mongolia. "They are in the process of adopting American construction codes," Snell said. "I'd like to think we've had a big impact in influencing those kinds of decisions."

Robotics Competition Teaches High School Students The Ways Of Engineering

They may seem like just another tiny toy made up of plastic, multi-colored building blocks, but inside these little robots beats the mind of a programmed computer.

Although not much to look at, the robots created at the SIUE Robotics Competition are mimicking human movement. And, to design that kind of artificial intelligence takes a blend of knowledge from computer programming to mechanical engineering to physics.

Not bad for a high school student.

The Robotics Competition will take place in the lobby of the Engineering Building on Nov. 20 when some 120 students from East St. Louis Charter School, Triad High School, Columbia High, Highland Community, and Edwardsville will compete.

Each of the high school teams have attended a seminar in robotics at SIUE and also have been tutored in robotics by SIUE graduate engineering students. "We encourage the high school students to first come up with a strategy," Weinberg explained. "Then they design and build a robot based on that strategy. They have to have a notion of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science, and that's where the seminar and the mentoring play a part."

Each team has created a plastic robot that will be required to lift golf balls from one area, carry them to a raised platform, and deposit the golf balls on the platform. "They can also 'steal' golf balls from an opponent's store," says Jerry Weinberg, associate professor of Computer Science.

The top 10 scoring teams will then return and compete against SIUE freshman engineering students at a second competition on campus Dec. 2.

Weinberg has been involved in the Robotics Competition since its inception in the School of Engineering four years ago. And, the competition is part of a larger picture of teaching robotics at SIUE. Weinberg, along with three other colleagues-Associate Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Professor Cem Karacal, and Associate Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Associate Computer Science Professor William White-have been teaching robotics since 1999.

"The robotics class we teach at SIUE has become very popular and routinely receives high marks on student evaluations," Weinberg said. "This class is a reflection of how things work in the real world," he said. "What we're really trying to do with this class is to get our students better prepared to be successful once they graduate."

And, Weinberg said, the idea behind the competition is to get high school kids interested in science, technology, and engineering, so that they may come to SIUE and study engineering. "The competition becomes a learning experience in which we teach these principles and then they apply what they've learned."

SIUE Art Auction Of Original Art Set For Nov. 18 At Sunset Hills C.C.

The 27th Annual Art Auction, sponsored by the SIUE Friends of Art, is set for Thursday, Nov. 18, at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville. All artwork is original and may be previewed between 6 and 7 p.m. when the auction begins.

Each year, the Friends of Art assembles an impressive array of donated artwork from faculty, students, and alumni of the Department of Art and Design for auction, all in the name of enhancing the university's undergraduate and graduate art programs.

Since l977, the Friends of Art has assisted the department in staging the fund-raiser; last year's event saw nearly 190 pieces sold by professional auctioneer Gary Neimeier; 75 additional items were sold during the Silent Auction.

Money raised by the auction is used to fund a number of events for the department and its students. Last year, these included 21 nationally and internationally-known artists/scholars who came to SIUE for workshops and lectures. The funding also supports the Art Scholarship Fund and helps purchase books and films about art and design for Lovejoy Library.

Additional monies are awarded to students traveling to conferences, for visiting artist receptions, the High School Award and the Art Auction Awards, the Graduate and Undergraduate Exhibit Purchase Awards, and stipends for speakers in the Art Seminar. The funding also aids the local Art East Studio Tour reception.

For further information, call Dianne Lynch, (6l8) 650-3073, or Pam Decoteau, (618) 650-3107.

SIUE Family Business Award Winners Announced Saturday

Winners of the 10th Annual Mississippi Valley Family Business of the Year Awards were announced at the awards banquet sponsored Saturday night by the School of Business.

This year's recipients were announced in three categories: large (250 or more employees), medium (50 to 250 employees), and small (fewer than 50 employees).. They winners are:

Illinois Small Business Category-White's Greenhouse Inc., Godfrey-White's Nursery sold its first bedding plants in the spring of 1976 as an extension of Jim White's hobby. By 1980, the business was the sole support of the White Family, with 5,000 square feet of retail space. When the company was incorporated in 1985, husband and wife team Jim and Diane White became president and secretary/treasurer, respectively. Today, White's has approximately four acres of greenhouses, a double-level service building, and about 6,000 square feet of retail greenhouses. In 1999, White's opened Season's Garden Center in Alton that carries a line of gift items and holiday home and garden décor in addition to the plants for which White's is known. This division was conceived by Beth Paule, the Whites' oldest daughter. This year marks Whites' 27th year in business.

Illinois Medium Business Category-Korte & Luitjohan Contractors Inc., Highland-Cyril "Pete" Korte founded the company in 1958 at the age of 19. The following year, his wife's brother, Joe Luitjohan, became a partner, forming Korte & Luitjohan Excavating Contractors Inc. As brothers-in-law, they worked side-by-side pouring countless hours into building a foundation for what would one day become a multi-million dollar construction company. Throughout the years, the company grew and changed, and today Korte & Luitjohan Contractors Inc. is in its third generation of family members in the business. Company projects have included the Highland Dairy Queen, Mid America Airport in Mascoutah, the city of Grafton's New Visitors' Center, the O'Fallon YMCA, and the Marion County Law Enforcement Center.

Illinois Large Business Category-Luhr Brothers Inc., Columbia- Founded in 1939, Luhr Brothers has grown considerably since its humble beginnings. Initially digging basements with one tractor, a scoop, and three employees, Luhr Brothers has grown to include 200 pieces of earth-moving equipment, 25 boats, and 180 barges. There are 500 full-time employees and the company has expanded into four offices across the South. Three generations of the Luhr family have been actively involved in the business. The principal owners are Alois and Twyla Luhr.

Missouri Small Business Category-Branneky Hardware in Bridgeton, Mo.-Branneky Hardware has been serving customers in and around Bridgeton since 1857. C.C. Branneky began as a stock boy in a general store located along St. Charles Rock Road, which was at the time a supply station for covered wagons traveling from St. Louis to St. Charles on the Oregon Trail. Brothers Tim and Jeff Branneky are the current owners of Branneky Hardware and represent the fourth generation of the business. Over the years, their values have remained the same-to serve their community and its members in the best possible way. The business sponsors sports teams, contributes to various organizations, and are members of several charity organizations.

The family prides itself on offering great service and competitive pricing. The company began by delivering products and services by horse and carriage and by keeping track of customers in a hand- written account book. Today, they cater to large commercial accounts as well as the individuals looking for more than the large home centers offer, including hard-to-find items and a smiling face.

Missouri Medium Business Category-Da-Com Corp. of St. Louis-Da-Com offers office machines and digital solutions to the St. Louis area. Owned by the second generation of the Tipton family, Da-Com was purchased by Jack Tipton in 1993. His sons, John and Bill Tipton, and daughter, Lorie Bean, are now the owners, as Jack remains CEO, overseeing long-term planning and strategy. In 2003, Da-Com was named one of the best companies in St. Louis for which to work by the St. Louis Business Journal. Da-Com has grown 66 percent over the last two years, mainly as a result of employee involvement at all levels, incentive programs, and lack of turnover. Da-Com is actively involved with education, children, and the overall enhancement of the St. Louis area. The Tipton family and Da-Com Corp. have imbedded two philosophies in the way they do business, which go hand-in-hand unconditionally guaranteeing 100 percent of every product or service sold and never having an unsatisfied customer.

Missouri Large Business Category-The Western Group of St. Louis-The Western Group, founded in 1915, is owned by the third generation of the Bishop family. For 90 years, the Western Group has been the nation's largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, and new-construction preventive waterproofing. The privately-owned company specializes in the construction of building restoration and preservation services. Now, joined by five other companies, this business offers more capabilities than ever. It has grown from a single office in 1915, to 37 offices across the country. Contribution to the community is also a priority for The Western Group. They are involved with organizations such as The United Way, The Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. Offering both services in new construction and restoration, The Western Group has the ability to "go where few (if any) have gone before." Over the years, the Bishop family has placed its own signature on service, but certain characteristics such as human kindness, communication, and opportunity have always been constants.

The Mississippi Valley Family Business of the Year Awards are presented to companies with a strong commitment to both business and family. In addition to business success, those recognized demonstrate positive family business values, have multi-generational family business involvement, use innovative business strategies, and make personal contributions to their industries and communities.

Sponsors of this year's awards include Colarelli Meyer & Associates, Lexow Financial Group, MassMutual Financial Group, Moto Inc., Partners Bank, Polsinelli Shalton Welte Suelthaus PC, Sheppard, Morgan & Schwaab Inc., the St. Louis Business Journal, and TheBANK of Edwardsville.

Pioneer Contributes Funds to NCERC At SIUE

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., has contributed $10,000 to SIUE's National Corn-To-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC). The contribution will help fund research to improve distillers' dried grain/solubles (DDGS) for use in animal feed.

"The purpose of this research is to develop a model to predict the quality and composition of DDGS to ensure a continued market for these co-products as the fuel ethanol-production industry continues to grow," says NCERC Director Martha Schlicher. "The NCERC is very grateful to Pioneer for its contribution, as well as the technical expertise of Pioneer staff members who have helped us develop this research project."

DDGS is a co-product of dry-grind fuel ethanol production and remains after the starch portion of corn is converted to ethanol. Used as animal feed for cattle, poultry and swine, DDGS is an important part of the overall economic value of dry-grind ethanol production. The research being conducted by the NCERC will help to determine if corn grown under certain conditions results in better DDGS for the animal-feed market. This information will then be used to develop corn-production management recommendations to help growers produce corn that will deliver the most valuable product for this market.

"This contribution to the NCERC is part of the ongoing mission of Pioneer to expand the ethanol market for our customers," says Pat Hilliard, account manager-ethanol industry, Pioneer. "The research conducted at SIUE will work to make the downstream market for ethanol producers more profitable and, consequently, help expand the market for corn producers."

The NCERC is designed to support research and development of the corn ethanol-production process. Its mission is to improve the economics of corn ethanol production and accelerate commercialization of new technology within the industry for starch and ethanol processing, including value-added components.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries.

Bradshaw Elected To National Post With NACAC

Boyd Bradshaw, assistant vice chancellor for Enrollment Management, has been elected coordinator-elect of the state and regional Presidents Council for the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

The NACAC, founded in 1937, is an organization of 8,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education.

As coordinator-elect, Bradshaw chairs the organization's grant selection committee, coordinates the organization's Rising Star Awards program, helps in setting the agenda for the four annual meetings of the state and regional President's Council, and chairs the meetings in the absence of the coordinator. Next year, Bradshaw will become coordinator of the council.

Bradshaw is currently president of the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC). The IACAC is made up of more than 1,600 counseling professionals throughout the state, who are dedicated to serving students as they explore options and make choices about pursuing post-secondary education. IACAC members are counselors, admission or financial aid officers, active retirees, or students who are concerned about the future of education in Illinois and in the nation.

Bradshaw has served as an NACAC delegate since 2000 and has been a member of the organization's Membership Committee, Reading Committee for the Assembly, and the General Membership Meeting Committee. He currently serves on the Ad Hoc Committee on Assembly Structure.

In other professional activities, Bradshaw has been secretary of the Illinois ACT Council and is currently coordinator-elect for that organization (2004-05). He also is a member of other state and national organizations, and has been a presenter at both the state and national levels.

Magical Men's Soccer Season Ends With Second-Place In The NCAA Division II

SIUE completed its magical 2004 men's soccer season with a second-place finish nationally after the Cougars were defeated today in the NCAA Division II Championship game 2-1 by Seattle.

The Cougars finished the season with a 19-3-2 mark, while the Redhawks survived a late second-half offensive onslaught and were 22-0-1 for the season.

SIUE Coach Ed Huneke could only watch as the game clock hit zero and the Cougars were defeated. Huneke said he was proud of his team's effort in this game as well as for the whole season.

"That is the great thing about this sport, too," Huneke said. "You develop a relationship with players that is a lot of hard work, a lot of pain, a lot of fun, and a lot of success. It is an imperfect world, but time heals all wounds."

Bobby McAllister scored the game-winning goal at 69:58 for Seattle, outdueling SIUE freshman goalkeeper Nicholas Frasca (St. Charles, Mo.) who had six saves.

Seattle took a 1-0 lead with two minutes to go in the first half. Adam Jensen scored his sixth goal of the season off a double assist from Cameron Weaver and Santa Maria Rivera.

"I told them at halftime that things would even out. And they did," said Huneke. "In the second half there were about 15 or 20 minutes that we were combining very well. We were right on the doorstep of finishing it off. It just didn't happen."

The Cougars didn't back down from the No. 1 team in the nation, outshooting the Red hawks 12-10. SIUE's Victor Pacheco (Sao Luis, Brazil) scored the team's lone goal unassisted as he connected on a breakaway past Seattle's 6-foot-5-inch goalkeeper Jeremiah Doyle at 48:55. Pacheco, who also scored in the national semifinal game Friday (12/3) , became the only player this season to record a seventh goal. Six other Cougars finish with six goals this season.

The Cougars momentarily thought they had the lead in the 65th minute as Mike Banner (Upper Marlboro, Md.) slipped the ball past Doyle. But the goal was disallowed when referee Robert Mann signaled offsides on the Cougars. "It happened real quick," said Huneke. "It was an awful close bang, bang play. I don't think they (Seattle) would have objected if it wasn't called."

Banner led all players on Sunday with five shots. Banner, Kevin Thibodeau (St. Charles, Mo.), and John Matthews (Edwardsville) were honored as members of the All-Tournament team.

Pete Cacciatore (St. Louis), whose father helped SIUE win a national championship in 1972 and whose uncle helped the Cougars to a national title in 1979, said he felt like the Cougars underachieved in the national title game. "We did play very hard," said Cacciatore. "We wanted to win this championship for Coach Huneke and (Assistant) Coach (Kevin) Kalish."

Huneke enjoyed a wealth of success in the 2004 season, including recording his 200th victory earlier this season. SIUE's 19 victories tied the school record set by the national championship team of 1979. The Cougars had six players on the All-Great Lakes Valley Conference team and won the GLVC Tournament for the second time. The Cougars also advanced to the national semifinals for the second time in four seasons.

Cougars Stun No. 4 Southern Indiana

Tim Bauersachs scored a career-high 20 points as SIUE toppled fourth-ranked Southern Indiana 75-70 in men's college basketball on Saturday (12/4) at the Vadalabene Center.

The win halted streaks and continued streaks alike. SIUE had not defeated Southern Indiana in 13 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 8, 1998, when the Cougars defeated then No. 1-Southern Indiana 96-86.

SIUE improved to 6-2 with a five-game winning streak, the longest since Marty Simmons became head coach. The Cougars also are 3-0 in GLVC play to start the season. It is the first time SIUE has won three straight Great Lakes Valley Conference games to begin the season since joining the league in the during the 1995-96 season.

The Cougars had to come from behind to throttle the Screaming Eagles. SIUE played its typical defense, holding SI to 39 percent shooting for the game. SIUE countered that with a strong offensive game, hitting 50 percent of its own shots.

Southern Indiana, which suffered its first conference loss in four games, had the momentum going at halftime, leading 38-31 and forcing two SIUE turnovers in the final minute of the first half. Southern Indiana is now 4-2 overall

The Cougars came out in the second half and played steady. Kris Crosby's bucket at 12:09 tied the game 42-42. SIUE then picked up a pair of free throws from Joel Jaye at 11:42 and did not relinquish the lead.

SIUE was steady from the line, hitting 32 of 36 shots. Bauersachs was perfect in five attempts. Justin Ward, who finished with 15 points, was perfect from the free throw line in six attempts. Joel Jaye, who had 17 points for the game, made all eight of his free throws.

Chris Thompson powered the Screaming Eagles with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Geoff Van Winkle scored 12 points off the bench for Southern Indiana, and Stacy Pearson added 10.

SIUE returns to the Vadalabene Center on Monday (12/6), playing host to Southwest Baptist. Tip-off time is 7:30 p.m.

Southern Indiana Downs Cougars

Jamie Truitt hit four three-pointers and all seven of her free throws to lead Southern Indiana to a 71-59 victory over SIUE in women's college basketball action Saturday (12/4) afternoon at the Vadalabene Center.

SIUE fell to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Screaming Eagles improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the GLVC.

The Cougars shot 28 percent in the first half and found themselves down 31-21 at halftime. The Cougars fell behind by as many as 16 points in the second half and didn't move any closer than eight points from Southern Indiana.

Tanya Guell led the scoring attack for SIUE with 16 points. Julianne McMillen followed with 10.

Southern Indiana had four players in double figures along with Truitt. Sabrina Brandon came off the bench for 12 points while starters Andrea Engleking and Megan Nelson finished with 10 each.

The Cougars did score 27 of their points off 26 Southern Indiana turnovers, but also suffered from 21 turnovers of its own. SIUE now has one day of rest before returning to the court Monday(12/6) evening for a 5:30 non-conference matchup at the Vadalabene Center against Southwest Baptist.

Cougars Confident Heading Into Title Game

For some players, this could be the biggest game of their lives. For others, the NCAA Division II championship game is just another soccer contest.

SIUE, 19-2-2 overall, has been in this position before. SIUE was the national champion of NCAA Division II in 1972 and the NCAA Division I champion in 1979. SIUE also was the national runner-up in 1975. For the 2004 SIUE men's soccer team, this is the opportunity to create Cougar history.

SIUE, ranked sixth in the final collegiate poll, faces No. 1-ranked Seattle University, 21-0-1, at 1 p.m. on Sunday (12/5). The national title game can be heard on WSIE FM 88.7 and SIUE's Web Radio at webradio.siue.edu.

SIUE Coach Ed Huneke came close to a junior college national title once before in 1982 as the head coach at Lewis and Clark Community College. This time, Huneke has put together a team which has a strong defense and yet is difficult to defend. "Teams have a hard time defending us because we have so many different weapons on offense," Huneke said.

Huneke pointed to SIUE's first goal in the 4-1 NCAA semifinal win over North Carolina-Pembroke. "That was goal by Michael Burgund and an assist for Kevin Thibodeau. That's two backs out there creating scoring chances," he said.

SIUE has been stunningly balanced on offense this season. Seven players are tied for the team lead in goals with six. All four of SIUE's goals on Friday (12/3) was a player's sixth goal. Eight different players have scored in SIUE's three games in the NCAA Tournament. John Matthews and Ross Beveridge are the only Cougars with more than one goal as SIUE has outscored its opponents 10-4.

The Cougars have pushed through a gauntlet of top-ranked teams to get to this point in the postseason. SIUE defeated 10th-ranked Lewis 2-0 in the championship game of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament on Nov. 7. The Cougars then began the NCAA charge with a 3-1 win over 19th-ranked Wisconsin-Parkside, a 3-2 win over 14th-ranked Tusculum and a 4-1 drilling of No. 5-ranked UNC-Pembroke.

Nicholas Frasca has been in goal for the Cougars in each of those victories. The freshman emerged as the team's goalkeeper toward the end of the season. He enters the game with a 0.65 goals against average and 51 saves.

Frasca's counterpart at Seattle is Jeremiah Doyle, who has started all 22 games for the Red hawks and holds a 0.45 goals against average with 90 saves.

Seattle's offense is led by Bobby McAllister, who has 21 goals this season including the game-winner in overtime as Seattle advanced over Dowling 2-1.

SIUE Advances To NCAA Title Game

Just one more. SIUE advanced to the NCAA Division II men's soccer title game Friday night (12/3) with a 4-1 thumping of North Carolina-Pembroke.

SIUE will play in the national championship game against the winner of the Dowling and Seattle match, which was to be played at 7:30 p.m. that same day. The national title game is set for 1 p.m. Sunday (12/5) and can be heard on WSIE-FM (88.7) and SIUE's Web Radio at webradio.siue.edu.

The Cougars, 19-2-2, picked up goals from Michael Burgund, Pete Cacciatore, Victor Pacheco, and Mike Banner. All four players picked up their respective sixth goals of the year. Both teams appeared to be close in the first half as UNC-Pembroke outshot the Cougars 8-5 in the first half and 16-14 overall. UNC-Pembroke, 16-3, held off SIUE's relentless offense with 10 offsides calls in the game. "They were pressing us in the first half," said SIUE Coach Ed Huneke.

However, it was SIUE that striked first as Burgund scored from six yards out front on an assist from Kevin Thibodeau. SIUE took a 1-0 lead to the locker room at halftime. UNC-Pembroke evened the score just 62 seconds into the second half as Graeme Little connected from 15 yards out with an assist to Trond Myrland.

"When they got that goal, it was big in terms of momentum. It was not a 4-1 game. Pembroke is a good team," said Huneke. The Cougars then took control, turning a close game into a second-half blowout.

Cacciatore picked up his first goal since Oct. 1 at 61:30. It turned out to be the game-winner. Pacheco picked up a rebound goal at 72:28 after Adam Lanter fired a shot off UNCP freshman goalkeeper Richard Sallin. Banner put the game out of reach with 58 seconds left with SIUE's final goal on a another assist from Lanter.

Huneke said Cacciatore's goal was how SIUE hoped to attack UNC-Pembroke. "They had three backs and we wanted to switch fields looking for an open player. (Brian) Higgins got the ball to an open Cacciatore on the wing, and he scored," noted Huneke. "Pete had one of his best games at SIUE. He was unbelievable on offense and defense."

SIUE goalkeeper Nicholas Frasca, a freshman, allowed just a single goal and picked up six saves.

SIUE has now tied the school record for victories in a season with 19, set previously by the 1979 national championship team.

The Cougars previously won national championships in 1972 and 1979. The Cougars finished second in 1975. "I'm happy not only for our players but also for the university, our alumni, and the St. Louis area," Huneke said.

SIUE Track And Field Announces Three Early Signees

The defending Great Lakes Valley Conference champion SIUE track and field teams are getting an early jump in recruiting. The Cougars signed three prospects to national letters of intent, who will enroll in fall 2005 and begin competition for SIUE in spring 2006.

The Cougar track and field staff announced the signing of two additions to the women's team and one addition to the men's team. On the women's side, the Cougars added Alberta Douglas (Moweaqua) and Angel Royston (St. Louis). On the men's side, the Cougars added Aaron Wilson (Richton Park).

"I'm delighted with this start to our recruiting classes," said Head Coach Ben Beyers. "I expect all three of these athletes to be able to come right in as freshmen and make major contributions to our teams."

Douglas, a two-time state 100-meter champion at Central A&M High School, will be counted on to bring help to the Cougar short sprint area. "Alberta won state in the 100-meter dash both as a freshman and as a sophomore and was second last year as a junior," said Beyers. "Even though she's already one of the best sprinters in the Midwest, I see her improving more as we are able to refine her technique and give her some added strength and explosion. Her desire to be the best has been apparent for years, and this drive will propel her to even bigger things in college."

Royston, a team Most Valuable Player and All-Conference performer at Hazelwood (Mo.) East High School, will be expected to contribute to the longer sprints. "Angel is a truly talented young lady that I'm sure a lot of schools will be wishing they saw earlier," Beyers said. "She's coming out of the toughest sectional in Missouri, so she has been somewhat overshadowed during much of her career. But her times, potential, and work ethic put her very high on my list of 'must-haves' for recruiting class. I think that she will open some eyes both this year in her last year of high school and throughout her college career."

Wilson, an All-State performer last season while a junior at Rich Central High School, adds depth to an already talented mid-distance group for the Cougar men.

"Aaron had a tremendous showing at the state meet last year earning seventh place in the 800-meter run", noted Beyers. "We were not really actively looking for any more 800 runners since we are pretty deep and young in that area, but when you are able to attract a talented and dedicated young man like Aaron, you'd be crazy to pass that up. He's just barely scratching the surface of his enormous talent."

The 2005 Cougar teams open their season on Jan. 15 at the Illinois Wesleyan University Relays.

SIUE Athletics Hopes To Reinstate Men's Golf

With the near-future hiring of a part-time men's golf coach, announced today by Director of Athletics Brad Hewitt, the Cougars hope to reinstate the men's golf program and compete starting next fall in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Hewitt said that SIUE Athletics is adding men's golf at the request of a "multitude of men's golf alumni." The funding for the team will be external in nature similar to the model currently being used by the Friends of Wrestling. The SIUE wrestling program was to be eliminated after the 2003-04 season, but with the help of several dedicated supporters and alumni, the wrestling program is being maintained on the intercollegiate level, funded primarily by private contributions.

"I'm ecstatic about this as an opportunity," Hewitt said.. "It gives us another conference sport and a stronger opportunity to compete for the All-Sports Trophy.".

There actually are two positions for golf coaches open in the SIUE Athletics Department. After Larry Bennett announced his retirement as the women's head coach earlier this fall, SIUE Athletics is now looking for a part-time women's coach and a part-time men's coach.

Hewitt said both positions will have similar duties and qualifications. The successful candidates should have proven successful playing and/or coaching experience at the collegiate level or professional level. The position also expects the head coach to provide evidence of a commitment to academic excellence, including student-athlete graduation, and demonstrate the ability to interact effectively with student-athletes, colleagues and the public. Fund-raising experience and tournament management is preferred.

SIUE announced it was dropping men's golf as a sponsored sport in January 1995 as a result of recommendations made by the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee. The first SIUE men's golf program began during the 1968-69 season. The Cougars made 16 national championship appearances under Harry Gallatin, who was SIUE's first Athletics Director and the team's first coach.

Gallatin oversaw a program with two first team All-Americans, two second-team All-Americans, one third-team All-American and six honorable mention All-Americans.

Under Bennett, the SIUE women's golf program has grown from its modest beginnings during the 1998-1999 season to national prominence. In seven years, the SIUE women's golf team has made two NCAA Championships appearances as a team and won a Great Lakes Valley Conference title in 2003.

Individuals wishing to apply for either or both positions should send a letter of application, résumé, official transcript and three references to Theresa Kelley, assistant to the director of Athletics, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1129, and note whether applying for the men's coaching position, the women's coaching position, or both.

SIUE Men's Soccer In Search Of A Third NCAA Title

The SIUE men's soccer team is just two wins away from its third national title, previously winning it all in 1972 and 1979. SIUE coach Ed Huneke knows that his 2004 team is close to writing its own chapter in Cougar soccer history.

The Cougars (18-2-2) take on University of North Carolina-Pembroke (16-2) in the national semifinals on Friday (12/3) at 5:30 p.m. in Wichita Falls, Texas. "We set that (the national championship) as our goal," said Huneke. "We realize that it is a road filled with obstacles, and we are fortunate to be in this situation."

SIUE reached the final four by outlasting Tusculum 3-2 on Nov. 20. The Braves of UNC-Pembroke defeated Central Arkansas 1-0 the same day to reach the final round.

Just as in the match against Tusculum, the Cougars face another strong offense in the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars are second in the NCAA with a 0.57 goals against average, while the Braves are seventh in the country with 3.11 goals per game. "Team defense has been a big part of our success," said Huneke.

SIUE goalkeeper Nicholas Frasca (St. Charles, Mo.) ranks seventh in the NCAA with a 0.62 goals against average. He also has six shutouts on the year.

The Cougars have spread the wealth around on offense with 10 players with at least 10 points, seven players with five or more goals, and eight different players with game-winning goals. "We are not a team of individuals or selected superstars," he said. "We are a tough team to defend against because we do have several weapons."

UNC-Pembroke is led by a pair of sophomores: Trond Myrland (13 goals, 11 assists) and Mircea Cosac (10 goals, 4 assists). Goalkeeper Richard Sallin is second in NCAA with a 0.47 goals against average with eight shutouts on the season.

The winner of the SIUE-UNC-Pembroke contest will face the winner of the Seattle-Dowling matchup in the national championship game at 1 p.m. Sunday (12/5)

Men's Basketball Continues Homestand

SIUE men's basketball will have to endure playing five games in the next nine days, but, luckily for the Cougars, all of those contests will be at the Vadalabene Center where SIUE has won 10 of its last 11 dating back to last season.

The Cougars are 3-2 overall, 1-0 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play and fresh off a 79-68 win over defending Great Lakes Valley Conference champion Lewis on Friday night.

"Anytime you can start the conference season with a 'W,' that is a plus," said SIUE coach Marty Simmons.

SIUE battles Missouri-Rolla on Tuesday (11/30) at 7:30 p.m. before GLVC games with Missouri-St. Louis and Southern Indiana on Thursday (12/2) and Saturday (12/4). "Missouri-Rolla is almost a conference game because they are joining the league next season," said Simmons. "UMSL and USI are really athletic teams."

In the Cougars' win over the Flyers, freshman Anthony Jones (Centralia) led all scorers with 22 points including six three-pointers. "Anthony gave us a big lift," said Simmons. "He really stepped up big."

SIUE connected on 9 of 18 shots from behind the three-point arc against Lewis. Senior Tim Bauersachs (Pinckneyville) leads the team in scoring (14.6) and rebounds (6.0), while being one of the teams top defenders. "Tim is a competitor," said Simmons. "He always does a good job guarding the other team's best player."

Justin Ward (Moline) is second on the team in scoring with 14.2 points a game and averaging four assists. Freshman Doug Taylor (McClure) has been a surprise off the bench, scoring 5.6 points a game including 10-point performances in two consecutive contests.

The Cougars have a 49 percent field goal percentage on the season, while holding their opponents to 42 percent. Simmons believes that the Cougars can't look past any opponent they face in the upcoming stretch and for the rest of the season. "Every game is going to be a tough game," said Simmons.

Women's Basketball Looks To Rebound

The SIUE women's basketball has a 1-3 overall record, 0-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play so far this season. That mark is deceiving as the Cougars lost two games by a total of seven points and dropped a 13-point halftime lead in the conference opener to Lewis.

In the loss to the Flyers, the Cougars shot 50 percent from the field in the first half only to follow that up with an 18-percent performance in the second half. "We put the best 20 minutes of basketball together this year," said SIUE coach Wendy Hedberg. "Then we came out and couldn't find the basket in the second half."

Hedberg knows that her team can regain some confidence by playing five games in the next nine days. "I don't think it is a time to panic," said Hedberg. "Don't count us out yet."

Four of the next five games will come at home for SIUE. "We have to win games at home," said Hedberg. "We count on winning those games."

Sophomore Julianne McMillen (Pana) is leading the team in scoring at 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Freshman Whitney Sykes (Pontoon Beach) has made a team-leading 11 three-pointers. Junior Lindy Carey (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) is averaging 11.8 points, four rebounds, and 4.8 assists per contest for SIUE.

"Everybody knows she (Carey) is a very offensive player," said Hedberg. "She is really good at doing the smaller things." Another junior, Tanya Guell (Plymouth, Wis.), is second on the team in scoring with 12 points per game.

The Cougars have connected on 34 of 85 (40 percent) three pointers this season. SIUE travels to Oakland City on Tuesday (11/30) night for a contest at 6. They return home for GLVC games against Missouri-St. Louis on Thursday (12/2) and Southern Indiana on Saturday (12/4).

Wrestling Travels To Upper Iowa

The SIUE wrestling team has started slow this season under first year head coach Khris Whelan, but the Cougars are looking to build toward a solid year. SIUE is 0-1 this season after one match and two open tournaments.

The Cougars recently wrestled in the Ryan Kaufmann Open on Nov. 20. Cory Scott (Sterling) and Steve Chico (Hammond, Ind.) each were tournament champions during the meet. "We are looking better and better as a whole," said Whelan. "We have gained a lot of experience in these early matches."

Sophomore Joe Rujawitz (Belleville) took part in the Marines All-Star Classic hosted by SIUE on Nov. 22. Rujawitz was the winner in an exhibition match at 149 pounds as he wrestled to a 5-3 win against Chad Swagman of Truman State.

In its last match before holiday break, the SIUE wrestling team will battle at Upper Iowa on Saturday (12/4) at 2 p.m.

Daktronics Honors SIUE's Buss, Bonde

SIUE volleyball players Allison Buss (Towanda) and Heather Bonde (Millstadt) have been named All-Region by the Daktronics, Inc.

Buss, who was named to the first team and will appear on the All-American ballot, led the Great Lakes Valley Conference in digs per game at 5.37. The junior libero also led the Cougars in service aces with 52. Bonde, who was picked to the Daktronics second team, led SIUE with a .323 hitting percentage and 431 kills. The junior middle hitter also was second in blocks with 105 (0.95 per game). Bonde was second on the team with 42 service aces.

The Cougars completed the 2004 season with a 25-7 record and a 14-2 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. SIUE finished in second place the during the regular season advanced to the championship match for the first time in school history.

The 2004 Daktronics, Inc. All-Great Lakes Region team is represented by players from each of the region's three conferences, and is comprised of four seniors, eight juniors, one sophomore and one freshman. The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference led the way with eight honorees, while the Great Lakes Valley Conference and West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association followed with five and one athlete, respectively.

Members of the All-Great Lakes Region first team are: freshman Stephanie Wilson, setter, Southern Indiana; senior Kristin Koralewski, outside hitter, Northern Kentucky; senior Carrie Ritchie, outside hitter, Ashland; junior Tracy Kirk, middle blocker, Grand Valley State; junior Laura Ellerbusch, middle blocker, Southern Indiana; junior Allison Buss, libero, SIU Edwardsville.

The all-region second team is comprised of: sophomore Kelly Byrnes, setter, Findlay; senior Karin Poschke, setter, Hillsdale; senior Karla Fairbanks, outside hitter, Ferris State; junior Heather Bonde, middle hitter, SIU Edwardsville; junior Michelle Clelland, middle hitter, West Virginia Wesleyan; junior Elisa Joris, middle blocker, Wayne State; junior Sei Hee Hwang, libero, Wayne State; junior Brittny Godlewski, libero, Ferris State.

Of the 14 players on the All-Region first and second teams, nine of them were all-conference first team selections in their respective leagues. In addition, Koralewski was chosen as the GLVC Player of the Year, while Ritchie was the GLIAC Player of the Year.

The team is voted on by the sports information directors of the region's member institutions and sponsored by Daktronics, maker of scoring, timing and programmable display systems for many sports at every level of competition.

SIUE Softball Signs Five Players

SIUE softball coach Sandy Montgomery has her plans in order for the 2006 season.

Montgomery announced the signing of five players scheduled to enter SIUE in the fall of 2005 and play for the Cougars in the spring of 2006. The Cougars signed Nicole Beecher (Blue Springs, Mo.), Kaitlin Colosimo (Orland Park), Courtney Mall (Tucson, Ariz.), Amanda Pucel (Minooka) and Haylee Eubanks (Bethalto).

"I'm very happy with this recruiting class," said Montgomery. "I expect them to make an immediate impact on the program."

SIUE, 35-19 in the 2004 season, have made five consecutive appearances in the NCAA Championships. In those five seasons, SIUE has posted a 210-78 record.

Beecher, an All-State selection at Blue Springs South High School, batted .494 with five home runs and 35 runs batted in. The team's offensive Player of the Year also received All-Region, All-Conference, All-Area and All-District honors. A second baseman in high school, Montgomery said she plans to use Beecher as an outfielder. "She's athletic and hits the ball well. She is a raw talent with lots of power," Montgomery said. Beecher plays summer softball for the Kansas City Lasers.

Colosimo is a left-handed pitcher who plays summer softball for the Lemont Rockers. A standout thrower from Carl Sandburg High School, Montgomery said she likes that Colosimo has a good drop ball and is a left-hander. "She will complement our pitching staff well," Montgomery said.

Mall helped the Arizona Sun Cats to a top-five finish in the Under 16 national championships last summer. The outfielder from Canyon Del Oro High School is very athletic and a hard worker, according to Montgomery. "The experience she brings from West Coast softball is a big plus. She fit in well with the team during her recruiting visit," Montgomery said.

Pucel, a second baseman from Minooka High School, hopes to join SIUE's new School of Pharmacy. A member of the Homer Hawks summer league team, Pucel figures to be a plus for the Cougars. "She has a lot of travel softball experience," said Montgomery.

Eubanks is the only non-freshman to join the Cougars in 2006. The Civic Memorial High School graduate currently plays at Lewis and Clark Community College. Montgomery said the shortstop's pluses include her work ethic and fielding ability.

"She has become an outstanding hitter since breaking into the college ranks," noted Montgomery.

SIUE Volleyball's Bonde Named All-Region

SIUE volleyball player Heather Bonde (Millstadt) has been named All-Region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Bonde, a junior middle hitter, led SIUE with a .323 hitting percentage and 431 kills. She also was second in blocks with 105 (0.95 per game). Bonde was second on the team with 42 service aces.

The Cougars completed the 2004 season with a 25-7 record and a 14-2 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. SIUE finished in second place the during the regular season advanced to the championship match for the first time in school history. Bonde is among the all-time leaders in several offensive categories. Most notably, Bonde is the all-time leader in hitting percentage at .318.

SIUE Men's Soccer To Host NCAA Quarterfinal Game On Saturday

SIUE will play host to Tusculum (Tenn.) College at 7 p.m. Saturday (11/20) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championships. The gates will open at Korte Stadium at 6 p.m.

SIUE, 17-2-2 and ranked sixth in the final regular season poll, was handed hosting duties after defeating Wisconsin-Parkside 3-1 on Saturday (11/13). The Cougars are now among the final eight teams in the nation. The winner of this Saturday's game advances to the Final Four in Wichita Falls, Texas, on the campus of Midwestern State on Dec. 3-5.

The game figures to be a battle of one of the top offensive teams in the country against one of the top defensive teams in the nation. Tusculum, also 17-2-2, has scored 80 goals this season and allowed 30. SIUE has scored 47 and allowed just 11.

SIUE Coach Ed Huneke said both teams will likely be prepared with scouting reports but those will be limited in scope for two teams that have never met. "The key will be for us to make sure our players read the game as it starts and progresses," said Huneke.

Huneke said he thought defense was going to play a major role in Saturday's game. "One or two goals isn't going to put them (Tusculum) down. They believe in themselves," he said.

Tusculum's top scorer is a 25-year-old from England named Paul Hopkins. The 6-foot-1-inch forward has scored 82 goals in his four seasons as a Pioneer.

SIUE looks to counter the Tusculum offensive attack with a balanced attack. Ten different players have three or more goals, and no one has more than six goals.

Freshman Adam Lanter (Edwardsville) leads the team with six goals, including four game-winners. John Matthews (Edwardsville) also has four game-winning goals. As a team, eight different players have walked away with game-winning goals in the Cougars' 17 victories.

SIUE's leading scorer, Victor Pacheco (Sao Luis, Brazil) does not have a game-winning goal among his five goals and team-leading nine assists.

This is SIUE's 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. SIUE won national titles in 1972 and 1979. The Cougars were national runners-up in 1975. SIUE was in the national semifinals in 1982 and 2001. The Cougars hold a 26-15 record in NCAA Tournament games in those previous 17 seasons.

SIUE last played a home NCAA contest in the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2001 when it defeated Ashland 1-0 en route to a Final Four appearance.

SIUE Advances To NCAA Quarterfinals

Ross Beveridge scored a pair of goals, including a penalty kick, as SIUE defeated Wisconsin-Parkside 3-1 in the second round of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament.

The Cougars, 17-2-2 and winners of the Great Lakes Region, now advance to play the winner of the Appalachian Region. Carson-Newman, 17-1-1, and Tusculum, 16-2-2, play in that region's finals on Sunday (11/14).

SIUE is now in the final eight in the nation after knocking off Great Lakes Valley Conference rival Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday (11/13). The game was physical with 22 fouls for SIUE and 17 for the Rangers. Three fouls, however, were in the goalie box and resulted in penalty kicks.

The Cougars benefitted from the first two penalty kicks as Beveridge and Kevin Thibodeau scored to give SIUE a 2-0 lead. The Rangers lost their goalkeeper on the first penalty kick to a red card at 36:21 by pulling down an SIUE potential scorer from behind.

Beveridge gave SIUE a 3-0 lead by halftime by scoring at 43:08 from five yards out against the Rangers' backup goalkeeper Mickey Joy.

Wisconsin-Parkside, which was outshot 15-9 by the Cougars, got on the board at 49:28 as Sher Yang scored on a penalty kick after an SIUE defender committed a foul in the box.

Nicholas Frasca recorded four saves in the victory for the Cougars in goal.

SIUE Falls In GLVC Finals

SIUE won the first game but lost the next three in the finals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Volleyball Tournament at PAC Arena.

The Cougars are now 25-7 and await word on whether or not a second-place finish in the GLVC Tournament will be enough to garner a spot in the NCAA Tournament. By winning Saturday's title match, Southern Indiana, 23-6, earned an automatic bid to next week's tournament.

SIUE couldn't put together the same numbers as it did Friday night in its semifinal win over Northern Kentucky. The Cougars finished with a .126 hitting percentage. Shannon Winkeler led the Cougars with 17 kills, tying her season best. Heather Bonde followed with 16 kills. Bonde, a first team All-GLVC pick, had all but five matches this season with double-digit kills.

After losing the first game to the Cougars 30-25, Southern Indiana swept the next three games 30-24, 30-20 and 30-25. The Screaming Eagles had four players in double figures in kills, led by middle hitter Leanne Gross's 16. It was the third time this season that SIUE had lost to Southern Indiana.

The Cougars have just four losses in the region, three from Southern Indiana alone.

SIUE Sweeps Into GLVC Finals

SIUE will make its first-ever appearance in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Volleyball Tournament finals after a convincing three-game victory over Northern Kentucky.

SIUE improved to 25-6 in handling the Norse 30-26, 30-18, 30-20. The Cougars hit .381 as a team with 50 kills and just seven errors in the sweep. SIUE will play top-seeded Southern Indiana in Saturday's finals at 2 p.m. Southern Indiana downed Indianapolis in the other semifinal match in three games.

The Cougars, playing without its top outside hitter Kindra Westendorf, came out strong against Northern Kentucky.

Heather Bonde led SIUE with 14 kills and hit a hot .444. Tricia Happe recorded 11 kills off the bench and hit .476. Krystal Majernik picked up 40 assists and nine digs.

The Cougars puzzled Northern Kentucky, which hit .138 as a team. SIUE held GLVC Player of the Year Kristin Koralewski to just 11 kills and a .118 hitting percentage, well below her GLVC-leading mark of .390.

SIUE also used blocking as a crucial weapon with 11 in the match. Bonde led the way with five. Tina Talsma finished with four blocks while Melissa Spann added three. Both Talsma and Spann had two solo blocks each.

This will be SIUE's first effort in the GLVC finals since beginning the program in 1995. The winner of Saturday's match earns an automatic bid to next week's NCAA Tournament.

Four Cougars Tabbed All-GLVC

Four SIUE volleyball players garnered All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors in a Friday breakfast ceremony before the semifinals of the league's tournament.

Heather Bonde (Millstadt) and Allison Buss (Towanda) were named to the first team. Krystal Majernik (Normal) and Kindra Westendorf (Effingham) were selected to the second team. The All-GLVC teams were chosen by a vote of the league's 11 coaches.

Bonde leads the Cougars in kills with 401 and hitting percentage at .324. Her 42 service aces also is third best on the roster.

Buss proved to be the league's top defender. As SIUE's libero, she averaged more than six digs per game in conference regular season matches. She finished the regular season with 5.42 digs per game. She will break the school record for digs per game at 4.29 previously held by Yvonne Welch in 1996. Buss, who also leads the Cougars in service aces with 52, needs 24 digs to break Welch's single-season record of 614 digs.

Majernik turned in another stellar season performance with 1,223 assists. She helped the Cougars to a .259 hitting percentage, which give the Cougars two straight seasons of .250 hitting or better.

Westendorf was second in kills with 328 and finished with a .280 hitting percentage. The junior outside hitter did not play in the final weekend of the regular season due to a knee injury.

Kristin Koralewski, of Northern Kentucky, was selected as the Player of the Year. Liz Holmes, of Northern Kentucky, was named the GLVC's Freshman of the Year. NKU's Carlos Chia was named the Coach of the Year.

Cougars Face Rangers In Second Round Of NCAAs

SIUE men's soccer will face Wisconsin-Parkside in the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament on Saturday night at Ralph Korte Stadium. Game time is set for 7.

The Rangers advanced after defeating Lewis 3-1 in penalty kicks on Thursday afternoon at a rain soaked Francis Field on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. The game was tied 0-0.

SIUE, 16-2-2 overall, is 1-0 this season against third-seeded Wisconsin-Parkside, 13-3-3. SIUE defeated UWP 2-0 on the road on October 1.

This is the first time SIUE has played a home NCAA contest in the second round since 2001 when it defeated Ashland 1-0 en route to a Final Four appearance. It is also the first time SIUE will play GLVC rival Wisconsin-Parkside in the NCAA Tournament.

SIUE Has Home Field Advantage For Men's Soccer

SIUE men's soccer coach Ed Huneke is counting on home field advantage to give the Cougars the little extra it will need in the 24-team NCAA Division II Tournament.

The NCAA announced Monday (11/8) that SIUE will be the host site for the Division II Great Lakes Regional Championship. As the No. 1 seed, the Cougars will have a bye and will play the winners of the Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis game.

Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis will face off on Thursday at Korte Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m. for the first round NCAA matchup. It will be a repeat of the Great Lakes Valley Conference semifinals, in which Lewis defeated Wisconsin-Parkside 2-1 in overtime.

SIUE, 16-2-2 overall, will await the winner of the first round game. The Cougars play the advancing team on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Korte Stadium. "We have great respect for the traditions that exists in these programs," said Huneke. "They are competitive teams that will require us to again be at our best."

SIUE is 2-0-1 this season against third-seeded Wisconsin-Parkside, 13-3-2, and second-seeded Lewis, 16-3-2. SIUE defeated UWP 2-0 on the road and tied Lewis 1-1 on the road. The Cougars defeated Lewis 2-0 in the championship game of the GLVC Tournament on Sunday (11/7). "The familiarity factor is both a plus and a minus, and it's important that we approach it with respect to our opponents," said Huneke.

This is the third appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the Cougars in the past four seasons. SIUE advanced to the Final Four in 2001 and into the second round in 2003.

Overall, Saturday's game will mark the 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the Cougars. SIUE won national titles in 1972 and 1979. The Cougars were national runners-up in 1975. SIUE was in the national semifinals in 1982 and 2001. The Cougars hold a 25-15 record in NCAA Tournament games in those previous 17 seasons.

SIUE last played a home NCAA contest in the second round in 2001 when it defeated Ashland 1-0 en route to a Final Four appearance. The Cougars have never played fellow GLVC rival Wisconsin-Parkside in the NCAA Tournament. SIUE defeated Lewis 2-0 in the opening round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament.

The full bracket can be found by clicking here.

Volleyball Set For GLVC Tournament

It's been an emotional week for the SIUE volleyball Cougars.

After learning that junior outside hitter Kindra Westendorf (Effingham) was sidelined with a knee injury, the Cougars had to regroup. Her injury figured to play havoc with the lineup as Westendorf is second on the team in kills per game at 3.64. "We responded well to this adversity," said SIUE Coach Todd Gober.

The Cougars defeated a feisty Quincy team in five games in Quincy and dispatched Missouri-St. Louis in three games on Saturday (11/6). SIUE completed the regular season with a 24-6 record and a 14-2 record in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

SIUE grabbed the No. 2 seed for the GLVC Tournament, set to begin Thursday (11/11) in Evansville, Ind. As the second seed, SIUE has a bye into Friday's (11/12) semifinals and will face the winner of the Northern Kentucky-Saint Joseph's match at 5 p.m.

"Every player has picked up their game," Gober said. "We've had different people step up. It's been about chemistry and attitude."

Allison Buss (Towanda), the GLVC's top defender, broke the school record for digs in a match with 44 in the win over Quincy. Jamie Jones (Flanagan) set a career high 18 kills in the victory over Missouri-St. Louis. "Tricia Happe (St. Louis) also emerged as an outside hitter for the team," Gober said.

Gober also credited setter Krystal Majernik (Normal) for her strong play. Majernik has averaged nearly 12.8 assists per game during the team's six-match winning streak.

Men's Basketball Faces Western Illinois, Indiana

SIUE has two more opportunities during the exhibition season to get better.

The first chance is Wednesday (11/10) at Western Illinois at 7 p.m. The final opportunity is Friday (11/12) in Bloomington, Ind., at Indiana University at 8 p.m.

SIUE Coach Marty Simmons said his team's focus is to work on the problems on defense and to simply get better. "Hopefully, we're going to pay more attention to details," Simmons said.

Simmons said Dan Heimos (Waterloo) was a factor in the 78-58 loss to the University of Illinois. He pointed to freshman J.B. Jones (Belleville), who had two turnovers in 26 minutes of play against one of the best-touted backcourts in all of Division I. Simmons also liked the minutes he got off the bench from Anthony Jones (Centralia) and Kris Crosby (Belleville).

The Cougars expect another tough exhibition game at Western Illinois on Wednesday (11/10). "They're very much improved with nine new players, including several junior college and Division I transfers," said Simmons.

The Cougars open the 2004-2005 regular season at home on Monday, Nov. 15, against Lincoln Christian.

October 2004

October 4, 2004

SIUE Business School To Offer First Alumni Reunion

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The School of Business at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will present its first Alumni Reunion on Oct. 16-17 that will give special recognition to the 25th anniversary class of 1979.

Special reunion events for the School reunion kick-off on Saturday, Oct. 16, with a lecture, An Economist Looks at the 2004 Election, by Garett Jones, at 1:30 p.m. in the Korte Classroom, Room 2407 of Founders Hall.

Alumni may renew friendships and network with former classmates, faculty, and also meet Dean Gary Giamartino at the Reunion Reception that same day at 6 p.m. in the second-floor University Gallery of SIUE's Morris University Center; dinner follows at 7 p.m.

Weekend festivities end with a School of Business Alumni Brunch from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Dean's Suite, Room 3307 of Founders Hall. Cost of the dinner is $35 per person; the brunch is $15 per person. For more information or to make reservations, contact Cheryl Camp by telephone: (618) 650-3363, or, by e-mail: chcamp@siue.edu.


Back to top

October 4, 2004

SIUE's Meridian Society To Begin Second Year Of Granting Awards

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty and staff are encouraged to attend an Oct. 12 meeting of The Meridian Society, the first philanthropic women's group of its kind at SIUE, as the society requests proposals for funding grants.

The society is entering its second year of granting awards to university-based individuals or groups whose objectives epitomize two of SIUE's Long Term Goals-Active Community Engagement: "Achieve an integral and indispensable relationship with Illinois and the St. Louis metropolitan area; work cooperatively within SIU to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts"; and Excellent Reputation: "Participate and excel in actions that earn national recognition for quality."

The "Request for Proposal (RFP)" meeting is scheduled from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Events Room of B. Barnard Birger Hall on Oct. 12. "We will be accessible to answer questions concerning our application and evaluation processes for the year 2005-2006," said Rowena McClinton, assistant professor of Historical Studies at SIUE.

"Application forms will be available at the meeting," she said. "We urge those wishing to participate to send a representative of a proposed project, if unable to attend. We have asked last year award recipients and or representatives to attend to assist with questions."

For more information, contact Professor McClinton by telephone: (618) 650-2229, or, by e-mail: rmcclin@siue.edu.


Back to top

October 7, 2004

Chancellor Vandegrift Calls For Creation Of 'An Intentional Future'

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Calling for the university community to create its own "intentional future," Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift stated today that SIUE is a premier metropolitan university, affirming that SIUE will continue toward goals of attaining "excellence to the fullest" and becoming a nationally known university.

Vandegrift set 2010 as the goal for SIUE to "make material progress" toward his goals, and also set 2015 as the ultimate year to successfully complete the challenge.

He also named three major themes for continued improvement and achieving national recognition: 1) to further attract and retain increasingly better students; 2) strive to position SIUE as a premier metropolitan university "in the marketplace of ideas"; and 3) further develop the university's resource base.

Addressing faculty, staff, retirees, and students, Vandegrift today said he was giving what he called his "First Impressions" speech rather than a state of the university address because he has been chancellor only since July 1.

Vandegrift, who was provost of Georgia Southern University, took the SIUE post when Emeritus Chancellor David Werner retired. Vandegrift acknowledged Werner's efforts and thanked the former chancellor for his leadership in striving to make SIUE a premier metropolitan university, calling for the university community to "boldly embrace the future we have articulated in our Vision Statement."

The university's vision states: "Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, as a premier Metropolitan University, will be recognized nationally for the excellence of its programs and development of professional and community leaders."

In support of his announcement that the university has achieved status as a premier metropolitan university, Vandegrift cited schools, academic departments, and university initiatives as proof. He also praised the faculty for scholarly efforts nationally and internationally, and staff for efficiently managing university systems and "maintaining a beautiful campus." He also noted several students who have excelled in their studies and activities.

"I mention these programs and people because I believe that now is the time to call attention to examples of excellence at SIUE," Vandegrift said. "I mention these programs and people because now is the time to recognize ourselves for our excellence."

He also noted recent peer rankings in U.S. News and World Report that gave SIUE high marks as further proof of the university's excellence. "These peer reputation rankings suggest to me, and I want you to note with pride, that we are already recognized for having a top tier faculty," Vandegrift said. "Indeed, I want you to know that I am fully convinced that we are a premier metropolitan university. And we should do what is necessary to gain national recognition for what we are."

The new chancellor said that he had visited nearly every campus building since arriving at SIUE and has been impressed by the "kindness, generosity, openness, and friendship" shown to him. "I have learned that SIUE has a well-formed sense of community, clearly articulated values, and a welcoming environment," Vandegrift said. "These qualities were not produced by chance, but through hard work and dedication of talented Edwardsville faculty, staff, and administrators.

"But, if we truly seek to be recognized nationally as being premier, we must believe in ourselves to achieve that recognition.

"The purposes of higher education lie in the fulfillment of human potential," he said. "We add value to people's lives. Since higher education is inherently a people business in the end, it is people who make the process successful. At SIUE we have wonderful people, clearly articulated values and goals, and a strong commitment to make our vision a reality.

"To achieve our shared vision we need only to believe in ourselves, to believe in our life's work, and to believe in the strength of our university community."

Back to top

October 11, 2004

SIUE's Early Childhood Center To Celebrate 35th Birthday

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The pre-schoolers who toddled through the doors of the first childcare center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1969 were nurtured by a group of caring personnel and students who were dedicated to early childhood education.

Those children are now in their late '30s and are no doubt better for their experience as part of the SIUE Early Childhood Center (ECC). In fact, some of them probably brought their own children to the ECC during the next 35 years.

Well, the ECC would love to see them and/or their offspring at the 35th anniversary open house at the center, located just across from the SIUE Rec Plex on Northwest Road. "It's our own birthday party," said Rebecca Dabbs-Kayser, director of the center since 2000.

The party takes place from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, and will include a birthday cake, craft activities for children, face painting, an art and photo exhibit, and popular local storyteller Marilyn Kinsella. "It's going to be a great time in which our past 'alums' and their parents can visit with old friends and maybe make a few new ones," Dabbs-Kayser said.

"It's also a chance to learn about our scholarship program for SIUE student families."

As for the caring nurturing atmosphere that was at the center when it began, the tradition continues. "Our staff is a dedicated group of teachers who are committed to our children," Dabbs- Kayser said. The center cares for about 50-60 children ranging in age from two to five-year-olds, offering activities that foster creativity and problem-solving.

The ECC is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, and all ECC teachers have degrees in early childhood education and many are working on advanced degrees. SIUE student assistants also participate in the ECC curriculum with the children.

Throughout the year, the staff creates a portfolio for each child, recording accomplishments, activities, and special events, such as the Annual Vehicle Day, in which ECC children are able to explore various vehicles, from fire trucks to U.S. Army vehicles. "Each day at the center is an adventure, from watering the garden to painting at the easel," Dabbs-Kayser said. "We offer our children the opportunity to make choices for themselves in a diverse, educationally sound environment."

The scholarship endowment was established by Dabbs-Kayser's predecessor at the center for 29 years-S. LaVernn Wilson, who believed that student families faced special challenges in pursuing and reaching their academic goals. "LaVernn knew, as we know, that many SIUE students with children have to juggle their studies and work a night job to make ends meet," Dabbs-Kayser said.

"So, when she retired, LaVernn established a scholarship endowment through the SIUE Foundation to help these students and their families." The scholarship assists student families with childcare costs at the ECC. "This is a huge help to students with children on their way to graduation," Dabbs-Kayser said. "But we need more donations for the endowment to fund the scholarship.

"Our hope is that our alums will want to give back to the ECC, and we'll provide a way for them to do that."

Back to top

October 11, 2004

New Organization Seeks Students Interested In Entrepreneurship

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Taking job creation and expansion as a whole, the largest growth is in the area of small business, according to the Small Business Administration. This economic trend is something that college students ought to be aware of and familiar with because many could be employees or owners of small businesses in the future.

This is where CEO comes in. Collegiate Entrepreneurial Organization is a new student organization at SIUE that helps students explore entrepreneurship as a career path.

While the group is primarily targeted toward students who are interested in starting their own businesses, senior Michelle Kosteck says that it also helps "to raise entrepreneurial awareness among all students."

Kosteck said CEO is needed "so students … can develop business skills, acquire specialized expertise, and receive encouragement. This is important because our free market economy relies upon the innovation of business creators," she said.

CEO's mission is to inform, support, and inspire college students to seek opportunities through enterprise creation. Activities that will likely be sponsored by CEO include a national conference in Chicago this November, featuring entrepreneur speakers, informational forums, and honorary achievement gatherings.

Although CEO can be beneficial for students seeking a Business degree, it also may be helpful to non-business students. A dance student, for example, might want to join CEO to learn about principles necessary to open a dance studio.

While many student organizations are restricted to majors, CEO hopes to attract students in all fields. Jim Mager, director of the SIUE Small Business Development Center, stresses that the new organization is not exclusive. "One challenge that we face is letting the students know that it is for everyone," Mager states.

In addition to CEO helping students consider business ownership, it is also an organization for students wishing to gain more knowledge about entrepreneurship. Mager says, "If students have an appreciation for entrepreneurship and don't start a business, they will be better employees."

Kosteck is optimistic about the group. "Students have come up to me and asked about it," she said.

The first CEO meeting was conducted Sept. 14. For more information, contact Jim Mager: jmager@siue.edu or Michelle Kosteck: mkostec@siue.edu.

Back to top

October 11, 2004

EDITORS: Photos suitable for print are available

Tickets Still Available For Dean, Blankley Debate Oct. 13 At SIUE

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Tickets still are available for the Oct. 13 appearance of former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean and well-known political pundit Tony Blankley, both of whom will offer lively debate as part of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Arts & Issues series at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris University Center.

Dean and Blankley replace Marlin Fitzwater and Joe Lockhart on the Arts & Issues 2004-05 bill because of scheduling conflicts.

Appearing on the covers of Time and Newsweek, all eyes were on Howard Dean earlier this year as he mounted an influential campaign as a candidate for the 2004 Democratic nomination for President. Dean, a medical doctor, has previously shared a private practice with his wife, Dr. Judith Steinberg Dean, in Vermont. He earned a bachelor's at Yale and received a medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

Dean was a member of the Vermont General Assembly from 1983-85 and was elected lieutenant governor of the state in 1986, gaining re-election in 1988 and 1990. He became governor upon the death of Gov. Richard A. Snelling in August 1991 and was elected to a full term in November 1992, gaining re-election in 1994, 1996, 1998, and in 2000.

Blankley served for seven years as press secretary for then-U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. In that role, Blankley became the leading spokesman for the "Contract with America." Before his career on Capitol Hill, Blankley had served as a speechwriter and senior analyst for President Ronald Reagan.

After leaving Gingrich's staff in February 1997, Blankley joined George magazine as a contributing editor. He currently is a regular panelist for the McLaughlin Group and he also appears regularly on CNN's Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, as well as CNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, Rivera Live, The News with Brian Williams, and MSNBC.

In June 1999, Blankley joined the Washington Times as a weekly political columnist; he also is a popular columnist for the Los Angeles Times.

Tickets for the Oct. 13 Arts & Issues event are $12; students, $6. A season brochure is available by contacting John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Individual tickets also may be purchased at the Web site: artsandissues.com.

The remaining Arts & Issues season includes: Windham Hill Winter Solstice Holiday Tour (Nov. 19) is SOLD OUT; Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Kathy Mattea (Jan. 21, 2005); The Acting Company with its rendition of Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona (Feb. 27, 2005); the powerful a cappella singing of Ladysmith Black Mambazo (March 19, 2005); the exciting sounds of the Dallas Brass (April 22, 2005); the special appearance of the "funkified" gospel music of The Blind Boys of Alabama (Feb. 4, 2005) is SOLD OUT.

Back to top

October 11, 2004

SIUE International Trade Center To Co-Sponsor Two October Seminars

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville International Trade Center, with the help of speaker John Kolmer of Bradley University, will sponsor two seminars-Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 18-19-for companies having problems understanding NAFTA's Certificate of Origin (CO) and Rules of Origin.

The seminars are scheduled from 1-5 p.m. Monday (Level I) and from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday (Level II), both on the second floor of SIUE's Morris University Center.

Kolmer, NAFTA trade specialist for the International Trade Center/NAFTA Opportunity Center at Bradley, will conduct the seminars. Kolmer coordinates a program of counseling and training for current and future exporters to Canada and Mexico.

Some of the topics to be discussed in this seminar are:

Level I

Harmonized Tariff Schedule Numbers and how to obtain them
Advanced Rulings from Customs Authorities from Canada, Mexico, and the US
Certificate Blanket Periods
NAFTA Rules of Origin
Preferential Criteria
Regional Value Content Requirements
Producer or Supplier Declarations
Record Keeping Responsibilities
Managing Customs Audits

Level II

Country of Origin Marking Rules for Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
Understanding Tariff Shift
Application of the DeMinimis provision
Case Studies and Group Exercises:

• Tariff Classification
• Preference Criteria Determination
• Regional Value Content Calculation

Silvia Torres, director of SIUE's International Trade Center, said the seminar is helpful in keeping up with any changes in NAFTA regulations. "Even if a company's freight forwarder is filling out the CO for them, that company still is directly responsible for the information declared and the proper record-keeping requirements needed to back up their declarations," Torres explained.

"U.S. Customs has shifted the burden to the exporter of record, not a company's freight forwarder or customs broker," she said. "It is in the company's best interest to at least review the CO prior to sending their NAFTA customer a copy."

For more information about the seminar, contact the SIUE International Trade Center, (618) 650-3851, or by e-mail: international-trade-center@siue.edu.

The fee for the Level I seminar is $60; Level II, $40. Each seminar includes a NAFTA handbook, free parking, and refreshments.

Back to top

October 14, 2004

SIU Board Approves Change Of Scope For Boiler System Project

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees voted today to explore its options in light of a recent decision by Illinois Power Co. (now AmerenIP) to terminate a 33-year agreement between the utility and SIU Edwardsville under which natural gas has been provided.

Under the current agreement, IP monitors the university's use of natural gas through a single "master meter," while owning and maintaining the gas lines that service the university's hot water and boiler systems.

IPC announced in March its decision to terminate the agreement. That decision left the university with three options to consider: 1) allow the utility to meter each of the buildings so that IPC continues to own and operate the existing distribution lines on campus; 2) leave the existing master meter in place and SIUE purchase the existing distribution lines from IPC; or 3) leave the master meter in place and SIUE replace the existing IPC distribution with one owned and operated by the university.

Today's board action calls for an engineering study to make recommendations about what the best course of action is for SIUE. If the second option were chosen, the matter would again come before the board.

In December of last year, the SIU board voted to discontinue use of the campus-wide boiler system and provide gas-fired, hot-water boilers and domestic water heaters in each of the core campus buildings as a cost-cutting measure. Because of favorable bids on the base project, the cost of today's proposed change in scope will be funded from within the original approved amount.

Back to top

October 21, 2004

School Of Business Entrepreneurship Center To Conduct Series

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Entrepreneurship Center, part of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business, will conduct a Nov. 10 forum, the first in a four-part series with topics ranging from assisting entrepreneurs seeking equity investment to putting together a management team. It's part of the center's Entrepreneurship Forum Series.

The Nov. 10 forum, Capital Formulation, will help entrepreneurs and current business owners learn how to present a business concept or business expansion to investors. In addition, the series will provide opportunities for individuals to communicate business ideas to others who might have an interest in partnering or in funding a business plan.

Nov. 10 panelists Jack Cranley, an attorney, and Trevor Gonterman, a venture capitalist consultant, will discuss "tricks of the trade" for approaching and attracting equity investment. They will provide tips on where and how to seek equity investors, how to protect a business idea, and how ideas can be turned into assets.

The first forum is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, Fairview Heights; cost is $25 per person, which includes refreshments. For more information, contact Center Director Jim Mager by telephone: (618) 650-2669 or by e-mail: jmager@siue.edu.

Back to top

October 21, 2004

SIUE School Of Nursing To Offer Management Program

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing will begin offering a 12-credit-hour nurse management program in January. The program will feature online courses for nurse managers and nurses who want to move into management positions. Registration deadline is Nov. 19.

The program is designed to strengthen and expand the management skills of registered nurses in hospitals, home health agencies, long-term care, and other health care settings in which registered nurses serve as managers. Enrollment is for registered nurses with an associate degree, diploma, bachelor's degree, or graduate degree. The program will include four courses, each for three hours of academic credit.

The courses will be delivered online with one or two classroom meetings in each course. Students must have basic e-mail, internet, and word processing skills to use the online format.

Duration of each course will be eight weeks, with the first course beginning at the start of spring semester and the second beginning at mid-semester. Students enrolling in two courses each semester will complete the program in two semesters. Credit earned in the nurse management program may be transferable to the RN-BS program or the graduate program in the SIUE School of Nursing. Experienced nursing faculty will teach the courses.

Course content will include: The dynamic role of the nurse manager in the health care organization; principles of nursing management; leader and management theories, skills and behaviors; and leadership concepts including power, teamwork, collaboration, planning, empowerment, motivation, and decision making, to name a few.

For more information, contact Doris Davis in the School of Nursing by telephone: (618) 650-3960 or (800) 234-4844, or, by e-mail: dordavi@siue.edu.

Participants may register on the first night of class, but a spot must be reserved by Nov. 19 to ensure enrollment.

The first class of the spring semester will begin the week of Jan. 10. Students will be notified of a day, time, and location for an orientation session during that week.

Back to top

October 28, 2004

Poet, Playwright Sonia Sanchez Comes To SIUE Nov. 3

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Sonia Sanchez, an award-winning poet, playwright, activist, and Black Studies pioneer, whose poetry appeared in the movie Love Jones, will bring her "Full Moon of Sonia" performance to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3.

She'll perform in the Conference Center, on the second floor of SIUE's Morris University Center. Billed as a family program, the performance is free to the public.

Sanchez also will tour historic sites in East St. Louis, such as the Katherine Dunham Museum, and meet with local school students and members of the Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club.

Among her many accolades and honors, Sanchez won Lifetime Achievement Awards this year alone from the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta and the Furious Flower (Black) Poetry Conference in Virginia.

The author of more than 16 books, including We a BaddDDD People, I've Been a Woman, Homegirls and Handgrenades, and Wounded in the House of a Friend, Sanchez also is a contributing editor to The Black Scholar magazine.

Sanchez's book, Does Your House Have Lions? was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. And, in 2000, she served as one of 17 special contributing editors of "Words from 15 Cities: Poetic Voices of Contemporary Urban Cultures (in the U.S. & Nigeria)", a special edition of Drumvoices Revue, the university's multicultural literary journal edited by the EBR Writers Club, and for which Maya Angelou wrote the foreword.

A professor emerita of English and Women's Studies at Temple University in Philadelphia, Sanchez is currently promoting her new CD, Full Moon of Sonia.

Sponsors of the Nov. 3 event include the English Language and Literature Association (ELLA),

Student Activity Fees, the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of English Language and Literature, Drumvoices Revue, and the SIUE Office of Cultural and Social Diversity.

For more information, write jmoy@siue.edu or call the department/EBR Writers Club: (618) 650-3991.


Back to top

October 28, 2004

FOTAD Presents Its Annual Mystery Dinner Theater At SIUE

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Have you been waiting for an evening of dinner, shopping, and detective work? A perfect opportunity to accomplish all three will take place at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Sunday, Nov. 7, with Murder in the Air, this year's Mystery Dinner Theater presentation and silent auction from SIUE's Friends of Theater and Dance (FOTAD).

Doors open at 6:15 p.m. to the University Restaurant on the second floor of SIUE's Morris University Center, where guests may view silent auction items until approximately 7 p.m. when the play will begin and dinner will be served. Reservations must be made by Nov. 5.

FOTAD is a support organization for the SIUE Department of Theater and Dance. Tickets are $35 per person and include dinner as well as several chances to win attendance prizes. Proceeds from the Nov. 7 event benefit FOTAD's scholarship fund.

For reservation information, call the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2774.

Back to top

PREVIEW 2004 Best Ever With 1,706 Guests

PREVIEW SIUE continues to grow each year, with yesterday's crowd at the Morris University Center the biggest its ever been, said Karen Bollinger, assistant director of Admissions and Academic Marketing Services and chair of the PREVIEW organizing committee.

In fact, PREVIEW's growth from 2002 to 2003 marked an increase of only 19 students, but from 2003 to 2004 the increase was 69 students."This is our day for high school students and their families, as well as community college students, to see what we're about," Bollinger said. "They are in the midst of deciding an important step in the educational process and we do everything possible at PREVIEW SIUE to put our best foot forward."

Bollinger said university departments and units, including faculty and staff, were on hand to answer questions about academic programs and services available to students. "We welcomed 1,706 total guests, including 706 prospective high school and transfer students," Bollinger said. "In terms of student attendance, this was our best-attended open house since PREVIEW began in 1985.

"On behalf of the PREVIEW SIUE Committee, I thank the faculty, staff, and students who contributed their time and energy to this important event. Their contributions helped us roll out the red carpet to the next generation of SIUE students," she said.

Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift made opening remarks in Meridian Ballroom, before students and families toured the central campus, including the residence halls and Cougar Village.

Informational sessions were scheduled throughout the day, with topics including Countdown to SIUE; Financing Your Education at SIUE; and Emerging Careers, as well as academic sessions presented by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Business, Education, Engineering, Nursing, and Pharmacy.

"PREVIEW SIUE is an opportunity for prospective students and their families to get answers to all their questions in one visit to campus," Bollinger said. "Our program is one of the few campus-visit programs that includes participation from virtually all academic and student services units in one setting."

Early Childhood Center To Celebrate 35th Birthday

The pre-schoolers who toddled through the doors of the first childcare center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1969 were nurtured by a group of caring personnel and students who were dedicated to early childhood education.

Those children are now in their late '30s and are no doubt better for their experience as part of the SIUE Early Childhood Center (ECC). In fact, some of them probably brought their own children to the ECC during the next 35 years.

Well, the ECC would love to see them and/or their offspring at the 35th anniversary open house at the center, located just across from the SIUE Rec Plex on Northwest Road. "It's our own birthday party," said Rebecca Dabbs-Kayser, director of the center since 2000. The party takes place from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, and will include a birthday cake, craft activities for children, face painting, an art and photo exhibit, and popular local storyteller Marilyn Kinsella.

"It's going to be a great time in which our past "alums' and their parents can visit with old friends and maybe make a few new ones," Dabbs-Kayser said. "It's also a chance to learn about our scholarship program for SIUE student families."

As for the caring nurturing atmosphere that was at the center when it began, the tradition continues. "Our staff is a dedicated group of teachers who are committed to our children," Dabbs- Kayser said.

The center cares for about 50-60 children ranging in age from two to five-year-olds, offering activities that foster creativity and problem-solving. The ECC is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, and all ECC teachers have degrees in early childhood education and many are working on advanced degrees. SIUE student assistants also participate in the ECC curriculum with the children.

Throughout the year, the staff creates a portfolio for each child, recording accomplishments, activities, and special events, such as the Annual Vehicle Day, in which ECC children are able to explore various vehicles, from fire trucks to U.S. Army vehicles.

"Each day at the center is an adventure, from watering the garden to painting at the easel," Dabbs-Kayser said. "We offer our children the opportunity to make choices for themselves in a diverse, educationally sound environment."

The scholarship endowment was established by Dabbs-Kayser's predecessor at the center for 29 years-S. LaVernn Wilson, who believed that student families faced special challenges in pursuing and reaching their academic goals. "LaVernn knew, as we know, that many SIUE students with children have to juggle their studies and work a night job to make ends meet," Dabbs-Kayser said.

"So, when she retired, LaVernn established a scholarship endowment through the SIUE Foundation to help these students and their families." The scholarship assists student families with childcare costs at the ECC.

"This is a huge help to students with children on their way to graduation," Dabbs-Kayser said. "But we need more donations for the endowment to fund the scholarship.

"Our hope is that our alums will want to give back to the ECC, and we'll provide a way for them to do that."

For more information, call the Early Childhood Center, (618) 650-2556, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2556.

Click here for a historic timeline of the SIUE Early Childhood Center.

Annual Security Report Is Available On-Line

The Fall 2004 issue of the SIUE Annual Security Report is available on-line: admin.siue.edu/studentrightto

The report contains campus safety and security information and crime statistics for calendar years 2001, 2002, 2003, and is published in compliance with the the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, formerly known as the Federal Student Right To Know and Campus Security Act of 1990.

The report also may be accessed through the SIUE Home Page: www.siue.edu under Resources for Current Students/Campus Safety/Campus Security Policies and Crime Statistics. The report is also available at the Lovejoy Library Circulation Desk, or from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration, Rendleman Hall, Room 2228, Campus Box 1158.

'Sculpture' Provides Teaching Tool For Engineering Faculty

Is it art or is it a teaching tool? In the case of the new 3,000-pound steel "sculpture" dedicated last week in the courtyard of the Engineering Building, it is most definitely a teaching tool … and, at least an interesting conversation piece.

The design for the structure was created in 1986 by Duane Ellifritt, now an emeritus civil engineering professor at the University of Florida, and an artist in his own right. Since then, the steel teaching tool has been replicated on many campuses throughout the country, where it has been used for the benefit of engineering students. The "sculpture" consists of steel beams and columns of varying sizes and lengths that present a collection of steel connections found in most buildings.

Although the structure can be found on more than 100 campuses across the country, including Washington University in St. Louis, it is usually tucked away in a corner for use by students and faculty only. "We decided to display it with an artistic treatment and make it part of our landscape at the Engineering Building," says SIUE Construction Emeritus Professor S. Narayan Bodapati, chair of the SIUE Department of Construction and project manager for installation of the Ellifritt.

"Our project also is different because we were able to place the structure, design the foundation, with brickwork and lighting, and landscape the site, all at no cost," Bodapati said. "And, this is because of the generosity of our many alumni who are employed by construction businesses throughout the region," Bodapati said.

Engineering Dean Paul Seaburg said that since the 1981 Hyatt Regency skywalk collapse in Kansas City, engineering schools have been placing more emphasis on teaching steel connections. Since then, the subject is given more emphasis in the classroom. "Students will benefit from Professor Ellifritt's sculpture, especially our structural engineering majors," Seaburg said.

"They can see first hand how steel connections can be made more rigid, especially tubular members which are hollow."

Ellifritt himself said that teaching the design of steel connection can be a challenging process in the classroom. "Connection design was thought to be a 'detail problem,' best left to fabricators," Ellifritt wrote. "In the summer of 1985, after seeing the inability of many students to visualize even simple connections, I began to search for a way to make connections more real to them," he said.

From that perceived need, Ellifritt designed his sculpture as "something that would be an attractive addition … on a campus, something that would symbolize engineering in general, and that could also function as a teaching aid." Ellifritt's own artwork can be viewed on-line at www.ellifritt.com/gallery.html.

Bodapati said it was very gratifying to find so many SIUE engineering alumni and local businesses that were willing to help with the project. "One of our current civil engineering students helped with the design of the foundation and our construction students helped with installation of the steel sculpture," Bodapati said.

"This project could have easily cost the school tens of thousands of dollars, but with everyone's help we were able to do it for free."

Those individuals and/or businesses that donated time and materials to the project include: the SIUE Construction Alumni Association, Civil Engineering major Ashlee Keller, SIUE Associate Civil Engineering Professor Brad Cross, SIUE Civil Engineering faculty member Brent Vaughn, Lin Renken, Henderson Inc. Architects, Atlas Iron Works, Stripmasters of Illinois, Keller Construction, SIUE Construction major John Clark, Richards Brick Co., Heitkamp Masonry, Grant Masonry Contracting, J.F. Electric, and the SIUE Office of Facilities Management.

SIUE Men's Soccer Grabs GLVC's Top Seed

No. 5 ranked SIUE earned the right to play host to the 2004 Great Lakes Valley Conference Men's Soccer Tournament with a convincing 3-0 victory Saturday (10/23) over Bellarmine.

Mike Banner (Upper Marlboro, Md.) scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Cougars. His first goal came just 52 seconds into the game. It was all SIUE needed to wrap up its 21st consecutive regular season GLVC game without a loss.

Michael Burgund (Bethalto) made his senior day a special one with a goal at 12:32. Banner grabbed an assist on the goal. Victor Pacheco recorded an assist on both of the first two goals.

SIUE, 13-2-2 overall and 8-0-2 in the GLVC, also got a breakaway from Banner at 81:29. Banner split at least four defenders by himself at midfield and outplayed Bellarmine goalkeeper Brad Lipe for an wide open goal. Bellarmine is now 7-9-2 and 3-6-1 in the GLVC.

SIUE plays at regional rival Truman State on Thursday (10/28) in the regular season finale.

The Cougars next play in the semifinals of the GLVC TOurnament at Korte Stadium on Nov. 5. The six-team tournament begins Oct. 31 when the No. 4 seed plays the No. 5 seed and the No. 3 seed faces the No. 6 seed. Both of those quarterfinal games will be played at the higher seed.

Cougar Women's Soccer Outlasts Knights

Christina Stremlau and Lindsey Kampwerth each had second-half goals to lead SIUE past Bellarmine 2-0 in Great Lakes Valley Conference women's college soccer tonight.

Jessica Brown and Kim Roady combined for the shutout by making two saves in the game. The pair picked up their 11th shutout of the season to set an SIUE record.

Stremlau scored the game-winning goal for the second game in a row at the 49:40 mark, and Kampwerth netted her second goal of the year with 14:45 left to seal the victory. SIUE ends the GLVC regular season with a 9-1 record and a 13-4 mark overall.

Seniors Ann Crawford, Angela Light, and Christen Carducci all had assists on Senior Night for SIUE.

The Cougars out shot the Knights 20-6 in the contest as SIUE has won for the sixth straight time and the 12th time in their last 13 games. During those 13 games, the Cougars have out scored their opponents 30-4.

SIUE will battle Southeast Missouri State in a non-conference match for their last regular season home game of the year on Thursday (10/28) at 7 p.m.

SIUE Volleyball Powers Past Indianapolis

SIUE played its best offensive match at the Vadalabene Center this season with a three-game sweep over Indianapolis.

SIUE defeated the Greyhounds 30-19, 31-29, 30-19.

The Cougars improved to 20-6 overall and 11-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Indianapolis, which suffered its second straight conference defeat, fell to 19-10 and 10-3 in the GLVC.

It's now four consecutive 20-win seasons for the Cougars and Coach Todd Gober, SIUE's all-time leader in volleyball victories.

On Saturday (10/23), SIUE hit .383 as a team with a trio of Cougars finished with double-digit kills. Heather Bonde (Millstadt) led all players with 18 kills. Kindra Westendorf (Effingham) followed with 15 kills, while Tina Talsma (Ontario, Canada) had 12. Krystal Majernik (Normal) posted 46 assists and added 10 digs. GLVC digs leader Allison Buss (Towanda) collected 22 digs on defense.

SIUE now turns to non-conference play when it entertains Washington University on Tuesday (1026). The first serve is at 7 p.m. at the Vadalabene Center.

Boyll Wins GLVC Men's Cross Country Title

Ryan Boyll became the first runner in SIUE history to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship on Saturday (10/23).

Boyll ran the 8,000-meter course in 25 minutes, 36.58 seconds, defeating his nearest competitor Jesse Davis of Southern Indiana by just less than 10 seconds. SIUE's Brian Taghon also earned All-GLVC honors for the second time with a seventh-place finish in 26:10.05.

The win was especially sweet for Boyll, who didn't crack the top 10 last season after placing 12th. Boyll's winning time was just the eighth fastest time of the season by a Cougar.

As a team, SIUE placed fourth our of eight teams with 98. Lewis won the meet in the closest team finish in GLVC history. Lewis scored 55 points just ahead of Southern Indiana's 57.

SIUE is now idle until Nov. 6 when it plays host to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional at its own cross country course. The NCAA regional will be a 10,000-meter event and features teams in the GLVC, a handful of independent schools and members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Flounders Named GLVC Freshman of the Year

Kelly Flounders (Homer Glen) placed ninth in her first Great Lakes Valley Conference Cross Country Championship and was named the league's Freshman of the Year on Saturday (10/23).

Flounders, who also was named All-GLVC for finishing among the top 10, ran the 6,000-meter course in 23 minutes, 21.01 seconds It was the third fastest time ever by an SIUE freshman and the 11th fastest time in school history.

As a team, SIUE placed sixth out of eight teams. Wisconsin-Parkside won the meet with 47 points followed by Southern Indiana with 60.

Mary Witte (Normal) was the next best finisher for the Cougars with a 20-th place finish in 24:02.01.

The winner of the race was Southern Indiana's Heather Cooksey, who won in convincing fashion in 21:32.90. She won the race by more than 50 seconds over Wisconsin-Parkside's Michelle Boldon.

SIUE's next competition includes all of the GLVC teams and the other members of the Great Lakes region. SIUE is the host institution for the 2004 NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 6 at the Cougar cross country course.

USI Picked To Win Men's GLVC Title; Bellarmine, Indy Pace Women's Race

The University of Southern Indiana men are a clear choice to capture the 2004-05 Great Lakes Valley Conference basketball crown, while no less than four teams will battle for the women's title in a vote of league coaches.

USI (28-7, 15-5), last year's NCAA Division II runner-up, totaled 96 points and captured six first-place votes. The Screaming Eagles outdistanced Kentucky Wesleyan (22-8, 14-6), which totaled three first-place votes and 87 points and Northern Kentucky (16-15, 9-11), with two first-place votes and 78 total points.

The Panthers, however, are barred from postseason play by the GLVC and are not eligible for the GLVC and NCAA Tournament this season. While KWC's games will count in the regular season standings, that gives USI-ranked No. 5 in the pre-season Division II poll-a seemingly comfortable role as favorites in the poll.

SIU Edwardsville (74 points), Indianapolis (70) and Quincy (52) will join NKU as Southern Indiana's strongest challengers, while St. Joseph's (46), Lewis (42), UMSL (23), UW-Parkside (21) and Bellarmine (19) complete the field.

While the men's race seems clear, the women's is a toss-up with four different teams registering first-place votes. Bellarmine, Indianapolis, Quincy, and Northern Kentucky are all viewed by some coaches good enough to capture the conference championship.

Bellarmine (21-9, 15-5) and Indianapolis (23-9, 14-6) tied for the favorite role with 86 points apiece, but the Knights tallied four first place votes to the Greyhounds' two. Quincy (29-5, 17-3) registered three first-place votes and is a point behind with 85 points, while Northern Kentucky (17-11, 12-8) captured two first-place votes and 77 points.

Southern Indiana (69 points) and Lewis (57) are next, followed by UW-Parkside (48), SIU Edwardsville (33), UMSL (26), Saint Joseph's (18) and Kentucky Wesleyan (17).

The poll did not allow coaches to vote for their own teams.

Cougars Still Looking For No. 1 Seed

When the SIUE Soccer Cougars takes on Bellarmine next Saturday (Oct. 23) the Cougars will need a win or a tie in their final Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season game to clinch the No. 1 seed and a first round bye in the GLVC tournament.

"They (Bellarmine) are fighting for the conference tournament," said SIUE soccer coach Ed Huneke. "We have to go out and take care of business."

The Cougars, ranked No. 5 nationally, will take their 12-1-2 overall record and 7-0-2 mark in the GLVC on the road this Wednesday (10/20) against Rockhurst in a non-conference match. The Hawks have a record of 6-4-2 on the year.

"They will have nothing to lose," said Huneke. "They will be playing for respect, and we better be ready."

SIUE outlasted Missouri-St. Louis 1-0 in double-overtime and tied Quincy 0-0 this past weekend. After defeating UMSL, the Cougars are 3-0-2 in overtime games. "Good teams find a way to make it happen, and Friday night (10/15) (against UMSL) was a classic example," Huneke said. "We found a way and, again, that is what top level teams do."

SIUE is unbeaten in its last 20 regular season GLVC games and have won nine of their last 11 games this year. The Cougars are 6-0-1 at Ralph Korte Stadium this season, outscoring their opponents 18-4 during those contests.

SIUE is leading the GLVC with 19.5 shots per game, while holding opponents to only 5.5 shots per game.

The Cougars have a wealth of scoring with four different players tied for the team lead in goals. Victor Pacheco (San Luis, Brazil), Pete Cacciatore (St. Louis), Tim Collico(St. Louis), and Adam Lanter (Edwardsville) have netted five tallies this season.

Overall, SIUE has seven different players with game-winning goals this season. John Matthews (Edwardsville) scored his second game-winning goal against Missouri-St. Louis on only his second goal of the season. "John is a great player, and he is one of the most respected players on the team," Huneke said. "He has the full package."

Greg Crook (Columbia) and Nicholas Frasca (St. Charles) each had shutouts over the weekend. The pair has combined for nine shutouts. The two hold a goals against average of 0.44 this season.

"They are really quality goalkeepers," Huneke said. "Even though they are not seeing a lot of shots, they have been ready. They haven't let us down."

The Cougars travel to Kansas City, Mo., to take on Rockhurst on Wednesday (10/20) night at 6 p.m. before traveling back home for their final GLVC regular season match of the season on Saturday (10/23) at 5 p.m.

Roady And Brown Tie Record

SIUE women's soccer goalkeepers Kim Roady (Granite City) and Jessica Brown (St. Louis) have combined for 10 shutouts on the season, tying a school record. The pair has sparked SIUE to 12-4 record overall and a mark of 8-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

"It is a blessing to have two quality goalkeepers on our team," said SIUE women's soccer coach Lynda Bowers. "They have both been tremendous all year." Roady has five of the shutouts with a GLVC-leading 0.12 goals against average. Brown has made 28 saves this year and has combined with Roady on four of the shuouts.

The Cougars have won 11 of their last 12 games after starting the year with a 1-3 record. They defeated Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy each 1-0 this last weekend. "It is quite a turnaround from last year," said Bowers. "The soccer gods are smiling on us."

Last year, the Cougars started the season 7-1 before losing six of her last nine for a 10-7 record. SIUE is currently a part of a three-way tie with Northern Kentucky and Wisconsin-Parkside for the No. 1 seed in the GLVC tournament.

The Cougars defeated the Norse, yet lost to the Rangers. They are looking to secure one of the top two spots and a first round bye in the six-team tournament.

The Cougars will take on Bellarmine in the final GLVC regular season home game this Saturday (10/23). "They (Bellarmine) are a good team that can beat you," said Bowers. "There is a lot of pressure on us and we can't stumble."

Christen Carducci (Powell, Ohio) scored her second goal in as many games in the win over UMSL. "She is emerging when she needs to," said Bowers. "She has really come up big for us."

Christina Stremlau (St. Louis) netted a goal with 13 seconds left to push SIUE past Quincy for her second game-winning goal of the year. "It is just one of those games where we were out-played and just kept working," said Bowers. "It's a tribute to the work ethic of this team and to her."

Back Kayla Fromme (New Berlin) has led a defense that has allowed four goals in its last 12 games. "She has really kept our backfield together," Bowers said. "As a group, they have been solid all year."

Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday (10/23) against Bellarmine.

Big Week Awaits Volleyball Cougars

Three teams share the lead in Great Lakes Valley Conference volleyball and will do battle in what should prove to be a hectic week for league play.

SIUE, 18-5 overall and 9-1 in GLVC play, faces Southern Indiana on the road on Wednesday (10/20), Saint Joseph's at home on Friday (10/22) and Indianapolis at home on Saturday (10/23). All three would be in the six-team GLVC Tournament if it started today.

That fact alone gives SIUE Coach Todd Gober pause for concern.

Southern Indiana and Indianapolis currently are tied with SIUE, with 9-1 records in league play. Saint Joseph's is in fifth with a 6-4 mark in conference play. "This week will definitely put someone in the driver's seat," Gober said. "I think you have to call Southern Indiana the favorite since they play us and Indianapolis at home."

Gober said Southern Indiana has two of the best middle hitters in the conference, while Indianapolis has two of the best outside hitters. "The winners of this week's games are going to be the ones who serve well and play defense the best because all of the teams hit the ball well," he said.

SIUE middle hitter Heather Bonde (Millstadt) leads the SIUE offense with a .331 hitting percentage and a team-best 299 kills. SIUE's other middle hitter, Tina Talsma (Orono, Ontario), holds a .289 hitting percentage and a team-leading 1.05 blocks per game.

Kindra Westendorf (Effingham) has emerged has the team's top outside hitter with 278 kills and a .285 hitting percentage. On defense, SIUE boasts the GLVC leader in digs with Allison Buss (Towanda). Buss passed the career 1,000-dig mark and holds a 5.06 digs per game average this season. As the team's libero, Buss also leads the team in service aces with 47.

Cougars Head To GLVC Championships

The SIUE men's and women's cross country teams will face off in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships this weekend in Highland Heights, Ky.

The Cougars will look to senior Ryan Boyll (Normal) to lead the way. Boyll posted a season best time of 24 minutes and 55 seconds in 8,000 meters at the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational on Oct. 2.

Junior Brian Taghon (East Moline) also has had a solid year after a 25:01 mark at the same race. Freshman Erik Steffens (Moline) has had several strong performances, with times of 25:56.90 at the Bradley Invitational and 25:57.62 mark at the EIU Invitational.

For the women, senior Mary Witte (Norman) has had the two highest finishes this year. A 18:59.12 performance in the 5,000 meters at the EIU Invitational, and a 19:08 mark at Bradley Invitational has led the way.

Freshman Kelly Flounders' (Homer Glen) times have been impressive. She has three of the top five performances for the Cougars this season, including a time of 19:17.20 on Sept. 17 at the Eastern Illinois Invitational.

The GLVC Championships will be held this Saturday 10/23) beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the men's 8,000 meters. That will be followed at 11:30 a.m. with the women's 6,000 meters.

SIUE Women's Golf Ranked 17th Nationally

The fall women's golf season may be completed, but the statistics are just coming into focus. SIUE has been ranked tied for 17th in the country in the NCAA Division II coaches poll released by www.thegolfchannel.com.

SIUE Coach Larry Bennett sifted through the pages of statistics he received from Golfstat, the official statistics provider to the NCAA Championships. In terms of scoring average, SIUE is 13th in the nation among NCAA Division II schools and fifth in the East region as well as 177th among all schools in all divisions.

SIUE holds a scoring average of 83.41 and has a head-to-head record of 50-15 during its five fall season tournaments.

Sophomore sensation Kallie Harrison leads SIUE with a 77.4 scoring average in 10 rounds of play, placing her fifth in the East region and 11th nationally. She holds a 4-5-1 record against the top 20 NCAA Division II-rated players in the country.

Freshman Rachel Roberg is second on the team with an 83.0 scoring average. She is ranked 24th in the region and 82nd nationally. Roberg is followed on the Cougar roster by Brittany Hood (32nd in region), Jessie Tiffe (43rd in region) Natalie Connaway (48th in region), and Kelly Morris (72nd in region).

The Cougars completed the fall season with a third-place finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.

SIUE Men's Soccer Ranked No. 5

SIUE men's soccer is now ranked No. 5 in Division II. SIUE moved up one spot from No. 6 to No. 5 in the latest national rankings from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

SIUE coach Ed Huneke and his Cougars hold a 11-1-1 record overall and a Great Lakes Valley Conference-leading 7-0-1 mark in league play. SIUE's latest game was a 1-1 tie at then 12th-ranked Lewis on Sunday (10/10).

The Cougars will be at Ralph Korte Stadium this weekend for homecoming as they take on GLVC rivals Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy. SIUE battles the Rivermen on Friday at 5 p.m., and the Cougars will take on the Hawks on Sunday afternoon at 1.

Below is the national and Great Lakes region rankings as of Oct. 12.

Athletics Events To Play Big Part In Homecoming 2004

It's homecoming week at SIUE, and SIUE athletics event once again will play a big part in the week's festivities.

A pep rally and bonfire is tentatively scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday (10/14) near Woodland Hall. On Friday (10/15), SIUE soccer entertains Missouri-St. Louis at Korte Stadium with the men's match at 5 p.m. followed by the women's match at 7:30 p.m. The 2004 homecoming king and queen will be announced that evening.

Korte Stadium also will be the site of the Third Annual Chili Cook-Off sponsored by SIUE Club Sports. Anyone affiliated with SIUE may enter. For more information, contact the Office of Campus Recreation, (618) 650-3245. To taste the chili, the cost is $2 for SIUE students and children under the age of 10. All others pay $3.

SIUE also will play host to Missouri-St. Louis in volleyball on Friday. The first serve is at 7 p.m. at the Vadalabene Center. SIUE volleyball faces Quincy in a home contest at 1 p.m. Saturday (10/16).

SIUE soccer faces Quincy in a doubleheader with the men's match set to start at noon and the women's contest to follow at 2:30 p.m.

This year's Jack Blake Award winner, Cal Thomas, will receive his award during the halftime of the men's match.

The Jack Blake Award is given in honor of former Olympian and SIUE soccer standout Jack Blake. The established criteria for the honoree is outstanding soccer play, leadership, displays a positive spirit of university and community involvement, dedicated to high fitness and intensity and holds a grade point average of 2.5 or above.

For more information about SIUE Homecoming, go to the Campus Activities Board Web site: www.siue.edu/CAB/homecoming.html.

Cougars Stay On Top Of GLVC

SIUE remains on top of the Great Lakes Valley Conference after a 1-1 tie at Lewis. The No. 6 ranked Cougars now have a record of 11-1-1 overall, 7-0-1 in the GLVC.

After falling behind the 12th-ranked Flyers 1-0 in the first half, SIUE bounced back to tie the game at the 71:46 mark. The Cougars out shot Lewis 23-9 for the match. "We really took it to them in the second half and in overtime aswell, but they (Lewis) hung in there," said SIUE soccer coach Ed Huneke.

"We weren't happy with the tie, but we were happy with how we played. They are a good team, and it sets the stage for us to play them again down the line."

Brian Higgins (St. Louis) netted the game-tying goal for his fourth on the season. "He is quite effective at making good penetrative runs in crowds, and that is not easy to do," said Huneke. "He got through their last line of defense and capitalized on a small window of opportunity."

Junior Kevin Thibodeau (St. Charles) and Mike Banner (Upper Marlboro, Md.) collected assists on the Higgins goal. Freshman Ross Beveridge (Dunfermline, Scotland) recorded two shots in the game against Lewis. "He came off the bench and played really well," said Huneke. "I was really pleased with his ability to posses the ball."

SIUE leads the GLVC in goals (34) and shots per game (17.6). The Cougars also are second in the conference in goals against average (0.49) and goals allowed (6). The Cougars are 5-0 at Korte Stadium this year outscoring their opponents 17-3 and outshooting them an amazing 109-28.

SIUE will look to continue that streak as they face Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy this weekend. "They are rivals, and we have had a long standing tradition with both of those teams." said Huneke. "A lot of the players know each other. So, we have to realize they are really looking to get some respect in the local area with a big game."

The Cougars face UMSL at Ralph Korte Stadium on Friday (10/15) at 5 p.m., following that with a matchup with the Hawks on Sunday (10/17) at noon.

Women's Soccer Face UMSL, Quincy

SIUE women's soccer brings its solid play back to Korte Stadium for homecoming this weekend. SIUE is 10-4 overall and 6-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

The Cougars are fresh off of two wins last week. They defeated non-conference opponent McKendree 2-0 on Wednesday (10/6) and followed that with a 4-1 GLVC win at Lewis on Sunday (10/10).

Ann Crawford (St. Louis) netted two goals against the Flyers. "They were both solid shots and two really good goals," said SIUE women's soccer coach Lynda Bowers. Crawford leads the GLVC with nine goals and is tied for second in the conference with 20 points.

Kelly Dill (Florissant, Mo.) and Christen Carducci (Columbus, Ohio) also notched goals in the win over Lewis. "Christen has been coming off an ankle injury and she got a chance that game to really get back in rhythm," said Bowers. "She really needed that goal. It was nice to see."

In the win over McKendree, SIUE used a balanced attack, outshooting the Bearcats 19-7. "Even though they are a NAIA school, it is still a rivalry game for us," said Bowers. "I knew it would be a tough match. That was a really good game for us."

Kayla Fromme (New Berlin) and senior Jackie Thomann (St. Louis) each had their first goals of the season in the victory. "That goal really sparked the rest of her (Thomann's) game," said Bowers.

Sophomore Padra Bencini (Carbondale) has led the Cougars from her back position. "She has been extremely solid, and she really held ourdefense together," said Bowers.

SIUE has won nine of its last 10 games by outscoring its opponents 26-4 since Sept. 10. The Cougars do battle with Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy at Korte Stadium this weekend. "It is nice to play at home," said Bowers. "Both UMSL and Quincy will be hard-fought games, and they are two really important ones for us."

Game time for the match against the Riverwomen is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday (10/15). The game versus the Hawks starts on Sunday (10/17) afternoon at 2:30.

Volleyball Aims For Business As Usual

SIUE volleyball coach Todd Gober knows if his team can keep putting together wins the Cougars have a good chance at winning the Great Lakes Valley Conference. SIUE is currently 16-5 overall and 7-1 in GLVC action.

"Now we just have to take care of business and play hard," said Gober. "The top teams in our conference are very equal."

SIUE picked up two road wins over Lewis and Wisconsin-Parkside over the weekend. The Cougars came from behind to outlast the Flyers, including a 15-12 fifth game on Friday (10/8) night.

"It was a good weekend, and Lewis played great against us," said Gober. "I have to give tons of credit to them. We just pulled it out. It was guts and hard work on our part that helped us find a way to win."

Outside hitter Kindra Westendorf (Effingham) led the charge with 23 kills against Lewis and 12 kills against the Rangers. "Kindra had a great weekend," said Gober. "She is someone who the other team is keying on. She had two huge matches."

Junior Krystal Majernik (Normal) recorded 109 assists in the two contests. She is averaging 11.64 assists per game this season. "She is very, very good at distributing the ball," said Gober. "She is running our middles better, and she is finding that consistent tempo. She is holding the ball a little longer and that is freezing the other teams middle blockers."

One of the middle hitters finding success from Majernik is Heather Bonde (Millstadt). Bonde had 33 kills in the matches against Lewis and Wisconsin-Parkside. She ranks fourth in the GLVC in points per game (4.77) and leads SIUE in kills per game (3.97).

"Heather had a great week offensively," said Gober. "She was terminating, and she is starting to understand she has to focus on to keeping her game on track."

Allison Buss (Towanda) leads the conference in services aces per game (0.58) and is second in the GLVC with 4.95 digs per game as the Cougars' libero. Buss had 26 digs in the victory over Lewis.

"Allison had a few huge digs against Lewis that really stopped their momentum," said Gober.

Jamie Jones (Flanagan) came in off the bench for SIUE and made some huge contributions in both wins. "Jamie Jones came in an did a great job defensively and helped us win game four against Lewis," said Gober. "Then in game five she was a key factor with her serving three straight points for us."

The Cougars will be at home this weekend to face Missouri-St. Louis on Friday (10/15) at 7 p.m. SIUE takes on Quincy on Saturday (10/16) afternoon at 1.

Cougars Battle At Border Wars

The SIUE men's and women's cross country teams battled in the Missouri-Illinois Border Wars at SIUE's Cross Country Course. The 21st-ranked Cougars finished sixth out of 28 teams. The women's team finished 15th out of 28.

Senior Ryan Boyll (Normal) led the way on the men's side. Boyll finished fifth at the meet with a time of 25 minutes, 35.45 seconds. Junior Brian Taghon (East Moline) came in at 11th place with a time of 25:58.11. Freshman Erik Steffens (Moline) continued his string of strong performances, placing 39th out of 273 competitors with a time of 26:56.31.

On the women's side, senior Mary Witte (Norman) finished 55th a time of 19:49.94. Freshman Kelly Flounders (Homer Glen) came in at a 62nd place at 20:01.32 in the 5,000 meters. Senior Lee Ann Lomax (Georgetown) came in at 69th place just more than six seconds behind Flounders to finish at 20:07.89.

The Cougars will travel to Highland Hts., Ky., for the GLVC Championships on Oct. 23 beginning at 10 a.m. for the women and 11 a.m. for the men.

Yingst Earns GLVC All-Conference Selection

Senior Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) has been named a GLVC All-Conference selection. She had a record of 6-3 on the year at No. 1 singles.

SIUE's women's tennis team finished its season with a fifth-place finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. The Cougars ended their season with a 5-6 record.

The Cougars lost 5-0 to Southern Indiana in their opening round match of the six-team tournament. SIUE bounced back to defeat Bellarmine 5-3 in the fifth place match.

In the win over the Knights, Yingst won at No. 1 singles 7-6, 6-1.

Senior Allison Coats (Belleville) gained the victory at No. 2 singles 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, and Lisa Warner (Arlington Hts.) won at No. 4 singles 6-1, 6-4.

SIUE took two of the three doubles matches to help gain the victory against Bellarmine. The Cougars had lost to the Knights 6-3 on Sept. 3.

The Cougars finished off their regular season by winning four of their last seven matches.

Season Tickets On Sale For Cougar Basketball

Season tickets are now available for sale for the 2004-2005 SIUE basketball season. This year's home schedule includes 15 men's games and 12 women's games.

All home games are played at SIUE's 4,000-seat Vadalabene Center.

The cost for chair-back "blue seats" are $65. Only a limited number of blue seats remain available.

A season pass for general admission seating is $60 for the general public and $50 for SIUE faculty, SIUE staff, SIUE alumni and senior citizens.

To secure your seat for the 2004-2005 season, contact the SIUE Athletics Department at 618-650-2871.

Fannie Belle Lebby To Be Featured In Tribute To Prof. Redmon In U. City

Woodie Award nominee Fannie Belle Lebby will perform her one woman show, Ladies of the Blues, including portrayals of blues artist Alberta Hunter and comedienne Moms Mabley, at a tribute for poet and author Eugene B. Redmond on Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd., in the University City (MO) Loop.

Redmond is an SIUE professor of English Language and Literature and poet laureate of East St. Louis. He also is the author of 12 books, six plays and is founding editor of the multicultural literary magazine, Drumvoices Revue. He is the recipient of the Pushcart Prize, a Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and an inductee in the National Literary Hall of Fame for writers of African Descent.

The Oct. 30 event is a fundraiser for the documentary Arkansippi Bard, a biographical film about Eugene Redmond. Also performing is the Soular System Ensemble, a poetry touring troupe of the Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club.

An avid photographer, Redmond's photo exhibit, Visualizing Black Writers: An Extra-literary Exhibit from the Eugene B. Redmond Collection, is currently touring and has been on exhibition at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.

Simone de Cyrene Productions, Inc., producer's of the film about Redmond, is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to chronicle diverse Midwest artists who have contributed to the Black Arts Movement and globally enriched the cultural landscape.

Two performances will take place Saturday-3 p.m. and 9 p.m. VIP tickets are $40, which includes a reception at 2 and 8, respectively, while general admission is $25 for each performance only.

Tickets may be purchased through MetroTix: (314) 534-1111 or (800) 293-5949, Monday thru Sunday. Mastercard/VISA/American Express/Discover cards are accepted. For more information, call Sheryl Johnson, (314) 550-5599.

SIU Board Approves Change Of Scope For Boiler System

The SIU Board of Trustees voted recently to explore its options in light of a decision by Illinois Power Co. (now AmerenIP) to terminate a 33-year agreement between the utility and SIU Edwardsville under which natural gas has been provided.

Under the current agreement, IP monitors the university's use of natural gas through a single "master meter," while owning and maintaining the gas lines that service the university's hot water and boiler systems.

IPC announced in March its decision to terminate the agreement. That decision left the university with three options to consider: 1) allow the utility to meter each of the buildings so that IPC continues to own and operate the existing distribution lines on campus; 2) leave the existing master meter in place and SIUE purchase the existing distribution lines from IPC; or 3) leave the master meter in place and SIUE replace the existing IPC distribution with one owned and operated by the university.

Today's board action calls for an engineering study to make recommendations about what the best course of action is for SIUE. If the second option were chosen, the matter would again come before the board.

In December of last year, the SIU board voted to discontinue use of the campus-wide boiler system and provide gas-fired, hot-water boilers and domestic water heaters in each of the core campus buildings as a cost-cutting measure. Because of favorable bids on the base project, the cost of today's proposed change in scope will be funded from within the original approved amount.

Five Companies Are Awarded Bids To Build New Pharmacy Facility

Construction contracts totaling $3.26 million have been awarded to five Southwestern Illinois companies for a new facility to house the SIUE School of Pharmacy.

The action was taken recently by the SIU Board of Trustees Executive Committee, which authorized the awarding of contracts to L. Wolf Company of Granite City, for general contracting ($2,006,001); Pyramid Electrical Contractors of Fairview Heights, for electrical ($333,970); France Mechanical of Edwardsville, for plumbing ($446,300); Hock Mechanical Inc. of Belleville, for ventilation ($421,845); and Bi-State Fire Protection, for fire prevention ($49,135).

The project, which includes construction of a new 15,000-square-foot facility, was approved by the board at its September 2003 meeting. The board also earlier this year gave the executive committee authority to award bids if it would expedite the project's completion by the beginning of Fall Semester 2005.

The project calls for construction of the building adjacent to 200 University Park Drive, where the School of Pharmacy administrative offices are currently located in SIUE's University Park. The new facility will provide labs, classrooms, and office space for the School.

The entire plan calls for additional funding to further renovate 15,000 square feet of additional space in the existing building at 200 University Park Drive for more classrooms and offices. Bids on the renovation aspect of the project are expected in the coming weeks.

Total cost of the project is estimated at $5 million and will be funded through issuance of certificates of participation to be retired with revenue generated by tuition from Pharmacy students. The entire project must be completed by the beginning of the 2005-06 academic year.

NCERC's Martha Schlicher Named Director Of SIUE Research Center

Martha Schlicher, who has more than 16 years of experience in developing and commercializing new technologies for agriculture, has been named director of SIUE's National Corn-To-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC).

As the NCERC becomes operational, Rodney Bothast, previously the facility's director, and Schlicher have rearranged the management structure to allow Bothast to focus exclusively on the research aspects of the facility, while Schlicher assumes responsibility for day-to-day operations and implementation of the center's strategic plan.

Schlicher has been the NCERC's associate director for Administration and Finance since January.

The NCERC was created with $14 million in federal funds and $6 million from the state of Illinois. Research at the center is focused on finding ways to ensure the sustained growth of fuel ethanol markets by improving the economics of its production.

Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from corn and other feedstocks. Its use improves the environment, provides jobs for rural America, creates new markets for agricultural crops, and enhances energy security.

While the NCERC has been educating visiting groups on the benefits of biobased fuel since construction began, the facility will open its doors to commercial clients this fall. Laboratory and computer modeling research has begun on two grant-funded projects, while the final plant commissioning and testing is occurring to meet the project needs of the initial commercial clients.

From 1988 to 2002, Schlicher held a number of significant positions-spanning research to sales and marketing-at Monsanto Co. in St. Louis, including regional business director, strategic business director, registration and regulatory sciences director, and environmental sciences director, to name a few.

In 2002, she joined the staff of Divergence in St. Louis, where she was responsible for market definition and strategy, regulatory, manufacturing, partner identification, and market development for the company's agricultural projects under development.

Schlicher earned a bachelor of science at Indiana University and a doctorate in organic chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also received an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

She is recipient of numerous technical and leadership awards including two Monsanto Achievement Awards, a Monsanto Technical Excellence Award, and a YWCA Women in Leadership Award. Schlicher led Monsanto's University Outreach programs with the U of I for a number of years and was an Illinois Farm Bureau Adopt-a-Scientist designee.

School Of Business Center To Conduct Series

The Entrepreneurship Center, part of the SIUE School of Business, will conduct a Nov. 10 forum, the first in a four-part series with topics ranging from assisting entrepreneurs seeking equity investment to putting together a management team. It's part of the center's Entrepreneurship Forum Series.

The Nov. 10 forum, Capital Formulation, will teach entrepreneurs and current business owners how to present a business concept or business expansion to investors. In addition, the series will provide opportunities for individuals to communicate business ideas to others who might have an interest in partnering or in funding a business plan.

Nov. 10 panelists Jack Cranley, an attorney, and Trevor Gonterman, a venture capitalist consultant, will discuss "tricks of the trade" for approaching and attracting equity investment. They will provide tips on where and how to seek equity investors, how to protect a business idea, and how ideas can be turned into assets.

The first forum is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, Fairview Heights; cost is $25 per person, which includes refreshments. For more information, contact Center Director Jim Mager by telephone: (618) 650-2669 or by e-mail: jmager@siue.edu.

Illinois Lt. Gov. Quinn Visits Alton Campus To Promote New State Mandate

To promote a new state statute that requires grade school students to receive dental exams-as they do mandatory health exams-Illinois Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn recently visited with faculty and students at the the SIU School of Dental Medicine. The visit was part of the state's Healthy Smiles Week, designed to promote the new statewide policy.

Under the new state statute, children entering kindergarten, second and sixth grades, in public and private schools, must receive an oral health exam. "Tooth decay is the number one chronic illness in children," Quinn told the media at a news conference on the Alton campus.

He also noted toothaches are a leading cause of school absences. "This new school mandate will affect hundreds of thousands of children statewide and is aimed to address the growing epidemic of dental disease among young children."

For the Healthy Smiles Day event at the SIU dental school, 200 children from Horace Mann and West Elementary schools in Alton were given exams throughout the day.

Dr. Debra Schwenk, head of the dental school's Community and Preventive Dentistry program, coordinated the event. Dr. Debra Dixon helped cover the screenings of the 200 secod and third graders who came through the clinic.

Additionally, 14 SDM students helped facilitate the event by providing screenings and also offering oral health education lessons for the elementary school students. Several of the SIU dental students also supervised and played oral health education games with the children.

Dr. Ann Boyle, dean of the School, welcomed Quinn, Illinois Sen. Bill Haine, and Lisa Bilbrey, Special Projects administrator of IFLOSS, to the event. "These exams are a critical and necessary first step toward improving the oral health of Illinois children," Boyle said. "In turn, we know better oral health leads to better overall health."

In 2000, a study of access to oral health care for Illinois low-income children showed only 33 percent of children enrolled in Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program utilized oral health care during the year. The study also found that only 34 percent of active general and pediatric dentists were enrolled as Medicaid providers.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich recently signed the legislation, sponsored by Illinois Rep. Miller, a Democrat from Dolton. He is the General Assembly's only dentist. Students would have to show proof of certain immunizations and tests (confirmation of a dental exam) upon starting that school year.

Quinn further expressed hope that the Healthy Smiles Week initiative would become an annual state health initiative to promote awareness of the importance of oral health.

School Of Nursing To Offer Management Program

The School of Nursing will begin offering a 12-credit-hour nurse management program in January. The program will feature online courses for nurse managers and nurses who want to move into management positions. Registration deadline is Nov. 19.

The program is designed to strengthen and expand the management skills of registered nurses in hospitals, home health agencies, long-term care, and other health care settings in which registered nurses serve as managers. Enrollment is for registered nurses with an associate degree, diploma, bachelor's degree, or graduate degree. The program will include four courses, each for three hours of academic credit.

The courses will be delivered online with one or two classroom meetings in each course. Students must have basic e-mail, internet, and word processing skills to use the online format.

Duration of each course will be eight weeks, with the first course beginning at the start of spring semester and the second beginning at mid-semester. Students enrolling in two courses each semester will complete the program in two semesters. Credit earned in the nurse management program may be transferable to the RN-BS program or the graduate program in the SIUE School of Nursing. Experienced nursing faculty will teach the courses.

Course content will include: The dynamic role of the nurse manager in the health care organization; principles of nursing management; leader and management theories, skills and behaviors; and leadership concepts including power, teamwork, collaboration, planning, empowerment, motivation, and decision making, to name a few.

For more information, contact Doris Davis in the School of Nursing by telephone: (618) 650-3960 or (800) 234-4844, or, by e-mail: dordavi@siue.edu.

Participants may register on the first night of class, but a spot must be reserved by Nov. 19 to ensure enrollment.

The first class of the spring semester will begin the week of Jan. 10. Students will be notified of a day, time, and location for an orientation session during that week.

Men's Basketball Heads To Assembly Hall

When your opponent is picked to win the Big Ten and selected No. 1 preseason in the nation by Lindy's, that might be enough to make a coach worried.

For SIUE men's basketball coach Marty Simmons, the Cougars' exhibition game at Illinois on Friday (11/5) at 7 p.m. is a good way to assess his team's skills. "Our main focus is on us," said Simmons. "We're looking for how we respond."

Simmons said he will be watching to see how SIUE responds to the press defense, how well the team blocks out and how effective the team screens. It's going to be the little things that matter to Simmons and not necessarily the information on the scoreboard at Assembly Hall.

SIUE also plays at Western Illinois on Wednesday (11/3) and at Indiana next Friday (11/12). "After playing those three teams, we should be a better basketball team going into the season," Simmons said.

SIUE returns two of its top leading scorers in guard Calvin Sykes (Chicago) and forward Joel Jaye (Chicago). SIUE was 16-12 last season and picked to finish fourth in the 11-team Great Lakes Valley Conference this season.

The Cougars begin the regular season at home Nov. 15 against Lincoln Christian at 7:30 p.m.

Women's Basketball Opens Exhibition Season

With three exhibition games against NCAA Division I schools to start the season, SIUE women's basketbal coach Wendy Hedberg said she's ready to start of the 2004-2005 season.

The Cougars plan to use the exhibition games as an opportunity to get better. "I want to see where we are defensively as a ballclub," said Hedberg. "The games may expose our weaknesses because of the quality of play."

SIUE begins its exhibition season at Bradley on Saturday (11/6) at 2 p.m. The Cougars face Western Illinois next Monday (11/8) at 7 p.m. and Southeast Missouri State on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. "With these games, you are just trying to play somebody different to prepare for the season," said Hedberg.

SIUE opens its regular season on Nov. 16 at home against Robert Morris. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Men's Soccer Set For Conference Tournament

It seems like there's always a big men's soccer game between Quincy and SIUE in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.

In fact, this will be the fourth time in the last five years that the two teams have met in the conference tournament. SIUE won last season 4-0 and again in 2001 by the score of 2-0. Quincy won the GLVC Tournament match 1-0 in 2000. "Here we go again," said SIUE men's soccer coach Ed Huneke.

The two teams tied 0-0 this season on SIUE's field, one of two ties for the Cougars. SIUE is 14-2-2 heading into the GLVC Tournament.

SIUE is the host institution for the conference tournament, having secured the best record in the GLVC. SIUE plays Quincy at 7:30 p.m. The No. 2 seed Wisconsin-Parkside faces third-seeded Lewis in the other semifinal game at 5 p.m. The championship game will be play at 2 p.m. Sunday (11/6).

Huneke said he doesn't see much difference between the Quincy game earlier this season and the one about to be played. "We just have to key in on certain players," he said.

The Cougars completed the regular season Saturday (10/30) with a 2-1 victory over Truman State. The game was played on the artificial turf at Washington University in St. Louis.

Huneke said he knows his players felt the sense of urgency in the Truman State game. "That was a big win for us trying to obtain the first-round bye in the (NCAA) regionals," said Huneke. "There was a lot riding on that."

The top three teams as selected by the NCAA advance to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Tournament. The top team earns a bye waiting for the second and third seed to fight it out. The NCAA Tournament begins Nov. 11 at a site to be determined.

Women's Soccer Travels To GLVC Tournament

SIUE and Northern Kentucky will meet in the semifinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament in Kenosha, Wis., on Friday (11/5).

The outcome of the game may have NCAA implications, one fact that should motivate both ballclubs. "They have a lot of motivation to defeat us. They'll be gunning for us," said SIUE Coach Lynda Bowers.

SIUE became the first team in the GLVC to defeat Northern Kentucky during the regular season since Oct. 9, 1999. SIUE defeated NKU 2-0 at Korte Stadium.

Northern Kentucky has won five of the last six GLVC Tournaments and have a 16-0-1 record all-time in tournament play. "They have been on a roll lately," said Bowers of Northern Kentucky. The Norse defeated sixth-seeded Missouri-St. Louis 4-1 Sunday (10/31) in the GLVC Tournament quarterfinals.

The GLVC Tournament will be played in Kenosha, Wis., at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, which earned the No. 1 seed through the league's tiebreaker system. Wisconsin-Parkside, SIUE, and Northern Kentucky all finished the GLVC season with 9-1 records in league play.

SIUE faces NKU at 11 a.m. followed by Wisconsin-Parkside against fifth-seeded Bellarmine, which earned its spot in the GLVC Tournament by defeating Saint Joseph's 1-0 in overtime Sunday (10/31).

The Cougars head into the GLVC Tournament with one of the top scorers in the league. Ann Crawford (St. Louis) leads SIUE with nine goals and three assists. SIUE's goalkeeper combination of Jessica Brown (St. Louis) and Kim Roady (Granite City) have posted a school-record 11 shutouts.

Volleyball Enters Final Weekend Of GLVC Play

A strong finish to the regular season and a possible bye in the first round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament is what the SIUE volleyball team aims to accomplish this weekend.

The Cougars, 22-6 overall and 12-2 in GLVC regular season play, face Quincy on Friday (11/5) at 7 p.m. and Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday (11/6) at 1 p.m. It is the final weekend of play in the GLVC. "We can't take either Quincy or Missouri-St. Louis lightly," said SIUE Coach Todd Gober. "I expect those teams to play better on their home court than they did at SIUE.

The Cougars defeated both Quincy and UMSL earlier this season in three games.

SIUE is one match behind Southern Indiana for first place and one-half of a match ahead of Northern Kentucky for the No. 2 seed. The top six teams advance to this year's GLVC Tournament with the top two seeds earning a bye into the semifinals.

The Cougars head into the final weekend with the top defense in the league. Opponents are hitting just .159 against the Cougars. SIUE is third in offense with a .257 hitting percentage.

SIUE middle hitter Heather Bonde (Millstadt) is seventh in the GLVC in hitting percentage at .321. She also leads the Cougars in kills with 371.

Cross Country Plays Host To Region

SIUE will showcase its cross country course Saturday (11/6) as it plays host to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Championships.

There will be 21 men's teams and 22 women's teams competing in the meet. The men's race begins at 11 a.m. with the women's race to follow at 12:15 p.m. on SIUE's cross country course.

SIUE Coach Eileen McAllister said her teams were apprehensive about hosting a third meet this season but have changed their minds at the prospect of the championships taking place on their home course. "Now they are actually excited about a home meet. They don't have to worry about traveling for this meet," McAllister said.

The top four women's teams and the next two individuals advance to the cross country national meet on Nov. 20 in Evansville, Ind. The top three men's teams and the next two individuals also advance to the national championships on the campus of Southern Indiana.

McAllister said she wants her team to gain experience from the meet. "I just want them to end the season on a positive note," she said.

Regular Season Ends With A Win

John Matthews headed in a corner kick from Victor Pacheco with 19 seconds left in the first half for the game winner as SIUE went on to a 2-1 victory over Truman State.

Truman State and SIUE fans were on unfamiliar turf with the game moved on Friday (10/29) evening to Washington University's Francis Field in St. Louis. The artificial turf field provided a fast pace and a number of scoring chances.

SIUE, 14-2-2 and the No. 1 seed for the Great Lakes Valley Conference, scored first as Michael Burgund buried a shot past Truman State goalkeeper Nate Gibson from point-blank range. Gibson had saved one shot from Matthews and a second from Burgund during the play. Burgund controlled the rebound and scored the goal.

With time running out in the first half, SIUE converted a corner kick from Pacheco. Matthews took the ball at the near post and slipped the ball in the net.

Despite only an 11-9 advantage in shots, SIUE dominated the play near the goals with nine corner kicks to Truman State's zero. Paul Link provided some confidence at 63:17 scoring from 15 yards out on an assist from Drew Vogt. Truman State pressed in the second half but couldn't get another goal past SIUE goalkeeper Nicholas Frasca, who had four saves.

SIUE now awaits its opponent for the GLVC Tournament semifinals at Korte Stadium next Friday (11/5). The Cougars will play the lowest remaining seed after tomorrow's quarterfinals.

SIUE will play either fourth-seeded Quincy, fifth-seeded Northern Kentucky or sixth-seeded Indianapolis if the Greyhounds pull off an upset against third-seeded Lewis.

Cougars Aiming Higher For 04-05 Season

Coach Marty Simmons sits in his Vadalabene Center office knowing that his SIUE men's basketball is going to be a good team.

He knows it. His fellow Great Lakes Valley Conference coaches acknowledged it when the Cougars were picked to finish fourth in the league. Still, Simmons knows hours and hours more of practice and repetition are the only thing that can truly make those beliefs true.

SIUE finished 16-12 last season, the school's first winning campaign since the 1998-1999 campaign. The Cougars were 11-4 a season ago at home; the first time SIUE had double-digit victories at the Vadalabene Center since the 1993-1994 season.

"Overall, we're faster, bigger, and more athletic," said Simmons. "But I'm not ruling anything out right now. It may be the guys playing hardest in practice who are out there."

To achieve that faster, bigger, and most athletic look, the Cougars hit the recruiting trail hard again during the off-season. SIUE added freshman J.B. Jones (Belleville) as well as transfers Michael Sams (Mt. Zion), Pat Readus (Memphis, Tenn.), Martel Mahon (Chicago), and Cordell Jeanty (Toronto, Ontario).

Simmons said the newcomers figure to make an impact right away. Finding the right mixture of players may be Simmons' biggest obstacle.

Simmons said he would look to senior guard Calvin Sykes (Chicago) for more after Sykes posted 11.8 points per game last season along with a team-leading 109 assists.

"We're looking for more leadership out of Calvin," Simmons said. The Cougars expect Sykes to make the transition to the off-guard position. It's a more natural position for Sykes, and it opens up a spot at point guard for J.B. Jones (Belleville) and redshirt freshman Anthony Jones (Centralia).

"J.B. Jones is a leader out there. He finds a way for his team to win," Simmons said of the 6-foot-2-inch freshman who played last season for Belleville West High School. "A.J. (Anthony Jones) is an outstanding shooter who is quick with the ball and fast off the dribble," Simmons said. Simmons also has his eye on 6-4 Mahon and 6-1 Readus at the guard position. Both add speed to the lineup.

The Cougars also will have a great deal of flexibility with his lineups. Several players can play multiple positions.

Kris Crosby (Belleville), a 6-5 forward, returns for his senior season after scoring 2.5 points a contest last season. Crosby can play three different positions, noted Simmons. SIUE also looks to Sams, a 6-6 guard-transfer from Illinois State as a multi-dimensional player, and Jeanty, who exhibited the ability to post up defenders at John A. Logan College to the tune of 24.2 points per game.

Tim Bauersachs (Pinckneyville) returns for his senior season after leading the Cougars in rebounding with 5.3 per game last season. A strong defender and a much-improved offensive threat, Bauersachs earned his spot in Simmons' lineup through hard work in practice and at game time.

Joel Jaye (Chicago) averaged 10.7 points per game without a starting assignment last season. He led the GLVC in three-point shooting last season at 50.9 percent. "Joel has worked hard in the preseason at getting to the basket and getting to the free throw line," Simmons said.

The Cougars also return a stronger center in 6-11 Dan Heimos (Waterloo). "Dan added some muscle during the offseason. We need him to make those 15-17 footers to open more things up inside," said Simmons. Heimos already established himself as one of the GLVC's top shot blockers with 47 blocks last season.

Forward Justin Ward (Moline), a former GLVC Freshman of the Year, also will battle for playing time. "He's a good scorer and an exciting player to watch," said Simmons.

SIUE also added 6-9 redshirt freshman Doug Taylor (McClure). "He has a good shooting touch and gets up and down the floor." The Cougars are hoping the additional 25 pounds Taylor added over the last season will help lift his play as the Cougars get ready for a rigorous schedule.

The Cougars have an outstanding road exhibition season planned beginning with Illinois on Nov. 5 followed by Western Illinois on Nov. 10 and Indiana on Nov. 12.

SIUE opens the regular season at the Vadalabene Center on Nov. 15 against Lincoln Christian. The GLVC season opens Nov. 26 at home against Lewis.

Cougar fans also can follow the team to Hawaii for a special two-game set in Honolulu. SIUE faces Dominican (N.Y.) on Dec. 19 and Washburn (Kan.) on Dec. 20.

Youthful Team Lifts SIUE Women's Basketball

Experienced" is not going to be the first word out of the mouth of SIUE women's basketball coach Wendy Hedberg as she describes her 2004-2005 team.

With two seniors on the team, neither of whom have been regular starters over the last three seasons, the Cougars will look to a young team. Some of those players are battle-tested in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and others are a solid group that has been highly successful at other levels.

"Every player can contribute to this team," said Hedberg. "We're going to start three different lineups during the exhibitions and take a look at who plays better with who."

Seniors Annie Miller (West Salem, Wis.) and Sara Unterbrink (Madison, Mo.) have a combined five starting assignments in six combined years with the Cougars. Hedberg said both Miller and Unterbrink are playing the best basketball of their careers right now. Both see their senior season as a chance to finish well.

Hedberg won't be looking in any one person's direction when talking about leadership. This year's Cougars have a handful of players eager for a breakout season.

Tanya Guell (Plymouth, Wis.), a 6-foot-1-inch junior, is the team's top returning scorer with 13.0 points per game and second in rebounds with 4.3 per contest. "We're looking for her to be a force down low," said Hedberg. "She is very capable with good moves around the basket."

Julianne McMillen (Pana) was averaging double figures in scoring and rebounding before a mid-season injury cut her effective playing time. She rallied to average 10.1 points and a team-leading 7.3 rebounds per game.

Hedberg thinks the sophomore is capable of being only the second Cougar player in the last 25 years to average a double-double over the course of a season. The last player to do that was Kim Lowe in 1997-1998. Lowe was an All-American the next season.

Amber Wisdom (Geneseo) returns for her junior season after leading the Cougars in assists with 96 in 2003-2004. "I think this is the best preseason Amber has had since she arrived," Hedberg said.

Jamie Kennedy (Colfax) also returns looking for playing time in the backcourt. She played in 24 games last season and averaged 2.1 point per game.

Hedberg will look to a talented group of newcomers to add some spark to the lineup.

Tiffany Sproat (Fairview Hts.) and Whitney Sykes (Pontoon Beach) played high school basketball last season just miles from one another at Belleville East High School and Granite City High School, respectively. "Sproat attacks the basket and the offensive boards," said Hedberg. "Sykes is a great shooter, but I think her best attribute is her passing."

Amy Austin (Jeffersonville, Ind.) joins Sproat and Sykes in the Cougars' freshman class. Austin was an All-Stater in Indiana for Jeffersonville High School. Hedberg said she'll be a combination point and off guard who is a very athletic defender.

Lindy Carey (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) is a transfer from IUPU-Ft. Wayne. Hedberg said Carey is an offensive-minded player with a good three-point range.

Alisa Carrillo (Santa Ana, Calif.) is a transfer from Orange Coast College, a junior college in California. Carrillo was a team Most Valuable Player last season after averaging 17.2 points per game.

The Cougars are coming off an 11-17 record. SIUE struggled in losing five of its final six games but played one of its best games of the season in a 53-49 GLVC Tournament loss to Quincy, which went on to compete in the NCAA Elite Eight.

This season, the Cougars are courting a high-challenging schedule. SIUE opens the exhibition season on Nov. 6 at Bradley followed by trips to Western Illinois on Nov. 8 and Southeast Missouri State on Nov. 12.

SIUE opens the regular season on Nov. 16 at the Vadalabene Center against Robert Morris. The Cougars begin the GLVC season at home on Nov. 26 against Lewis.

SIUE has two tournaments planned on opposite ends of the country. The Cougars play Concord on Nov. 19 and Fairmont State on Nov. 20 in Athens, W.V. On Dec. 19, SIUE faces West Texas A&M followed by Harding on Dec. 20. Both of those games will be played at the Hoops N' Surf Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Nov. 2 'Fan Jam' Will Highlight SIUE Basketball

SIUE basketball fans will get their first look at the 2004-2005 Cougars on Tuesday, Nov. 2, when the teams present "Fan Jam."

Cougar fans of all ages are invited to the free event. The festivities get under way at 6:30 p.m. with free pizza and soda. The Cougars have a number of games planned including the Prize Putt, a free- throw contest, a three-point contest, a lay-up contest and a dribbling contest for children.

SIUE women's coach Wendy Hedberg and her Cougars take the court at 7:45 p.m. and will warm-up before playing a 20-minute scrimmage. SIUE men's coach Marty Simmons and his Cougars will play a 20-minute scrimmage at 8:20 p.m.

The SIUE exhibition season begins Nov. 5 when the SIUE men's team travels to Champaign to face the Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois at 7 p.m. at Assembly Hall.

For more information about Fan Jam, call SIUE Athletics at (618) 650-2871.

Simmons, Hedberg Featured At Coaches Clinic

SIUE men's and women's head basketball coaches Marty Simmons and Wendy Hedberg will be the featured instructors for the free Coach it Right! coaches clinic at the Vadalabene Center this Saturday (10/30).

The instructional clinic takes place from 1-4 p.m. and is hosted by SIUE, the St. Louis Sports Commission's Sports for Kids program, and the Taco Bell Coaches Club.

Simmons and Hedberg will show coaches how to properly teach basketball fundamentals and techniques to their young athletes. Coaches will receive tips on half court and transition defense, set plays on offense, the fast break, sportsmanship, and much more. David Strickfaden, managing partner of Fitness Designs Physical Therapy and Sports Rehab, also will be on hand to talk about training, nutrition, and conditioning for basketball.

Every coach who attends the clinic will receive a free Sports for Kids clipboard, perfect for organizing practices, rosters, diagrams, and plays.

Simmons enters his third season at SIUE. His team notched a fifth-place finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference last season and was selected to finish in the final four this season. Before coming to SIUE, Simmons was an assistant coach at the University of Evansville.

Hedberg is entering her 26th year as coach at SIUE. She has compiled a record of 391-298 and four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. Her teams have had a 111-69 mark in GLVC action since 1994.

To register by telephone, call (314) 992-0689, or, visit the Web site: www.stlouissports.org/kids/basketball_2004.htm.

SIUE Volleyball Blanks Washington U.

SIUE collected 47 kills and overpowered Washington University 30-19, 30-27, 30-26 in women's college volleyball on Tuesday at the Vadalabene Center.

The Cougars improved to 21-6 overall. Washington U., the No. 4-ranked team in NCAA Division III, fell to 20-5.

SIUE led the distance in the match, puzzling the Bears defense in game one. The Cougars recorded a solid games two and three behind junior setter Krystal Majernik's 38 assists. Kindra Westendorf, who led all players with six blocks, led the offense with 12 kills. Heather Bonde and Shannon Winkeler added 11 and 10 kills, respectively.

Emilie Walk powered the Bears offense with 10 kills. As a team, the Bears collected 12 blocks.

SIUE now heads to Louisville, Ky., for a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup against Bellarmine. Match time on Friday (10/29) night is 7.

Men's Soccer Changes Truman Game To Saturday

SIUE men's soccer coach Ed Huneke announced today that the game at Truman State scheduled for Thursday (10/28) at 2 p.m. will now be played on Saturday (10/30) at noon.

Cougar Men's Soccer Clinches No. 1 Seed

SIUE men's soccer took care of business last Saturday (10/23) by wrapping up the No. 1 seed for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament semifinals and finals on Nov. 5-7.

The Cougars' 3-0 win over Bellarmine clinched the top seed and a first round bye in the tournament. The quarterfinals are this Sunday (10/31). "It's nice accomplishment, and it feeds into some other nice benefits for the postseason," said SIUE soccer coach Ed Huneke.

For the second year in a row, SIUE finished GLVC play undefeated with a 8-0-2 record, 13-2-3 overall. The Cougars are unbeaten in their last 21 GLVC regular season games.

SIUE will do battle with regional rival Truman State on Saturday (10/30) for its final regular season game of the year. "They always have a good team," said Huneke. "It will be a good challenge for us, and I expect a quality game on both sides."

In the win over Bellarmine, Mike Banner (Upper Marlboro, Md.) recorded two goals, including a breakaway goal from midfield. The sophomore has four goals in nine games for SIUE, and he leads the conference in shots per game at 4.22. "I was really pleased with Mike's play," said Huneke. "We benefit greatly when he plays well."

Senior Michael Burgund (Bethalto) netted the Cougars' other goal in the win over the Knights to give him four goals on the season. "He has been a real steady player for us as a defender, but he has also picked up some nice goals," said Huneke."

SIUE has seven players on the team with 10 or more points. The Cougars are first in the GLVC with 18.24 shots per game, and SIUE is third in the conference in goals (39), goals per game ( 2.29), assists (38), assists per game (2.24), points (6.82), goals allowed (9), and goals against average (0.50).

Women's Soccer Finishes GLVC Season Tied For First

The SIUE women's soccer team has won 12 of their last 13 games and in the process finished the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season tied for first. The Cougars have a record of 13-4 overall, 9-1 in GLVC play.

"One of our goals was to try and finish first," said SIUE women's soccer coach Lynda Bowers. "It is nice to accomplish one of your goals."

The Cougars will finish off their regular season schedule Thursday (10/28) with a home match against Southeast Missouri State. Game time is 7 p.m. at Korte Stadium. "It will be a tough test for us," said Bowers. "I hope that we rise to the occasion and build our momentum going into the conference tournament."

Heading into the game against SEMO, SIUE has won seven in a row at Korte. The Cougars have not allowed a goal at home in 704:14 since they gave up a tally on against Grand Valley State on Sept. 5. "These girls have gotten better every game, and our leadership has been great this season," said Bowers.

The Cougars outlasted Bellarmine over the weekend 2-0. For the second game in a row, Christina Stremlau (St. Louis) had the game winner. Lindsey Kampwerth (Highland) added a late insurance goal to seal the win for SIUE.

The win not only improved the Cougars conference mark but also goalkeepers Jessica Brown (St. Louis) and Kim Roady (Granite City) set the record for shutouts in a season with 11. Roady has given up just one goal in more than 762 minutes of playing time this season.

Senior Ann Crawford (St. Louis) had an assist in the contest as she leads the team with 21 points. "She has played good all season long for us," said Bowers.

Christen Carducci (Powell, Ohio) also added an assist against the Knights, and she has netted two goals and added two assists in her last four games. "She has really come on strong to end out the season," said Bowers.

Padra Bencini (Carbondale) has been solid all year leading a Cougar defense that allows only 8.7 shots per game. "She has been so good this year," said Bowers. "She works so hard on her game, and it has paid off."

Volleyball Looking For A Strong Finish

The SIUE volleyball team has its sights set on ending the season on a high note. The Cougars are one game behind Southern Indiana for first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The Cougars hold an 11-2 GLVC mark, 20-6 overall. SIUE has three conference road games remaining against Bellarmine, Missouri-St. Louis, and Quincy.

SIUE defeated then fifth-place St. Joseph's and third place Indianapolis each 3-0 this past weekend to put them in second place. "We had two strong wins, and we want to continue to play well," said SIUE volleyball coach Todd Gober.

The Cougars will battle Washington (Mo.) on Tuesday (10/26) at home. The Bears are ranked fourth in Division III volleyball. "This is going to be a fun match," said Gober. "This is a game we need to win to keep our momentum going."

Leading the way for SIUE this past weekend was middle hitter Heather Bonde (Millstadt) who added 33 kills to her team-leading 347. "Heather is doing a really good job," said Gober. "She is quick, she jumps well, and she is very strong."

SIUE middle hitter Tina Talsma (Orono, Ontario) is leading the GLVC with 95 total blocks and is second on the team with a .289 hitting percentage. "Tina has been doing a great job blocking," said Gober. "She always is in good blocking position."

Krystal Majernik (Bloomington) has been steady as the team's setter with 11.66 assists per game. Majernik picked up seven kills in the win over St. Joseph's. "She is consistent and confident, and that is the kind of performance we need from our setter."

On defense, Allison Buss (Towanda) is the GLVC leader in digs with 5.24 per game. Buss and the Cougars have held their opponents to a GLVC leading .158 hitting percentage this season. "Allison has got to be one of our most valuable players," said Gober.

After facing the Bears on Tuesday night the Cougars will travel to Louisville, Ky., to take on Bellarmine on Friday (10/29) at 7 p.m.

USI Picked To Win Men's GLVC Title; Bellarmine, Indy Pace Women's Race

The University of Southern Indiana men are a clear choice to capture the 2004-05 Great Lakes Valley Conference basketball crown, while no less than four teams will battle for the women's title in a vote of league coaches.

USI (28-7, 15-5), last year's NCAA Division II runner-up, totaled 96 points and captured six first-place votes. The Screaming Eagles outdistanced Kentucky Wesleyan (22-8, 14-6), which totaled three first-place votes and 87 points and Northern Kentucky (16-15, 9-11), with two first-place votes and 78 total points.

The Panthers, however, are barred from postseason play by the GLVC and are not eligible for the GLVC and NCAA Tournament this season. While KWC's games will count in the regular season standings, that gives USI-ranked No. 5 in the pre-season Division II poll-a seemingly comfortable role as favorites in the poll.

SIU Edwardsville (74 points), Indianapolis (70) and Quincy (52) will join NKU as Southern Indiana's strongest challengers, while St. Joseph's (46), Lewis (42), UMSL (23), UW-Parkside (21) and Bellarmine (19) complete the field.

While the men's race seems clear, the women's is a toss-up with four different teams registering first-place votes. Bellarmine, Indianapolis, Quincy, and Northern Kentucky are all viewed by some coaches good enough to capture the conference championship.

Bellarmine (21-9, 15-5) and Indianapolis (23-9, 14-6) tied for the favorite role with 86 points apiece, but the Knights tallied four first place votes to the Greyhounds' two. Quincy (29-5, 17-3) registered three first-place votes and is a point behind with 85 points, while Northern Kentucky (17-11, 12-8) captured two first-place votes and 77 points.

Southern Indiana (69 points) and Lewis (57) are next, followed by UW-Parkside (48), SIU Edwardsville (33), UMSL (26), Saint Joseph's (18) and Kentucky Wesleyan (17).

The poll did not allow coaches to vote for their own teams.

September 2004

September 3, 2004

Chingy To Perform Live At SIUE With Opener Nina Sky

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Chingy, popular rapper from St. Louis who has toured the world and who has numerous club hits, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Vadalabene Center. The opening act is Nina Sky, a popular twin-sister singer-songwriter duo.

With recent releases such as Right Thurr and Hit the Club, Chingy has earned high acclaim for his most recent album, Chingy. He broke onto the world music stage in 2002 while touring with St. Louis superstar Nelly. A member of the "Lucacris Disturbing the Peace Family," Chingy credits Nelly for teaching him "everything from how to run meet and greets, operating backstage, and adjusting to life on the road." Chingy is preparing for the release of a new album in November.

Nina Sky-otherwise known as identical twins Natalie and Nicole Albino-is popular for Move Ya' Body, currently ranked No. 1 on the Billboard dance chart. Nina Sky's music has been described as a light R&B sound with a heavy influence of hip hop.

Tickets are now on sale to the SIUE community at the Morris University Center Information Center. Tickets are $22; SIUE students with valid ID, $17. All members of the SIUE community will be able to purchase a maximum of four tickets with their SIUE ID. No phone orders will be accepted.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public for $22 at all MetroTix locations or at www.metrotix.com beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7. SIUE students must purchase their tickets at the Morris Center Information Center to receive the student ticket price. Doors will open for the event at 7 p.m.

The event is sponsored by SIUE's Campus Activities Board (CAB). For more information, call CAB: (618) 650-3371, or the Kimmel Leadership Center: (618) 650-2686, or, visit the CAB Web site: www.siue.edu/CAB.

Back to top

September 7, 2004

Garrison Keillor Appearance For Arts & Issues Sold Out

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Sept. 21 appearance of American humorist Garrison Keillor, part of the 2004-05 Arts & Issues series at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is sold out.

"We are happy with the response to Garrison's appearance and we're sorry not everyone will have the opportunity to experience his unique sense of humor," said John Peecher, coordinator of the Arts & Issues series.

However, Peecher said a limited amount of subscription ticket packages have been reserved for those who would still like to purchase them. Subscriptions for seven events are $115; students $57.50, or seven events plus the added attraction of the Blind Boys of Alabama, $133, students, $66.50.

A 2004-05 season brochure is available by contacting the Arts & Issues office, (618) 650-2626, or by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Subscriptions or individual tickets also may be purchased on the Web site: artsandissues.com.

Tickets still are available for the remaining Arts & Issues dates: Marlin Fitzwater and Joe Lockhart (Oct. 13); Windham Hill Winter Solstice Holiday Tour (Nov. 19); Kathy Mattea (Jan. 21, 2005); The Acting Company with its rendition of Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona (Feb. 27, 2005); Ladysmith Black Mambazo (March 19, 2005); Dallas Brass (April 22, 2005); The Blind Boys of Alabama (Feb. 4, 2005).

Back to top

September 8, 2004

SIUE's Enrollment Has Increased For The Tenth Consecutive Year

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's fall enrollment has grown to 13,493 students, an increase of 198 students, or about 1.5 percent higher than fall 2003, according to Todd Burrell, the university's director of Admissions. The figure represents the highest enrollment since 1975.

The enrollment announcement comes on the heels of SIUE's recent ranking of 16th among public universities in the Midwestern Universities-Master's category of U.S. News and World Report magazine's annual university rankings. As part of that U.S. News ranking, SIUE was recognized by university administrators in the category with a peer assessment, or reputation, score that was highest among Illinois public universities.

Much of SIUE's fall 2004 enrollment increase is attributable to student retention at the undergraduate level. The number of continuing undergraduate students is up 278 over last year. New freshmen for fall 2004 number 1,682, down from 1,709 last year. "We could have enrolled more new freshmen if we had more classroom space and additional space in the three residence halls," Burrell said.

"But we feel our current enrollment management strategies allow us to continue providing a quality education for our students."

Not only is enrollment up, but there also was an increase in full-time equivalent (FTE). FTE is based on the number of hours taken by all students. The number is then divided by 12 semester hours, the level at which a student is considered full-time at SIUE. The university's FTE jumped from 9,556 in fall 2000 to 10,778 this semester, an 11-percent increase. Burrell said growing FTE levels have prompted discussion regarding stabilizing enrollment growth and also raising admission standards.

"Over the last several years, there has been a great deal of discussion on campus regarding enrollment and admission standards, prompting a change in

admissions standards," he said. "The higher FTE is a positive reflection of that change and puts SIUE at an optimum level in the size of our classes, the available classrooms, faculty load, and our ability to provide personal service for our students."

Burrell attributed the increases to a continued awareness of SIUE as an affordable institution that provides a quality education.

The U.S. News rankings, published in August, are based on several key measures of quality that are used to capture the various dimensions of academic quality at each college. These measures fall into seven broad categories: peer assessment; graduation and retention rate; faculty resources (for example, class size); student selectivity (for example, average admission test scores of incoming students); financial resources; alumni giving; and, only for national universities and liberal arts colleges, graduation rate performance.

"We are excited about the continued growing interest and reputation at SIUE," said Boyd Bradshaw, SIUE's vice chancellor for Enrollment Management. "More and more students and parents view SIUE as a first choice institution due to our course offerings, first rate residence halls and the engagement of students inside and outside the classroom," Bradshaw said.

Overall, in the Midwest Master's category, SIUE was ranked 58 out of 142 institutions, a list that includes private and public universities.

Back to top

September 10, 2004

SIUE Jazz Supper Gala Set For Oct. 3 To Feature Big Band Music

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) With its theme of "Make Believe Ballroom Time," the 16th Annual Jazz Supper Gala, featuring a live old-time radio broadcast, will offer an evening of fun, food, and music from 6-10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Reservation deadline is Sept. 24.

Proceeds benefit the SIUE Friends of Music scholarship fund that provides scholarships to talented music students. Half of the ticket price is a gift to the Friends organization and may be considered a tax deductible contribution. The Friends organization is a support group for the SIUE Department of Music.

Set in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris University Center, the Jazz Supper Gala offers a cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing to the big band sounds of SIUE's Concert Jazz Band, under the direction of SIUE Professor Brett Stamps, director of the Jazz Studies Program for the university.

Vocalist Tom Heitman, guitarist Rick Haydon, also a professor of music at SIUE, and pianist Reggie Thomas, an associate professor of Music, will be featured artists. The evening's "special honoree" will be jazz vocalist Mardra Thomas.

The event also includes a live "Old Time Radio Broadcast," featuring on-air interviews hosted by WSIE-FM (88.7) jazz personality Ross Gentile, who will invite audience participation.

Tickets for the Jazz Supper are $50 per person; a table of eight may be reserved for $350. A Blue Note sponsorship entitles a table of eight to preferred seating and recognition in the evening's printed program.

The Friends of Music is a support organization for the Department of Music. For reservations or more information, call Martee Lucas in the department, (618) 650-3799, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 3799.

Back to top

September 10, 2004

SIUE Early Childhood Center Receives Grant For Family Services

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Early Childhood Center (ECC), which has served the university community's childcare and Pre-kindergarten education needs since 1969, has been awarded a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education to offer expanded family services in collaboration with Edwardsville Community School District No. 7.

The $58,776 grant will help expand high-quality early childhood educational experiences and provide an added family component in conjunction with the Pre-K program (FACES) in the district. The grant is part of the Early Childhood Block Grant Early Learning Partners program, said ECC Director Rebecca Dabbs-Kayser.

"This grant is aimed primarily at SIUE student families with Pre-K children," Dabbs-Kayser said. She said the ECC is staffed with certified Pre-K teachers, but this grant will help expand services to families. "We'll be offering parenting education, such as parent workshops about child development and school readiness, for example, as well as family events in conjunction with the Edwardsville district and the SIUE Family Resource Center," she said.

"Through the grant, children will be screened for hearing and vision, kindergarten readiness skills, speech and language, and fine and gross motor skills. The screenings will help to identify if a child need additional developmental services which will be provided through the collaboration.

"The ECC has been providing quality Pre-K education for more than 35 years, but now we'll be collaborating with District 7," she said, "and, we are looking forward to working together to provide more services for our families."

Back to top

September 22, 2004

Gov. Howard Dean, Pundit Tony Blankley To Appear Oct. 13 At SIUE

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) On the eve of the presidential election, former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean and well-known conservative political pundit Tony Blankley will offer lively debate as part of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Arts & Issues series at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris University Center.

Dean and Blankley replace Marlin Fitzwater and Joe Lockhart on the Arts & Issues 2004-05 bill because of scheduling conflicts.

Arts & Issues, which began in 1985 at SIUE, has a long-standing tradition of bringing world-class performers and noted speakers to Southwestern Illinois. "For two decades the Arts & Issues series has been the benchmark of quality entertainment and distinguished speakers for Southwestern Illinois audiences," said John Peecher, coordinator of the series. "Howard Dean and Tony Blankley have a great deal of political savvy and will have much to say about the upcoming presidential election," he said.

"Both Dean and Blankley continue our tradition of bringing provocative speakers to the Arts & Issues podium."

Appearing on the covers of Time and Newsweek, all eyes were on Howard Dean earlier this year as he mounted an influential campaign as a candidate for the 2004 Democratic nomination for President.

Dean, a medical doctor, has previously shared a private practice with his wife, Dr. Judith Steinberg Dean, in Vermont. He earned a bachelor's at Yale and received a medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

Dean was a member of the Vermont General Assembly from 1983-85 and was elected lieutenant governor of the state in 1986, gaining re-election in 1988 and 1990. He became governor upon the death of Gov. Richard A. Snelling in August 1991 and was elected to a full term in November 1992, gaining re-election in 1994, 1996, 1998, and in 2000.

Blankley served for seven years as press secretary for then-U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. In that role, Blankley became the leading spokesman for the "Contract with America." Before his career on Capitol Hill, Blankley had served as a speechwriter and senior analyst for President Ronald Reagan.

After leaving Gingrich's staff in February 1997, Blankley joined George magazine as a contributing editor. He currently is a regular panelist for the McLaughlin Group and he also appears regularly on CNN's Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, as well as CNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, Rivera Live, The News with Brian Williams, and MSNBC. In June 1999, Blankley joined the Washington Times as a weekly political columnist; he also is a popular columnist for the Los Angeles Times.

Tickets for the Oct. 13 Arts & Issues event are $12; students, $6. A season brochure is available by contacting John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Individual tickets also may be purchased at the Web site: artsandissues.com.

The remaining Arts & Issues season includes: Windham Hill Winter Solstice Holiday Tour (Nov. 19) is SOLD OUT; Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Kathy Mattea (Jan. 21, 2005); The Acting Company with its rendition of Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona (Feb. 27, 2005); the powerful a cappella singing of Ladysmith Black Mambazo (March 19, 2005); the exciting sounds of the Dallas Brass (April 22, 2005); the special appearance of the "funkified" gospel music of The Blind Boys of Alabama (Feb. 4, 2005) is SOLD OUT.

Back to top

September 22, 2004

SIUE Friends Of Religious Center Awards Dinner Set For Oct. 2

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) A Caseyville pastor and a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty member will be honored Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Second Annual Interfaith Awards Dinner, sponsored by the Friends of the Religious Center (FRC) at SIUE.

The event is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. at the SIUE Religious Center, the geodesic dome just east of the SIUE Art and Design Building. The Rev. Douglas Cripe, coordinator of the Metro-East Interfaith Partnership, and Assistant Historical Studies Professor Rowena McClinton, who is dedicated to preserving the history of the Cherokee Nation, will receive the Friends of the Religious Center 2004 Interfaith Leadership Award.

Reservation deadline is Sept. 30; tickets are $25 per person, which includes dinner and free parking.

The FRC established the awards to recognize religious leadership and interfaith cooperation in the region. "Rev. Cripe has shown great dedication to his faith and has encouraged dialogue in the region among many faiths," said SIUE Associate Philosophy Professor Greg Fields, who is president of the FRC board and coordinator of the SIUE Religious Studies Program. "Dr. McClinton's work on Cherokee history is a great contribution to the Cherokee people, and also is a resource for all Americans who wish to gain a fuller understanding of historical encounters between native spiritual traditions and Christianity," he said.

"The FRC is honoring these two recipients so that the community at large can learn about the good work they do."

Fields said the FRC, formed more than three years ago, sponsors two main events each year to raise money to refurbish parts of the 33-year-old Religious Center that is need of repair. "We offer this Interfaith Awards Dinner in the fall and also the Celebration of World Faiths in the spring to encourage interfaith dialogue.

"The FRC is a support group dedicated to preserving the SIUE Religious Center as a significant contribution to architecture," Fields said, "as a place for the spiritual growth of SIUE students as the next generation of leaders, and for religious learning and fellowship within the community."

Cripe, pastor of the Crossroads Christian Church in Caseyville, is coordinator of the Metro-East Interfaith Partnership. The organization is dedicated to promoting peace, respect, and understanding among people of all faiths in the Metro-East area, while providing a timely public voice on issues of common concern. Cripe also serves on the boards of the Area Agency for Aging of Southwestern Illinois and the Beacon of Belleville, an interdenominational organization for helping those in need. In addition, he also is president of the Belleville Area Clergy Association.

In addition to scholarly research regarding the Cherokee culture, McClinton served this past year on the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Committee at SIUE and was instrumental in bringing Native American speakers to campus to discuss Indian sovereignty. She is very active as a member of the board for the Illinois chapter of the Trail of Tears Association, serving as historian and archivist for the group. The chapter is currently mapping the historic trail in Illinois for future interpretive center sites. McClinton also is one of two representatives from Illinois on the National Trail of Tears Association.

Dinner reservations may be made through the SIUE Religious Center, (618) 650-3246, or, toll-free from St. Louis, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 3246, or, by calling Greg Fields, (618) 650-2461; St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2461.

Back to top

September 23, 2004

SIUE School Of Nursing Scholarship Walk Raises Nearly $4,000

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Seventy-five walkers raised nearly $4,000 for the first Scholarship Walk sponsored recently by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing.

Nursing Development Director Bob McElligott said more than $3,800 raised by the volunteer walkers will be used for scholarship funds for pre-clinical, clinical, and graduate nursing students at SIUE. "Through scholarship support," McElligott said, "students will be able to focus more of their energy on nursing education, rather than holding down a job while attending school."

McElligott said more than 100 T-shirts were distributed to nursing students, faculty, staff, and those who raised donations.

In addition to fund-raising, the walk also was designed to increase public awareness of the nursing shortage, and what the SIUE School of Nursing is doing to address the problem. Graduates of the school's basic program earn a four-year BSN degree that develops and supports critical thinking skills, clinical decision-making abilities, and nursing values and ethics.

Two major sponsors of the Scholarship Walk were Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, and St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville, McElligott pointed out. "The publicized goal was to raise at least $10,000 in scholarships for nursing students," he said. "Even though we did not reach this goal, we will continue to seek donations to help our students become the nurses that current and future patients depend on for personal health care.

"We set the goal high because that is the need and opportunity. We are grateful for the work and generosity that the donation recognizes."

During the past five years, the SIUE School of Nursing has graduated 681 baccalaureate-level (BSN) nurses and 231 master's and advanced-practice (e.g., Nurse Practitioners) nurses. Most SIUE graduates tend to come from-and return to work in-Southern Illinois and in the St. Louis region.

SIUE graduates also are teaching at SIUE and in other nursing schools around the country. Nearly 4,000 nursing students have graduated during the school's 39-year existence.

McElligott said enrollment at the School is up significantly. "From fall 2003 to fall 2004, undergraduate nursing enrollment of sophomores, juniors, and seniors increased from 191 to 262; up 37 percent," he said.

"The RN to BSN program grew from 54 to 64; up 19 percent. Graduate nurse enrollment increased from 140 to 214; up 53 percent."

Back to top

September 30, 2004

Editors: Photos are available:

Noises Off To Open Oct. 13 At SIUE Mainstage

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Unlike some plays that have deep intellectual levels of meaning upon meaning, the upcoming production of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Noises Off has none.

It's just plain fun and that may be why audiences have been roaring for nearly 20 years at Michael Frayn's jaunt through the foibles and mistakes of a traveling theater troupe.

The comedy, which is directed by Johanna Schmitz, an assistant professor of Theater and Dance at the university, runs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 13-16, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, all in the Katherine Dunham Hall theater. The three-act comedy is of the play-within-a-play genre but that's about the only thing to be said about it in an intellectual manner. "This play has no intellectual pretense whatsoever," says Schmitz,

The SIUE production of Noises Off, based on a revised script published by Frayn in 2000, chronicles a hapless theater troupe performing the fictional British door-slamming sex farce "Nothing On": first at final dress rehearsal; then behind-the-scenes at a matinee on tour a month later; and finally, seven weeks after that, another matinee.

Practically everything that can go wrong does. The conflict comes as we find most of the characters, including the director and the stage manager, involved in romantic trysts, which set up a destructive dynamic fueled by jealousy and ego.

The result is something beyond slapstick. "It is just the funniest play I've ever seen," Schmitz said.

To work, the actors must perform choreographed movement with precision, and Schmitz and her cast have been working diligently on that aspect. "We had to mount the basic set much earlier than we would any other play because we needed to begin work immediately on the timing of the action.

"In this play, when one door opens, another door literally must slam shut immediately after. It's all about the timing."

Schmitz said directing Noises Off is a complete 180-degree turn from her last effort at SIUE-directing Oedipus the King last spring. "It's a joy and a new challenge for me to direct this very demanding farce," Schmitz said. "The comedy in Noises Off comes from the funny situations and the play's increased momentum as it continues to move faster and faster, becoming more complicated."

The play also gives students a chance to hone their comedic skills. "Not only does the play give them a chance to show off their training, but they also get to be in a cast that includes two of our faculty members," she said. Associate Professor Peter Cocuzza will be playing the part of Selsdon Mowbray, the elderly has-been Shakespearean, while Assistant Professor Chuck Harper will portray the role of the director, Lloyd Dallas.

"Peter has been teaching a comedy technique class and he wanted to try his hand at this comic part," Schmitz said, adding that both faculty members will lend some "maturity" to the characters they play. There's a lot of exaggeration and repetition, which also makes it very funny," Schmitz said. "And, there are a lot of cheated expectations-you think one thing is going to happen and then something else happens instead."

Tickets are $10; senior citizens, students, and SIUE faculty and staff, $6. SIUE students are free with a valid university ID. For tickets, call the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2774.

Back to top

September 30, 2004

Finalists Announced For Mississippi Valley Family Business Awards

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business, celebrating its 10th anniversary of presenting the annual Mississippi Valley Family Business of the Year Awards, has announced the finalists for the 2004 competition.

The prestigious, regional awards recognize outstanding family businesses in Missouri and Illinois and are given in three categories: large (250 or more employees), medium (50 to 250 employees), and small (fewer than 50 employees).

The 2004 Illinois Small Category finalists are: Freer Auto Body & Accessories and White's Greenhouse Inc., both located in Godfrey, and SUNCON Inc. in Alton. The Illinois Medium Category finalists are: Fischer Lumber Company in East Alton, and Korte & Luitjohan Contractors in Highland. The Illinois Large Category finalist is Luhr Bros. Inc. in Columbia.

The Missouri Small Category finalists are Nikco Sports Memorabilia in Chesterfield, Mo.; Branneky Hardware in Bridgeton, Mo.; and Lackey Sheet Metal in St. Louis. The Medium Category finalists in Missouri are: Da-Com Corporation in St. Louis; Salon De Christe in St. Peters, Mo.; and Commercial Letter Inc. in St. Louis. The Missouri Large Category finalist is The Western Group in St. Louis.

The Family Business of the Year Award is presented to companies with a strong commitment to both business and family. In addition to business success, those recognized demonstrate positive family business values, have multigenerational family business involvement, use innovative business strategies, and make personal contributions to their industries and communities.

Winners in each category will be announced at the 10th Anniversary Dinner on Friday, Nov. 5, at the SIUE campus. Tickets may be purchased for $125 per person, which includes a reception with the finalists and sponsors, dinner, and the awards presentation. For more information, contact Cheryl Camp by phone: (618) 650-2317, or, by e-mail: chcamp@siue.edu.

Sponsors supporting this year's awards program include: Colarelli Meyer & Associates, Lexow Financial Group, MassMutual Financial Group, Moto Inc., Partners Bank, Polsinelli Shalton Welte Suelthaus PC, Sheppard, Morgan & Schwaab Inc., the St. Louis Business Journal, and TheBANK of Edwardsville.

The SIUE School of Business is among the leading institutions in the region that prepares students and business professionals by creating high quality innovative programs to serve Illinois and the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Back to top

September 30, 2004

Editors: Photo available at www.siue.edu/PA/PHOTOS/photoindex.htm

SIUE School Of Nursing Holds First 'Dedication' Ceremony

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing conducted its first Dedication to the Profession Ceremony recently at SIUE's Morris University Center. Thirty-five students recently admitted to the School participated, with 120 family members and faculty also attending.

The ceremony is a milestone marking the students' entrance into clinical practice, and their first steps in answering a pledge to deliver excellent patient care.

During the program, the students and family members were welcomed and congratulated by SIUE Provost and Vice Chancellor, Sharon K. Hahs, Dean Marcia Maurer, and other Nursing .

An Alumni Award was presented to Michele Brown, associate director of Patient Care Services for St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center in St. Louis, for recent accomplishments in helping coordinate the development of a new master's program at SIUE, the Clinical Nurse Leader.

The SIUE School of Nursing is increasing public awareness of the nationwide nursing shortage, and what the SIUE School of Nursing is doing to address the problem. Graduates of the school's basic program earn a four-year BSN degree that develops and supports critical thinking skills, clinical decision-making abilities, and nursing values and ethics.

For more information about supporting the School of Nursing, contact McElligott, (618) 650-3906, or by e-mail: rmcelli@siue.edu. Information about the SIUE School of Nursing also may be found on the Web: www.siue.edu/NURSING.

Back to top

SIUE's Enrollment Has Increased For The Tenth Consecutive Year

Fall enrollment has grown to 13,493 students, an increase of 198 students, or about 1.5 percent higher than fall 2003, according to Todd Burrell, the university's director of Admissions.

The figure represents the highest enrollment since 1975.

The enrollment announcement comes on the heels of SIUE's recent ranking of 16th among public universities in the Midwestern Universities-Master's category of U.S. News and World Report magazine's annual university rankings. As part of that U.S. News ranking, SIUE was recognized by university administrators in the category with a peer assessment, or reputation, score that was highest among Illinois public universities.

Much of the fall 2004 enrollment increase is attributable to student retention at the undergraduate level. The number of continuing undergraduate students is up 278 over last year. New freshmen for fall 2004 number 1,682, down from 1,709 last year. "We could have enrolled more new freshmen if we had more classroom space and additional space in the three residence halls," Burrell said.

"But we feel our current enrollment management strategies allow us to continue providing a quality education for our students."

Not only is enrollment up, but there also was an increase in full-time equivalent (FTE). FTE is based on the number of hours taken by all students. The number is then divided by 12 semester hours, the level at which a student is considered full-time at SIUE.

The university's FTE jumped from 9,556 in fall 2000 to 10,778 this semester, an 11-percent increase. Burrell said growing FTE levels have prompted discussion regarding stabilizing enrollment growth and also raising admission standards. "Over the last several years, there has been a great deal of discussion on campus regarding enrollment and admission standards, prompting a change in admissions standards," he said.

"The higher FTE is a positive reflection of that change and puts SIUE at an optimum level in the size of our classes, the available classrooms, faculty load, and our ability to provide personal service for our students."

Burrell also attributed the increases to a continued awareness of SIUE as an affordable institution that provides a quality education.

The U.S. News rankings, published in August, are based on several key measures of quality that are used to capture the various dimensions of academic quality at each college. These measures fall into seven broad categories: peer assessment; graduation and retention rate; faculty resources (for example, class size); student selectivity (for example, average admission test scores of incoming students); financial resources; alumni giving; and, only for national universities and liberal arts colleges, graduation rate performance.

"We are excited about the continued growing interest and reputation at SIUE," said Boyd Bradshaw, vice chancellor for Enrollment Management. "More and more students and parents view SIUE as a first choice institution due to our course offerings, first rate residence halls and the engagement of students inside and outside the classroom," Bradshaw said.

Overall, in the Midwest Master's category, SIUE was ranked 58 out of 142 institutions, a list that includes private and public universities.

Walkers, Donations Needed For Nursing Scholarship Walk

The School of Nursing is encouraging donations for its Scholarship Walk on campus Saturday, Sept. 18. The event is aimed at recruiting and retaining nursing students to address a nursing shortage, a problem nationwide.

The School is recruiting participating walkers and calling on them to ask for donations that will be used for scholarship support of pre-clinical, clinical, and graduate nursing students at SIUE. The walk is also designed to increase public awareness of the nursing shortage, and what the SIUE School of Nursing is doing to address the problem.

Graduates of the school's basic program earn a four-year BSN degree that develops and supports critical thinking skills, clinical decision-making abilities, and nursing values and ethics.

The Sept. 18 Scholarship Walk will be a pleasant two-and-one-half-mile stroll through SIUE's Donal G. Myer Arboretum, and around "The Crossing," a sculpture just east of the SIUE Engineering Building, according to Bob McElligott, Development director for the School.

The walk, which kicks off at 11 a.m., will begin and end at SIUE's Alumni Hall. Refreshments will be served from noon-1 p.m. The route is wheelchair accessible, and there are many places to rest, if necessary.

McElligott said: "Our goal is to raise at least $10,000 in scholarships for nursing students. They are essential partners in our health-care delivery systems. We are trying to reach as many of our graduates as possible, asking them to return to campus to walk and support current and future nursing students."

Anyone who donates at least $25 will receive a red-and-gray, commemorative T-shirt with imprints of the SIUE "Nursing Gem of Southern Illinois" logo on the front, and "Nursing-the most honest and ethical profession" on the back.

"Hospitals and other organizations and individuals, who appreciate the nursing profession's vital role, are encouraged to consider being a sponsor with a donation of $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more," McElligott said.

During the past five years, the SIUE School of Nursing has graduated 681 baccalaureate-level (BSN) nurses and 231 master's and advanced-practice (e.g., Nurse Practitioners) nurses. Most SIUE graduates tend to come from-and return to work in- Southern Illinois and in the St. Louis region.

SIUE graduates also are teaching at SIUE and in other nursing schools around the country. Nearly 4,000 nursing students have graduated during the school's 39-year existence.

For more information about the Sept. 18 walk, or to register to walk, contact McElligott, (618) 650-3906, or by e-mail: rmcelli@siue.edu. Information about the SIUE School of Nursing may be found on the Web: www.siue.edu/NURSING.

'Get Out The Vote' Event Set For Thursday In Flagpole Area

SIUE will present Feel the Beat, Get Out the Vote, an informational program that will provide an opportunity for the community to learn about the issues and meet Illinois Supreme Court Judge candidates Thursday, Sept. 16.

The program also will feature live bands and information on political, social, economic, educational, and health issues during the day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the flagpole area in front of Rendleman Hall.

At 6, SIUE students will present Meet the Candidate in Meridian Ballroom, with Washington County Circuit Judge Lloyd Karmeier and Fifth District Appellate Justice Gordon Maag who will discuss their candidacy for the Supreme Court position to be left vacant in December by the retirement of Justice Philip Rarick of Troy.

Following the candidates' presentation there will be a session by the students about Passive Activism/Civil Disobedience, including a poetry reading expressing responsibilities as citizens of the United States.

The day-long program is sponsored by the League of Women Voters Edwardsville Area, the United Congregations of the Metro-East, SIUE's Raise Your Voice organization, SIUE's Student Leadership Development Program and Volunteer Services, the EOP Office, and Student Government.

Collaborating organizations include IOTA Phi Theta Fraternity Inc., the Blaq Poet Society, Making Waves, RHEMA, Phi Eta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., SIUE's WebRadio, WSIE-FM, RAM, the Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, the United Steel Workers of America, AFSCME, the United Commercial and Food Workers Union, Focus St. Louis, and the Edwardsville Chapter of the NAACP.

Never Fear, MAP Is Near

It's late. It's the middle of January and you're trying to start your car in a fan lot about 4,000 miles from the core campus. It's nice to know the emergency phone is nearby and an MAP agent can be there in minutes.

MAP, or Motorist Assistance Program, is a service provided through University Police and its Parking Service Agents, who are equipped to handle most motorist-related problems on campus.

"We've been offering this service since 2000, and we've helped a lot of motorists, but from time to time we need to remind the University Community about what we do," says Tony Langendorf, a MAP agent and coordinator of the program. Langendorf said information about MAP is enclosed with materials for parking hangtags.

According to Robert Vanzo, director of Administrative Services, MAP is mentioned in various university publications and brochures, and signs on campus remind motorists of the program. "We have vehicles marked with the MAP logo and we have erected signs around campus with the assistance phone number (650-3324) as well as the logo," Vanzo said.

"The agents wear shirts with the logo imprinted and MAP information is imprinted on the back of parking hang tags," he said. The imprint contains the emergency assistance number that can be called through one of 64 emergency phone stands dotting the SIUE campus and the Higher Education Campus in East St. Louis..

Langendorf also pointed out that as part of MAP's awareness campaign, program details are outlined on a Web site listing services offered, such as battery jump-starts, portable compressors to help with flat tires, de-icing equipment, and access to a tow-truck service. "These services are offered at no cost to the person needing assistance," Langendorf said, "except for the tow service."

Vanzo pointed out that MAP is another way to provide service to students and employees. "We're committed to provide the highest level of emergency assistance to faculty, staff, and students, but this also is a chance for our agents to show they're not always the bad guys who write the parking tickets."

Vanzo said the SIUE Parking and Traffic Committee has been supportive of the program. "This assistance service has been the most warmly received," he said. "It's such a relief when you're car won't start in the middle of winter and you see a MAP agent coming your way."

Jazz Supper Gala Set Oct. 3; To Feature Big Band Music

With its theme of Make Believe Ballroom Time, the 16th Annual Jazz Supper Gala, featuring a live old-time radio broadcast, will offer an evening of fun, food, and music from 6-10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, at SIUE. Reservations deadline is Sept. 24.

Proceeds benefit the SIUE Friends of Music scholarship fund that provides scholarships to talented music students. Half of the ticket price is a gift to the Friends organization and may be considered a tax deductible contribution. The Friends organization is a support group for the SIUE Department of Music.

Set in Meridian Ballroom, the Jazz Supper Gala offers a cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing to the big band sounds of the Concert Jazz Band, under the direction of Professor Brett Stamps, director of the Jazz Studies Program. Vocalist Tom Heitman, guitarist Rick Haydon, also a professor of music, and pianist Reggie Thomas, an associate professor of Music, will be featured artists. The evening's "special honoree" will be jazz vocalist Mardra Thomas.

The event also includes a live "Old Time Radio Broadcast," featuring on-air interviews hosted by WSIE-FM (88.7) personality Ross Gentile, who will invite audience participation.

Tickets for the Jazz Supper are $50 per person; a table of eight may be reserved for $350. A Blue Note sponsorship entitles a table of eight to preferred seating and recognition in the evening's printed program.

For reservations or more information, call Martee Lucas in the department, (618) 650-3799, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 3799.

ECC To Offer Family Services In Collaboration With Edwardsville District No. 7

SIUE's Early Childhood Center (ECC), which has served the university community's childcare and Pre-kindergarten education needs since 1969, has been awarded a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education to offer expanded family services in collaboration with Edwardsville Community School District No. 7.

The $58,776 grant will help expand high-quality early childhood educational experiences and provide an added family component in conjunction with the Pre-K program (FACES) in the district. The grant is part of the Early Childhood Block Grant Early Learning Partners program, said ECC Director Rebecca Dabbs-Kayser.

"This grant is aimed primarily at SIUE student families with Pre-K children," Dabbs-Kayser said. She said the ECC is staffed with certified Pre-K teachers, but this grant will help expand services to families. "We'll be offering parenting education, such as parent workshops about child development and school readiness, for example, as well as family events in conjunction with the Edwardsville district and the SIUE Family Resource Center," she said.

"Through the grant, children will be screened for hearing and vision, kindergarten readiness skills, speech and language, and fine and gross motor skills. The screenings will help to identify if a child needs additional developmental services which will be provided through the collaboration.

"The ECC has been providing quality Pre-K education for more than 35 years, but now we'll be collaborating with District 7," she said, "and, we are looking forward to working together to provide more services for our families."

Spring Green Lodge And Conference Center To Be Constructed In U. Park

Ground was broken last week for the much anticipated Spring Green Lodge and Conference Center to be constructed in University Park near its entrance to Illinois 157.

The hotel and conference center complex, expected to open in summer or fall of next year, will be the Edwardsville area's first upscale hotel and conference center. Among the speakers at the groundbreaking were developer William L. Shaw and SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift, as well as Edwardsville and Madison County officials.

The lodge, which will feature a permanent exhibit of drawings and photographs of noted American architects, reflects an alliance with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. The permanent exhibit will have special emphasis on the works of Wright and Louis H. Sullivan, who gave Wright his first job in 1887. The University Museum at SIUE maintains the largest collection of Sullivan architectural ornament in the world.

Spring Green Lodge will exhibit reproductions of some of the more than 20,000 drawings, photographs, murals, watercolors, and other historical material spanning Wright's 70-year career as America's premier architect. "One of the missions of Spring Green," Shaw said, "is to create an inspirational display of architecture. It is intended to heighten awareness of the importance of architecture to society.

"We hope this educational agenda will inspire young people to pursue art, architecture, design, and engineering as a career."

Shaw said it is his intent to honor Wright by infusing many design and architectural concepts within the lodge, reflecting Wright's legacy. "These ideas will be evident in the exterior and interior design of the hotel public areas," Shaw said. "The color palette of the interior will be 'Wright-ian' and create a lodging experience that feels like a walk through the forest in autumn."

In addition to SIUE's Sullivan collection pieces, Pre-Columbian ceramics and antiquities also will be displayed in the hotel's exhibit areas. The lodge also will be highlighted by a mezzanine displaying some of the exhibits and a first-floor Wright Library with book about architecture. This area also will be used for reading, business tasks, and relaxation.

Also featured will be a great room with a massive stone fireplace and intimate seating, a dining area with a fireplace, extensive outdoor decks and patios, and a conference center for up to 300 attendees on the lower level of the facility.

A lodging tower-with 54 upscale, suite-style rooms-will include 12 conference suites for up to 18 attendees per suite. Brian Donnelly, executive director of University Park, said the Spring Green project is welcomed by the university as a valuable asset, providing needed lodging and meeting space for the university and its student body, for companies located in the research park, and for communities throughout the area.

Men's Soccer Continues Streak

SIUE's men's soccer ran its streak of Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season wins to 13 by defeating Kentucky Wesleyan 3-0 and Southern Indiana 4-0 over the weekend.

The Cougars improved their record to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the GLVC with the wins.

SIUE has seven players with at least two goals this season. Coach Ed Huneke believes that fact has played an important role in his team's success. "If you rely on one or two players, other teams have enough guys to neutralize those players," Huneke said. "We have a wide spread arsenal of attack that is too much for a lot of teams to contain."

The Cougars got big contributions over the weekend from several players, including junior Kevin Thibodeau (St. Charles), who scored a goal against Southern Indiana. "He contributed a lot," the coach said. "He is picking it up a notch."

Freshman forward Adam Lanter (Edwardsville) scored two goals against Kentucky Wesleyan, raising his total to a team-high five. "We like him leading the team in goals," Huneke said. "We didn't anticipate that before the season. It's been a nice surprise."

Captain Brian Higgins, a junior from St. Louis, had a goal in each of the games. Forward Tim Collico (St. Louis) continued his solid play with a goal and two assists, and Pete Cacciatore (St. Louis) added two assists in the Cougar wins.

SIUE returns home for two contests this weekend at Ralph Korte Stadium as the Cougars battle Indianapolis on Friday (9/24) at 5 p.m. They will follow that up with a match against Northern Kentucky on Sunday (9/26) at noon.

Volleyball Stays Hot

SIUE volleyball coach Todd Gober knows that his team is playing well fresh off of two 3-0 wins over Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis, but he also knows that the Cougars have a lot of Great Lakes Valley Conference play left.

"I think we played really well," Gober said. "I give tons of credit to our defense this weekend. We have room to improve in a couple areas."

The Cougars were led over the weekend by setter Krystal Majernik (Normal) as she averaged more than 14 assists per game. "She really has a lot of options to go to," said Gober. "She has five young ladies who can flat out hit the ball.

She does a good job exploiting the other team's weaknesses."

Junior Tina Talsma (Ontario, Canada) had a stellar performance for SIUE, totaling 29 kills and a .338 hitting percentage in the two contests. "She was getting blocked quite a bit," the coach said.. "She has really worked on it.

If you watched her kills they were sharp angles. She was hitting people."

The Cougars defense was a key factor in the two wins as junior Allison Buss (Towanda), who is second in the GLVC, averaging 5.00 blocks a game. "I give tons of credit for defense this weekend with 60 digs in two consecutive matches," Gober said. "That's awesome."

Along with the SIUE defensive play, they have served well, too. That includes a 10-ace performance against Lewis. Junior Heather Bonde (Millstadt) leads the GLVC with 32 service aces averaging 0.62 a game. "We served very aggressively," said Gober. "We are hoping that we knock the other teams out of their system. I see our serving getting stronger."

SIUE travels on the road this week, first with a non-conference stop in Lebanon to face McKendree on Tuesday (9/21) night at 7. Then it is on to Northern Kentucky for a big GLVC match with the Norse on Friday at 7 p.m.

The Cougars will finish out the weekend at Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday (9/25) afternoon at 1.

Doubles Lead The Way For Women's Tennis

SIUE women's tennis coach Bill Logan believes strongly that his team's ability to play well in doubles matches will lead to victories.

The Cougars used their doubles play to defeat Missouri St. Louis 6-3 last week to improve to 3-4 overall and in the Great Lakes Valley Conference this year. "We won all three doubles matches," Logan said. "That's the name of the game in Division II tennis."

As well as playing good on the doubles side, the Cougars' singles play was led by senior Chrissy Yingst (Belleville), who won at No. 1 singles cruising to a 6-2, 6-1 win, improving her record to 4-2 on the year. "Chrissy played really well," the coach said. "She led the way with a significant win."

Also victorious at No. 4 singles was Lisa Warner (Arlington Hts.), winning 6-2, 6-4 for her as she improved to 4-2. Freshman Katherine Ferry (Springfield) won at No. 6 singles in dominating fashion 6-1, 6-0. "She did well," Logan said. "Picking up a big win for us."

The Cougars will shoot for the .500 mark as they take on Southern Indiana at home on Oct. 1 at 3 p.m.

Women's Golf Gets A Solid Performance

SIUE women's golf coach Larry Bennett was pleased with his team's performance at the Illinois Wesleyan Fall Classic as the Cougars finished fourth of 24 schools with a score of 626.

"It was a good weekend overall," Bennett said. "There were some tough teams there. It gives us some confidence heading into the next two weeks."

The Cougars got a great performances from Kallie Harrison (Decatur) and Brittany Hood (Coulterville). Harrison shot an 82 on Saturday (9/18) but followed that up with a 73 on Sunday (9/19) to finish 13th. "She came back in great fashion," said Bennett. "She made it into the top 18 which is on the all-tournament team."

Hood finished with a two-day total of 154 for 12th place in the tournament. She had a career best 74 on Saturday (9/18). "She is striking the ball really well," Bennett said. "That is going to bode well for the next couple of weeks."

Freshman Rachel Roberg (Rice Lake, Wis.) shot a 79 and 77 for a tournament total of 156 that tied her for 15th place. "She is going to be a good player," Bennett said. "I am glad to see her get down in the 70s.

"I was really pleased with her play. It gives her and the team more confidence."

SIUE will be back in action this next Sunday (9/26) and Monday (9/27) at the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagle Fall Classic at Helfrich Hills Golf Club in Evansville, Ind.

Women's Soccer is on a Roll

After starting the year with a 1-3 and being outscored by their opponents 7-1, SIUE women's soccer coach Lynda Bowers knew her team would rebound, and rebound they did.

The Cougars defeated Kentucky Wesleyan 6-0 and Southern Indiana 2-1 to improve their record to 4-3 on the year and 2-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

" Every game we play is going to be a battle," said Bowers. "We just have to make sure we come out on top."

Ann Crawford (St. Louis) came up big for SIUE with two goals in the win over Southern Indiana. "It was really good for her," Bowers said. "She has been begging for goals."

Senior goalkeeper Jessica Brown (St. Louis) also was outstanding for the Cougars in their win over the Screaming Eagles. Brown made two saves to improve to 2-2 on the season. "She played with so much poise," Bowers said.

"She had a huge second half."

SIUE's win over Southern Indiana was a huge one in Bowers' eyes. "They beat us last year in double overtime," the coach said. "It was a very hard fought game. It was a good test for our character."

The Cougars had six different players score in the win over Kentucky Wesleyan. "It is great to have that kind of team effort where everyone can kind of get that kind of action," Bowers said.

Sophomore Kristine Armstrong (St. Peters) had a goal and an assist to lead all scorers against the Panthers. "Kristine is a natural finisher," Bowers said. "She is a tremendous player."

SIUE will be back at Korte Stadium this weekend for matchups with Indianapolis on Friday (9/24) night at 7:30, then Northern Kentucky comes to town for a contest on Sunday (9/26) at 2:30 p.m.

SIUE's Landt Named GLVC Player Of The Week

SIUE's Sarah Landt (Carbondale) has been named Great Lakes Valley Conference women's soccer player of the week. The junior forward scored in the 59th minute as the Cougars upset #7-ranked Ashland 1-0 on the road.

Landt had two shots in the game, including the game winning goal, after coming in off the bench for the Cougars. She netted the first goal of her collegiate career in a 3-2 win over Ashland on Aug 31, 2002.

SIUE is now 2-3 on the season and will open up GLVC play at Kentucky Wesleyan on Friday.

Bennett To Retire As SIUE Golf Coach

Larry Bennett, who has led the Cougar women's golf program since its beginning in 1998, will retire as the team's head coach effective at the end of the fall season.

Bennett said after deep reflection over the past year that he felt he had other goals and challenge he wanted to pursue and that the program was well set up to make a successful transition for a new coach. "It's difficult to step down since it's the program I started," Bennett said.

"We've built it up from nothing to a top-20 NCAA Division II program."

Intercollegiate Athletics Director Brad Hewitt said a search would begin this fall to find Bennett's successor. "Larry has done a fantastic job with the program by providing a great deal of energy and enthusiasm," Hewitt said. "He has left the program as such that the next coach should not only be able to continue the team's success but also take it to another level."

Bennett coached the Cougars to its first Great Lakes Valley Conference title in 2003 with an impressive 17-stroke victory. The Cougars have been to the NCAA East Regional Tournament in each of the last two seasons as a team. Three seasons ago, Katie Farrell became SIUE's first participant in a women's golf NCAA Tournament when she qualified as an individual.

"I want to thank the community and especially the golfing community, because without their support we would not have been able to have this much success," Bennett said. "I also want to thank the athletics department and Brad for this opportunity."

Bennett will coach the Cougars through the fall season and will continue to stay at SIUE. He also serves as an assistant director of the Office of Campus Recreation at SIUE.

SIUE has a home tournament on Sunday and Monday (9/12-13) at Fox Creek Golf Club in Edwardsville.

The Cougars come into the 2004 season with a very young, yet talented, team. The roster includes 2003 GLVC Freshman of the Year Kallie Harrison (Decatur), who set the SIUE record for lowest single-season scoring average at 79.9.

Junior Brittany Hood (Coulterville) is the veteran, posting an 84.5 scoring average last season. SIUE boasts four talented freshman in Natalie Connaway (McLeansboro), Kelly Morris (Normal), Rachel Roberg (Rice Lake, Wis.) and Jessica Tiffe (Brookfield, Wis.).

Men's Soccer Improves To 5-1

SIUE men's soccer has jumped out to a 5-1 mark heading into Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Cougars added two more victories to their record over the weekend, a 5-1 blasting of Missouri-Rolla and a 1-0 battle with Ashland (Ohio).

Juniors Tim Collico (St. Louis) and Brian Higgins (St. Louis) had big weekends for SIUE. Collico netted two goals in the win over Missouri-Rolla, and Higgins added three assists in the contest against the Miners.

Another Cougar, who stayed hot, was sophomore Victor Pacheco (Sao Luis, Brazil), scoring his fourth goal of the year against Missouri-Rolla. Junior Kevin Thibodeau (St. Charles) was the hero against Ashland (Ohio) netting his first goal of the year at 51:10 of the second half. Sophomore Mike Zaegel (St, Louis) picked up the assist, his second on the year.

The Cougars, who have won their last 11 GLVC regular-season games, will begin their quest for a GLVC title on Friday (9/17) afternoon traveling to Kentucky Wesleyan for a game at 1 p.m. On Sunday (9/19), SIUE battles the Eagles of Southern Indiana at noon in Evansville, Ind.

Women's Soccer Knocks Off No. 7 Ashland

SIUE women's soccer picked up a huge win before the start of Great Lakes Valley Conference action this week. The Cougars went to Ohio and knocked off 7th-ranked Ashland 1-0 on Sunday (9/12) afternoon.

Junior forward Sarah Landt (Carbondale) chose the right time to net her first goal of the year at the 59:26 mark of the second half. Sophomore Christina Stremlau (St. Louis) set up Landt's goal that improved the Cougars record to 2-3 on the year. Freshman goalkeeper Kim Roady (Granite City) was the backbone for the Cougars in the win. She made four saves for the first shutout of her college career.

SIUE's win over Ashland was the end to a weekend that started out in heartbreak as the Cougars fell to Mercyhurst 1-0 in double overtime Friday (9/10). In that contest, the Cougars outshot their opponents 20-11 only to lose on a breakaway at the 105:33 mark.

The Cougars travel to Kentucky Wesleyan for a game on Friday (9/17) afternoon at 3:30. SIUE visits Southern Indiana on Sunday (9/19) for a 2:30 p.m. start.

Volleyball Ready For GLVC Play

SIUE volleyball coach Todd Gober leads his 8-4 team into Great Lakes Valley Conference play starting this week. "We are ready for conference to start," Gober said. "We have a lot of things to work on, but we have a lot of positives. We will be carrying some momentum heading into our conference season," said Gober.

The Cougars played three games over the weekend at the GLVC-GLIAC-WVIAC Crossover in Wheeling, W.V. "I am very happy coming back with a 2-1 record," said Gober. "I was really impressed that we were able to step up our game."

The Cougars battled some stiff competition in the crossover. After defeating Mercyhurst in four games on Friday (9/10), SIUE was set up for a huge match against Ferris State on Saturday (9/11) morning. SIUE jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Bulldogs sent the match to a fifth game where the Cougars prevailed 15-8. "That was a great match," Gober said. "I have a lot of respect for their program."

After the big win over Ferris State, the Cougars fell in their last match to Findlay 3-1. "That was right there for us," Gober said. "If we improve in a few areas I feel that we are as good as the Findlay team."

Junior Heather Bonde (Millstadt) had a great weekend with 57 kills in the three matches raising her hitting percentage by 50 points to .324. Another middle hitter Tina Talsma (Ontario, Canada) was outstanding against Mercyhurst, registering 24 kills and a .667 hitting percentage. "Both of our middles are very athletic and they both jump very well," said Gober. "We could have some of the best middles in the conference."

Gober also felt that many other Cougars played well at the Crossover. "Krystal Majernik (Normal) did great job distributing the ball," he said.

SIUE begins GLVC play on Friday (9/17) night as Wisconsin-Parkside visits the Vadalabene Center at 7. The Cougars will follow that with a match on Saturday (9/18) against Lewis at 1 p.m.

Logan OK With Team's Performance

Women's tennis coach Bill Logan knows his team sits in the middle of the pack of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, but Logan also knows his team is about hit its stride.

The Cougars are 2-4 after a recent road trip to St. Joseph's and Lewis. The Cougars defeated St. Joseph's 8-0 on Friday (9/10), drawing great performances from each Cougar. "They did a good job," Logan said. "They played fine."

Freshman Katherine Ferry (Springfield) picked up her first win at No. 6 singles in the match. SIUE followed that up with a tough 8-1 loss to Lewis. "Lewis is one of the top teams in the conference as well as the region," Logan said.

Allison Coats (Belleville) was the lone winner at No. 3 singles, losing the first set 6-1 before coming back to win the second set 6-2. She finished off the match with a 11-9 tie breaker win to run her record to 4-1 on the year.

The Cougars will continue conference play as Missouri-St. Louis visits the SIUE tennis courts on Tuesday (9/14) afternoon at 3 p.m. SIUE travels to the ITA Mid-American Regional in Midland, Mich., for a tournament this weekend.

Boyll, Taghon Post Record Marks

The SIUE men's cross country team turned in some record-breaking performances at the Bradley Invitational. The Cougars, ranked No. 21 in the latest national coaches poll, received several great performances.

Senior Ryan Boyll (Normal) finished fifth with a time 25 minutes, 4.61 seconds, which stands as the third-fastest ever at SIUE at 8,000 meters. Finishing not far behind Boyll was junior Brian Taghon (East Moline). Taghon finished sixth at 25:07.22 for the fourth fastest time in 8,000 meters in school history. Freshman Erik Steffens (Moline) finished with sixth fastest time for a freshman in SIUE history, placing 25th in 25:56.90.

The women's team was just as impressive with their second-place finish. Senior Mary Witte (Norman) finished 20th with a time of 19:08 39 in the 5,000 meters. Freshman Kelly Flounders (Homer Glen) placed 39th at 19:43 62, and Junior Heather Zipparro (Mount Prospect) came in at 65th with a time of 20:40.

The Cougars will travel to make a run at the Eastern Illinois Twilight meet on Friday (9/17) at 4 p.m.

SIU/SDM Class Of 2008 Takes Part In White Coat Ceremony

Serving as the keynote speaker for the White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2008, Dr. Kevin Nelson offered an overview of the dental profession, especially with regard to the professionalism, integrity, and ethics necessary in the field.

He made the remarks at the annual ceremony for new students of the SIU School of Dental Medicine in Alton.

The event serves to impress on the students the high standards of integrity and professionalism required in the healthcare profession, as well as a sense of the commitment that they have made by choosing dentistry as their profession.

The ceremony also marks the beginning of clinical training for the students. Nelson, who is chair of the Illinois Section of the American College of Dentists, gave the address at the ceremony conducted recently in the Hatheway Cultural Center of Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey.

"This particular garment represents much more than a simple clinic jacket," Nelson told the audience. "It is a cloak of compassion and an oath of integrity. It is a commitment to competence and a pledge to professionalism."

Dr. James DeClue, acting associate dean of the School, once again was emcee, orchestrating the program for the students and families in attendance. The Class of 2008 was represented by all 49 students in the class.

Following Nelson's comments, Dr. Allen Otsuka, faculty student adviser for the class, called the students individually to the stage. Drs. Russell Williams and Brent Wohlford, 1975 SDM graduates and members of the dental school faculty, helped the students into their white coats.

Dr. Ann Boyle led the students in the recitation of the Professional Oath. Jason Aleman, Year IV student and President of the Student Body, also offered remarks to the entering class.

First Nursing Scholarship Walk Raises Nearly $4,000

Seventy-five walkers raised nearly $4,000 for the first Scholarship Walk sponsored recently by the SIUE School of Nursing.

Development Director Bob McElligott said more than $3,800 raised by the volunteer walkers will be used for scholarship funds for pre-clinical, clinical, and graduate nursing students at SIUE. "Through scholarship support," McElligott said, "students will be able to focus more of their energy on nursing education, rather than holding down a job while attending school."

McElligott said more than 100 T-shirts were distributed to nursing students, faculty, staff, and those who raised donations.

The walk also was designed to increase public awareness of the nursing shortage, and what the SIUE School of Nursing is doing to address the problem. Graduates of the school's basic program earn a four-year BSN degree that develops and supports critical thinking skills, clinical decision-making abilities, and nursing values and ethics.

Two major sponsors of the Walk were Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, and St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville. The publicized goal was to raise at least $10,000 in scholarships for nursing students. "Even though we did not reach this goal," McElligott said, "we will continue to seek donations to help our students become the nurses that current and future patients depend on for personal health care.

"We set the goal high because that is the need and opportunity. We are grateful for the work and generosity that the $3,800 in donations recognizes."

During the past five years, the SIUE School of Nursing has graduated 681 baccalaureate-level (BSN) nurses and 231 master's and advanced-practice (e.g., Nurse Practitioners) nurses. Most SIUE graduates tend to come from-and return to work in- Southern Illinois and in the St. Louis region.

SIUE graduates also are teaching at SIUE and in other nursing schools around the country. Nearly 4,000 nursing students have graduated during the school's 39-year existence.

McElligott said enrollment at the School is up significantly. "From fall 2003 to fall 2004, undergraduate nursing enrollment of sophomores, juniors, and seniors increased from 191 to 262; up 37 percent," he said.

"The RN to BSN program grew from 54 to 64; up 19 percent. Graduate nurse enrollment increased from 140 to 214; up 53 percent."

Fur Will Fly When Left Meets Right On A&I Stage Oct. 13

On the eve of the presidential election, former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean and well-known conservative political pundit Tony Blankley will offer lively debate as part of the Arts & Issues series at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, in Meridian Ballroom.

Dean and Blankley replace Marlin Fitzwater and Joe Lockhart on the Arts & Issues 2004-05 bill because of scheduling conflicts.

Arts & Issues, which began in 1985 at SIUE, has a long-standing tradition of bringing world-class performers and noted speakers to Southwestern Illinois. "Howard Dean and Tony Blankley have a great deal of political savvy and will have much to say about the upcoming presidential election," he said.

" Both Dean and Blankley continue our tradition of bringing provocative speakers to the Arts & Issues podium."

Appearing on the covers of Time and Newsweek, all eyes were on Howard Dean earlier this year as he mounted an influential campaign as a candidate for the 2004 Democratic nomination for President.

Dean, a medical doctor, has previously shared a private practice with his wife, Dr. Judith Steinberg Dean, in Vermont. He earned a bachelor's at Yale and received a medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

He was a member of the Vermont General Assembly from 1983-85 and was elected lieutenant governor of the state in 1986, gaining re-election in 1988 and 1990. He became governor upon the death of Gov. Richard A. Snelling in August 1991 and was elected to a full term in November 1992, gaining re-election in 1994, 1996, 1998, and in 2000.

Blankley served for seven years as press secretary for then-U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. In that role, Blankley became the leading spokesman for the "Contract with America." Before his career on Capitol Hill, Blankley had served as a speechwriter and senior analyst for President Ronald Reagan.

After leaving Gingrich's staff in February 1997, Blankley joined George magazine as a contributing editor. He currently is a regular panelist for the McLaughlin Group and he also appears regularly on CNN's Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, as well as CNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, Rivera Live, The News with Brian Williams, and MSNBC.

In June 1999, Blankley joined the Washington Times as a weekly political columnist; he also is a popular columnist for the Los Angeles Times.

Tickets for the Oct. 13 Arts & Issues event are $12; students, $6. A season brochure is available by contacting John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Individual tickets also may be purchased at the Web site: artsandissues.com.

The remaining Arts & Issues season includes: Windham Hill Winter Solstice Holiday Tour (Nov. 19) is SOLD OUT; Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Kathy Mattea (Jan. 21, 2005); The Acting Company with its rendition of Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona (Feb. 27, 2005); the powerful a cappella singing of Ladysmith Black Mambazo (March 19, 2005); the exciting sounds of the Dallas Brass (April 22, 2005); the special appearance of the "funkified" gospel music of The Blind Boys of Alabama (Feb. 4, 2005) is SOLD OUT.

MLK Competition Applications Available At Kimmel Center In MC

Nominations are being sought for the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian and Scholarship awards to be given at the 23d Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Luncheon in February.

Nomination applications are available in the Kimmel Leadership Center, on the first floor of the Morris University Center, and must be completed and returned by Friday, Nov. 5.

Entries also are being sought for an essay, poetry, and visual arts competition for high school students. Guidelines for this competition have been sent to all area high schools. Winners of the high school competition will receive a $100 honorarium and a plaque of recognition.

The awards are given each year to recognize those who exemplify the philosophy of nonviolent social change as demonstrated by The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

An SIUE employee and a resident of Illinois are each eligible for the Humanitarian Award, while a current SIUE student is eligible for the Scholarship and Humanitarian Award.

Complete criteria for eligibility for the high school competition, the Humanitarian Award, and the Scholarship and Humanitarian Award are contained in nomination packets at the Kimmel Center. For more information, call the center, (618) 650-2686.

Second Annual Awards Dinner Recognizes Professor, Local Pastor

A Caseyville pastor and an SIUE faculty member will be honored Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Second Annual Interfaith Awards Dinner, sponsored by the Friends of the Religious Center (FRC). The event is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. at the SIUE Religious Center.

The Rev. Douglas Cripe, coordinator of the Metro-East Interfaith Partnership, and Assistant Historical Studies Professor Rowena McClinton, who is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the Cherokee Nation, will receive the Friends of the Religious Center 2004 Interfaith Leadership Award.

Reservation deadline is Sept. 30; tickets are $25 per person, which includes dinner and free parking.

The FRC established the awards to recognize religious leadership and interfaith cooperation in the region. "Rev. Cripe has shown great dedication to his faith and has encouraged dialogue in the region among many faiths," said SIUE Associate Philosophy Professor Greg Fields, who is president of the FRC board and coordinator of the SIUE Religious Studies Program.

"Dr. McClinton's work with Cherokee history is a great contribution to the Cherokee people, and also is a resource for all Americans who wish to gain a fuller understanding of historical encounters between native spiritual traditions and Christianity," he said.

"The FRC is honoring these two recipients so that the community at large can learn about the good work they do."

Fields said the FRC, formed more than three years ago, sponsors two main events each year to raise money to refurbish parts of the 33-year-old Religious Center that is in need of repair. "We offer this Interfaith Awards Dinner in the fall and also the Celebration of World Faiths in the spring to encourage interfaith dialogue," he said.

"The FRC is a support group dedicated to preserving the SIUE Religious Center as a significant contribution to architecture and as a place for the spiritual growth of SIUE students, and for religious learning and fellowship within the community."

Cripe, pastor of the Crossroads Christian Church in Caseyville, is coordinator of the Metro-East Interfaith Partnership. The organization is dedicated to promoting peace, respect, and understanding among people of all faiths in the Metro-East area, while providing a timely public voice on issues of common concern.

He also serves on the boards of the Area Agency for Aging of Southwestern Illinois and the Beacon of Belleville, an interdenominational organization for helping those in need. In addition, he also is president of the Belleville Area Clergy Association.

In addition to scholarly research regarding the Cherokee culture, McClinton served this past year on the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Committee at SIUE and was instrumental in bringing Native American speakers to campus to discuss Indian sovereignty.

She also is very active as a member of the board for the Illinois chapter of the Trail of Tears Association, serving as historian and archivist for the group. The chapter is currently mapping the historic trail in Illinois for future interpretive center sites. McClinton also is one of two representatives from Illinois on the National Trail of Tears Association.

Dinner reservations may be made through the SIUE Religious Center, (618) 650-3246, or, toll-free from St. Louis, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 3246, or, by calling Greg Fields, (618) 650-2461; St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2461.

Noises Off Is 'Spot On' Comedy; Runs Oct. 13-17

Unlike some plays that have deep intellectual levels of meaning upon meaning, Noises Off has none of that.

It's just plain fun and that may be why audiences have been roaring for nearly 20 years at Michael Frayn's jaunt through the foibles and mistakes of a traveling theater troupe. If properly staged, Noises Off can induce the kind of laughter that will result in audience members sliding off their seats.

And, SIUE's upcoming performance, directed by Johanna Schmitz, promises to be "spot on," as the Brits say. Noises Off runs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 13-16, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, all in the Katherine Dunham Hall theater.

The three-act comedy is of the play-within-a-play genre but that's about the only thing to be said about it in an intellectual manner. "This play has no intellectual pretense whatsoever," says Schmitz, an assistant professor of Theater and Dance.

The play, based on a revised script published by Frayn in 2000, chronicles a hapless theater troupe performing the fictional British door-slamming sex farce Nothing On: first at final dress rehearsal; then behind-the-scenes at a matinee on tour a month later; and finally, seven weeks after that, another matinee.

Practically everything that can go wrong does. The conflict comes as we find most of the characters, including the director and the stage manager, involved in romantic trysts, which set up a destructive dynamic fueled by jealousy and ego.

The result is something beyond slapstick. "It is just the funniest play I've ever seen," Schmitz said. To work, the actors must perform choreographed movement with precision, and Schmitz and her cast have been working diligently on that aspect. "We had to mount the basic set much earlier than we would any other play because we needed to begin work immediately on the timing of the action.

"In this play, when one door opens, another door literally slams shut."

Schmitz said directing Noises Off is a complete 180-degree turn from her last effort at SIUE -directing Oedipus the King last spring. "It's a joy and a new challenge for me to direct this very demanding farce," Schmitz said. "The comedy in Noises Off comes from the funny situations and the play's increased momentum as it continues to move faster and faster, becoming more complicated," she explained.

The play also gives students a chance to hone their comedic skills. "Not only does the play give them a chance to show off their training, but they also get to be in a cast that includes two of our faculty members," she said. Associate Professor Peter Cocuzza will be playing the part of Selsdon Mowbray, the elderly has-been Shakespearean, while Assistant Professor Chuck Harper will portray the role of the director, Lloyd Dallas.

"Peter has been teaching a comedy technique class and he wanted to try his hand at this comic part," Schmitz said, adding that both faculty members will lend some "maturity" to the characters they play.

"There's a lot of exaggeration and repetition, which also makes it very funny," Schmitz said. "And, there are a lot of cheated expectations-you think one thing is going to happen and then something else happens instead."

For reservations, contact the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774.

Women's Golf Finishes Third In GLVC

SIUE's women's golf team went to defend its Great Lakes Valley Conference title but came up short finishing third at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth on Sunday (10/3) and Monday (10/4).

The Cougars shot a two-day total of 636 finishing 13 shots behind conference champion Northern Kentucky. Southern Indiana, which also had a team total of 623, lost the GLVC title in a playoff.

Sophomore Kallie Harrison (Decatur) led the way for SIUE shooting 76 on the first day and a 79 on day two. Harrison finished in sixth place with a score of 11-over-par 155. Harrison came into the GLVC tournament with the seventh best scoring average in the nation at 77.38.

Freshman Rachel Roberg (Rice Lake, Wis.) finished two shots behind Harrison coming in at ninth place for SIUE with a two-day total of 157. Roberg had entered the tournament having the 28th best scoring average in the region.

Brittany Hood (Coulterville), Natalie Connaway (McLeansboro), and Jessie Tiffe (Brookfield, Wis.) all tied at 17th place shooting a score of 163 for the Cougars.

The tournament concluded the fall portion of the women's golf season.

Huneke Garners 200th Career Win

SIUE's 2-0 win over 20th-ranked Wisconsin-Parkside on Friday (10/1) gave men's soccer coach Ed Huneke the 200th victory of his career. In his 19th season with SIUE, Huneke has amassed a record of 201-142-23.

The Cougars were road warriors over the weekend picking up two shutout wins over the Rangers and Saint Joseph's on Sunday (10/3).

The Cougars, ranked 12th in the latest NSCAA national poll, have won eight games in a row outscoring their opponents 24-1 since a loss to Findlay on Sept. 5. SIUE is first in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with 6-0 mark and an 11-1 record overall.

In the triumph over the Rangers, the Cougars connected on two goals in the last 25 minutes of the contest to propel them to victory.

"Those types of games aren't going to be high scoring so you know that every goal is crucial," said Huneke. "Obviously in those games getting the first goal is important. It was a battle and fortunately we came out on the right side of it."

Forward Pete Cacciatore (St. Louis) recorded both of the Cougars' goals during the win over Wisconsin-Parkside tying him for the team lead at five.

On Sunday, SIUE outlasted Saint Joseph's 1-0 with the lone goal by junior Kevin Thibodeau (St. Charles) at the 87:11 mark. Forward Mike Banner (Upper Marlboro, Md.) assisted on the goal.

"We were pounding at the door, and we knew that it would come eventually," said Huneke. "It was a shot in a crowd off of a corner kick that found its way in the net. I was proud of the way our team continues to persist under tough circumstances."

The win continues the Cougars' 17-game winning streak in GLVC regular season play. Goalkeeper Nicholas Frasca (St. Charles) helped continue that streak as he notched his fourth shutout of the year in the win over Wisconsin-Parkside. Frasca has a 6-0 record on the season with a 0.33 goals against average.

Goalkeeper Greg Crook (Columbia) had the team's other shutout in the victory over Saint Joseph's. Crook made two saves to preserve the win.

SIUE will look to keep their 5-0 road record perfect when visiting Lewis this Sunday for a GLVC match at noon.

SIUE's Cacciatore, NKU's Thompson Named Co-Players Of The Week

SIUE junior Pete Cacciatore (St. Louis, Mo./St. Mary's) and Northern Kentucky University freshman Chris Thompson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) have been named Great Lakes Valley Conference "Co-Players of the Week" for their efforts over the weekend.

Cacciatore, a forward, scored a pair of assisted goals as the 12th-ranked Cougars blanked 20th-ranked Wisconsin-Parkside 2-0 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Cacciatore penetrated what had been the No. 1 defense in the country entering the game. The Rangers had given up just one goal previously this season.

Cacciatore is tied for the SIUE team lead with five goals and five assists for 15 points. As a team, SIUE improved to 11-1 overall and 6-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with its 17th consecutive GLVC regular season victory on Sunday in a 1-0 win over Saint Joseph's.

Thompson, a forward, scored three goals, including a pair of game-winners, as the Norse swept Southern Indiana and Missouri-St. Louis. Thompson scored on a breakaway 15 minutes into the second half Friday to give NKU a 1-0 win over Southern Indiana.

On Sunday, he added two goals to lead NKU to a 3-1 victory against Missouri-St. Louis. Thompson's three goals in two games helped NKU improve to 8-2-2 overall and 3-2-1 in the GLVC.

For more information about the GLVC and each conference member, please visit the Web site: www.glvcsports.org.

Women's Soccer Rebounds From First GLVC Loss

SIUE women's soccer may have had its six-game winning streak ended over the weekend, but the Cougars are looking to start another one. SIUE was shut out by 15th-ranked Wisconsin-Parkside 2-0 on Friday (10/1) before defeating Saint Joseph's 1-0 on Sunday (10/2).

The Cougars allowed two goals in the first 15 minutes of play against the Rangers and could not recover.

Junior Kelly Dill (Florissant) netted her second goal of the season at the 16:49 mark of the first half in the win over Saint Joseph's. Sophomore Christina Stremlau (St. Louis) had the assist on Dill's goal. Stremlau ranks third on the team in scoring with eight points, and Dill is not far behind tied for fourth place with five points.

Freshman goalkeeper Kim Roady (Granite City) shut out the Pumas making nine saves for her fourth shutout of the season. Roady has a 0.17 goals against average this year.

SIUE is tied with Northern Kentucky for first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Cougars and the Norse each have 5-1 marks in conference play. SIUE is 8-4 overall on the season.

While winning seven out of their last eight, the Cougars have outscored their opponents 20-3, including six shutouts.

SIUE will battle McKendree in a non-conference game at Korte Stadium on Wednesday (10/6) at 7 p.m. The Cougars will travel to Lewis for a match on Sunday afternoon at 2:30.

Volleyball Looks To Bounce Back

All the focus for SIUE's volleyball team is now on continuing to win Great Lakes Valley Conference games after losing a tough match 3-0 to Southern Indiana on Wednesday (9/29). The Cougars bounced back with 3-0 win over Bellarmine on Saturday (10/2) afternoon.

"Southern Indiana was a big match, and they played very well," said SIUE volleyball coach Todd Gober. "We didn't play quite as well as we had hoped in the match. It was a tough one to swallow, but that happens sometimes."

The Cougars now have a record of 14-5 overall and 5-1 in the GLVC.

"The girls did a good job bouncing back in practice," said Gober. "It was gone (the loss), and there was no dwelling on it. We played the way we should play against Bellarmine."

Junior Allison Buss (Towanda) was the difference for SIUE in the match against the Knights. Buss had 22 digs and five service aces for the contest.

"Allison is the top defensive player in our conference," said Gober. "She can actually shut down hitters, and I am very happy with her serving."

Tricia Happe (St. Louis) continues to have a solid year for SIUE. Happe is fourth on the team with 0.57 blocks per game and fifth the squad with 75 kills.

Setter Krystal Majernik (Normal) continues her solid play with 24 assists in the win over Bellarmine. "She is clearly one of the keys to this team," said Gober. "When Krystal is on, we will take our chances against anyone in the country."

The Cougars have won eight of their last 10 matches for third place, one match behind first-place Southern Indiana. "I like our play, and I like the direction we are heading as a team," said Gober.

SIUE will look to be ready as they go on the road this weekend to play Lewis and Wisconsin-Parkside. "Everybody is good at home in this conference," said Gober. "I expect it to be a really focused and intense match against both of those teams."

Game time for the match against the Flyers is set for 7 p.m. on Friday (10/8). After that the Cougars take on the Rangers on Saturday (10/9) afternoon at 1.

Boyll And Taghon Continue To Impress

The SIUE men's and women's cross country team had strong showings at the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational in Chicago.

The Cougars, ranked 21st among NCAA-II schools, finished 13th out of 25 teams at a mostly Division I meet. Senior Ryan Boyll (Normal) finished 10th at the meet with a time of 24 minutes, 55 seconds, which stands as the third-fastest time ever at SIUE at 8,000 meters.

Junior Brian Taghon (East Moline) also set notched his name on the record list with his 13th-place finish at 25:01 for the fifth-fastest time. Freshman Erik Steffens (Moline) continued his string of strong performances placing 90th out of 249 competitors with a time of 26:28.

The women's team finished 15th of 34 teams in the meet. Freshman Kelly Flounders (Homer Glen) paced the Cougars with a 33rd-place finish at 19:29 in the 5,000 meter event. Senior Mary Witte (Norman) finished 50th out of 381 runners with a time of 19:54.

The Cougars will host the Illinois/Missouri Border Wars on Saturday (10/9) starting at 10 a.m. on the SIUE cross country course. More than 50 men's and women's teams are expected to be at the meet, which is a precursor to SIUE playing host to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 6.

Women's Tennis Gears Up For GLVC Tournament

SIUE's women's tennis team finished the regular season sixth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with a record of 4-5. The Cougars will take on Southern Indiana on Friday (10/8) in the GLVC Tournament in Indianapolis.

SIUE will look to rebound against the Screaming Eagles after losing to them 9-0 last Friday (10/1) at the SIUE tennis courts. The Cougars did finish off the regular season strong by defeating Kentucky Wesleyan 8-1 on Saturday (10/2) at home.

Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) battled for a tough 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 win at No. 1 singles. While Allison Coats (Belleville), Gina Wohltman (Effingham), Lisa Warner (Arlington Hts.), and Katherine Ferry (Springfield) all cruised to two-set victories over the Panthers.

The Cougars finished off their regular season by winning three out of their last five matches.

SIUE will look to upset second-seeded Southern Indiana as the two meet Friday (10/8) morning at 9. Indianapolis is the top seed in the six-team tournament which will be played at the Indianapolis Tennis Center.

Cougars Down Saint Joseph's

(RENSSELAER, Ind.) Kevin Thibodeau scored the game's only goal as 12th-ranked SIUE defeated Saint Joseph's 1-0 in men's college soccer.

SIUE improved to 11-1 overall and 6-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Saint Joseph's fell to 1-10-1 overall and 0-5-1 in the GLVC. The Cougars, who have won 17 consecutive GLVC regular-season games, next travel to Lewis next Sunday (10/10).

The Cougars had trouble finding the back of the net as Thibodeau scored on an assists from Mike Banner at 87:11. SIUE outshot its opponents 22-4. Greg Crook recorded the shutout in goal for SIUE. He had two saves. Dan Ford was the losing goalkeeper despite seven saves.

Boxscore: www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/MSOC/2004/SIUE12.HTM

SIUE Blanks Saint Joseph's

(RENSSELAER, Ind.) SIUE regained a share of the lead in the Great Lakes Valley Conference on Sunday (10/3) by defeating Saint Joseph's 1-0 in women's college soccer action.

Kelly Dill scored the game's only goal at 16:49 on an assist by Christina Stremlau.

SIUE improved to 8-4 overall and 5-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, equaling the best league record with Northern Kentucky. Saint Joseph's fell to 2-6-4 overall and 2-3-1 in the GLVC.

Kim Roady recorded her fourth shutout of the season with nine saves. Saint Joseph's goalkeeper Katie Awerkamp had six saves.

SIUE now returns home for a Wednesday matchup at Korte Stadium against area rival McKendree. Game time is 7 p.m.

Boxscore: www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/WSOC/2004/SIUE12.HTM

Women's Golf Sits In Third After Day One

(FORSYTH) SIUE is 21 shots back after day one of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women's Golf Championships at Hickory Point Golf Course.

As a team, SIUE shot 321 in the opening round of the 36-hole event. Southern Indiana holds the lead at 300, a one-round GLVC record breaking the mark set last season at 301 by SIUE. Northern Kentucky is currently in second at 307.

Kallie Harrison leads SIUE with a four-over-par 76. The sophomore is tied for fourth place after day one. Alisha Luigs of Southern Indiana shot a three-under-par 69 to lead the field. Rachel Roberg added a 79 for the Cougars. She was followed in the SIUE lineup by Brittany Hood (82), Natalie Connaway (84) and Jessie Tiffie (84).

The final round will be played Monday (10/11).

Cougars Win Battle Of Ranked Teams

(KENOSHA, Wis.) Pete Cacciatore scored a pair of unassisted goals as 12th-ranked SIUE defeated 20th-ranked Wisconsin-Parkside 2-0 on Friday afternoon (10/1).

The Cougars won their seventh straight game and 16th straight Great Lakes Valley Conference contest. SIUE's season record stands at 10-1 overall and 5-0 in the GLVC.

Wisconsin-Parkside, which came into Friday's contest with the No. 1 defense in the country having given up one goal in its previous nine games, fell to 7-2-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the GLVC.

Cacciatore and the Cougars had trouble scoring early but finally got the eventual game-winner at 65:11. He added an insurance goal with 30 seconds left in the game. SIUE Coach Ed Huneke and the Cougars now travel to Rensselaer, Ind., for a battle on Sunday (10/10) with Saint Joseph's. First touch is noon.

Six-Game Win Streak Halted

(KENOSHA, Wis.) SIUE watched its six-game winning streak fade with a 2-0 loss at Wisconsin-Parkside on Friday (10/1).

Wisconsin-Parkside, ranked 15th in the nation in the latest national poll, picked up early goals from Tamara Buntrock at 5:04 and Charissa Weiher at 14:14. Abbigale Wild earned the shutout for the Rangers.

SIUE fell to 7-4 overall and 4-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Wisconsin-Parkside improved to 9-1 overall and 3-1 in the GLVC.

SIUE's next action is Sunday (10/10) at Rensselaer, Ind., where the Cougars meet the Pumas in a 2:30 p.m. contest.

Volleyball Match To Feature Oasis Benefit

Come out and watch SIUE's volleyball team take on Southern Indiana and also help support the Oasis Women's Center.

Admission will be free to the SIUE-USI volleyball match on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m in the Vadalabene Center to anyone who brings a toiletry item to be donated to the Oasis Women's Center. The center is an Alton-based shelter for abused women.

Items needed by the center include shampoo and conditioner, hair care products (gel, curl, straightener), lotion, deodorant, toothbrushes, baby bottles, baby lotion, shampoo, tampons, bedding, new socks and underwear for women and children, small clock radios, plates and dishes, kitchen utensils, silverware, and pots and pans.

The benefit is co-sponsored by SIUE Intercollegiate Athletics and the SIUE Women's Studies Program.

SIUE Men's Soccer Ranked No. 12

It's back in the national rankings for the SIUE men's soccer program-the Cougars are No. 12 in the nation n the latest national rankings from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). .

SIUE made the biggest leap forward of any team in all of the Division II. SIUE coach Ed Huneke and his Cougars hold a 9-1 record overall and a Great Lakes Valley Conference-leading 4-0 mark in the league play. SIUE's latest win was a 2-1 overtime win over then-17th-ranked Northern Kentucky at Korte Stadium on Sunday (9/26).

"That is going to be looked back on as being a big one for us later on," said Huneke.

The Cougars' next action is Friday (10/1) at 20th-ranked Wisconsin-Parkside at 1:15 p.m. in Kenosha, Wis. SIUE is ranked No. 2 in the Great Lakes region ahead of Wisconsin-Parkside and just one slot behind GLVC rival Lewis, which is No. 2 in the nation.

SIUE Women's Soccer Gains Regionally, Nationally

The SIUE women's soccer team garnered votes in the latest national poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) but not enough to break into the top 25.

The Cougars are coming off an impressive 2-0 victory over then-10th-ranked Northern Kentucky, handing the Norse their first loss in regular season Great Lakes Valley Conference play since the 1999 season. It was the second top 10 team SIUE has defeated this season. The other was ninth-ranked Ashland, who SIUE defeated 1-0 in Ashland, Ohio.

SIUE, 6-3 overall, are 4-0 in the GLVC and are in first place after two weeks of league play. The Cougars also moved up to fourth in the Great Lakes region poll by the NSCAA.

Armstrong Named GLVC Women's Soccer Player Of The Week

SIUE sophomore forward Kristine Armstrong (St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell North) earned Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week accolades for her efforts in two Cougar victories over the weekend.

Armstrong scored two goals and two assists as the Cougars gained sole possession of first place in the GLVC. Armstrong scored twice, including the game-winning goal, in SIUE's 3-0 win over Indianapolis. Armstrong had both assists in the 2-0 victory over 10th-ranked Northern Kentucky, which hadn't lost a GLVC regular season game since 1999. For the week, Armstrong had seven shots with three on-goal.

The Cougars are currently 6-3 overall and 4-0 in the GLVC. The team has won five straight and will face non-conference opponent William Woods on Wednesday before traveling to games at Wisconsin-Parkside and Saint Joseph's.

Zaegel Named GLVC Men's Soccer Player Of The Week

SIUE sophomore back Mike Zaegel (St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers College H.S.) scored the game-winning goal 70 seconds into the overtime period as the Cougars defeated 17th-ranked Northern Kentucky 2-1. Zaegel's efforts earned him Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week honors.

SIUE improved its record to 9-1 and a GLVC-best 4-0. Zaegel has been a major force in SIUE's defense, allowing just one goal so far in conference play. In four games, SIUE opponents have been outshot 98-15. The Cougars will defend their six-game winning streak at Wisconsin-Parkside and Saint Joseph's this weekend.

9-1 Soccer Cougars Continue Winning Ways

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's soccer continued its stellar play over the weekend with wins over Indianapolis and 17th-ranked Northern Kentucky. The wins improved the Cougars' record to 9-1 overall and 4-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

SIUE soccer coach Ed Huneke knows that the 2-1 overtime win over the Norse on Sunday (9/26) was a big one. The Cougars outshot Northern Kentucky 31-2 for the contest. "That game was very pivotal in terms of being psychological as well as for the rankings and post-season implications," said Huneke.

"That is going to be looked back on as being a big one for us later on."

Sophomore Mike Zaegel (St. Louis) netted the game-winning goal in overtime against the Norse, his first of the season. "It was a great shot that found the upper corner," said Huneke. "It was very gratifying because statistically everything about that game was to our advantage. For as good of forwards as we have it is nice that we can rely on a defender to win the game."

Junior Mike Banner (Upper Marlboro, Md.) came through big for SIUE with a goal in each game of his first two games as a Cougars over the weekend. "He has very good individual skill and speed so that he can beat people one on one," said Huneke. "When he does so he creates some nice opportunities."

In the Cougars' other contest, they defeated Indianapolis 6-0 at Korte Stadium on Friday (9/24) night. Forward Victor Pacheco (San Luis, Brazil) led the way with a goal and two assists. Pacheco ranks second in the GLVC with 15 points this season.

Michael Burgund (Bethalto) added a goal and an assist against the Greyhounds as the Cougars won for the 15th straight time in GLVC regular season play. SIUE now has six players with three or more goals this season. "We have so many people that are a threat up front," said Huneke. "We are going to continue to see good numbers all year long."

The Cougars have outshot their opponents 98-15 in the four Great Lakes Valley Conference contests this season. SIUE travels to Wisconsin-Parkside to take on the Rangers at 1:15 on Friday (10/1), before heading to St. Joseph's to finish out the weekend trip.

Cougars Halt Norse's Streak

SIUE women's soccer coach Lynda Bowers did something on Sunday (9/26) that no team had done in a Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season game since 1999.

The Cougars defeated 10th-ranked Northern Kentucky 2-0 to improve their record to 6-3 overall and 4-0 in GLVC play.

"That is as good as it gets in the regular season," said Bowers.

SIUE's win ended a streak that had seen the Norse compile a record of 40-0-5 during GLVC regular season play since the Cougars defeated the Norse 3-1 five years ago.

Kristine Armstrong (St. Peters) led the way for SIUE over the weekend. Armstrong had two goals in the Cougars 3-0 shutout of Indianapolis on Friday (9/24) night, and she assisted on both of the SIUE goals on Sunday (9/26). "She has done a lot of things that an average spectator does not see," said Bowers. "She is just doing the right things right now. I can see that she is such a valuable player on the field."

Along with Armstrong, the Cougars have received solid play from senior Ann Crawford (St. Louis), who had two goals including the game winner over the Norse on Sunday (9/26). She leads the team with six goals on the season, and that ties her for third in the GLVC. "She has had some great opportunities so far, but some of the teams have just made outstanding saves against her," said Bowers.

"This last weekend has given her a ton of confidence. It was great to see her score this weekend."

The Cougars have recorded four shutouts in their last five games that have led to a five-game winning streak. Senior goalkeeper Jessica Brown (St. Louis) picked up her first shutout of the season against Northern Kentucky. "She was really begging to play the (Northern Kentucky) game," said Bowers. "I knew that she would really be ready for the game. She has really stepped up so far this year."

Freshman Katie Yearian (Waterloo) netted her second goal of the season against the Norse. "She has a lot of speed," said Bowers. "If I need to counter speed I will just put in Katie."

Juniors Kelly Dill (Florissant) and Lindsey Kampwerth (Highland), and sophomore Kayla Fromme (New Berlin) played well for SIUE in the two contests.

The Cougars will play William Woods at Korte Stadium on Wednesday (9/29) at 7 p.m. before traveling to Wisconsin-Parkside and St. Joseph's on Friday (10/1) and Saturday (10/2) afternoons.

Volleyball Cougars Using Balanced Attack

SIUE volleyball coach Todd Gober has led his team to seven wins in their last eight games including a big 3-2 win over Northern Kentucky on Friday (9/24) night.

The Cougars now have a record of 13-4 overall and 4-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

"It was a huge match and going to Northern Kentucky is always a tough place to play," said Gober. "We had a number of different heroes throughout the match. It was a fun match to watch."

During the match against the Norse, SIUE had four players with 14 or more kills. Junior Heather Bonde (Millstadt) had team high 17 kills and a 4.67 hitting percentage. Middle hitter Tina Talsma (Ontario, Canada) had 15 kills, and Kindra Westendorf (Effingham) and Tricia Happe (St. Louis) had 14 kills each.

For Happe, that was a career high in kills. "Tricia stepped up and had a great game in one of the toughest matches of our season," said Gober.

Krystal Majernik (Normal) recorded 63 assists against the Norse.

"She did a great job because the offense hit .306," said Gober.

"She really makes it tough for a team to defend you when you have five girls with 30 or more attacks."

SIUE won its two other matches last week defeating McKendree and Kentucky Wesleyan, each 3-0. Sophomore Jamie Jones (Flanagan) led the way in the win over Kentucky Wesleyan. She had a career-high 14 kills and a .346 hitting percentage. "She was huge for us coming off the bench and doing a good job," said Gober.

Freshman Sadie Zurliene (Aviston) and junior Jenny Heimann (Germantown) combined for 24 assists in the win over the Panthers. "Sadie and Jenny did a great job in that game," said Gober. "I am really happy with the weekend overall, and getting the two victories."

The Cougars will be at the Vadalabene Center on Wednesday (9/29) night to take on Southern Indiana in a match up of two teams who are tied at the top of the GLVC. Game Time is set for 7. "This game is going to be a slugfest because both teams are middle dominated," said Gober.

Following the game against the Screaming Eagles, the Cougars will be at home to face Bellarmine on Saturday (10/2) at 1 p.m.

Men's Cross Country Ranked No. 22

The SIUE men's and women's cross country team hope to continue posting strong times as they compete in the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational in Chicago this Saturday (10/2).

The Cougars, ranked No. 22 in the latest national coaches poll, after finishing third out of seven teams at the Eastern Illinois Twilight meet.

Senior Ryan Boyll (Normal) finished third at the meet with a time 24 minutes, 58.08 seconds, which stands as the third-fastest ever at SIUE at 8,000 meters. Finishing not far behind Boyll was junior Brian Taghon (East Moline). Taghon finished sixth at 25:27.37 for the ninth fastest time in 8,000 meters in school history.

Freshman Erik Steffens (Moline) finished with eighth fastest time for a freshman in SIUE history placing 11th in 25:57.62.

The women's team finished fourth of seven teams at Eastern Illinois. Senior Mary Witte (Normal) finished 12th with a time of 18:59.12 in the 5,000 meters. Freshman Kelly Flounders (Homer Glen) placed 17th at 19:17.20 for the 13th fastest time for a freshman in school history. Senior Lee Ann Lomax (Georgetown) came in at 31st with a time of 20:05.39.

The Cougars' meet will begin at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday (oct. 2) in Chicago.

August 2004

August 26, 2004

Nursing School Plans Scholarship Walk For Sept. 18; Seeks Donations

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing is encouraging donations for its Scholarship Walk on campus Saturday, Sept. 18. The event is aimed at supporting scholarships to recruit and retain nursing students to address the nationwide nursing shortage, says, Bob McElligott, Development director for the School.

"We're recruiting participating walkers and calling on them to ask for donations that will be used for scholarship support of pre-clinical, clinical, and graduate nursing students at SIUE," McElligott said. "The walk is also designed to increase public awareness of the nursing shortage, and what the SIUE School of Nursing is doing to address the problem."

Graduates of the school's basic program earn a four-year BSN degree that develops and supports critical thinking skills, clinical decision-making abilities, and nursing values and ethics.

"The Sept. 18 Scholarship Walk will be a pleasant two-and-one-half-mile stroll through SIUE's Donal G. Myer Arboretum," McElligott said, "and then on to "The Crossing," a sculpture just east of the SIUE Engineering Building." The walk, which kicks off at 11 a.m., will begin and end at SIUE's Alumni Hall.

Refreshments will be served from noon-1 p.m. The route is wheelchair accessible, and there are many places to rest, if necessary. McElligott said: "Our goal is to raise at least $10,000 in scholarships for nursing students.

They are essential partners in our health-care delivery systems. We also are trying to reach as many of our graduates as possible, asking them to return to campus to walk and support current and future nursing students."

Anyone who donates at least $25 will receive a red-and-gray, commemorative T-shirt with imprints of the SIUE "Nursing Gem of Southern Illinois" logo on the front, and "Nursing-the most honest and ethical profession" on the back.

"Hospitals and other organizations and individuals, who appreciate the nursing profession's vital role, are encouraged to consider being a sponsor with a donation of $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more," McElligott said. "While many people have heard about the nursing shortage, possibly even more dramatic is the nursing faculty shortage. SIUE is uniquely positioned to educate both basic and advanced practice nurses."

During the past five years, the SIUE School of Nursing has graduated 681 baccalaureate-level (BSN) nurses and 231 master's and advanced-practice (e.g., Nurse Practitioners) nurses. Most SIUE graduates tend to come from-and return to work in-Southern Illinois and in the St. Louis region. SIUE graduates also are teaching at SIUE and in other nursing schools around the country. Nearly 4,000 nursing students have graduated during the school's 39-year existence.

For more information about the Sept. 18 walk, or to register to walk, contact McElligott, (618) 650-3906, or by e-mail: rmcelli@siue.edu. Information about the SIUE School of Nursing may be found on the Web: www.siue.edu/NURSING.

Back to top

August 26, 2004

SIUE's Pharmacy Practice Chair Wins ACCP Fellowship

(EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.) Mark Luer, newly appointed chair of Pharmacy Practice in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy, has been named a Fellow with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP).

He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.

Upon earning a bachelor of science and a doctorate, both in Pharmacy, from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Luer went on to serve a clinical pharmacy residency and a critical care pharmacy residency at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. He also received a neuroscience fellowship at Kentucky.

Before joining the SIUE School of Pharmacy, Luer had been on the faculty in the Department of Pharmacy Practice in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences since 1996. During that time he also has been a pharmacotherapist for the University Hospital at Arkansas. In addition, Luer has been on the faculty at the College of Pharmacy of the University of Illinois-Chicago, a pharmacist at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, and a pharmacist at St. Joseph Hospital in Kirkwood, Mo.

Luer was among 22 ACCP members elected as fellows to be recognized in October at the college's annual meeting in Dallas, Texas. After nomination by colleagues, ACCP Fellow candidates undergo comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of their practice and/or research accomplishments. Those nominated also must have made a substantial contribution to ACCP through service-related activities.

Back to top

SIUE And Edwardsville Merchants Extend A Welcome

SIUE and area merchants are in the midst of welcoming back new and returning students who began arriving on campus last week.

As part of the festivities, Welcome Week is in full swing, culminating Friday with the Fourth Annual Welcome Back Block Party in downtown Edwardsville.

A schedule of Welcome Week activities, with its theme of SIUE: The True Story of 13,000 Students, may be found on the official Web site: www.siue.edu/KIMMEL/welcomeweek.html.

Some 2,000 guests attended the New Freshman Convocation and Orientation program Saturday, Aug. 21, in the Vadalabene Center.

In addition, SIUE Admissions and Academic Marketing staff distributed "Welcome SIUE Students" signs to businesses in the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon area.

The annual Block Party is scheduled from 6 p.m.-midnight Friday in the 100 blocks of St. Louis Street and Second Street, adjacent to the Madison County Courthouse. The event, with its theme of Rock the Block, will feature live music performed by the band, Son of Glam, and a deejay from Z107.7-FM, as well as food and beverages from popular Edwardsville restaurants and other organizations.

More than 2,500 SIUE students and residents of the community are expected to attend.

Lindsay Research Professor, Sixth Hoppe Research Professor Announced

Stephen Hansen, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, recently announced recipients of two prestigious awards.

The first recipient of the Vaughnie J. Lindsay Research Professor Award is Margaret Simons, professor of Philosophy, for her studies in the life of Simone de Beauvoir, a noted 20th Century philosopher and feminist.

The sixth recipient of the Hoppe Research Professor Award, chosen in this fifth year of the award, is Carole Frick, associate professor of Historical Studies for her research on the gender issues/material culture of 15th-century Italy and the socio-economic impact of the cloth/clothing industry on the inhabitants of the city of Florence.

The Vaughnie J. Lindsay Research Professor Award was created to honor Emerita Professor Lindsay, who served as the dean of Graduate Studies and Research from 1973-1986 and who began the strong support of faculty research that continues today. The award is funded by private donations from faculty and emeritus faculty and by the SIUE Graduate School; the schools of Business, Dental Medicine, Education, Engineering, and Nursing; and the College of Arts and Sciences

The Hoppe Research Professor Award is partially made possible through an endowment established by the late Joseph W. Hoppe, who was originally from Carlinville. He created this endowment with the SIUE Foundation because he believed in the university's mission, including the value of faculty research. The program is funded by the Hoppe Faculty Research Endowment; the SIUE Graduate School; the schools of Business, Dental Medicine, Education, Engineering, and Nursing; and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Both the Lindsay and the Hoppe Research Professor Awards are programs for SIUE faculty to recognize and support individual agendas of research or creative activities. These awards recognize faculty members on continuing full-time appointments, whose research or creative activities have the promise of making significant contributions to their fields of study. Recipients are expected to produce published scholarly works and to submit externally-sponsored grants.

For her research, Simons' work will be delineated by the texts included in the upcoming seven-volume Beauvoir Series, which Simons is co-editing with Sylvie Le Bon de Beauvoir. With this series, Simons and a team of scholars are dismantling the translation barrier to the French philosopher's work.. During her two years as a Lindsay Research Professor, Simons will focus on two themes-a literary-philosophical methodology based on Beauvoir's lived experience and a problem termed by Beauvoir as "the problem of the Other." Simons' specific objectives are to complete her analysis of Beauvoir's early philosophy in the second volume of her student diary (1928-30) and, based on her analysis of Beauvoir's early philosophy, to trace the development of Beauvoir's literary-philosophical methodology and her formulation of the problem of "the Other" in representative texts.

Frick's research examines various dimensions of female public activity (in work, ritual, and material culture) from the time period of the 15th Century, concentrating on the Renaissance urban center of Florence and its Tuscan environs-Fiesole, Prato, and Settignano. By approaching the economic practices and societal structures of this early modern period with an eye toward discovering the differences inherent in their particular configurations, Frick plans to uncover the way in which a socially-embedded economy used the productivity of its women before the advent of Capitalistic gender and class polarization.

In her work, Frick states that a more detailed investigation of the socio-economic structure of this city, including attention to the artifacts of its material culture, will yield intriguing new information that needs to be integrated into the historical narrative to help scholars understand how things worked in a city in which, some have argued, the first glimmerings of modern Western consciousness began. Frick's research will be part of a book she is writing, Performing the Feminine, which extends her investigations that began in her previous book, Dressing Renaissance Florence: Families, Fortunes and Fine Clothing (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003).

These Professorships are unlike other university awards. They are designed to support a significant portion of a faculty member's larger research agenda. Simons and Frick will be appointed for a two-year period, during which time they each will receive 50 percent assigned time for research each academic year, the services of a one-quarter time graduate assistant (for nine months per year), and $1,000 in support lines.

The current Hoppe Research Professor, whose professorship ended June 30th, is Urszula Ledzewicz, professor Mathematics and Statistics, for her research in the application of optimal control theory to chemotherapy treatments for cancer and for the human immunodeficiency virus.

Meet The New Faculty

Gillian Acheson, Geography, received a master's from the University of Delaware and her doctorate from Texas A&M University. Recent articles include "An Investigation of Secondary Science Teachers' Use of GIS in the Classroom" published in Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE). Scholarly interests include geographic learning and education. She enjoys reading, cooking, and hiking.

Tongele Alakebanga, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, received a doctorate from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. His dissertation topic was "Finite Element and Experimental Analysis of Wave Propagation in Conical Periodic Structures." Scholarly interests include system dynamics, system design, and optimization and the theory of elasticity. He enjoys jogging, drumming, and comedy.

Melissa Bergstrom, Special Education and Communication Disorders, received a doctorate in Psychology from the University of Oregon. Her dissertation topic was "Helping School Staff to Support Children with Behavior Challenges." Her scholarly interests include educational systems reform, positive behavior support, and consultation. She enjoys running, hiking, and cycling.

Noell Birondo, Philosophy, is a 2004 graduate of the University of Notre Dame. Forthcoming publications include "Moral Realism Without Values" in the Journal of Philosophical Research. He is also published in Ancient Philosophy, "Aristotle on Illusory Perception."

Marie Byrd-Blake, Educational Leadership, earned a doctorate in Education at Florida International University. Her dissertation topic was "A Study of the Differences Among African-American, Hispanic, and Anglo Women on the Perceived Barriers and Strategies to Career Development in Public School Administration." Scholarly interests include gender issues in leadership, instructional leadership, and teaching diversity through instructional technology. She enjoys exercise and sporting activities.

Stephen Blythe, Computer Science, received a doctorate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. His dissertation topic was "Design Space Exploration in High Level Synthesis." Current scholarly interests include electronic design and automation, distributed computing, and computer science education. Stephen enjoys baseball/softball and ballroom dancing.

Michael Burke, English Language and Literature, received a master's from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His thesis topic was "The Civil War in the Fiction of Howells, James, and Twain." His scholarly interests include early U.S. Army-sponsored art history. He enjoys volunteering for the USO at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and at the Old Cathedral in St. Louis.

Joanne Cattafesta, Speech Communication, earned a master's at Rutgers University. Her article, "Applying Communication Theories to Prevent Dangerous Drinking Among College Students: The RU SURE Campaign," was published in Communication Studies. Joanne enjoys spinning, cooking, and travel.

Susan Claflin, Special Education and Communication Disorders, received a doctorate from the University of Kansas. Her dissertation topic was "The Efficacy of Using Technology to Provide Staff Development on Research-Based Practices." Current scholarly interests include developmentally appropriate early childhood practices. Susan enjoys travel and hand crafts.

Dean Cody, Lovejoy Library, Technical and Access Services, received a doctorate from Saint Louis University and master's in Library and Information Science from the University of Missouri at Columbia. His dissertation topic was "Kant's doctrine of the Multiplicity of Methods." Scholarly interests include patron use of online services, licensing of online resources, and librarianship and health care ethics. He enjoys gardening, golf and exercise.

Patricia Fazzone, School of Nursing, received a doctorate of Nursing Science from Rush University. Her dissertation topic was "Caring for Abused and Neglected Children on Inpatient Psychiatric Units: A Cross Sectional Ethnography." Her current scholarly interests include diabetics, depression, and substance abuse.

Connie Frey, Sociology and Criminal Justice, received a master's from Middle Tennessee State University and her doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her dissertation topic was "Jane Addams on Peace, Crime, and Religion: The Beginnings of a Modern Day Peace Making Criminology." Her publications include "The State of Women in the Geosciences" in Geotimes. Her scholarly interests include the history of Sociology and Feminist Pragmatism. She enjoys reading, sewing, gardening, and cooking.

Kay Gaehle, School of Nursing, received a doctorate at Saint Louis University. Her dissertation topic was "A Conceptual Understanding of Breast Cancer Detection Practices of Women 65-84 Years of Age." Her scholarly interests include breast cancer detection in older women and the use of medication safety technology in acute care settings. She enjoys reading fiction.

Hernando Garcia, Physics, earned both a master's and a doctorate at Rutgers University. His dissertation topic was "Non-liner Refractive Index in Optical Fibers and Semiconductor Films." His scholarly interests include nonlinear optics. He enjoys music.

Jack Glassman, Physics, earned a master's and a doctorate at the University of New Mexico. His scholarly interests include optical parametric amplification of signals for use in interferometry.

Chris Glosser, Physics, received at doctorate at Michigan State University. His scholarly interests include particle physics, computational physics and biophysics. He enjoys chess, computers, biking, and films.

Shelly Goebl-Parker, Art & Design, received a certificate in Art Psychotherapy and a master's in Social Work, both at Washington University. Her dissertation topic was "Transitional Objects and Potential Space in Art Therapy." She has presented "Artica: An Urban Wilderness Program for Day Treatment Youth." She presented "Art Therapy at Edgewood Children's Center" at the Maryville University Music Therapy Symposium. Her scholarly interests include documentation and facilitating art process as practiced in the Reggio Emilia Municipal schools. She enjoys gardening, knitting, and playing with her children.

Michael Grossman, Geography, earned a doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His dissertation topic was "Climate Change, Typhoons, Climatic Change, Japan." His scholarly interests include floods, typhoons, and climate change in Japan. He practices Aikido (Japanese martial art).

Gireesh Gupchup, School of Pharmacy, received a doctorate at Purdue University. His dissertation topic was "Pharmacists' Job Stress as a Transaction and a Process." He has authored 27 peer reviewed publications since 1990. Scholarly interests include the study of processes and outcomes of innovative pharmacy services. He enjoys golf, racquetball, soccer, and family.

Laura Hanson, Theatre and Dance, earned a doctorate at New York University. Her dissertation topic was "Elements of Modernism in the Musicals of Stephen Sondheim." She recently contributed an article, "Biography of Playwright James Lapine" to the Dictionary of Literary Biographies. Her scholarly interests include the history and evolution of musical theatre, as well as theatre design, and the works of composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim. She enjoys travel, snorkeling, baking, and reading.

Joshua Hileman, Computer Management and Information Systems, received a master of science in mathematics from SIUE. His thesis topic was "The Schwarz Information Criterion in the Logistic Regression Setting."

Susan Hume, Geography, received a doctorate from the University of Oregon. Her recent publications include "Belgian Settlement and Society in the Indiana Rust Belt" in the Geographical Review. Scholarly interests are ethnic geography, U.S. immigration, and geographic education. Susan enjoys swimming, cooking, cycling, and listening to world music.

Kimberly Hurley, Kinesiology and Health Education, received a master of science from Western Illinois University. Scholarly interests include physical activity contributors in older adults-motives and barriers, and physical self perceptions and self esteem. She enjoys running, cycling, cribbage, reading, writing, and poetry.

Luci Kohn, Biological Sciences, received a doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her dissertation topic was "A Genetic Study of Craniofacial Growth Using Finite Element Methods." Her scholarly interests include inheritance of complex traits, genetics, and evolution of morphology. She enjoys hiking and cooking.

Mark Luer, School of Pharmacy, received a doctorate from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. His current scholarly interests include blood-brain barrier drug transport. He enjoys fishing and coaching youth soccer.

Donna Mickens, Management and Marketing, received master's in Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Her thesis topic was "Professional Identity Development of Biracial Adults in Corporate Settings." Scholarly interests include the study of differences of family-owned businesses in implementing policy and managing employees. She enjoys designing and creating sugar sculptures.

Peter Minchin, Biological Sciences, received a doctorate in Botany from the University of Tasmania. His dissertation topic was "A Comparative Evaluation of Techniques for Ecological Ordination Using Simulated Vegetation Data." His scholarly interests include the development of robust methods for analysis of community change, with applications in conservation biology and restoration ecology. He also enjoys cooking, reading English and Spanish literature, hiking and camping, music, and playing bridge.

Linda Morice, Educational Leadership, received a doctorate at Saint Louis University. Her dissertation topic was "Empowerment and the North Central Outcomes Accreditation Model: a Study of Teachers in Five Schools." Scholarly interests include performance evaluations, school district governance, and the history of education. Linda enjoys local history and genealogy.

Mona Musa, Mathematics and Statistics, earned a doctorate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her dissertation topic was "Dihedral Codes and the Double Circulant Conjecture for Binary Extended Quadratic Residue Codes." This one-time Fulbright Scholar has research interests that include coding theory, algebra, and computer algebra systems. Mona was a Fulbright Scholar.

Anne Perry, School of Nursing, received her doctorate in Education from SIUE. Publications include "The Development and Testing of the PATCOA to Assess Pain in Confused Older Adults" in Pain Management Nursing. Her interests include research about weaning from mechanical ventilation and nursing language classifications. Anne enjoys quilting and volunteers for the American Lung Association of Missouri.

Therese Poirier, School of Pharmacy, received a doctorate in Pharmacy at the University of Michigan and an MPH at the University of Pittsburgh. Her dissertation topic was "Utilization of Drug Information Resources." Her scholarly interests include use of technology and active learning to stimulate student learning. Therese enjoys showing her Shetland sheepdogs.

Brenda Rayco, Mathematics and Statistics, received a doctorate from the University Florida. Her dissertation topic was "Algorithmic Approaches to Aggregation for Location Models." Scholarly interests include test problem generation for set partitioning problems, multistage stochastic programming, and location models. She also enjoys outdoor activities and reading.

Jennifer Rehg, Anthropology, earned a doctorate at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Recent publications include "Habitat Preferences of Three New World Monkeys." Scholarly interests include behavior and ecology of neo-tropical primates, conservation and rainforest communities, and gregariousness of primates.

Leslie Reynard, Speech Communication, received a doctorate at the University of Kansas. Her dissertation topic was "Presidential Rhetoric." Scholarly interests include presidential rhetoric, political communication, and image management/ restoration. Leslie enjoys raising Irish Setters, painting, print making, and fiction writing.

Ena Rose-Green, Accounting, received a doctorate at Florida State University. One of Ena's publications includes "Strategic Bankruptcies and Price Reactions to Bankruptcy Filings" in the Journal of Business Finance and Accounting. Her scholarly interests include the association between bankruptcy and financial restatements. She enjoys tennis and reading.

Rita Sander, School of Nursing, earned a doctorate in the philosophy of Nursing at Saint Louis University. Her dissertation topic was "Measurement of Functional Status in the Spinal Cord Injured Patient." Current scholarly interests include trauma/disaster spinal cord injuries-outcome measures and planning. She enjoys cooking and sewing.

Cynthia Schossberger, Philosophy, earned a master's at Tufts University and her doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania. She enjoys working for adult literacy as well as rollerblading with her dog.

Dan Segrist, Psychology, received his doctorate from SIU Carbondale. His dissertation topic was "Alcohol Refusal in Adolescent Males." Current scholarly interests include alcohol and drug use in adolescents and college students. He enjoys reading and spending time with his family.

Nahid Shabestary, Chemistry, who has been an instructor here for several years, received a doctorate from Michigan State University. Her dissertation was "Excited State Proton Transfer." Current scholarly interests are Molecular Spectroscopy and Heterogeneous Catalysis. She enjoys walking, hiking, and volleyball.

Elizabeth Sherwood, Curriculum and Instruction, earned a doctorate in Education at Illinois State University. Her dissertation topic was "Public School Pre-Kindergarten Teachers and the Illinois Early Learning Standards: Teacher Response to Initial Implementation." Scholarly interests include early childhood curriculum and early childhood trends and history.

Douglas Simms, Foreign Languages and Literature, earned a doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin. His dissertation topic was "Comparative Study of Early Medieval Germanic Poetry." Scholarly interests include Viking poetry and Old Saxon poetry. He enjoys cooking and biking.

Michael Skelly, Psychology, earned a doctorate at Binghamton University. His dissertation topic was "Phonological Consistency Effects Between Primes and Targets in the Delayed-Letter Paradigm." Current scholarly interests include visual and spoken word recognition. He enjoys playing bass, singing, songwriting, volleyball and exercising.

John Smith, Kinesiology and Health Education, received a doctorate from Texas Women's University. His dissertation topic was "Assessment of Physical Activity Levels of 3rd and 4th Grade Children Using Pedometers During Physical Education." A recent publication includes "Biomechanical and Physiological Responses while Running with a Stroller." Scholarly interests include effects of anaerobic fatigue on fine motor skills, and health variable and cardio-respiratory fitness.

G. Stacy Staples, Mathematics, earned a doctorate at SIU Carbondale. His dissertation topic was "Clifford Algebras, Combinations, and Stochastic Processes." Current scholarly interests include stochastic processes on algebraic structures. He enjoys music and reading.

Pantipa Tachawachira, Management and Marketing, is completing a dissertation about "The Influence of National Culture on the Knowledge Transfer in Cross-Boarder Acquisitions: A Longitudinal Analysis." She expects to graduate from the University of Washington. Scholarly interests include multinational corporate strategy, international expansion, organizational learning, knowledge transfer, technological innovation, and cross cultural studies.

Dennis Taylor, Art and Design, received a master's and a doctorate from Syracuse University. His dissertation was "Inclusive Schooling in Secondary Art Education." Current scholarly interests include community art projects that deal with masking tape and situations of students with ADD/ADHD in block scheduled art classes. Dennis enjoys cooking, hiking, gardening, and museums.

Charles Thornton, School of Dental Medicine, earned a DMD at Washington University and a master of science in Orthodontics at Saint Louis University. He was selected for fellowship in the American College of Dentists in 2004. Scholarly interests include clinical orthodontic growth, treatment, timing, and pre-doctoral orthodontic curriculum content. He enjoys Tai Chi Chuan and reading.

Jeffrey VanCleave, Speech Communications, earned a doctorate at the University of Kansas. His most recent presentation/publication was "The Oxymoron of the Global Community: Globalization, Communication, and Community" at the International Communication Association Convention. Scholarly interests include social movements, and the rhetoric of sports. Jeffrey enjoys cooking, travel, and sports.

Cory Willmott, Cultural Anthropology and Museum Studies, received a doctorate from McMaster's University. Recent publications include "The Leas of Science: Anthropometric Photography and the Chippewa, 1890-1920" in Visual Anthropology. Scholarly interests include museum anthropology and visual anthropology. She also enjoys photography, beadwork, and Scottish country dancing.

Yun Lu, Chemistry, earned a doctorate at Nankai University. His dissertation topic was "Kinetics, Thermodynamics and Mechanisms of NADH Model Mediated Organic Reactions." His scholarly interests include organic and enzymatic reaction mechanistic studies. He enjoys swimming, playing ping-pong, reading, and watching NBA games.

Spring Green Lodge And Conference Center To Be Constructed In U. Park

Ground was broken last week for the much anticipated Spring Green Lodge and Conference Center to be constructed in University Park near its entrance to Illinois 157.

The hotel and conference center complex, expected to open in summer or fall of next year, will be the Edwardsville area's first upscale hotel and conference center. Among the speakers at the groundbreaking were developer William L. Shaw and SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift, as well as Edwardsville and Madison County officials.

The lodge, which will feature a permanent exhibit of drawings and photographs of noted American architects, reflects an alliance with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. The permanent exhibit will have special emphasis on the works of Wright and Louis H. Sullivan, who gave Wright his first job in 1887. The University Museum at SIUE maintains the largest collection of Sullivan architectural ornament in the world.

Spring Green Lodge will exhibit reproductions of some of the more than 20,000 drawings, photographs, murals, watercolors, and other historical material spanning Wright's 70-year career as America's premier architect. "One of the missions of Spring Green," Shaw said, "is to create an inspirational display of architecture. It is intended to heighten awareness of the importance of architecture to society.

"We hope this educational agenda will inspire young people to pursue art, architecture, design, and engineering as a career."

Shaw said it is his intent to honor Wright by infusing many design and architectural concepts within the lodge, reflecting Wright's legacy. "These ideas will be evident in the exterior and interior design of the hotel public areas," Shaw said. "The color palette of the interior will be 'Wright-ian' and create a lodging experience that feels like a walk through the forest in autumn."

In addition to SIUE's Sullivan collection pieces, Pre-Columbian ceramics and antiquities also will be displayed in the hotel's exhibit areas. The lodge also will be highlighted by a mezzanine displaying some of the exhibits and a first-floor Wright Library with book about architecture. This area also will be used for reading, business tasks, and relaxation.

Also featured will be a great room with a massive stone fireplace and intimate seating, a dining area with a fireplace, extensive outdoor decks and patios, and a conference center for up to 300 attendees on the lower level of the facility.

A lodging tower-with 54 upscale, suite-style rooms-will include 12 conference suites for up to 18 attendees per suite. Brian Donnelly, executive director of University Park, said the Spring Green project is welcomed by the university as a valuable asset, providing needed lodging and meeting space for the university and its student body, for companies located in the research park, and for communities throughout the area.

Former Cougar Called Up By Orioles

Former SIUE baseball standout Aaron Rakers (Trenton) has been called up to the major leagues by the Baltimore Orioles.

SIUE Coach Gary Collins said he received a phone call from his former player. "He called me to let me know he got called up- that he was on his way to Baltimore," Collins said. "I'm glad he is getting his chance at the big leagues. He's been successful at every level he has played."

Rakers most recently has played for the Ottawa Lynx, the AAA affiliate for the Orioles. Rakers has been playing in the minor leagues since leaving SIUE in 1999.

At SIUE, Rakers posted a 16-7 record during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. His 192 strikeouts is fourth on SIUE's all-time list. He became the first person in school history to record 100 or more strikeouts in a season when he fanned 109 in 1999. Dave Crouthers, who also is playing in the minor leagues with the Orioles, later broke the record with 118 in 2001.

The Orioles officially listed Rakers in the major league transactions as having purchased his contract from Ottawa and transferring outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. to the 15-day disabled list.

Rakers is the third player in school history to make a major league roster. Dennis Werth played four seasons with the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals from 1979 to 1982. Champ Summers came up with the Oakland Athletics in 1974 and went on to play for six different teams in an 11-year career.

SIUE's Pacheco Receives Honor

Sophomore forward Victor Pacheco (Sao Luis, Brazil ) was named offensive Most Valuable Players at the UW-Parkside Men's Soccer Puma Classic as the SIUE men's soccer team earned a split, defeating Gannon 5-0 and falling to sixth-ranked Findlay 2-1 over the weekend.

Pacheco recorded three goals and one assist in Saturday's (9/4) romp of Gannon, and he followed that up with an assist in the loss to Findlay. "Victor came up big with the three goals," said SIUE coach Ed Huneke. "The nature of them (goals) I was impressed with because (they were) more on placement than power."

Junior midfielder Pete Cacciatore (St. Louis), also named to the all-tournament team, came up big for the Cougars netting a goal and an assist. "He continues to be dangerous," Huneke said. "Teams are starting to focus on him."

Along with Cacciatore, junior captain Brian Higgins (St. Louis) and sophomore backer John Mathews (Edwardsville) were named to the all-tournament team.

The Cougars have a record of 3-1 on the year after the win over Gannon and loss to Findlay. "They (Findlay) designed a game plan that we knew eventually we would be seeing from people," Huneke said. "They packed it in and played a very defensive game.

We have to learn how to deal with teams that play that way because we are going to see it some more."

The Cougars will be at home on Friday (9/10) to face the Miners of Missouri-Rolla at 7 p.m. before traveling to face Ashland (Ohio) on Sunday (9/12) at 3 p.m.

Women's Soccer Steps Up The Defense

Even though the SIUE women's soccer team split the two games it played this past weekend, Coach Lynda Bowers was very pleased with the way her team played defensively.

The Cougars picked up their first win of the season on Friday (9/3) 2-0 over West Virginia Wesleyan. SIUE outshot the Wildcast 26-6.

"I thought we played very well," said Bowers. "It was good for us to redefine our team's shape by giving us practice on how to do the right things."

Senior forward Ann Crawford (St. Louis) recorded both of the Cougars' goals in the contest. "The fact that she put two (goals) away really builds her confidence," said Bowers. "It (also) builds the team's confidence in her."

After defeating West Virginia Wesleyan, SIUE came home and lost a tough 1-0 battle with 10th-ranked Grand Valley State. The Cougars outshot the Lakers 16-5 for the game. "I felt like we controlled the entire game," Bowers said. "We really put forth a huge effort and our girls didn't back down for one minute."

Stepping up for the Cougars over the weekend were several players, including junior Lindsay Kampwerth (Highland), senior Christen Carducci (Powell, Ohio), and junior Kelly Dill (Florissant, Mo.), who recorded an assist against West Virginia Wesleyan and sophomore forward Kayla Fromme (New Berlin). "Those girls are really going to frustrate some teams," Bowers said.

SIUE travels to play Mercyhurst on Friday (9/10) in Ashland, Ohio, at 2 p.m. The Cougars follow that up with a contest against Ashland on Sunday (9/12) at 1 p.m.

Women's Tennis Continues Road Swing

Even though the SIUE women's tennis team lost three matches over the weekend, coach Bill Logan still had a lot of positives to look at. "It was a tough couple of matches," he said.

"We had tough competition."

The Cougars played three Great Lakes Valley Conference matches in two days. SIUE lost to Bellarmine 6-3 on Friday (9/3) with No. 3 singles Allison Coats (Belleville), No. 4 singles Lisa Warner (Arlington Heights), and No. 5 singles Celia Montes (Chicago) all picking up wins.

On Saturday (9/4), the Cougars fell to Indianapolis 5-0.

"Indianapolis is probably the toughest team in the conference," Logan said.

SIUE then traveled to Northern Kentucky where they fell to the Norse 8-1. "The bright side to that match was my No. 1 player won," he said.

Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) defeated NKU's Laura Lipsinger, 3-6, 6-4, 10-4 for SIUE's only point. The Cougars will be back on the road on Friday (9/10) at St. Joseph's at 3 p.m. SIUE travels to Lewis on Saturday (9/11) for a match at 9 a.m.

Cross Country Set For Bradley Invitational

SIUE cross country got off to a good start this past weekend at the Cougar/Bearcat Challenge at the SIUE cross country course.

The men's cross country team had a good showing at the challenge, finishing first overall in the 6,000-meter race. Junior Brian Taghon (East Moline) led the way for the Cougars by finishing second in the competition with a time of 27 minutes, 31.78 seconds.

Following just 18 seconds behind was senior Ryan Boyll (Normal) who finished with a time of 27:49.93 seconds. Junior Trae Cotner (Springfield) finished seventh for SIUE, and junior Justin Crain (McLeansboro) and Brian Getz (East Moline) finished 13th and 14th, respectfully.

On the women's side, SIUE finished in second place in the 5,000-meter event as a team. Senior Mary Witte (Normal) led the way with a fourth-place finish in 20:18.79. Junior Heather Zipparro (Mt. Prospect), and sophomores Priscilla Rahn (East Alton) and Natalie Aschim (Rockford) rounded out the Cougars top-20 finish.

The men's and women's cross country teams will travel to Peoria for the Bradley Invitational on Friday (9/10).

Volleyball Heads To West Virginia

SIUE's volleyball team started out the weekend the way they planned, with a pair of five-game wins over Northwest Missouri State and Emporia State on Friday (9/10) evening at the Ramada Inn-vitatonal Tournament in St. Joseph, Mo., but the tournament didn't finish quite the way they had hoped.

The Cougars lost a pair of four-game matches on Saturday (9/4) against Missouri Western and Pittsburg State, falling to 6-3 on the season.

Shannon Winkler (Germantown) led the way for the Cougars, who were named to the all-tournament team, with 42 kills and 50 digs.

SIUE's best match was the battle with Emporia State as the Cougars fell behind 2-1, losing games one and three. They would win game four 30-22, and, after falling behind 8-3 in Game Five, SIUE finished off an comeback with a 15-13 win.

Junior Heather Bonde (Millstadt) had a solid performance with 71 kills during the four matches including a career-high 21-kill performance against Missouri Western. Junior libero Allison Buss (Towanda) recorded 93 digs for the tournament including 26 against Missouri Western. Junior Tina Talsma (Ontario, Canada) had a career-high 15 kills in the match against Emporia State.

The Cougars will travel to Wheeling, W.V., this weekend as they face Mercyhurst on Friday (9/10) night at 5. On Saturday (9/11), SIUE plays Ferris State at 9 a.m., followed by Findlay at 2.

Comeback Kids Pick Up Two Wins

Even though the men's soccer Cougars fell behind 1-0 in each of its first two games of the season, SIUE's men's soccer coach Ed Huneke was happy the way his team battled back and were able to pick up a pair of 2-1 victories.

"An interesting nature is developing with this team-the ability to come from behind," said Huneke. "It is a dangerous way to live, but it is nice knowing you have that capability."

Freshman forward Adam Lanter (Edwardsville) came off the bench and was huge for SIUE all weekend. He netted goals in both games, including the game-winner on Friday (8/27) as the Cougars defeated Columbia 2-1. "For him to come up with two goals in the first two games is especially gratifying for him and our team," Huneke said.

Along with Lanter's solid play, the Cougars received some heroics from junior forward Pete Cacciatore (St. Louis), whose first goal of the season in double-overtime propelled the Cougars to a 2-1 win over Christian Brothers College on Sunday night (8/29). "Pete had a great weekend," said Huneke. "He is so dangerous with his speed."

Junior forward Tim Collico (St. Louis) scored the Cougars' other goal in the Columbia game. Like Collico, sophomore forward John Matthews (Edwardsville) had a solid weekend picking up an assist in each of the contests. "He is real strong player," Huneke said. "The kind of player you want playing beside you."

Junior backer Kevin Thibodeau (St. Charles) had an assist in the game against Christian Brothers. Thibodeau's backfield teammate Mike Burgund (Bethalto) was also very impressive with his defensive skills.

The Cougars were led by their offensive play in both contests, outshooting their opponents 41-13 in the two games. "Both team's defensive structures were good," said Huneke. "It seemed like in the second half things opened up a little bit for us."

SIUE will head on the road this weekend as it travels to Kenosha, Wis., for the UW-Parkside PUMA Classic. The Cougars will battle Gannon on Saturday (9/4) at 2:30 p.m. following that up with Findlay on Sunday (9/5) at 2:30 p.m.

Women's Soccer Looks To Rebound

After a tough loss to No. 11-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato, the SIUE women's soccer team may not have started the season the way it had hoped, but it will look to rebound with two games this weekend.

The Cougars fell to the Mavericks 3-1 on Friday night (8/27) at Ralph Korte Stadium. SIUE's lone goal came from junior midfielder Lindsay Kampwerth (Highland) as she netted her first of the year at the 71:54 mark of the contest. Junior forward Sarah Landt (Carbondale) added the assist on the goal.

Even though Minnesota State-Mankato outscored SIUE, the Cougars were only outshot 13-12 in the game. Senior goalkeeper Jessica Brown (St. Louis) had six saves in the contest, dropping her to 0-1 for the year. Senior forward Ann Crawford (St. Louis) recorded four shots, and senior backer Angela Light (St. Louis) added three for the Cougars.

The Cougars travel to Indianapolis on Friday (9/3) to play West Virginia Wesleyan at 5 p.m. before coming home to face Grand Valley State on Sunday (9/5) at 2:30 p.m.

Volleyball Starts Season Strong In Florida

SIUE's volleyball team returned from the West Florida Comfort Inn-vitational with a 3-1 record.

Coach Todd Gober said he was pleased with the way his team performed at the tournament. "We came away with some confidence," said Gober. "I am happy with the record and very happy with the win over West Florida.

Two juniors stepped up in a big way for the Cougars in the win over West Florida. Outside hitter Kindra Westendorf (Effingham) had a career-best 23 kills while libero and defensive specialist Allison Buss (Towanda) picked up 27 digs in the match. Westendorf finished the contest with a hitting percentage of .500.

"Kindra was our go to hitter in our front row," Gober said. "She forced a lot of double blocks, and she was the person the other teams focused on."

Another junior, setter Krystal Majernik (Normal), was voted to the Comfort Inn-vitational All-Tournament Team. Majernik average 10.85 assists per game in during the four-match tournament. She totaled 141 assists for the tournament.

The Cougars started off the season with a three-game win over Adelphi (NY) on Friday (8/27) morning. SIUE followed that with another 3-0 win over Gulf South Conference opponent Montevallo.

SIUE's toughest match of the tournament came on Saturday (8/28) morning as the Cougars faced 13th-ranked Central Missouri State. The Cougars jumped on the Jennies winning the first game 30-20. SIUE lost the second game 30-20, and then lost in a heart breaking 30-27 third game before CMSU ended the match with a 30-15 loss.

"Central Missouri served very tough against us, especially in the second game," Gober said. "Sometimes we would have a let down in the second game after a strong first one."

The Cougars finished out the tournament with a three-game win over West Florida on Saturday (8/28) afternoon. Middle hitter Heather Bonde (Millstadt) had a great tournament with 45 kills and 15 services aces during the four games. "If we serve tough it just makes our game that much better," Gober said.. "In all the games we served very tough and executed our game plan."

Junior outside hitter Shannon Winkeler (Bartelso) played well in her first few games as a Cougar. Winkeler averaged 3.15 digs and 2.77 kills per game for the tournament. "I am encouraged on how our team played as a whole," Gober said. "We have a few areas we need to focus on this week before we head to the Missouri Western Tournament."

SIUE faces University of Illinois-Springfield on Tuesday (8/31) night at the Vadalabene Center at 7 for their home opener. Then the Cougars will battle Northwest Missouri at 2 p.m. and Emporia State at 8 p.m. Friday (9/3) at the Missouri Western Tournament. On Saturday (9/4), the Cougars take on Missouri Western at Noon and Pittsburg State at 2 p.m.

Women's Tennis Ready To Start Season

SIUE's women tennis coach Bill Logan looks for this season to be another strong one for the Cougars. The team will try to rebound from a fifth-place finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. "We have been working hard, and I pleased so far," Logan said.

Entering the season, SIUE will look to senior Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) to be its top player. "Chrissy was 13 -6 at No. 2 last season," Logan said. "She is the new No. 1 on our team."

Stepping up to take over the No. 2 spot for the Cougars will be junior Gina Wohltman (Effingham), who was 15-5 last season. Junior Allison Coats (Belleville) finished last season at 10-5 and will be the Cougars No. 3 at singles. Junior Lisa Warner (Arlington Hts.) will play No. 4 singles after a 12-4 mark last season. Junior Celia Montes (Chicago) will start at number five singles and freshman Katherine Ferry (Springfield) will be in the No. 6 spot.

The Cougars begin their season Tuesday (8/31) traveling to Quincy to take on the Hawks at 3 p.m. "I am hoping they all take advantage for first match," Logan said. "It will be a good match in which to start the conference season."

Women's Golf To Defend GLVC Title

SIUE women's golf coach Larry Bennett will add some young faces to a team that will try and defend its Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship from a year ago.

Bennett added four new golfers to the program in the off-season, and he looks for those four freshmen to make contributions for the start. "The new girls are seasoned golfers and they were tournament tested in high school," Bennett said.

Returning for the Cougars is 2003 GLVC Freshman of the Year Kallie Harrison (Decatur), who will start off in the No. 1 spot for SIUE. Junior Brittany Hood (Coulterville) is the oldest person on the team, and she will begin the year at No. 2. "She is a competitor," Bennett said. "She has the most experience."

SIUE will look to four freshmen to fill the rest of the lineup, including two Wisconsin natives. Jessie Tiffe (Brookfield, Wis.) was voted the best player in the greater Milwaukee area and played on the Wisconsin State Championship team. Rachel Roberg (Rice Lake, Wis.) was No. 1 on her high school team and finished in the top 20 in the state of Wisconsin.

Two Illinois natives round out the freshmen on the team, Natalie Conway (McLeansboro) was the Tri-state Player of the Year in Southern Illinois, Southern Indiana, and Northwest Kentucky. Kelly Morris (Normal) was a standout in high school, playing in several state tournaments. "Her short game is good," said Bennett. "We are going to be able to count on her."

Bennett looks for his team to compete for another GLVC title, but he knows the team has to practice on a key area. "One thing that needs the most work is the short game, and we all need to work on that."

The Cougars will open the season on Sept. 6-7 at the Grand Valley State Laker Fall Classic. SIUE will return home for the Cougar Classic at Fox Creek Golf Course on Sept. 12-13.

McAllister Gives Cross Country A Fresh Start

New SIUE cross country coach Ellen McAllister looks to give new life to the program after the departure of Darryl Frerker.

On the men's side McAllister has only two seniors Ryan Boyll (Normal), who finished 12th in the Great Lakes Valley Conference last season and Jonathan Sadowski (Springfield).

Juniors will look to make contributions, including Brian Taghon (East Moline), who finished fourth in the GLVC a season ago, Trae Cotner (Springfield), Justin Crain (McLeansboro), and Josh Helton (Robinson) will also make contributions.

Sophomores Joshua Bozue (Fairborne, Ohio) and Cody Ellermeyer (DuQuoin), and freshmen Erik Steffens (Moline), Brian Getz (East Moline), and Bart Smith (Benton) will all add to a team that will have plenty of depth.

On the women's side, seniors Mary Witte (Normal), who finished sixth in GLVC, looks to lead the team, and Lee Ann Lomax (Georgetown) will all be the team's strengths. Juniors Amanda White (Normal) and Heather Zipparro (Mount Prospect), and sophomores Natalie Aschim (Rockford), Betsy Hall (Charleston), and Priscilla Rahn (East Alton) add experience to a solid Cougar team.

Newcomers Kelly Flounders (Homer Glen), Julie Minton (Centralia), and Rebecca Peach (East Alton) will build on an already strong club. SIUE's cross country team will start its season Sept. 4 with the Cougar/Bearcat Classic on the SIUE Cross Country Course.

Men's Soccer Enjoys 'Home Cooking'

SIUE men's soccer opens its season with two non-conference home contests this weekend at Ralph Korte Stadium.

After 16-4-1 mark during the 2003 season, soccer coach Ed Huneke enjoys opening the season at home. "I like the way the schedule turned out," said Huneke. "These two first teams are not regional opponents, and it's an opportunity to experiment some things without negative ramifications."

The Cougars' first opponent is Columbia College on Friday (8/27) at 7 p.m. "Columbia is one of the top NAIA schools in the region that returns three All-Americans," said Huneke. "They will be a very formidable task."

SIUE's toughest test of the two games may be Christian Brothers on Sunday (8/28) at 6 p.m. The Buccaneers finished last season with an 8-9 record, and the Cougars have had trouble with the Buccaneers in the past with a 1-4-1all-time record. "We haven't beaten them in sometime," said Huneke. "They always give us a real battle."

This will be the first time since 2001 that SIUE will open up the season at home, In that year, the Cougars finished as a national semifinalist. The Cougars return five starters from last season's team, including Victor Pacheco (San Luis, Brazil), Brian Higgins (St. Louis), Pete Cacciatore (St. Louis), John Matthews (Edwardsville), and Mike Burgund (Bethalto).

SIUE Women's Soccer Looks For Solid Start

Getting off to a good start and playing solidly on both sides of the ball is the hope for SIUE women's soccer coach Lynda Bowers as the Cougars open their season at home Friday afternoon (8/27) against Minnesota State-Mankato.

SIUE will do battle with the Mavericks at 4 p.m. in Ralph Korte Stadium. The Cougars will look to improve upon a 10-7 record from last season. Minnesota State enters the contest after a 14-5-2 mark a year ago.

Bowers believes that teams want to come and play SIUE. "Most people don't mind traveling here because it is such a treat to play on our field," said Bowers.

After the game against the Mavericks, SIUE will have a week off before their next game. "It is going to be nice just focusing on one game," said Bowers. "Let game one kind of sink in before we head on to game No. 2."

Sophomore mid-fielder Christine Armstrong (St. Peters, Mo.), who netted nine goals to lead the team as a freshman, will look to get the Cougars going offensively this season. Senior forward Ann Crawford (St. Louis) had six goals last season and looks to add some punch to the Cougar offense.

On defense SIUE will be led by a sophomore duo of Kayla Fromme (New Berlin) and Padra Bencini (Carbondale). Senior Jessica Brown (St. Louis) will be the force for SIUE in net as she looks to be the starting goalkeeper.

Cougar Volleyball: Florida Bound

When SIUE volleyball coach Todd Gober looked at the schedule for the 2004 season, he knew that the first road trip could be a trip to paradise in a couple of ways.

First and foremost the Volleyball Cougars could get a great start to the season, and secondly how could you beat a trip to the Sunshine State.

The Cougars open the season at the Comfort Inn-vitational Tournament in Pensacola, Fla. SIUE will face some stiff competition with Adelphi at 8:30 a.m. Friday (8/27) and Montevallo at 2 p.m. that same day. "With the first two games, it is nice to try and ease into a tougher schedule," said Gober.

Day two of the tournament will be a little more difficult for the Cougars as they face 13th-ranked Central Missouri State. SIUE will battle the Jennies, who finished last year with a 26-11 record, at 8:30 a.m. Saturday (8/28). The Cougars' last match of the tournament will be against the host team West Florida at 2 p.m. that day.

"West Florida won 24 matches last season and finished in the national polls," said Gober. "I am hoping that by the time we get to Central Missouri (State) and West Florida we are more comfortable."

Gober will have a strong team that he takes to Florida including junior setter Krystal Majernik (Normal) looking to build on a first team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference and second-team Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region selections from a last year.

In the front row, SIUE's powerful trio of junior Kindra Westendorf (Effingham), junior Heather Bonde (Millstadt), and Shannon Winkeler (Germantown), an All-American transfer from John Logan College, will provide a solid front.

Junior defensive specialist Allison Buss (Towanda) was fourth in the GLVC in digs per game last year. Buss will look to have more of a role at libero during the 2004 season.

DeClue Named Athletic's Academic Advisor

Jacqueline DeClue, of Dupo, has been named the new academic advisor and compliance coordinator for SIUE Intercollegiate Athletics, replacing Martie Staser who left to pursue a position as a swimming coach at the University of Rochester.

The academic advisor is responsible for the advisement, registration, and progress of all "non-declared" or "intent to- declare" student-athletes and some academic support services for the Intercollegiate Athletics program.

Advisors insure compliance with NCAA conference and university regulations. As the person in charge of SIUE's implementation of the Life Skills Progam, DeClue also will work closely with SIUE's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Since 2000, DeClue has been an academic advisor in the SIUE Office of Academic Counseling and Advising. This past year, she also had been a coordinator and instructor to develop the Academic Choices and Transitions program for students on academic probation.

DeClue previously has worked as an academic advisor at Purdue and as a summer orientation academic advisor at Ball State.

A member of the National Academic Advising Association, DeClue received her bachelor's from SIUE in Liberal Studies in 1997. In 1999, she earned a master's in Student Personnel Administration at Ball State.

SIUE Women's Soccer Pushes Forward

With a clear balance of youth and experience, SIUE women's soccer Coach Lynda Bowers enters the 2004 season with some solid expectations.

After finishing 10-7 last season in Bowers' first year as head coach, the Cougars only have had to make a handful of moves to shore up the offense and defense. With seven starters returning, it's all about from where the team's leadership will come. "We're hoping the chemistry is still there," said Bowers.

Ann Crawford (St. Louis), a senior, returns at forward as a hard worker up front. "I expect her to be one of our strongest scorers," said Bowers.

Kristine Armstrong (St. Peters, Mo.) worked her way into the lineup late last season and became the team's leading scorer by season's end with nine goals and two assists. She made just six starts in her freshman season and figures to increase her role this season.

Katie Yearian (Waterloo) joins the front line for SIUE. In spite of her size at 5-foot-3-inches, Yearian figures to hold an important role as the team's fastest player. "Her quickness is going to surprise some people," Bowers said.

For a change of pace, Bowers also can call on junior forward Liz Fleer (Washington, Mo.). "When we need a change of pace, she'll work hard for us," said Bowers.

SIUE's strength may lie in its midfield with a number of experienced players. Jackie Thomann (St. Louis) and Christen Carducci (Powell, Ohio) join Crawford and back Angela Light (St. Louis) as the team's captains.

Thomann is one of the team's best ball handlers. Carducci was a NCAA qualifier for the Cougars during the outdoor track and field season. Bowers holds a number of other options at midfield.

Kelly Dill (Florissant, Mo.) enters her junior season as one of the most improved from last season. Bowers said her fitness and skill level have markedly improved. "She'll be fighting for a starting position," said Bowers.

Juniors Allison Sweet (Springfield) and Sarah Landt (Carbondale) also look to become bigger scoring threats this season. Christina Stremlau (St. Louis) and Nikki Grashoff (O'Fallon, Mo.) return for their sophomore seasons. In the backfield, Light provides a strong presence with the capability of turning set plays into scoring plays. Light has 11 goals and seven assists heading into her final season.

The Cougars also will look to sophomore Kayla Fromme (New Berlin) as its top defender. As the team's co-Most Valuable Player last season, Bowers said most every opponent had something good to say about Fromme last season. Padra Bencini (Carbondale), who started all 17 games last season, proved to a ball winner as a freshman defender.

Lindsay Kampwerth (Highland) enters SIUE as a junior transfer from MacMurray College. Bowers said she sees Kampwerth as a potential starter.

Bowers also has Beth Horan (St. Louis), Whitney Hanson (St. Charles, Mo.) and freshman Sara Stroud (Collinsville). Bowers sees a great deal of potential in all three yet the trio will need some playing time to gain some much-needed experience.

The Cougars boast two goalkeepers on the roster with senior Jessica Brown (St. Louis) and freshman Kim Roady (Granite City). "Being a senior is going to inspire Jessica, but Kim is going to push her for a starting role," said Bowers.

SIUE opens up the regular season Aug. 27 at home against Minnesota State-Mankato. Game time is 4 p.m.

Worries Turn Into Strengths For SIUE Men's Soccer

After losing three All-Americans and five returning starters from last season's 16-4-1 team, some may think that SIUE soccer coach Ed Huneke would be worried heading into the 2004 season.

By looking at this years' roster, the Cougar coach has nothing to fret about returning 10 letter winners while reloading with fresh faces for a run at the Great Lakes Valley Conference title. "We have a standard to keep and maybe even exceed," said Huneke.

Returning starters for the Cougars include sophomore midfielder Victor Pacheco (Sao Luis, Brazil), third in the GLVC in points and fifth in goals, and team captain and junior midfielder Brian Higgins (St. Louis). "He is doing a very good job leading the players on and off the field," said Huneke. "We believe a lot in leadership leading towards a team's success."

Along with having a strong middle, the Cougars will get solid play from junior forward Pete Cacciatore (St. Louis), second team All-GLVC last year with five goals a year ago, sophomore forward John Matthews (Edwardsville), who played in all 21 games last season, and junior Matthew Siegel (Maryville). "You have to play at both ends of the field, and I think we will be very good in both directions," Huneke said.

Other key returnees at the backer position are senior Mike Burgund (Bethalto), junior John Lamping (Barnhart, Mo.), and senior Dan Mosier (Scottsdale, Ariz.), who will add depth to the SIUE defense. Those three were apart of a Cougar team that ranked in the top 10 defensively of NCAA Division II last year.

While Huneke does have a core of returning players, he enters the season with 10 newcomers to the program and that includes four transfers from NCAA Division I forward Mike Banner (Upper Marlboro, Md.) from Georgetown, Midfielder Mike Zaegel (St. Louis) from Michigan State, forward Tim Collico (St. Louis) from Missouri-Kansas City, and midfielder Kevin Thibodeau (St. Charles, Mo.) from DePaul. "He seems to generate a lot of respect on the field," said Huneke of Thibodeau.

"Some of our players that we are projecting to be impact players are new to the system," Huneke said. "The sooner we get them comfortable the better we will be."

SIUE did get several transfers, but the bulk of the newcomers are freshmen. Included in the freshmen are the Cougars goalkeepers, after the departure of first team All-GLVC goalkeeper Bret Richardson. Greg Crook (Columbia), Nicholas Frasca (St. Charles, Mo.), and Pat Kelly (Florissant, Mo.) look to take over in net for SIUE. "We don't feel like we are going to jeopardize our needs there because of their age," Huneke said.

Three new forwards will look to make an impact as freshmen for the Cougars. Ross Beveridge (Dunfermline, Scotland), and Adam Lanter (Edwardsville), all add to SIUE's fire power up front. Freshman Eddie Davis (Waterloo) will add to depth at the midfielder spot. "If you get big contributions from underclassmen then that makes things even better for the future," said Huneke.

SIUE recently received nine first-place votes for the No. 1 spot in the 2004 Great Lakes Valley Conference men's soccer preseason coaches poll. "It's a respected position to be in," Huneke said. "It means that teams in the conference and region will be gunning for you."

The Cougars will open up the season Aug. 27 as Columbia visits Ralph Korte Stadium for the start of the 2004 campaign.

NKU Grabs Top Spot In GLVC Women's Soccer Pre-Season Coaches Poll

Northern Kentucky University received nine first-place votes and 90 points to claim the No. 1 spot in the 2004 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) women's soccer preseason coaches poll.

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside followed in second place with one first-place vote and 81 points.

The Norse ended the 2003 season with a 17-3-4 overall record and a 9-0-1 conference record to earn first place among GLVC teams. The team advanced to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals before ending the season with a 1-0 loss to the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

2003 GLVC "Co-Coach of the Year" Bob Sheehan welcomes back seven starters this season, including 2003 first team All-GLVC and All-Region performers Robyn Withers (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) and Katie Hanck (Fairfield, OH). 2003 GLVC "Freshman of the Year" Amy Law (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) also returns for her sophomore season.

Conference play begins on Sept. 17 and culminates with the GLVC tournament hosted by the No. 1 seed at the conclusion of regular season play. This year's conference tournament will feature a new six- team format with semifinal and final games being played Nov. 5 and 7.

2004 GLVC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll - Team Ranking (total points)
* Results based on votes from 10 of 11 institutions

Northern Kentucky (90)
Wisconsin-Parkside (81)
Missouri-St. Louis (68)
Indianapolis (67)
SIU Edwardsville (55)
Saint Joseph's (50)
Quincy (48)
Southern Indiana (32)
Bellarmine (31)
Lewis (18)
Kentucky Wesleyan (10)

For more information about the GLVC and each conference member, please visit www.glvcsports.org.

Cougar Volleyball Eyes Breakthrough Season

After three straight 20-win seasons, SIUE volleyball coach Todd Gober looks to continue that string to a fourth year and a possible bid to the NCAA tournament.

Gober has a record of 67-30 in his first three seasons at the helm of the Cougars, and he expects this year's team to be just as competitive as last year's 25-7 squad. "We have several young ladies returning who saw considerable playing time last season," said Gober.

The team returns nine players, including six juniors and three sophomores, but no seniors. "We have been looking forward to this point since we brought this group together," he said. "We have a lot of leaders."

Returning are juniors Heather Bonde (Millstadt), who finished sixth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference last season in hitting percentage, and Kindra Westendorf (Effingham), second on the squad with 308 kills. "Other teams are going to recognize their talent." Gober said.

Junior setter Krystal Majernik (Normal), a first team All-GLVC selection and a second team All-Region pick, led the GLVC with 12.41 assists per game. "She has All-American potential, while leading the team to big wins," Gober said.

Another junior, Allison Buss (Towanda), is returning as an outside hitter and a defensive specialist. She led SIUE with 415 digs a season ago. Sophomore Beth DeGreeff (St. Louis, Mo.), and Buss will spend time as the team's libero this season.

The middle of the floor looks to be a key point of emphasis as Tina Talsma (Ontario, Canada), was third on the team with 90 blocks, and Jamie Jones (Flanagan) "will add depth in the middle," Gober said.

Junior Melissa Spann (Bethalto) and sophomore Tricia Happe (St. Louis) shore up the opposite hitter spot. "Right side is going to be a very competitive position on our team," Gober said. "We have several people going after one spot."

Newcomers include junior college transfers Jenny Heimann (Germantown) and Shannon Winkeler, (Bartelso). Both were All-Americans at John A. Logan College, and incoming freshman Sadie Zurliene (Aviston) and Tina Helphery (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) will add to a strong nucleus.

SIUE will put all the key parts together for a run at the GLVC Championship opening their season on Aug. 27 at the Comfort Inn-vitational Tournament in Pensacola, Fla.

McAllister Named SIUE Head Cross Country Coach; Astrauskas, Beyers To Head Track & Field Teams

The distance runners on the cross country and track and field teams at SIUE will have a new leader.

Eileen McAllister, a former NCAA Division III All-American at Washington University in St. Louis, has been tapped to become the head men's and women's cross country coach and the assistant men's and women's track and field coach at SIUE.

She replaces Darryl Frerker, who stepped down to coach at Collinsville High School.

Cougar Intercollegiate Athletics Director Brad Hewitt also announced that current track and field assistant coaches Ben Beyers and David Astrauskas would have greater roles in the development of the track and field program. Beyers will be the women's track and field head coach and the men's assistant coach. Astrauskas will be the men's track and field head coach and the women's assistant coach.

Hewitt said McAllister should be a great addition to the coaching staff that last season had an All-American in women's cross country, an All-American in men's track and field, and four All-Americans in women's track and field along with three of four Great Lakes Valley Conference titles in the men's and women's indoor and outdoor championships.

"I'm very excited about her enthusiasm for the program," Hewitt said.

McAllister earned a bachelor's in Psychology at Washington University and is completing a master's in Exercise Physiology at the University of Miami. She has served as an assistant cross country and track and field coach at Miami since 2002. She also has coaching experience at Washington University from 2000 to 2001 and at Block Yeshiva High School in 2002.

Beyers and Astrauskas are beginning their third season at SIUE.

Beyers was a multiple Big 10 Champion and an NCAA Division I All-American at the University of Illinois. Astrauskas earned All-Conference honors several times in multiple throwing events at Eastern Illinois University.

The 2004 cross country season gets under way on Sat., Sept. 4, when the Cougars play host to the Cougar/Bearcat Challenge on SIUE's cross country course. SIUE also is the host institution for the 2004 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Great Lakes Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 6.

Northern Kentucky Picked To Lead GLVC Volleyball

Led by first team All-American and 2003 Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year Kristin Koralewski, Northern Kentucky University was selected as the preseason favorite of GLVC volleyball for the 2004 season.

Northern Kentucky received five of 10 first-place votes. SIUE, led by 2003 second team All-Region setter Krystal Majernik, was picked first on four ballots. Defending GLVC champion University of Indianapolis, powered by senior outside hitter Shaun McAllister, was picked first on one ballot. One GLVC coach abstained from voting in the preseason poll.

University of Southern Indiana, which has been to the GLVC Tournament championship match in each of the last four seasons, was picked to finish fourth. Lewis University and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside were picked to tie for fifth place.

The conference features six new coaches among the 11 schools. Joining the GLVC this season are Dan Palmer at Bellarmine University, Melissa Hay at Kentucky Wesleyan College, Josh Lauer at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Keith Rubio at Quincy University, Linda Deno at Saint Joseph's College, and Molly Alvey at Southern Indiana

The top six teams during the regular season will advance to the GLVC Tournament on Nov. 11-13 at the site of the No. 1 seed.

The NCAA also has expanded the field for the NCAA Tournament. The field will consist of 64 teams nationwide, including eight from the Great Lakes region. The GLVC is one of three conferences in the Great Lakes region.

SIUE Men's, Women's Soccer Team Open Exhibition Season

With practice just hours old, the SIUE soccer teams are preparing for their first home games of the 2004 season.

The SIUE women, under second-year coach Lynda Bowers, face Truman State in an exhibition game at 3 p.m. Saturday (8/14) at Korte Stadium.

The SIUE men play its annual exhibition matchup against the SIUE alumni team at 7 p.m. Saturday, also at Korte.

During halftime of the men's game, SIUE coach Ed Huneke will announce the name of the player who will be honored as the Jack Blake Award winner for 2004. The Blake Award is given to an individual who displays outstanding soccer play, leadership, a positive spirit of university and community involvement, and who is a person dedicated to high fitness and intensity with a 2.5 grade point average or above.

Both the SIUE men's and women's soccer teams start the regular season Aug. 27th at Korte Stadium. The SIUE women face Minnesota State-Mankato at 4 p.m., and the SIUE men meet Columbia at 7 p.m.

SIUE Men's Basketball To Face Illinois, Indiana, Western Illinois

The 2004-2005 SIUE men's basketball schedule has a few more turns in the road than normal.

As a result of a change in rules for NCAA Division I schools, those institutions will be playing NCAA Division II schools during the exhibition season. SIUE is no exception with the University of Illinois in Champaign on Friday, Nov. 5; Western Illinois University in Macomb on Wed., Nov. 10; and Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., on Friday, Nov. 12.

SIUE Coach Marty Simmons also is taking his basketball Cougars to Hawaii for games against Dominican College and Washburn University in December. That doesn't even account for the full Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule.

"It's going to be a tough schedule," admitted Simmons. "The exhibition games are just a great experience for us. We're going to be playing the top teams in the country. I think we'll learn a lot from it."

Simmons said he will be going to Hawaii for the third time in his basketball career. "The experience of going somewhere like that is going to be unique," said Simmons.

SIUE has 15 homes games on the schedule beginning with Lincoln Christian at the Vadalabene Center on Monday, Nov. 15. The Cougars open the GLVC season at home on Friday, Nov. 26, at home against Lewis University.

Simmons also is making his third trip to Murray State for a regular season NCAA Division I game set for Saturday, Nov. 20.

Cougar Volleyball Garners National Recognition

SIUE volleyball is listed among the nation's best. The Cougars received 10 votes on two or more ballots but did not make the top 25 in the preseason CSTV/AVCA NCAA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll.

Coach Todd Gober and his volleyball Cougars will open the 2004 season Friday (8/27) at the Comfort Inn-vitational in Pensacola, Fla., facing four teams, including preseason 13th-ranked Central Missouri State.

SIUE's home opener is a 7 p.m. matchup against Illinois Springfield on Aug. 31 at the Vadalabene Center.

Concordia-St. Paul is listed as the preseason favorite after collecting nine first-place votes. Seven different schools had first-place votes among the poll's 35 voters. The next poll will be released Sept. 7.

SIUE Men's Basketball Adds To Coaching Staff

Mark Allaria, who has served the past two seasons as the graduate assistant coach for SIUE men's basketball, has been named a full-time assistant coach under head coach Marty Simmons.

The Cougars also announced the appointment of Marcus Belcher as the team's graduate assistant coach for the 2004-2005 season.

Allaria, an Edwardsville native, played collegiate basketball at the University of Evansville, where Simmons served as an assistant coach. He played 58 games for the Aces. His 150 assists during the 2001-2002 season were the eighth most in Evansville single-season history.

A member of the 2001-2002 Missouri Valley Conference first team Scholar-Athlete team, Allaria averaged 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He played a team-high 103 minutes in the 2000 San Juan Shootout.

He previously played two seasons at John A. Logan College, averaging 10 points and six assists per game. At Edwardsville High School, Allaria set school records for single-season and career assists while helping the Tigers to a 26-2 record his senior season.

Belcher joins the Cougar coaching staff after a successful playing career at SIU Carbondale. He helped the Salukis to the Missouri Valley Conference Championship and NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance in the 2001-2002 season.

He was named most improved during the 2000-2001 season and the team captain a season later.

Belcher earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from SIUC in 2002.

Eller Named SIUE Women's Basketball Graduate Assistant

Kristi Eller, a former women's basketball player at SIUE, has been named the graduate assistant coach for SIUE's women's basketball program.

Eller was a member of the 1998-1999 team which advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In her two years at SIUE, Eller played in a total of 52 games and was one of the team's top three-point shooters.

Eller transferred from SIUE to Washington University in St. Louis before the 2000 season. At Washington, she helped the Bears to an NCAA-III National Championship and earned an All-American nomination.

She returns to SIUE from Clayton (Mo.) High School, where she coached girl's basketball. Her Clayton junior varsity team has amassed a 35-11 record under her tutelage.

Eller has also coached two AAU teams and has served as an assistant in various summer camps. 

July 2004

July 22, 2004

SIUE Friends Of Religious Center To Sponsor Christian Music Concert

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Three contemporary Christian music groups will be featured performers at an Aug. 7 fund-raiser for the Friends of the Religious Center (FRC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

The three groups-Carl Zimmerman, Living Word, and On The Path-will perform at the concert, beginning at 7 p.m. in the dome of the SIUE Religious Center. They will present contemporary Christian and praise and worship music.

A suggested adult donation is $10 per person; no charge for children under age 12. All proceeds will go toward needed restoration at the SIUE Religious Center and for student and community programs offered there. Parking is free in Lot B, the attendant lot between the Religious Center and the Morris Center.

The FRC, formed four years ago, sponsors events each year to raise money to refurbish the 33-year-old Religious Center that is in need of repair. "We plan to continue to sponsor this concert, our Interfaith Awards Dinner in the fall, and also offer the Celebration of World Faiths in the spring to encourage interfaith dialogue," said FRC President Greg Fields, who is an Associate Philosophy Professor and coordinator of the university's Religious Studies minor.

"The FRC is a support organization dedicated to preserving the SIUE Religious Center-a geodesic dome designed by R. Buckminster Fuller and considered an architectural treasure-for the spiritual growth of SIUE students as the next generation of leaders, and for religious learning and fellowship within the community," Fields said.

More information may be obtained by calling the Religious Center, (618) 650-3246, or, toll-free from St. Louis, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 3246. For information about the FRC, call Greg Fields, (618) 650-2461; St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2461.

Back to top

July 22, 2004

NPR's Keillor Kicks Off 20th Anniversary Season Of Arts & Issues

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) American humorist Garrison Keillor, whose popular public radio network show has kept audiences laughing for 30 years, will kick off the 20th anniversary season of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Arts & Issues series Sept. 21. The SIUE School of Education and Partners Bank of Glen Carbon are co-sponsoring Keillor's appearance.

Arts & Issues, which has a long-standing tradition of bringing world-class performers and noted speakers to Southwestern Illinois, has put together an exciting playbill for the upcoming season that also includes Grammy Award winner Kathy Mattea, the powerful a cappella singing of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and the thought-provoking political views of Marlin Fitzwater and Joe Lockhart.

And, in a special encore engagement from last year's sellout concert, The Blind Boys of Alabama will return to the Arts & Issues stage with their exciting "funkified" gospel music, as a result of overwhelming audience demand.

"For two decades the Arts & Issues series has been the benchmark of quality entertainment and distinguished speakers for Southwestern Illinois audiences," said John Peecher, coordinator of the series. "But this year, we've brought together a special anniversary season that continues our tradition as we enter the third decade of Arts & Issues.

"We are very thankful for the enthusiastic support from our patrons over the past 20 years and for the generosity of our donors, as well as the continued sponsorship of the university, making Arts & Issues a cultural staple of the region. " Peecher said. "Without such support, we would never have been able to provide such a quality series. This will be a season to make our sponsors very proud."

Storyteller Keillor, the host of NPR's wildly popular "A Prairie Home Companion," will appear at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris University Center. One of America's foremost humorists, Keillor will beguile the audience with remembrances of his "hometown," Lake Wobegone, Minnesota, in an unforgettable evening.

On the eve of the presidential election, political pundits Fitzwater and Lockhart-both press secretaries for former presidents-will offer provocative debate on critical issues at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, in Meridian Ballroom. Fitzwater, who was press secretary for Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, has been a Washington insider for more than two decades. Lockhart, press secretary for Bill Clinton, is also an award-winning journalist.

Grammy winner Mattea, the popular singer-songwriter who brought us "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" and "Where've You Been?" will present an evening of musical delights that showcase her modern country sound sprinkled with Celtic influences at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, 2005, in SIUE's Dunham Hall theater. The delightful singer brings a touching array of emotions to her work.

To say "back by popular demand" would be an understatement for The Blind Boys of Alabama, who last year sold out faster than any other Arts & Issues event in recent memory. The singers will hit the stage "rockin' " with their special blend of gospel and blues at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, 2005, in Dunham Hall theater.

The most noted practitioners of the a cappella style of singing born in the mines of South Africa, Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Friday, March 18, 2005, in Dunham Hall theater. As musical ambassador of its homeland for more than 25 years, the male chorus gained worldwide acclaim when it collaborated with American songwriter-singer Paul Simon on his landmark album-Graceland.

Other Arts & Issues 20th anniversary appearances include: the Windham Hill Winter Solstice Holiday Tour, 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 19, Dunham Hall Theater; The Acting Company with its rendition of Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona in a 3 p.m., Sunday matinee, Feb. 27, 2005, Dunham Hall Theater; and the Dallas Brass, 8 p.m., Friday, April 22, 2005, Meridian Ballroom.

Subscription tickets are on sale with seven events offered for $115; students $57.50, or seven events plus the added attraction of the Blind Boys, $133, students, $66.50. More information is available by contacting John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Subscriptions also may be purchased at the Web site: artsandissues.com.

Back to top

July 22, 2004

Supreme Court Justice, SIUE Professor To Receive Alumni Awards

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) A Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduate, whose judicial career has led him to become an Illinois Supreme Court Justice, and an SIUE assistant Chemistry professor will both be honored at SIUE's summer commencement on Aug. 7 in the Vadalabene Center.

Justice Philip J. Rarick III, of Troy, will receive the 2004 Distinguished Alumnus Award and Cristina De Meo, a member of the SIUE Chemistry faculty, will receive the 2004 Great Teacher Award. Both awards are sponsored by the SIUE Alumni Association.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award, established in 1974, is given annually by the SIUE Alumni Association to honor graduates who have achieved distinction in a chosen field and who also have served the university. The Great Teacher Award is chosen annually through nominations from alumni association members.

Rarick, a 1962 SIUE graduate in Sociology, went on to earn a law degree at Saint Louis University. He was in private practice in Collinsville from 1966-1975. He was appointed an associate Madison County judge in 1975 and was appointed a Madison County Circuit Judge in 1980 and elected to the post in 1982, serving through 1987. The following year, Rarick was elected to the Fifth District Illinois Appellate Court and was retained in 1998, staying on through 2002 when he was appointed to the state's highest court, where he currently serves.

During his career as a judge, Rarick has presided over the criminal courts division of the Third Judicial Circuit on two separate occasions and has been chair of the Complex Litigation Study Committee as appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court. In addition, Rarick served on the executive committee of the Illinois Judicial Conference, also appointed by the Supreme Court, and was a member of the Illinois Courts Commission from 1992-97, serving as an alternate member in 2000.

In 1992, Rarick was a member of the Industrial Commission Division of the Appellate Court, where he heard appeals in workers' compensation cases, and also served as a member of the board of directors of the Illinois Judges Association.

Last fall, De Meo joined the SIUE faculty to teach biochemistry. Before coming to SIUE, she was a BLANCEFLOR Research Assistant, offered by the National Post-Doctoral Fellowship of Sweden, and completed at the University of Missouri-St. Louis from 2001-03. She earned a doctorate in Organic Chemistry at the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, and completed a master of science in Bio-organic Chemistry at the University of Catania, Italy.

De Meo's research focuses on the development of new methods for the stereoselective synthesis of sialosides. Sialic acids are involved in a large number of biological phenomena, from the rolling of leukocytes to heal an inflammation, to the infection caused by influenza virus. The synthesis of these compounds has become one of the most important goals in the design of drugs and vaccines.

During her first year at SIUE, she has taught more than 80 students in a 400 level biochemistry course, in which most of the students are biology majors. De Meo's commitment to students is demonstrated, in part, by her willingness to spend many extra hours working in small groups to assist students in learning chemical concepts and processes. She has impressed students and colleagues with her innovative, creative, and stimulating teaching strategies.

Back to top

July 22, 2004

SIUE's Taylor To Lecture In Russia As Fulbright Scholar

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) John A. Taylor, professor of Historical Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has been awarded a Fulbright Senior Scholar grant to lecture and perform research at Smolny College of St. Petersburg State University in Russia during the 2004-05 academic year.

Taylor, of East Alton, will lecture on colonial American history and research reactions in the Russian Orthodox Church to the current crisis in the Episcopal Church, USA. He is among approximately 800 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad to some 140 countries for the upcoming academic year through the Fulbright program.

Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the program's purpose is to build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. It is sponsored by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement and because they have demonstrated extraordinary leadership potential in their fields. Taylor also traveled to Japan in 1999 as a Fulbright Scholar.

Back to top

July 15, 2004

Hendey Named Director Of Academic Counseling And Advising

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) William G. Hendey, who has been acting director of Academic Counseling and Advising at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for the past year, was named director of that unit effective July 1.

Hendey was named acting director after the retirement of Terrell Martin, who headed the office for 16 years. Hendey served 11 of those years as assistant director under Martin.

Academic Counseling and Advising serves more than 5,000 SIUE students who have yet to declare a major, including students who are undecided regarding their academic objectives, students who are on academic probation, and, the largest group, students who are in the process of completing the declaration eligibility requirements of their intended majors.

As director, Hendey is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the counseling unit, while also serving on the university's General Education Committee, the Curriculum Council, the University Planning and Budget Council, and the University Staff Senate, to name a few.

During the past year, Hendey has helped oversee implementation of AdvisorTrac, a Web-based advising appointment scheduling system for students, and has initiated an advisor liaison system to bring about better communication and increased interaction between the unit and various academic departments within the university.

Before joining the SIUE staff, Hendey spent 17 years in academic advising at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. While at Ball State, Hendey also served as director of the university's liberal arts residential instruction program and designed an individualized baccalaureate program that was subsequently approved by the Indiana State Commission for Higher Education and currently in effect.

In addition, Hendey also had been assistant to the dean of the Honors College and coordinator of Academic Advising for the 1,300 students in the college. Before he was at Ball State, Hendey taught high school English and Social Studies in Indiana.

Hendey earned a bachelor of science in Social Studies in 1962, a master's in European History five years later, and, in 1979, a doctorate in Education Administration, all from Ball State. He also received a National Science Foundation Fellowship in 1968 at the Summer Institute in Sociology.

Back to top

July 12, 2004

SIUE Nursing Dean Awarded National Fellowship

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Marcia Maurer, PhD, RN, dean of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing, has been selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow. Just 20 nurses nationwide were selected this year to participate in the three-year program.

Maurer is the only nurse from Illinois selected for this year's cohort and one of six academicians. The other 14 fellows hold administrative positions in health care agencies.

The award includes a $30,000 grant for a leadership project at SIUE/SON, as well as opportunities for educational and national exposure. Maurer's leadership project will focus on bringing more health care to underserved areas in communities surrounding SIUE through establishing partnerships with community leaders and by affecting health care policy in the areas.

"We're fortunate to have someone with Dean Maurer's energy and knowledge of the nursing profession," said SIUE Provost Sharon Hahs.

"Not only has she initiated positive changes in the SIUE School of Nursing, she is fast becoming a recognized leader in the region. I am confident that the Robert Wood Johnson Fellowship is the first of many national honors for Dean Maurer."

Maurer became dean of the SIUE School of Nursing in August 2003. She has been recently appointed to the External Advisory Committee for Anderson Hospital in Maryville. Before joining SIUE, Maurer was associate dean of academic programs in nursing at Loyola University Chicago. She has a long history of affecting health care policy for high-risk neonatal infants in Illinois, serving on the original regionalization planning committee for Level III Perinatal Centers.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, based in Princeton, N.J., is the nation's largest philanthropy organization devoted exclusively to health and health care. It concentrates its grant-making in four goal areas: to assure that all Americans have access to basic health care at reasonable cost; to improve care and support for people with chronic health conditions; to promote healthy communities and lifestyles; and to reduce the personal, social and economic harm caused by abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.

Back to top

July 12, 2004

McElligott Named Development Officer for SIUE School of Nursing

(EDWARDSVILLE) Bob McElligott, who has 20 years of fund-raising experience, has joined the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing as development director.

McElligott, a graduate of the University of Illinois, most recently was development director at Beaver Dam Hospital in Wisconsin. Under his direction, the list of annual donors grew from 36 to 250, and more than $1 million was raised in two years. McElligott also developed a charitable gift annuity program for the hospital.

In six years with Freeport (IL) Memorial Hospital, McElligott initiated several major giving programs, raising $3.8 million. He also initiated the "Circle of Friends," an annual giving club that grew to almost 400 members.

McElligott became a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) in 1997. He and his wife, Melinda McElligott, who grew up in St. Louis, reside in Edwardsville.

Back to top

Jerry Blakemore Appointed SIU General Counsel

SIU President James E. Walker recently announced the appointment of Jerry D. Blakemore to serve as the new SIU general counsel.

Blakemore, who had been CEO of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA), took over duties July 16 from Mark Brittingham, who has been serving as interim general counsel since the departure of Peter Ruger earlier this year.

The general counsel is the chief legal officer for the university and has joint responsibilities in reporting to the President and to the SIU Board of Trustees. The general counsel supervises a staff of attorneys responsible for providing advice and counsel on a wide variety of legal matters to the President, the Board, and the administrators, faculty and staff of SIUC and SIUE.

Blakemore brings nearly 25 years of legal experience in both the public and the private sectors. His career has included stints as legal counsel to former Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson, as assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, and as managing partner of a private law practice.

Blakemore was CEO of ISFA for more than seven years. ISFA is a municipal corporation that owns, operates and manages U.S. Cellular Field (formerly Comiskey Park) in Chicago, Blakemore also brings a deep knowledge of higher education, having served on the Illinois Board of Higher Education since 1992, including a term as its chair. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich recently reappointed Blakemore to another four-year term on the IBHE.

Walker believes Blakemore's wide experience will be an asset for SIU. "Jerry Blakemore brings a deep and strong set of skills and experiences to this university," Walker said. "His wide experience in the legal profession along with his keen interest in higher education will make him a very valuable member of the SIU community. I'm pleased Jerry will be joining our team."

Blakemore said he is looking forward to serving the President, the Board of Trustees and the university community in general. "Southern Illinois University is an outstanding academic institution whose significance goes far beyond its immediate surroundings and reaches every corner of our state and most parts of the world.

" I am especially grateful to (BOT Chairman) Glenn Poshard, the entire Board of Trustees, and to President Walker for this wonderful opportunity to combine my passion for higher education and my professional experience and training as a lawyer. Their support is appreciated."

Blakemore earned a bachelor's in Political Science at Princeton University, where he received the Frederick Douglas Award for academic and community service achievements, and a law degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

C. Mecum Donates 1960 SIUE Site Plan And Also Tell-Tale Sign To The University

As a young man, Chuck Mecum came to work at the Edwardsville campus about 10 years after it opened, but he found quickly that memories of the university's stormy beginnings still lingered.

Two documents from those early days were discarded in an attempt to forget some of the unpleasant resentment harbored by residents who preferred the university be established elsewhere. But, sensing the documents might have historic value in the future, Mecum retrieved them from the trash.

Mecum, who retired in 2002 after 26 years of service to SIUE, recently restored the documents to the university. "I wanted to return them while David Werner still was chancellor because he may be our last chancellor who has been with the university since its early years." Werner, who joined the SIUE faculty in 1968, retired June 30 after 36 years of service.

In 1976, Mecum was staff assistant to J.P. Davis, who at the time was executive assistant to the president of the university and SIUE's legal counsel. Mecum had been asked to gather documents and materials from the office of a faculty member who had left the university.

"This was some months after the death of John Rendleman in 1976," Mecum said. "What I found was a substantial number of files relating to university land acquisitions and a final site plan dated Aug. 29, 1960, as well as a landowner protest sign that reads: 'GET OUT SIUE' and hand-painted above a skull and crossbones. Mr. Davis handled disposition of the land acquisition materials and I was told to review the other items with other members of the president's staff.

"I was told to throw the site plan and the sign in the trash," Mecum said. "I supposed it was because the items invoked sad memories of John Rendleman who had just died, and also memories of the early resentment of the farming community about the university. "So, I dutifully put them in a trash can in a back office, but when I left that day, I retrieved them and took the items home."

Mecum recently presented the items to Chancellor Werner shortly before he (Werner) retired. The SIUE site plan shows a large stadium and a field house, water and power plants, a train station, and an aircraft landing strip. In addition, the plan called for 80 to 90 buildings and two large lakes in addition to the existing Tower Lake (now Cougar Lake). The sign, Mecum said, hung on a farm fence on land that eventually was purchased by the university.

The university first held classes at East St. Louis and Alton in 1957, but plans included a new campus on more than 2,600 acres just outside the city limits of Edwardsville. In November 1960 a statewide bond issue was passed that established SIU at Edwardsville and also established the University of Illinois campus at Chicago. After the bond issue passed, Myron Bishop, an officer for the university, began acquiring land for the campus.

"I know the president's staff was interested in looking ahead to the future of SIUE as a great institution and didn't want to be reminded of the rough years, but I felt history needed to be served so I've kept the documents," Mecum said.

"But, it was time for these items to rejoin SIUE so that others can enjoy them also, and the university can regain part of its history."

W. Hendey Named Director Of Academic Counseling & Advising

William G. Hendey, who has been acting director of Academic Counseling and Advising for the past year, was named director of that unit effective July 1.

Hendey was named acting director after the retirement of Terrell Martin, who headed the office for 16 years. Hendey served 11 of those years as assistant director under Martin.

Academic Counseling and Advising serves more than 5,000 SIUE students who have yet to declare a major, including students who are undecided regarding their academic objectives, students who are on academic probation, and, the largest group, students who are in the process of completing the declaration eligibility requirements of their intended majors.

As director, Hendey is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the counseling unit, while also serving on the university's General Education Committee, the Curriculum Council, the University Planning and Budget Council, and the University Staff Senate, to name a few.

During the past year, Hendey has helped oversee implementation of AdvisorTrac, a Web-based advising appointment scheduling system for students, and has initiated an advisor liaison system to bring about better communication and increased interaction between the unit and various academic departments within the university.

Before joining the SIUE staff, Hendey spent 17 years in academic advising at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. While at Ball State, Hendey also served as director of the university's liberal arts residential instruction program and designed an individualized baccalaureate program that was subsequently approved by the Indiana State Commission for Higher Education and currently in effect.

In addition, Hendey also had been assistant to the dean of the Honors College and coordinator of Academic Advising for the 1,300 students in the college. Before he was at Ball State, Hendey taught high school English and Social Studies in Indiana.

Hendey earned a bachelor of science in Social Studies in 1962, a master's in European History five years later, and, in 1979, a doctorate in Education Administration, all from Ball State. He also received a National Science Foundation Fellowship in 1968 at the Summer Institute in Sociology.

SIUE's Harold Melser Chosen To Attend AFP Academy

Harold Melser, executive director of University Development and also director of Planned Giving for the SIUE Foundation, was among 25 professionals from throughout North America chosen to attend the third Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Faculty Training Academy recently at Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta.

He joined colleagues from the United States and Canada to study instructional concepts, from adult learning styles to lesson planning and presentation techniques, as well as controlling classroom behavior.

The AFP represents more than 26,000 members throughout the world who are working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs.

Melser said instructors explained and modeled a variety of planning and classroom management skills. "There were many opportunities to share ideas for teaching activities that meet the needs of adult learners," Melser said. "On the final day of the academy participants presented a short lesson that was videotaped and critiqued."

Individuals selected to attend the academy had to meet several criteria including demonstrated success in the nonprofit field and in teaching adult students during the three years prior to their application to the Academy. "In addition, we had to have been granted a professional designation such as ACFRE (Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive), or FAHP, Fellow-Association for Health Care Philanthropy, which I have," Melser explained.

Academy graduates will use what they learned not only in teaching AFP courses but also in training others to be better teachers in their AFP chapters and in the nonprofit organizations for which they work.

"My primary objective in completing the AFP Faculty Training Academy," Melser said, "was to create opportunities for me to make presentations and teaching as part of meeting the SIUE goal of achieving national recognition through the participation of faculty and staff in regional as well as national forums and seminars."

Three SIUE Golfers Named GLVC All-American Scholars

Two SIUE golfers have been named to the Division I, II, and III National Golf Coaches Association's All-American Scholar Teams.

Brittany Auld of Nashville and Kallie Harrison of Decatur were among more than 300 women's collegiate golfers recognized with the prestigious honor.

The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent of all college athletics. The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.50 (3.40 for Seniors in Division II and III) and student-athletes must have competed in at least 66 percent of the college's regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year. 

June 2004

Myer Arboretum Designated A Shaw's Garden East Site

The Donal G. Myer Arboretum, a 30-acre garden and forested area on the SIUE campus, has been designated a Shaw's Garden East site by the Missouri Botanical Garden.

The Garden's designation will help further develop the Myer Arboretum not only as an aesthetically pleasing site for the general public but also as a natural laboratory for students. The SIUE Foundation will guide further development of the arboretum with private donations.

The arboretum was officially established in 1990 and named in honor of the late Donal G. Myer who was a biologist and dean of the former SIUE School of Sciences. However, plans for an arboretum were included when the university was first conceived.

"Thanks to the hard work and generosity of many of our supporters over the years, the Myer Arboretum has grown to become a lovely spot on our campus," SIUE Chancellor David Werner said. "With this new designation from the Missouri Botanical Garden, we can further develop the arboretum to become a significant landmark in Southwestern Illinois, as we continue our vision to become a premier metropolitan university.

"We are very pleased with the Missouri Botanical Garden's recognition of the Myer Arboretum and look forward to continuing our partnership with Garden director Peter Raven and his staff."

Under Raven's leadership and the leadership of Ralph Korte, a Missouri Botanical Garden trustee and an SIUE Foundation board member, an initiative was created in 2000 to establish a greater presence for the Garden in Southwestern Illinois. That effort led to the creation of the Shaw's Garden East Advisory Council, made up of community and business leaders including several members of the SIUE Foundation.

Raven said the university's efforts are to be commended. "I am delighted that our collaboration over the last several years is now resulting in the further development of SIUE's spectacular campus," Raven said. "The purpose of this designation is to develop an appreciation for gardens and green space and thus the importance of plants in our lives," Raven said.

"It also will provide opportunities to enhance educational and horticultural benefits to communities in the region," he said. "We are confident the Myer Arboretum will be an excellent Shaw's Garden East site."

G. Patrick Williams, SIUE's vice chancellor for Development and Public Affairs and CEO of the SIUE Foundation, said the designation will help open doors for further opportunities to develop the Myer Arboretum. "With the help of university resources we have been able to provide a garden spot that the campus and the region can be proud of.

"However, more needs to be done to enhance the site. We look forward to unveiling plans in the near future for important additional plantings, for new pathways, a gazebo, and for construction of a welcome center that will include classroom space," he said.

"It's an exciting plan that will benefit not only our students but also provide a green space to be enjoyed by communities throughout the region."

Werner Gives Address At His Last Graduation As Chancellor of SIUE

Chancellor David Werner offered the address to the graduating class of the SIU School of Dental Medicine at commencement exercises earlier this month.

It was the last commencement that Werner will share as chancellor of SIU Edwardsville. He is retiring June 30 after more than 35 years of service to the university as a faculty member and as an administrator.

The SDM commencement was conducted in the Meridian Ballroom at the Morris University Center.

The 45 graduates who earned doctor of Dental Medicine degrees were honored for achieving a 10th-place national ranking on the National Board Dental Part II Exams. The ranking marked the third consecutive year that students of the SIU School of Dental Medicine have earned a top 10 ranking on the exam.

During his address, Werner made four points. "First, be grateful for what you have. Second, think about your responsibility to help prepare the next generation of dentists. Third, be ethical. Fourth, be good citizens." Werner expounded on each of those points during his address, and he closed by urging the Class of 2004 to "do good things" and "make us proud."

Dr. Theron Waisath was selected as the Student Responder for the Class of 2004. Four students were hooded by SDM alumni: Leann Burch was hooded by her husband, Jeff Burch ('03); Kristin Miller was hooded by her husband, Ed Miller ('03); and Kimberly Speckhart and Jessica Speckhart-Smith were hooded by their father, Dan Speckhart ('77).

SIUE Students take Second Place in International Business Competition

Five senior School of Business students captured second place in the International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition that took place recently in San Diego.

The participants included Jennifer Peyla of Galva, an Economics/Finance major who acted as CEO of the mock corporation; Katie Beyers of Pana, a Finance major, acting as vice president of Marketing; David Spindler of Nashville, an Economics/Finance major, acting as vice president of Finance; Jay Goebel of Saint Rose, a Computer Management Information Systems major, acting as vice president of Planning; and Lesa Coles of Ellery, a Human Resources Management major, acting as vice president of Production.

Joseph Michlitsch, associate professor of Management & Marketing at SIUE and chair of that department, was the faculty advisor who coordinated the training and accompanied the students to California.

Participants competed against 27 other business teams from the United States and international colleges and universities. Training leading up to the competition took place throughout the semester, when the team was required to submit a "decision set" via the Internet each week from February through early April. The culmination included teams making 10 more business decisions during an intense, three-day competition in San Diego.

Finally, the team was responsible for a strategic business plan, an annual report, and one formal oral presentation to judges (who were senior business executives) sitting as the firm's Board of Directors. One member of the SIUE team, Katie Beyers, said, "Among many other lessons learned, I realized how important it was not to dwell on poor past decisions, because they cannot be changed," Beyers said.

"Rather, we should learn from them, analyze what went wrong, determine how the company is going to recover, and focus on the future."

Michlitsch says the competition is an important exercise in preparing students for the corporate world by enhancing classroom knowledge with real-world experience. "The most important goal for this competition is to learn a great deal," he said. "That includes not only learning about managing a business, but also learning some personal things: how we interact with others in a group, how we react under pressure, and how we communicate with each other and with the board of directors."

Gypsy Continues The Fun On The Summer ShowBiz Stage

The Summer ShowBiz 2004 production of Gypsy will feature five separate art nouveau theaters in the set design. The production, presented by the SIUE Department of Theater and Dance and part of the university's SummerArts 2004 series, opens July 8.

Gypsy runs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, July 8-10 and July 15-17, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 11 and 18.

The hit Broadway musical opened in 1959, starring the incomparable Ethel Merman in the role of Mama Rose. With music and lyrics by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim, Gypsy has been one of the most revived musicals on Broadway, including the popular version starring Bernadette Peters which just closed in May after a very successful run.

The play tells the story of Rose Hovick and her two daughters, June and Louise, as they troupe throughout the country with their vaudeville act in the late 1920s. However, they eventually discover that vaudeville's waning years are giving way to a new entertainment phenomenon-burlesque.

As a result, Louise becomes Gypsy Rose Lee, one of the most celebrated burlesque dancers in show business. The play, written by Arthur Laurents, is based on Louise Hovick's memoirs.

The show has endeared itself to audiences over the years because of the strong character of Rose and because of memorable songs such as Everything's Coming Up Roses, Together, Wherever We Go, and Small World.

SIUE's version features sets created by designer Jim Dorethy, an associate professor of Theater and Dance at SIUE, who created them to mirror the theaters of 1920s and '30s America. "I wanted to do the sets from a historical viewpoint focusing on the middle and late years of vaudeville and burlesque," Dorethy said. "The play's characters are going through a succession of theaters and the sets then were done in flat-screen, art deco."

All of the sets are hand-painted, flat pieces of scenery. There will be four separate proscenium archways that surround the stage and four theater interiors on stage, Dorethy explained.

"The real interest for me is the opportunity to use flat-painted scenery, a technique I studied at the University of Minnesota. This style of scenery was not only used for theater backdrops in those days, but also for Masonic ceremonies," he added.

Each piece begins with a one-inch scenic rendering. One might assume that the painting would be time intensive. "Not really. It's as much about knowing what to paint as knowing what not to paint. The audience's eyes fill it in," Dorethy said. "I'm using designs at The Fox in St. Louis, the new Pantages Theater in L.A., and the restored New Amsterdam Theater in New York to draw from."

One aspect Dorethy hasn't decided on is what subject to use for the mural across the proscenium. "I can't decide whether to use a classical scene or something from the Lewis & Clark expedition," he says.

For tickets or for more information, call the Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2774. The SummerArts 2004 series is part of the College of Arts and Sciences.

BOT Approves Fee Changes For SIUE In FY2006

The SIU Board of Trustees recently approved changes in SIUE's housing rental fees, as well as various student fees, all effective Summer Term 2005. The action was taken at the board's regular meeting at SIUE on June 10.

The action calls for increases in housing rates and meal plans for students in the residence halls and Cougar Village Apartments, and for various student fees: Student Welfare and Activity (SWAF), Athletics, Textbook Rental, and Housing Activity.

For single students living in the residence halls in 2005-06, the increase ranges from $52 per semester for a shared room to $104 per semester for a deluxe single room. Meal plan charges for all residential students range from $35 more per semester for Plan A to $50 more per semester for Plan B.

Housing rate increases for Cougar Village students will range from $48 per semester for a shared room to $69 per semester for a single room, and $96 per semester for a deluxe single room.

Family housing rates at Cougar Village will increase from $21 per semester for a two-bedroom unfurnished apartment to $28 per semester for a two-bedroom furnished apartment. Three bedrooms unfurnished will increase $26, while three bedrooms furnished will increase $30.

The Housing Activity Fee, charged only to students living on campus, will increase to $14.50 per semester in FY06, up from $14 in FY05.

Here is a chart of changes in other student fees:
Per Semester (for a full-time student)

FY05 FY06 Change
SWAF $66.95 $69.60 +$2.65
Athletics $56.50 $60.85 +$4.35
Textbook Rental $102.00 $105.00 +$3.00

Benefits Fair Attendance Prize Winners Announced

Winners of attendance prizes at the SIUE Fitness and Benefits Fair in April have been announced. The fair is held each year in conjunction with the Health Walk and the Staff Senate BBQ. The fair affords employees a chance to assess their health coverages through the university, as well as assess their health in general.

Three employees won prizes funded by Benefits Fair vendors' fees: Alicia Wainright, a 20-inch color TV; Marti LoRusso, a DVD/VCR; and Suzanne Eder, a bicycle.

Other winners included: Larry Becker, a one-year membership to the Student Fitness Center donated by Campus Recreation; and Michelle Bensa, a $50 gift certificate to Bella Milano restaurant, donated by SWICSIU Credit Union..

Colonial Life and Accident donated $25 Wal-Mart gift cards that were won by: Denise Hunt, Bev Ahrens, Sandy Holt, Natalie Carter, and Cindy Reinhardt.

Lexow Financial Group donated $10 Krieger's Pub and Grill gift certificates that were won by Angela Pulliam, Laura Deininger, and Kim Heyen..

Linda Etling won a gift basket, Debbie Taylor won scented candles, both donated from Resources Trust, and Karen Take won lenses from Eigenbrodt Vision.

GLVC Announces Expansion

The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and the Council of Presidents have announced that Drury University (Springfield, Mo.), Rockhurst University (Kansas City, Mo.), and the University of Missouri-Rolla will join the league for the 2005-06 academic year.

The addition of these three institutions will bring the GLVC's membership to 14 schools, tying it with the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) as the fifth largest conference in NCAA Division II. SIUE began competing in the conference in 1995.

There are a total of 23 NCAA Division II conferences in the country. "Our institutional representatives have been discussing conference expansion for the past two years and are delighted to welcome Drury, Rockhurst, and Missouri-Rolla to the GLVC," said GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich.

"All three institutions have outstanding academic reputations, strong presidential leadership, and boast solid athletic programs," Naumovich said. "We feel their addition to the GLVC greatly strengthens our Conference, and provides our member schools with a presence and additional visibility in three new markets."

The GLVC last expanded in 1995 when the University of Missouri-St. Louis joined as the league's 12th member. Indiana University-Purdue University, Ft. Wayne, left the GLVC in 2001 to pursue NCAA Division I membership status. The league has remained at 11 institutions since that time.

Each year more than 2,500 student-athletes participate in 17 conference championships. The GLVC has won a total of 10 NCAA Division II Basketball National Championships (i.e. nine men's titles and one woman's title). In addition, the GLVC has had a team participate in the men's basketball title game for 10 consecutive years.

Cougars Name Whelan Head Wrestling Coach

Chris Whelan, a former assistant coach and two-time All-American at Missouri, has been named the head wrestling coach at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Whelan, most recently the wrestling coach at Cahokia High School, takes over the Cougar wrestling program on a part-time basis, according to SIUE Athletics Director Brad Hewitt. Whelan was chosen from a pool of 28 applicants.

"We're excited about having Khris join the program," said Hewitt. We knew it was going to be tough to find someone with quality credentials for this part-time position. I believe we have achieved that goal."

Whelan has a wide variety of experience as a wrestling coach on an international, national, and grassroots level. He was the British National Freestyle wrestling coach and British Grassroots Development coach from 1994 to 1997, often coordinating United Kingdom tours for high schools from Tennessee, New York, Oregon, Missouri, Wyoming, and Wisconsin.

"It's a great honor and privilege," Whelan said of his appointment. "I'm looking forward to the challenge."

He will be joined by Ronald Bessemer, who will serve as an assistant coach for the Cougars. Bessemer, of Mt. Olive, was the USA World University Games Greco-Roman head coach and freestyle assistant coach. His coaching credentials include virtually every level of amateur wrestling including high school, junior college, college, and the U.S. Army. Bessemer has worked numerous clinics and camps. He also served in the officiating ranks working the Pan Am trials in 1967, the National Open Championships from 1969-71, and a USA-Russia dual meet in 1971.

Whelan said that after previously helping the Missouri Tigers develop eight NCAA Division I All-Americans, he was ready to return to the collegiate level. He had been the head coach at Cahokia since 2000 and previously was the coach at Hazelwood (Mo.) Central High School.

A third-degree black belt in Judo, Whelan also was an accomplished wrestler. He wrestled to a career record of 114-5 and was a Class AA Illinois prep champion for Granite City North High School. A two-time All-American at Missouri with a record of 102-19-3, he went on to become a four-time National Junior Freestyle and Greco-Roman champion. An alternate on the 1976 Olympic Greco team, he was later named to the 1983 U.S. World Greco team. In 2001, he was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Whelan can be reached by e-mail: khrisw@earthlink.net. 

May 2004

May 27, 2004

High Schoolers' Journalism Camp Set for July 19-30 at SIUE

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) High school journalists who want to hone their skills are invited to the Journalism Summer Camp from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, July 19-30, at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

The workshop covers the basics of what a good journalist needs to know to write a story-"Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How"-as well as how to take photographs and how to design quality newspapers and yearbooks. "We also get the students into the radio and TV studios at SIUE so they can learn about electronic broadcasting," says Mike Montgomery, a veteran newspaper editor and an instructor in the SIUE Department of Mass Communications.

J-camp students will put together their own newscast in the Mass Communications television studio and will see their stories published in The Alestle, SIUE's student newspaper. Cost of the camp is $75 per student, which includes a reporter's notebook, a binder for handouts, and an awards luncheon on the final day. The camp is limited to 50 students.

For more information, call (618) 650-2660 or (618) 650-3528.

Back to top

May 27, 2004

SIUE SummerArts 2004 Concert Series To Feature Head Of Jazz Studies

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) In 1979, Brett Stamps came to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for the opportunity to build a program "from scratch." The 56-year-old director of SIUE's Jazz Studies Program says proudly, "It's been a very good place to do what I do."

And, next month he'll continue to do what he does in a June 8 concert on campus, "All That Jazz," and in a Jazz Camp during the day from June 7-11. It's all part of the SummerArts Program 2004 and the SIUE Department of Music.

The Tuesday, June 8, concert is part of the annual SummerArts Concert Series from the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences, and the department sponsors Stamps' annual Jazz Camp, with its average enrollment of 40 to 50 high school students.

Building the SIUE Jazz Studies program, Stamps says, is his greatest reward of the past 25 years. "The jazz faculty is exceptional," he says. Faculty members such as Professor Rick Haydon and Associate Professor Reginald Thomas "are both very gifted artists and teachers. Rick was the first graduate of the SIUE jazz program and Reggie earned his master's at the university," he explains.

Originally from Falls Church, Va., Stamps says he knew he wanted to teach jazz when he was a freshman at the College of William and Mary. "I liked to improvise and I loved the theory course," he recalls.

Stamps' performance experience came when he auditioned for the U.S. Army Field Band. "I was graduating and about to get drafted, so I auditioned," he said. He was chosen and played there until almost the end of his service period.

"Then the Army paid for eight of us to attend a Stan Kenton camp that was being held near where we were based," he explains. From the 1940s until his death in 1979, Kenton was a popular band leader whose arrangements took Big Band music out of the mainstream with its intricate harmonies and inventive rhythms. After his discharge, Stamps toured with the Stan Kenton Band for a year.

So how did he end up at SIUE? "I was doing a job search and recognized SIUE from a recent soccer championship and I'd heard of the Mississippi River Festival," he explained. "I came here, liked the area, and liked the school."

Stamps says he enjoys performing with students, both current and former: "There's a lot of interaction at different levels in performing," he says.

"It's most rewarding performing with former students who have emerged as teachers and artists in their own right."

To keep in touch with the real world, Stamps also performs his original compositions and arrangements at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis as part of its long-standing Notes from Home series, and this summer Stamps plans to produce a CD. When he's not teaching, composing or performing, Stamps keeps in touch with his two sons, both of whom are in jazz education.

For more information on the SummerArts Concert Series or the SIUE Jazz Camp, call (618) 650-3900.

Back to top

May 20, 2004

EHS Robotics Team Claims Midwest Championship;

Students Raising Money for Trip To National Competition

A team of Edwardsville High School students will head to the National Botball Tournament in July, in which robots built in the classroom compete for the national title; the Edwardsville team recently won the regional for the second consecutive year.

(EDWARDSVILLE) It's a lesson in problem solving, although it looks like more fun than the description may sound. At its most basic level, it's pingpong balls and a robot kit.

It's officially called Botball, a competition in which teams of high school students build and program their robots to grab the items they get points for and discard or avoid the items for which they get nothing. After winning the Midwest Regional Competition in Terre Haute, Ind., a team from Edwardsville High School will head to the nationals, being held in San Jose, Calif, July 26-29.

The team lost in the first round of the double-elimination tournament, then won eight straight times to take the title.

The competition begins with a kit the teams must assemble, applying what they've learned in a wide range of classroom settings. "We take a multi-disciplinary approach to teaching robotics," said Jerry Weinberg, associate professor of Computer Science. Weinberg uses robotics as a means of teaching Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students majoring in different aspects of engineering to communicate better with each other and improve their problem-solving skills.

The Botball collaboration with Edwardsville High School grew out of the School of Engineering's annual Robotics Competition. Weinberg and EHS Math teacher Scott Hagin will accompany their team to San Jose. They will spend the next few weeks getting their team ready and raising funds from the trip. (Contact Weinberg by phone: (618) 650-2368.)

Team members include: Kush Patel, John Meehan, Matt Schweiker, and Mike Behum

"(Robot building) allows the students to apply all they have learned in math, logic, physics, and other classes," Hagin said. "They will be better problem-solvers, because they will understand better how to think across disciplines."

Aside from teaching a cross-disciplinary approach, Weinberg said robotics brings one other advantage to the classroom. "With robotics, students can see the immediate results of their work," he said. "They design, build and program their robot. Then they put it on the obstacle course and see how it performs."

Back to top

May 20, 2004

SIUE Student From Belleville Receives Evan James Scholarship

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Anne Schomber of Belleville, a senior studying Kinesiology and Health Education at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is the first recipient of the Cpl. Evan T. James Memorial Scholarship, to be given annually through the SIUE School of Education.

The scholarship was created by the family of U.S. Marine Cpl. Evan James of LaHarpe, a former SIUE student who drowned in a canal during the fighting in Iraq in March 2003. James served with the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, based in Peoria. He was studying Kinesiology at SIUE when he was deployed overseas.

Schomber, who is working toward a bachelor of science in Kinesiology, is an enthusiastic participant in fitness and wellness activities, competing in several running races in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Teachers say Schomber is an articulate student, who is well prepared for classes and genuinely interested in her education.

A member of the SIUE Kinesiology Student Association, Schomber has participated in fitness testing for the Highland School District and SIUE's two annual fitness activities-Fall for Fitness Day and Valentine's Fitness Day.

During the past year, she has been employed by SIUE's Student Fitness Center as a weight room attendant. Schomber assists SIUE students, faculty, staff, and alumni Fitness Center members in developing exercise programs.

The $500 scholarship is to be given annually to an SIUE undergraduate studying Kinesiology and who possesses traits that James aspired to, including: commitment to fitness and wellness and enjoyment of outdoor adventure experiences. Nominations come from faculty in the SIUE Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, with winners determined by the department's executive committee

Back to top

May 17, 2004

Television Workshop Set For June 14-25 At SIUE

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) When students meet for the first day of the Television Production Workshop at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, they may see a familiar face. Their instructor will be Professor Riley Maynard of the SIUE Department of Mass Communications and he has nearly as much experience in front of the camera as he does behind it.

The workshop, part of SIUE's SummerArts 2004 program, is open to high school students and runs from noon to 3 p.m. June 14-25. Maynard, who has 34 years of experience producing news and corporate videos, said students in the workshop will produce newscasts and create commercials.

Even with all of his production credits, Maynard's work in front of the camera as a performer in commercials is what makes him more recognizable. With more than 200 commercials and ads to his credit, Maynard has honed his craft as a performer. His most recent commercials are one for Hardee's restaurants ("I didn't get to eat the hamburger like Mark McGwire"), and one hawking bobblehead dolls for the St. Louis Rams football team.

"I've done dog food ads and a lot of beer ads," Maynard said. "I've done just about all of the Anheuser-Busch beer products … AB commercials are always classy, high budget productions," he explains. "In the dog food ad, the dog had the speaking role. He had a better agent," Maynard says with a laugh.

Maynard's first on-camera role was in a corporate video for Anheuser-Busch Sea World. "I played a truck driver and a tour was going through the brewery. A little boy said 'who are those people?' And his mother said: 'they're actors.' And he said: 'cool.' "

But it hasn't all been "cool." Another AB commercial depicted Maynard standing in a corn field in August playing a farmer. "The light wasn't just right so they brought out these (electric) lights and they cooked me," he recalls.

Not all of his work has been in commercials. "I was the cover boy for Angelica Uniform Company. I was on the cover of the catalogue modeling a bright orange jumpsuit known as 'correctional facility apparel.' That was the funniest ad I ever did," he said.

Maynard said one of the worst assignments he's ever had was when he was asked to say: Call Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at 1-800-…-…, plus a tag line, all in five seconds. "I felt like a Vegematic salesman," he recalls.

His 23-year career at SIUE began with the intent to stay a year. "I came here on a one-year contract to replace (now Emeritus) Professor Jack Shaheen when he left to go on a Fulbright Scholarship. I never left except when I went on my own Fulbright," he says.

Even though he is an educator, actor, producer, and instructor for SIUE's Television Production Workshop, Maynard isn't looking for accolades. "I'm not a renaissance man… more a victim of circumstance."

For more information about the Television Production Workshop, call (618) 650-2245. or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2774. SummerArts 2004 is part of the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences.

Back to top

May 17, 2004

Summer ShowBiz 2004 Kicks Off June 10 With Grease

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) On June 10 the Department of Theater and Dance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will take audiences back to the time of duck tails, pony tails, and saddle shoes with the Summer ShowBiz 2004 production of Grease. The show is part of the SummerArts 2004 program.

Set in 1959, the hit Broadway musical tells the story of Danny and Sandy at Rydell High. Director Peter Cocuzza, an associate professor of theater and dance at SIUE, says the stage version of Grease is very different from the 1978 film of the same name starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. "About half the songs in the movie were not in the play and the music had more of a '60s, '70s type of sound," Cocuzza explains. "The music in the play is more 'doo-wop.' "

Grease was first produced on the SIUE stage in 1990 and the current Summer Showbiz production has turned out to be a walk down memory lane for many of the cast and crew. Professor C. Otis Sweezey, chair of the department and costume designer for the production, knew where to start his research for the designs-his days as a high school student on Long Island in Freeport, N.Y. "I got out my old yearbook, not quite '59, and there was a lot of nostalgia for me," Sweezey said.

"They were all there-the cheerleaders, the good looking kids, and the nerds." And the two main groups from the play were there, too, Sweezey said. "The greasers, the gang type guys, the pink ladies, and the rebel girls."

Those were the days when everybody wore "big hair." And the 25-member cast will be wearing it along with penny loafers, bobby socks and poodle skirts. "It's going to be a traditional production of the play," Cocuzza says, "but we're going to put our stamp on the set."

Cocuzza said the "greased lightning" car has been found and the search is on for "local connections, photos to help localize the set from the '50s in Edwardsville," he explained. "And we're going to use video projection to help out scenically."

The set designer for this production is Roger Speidel, an instructor in the department. He'll also be onstage singing one of the most memorable songs from the play, Teen Angel.

Grease will run at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, June 10-12, and June 17-19, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 13 and 20. For more information, call (618) 650-2774, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2774. SummerArts 2004 is presented by the SIUE College of Art & Sciences.

Back to top

May 17, 2004

Second Class Of SIUE 'Dean's Dozen' Announced

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Elliott Lessen, dean of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's School of Education, has announced the second class of "Dean's Dozen" members.

Members of the second Dean's Dozen class, a select group of undergraduate students representing the five departments in the School of Education, are: Chris Brown of Shiloh, Heather Dale of Forsyth, Margaret Eccher of Mount Olive, Christopher Gentry of Bethalto, April Logan of Godfrey, Jennifer Moehrs of Waterloo, Jill Moennig of Brussels, Leslie McGuire of Farina, Lindsey Pembrook of Bunker Hill, Anne Schomber of Belleville, Andrea Streckfuss of Granite City, and Mary E. Witte of Normal.

The Dean's Dozen will serve as student representatives on behalf of the school, with on-going responsibilities that include assisting with recruitment and retention of students and faculty, representing the school at various campus functions, providing peer mentoring, and serving as ambassadors of goodwill for the School of Education.

The students were chosen from a substantial number of applicants by a selection committee comprised of undergraduate program directors from each department within the School. Associate Dean Lela DeToye said, "the entire selection process was difficult as all of the applicants showed genuine interest and a variety of strengths."

Back to top

May 17, 2004

SIUE SummerArts Workshops Continue To Serve Area Youth

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Since 1995, a total of 1,390 youngsters have attended workshops presented by the Department of Art and Design's Art Education program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The workshops are part of the SummerArts 2004 program.

Art and Design Professor Joe Weber is head of the department's art education area, which offers the "Children's Summer Arts Workshops" each year. The program actually dates back to 1975 when the "Summer Visual Art Workshops for Youth" began. That series was co-sponsored by the department and The Friends of Art.

"The purpose was to provide quality, intensive, affordable art experiences for young students in the metro area during the summer months," according to the program's history.

In the beginning, the program focused on primary and intermediate age workshops, Weber said, "because of a lack of facility space until the new Art and Design Building was completed."

Now, the summer art workshop program offers sessions for primary ages through junior and senior high. One of the offerings for older students is the Jr./Sr. High Ceramics/ Sculpture Workshop. "It is being offered again because it is very popular," according to workshop Coordinator Wanda Pitra, now in her 10th year with the program.

Other popular junior-senior high workshops include the Drawing-Painting session and the Computer Graphics session.

Each year, the workshops draw students from throughout the area including Granite City, Alton, Godfrey, Staunton, Dorsey, Mascoutah, Belleville, and Fairview Heights, as well as Collinsville, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, Pitra said. "Each year, parents see the announcement in the paper and the phone starts ringing." Apparently, that's been going on for 29 years.

For further information about the workshops, please call the Department of Art and Design, (618) 650-3183.

Back to top

May 13, 2004

Vaughn Vandegrift Named Chancellor Of SIUE

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Vaughn Vandegrift, who has moved up through the ranks of higher education over the past 30 years, will become chancellor of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville effective July 1.

Vandegrift was appointed to the position by SIU President James E. Walker and approved by the Board of Trustees today after a national search. Current SIUE Chancellor David Werner announced his retirement last October after 36 years of service to the university.

"Dr. Vandegrift has the right combination of skills and experience to guide SIUE into the future," Walker said. "I am confident that he will be the kind of leader we need at an important time in the development of SIUE."

Vandegrift said he is excited about his coming to SIUE. "The opportunity to come to SIU Edwardsville and lead this vibrant campus is exciting to me. SIUE has a vision to achieve national prominence as a premier metropolitan university. I'm looking forward to working with the university and metropolitan communities to realize that vision within the next decade."

Vandegrift's appointment comes as a result of a national search and assistance from a search advisory committee composed of students, faculty, staff, and alumni from SIUE whose job it was to review applications and make recommendations to President Walker.

"I want to thank the members of the search advisory committee, particularly professor Don Elliott who served as chair, for their hours of work and valued counsel in our effort to find a new chancellor," Walker said. "We had an excellent pool of candidates from which to choose and I thank the committee for their efforts."

The new chancellor comes to SIUE from Georgia Southern University, where he has served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs/Chief Information Officer since 2000. At GSU, a residential university with nearly 16,000 students and more than 650 full-time faculty, Vandegrift oversees six academic colleges, graduate studies, international studies, information technology services, continuing education, a wildlife center, a museum, a library, and a botanical garden.

During his time at GSU, Vandegrift led the Academic Affairs unit through state budget cuts of $5 million during a period in which enrollment grew by 1,500 students. He established a new College of Information Technology and had oversight of the program's development and the construction of its new $33 million building, which opened last year.

Vandegrift created a new School of Economic Development at GSU to address the needs of South Georgia and also established the first School of Public Health in the University System of Georgia after obtaining a gift of $2.5 million from a benefactor.

Vandegrift reorganized the recruitment and hiring process of faculty at GSU, significantly increasing the representation of minorities in the Academic Affairs unit.

Before he was provost at GSU, Vandegrift spent 12 years as dean of the College of Science and Mathematics and a tenured professor of Chemistry at Montclair State University in Upper Montclair, N. J.. He also served for six years as chair of the Department of Chemistry and as a tenured professor during 12 years at Murray State University in Kentucky.

Vandegrift-who has been an assistant professor, associate professor, full professor, department chair, dean, and provost- began his higher education career as a Chemistry professor at Illinois State University in 1974.

Vandegrift, who earned a doctorate in Chemistry at Ohio University, is the author of numerous journal articles and presentations on the topics of biochemistry, chemical education and higher education. Vandegrift earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Chemistry from Montclair State University. Vandegrift is also a graduate of the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management.

Vandegrift has been a member of numerous professional organizations and civic groups including Rotary International, the American Chemical Society, American Association of Higher Education, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography Board of Directors, and the Statesboro-Bulloch County (Georgia) Chamber of Commerce.

The 57-year-old Vandegrift, who hails from Saddle Brook, N.J., is married to Suzanne Bouchoux Vandegrift of Nutley, N.J., a recently retired high school chemistry teacher from Wayne (NJ) schools. They have three children: Beth Vandegrift, David Vandegrift, and Mark Vandegrift. Vandegrift's parents, Frederick and Marjorie Vandegrift, reside in Murray, Ky.

Back to top

May 13, 2004

SimmonsCooper Makes $1 Million Donation To SIUE;

Board Of Trustees Approves Name For SIUE Baseball Complex

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The proposed baseball facility expansion at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will be named the SimmonsCooper Baseball Complex in recognition of a $1 million gift to the university by SimmonsCooper Attorneys at Law in East Alton.

The naming of the proposed complex was approved today by the SIU Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting.

SIUE alumnus John Simmons and his law partner, Jeff Cooper, announced the donation last month. The gift is designated for the baseball program and other areas to be identified by the donor.

Intercollegiate Athletics will use the money to complete renovations of the Cougars' baseball complex at Roy E. Lee Field. "The gift will enable us to complete the SIUE baseball stadium project and explore the expansion of the site into a baseball complex," said Athletics Director Brad Hewitt.

Improvements already made in the past year to the university's baseball field include new dugouts, nets behind home plate, a warning track around the field, and a locker room facility. Hewitt said previous gifts secured from former players Fernando Aguirre, Steve Davis, and current assistant Steve Haug also were instrumental in the improvements at the field.

Back to top

May 11, 2004

SIUE License Plates Available Now

(EDWARDSVILLE) Illinois supporters of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville can show their pride with SIUE license plates, now available through the secretary of state's office.

The license plates carry the SIUE Cougar logo. The cost for a plate is $118 for the first year, and $105 for each year thereafter; $25 from each plate purchase goes to the SIUE Alumni Association Legacy scholarship fund. The typical cost of a renewal is $78.

Anyone who wants a plate can apply right away or as current plates expire; if you're purchasing a new car, your dealership can apply for you on a first-time registration. Collegiate plate numbers are assigned as applications are received. Vanity or personalized plates are not available.

For more information, contact the Secretary of State's office, special plates division at 217-785-5215, or your local Secretary of State facility.

Back to top

May 11, 2004

Curriculum Changes, Outreach Fuel SIUE Nursing School's Growth

(National Nurse's Week concludes Wednesday, May 12)

(EDWARDSVILLE) The smell of paint and the occasional knocking of hammers blends with the voices of students huddled in available conference rooms. Marcia Maurer, dean of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing, sometimes winces, sometimes smiles at the evidence of progress.

In less than a year under Maurer, the School of Nursing has begun to revamp its curriculum, remodel its offices and increase its presence in the communities it serves.

"There are exciting changes taking place in the nursing profession," Maurer said during a break from a graduate faculty retreat. "The SIUE School of Nursing is taking steps to be at the forefront of those changes in terms of the kind of education we provide to nurses entering the field, nurses looking to complete their bachelor's, and nurses needing a certificate or master's program in anticipation of entry into some of the new career opportunities that are developing for nursing professionals."

The school has begun to offer nurse management certificate programs designed to benefit nurses looking to move into management positions, and nurse managers who wish to enhance their management skills. An accelerated bachelor's program is awaiting final approval and could begin in Fall 2005. The Springfield program will expand, with four master's majors being added. The undergraduate curriculum is undergoing a change, shifting from what Maurer calls a "medical model" to a "nursing model."

"Under our new approach, there will be less lecturing and more active student participation," Maurer said. "Students will be more accountable for their own education. It will be more of a case study and discussion style of learning."

To accommodate the shift, a new staff person will be hired to coordinate patient simulator learning. The patient simulators are computerized mannequins designed to mimic illness and injury and respond to treatment by a nurse. Also, a pilot program will begin in the fall, in which nursing students will receive Palm Pilots that will be used to track assignments. And, to distinguish the school and its students, the SIUE School of Nursing has adopted new student uniforms and a new slogan, "The nursing gem of Southern Illinois."

The school also began a new recruiting campaign last year that has resulted in one of the largest spring semester (2004) enrollments in the last five years.

"Everyone knows there is a national nursing shortage," said Maurer, who served as associate dean in Nursing and director of Graduate Programs at Loyola University in Chicago before coming to SIUE. "It's not enough for schools of Nursing to simply graduate more nurses. We have to look at the future, to examine and understand what the role of the nurse in patient care is going to be."

The SIUE School of Nursing offers programs throughout the central and southern portions of the state, including the newest facility in Springfield. Maurer said she and the staff and faculty of the school are also creating new clinical partnerships in the Springfield area. "We're there for the long term," she said.

The outreach effort in Springfield is part of a comprehensive strategy to address the nursing shortage. "One of the reasons we have a shortage is that the perception of a career in nursing has changed," she said. "For a variety of reasons, nursing fell out of favor as a career. That's changing. A lot of people don't realize how rewarding nursing can be, both personally and professionally. Obviously, from a personal standpoint, helping other people has its own rewards.

"But, what is sometimes lost in the discussion is that lots of nursing jobs are available right now, where the economy has caused layoffs and stagnation in other professions. Also, several recent studies show nursing careers rank favorably on the list of salaries for new graduates."

The school works with more than 300 clinical agencies, collaborating with rural, suburban and urban health-care providers to help meet the health care needs of the region. SIUE was the first nursing school in the region-and one of the first in the country-to use human patient simulators as teaching tools.

"We like to think we're on the front line," Maurer said. "Our goal is to not only keep our curriculum and our technology current, but to continue to look for ways to be on the forefront of education…to keep our faculty and students on the leading edge of the learning curve."

Back to top

May 11, 2004

Twenty-First Annual SIUE Summer Writing Camp Set For June, July

(EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.) The 21st Annual Summer Writing Day Camp at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has been set for two sessions Monday through Friday, June 14-25 and July 12-23.

Enrollment per session is limited to 50 students, ages eight through 18, according to retired Assistant Professor Eugene Violette, of the Department of English Language and Literature, who has been director of the writing camp since its inception.

The camps are open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with several hours of classroom development activity, plus recreation periods for softball, swimming, volleyball, bowling, billiards, board games, and nature exploration, among others. In addition, older students will have opportunities to explore other aspects of campus life.

Violette said writing periods have an excellent pupil-teacher ratio-about eight to one-with development of skills articulating thought in the sentence, the paragraph, and the short essay, as well as, by means of collaborative effort, in such creative forms as drama and fiction. Students from the fifth grade and higher will use computers extensively in the composition process, but participants do not need prior experience with computers to do well in the program.

He also pointed out that individual instruction in grammar, spelling, and punctuation, is provided as needed but he also said this is not the total objective of the program. Violette will be assisted at the day camp by recreational counselors, as well as area elementary and secondary teachers, or current or former university lecturers of the SIUE Department of English Language and Literature, who have had special training in the teaching of writing.

The fee for either of the day camp sessions is $190, which includes a non-refundable $15 enrollment fee upon registration. The $175 balance is due no later than June 10 for the first session or July 8 for the second session. For more information, call the SIUE Department of English Language and Literature, (618) 650-2060, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2060.

Back to top

May 11, 2004

Salut!: Meridian Society To Make Annual Award Presentations

(EDWARDSVILLE) Salut!, a celebration of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Meridian Society, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, at SIUE's Morris Center. The society is an organization of women dedicated to raising funds-through membership fees and donations-in support of the university's community-oriented programs.

Lilya Wagner will be the presenter for the formal portion of the program, which begins at 7:15. Wagner is associate director for public service at Indiana University and serves as the director of the Womens' Philanthropic Institute. She also is a faculty member at IU, where she teaches graduate courses in philanthropic studies, and also is involved in curriculum preparation and revision. She holds a doctorate in education.

SIUE's Meridian Society is at the forefront of a national trend among colleges and universities. Created as a means of university outreach and fund-raising for the university, the society will make six awards at Salut!

• Give Kids A Smile Day, SIU School of Dental Medicine: Smile Day provides dental screening and treatment for underserved children
• Physics Play, SIUE Physics Department: Physics Play is a project aimed at raising the general awareness of physics and physics careers
• Image Workshop, St. Clair County Head Start: A project to assist parents of Head Start students with their job interview techniques
• Donal Myer Arboretum Enhancement, SIUE Arboretum: Will provide for native plantings in the arboretum
• Introductory Visitors Video for Stephenson House and Gardens, SIUE Mass Communications Department: Students and faculty will produce an introductory video for the Stephenson House in Edwardsville
• Role Models of Greater St. Louis Speaker Series, SIUE East St. Louis TRIO Program: Provide role-model speakers for the purposes of enhancing confidence and ability to gain success in post-secondary education and community leadership.

Back to top

May 10, 2004

Media Advisory:

Children Explore Tankers, Tractors, And An Oversized Shopping Cart At SIUE's Vehicle Day

(EDWARDSVILLE) More than 250 children are expected to explore vehicles of all kinds-including a 1918 Ford tank truck, the Gateway Grizzlies mascot on his scooter, the giant Schnucks shopping cart, dump trucks, tractors, a police motorcycle, a fire truck with 100-foot extended ladder and more-during the Seventh Annual Vehicle Day at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Vehicle Day 2004 is scheduled for 9a.m. until noon Friday, May 14, in parking lot F at SIUE's Student Fitness Center. More than 25 organizations have volunteered vehicles for the event, which is sponsored by the Advisory Board of the SIUE Early Childhood Center.

Back to top

May 6, 2004

Native American Issues Discussed At SIUE Symposium May 13

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) A symposium focusing on the relationship between the United States government and Native Americans, historically and currently, will be presented from 1-4 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

"Sovereignty, Expansion, and Diplomacy: Native American Views, Past, Present, and Future" will be presented in the John C. Abbott Auditorium on the lower level of SIUE's Lovejoy Library.

Featured speakers at the symposium will include Jack Baker, president of the National Trail of Tears Association; Charles Red Corn, an Osage author who has worked in Indian affairs all his life, both in government and as a business consultant for Indian-owned businesses in Oklahoma; Fred Fausz, a professor of history at the University of Missouri-St. Louis; and Dark Rain Thom, an author who is part of the Shawnee Remnant Band.

They will focus on three areas:

• Discussion of Discovery Law and other early policies regarding Native American Removal dating back to the 1700s.
• Diplomatic relations with and federal, state and local governmental policies toward, Native Americans over the past 200 years.
• The future of federal, state and local Native American relations/polices in the 21st century.

The symposium is being presented by SIUE and the Illinois Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission and the National Park Service

Back to top

May 6, 2004

SIUE's Lovejoy Friends Announce Winners Of Writing Contest

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The winners of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's 10th Annual High School Writers' Contest have been announced. The contest, sponsored by SIUE's Friends of Lovejoy Library, was open to area high school juniors and seniors who each submitted work in one of three categories: nonfiction, fiction, or poetry.

Co-sponsors and contributors for the competition were the Pulitzer Foundation/St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Target Stores; the Belleville News-Democrat; and the Friends group, a support organization for the SIUE library.

More than 385 entries were submitted by contestants from Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, St. Clair, and Washington counties.

Nine winners, three in each category, were honored recently at an awards banquet on campus. First prize winners each received $500, while second- and third-place winners in each category received $300 and $100, respectively.

First prize in the poetry category went to Lisa Klingler, a senior at Belleville West Township High School, for her poem, "Survival in Auschwitz." Second prize was won by Casey Keeven, a junior at Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo, for her poem, "Oscar," while third prize went to Jacki Varble, a junior at Carrollton High School, for "A Poem About Nothing."

In the fiction category, first prize was given to Vanity Kanise Gee, also a senior at Belleville West, for her story, "MIA Midgets in Action: The True Tale of little Red Riding Hood." Second place went to Chelsea Teisberg, a junior at Valmeyer High School, for her piece, "Primary Instinct," while third prize was given to Meredith Burkart, a junior at Edwardsville High School, for her entry, "The Rising Sun."

Tom Edwards, a junior at Belleville West, won first prize in the nonfiction category for his essay, "Wilderness Voyage." Second prize in that category went to Michael Schulte, a senior at Jersey Community High School, for his essay, "Contradicting Representations." Third prize was won by Marina Braun, a senior at Triad High School in Troy, for her essay, "The Door of Opportunity."

All award-winning entries have been published in a booklet that is available for purchase by calling (618) 650-2730.

Back to top

May 4, 2004

Maurer Joins SIUE School of Pharmacy

(EDWARDSVILLE) William Maurer has joined Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as the School of Pharmacy's first development officer.

Maurer, whose title is director of development and external affairs, has more than 25 years of fund-raising experience at educational institutions, medical facilities, and associations.

Most recently, Maurer served as director of development for Benet Academy in Lisle Illinois, where he increased the school's annual support from $250,000 to more than $1 million. He also has served as a development officer for Loyola University Medical Center, American Fund for Dental Health, the Field Museum of Chicago, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, and St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago. Maurer is a graduate of Loyola of Chicago.

Back to top

Vandegrift Named To Succeed Werner As SIUE Chancellor

Vaughn Vandegrift, who has moved up through the ranks of higher education over the past 30 years, will become chancellor of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville effective July 1.

Vandegrift was appointed to the position by SIU President James E. Walker and approved by the Board of Trustees today after a national search. Current SIUE Chancellor David Werner announced his retirement last October after 36 years of service to the university.

"Dr. Vandegrift has the right combination of skills and experience to guide SIUE into the future," Walker said. "I am confident that he will be the kind of leader we need at an important time in the development of SIUE."

Vandegrift said he is excited about his coming to SIUE. "The opportunity to come to SIU Edwardsville and lead this vibrant campus is exciting to me. SIUE has a vision to achieve national prominence as a premier metropolitan university. I'm looking forward to working with the university and metropolitan communities to realize that vision within the next decade."

Vandegrift's appointment comes as a result of a national search and assistance from a search advisory committee composed of students, faculty, staff, and alumni from SIUE whose job it was to review applications and make recommendations to President Walker.

"I want to thank the members of the search advisory committee, particularly professor Don Elliott who served as chair, for their hours of work and valued counsel in our effort to find a new chancellor," Walker said. "We had an excellent pool of candidates from which to choose and I thank the committee for their efforts."

The new chancellor comes to SIUE from Georgia Southern University, where he has served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs/Chief Information Officer since 2000. At GSU, a residential university with nearly 16,000 students and more than 650 full-time faculty, Vandegrift oversees six academic colleges, graduate studies, international studies, information technology services, continuing education, a wildlife center, a museum, a library, and a botanical garden.

During his time at GSU, Vandegrift led the Academic Affairs unit through state budget cuts of $5 million during a period in which enrollment grew by 1,500 students. He established a new College of Information Technology and had oversight of the program's development and the construction of its new $33 million building, which opened last year.

Vandegrift created a new School of Economic Development at GSU to address the needs of South Georgia and also established the first School of Public Health in the University System of Georgia after obtaining a gift of $2.5 million from a benefactor.

Vandegrift reorganized the recruitment and hiring process of faculty at GSU, significantly increasing the representation of minorities in the Academic Affairs unit.

Before he was provost at GSU, Vandegrift spent 12 years as dean of the College of Science and Mathematics and a tenured professor of Chemistry at Montclair State University in Upper Montclair, N. J.. He also served for six years as chair of the Department of Chemistry and as a tenured professor during 12 years at Murray State University in Kentucky.

Vandegrift-who has been an assistant professor, associate professor, full professor, department chair, dean, and provost- began his higher education career as a Chemistry professor at Illinois State University in 1974.

Vandegrift, who earned a doctorate in Chemistry at Ohio University, is the author of numerous journal articles and presentations on the topics of biochemistry, chemical education and higher education. Vandegrift earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Chemistry from Montclair State University. Vandegrift is also a graduate of the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management.

Vandegrift has been a member of numerous professional organizations and civic groups including Rotary International, the American Chemical Society, American Association of Higher Education, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography Board of Directors, and the Statesboro-Bulloch County (Georgia) Chamber of Commerce.

The 57-year-old Vandegrift, who hails from Saddle Brook, N.J., is married to Suzanne Bouchoux Vandegrift of Nutley, N.J., a recently retired high school chemistry teacher from Wayne (NJ) schools. They have three children: Beth Vandegrift, David Vandegrift, and Mark Vandegrift. Vandegrift's parents, Frederick and Marjorie Vandegrift, reside in Murray, Ky.

Turtles Net A New Home Thanks To Student Savior

Cougar Lake has some new tenants, thanks to Emily Dustman, who decided to be a samaritan herpetologist.

But the SIUE freshman from East Alton didn't bargain on finding a turtle in Peck Pond the size of a small garage. And, she sure didn't realize she was going to have a Chelydra serpentina by the tail. That's a snapping turtle to all of us not moving in herpetology circles.

It all began when the university decided to begin a planned project recently to dredge three ponds on campus-Peck Pond, adjacent to Peck Hall, Founders Hall, and Alumni Hall; the pond on the north end of the Donal E. Myer Arboretum; and Stump Lake, a pond behind Bluff Hall. (Why it's not called Stump Pond is anybody's guess, but misnomers tend to die hard.)

Facilities Management Director Bob Washburn said planning began about two years ago when signs of problems were occurring. "It took us about a year to obtain all the necessary environmental permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers," Washburn said. "This is part of a natural cycle of man-made ponds such as these.

"The $200,000 project has been funded through the deferred maintenance program and is designed to return the environmental balance to the ponds that have become overgrown with algae," Washburn said. "Dredging the ponds removes the excess silt and algae, and makes them deeper and less likely to become unbalanced in the future."

Unfortunately, the dredging causes a temporary disruption in the wildlife and critters have to find a new home for awhile. Although most of the species in and around Peck Pond could fly, hop, or walk out during the dredging, the small amount of fish that were left in the three ponds didn't survive, and slow moving wildlife, namely turtles, needed some help.

Enter Emily Dustman, a biological sciences major studying to become a herpetologist (someone who studies reptiles and amphibians). "Just after the dredging began, I saw one or two turtles who didn't make it across the road," she said. "I saw another that had been caught in a lawn mower tractor as it moved from Peck Pond. I also saw some turtles that were sucked through the drain to the other side of Circle Drive.

"It upset me, so I went to (Associate Biological Sciences) Professor (Paul) Brunkow and asked for his help." Dustman decided to organize a group of students to help pull the turtles from Peck Pond. They obtained permission from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration, but then called it off when they realized how deep the mud is in the pond bed.

"I had worked last summer for John Tucker, a state herpetologist, and he agreed to help," Dustman said. "So, John and my Dad joined me to begin 'muddling' (searching underwater for turtles in the mud).

"I was crawling in the mud, with just my head above water when I grabbed a large tail, although I wasn't sure what it was at the time," Dustman said. "Then it began pulling me through the mud and I realized it was a large turtle. It took my Dad and I together to get the turtle out of the water and into a cooler."

Dustman explained that snapping turtles remain docile while submerged but if you pull them out of the water to, say, put them in a cooler, well, they become disagreeable. But they managed to get the huge specimen into the cooler and relocate it to Cougar Lake. Dustman also recovered two painted turtles and a koi, an ornamental carp, and also relocated them to Cougar Lake.

Dustman feels good about the rescue. "I feel like I did a good thing."

Brunkow said he was impressed with Dustman's determination to help the turtles. "Emily was the driving force behind this recovery project; she planned it and followed through," Brunkow said. "This is a student who went out of her way to take this initiative, obtain the permissions, and organize the effort.

"And, you have to realize that Peck Pond is a pretty mucky place, smelly and nasty. But, Emily saw an opportunity do something to help, because turtles represent a species that has become depleted in suburban areas."

Once Dustman had the turtle, she showed it to Brunkow. "Dr. Brunkow nicknamed it the 'Loch Peck Monster,' " she said. "I thought that was a pretty good nickname."

Lovejoy Writers Competition Winners Announced

Winners of SIUE's 10th Annual High School Writers' Contest have been announced. The contest, sponsored by the Friends of Lovejoy Library, was open to area high school juniors and seniors who each submitted work in one of three categories: nonfiction, fiction, or poetry.

Co-sponsors and contributors for the competition were the Pulitzer Foundation/St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Target Stores; the Belleville News-Democrat; and the Friends group, a support organization for SIUE's Lovejoy library.

More than 385 entries were submitted by contestants from Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, St. Clair, and Washington counties.

Nine winners, three in each category, were honored recently at an awards banquet on campus. First prize winners each received $500, while second- and third-place winners in each category received $300 and $100, respectively.

First prize in the poetry category went to Lisa Klingler, a senior at Belleville West Township High School, for her poem, "Survival in Auschwitz." Second prize was won by Casey Keeven, a junior at Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo, for her poem, "Oscar," while third prize went to Jacki Varble, a junior at Carrollton High School, for "A Poem About Nothing."

In the fiction category, first prize was given to Vanity Kanise Gee, also a senior at Belleville West, for her story, "MIA Midgets in Action: The True Tale of little Red Riding Hood." Second place went to Chelsea Teisberg, a junior at Valmeyer High School, for her piece, "Primary Instinct," while third prize was given to Meredith Burkart, a junior at Edwardsville High School, for her entry, "The Rising Sun."

Tom Edwards, a junior at Belleville West, won first prize in the nonfiction category for his essay, "Wilderness Voyage." Second prize in that category went to Michael Schulte, a senior at Jersey Community High School, for his essay, "Contradicting Representations." Third prize was won by Marina Braun, a senior at Triad High School in Troy, for her essay, "The Door of Opportunity."

All award-winning entries have been published in a booklet that is available for purchase by calling (618) 650-2730.

ROTC Standout, '95 Grad Dies In Irag Fighting

Capt. John E. Tipton, originally from Granite City and a distinguished military graduate of the SIUE Army ROTC program, died May 2 during combat in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. He was 32 and a 1995 graduate of the SIUE School of Business.

He died of wounds received from an explosion during combat as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Tipton was stationed at Ft. Riley, Kan., where he was a Company Commander with the First Infantry Division.

Tipton was a 1989 graduate of Granite City High School. He enlisted in the Army in August of that year and served in Operation Desert Storm. He enrolled at SIUE in September 1991. Tipton had been stationed at Ft. Riley since August 2000 and deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom in September 2003.

A memorial service is planned at Ft. Riley on May 12. Memorials may be made to the Society of the First Infantry Division Foundation, which maintains the DePuy Scholarship program. The scholarship is awarded to children of First Infantry Division soldiers killed in combat. Donations may be mailed to:

First Infantry Division Foundation
c/o DePuy Scholarships
1933 Morris Road
Blue Bell, PA 19422-1422

Native American Issues To Be Discussed At Lovejoy May 13

A symposium focusing on the relationship between the United States government and Native Americans, historically and currently, will be presented from 1-4 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at SIUE's Lovejoy Library.

"Sovereignty, Expansion, and Diplomacy: Native American Views, Past, Present, and Future" will be presented in the John C. Abbott Auditorium on the lower level of the library.

Featured speakers at the symposium will include Jack Baker, president of the National Trail of Tears Association; Charles Red Corn, an Osage author who has worked in Indian affairs all his life, both in government and as a business consultant for Indian-owned businesses in Oklahoma; Fred Fausz, a professor of history at the University of Missouri-St. Louis; and Dark Rain Thom, an author who is part of the Shawnee Remnant Band.

They will focus on three areas:
• Discussion of Discovery Law and other early policies regarding Native American Removal dating back to the 1700s.

• Diplomatic relations with and federal, state and local governmental policies toward Native Americans over the past 200 years.

• The future of federal, state and local Native American relations/polices in the 21st century.

The symposium is being presented by SIUE and the Illinois Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission and the National Park Service.

W. Maurer Named Pharmacy Development Director

William Maurer has joined the SIUE School of Pharmacy as its first development officer.

Maurer, whose title is director of development and external affairs, has more than 25 years of fund-raising experience at educational institutions, medical facilities, and associations.

Most recently, Maurer served as director of development for Benet Academy in Lisle Illinois, where he increased the school's annual support from $250,000 to more than $1 million.

He also has served as a development officer for Loyola University Medical Center, American Fund for Dental Health, the Field Museum of Chicago, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, and St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago.

Maurer is a graduate of Loyola of Chicago.

Six Cougars Qualify for NCAA Championship Field

Six women's track athletes will represent SIUE at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships on May 27-29 in Pomona, Calif.

Freshman Tairisha Sawyer (Chicago/Queen of Peace H.S.), the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women's Athlete of the Year for outdoor track, will enter both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash.

Freshman Jamie Thomas (Blue Island/Thornridge H.S.), an All-American during the indoor season, has also qualified for two events. She will participate in the 100-meter hurdles and triple jump.

Senior Breanne Steffens (Moline/Moline H.S.), who advanced to the national meet in cross country in the fall, will be entered in the 1,500-meter run. Junior Christen Carducci (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy H.S.) will compete in the 3,000-meter run. Junior Mary Witte (Normal/West H.S.), who lowered her provisional qualifying time at last weekend's GLVC Championships, is in for the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Valerie Simmons (St. Louis/Normandy H.S.) also lowered her time in the last meet of the season and is a qualifier in the 400-meter hurdles.

Men's Outdoor Track Crowned GLVC Champions

SIUE men's track and field claimed its first ever Great Lakes Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field title this past weekend in Indianapolis.

"It was just a great effort," Coach Darryl Frerker said. "We had numerous individuals step up and achieve personal records to gain points in areas not anticipated. They stepped up to the competition and conquered."

The Cougars had three event champions and 11 All-Conference performers. All-GLVC honors are given to the top two in each event.

Richard Skirball (Granite City) was the individual champion in the 800-meter run with a time of 1 minute, 52.59 seconds. Lee Weeden (Ferguson) was the conference champion in the shot put after a throw of 15.51 meters. Phil Freimuth (Effingham) won the javelin with a meet-record distance of 58.00 meters.

Jeff Fearday (Teutopolis) claimed All-GLVC honors in the 400-meter dash with a season-best time of 48.11. Jonathan Bannister's (Plano, Texas) time of 15.26 in the 110-meter hurdles was also good for All-GLVC kudos. Ryan Boyll (Normal) ran the 3,000-meter steeplechase in an All-GLVC time of 9:19.29. Freimuth garnered All-GLVC honors in the high jump with a jump of 1.98 meters.

Taylor Reich (Newton) was tabbed All-GLVC in two separate events. His pole vault of 4.55 meters was good for All-GLVC honors, and he also scored 6,077 points in the decathlon to finish second and claim All-GLVC honors. Dustin Bilbruck (Gillespie) finished behind teammate Freimuth in the javelin to receive All-GLVC status. Marvell Seals' (Florissant) jump of 14.01 meters in the triple jump earned him All-GLVC honors.

Volleyball Lands Heimann, Helphrey

SIUE volleyball coach Todd Gober has announced the signing of two more players for the 2004 season.

Jenny Heimann (Germantown) and Tina Helphrey (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) have signed on to attend the university and play volleyball for the Cougars. Heimann, a junior college transfer, enters the program with two years of eligibility. Helphrey enters with four years of eligibility beginning in the fall.

Heimann, a 5-foot-7-inch setter and defensive specialist, was a two-time all-conference selection as a setter at John A. Logan College. She was tabbed an NJCAA second team All-American in 2003. Averaging 12.3 assists per game last fall, she set Logan's single-season assist record with 1,450 and also holds Logan's career assist mark with 2,890.

"The addition of Jenny gives us more depth and experience at the setter position," Gober said. "She has a great competitive spirit about her and is very skilled technically. She has developed nicely throughout her two years at John A. Logan."

Helphrey, a 6-foot-1-inch middle blocker/outside hitter, comes to SIUE after a successful volleyball career at Port St. Lucie High School. A three-time all-conference selection at Port St. Lucie, Helphrey also was tabbed as her team's Most Valuable Player her sophomore through senior seasons.

"Tina is a very good jumper and has a powerful armswing," Gober said. "She will compete for a starting right side position. She will mix in well with our team."

SIUE Men's Basketball Signs Jeanty

Cordell Jeanty (Toronto, Ontario), an NJCAA honorable mention All-American for John A. Logan College, has signed to play men's basketball for SIUE next season.

Jeanty, a 6-foot-6-inch forward, averaged 24.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game last season for John A. Logan. He led the Vols in scoring and rebounding for two seasons, earning All-Conference and All-Region honors in both seasons. He set a school record for points in a season with 749.

SIUE coach Marty Simmons said Jeanty provides the Cougars with a number of options. Jeanty played mostly in the paint in junior college and will expand his game to more perimeter shooting.

"Cordell has a chance to make an impact on our program right away," said Simmons. "He has an eagerness about him. He's a strong, athletic player."

Track Searches For First Outdoor Championship

SIUE track and field will vie for its first Great Lakes Valley Conference Outdoor Championship when the meet kicks off Thursday (5/13) in Indianapolis.

Both the men's and women's squad won the GLVC indoor meet earlier in the year. "We are ready and hoping to defend our GLVC indoor titles," Coach Darryl Frerker said. "Across the board, the men will be competing with Lewis and Indianapolis. The women should be one of the favorites."

Also on the agenda at the conference meet will be the final opportunity to lower NCAA II provisional qualifying times to help assure an invitation to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Tairisha Sawyer (Chicago) hit provisional qualifying marks in both the 100 and 200-meter dash. Breanne Steffens (Moline) and Christen Carducci (Powell, Ohio) have provisionally qualified in the 1,500-meter run. Christen Carducci has done the same in the 3,000-meter run.

Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) has provisionally qualified in the triple jump, 100- meter hurdles, and the 400-meter hurdles. Valerie Simmons (St. Louis) and Jenny Jaquez (Aurora) are also provisionally qualified in the 400-meter hurdles.

Mary Witte (Normal) and Carrie Carducci (Powell, Ohio) are both on the provisional qualifying list in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Callie Glover (Bartlett) is a provisional qualifier in the shot put.

The women's 4x100-meter relay team and the 4x400-meter relay team have both provisionally qualified, as well.

On the men's side, five athletes have claimed provisional qualifying marks. Richard Skirball (Granite City) lowered his 800-meter provisional qualifying time in the 800-meter run. Cody Ellermeyer (DuQuoin) also posted a provisional qualifying time in the same event.

Brian Taghon (East Moline) has provisionally qualified in the 1,500-meter run, and Ryan Boyll has done so in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Phil Freimuth (Effingham) has also posted a provisional qualifying mark in the javelin.

Following the GLVC Championship, the Cougars will have two weeks to prepare for the NCAA II Championships, which will be held May 27-29 in Pomona, Calif.

Baseball's Ohlau, Jones Tabbed All-GLVC

Junior first baseman Craig Ohlau (Chester) and junior pitcher Ron Jones (Kankakee) were honored last week by the Great Lakes Valley Conference as All-GLVC performers.

Ohlau was named to the first team after leading SIUE's offense in several categories. He led the team with a .331 batting average and posted team highs in hits (59), doubles (13) and RBI (38).

"Craig was the anchor of our lineup," Collins said. "Also, his numbers against conference teams was real impressive."

Jones was named second team All-GLVC despite joining the Cougars late because of his basketball commitment. He led the team with six wins and a 1.42 earned run average.

"Ron could have been on the first team if he threw more innings," Collins said. "He was our best pitcher down the stretch."

Softball Recognizes Three All-Region Honors

Three SIUE softball players have been named to the Great Lakes All-Region team, as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Alicia DeShasier (Carrollton) and Jenny Esker (Steeleville) were both named to the first team. Shannon Evans (Manhattan) was named to the second team.

"We play in a tough region, so to receive this award is a real honor," Coach Sandy Montgomery said. "All three have contributed significantly in many of our wins."

DeShasier was named to the first team as a utility player. This season, she has played second base, third base, and right field. She led the Cougars with 17 doubles and hit .324 on the season.

Esker, who played left field for the Cougars, led everyday players with a .358 batting average. She led the team in hits (59), home runs (8), and RBI (36).

Evans, a catcher, hit .287 for the Cougars and drove in 31 runs on the year. She did not commit an error in 51 games behind the plate.

Melissa Lindgren was named to the All-Tournament team for her play at last weekend's Great Lakes Region Tournament in Highland Hts., Ky. Lindgren posted four hits and two RBI for the Cougars, who dropped games against West Virginia Wesleyan and Grand Valley State to end their season.

Game Ball

The game ball for the first All Star game at the SIUE Rec Plex-across from the Early Childhood Center and the SIUE tennis courts-was "floated" in by members of the SIUE Cougar Skydiving Club for the new facility's dedication recently. Shown here are Narbeth Emmanuel, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, and Sara Guarino, president of the SIUE Student Body, who are receiving the ball from Kevin Hill, president of the Cougar Skydivers. Guarino then threw the first pitch to Emmanuel and the All-Star Game was under way. It featured a "select" group of faculty, staff, and students. The Black Cats, coached by School of Education Dean Elliott Lessen, beat the Red Zone, coached by Campus Recreation Director Mick Ostrander, 8-7. It was the first game played on the new lighted field at the Rec Plex. (SIUE Photo)

EHS Robotics Team Claims Midwest Championship

It's a lesson in problem solving, although it looks like more fun than the description may sound. At its most basic level, it's pingpong balls and a robot kit.

It's officially called Botball, a competition in which teams of high school students build and program their robots to grab the items they get points for and discard or avoid the items for which they get nothing. After winning the Midwest Regional Competition in Terre Haute, Ind., a team from Edwardsville High School will head to the nationals, being held in San Jose, Calif, July 26-29.

The team lost in the first round of the double-elimination tournament, then won eight straight times to take the title.

The competition begins with a kit the teams must assemble, applying what they've learned in a wide range of classroom settings. "We take a multi-disciplinary approach to teaching robotics," said Jerry Weinberg, associate professor of Computer Science. Weinberg uses robotics as a means of teaching SIUE students majoring in different aspects of engineering to communicate better with each other and improve their problem-solving skills.

The Botball collaboration with Edwardsville High School grew out of the School of Engineering's annual Robotics Competition. Weinberg and EHS Math teacher Scott Hagin will accompany their team to San Jose. They will spend the next few weeks getting their team ready and raising funds from the trip.

Team members include: Kush Patel, John Meehan, Matt Schweiker, and Mike Behum. "(Robot building) allows the students to apply all they have learned in math, logic, physics, and other classes," Hagin said. "They will be better problem-solvers, because they will understand better how to think across disciplines."

Aside from teaching a cross-disciplinary approach, Weinberg said robotics brings one other advantage to the classroom. "With robotics, students can see the immediate results of their work," he said. "They design, build and program their robot. Then they put it on the obstacle course and see how it performs."

Second Class Of 'Dean's Dozen' Announced

Elliott Lessen, dean of the School of Education, has announced the second class of "Dean's Dozen" members.

Members of the second Dean's Dozen class, a select group of undergraduate students representing the five departments in the School of Education, are: Chris Brown of Shiloh, Heather Dale of Forsyth, Margaret Eccher of Mount Olive, Christopher Gentry of Bethalto, April Logan of Godfrey, Jennifer Moehrs of Waterloo, Jill Moennig of Brussels, Leslie McGuire of Farina, Lindsey Pembrook of Bunker Hill, Anne Schomber of Belleville, Andrea Streckfuss of Granite City, and Mary E. Witte of Normal.

The Dean's Dozen will serve as student representatives on behalf of the school, with on-going responsibilities that include assisting with recruitment and retention of students and faculty, representing the school at various campus functions, providing peer mentoring, and serving as ambassadors of goodwill for the School of Education.

The students were chosen from a substantial number of applicants by a selection committee comprised of undergraduate program directors from each department within the School. Associate Dean Lela DeToye said, "the entire selection process was difficult as all of the applicants showed genuine interest and a variety of strengths."

Remini, Baricevic Honored At May 8 SIUE Commencement

Robert Vincent Remini, a history professor emeritus at the University of Illinois-Chicago and official historian for that campus, received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during SIUE's recent commencement exercises. In addition, John Baricevic, chairman of the St. Clair County Board for the past 14 years, received a Distinguished Service Award.

Distinguished Service Awards have been given for more than 35 years at SIUE to those who have performed outstanding or unusual service to the university, the region, or the state. Honorary degrees have been awarded for more than 40 years to those who have made significant contributions to cultural, educational, scientific, economic, social, or humanitarian fields, or other worthy fields of endeavor.

Remini is regarded as America's premier historian of the Jacksonian political era and of Andrew Jackson himself. In addition to his definitive works on Jackson, Remini, an award-winning author, has written biographies of John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Mormon leader Joseph Smith, Martin Van Buren, and Daniel Webster. A member of the faculty at the U of I-Chicago since its inception in 1965, Remini earned a bachelor's at Fordham University and went on to receive a master's and a doctorate from Columbia University.

After earning a juris doctor from SIUC, Baricevic served as the St. Clair County state's attorney from 1980-1990 and was named county board chairman in 1990. He is retiring this year from the board. Baricevic also is in private practice specializing in family law, criminal law, and personal injury litigation.

Baricevic has been instrumental in promoting regionalism in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area, investing enormous amounts of time energy in a variety of projects to insure that the interests and welfare of Metro-East residents-one-quarter of the St. Louis region's population-will be provided for in planning decisions regarding the wider metropolitan area.

Grease Kicks Off Summer ShowBiz 2004 At Dunham

On June 10 the Department of Theater and Dance will take audiences back to the time of duck tails, pony tails, and saddle shoes with the Summer ShowBiz 2004 production of Grease. The show is part of the SummerArts 2004 program.

Set in 1959, Grease tells the story of what happens to "summer love" between Danny and Sandy at Rydell High. Originally penned as a satire on the music and morals of the 1950s, Grease has continued to be a long-time musical hit from the Broadway stage.

Director Peter Cocuzza, an associate professor of theater and dance, says the stage version of Grease is very different from the 1978 film of the same name starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. "About half the songs in the movie were not in the play and the music had more of a '60s, '70s type of sound," Cocuzza explains. "The music in the stage version is more 'doo-wop.' "

Grease was first produced on the SIUE stage in 1990 and the current Summer Showbiz production has turned out to be a walk down memory lane in more ways than one for Professor C. Otis Sweezey. As costume designer for the current production and set designer for the previous, Sweezey knew where to start his research for the designs-his days as a high school student on Long Island in Freeport, N.Y. "I got out my old yearbook, not quite '59, and there was a lot of nostalgia for me," Sweezey said.

"They were all there-the cheerleaders, the good looking kids, and the nerds." And the two main groups from the play were there, too, Sweezey said. "The greasers, the gang type guys, the pink ladies, and the rebel girls."

Those were the days when everybody wore "big hair." And the 25-member cast will be wearing it along with penny loafers, bobby socks, and poodle skirts. "It's going to be a traditional production of the play," Cocuzza says, "but we're going to put our stamp on the set."

Cocuzza said the "greased lightnin' " car has been found and the search is on for "local connections, photos to help localize the set from the '50s in Edwardsville," he explained. "And, we're going to use video projection to help out scenically."

The set designer for this production is Roger Speidel, an instructor in the department. He'll also be onstage singing one of the most memorable songs from the play, Teen Angel.

Grease will run at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, June 10-12, and June 17-19, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 13 and 20. For more information or to order tickets, call (618) 650-2774, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2774. SummerArts 2004 is presented by the SIUE College of Art & Sciences.

SIUE Student From Belleville Receives James Scholarship

Anne Schomber of Belleville, a senior studying Kinesiology and Health Education, is the first recipient of the Cpl. Evan T. James Memorial Scholarship, to be given annually through the School of Education.

The scholarship was created by the parents of U.S. Marine Cpl. Evan James, Mike and Donna James of LaHarpe. Evan James was a former SIUE student who drowned in a canal during the fighting in Iraq in March 2003. James served with the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, based in Peoria. He was studying Kinesiology at SIUE when he was deployed overseas.

Schomber, who is working toward a bachelor of science in Kinesiology, is an enthusiastic participant in fitness and wellness activities, competing in several running races in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Teachers say Schomber is an articulate student, who is well prepared for classes and genuinely interested in her education.

A member of the SIUE Kinesiology Student Association, Schomber has participated in fitness testing for the Highland School District and SIUE's two annual fitness activities-Fall for Fitness Day and Valentine's Fitness Day.

During the past year, she has been employed by SIUE's Student Fitness Center as a weight room attendant. Schomber assists SIUE students, faculty, staff, and alumni Fitness Center members in developing exercise programs.

The $500 scholarship is to be given annually to an SIUE undergraduate studying Kinesiology and who possesses traits that James aspired to, including: commitment to fitness and wellness and enjoyment of outdoor adventure experiences. Nominations come from faculty in the SIUE Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, with winners determined by the department's executive committee.

Curriculum Changes, Outreach Fuel SIUE Nursing School's Growth

The smell of paint and the occasional knocking of hammers blends with the voices of students huddled in available conference rooms. Marcia Maurer, dean of the School of Nursing, sometimes winces, sometimes smiles at the evidence of progress.

In less than a year under Maurer, the School of Nursing has begun to revamp its curriculum, remodel its offices, and increase its presence in the communities it serves.

"There are exciting changes taking place in the nursing profession," Maurer said during a break from a graduate faculty retreat. "The SIUE School of Nursing is taking steps to be at the forefront of those changes in terms of the kind of education we provide to nurses entering the field, nurses looking to complete their bachelor's, and nurses needing a certificate or master's program in anticipation of entry into some of the new career opportunities that are developing for nursing professionals."

The school has begun to offer nurse management certificate programs designed to benefit nurses who aspire to management positions, and nurse managers who wish to enhance their management skills. An accelerated bachelor's program is awaiting final approval and could begin in Fall 2005. The Springfield program will expand, with four master's majors being added. The undergraduate curriculum is undergoing a change, shifting from what Maurer calls a "medical model" to a "nursing model."

"Under our new approach, there will be less lecturing and more active student participation," Maurer said. "Students will be more accountable for their own education. It will be more of a case study and discussion style of learning."

To accommodate the shift, a new staff person will be hired to coordinate patient simulator learning. The patient simulators are computerized mannequins designed to mimic illness and injury, and respond to treatment by a nurse. Also, a pilot program will begin in the fall, in which nursing students will receive Palm Pilots that will be used to track assignments. And, to distinguish the school and its students, the SIUE School of Nursing has adopted new student uniforms and a new slogan, "The nursing gem of Southern Illinois."

The school also began a new recruiting campaign last year that has resulted in one of the largest spring semester (2004) enrollments in the last five years. "Everyone knows there is a national nursing shortage," said Maurer, who served as associate dean in Nursing and director of Graduate Programs at Loyola University in Chicago before coming to SIUE. "It's not enough for schools of Nursing to simply graduate more nurses. We have to look at the future, to examine and understand what the role of the nurse in patient care is going to be."

The SIUE School of Nursing offers programs throughout the central and southern portions of the state, including the newest facility in Springfield. Maurer said she and the staff and faculty of the school are also creating new clinical partnerships in the Springfield area. "We're there for the long term," she said.

The outreach effort in Springfield is part of a comprehensive strategy to address the nursing shortage. "One of the reasons we have a shortage is that the perception of a career in nursing has changed," she said. "For a variety of reasons, nursing fell out of favor as a career. That's changing. A lot of people don't realize how rewarding nursing can be, both personally and professionally. Obviously, from a personal standpoint, helping other people has its own rewards.

"But, what is sometimes lost in the discussion is that lots of nursing jobs are available right now, where the economy has caused layoffs and stagnation in other professions. Also, several recent studies show nursing careers rank favorably on the list of salaries for new graduates."

The school works with more than 300 clinical agencies, collaborating with rural, suburban, and urban health-care providers to help meet the health care needs of the region. SIUE was the first nursing school in the region-and one of the first in the country-to use human patient simulators as teaching tools.

"We like to think we're on the front line," Maurer said. "Our goal is to not only keep our curriculum and our technology current, but to continue to look for ways to be on the forefront of education … to keep our faculty and students on the leading edge of the learning curve."

Pride: Illinois supporters of SIUE can show their pride with SIUE license plates, now available through the secretary of state's office. The license plates carry the SIUE Cougar logo. The cost for a plate is $118 for the first year, and $105 for each year thereafter; $25 from each plate purchase goes to the SIUE Alumni Association Legacy scholarship fund. The typical cost of a renewal is $78. Anyone who wants a plate can apply right away or as current plates expire; if you're purchasing a new car, your dealership can apply for you on a first-time registration. Collegiate plate numbers are assigned as applications are received. Vanity or personalized plates are not available. For more information, contact the Secretary of State's office, special plates division at 217-785-5215, or your local Secretary of State facility. (SIUE Photo)

Television Workshop Set For June 14-25 At SIUE

When students meet for the first day of the Television Production Workshop at SIUE, they may see a familiar face. Their instructor will be Professor Riley Maynard of the Department of Mass Communications and he has nearly as much experience in front of the camera as he does behind it.

The workshop, part of SIUE's SummerArts 2004 program, is open to high school students and runs from noon to 3 p.m. June 14-25. Maynard, who has 34 years of experience producing news and corporate videos, said students in the workshop will produce newscasts and create commercials.

Even with all of his production credits, Maynard's work in front of the camera as a performer in commercials is what makes him more recognizable. With more than 200 commercials and ads to his credit, Maynard has honed his craft as a performer. His most recent commercials are one for Hardee's restaurants ("I didn't get to eat the hamburger like Mark McGwire"), and one hawking bobblehead dolls for the St. Louis Rams football team.

"I've done dog food ads and a lot of beer ads," Maynard said. "I've done just about all of the Anheuser-Busch beer products … AB commercials are always classy, high budget productions," he explains. "In the dog food ad, the dog had the speaking role. He had a better agent," Maynard says with a laugh.

Maynard's first on-camera role was in a corporate video for Anheuser-Busch Sea World. "I played a truck driver and a tour was going through the brewery. A little boy said 'who are those people?' And his mother said: 'they're actors.' And he said: 'cool.' "

But it hasn't all been "cool." Another AB commercial depicted Maynard standing in a cornfield in August playing a farmer. "The light wasn't just right so they brought out these (electric) lights and they cooked me," he recalls.

Not all of his work has been in commercials. "I was the cover boy for Angelica Uniform Company. I was on the cover of the catalogue modeling a bright orange jumpsuit known as 'correctional facility apparel.' That was the funniest ad I ever did," he said.

Maynard said one of the worst assignments he's ever had was when he was asked to say: Call Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at 1-800-…-…, plus a tag line, all in five seconds. "I felt like a Vegematic salesman," he recalls.

His 23-year career at SIUE began with the intent to stay a year. "I came here on a one-year contract to replace (now Emeritus) Professor Jack Shaheen when he left to go on a Fulbright Scholarship. I never left except when I went on my own Fulbright," he says.

Even though he is an educator, actor, producer, and instructor for SIUE's Television Production Workshop, Maynard isn't looking for accolades. "I'm not a renaissance man … more a victim of circumstance."

For more information about the Television Production Workshop, call (618) 650-2245. or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2774. SummerArts 2004 is part of the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences.

April 2004

April 26, 2004

SIUE Chancellor Search Nears Completion

(EDWARDSVILLE) The search for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's next chancellor is nearing completion, after the search advisory committee submitted recommendations on all three candidates to SIU President James Walker on April 21.

Walker will use the committee's research, interviews with references, and the counsel of search firm Baker-Parker to make his selection. The new chancellor could be introduced at the June meeting of the SIU Board of Trustees, or as early as the May board meeting.

"Our work is completed," said chancellor search advisory committee chair Don Elliott, professor of economics and finance. "We reviewed many well-qualified applicants, narrowed the field to the three best candidates and brought each one of them to campus for three days of interviews, open forums and meetings with various constituencies.

"As planned, we have submitted our analysis and assessments of the three candidates to President Walker for his final decision."

Elliott emphasized that it was not the committee's charge to recommend one candidate over the others, but to send recommendations on all three. He added that open forum participants were invited to fill out evaluation forms on the candidates.

Among other questions, participants were asked to rate the candidates as "highly recommended," "acceptable," or "unacceptable." All three were rated as acceptable or highly recommended by more than 80 percent of those who returned an evaluation.

The three candidates are:

• Sharon Hahs, SIUE provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs
• Aaron Podolefsky, Northern Iowa provost and vice president for academic affairs
• Vaughn Vandegrift, Georgia Southern provost and vice president for academic affairs/chief information officer

The new chancellor is expected to be in the position on July 1, when Chancellor David Werner officially steps down.

Back to top

April 22, 2004

SIUE East St. Louis SBDC To Conduct Forum May 25

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Small Business Development Center, located on the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, is hosting an SBA Lender Forum organized by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Springfield branch office on Tuesday, May 25.

The forum will provide an opportunity for local lenders and the community to learn about SBA resources and services that are available. Part of the SBA's efforts to encourage small business activities and boost economic growth, the May 25 forum will be conducted at the Higher Education Campus, 601 James R. Thompson Blvd., East St. Louis, from 8 a.m.-noon.

Registration will be followed by a welcome session with the United States SBA, the director of SIUE's small business center, and the SCORE director. This will be followed by a seminar covering important issues, various loan programs, and financing options for small businesses.

For registration and other information, contact Theresa Ebeler, (618) 482-8330, or, by e-mail: tebeler@siue.edu. Registration may be accomplished by phone using the number above. The cost to attend the forum is $25; checks should be made payable to SIUE and mailed to: SIUE Small Business Development Center, 601 James R. Thompson Blvd., Campus Box 1200, East St. Louis, IL 62201.

Back to top

April 19 , 2004

SIUE Announces Early Closing Date For Freshmen

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Due to an unprecedented number of freshman applications, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has moved its admission file completion deadline for freshmen entering fall 2004 to May 1, which is 30 days earlier than the original May 31 filing deadline.

"We are very excited about the continued growing interest in SIUE; however, we are also committed to maintaining the quality of education and services that we have offered to students in our 47-year history," said Boyd Bradshaw, assistant vice chancellor for Enrollment Management.

SIUE has grown from 10,938 students in 1994 to 13,295 last fall, an increase of about 22 percent.

Three new residence halls built since 1994 have served to draw even more attention to the quality education offered at SIUE, Bradshaw pointed out. "More and more students and parents view SIUE as their first choice for a quality, affordable education," Bradshaw said. "A strong faculty, small class sizes, community service opportunities, an active campus life, and some of the newest residence halls in the state continue to fuel SIUE's growth."

Bradshaw said the quickest and easiest way for students to apply for admission is on-line: www.siue.edu. The $30 application fee also may be paid online. Applications received after May 1 will be put on a wait list; however, the university does not anticipate granting admission to wait-listed students. Students interested in living on campus can download an application from www.siue.edu/HOUSING. The housing application and a deposit of $300 also must be submitted by May 1.

Back to top

April 17 , 2004

Simmons, Cooper Donate Gift For Baseball Complex

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) An SIUE alumnus and his law partner have made a major donation to Intercollegiate Athletics, which will enable completion of the Cougars' baseball complex at Roy E. Lee Field.

John Simmons and Jeff Cooper, of SimmonsCooper Attorneys at Law in East Alton, announced the gift recently to SIUE Director of Athletics Brad Hewitt. The generous gift ushers in the latest in a string of improvements at Lee Field.

Hewitt said the announcement of the amount would be forthcoming pending formal approval by the SIU Board of Trustees. "The gift will enable us to complete the SIUE baseball stadium project and explore the expansion of the site into a baseball complex," Hewitt said.

Simmons grew up in East Alton and served in the Army as a combat engineer. He later attended SIUE, where he was elected Student Body president, attaining a position in the Dean's College. After earning a bachelor's, he went on to receive a law degree at Southern Methodist.

In 1999, he opened The Simmons Firm L.L.C. which has grown to 31 attorneys and 220 staff members. Recently appointed as a member of the SIU Board of Trustees, Simmons and his wife, Jayne, have four children.

Cooper was raised in Granite City, received a bachelor's from DePauw University and earned a law degree at Saint Louis University. He opened a firm in Granite City and ran for Congress in 2000. After the election, Cooper joined Simmons in what is now SimmonsCooper.

He resides in Edwardsville with his wife, Francesca, and two children, Jack and Ella. They are expecting a third child in September.

Improvements that already have been made in the past year to the university's baseball field include new dugouts, nets behind home plate, a warning track around the field, and a locker room facility.

Hewitt said previous gifts secured from former players Fernando Aguirre, Steve Davis, and current assistant Steve Haug also were instrumental in the current changes at the field.

Back to top

April 15, 2004

It's Not Too Late For SIUE Students Hoping For Financial Aid

(EDWARDSVILLE) For college students hoping for financial aid to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville next year, there's good news and bad news: It's not too late to file your paperwork, but you're way past the preferred filing date.

Sharon Berry, SIUE's director of financial aid, says that financial aid is still available for students attending SIUE next year.

"The preferred filing date was March 1," she said. "There is aid still available, but anyone who files after June 1 could be too late for their financial aid to be processed by the first fall tuition due date. We may not be able to help them with financial aid until later in the term. The amount of aid we have given out over the last few years has gone up steadily. So has the demand and the applications we must process."

For the current academic year, SIUE's financial aid staff processed more than $60 million in financial aid for more than 9,500 of SIUE's 13,295 students. Next year's figure will be in the $65 to $70 million range.

"SIUE's tuition remains a bargain compared to Illinois public colleges and universities," Berry said. "Still, a college education is typically a big investment for students and their parents.

"There is help out there in the form of financial aid. There's federal, state and institutional dollars…in scholarships, grants, loans and work study. And, we have made it easy to file for aid. Our entire filing process is on line, and students can check the status of their application on line.

"Our staff does a great job in prompt processing of applications. So, once an application is in the pipeline, the students know fairly quickly what aid they are eligible for."

For information and to apply for financial aid at SIUE, go to www.finaid.siue.edu.

Back to top

April 12, 2004

Penn Professor To Give Jones Lecture At SIUE April 26

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Jeremy Siegel, the Palmer professor of Finance at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, will give the 2004 Homer Jones Memorial Lecture at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Monday, April 26, presented by the SIUE School of Business.

The lecture by Siegel, who will address the question: "Can we measure 'expected' inflation?" begins at 4:40 p.m. in the second-floor Conference Center in SIUE's Morris University Center. A reception sponsored by Stifel, Nicolaus & Company Inc. will immediately follow the presentation.

Siegel, a widely acclaimed educator, has written and lectured extensively on the economy and financial markets. He has appeared on CNN, CNBC, NPR, and other radio and television networks; he also has contributed articles to the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and The Financial Times.

In 1994, Siegel received the highest teaching rating in a worldwide ranking of business school professors by Business Week. He also served for 15 years as head of economics training at JP Morgan. Siegel currently is the academic director of the U.S. Securities Industry Institute.

The Homer Jones Memorial Lecture honors a man who was pivotal in monetary economics and policy. Jones (1906-1986) was the research director and senior vice president at the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, and he was a major contributor to the bank's leadership in monetary research and statistics. Jones served at Rutgers University, the University of Chicago, The Brookings Institute, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. before beginning his appointment at the Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis.

The memorial lecture series began in 1987, shortly after Jones's death. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Gateway Chapter of the National Association for Business Economics, Saint Louis University, SIUE, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Washington University in St. Louis co-sponsor the annual lecture.

For more information about the 2004 Homer Jones Lecture, contact the SIUE School of Business: (618) 650-2317, or, by e-mail: jwoodru@siue.edu. The SIUE School of Business leads the region in preparing students and business professionals by creating high quality innovative programs to serve Illinois and the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

Back to top

April 12, 2004

'Book Value:' Libraries Can Prove Their Worth, Thanks to Research by St. Louis Public Library, SIUE

(EDWARDSVILLE) Everyone agrees that even in tight budgetary times public libraries are a valued asset, right? Well, maybe and maybe not.

"Touching anecdotes about the joys of children participating in a summer reading program, or statistics reporting numbers of books circulated will not hold off budget cuts," said Don Elliott, professor of economics and finance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. "The value of libraries must be demonstrated in dollar terms.

"The basic public presumption is that libraries are invaluable," said Elliott, who along with Glen Holt, recently retired executive director of the St. Louis Public Library, conducted the research. "Although that is a popularly held opinion, where's the proof? State and local governments all over the country have had to make hard choices about their budgets. So when it comes down to, for example, some aspect of infrastructure maintenance versus the library budget, which is the best choice?"

In an effort to quantify the value of a library, Holt and Elliott studied 14 library systems. Their studies of libraries began in 1996 with five large libraries-Baltimore, Birmingham, Ala., King County (Seattle), Phoenix, and St. Louis. With the help of SIUE's Institute for Urban Research, a second study began in 2001 on smaller libraries.

"Bigger libraries have a more diverse audience," Elliott explained. "They are used by corporate headquarters staff for business research. They are major partners with large school systems, support not-for-profits and nonprofits, and also are centers of activities for families.

"Smaller libraries are less diverse and more oriented toward families and schools. So, the first study created a methodology for valuing large libraries. The second evaluated libraries in smaller communities."

Nine mid-sized libraries in three states were sampled: Joliet, Schaumburg, and Skokie, Ill.; Montgomery County, Pasadena, and Sterling/Baytown, Texas; and Everett, Kennewick/Mid-Columbia and Pierce County, Wash.

The study of smaller libraries required answering questions such as "if there was no library, how much more would a school have to spend for books and computers?" "How much would families spend?"

Results from one site in the latest study show that households report, on average, that the services they use are worth $235-$389 per year per household or $2.25-$4.35 million per year.

Households place the greatest value on adult and children's books, and audio and visual media. The study also showed that for each dollar of local operating expenditures produced at least $1.24 in benefits to library patrons. The larger libraries typically show much higher returns.

The studies are being used to create a methodology that is portable, giving most libraries the ability to create a more definitive statement about their worth.

"I'm very confident that we have created a useful tool for public libraries," Elliott said.

Back to top

April 8, 2004

Theater Professor Sees Oedipus As Good, But Making Bad Decisions

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Above all, director Johanna Schmitz wants us to know that there are no bad people in Oedipus The King, only good people making bad decisions. In fact, Schmitz, assistant professor of Theater and Dance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, doesn't even like to utter the "TF phrase."

She is directing the play being staged at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, April 21-24, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 25, all in SIUE's Katherine Dunham Hall theater

"I reject the notion of 'tragic flaw' when it comes to Greek theater," Schmitz says. "I prefer to fall back on the word hamartia, from the Greek meaning to 'miss the mark.'

"It's not interesting for the audience to watch someone who is inherently bad. It's much more dramatic to watch good people making bad choices and how those choices drag them down. It's very cathartic for the audience."

The play centers on Oedipus, the king of Thebes, which when the play opens is in dire straits-people starving, plague raging, as well as drought. Oedipus is trying to save the city just as he did the first time by solving the riddle of the Sphynx.

This time, however, the oracle announces that Oedipus must find a murderer in their midst to solve all the problems. Creon, brother-in-law to Oedipus, investigates and comes to the false conclusion that Oedipus is the murderer. In turn, Oedipus comes to the false conclusion that Creon and others are trying to depose him.

With that, Oedipus sets out to exonerate himself and the play rolls on from there in high Greek tragedy fashion. However, there's an interesting production twist-Schmitz has eschewed the Greek toga look and is instead calling for modern day dress in the costume plot. "I didn't want to do a museum piece," Schmitz said. "We don't know how the Greeks did it and I didn't want the audience to be caught up in wondering if we got the costumes right.

"There are two types of authenticity-historical, in which we would have to use large masks, three speaking actors, and such to approximate Greek theater-and receptive, in which the audience reacts emotionally to the action without other distractions.

"I'm more interested in giving the audience an emotional ride," Schmitz said. "Which brings me back to the hamartia, in which we watch a good person make the wrong decisions, causing a downfall. And, Oedipus falls pretty far. He is a good person, as are the other characters, which makes the play itself a catharsis for the audience," Schmitz said.

"Reacting to the emotion and pity for the tragedy in the lives of the characters relieves members of the audience of their own fears," Schmitz said. "However, if the central character is inherently bad, the audience automatically wants bad things to happen to that character. I believe the play would be a simplistic, unemotional reckoning if we gave into the notion that Oedipus is the arrogant and narrow-minded character he is sometimes made out to be," she said.

"It is much more interesting, and I hope cathartic, for an audience to watch a generally good man make an error, recognize it, and then willingly suffer the consequences of his action in order to set things right."

Tickets, at $8 for general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens, are available through the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774, or, toll-free from St. Louis, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2774.

Back to top

April 8, 2004

BOT Approves SIU/SDM Clinic Expansion At Alton Campus

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine main dental clinic at Alton will undergo a $2 million expansion under a budget and project approval resolution approved today by the SIU Board of Trustees.

Funding for the project will come through the issuance of Certificates of Participation to be retired by revenue generated through SIU/SDM tuition. The resolution was passed today at the board's regular monthly meeting, conducted this month at SIU Edwardsville.

Continual advances in technology and equipment, as well as modifications in teaching methods and philosophy, have resulted in a need for more clinic space. The project calls for expansion of the main clinic from 32,000 square feet to 36,500 square feet, providing space for up to 30 new dental workstations.

This additional space would allow the SDM to consolidate teaching in specialty disciplines and general dentistry to one location, making better use of the faculty and staff, and increasing productivity.

The project cost includes expansion, as well as furniture, fixtures, and equipment. It also would allow for incorporation of new technologies into the clinical education program (e.g. lasers, operating scopes, intraoral cameras, bleaching lights, cad-cam, and air abrasion equipment) that would in turn provide teaching and learning benefits for faculty and students.

Back to top

April 6, 2004

Museum Curator To Speak At SIUE About Lewis And Clark

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Carolyn Gilman, curator of the "Lewis and Clark: The Bicentennial" exhibition at the Missouri Historical Society Museum in St. Louis, will speak at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, in the third-floor conference room at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Lovejoy Library.

For seven years, Gilman gathered artifacts, art, manuscripts, maps, and specimens of the Lewis and Clark expedition, in order to reunite them in an exhibit for the first time in 200 years. Gilman will share what challenges she met while collecting the widely scattered collection items, a search that took her from Montana to the Smithsonian and from modern forensic laboratories to dusty archives.

In her illustrated lecture, Gilman will tell about her methods of detection, and how her efforts turned up surprising new knowledge about Lewis and Clark.

The April 13 event is sponsored by the Historical Society Museum, with funding provided by an Excellence in Graduate Education Grant from the SIUE Graduate School.

Back to top

April 5, 1004

Arts & Issues Series Continues April 20 At SIUE With Author Norman Mailer

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author Norman Mailer, considered an American original, comes to the Arts & Issues stage Tuesday, April 20, at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Each year, Arts & Issues brings some of the best and brightest performers and speakers from around the world to Southwestern Illinois audiences for entertaining and thought-provoking presentations on the SIUE campus. Mailer will share his artistry, thoughts, and memories at 7:30 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris University Center.

Mailer, who stands as one of the most important figures of 20th century American literature, continues to offer thought-provoking and emotionally charged writing today. His works of fiction and non-fiction have offered a subjective richness and an imaginative complexity.

"This is the first time we've had Norman Mailer on our series bill and we couldn't be more pleased," said John Peecher, coordinator of the Arts & Issues series. "This is the author who combined journalism, autobiography, and political commentary with the richness of a novel, to become one of the most important contributors to an emerging form of literature-New Journalism," Peecher said. "Mailer is larger than life and a true champion of American letters."

In the mid-1950s, Mailer began to gain fame as an anti-establishment essayist. Mailer examined violence, hysteria, crimes, and confusion in American society through an existential framework. He defined the "hipster" of the 1950s as a philosophical psychopath and urban adventurer who adopted elements from black culture.

During the 1960s, Mailer co-founded and named the Village Voice, one of the earliest underground American newspapers. He has been a columnist for Esquire magazine and for Commentary, and also a member of the executive board and president of the PEN American Center. In 1969 Mailer ran for mayor of New York City as an independent.

Some of his more memorable works include: The Naked and the Dead, The Armies of the Night (Pulitzer), Of a Fire on the Moon, The Executioner's Song (Pulitzer), and Oswald's Tale.

Information about the April 20 appearance of Norman Mailer and how to order tickets may be found on the Arts & Issues Web site: artsandissues.com and in a printed brochure available through John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or, by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Tickets for the April 20 event are $9; students, $4.50. Tickets also are available at the Morris Center Information Desk, (618) 650-5555.

The 2004-05 season of Arts & Issues will be announced this summer.

Back to top

April 1, 2004

Emily Kilman Named SIUE Student Employee Of The Year

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Emily Kilman of Marissa, a senior studying Geography at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is the 2004 SIUE Student Employee of the Year. Kilman is a clerical assistant in the SIUE Office of Undergraduate Assessment and Program Review and for the SIUE Excellence in Learning and Teaching program, both part of the SIUE Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs.

Employed in the Assessment office since August 2002, Kilman has gone beyond duties expected of a student employee and has helped with several projects, from routine tasks to complex projects. But, co-workers say they are impressed with Kilman's balance between studies as an SIUE Chancellor's Scholar and her employment responsibilities.

In nominating the 20-year-old SIUE student, Douglas Eder wrote that Kilman has "communicated ample good cheer and enthusiasm, competence, creativity, and perseverance" in her everyday duties. Eder is director of Undergraduate Assessment for the university. "Her skills are broad and encompass data analysis, concise writing, quantitative reasoning, statistical manipulation, and drawing conclusions from the data," Eder wrote.

Her supervisors also agree that Kilman shows a level of maturity and thoroughness in her work, factors in the decision to choose her for the annual honor. "Emily cheerfully breezes through any task requested of her and is thorough in every job she undertakes," wrote Cathy Santanello, program director for the SIUE Excellence In Learning and Teaching initiative.

"She has always been unfailingly pleasant, punctual, and a real team player," Santanello wrote.

Each year, the Office of Student Financial Aid requests nominations for the student employee recognition, which is part of National Student Employee Week (April 11-17) as designated by the National Student Employment Association.

Runners-up for this year's SIUE Student Employee of the Year were: Rachel LaRussa, of Coffeen; Sonia Vaughan, of Brighton; of Virden; and Brooke Gengler, of Effingham.

Back to top

April 1, 2004

MBA Student At SIUE Receives Wentz Scholarship

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Jamie Maedge of Highland, a graduate student in the School of Business at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has been awarded the 2004 Charles Alvin Wentz, Jr. Master of Business Administration Scholarship.

Maedge, who earned a degree in accounting last year at McKendree College, was chosen as a Wentz scholar for her academic achievement, work experience, and professional goals. Expected to graduate in May with an MBA from SIUE, Maedge currently is a staff accountant with Scheffel & Company P.C. in Highland.

The Wentz scholarship is awarded each spring to an MBA student in their last semester of study at SIUE. The award is sponsored by Charles Alvin Wentz Jr., of Edwardsville, who earned an MBA from SIUE in 1986 and a doctorate in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University. Wentz's philanthropy also extends to other local high school and college scholarships.

Maedge said she is proud to receive the scholarship, which recognizes her work ethic and academic achievement. "By being a student in the MBA program," she said, "I have gained the knowledge and tools I will need to have a successful professional career." She will receive $1,000 and recognition at the University's annual Honors Convocation later this month.

Back to top

Mark Bolyard Is The 2004 Paul Simon Scholar

Mark G. Bolyard, an associate professor of Biological Sciences, and director of the university's Office of Science and Mathematics Education, is the recipient of the 2004 Paul Simon Outstanding Scholar Award.

With SIUE since September 1991, Bolyard received the Simon Award because of his research in molecular biology with a special emphasis on the application of DNA biotechnology to problems in biology, and because of his work with his students. The award is presented to an SIUE faculty member each year to recognize the role of research and creative activities in achieving excellence in teaching. The award confirms SIUE's belief that an individual must be a good scholar to be a good teacher.

The award is sponsored by the SIUE Graduate School and is presented by the SIUE Graduate Faculty. Bolyard was nominated for the award by Richard Brugam, professor of Biological Sciences at SIUE.

In 1997, Bolyard received the SIUE Teaching Excellence Award.

E. Kilman Named Student Employee Of The Year

Emily Kilman of Marissa, a senior studying Geography, is the 2004 SIUE Student Employee of the Year. Kilman is a clerical assistant in the Office of Undergraduate Assessment and Program Review and for the Excellence in Learning and Teaching program, both part of the Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Employed in the Assessment office since August 2002, Kilman has gone beyond duties expected of a student employee and has helped with several projects, from routine tasks to complex projects. But, co-workers say they are impressed with Kilman's balance between studies as a Chancellor's Scholar and her employment responsibilities.

In nominating the 20-year-old SIUE student, Douglas Eder wrote that Kilman has "communicated ample good cheer and enthusiasm, competence, creativity, and perseverance" in her everyday duties. Eder is director of Undergraduate Assessment for the university. "Her skills are broad and encompass data analysis, concise writing, quantitative reasoning, statistical manipulation, and drawing conclusions from the data," Eder wrote.

Her supervisors also agree that Kilman shows a level of maturity and thoroughness in her work, factors in the decision to choose her for the annual honor. "Emily cheerfully breezes through any task requested of her and is thorough in every job she undertakes," wrote Cathy Santanello, program director for the SIUE Excellence In Learning and Teaching initiative.

"She has always been unfailingly pleasant, punctual, and a real team player," Santanello wrote.

Each year, the Office of Student Financial Aid requests nominations for the student employee recognition, which is part of National Student Employee Week (April 11-17) as designated by the National Student Employment Association.

Runners-up for this year's Student Employee of the Year were: Rachel LaRussa, of Coffeen; Sonia Vaughan, of Brighton; and Brooke Gengler, of Effingham.

Atlantis Space Shuttle Astronaut To Speak At SIUE

Continuing its bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and its theme of exploration, SIUE is sponsoring an appearance by astronaut Sandra Magnus, a member of the crew of the space shuttle Atlantis, who will speakcat 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, in Meridian Ballroom.

Magnus, a Belleville native, will relate her experiences on board the Atlantis and speak about her work on the international space station in October 2002. Her appearance is part of SIUE's celebration theme, "Exploration: The Legacy of Lewis and Clark."

The April 28 event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Lovejoy Library and SIUE's Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Committee.

This will be the fifth event in the celebration that began at the start of the academic year, including the Arts & Issues series appearance of renowned undersea explorer Robert Ballard in the fall and last month's visit by National Geographic photographer Sam Abell.

The remaining events sponsored by the committee are: May 13-a discussion by a panel of Native Americans who will discuss what impact the Lewis and Clark exploration had on their peoples, and a six-week Lewis and Clark Institute during summer term that will focus on the expedition and the relationship between the explorers themselves and the indigenous peoples they met.

A graduate of Belleville West High School in 1982, Magnus went on to earn a bachelor's in physics and a master's in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1986 and 1990, respectively, as well as a doctorate at the School of Material Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1996.

From 1986 to 1991, Magnus was a stealth engineer for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company, where she studied the effectiveness of RADAR signature reduction techniques. She also was assigned to the U.S. Navy's A-12 Attack Aircraft program. She returned to school and in 1996 was selected as a NASA astronaut. She completed two years of training and evaluation at the Johnson Space Center.

In October 2002, Magnus flew aboard Atlantis, operated the space station's robotic arm during the three spacewalks required to outfit and activate a component. The crew also transferred cargo between the two vehicles and used the shuttle's thruster jets during two maneuvers to raise the station's orbit.

Atlantis was the first shuttle mission to use a camera on the External Tank, providing a live view of the launch to flight controllers and NASA TV viewers. The mission was accomplished in 170 orbits, traveling 4.5 million miles in 10 days, 19 hours, and 58 minutes.

Tickets for Magnus' visit are $5; students, $3. For information, visit the Friends of Lovejoy Library Web site: www.library.siue.edu/friends or call the Friends office, (618) 650-2730. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Friends office or by calling Ryan Browning, (618) 650-5618.

BOT Approves SIU/SDM Clinic Expansion At Alton

The SIU School of Dental Medicine main clinic at Alton will undergo a $2 million expansion under a budget and project approval resolution approved today by the SIU Board of Trustees.

Funding for the project will come through the issuance of Certificates of Participation to be retired by revenue generated through SIU/SDM tuition. The resolution was passed last week at the board's regular monthly meeting, conducted this month at SIU Edwardsville.

Continual advances in technology and equipment, as well as modifications in teaching methods and philosophy, have resulted in a need for more clinic space. The project calls for expansion of the main clinic from 32,000 square feet to 36,500 square feet, providing space for up to 30 new dental workstations.

This additional space would allow the SDM to consolidate teaching in specialty disciplines and general dentistry to one location, making better use of the faculty and staff, and increasing productivity.

The project cost includes expansion, as well as furniture, fixtures, and equipment. It also would allow for incorporation of new technologies into the clinical education program (e.g. lasers, operating scopes, intraoral cameras, bleaching lights, cad-cam, and air abrasion equipment) that would in turn provide teaching and learning benefits for faculty and students.

Baseball Begins Eight-Game Homestand

Coming off a week in which it went 2-4 in road games, the SIU Edwardsville baseball team will return to Roy E. Lee Field for an eight-game homestand.

The Cougars play host to a doubleheader with Kentucky Wesleyan on Wednesday (4/14). First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Wisconsin-Parkside, which sits atop the conference standings, then comes to town for doubleheaders on Saturday (4/17) and Sunday (4/18). Both games begin at noon.

SIUE, 12-24 overall and 9-14 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, is currently 10th in the conference standings. The Cougars still have 16 conference games scheduled and will try to climb up in the standings, as only the top six teams advance to the conference tournament in May.

After being swept by UM-St. Louis last week, the Cougars split a four-game series with Northern Kentucky. The Cougars picked up a win in the first game of the series behind the pitching of Ron Jones (Kankakee). Jones picked up his team-leading fourth victory of the season after allowing three runs, one earned, on nine hits. He also leads the team with a 1.16 earned run average.

Craig Ohlau (Chester) came up big offensively in the first game, going 3-for-4 at the plate and driving in five runs. He leads the team with a .331 batting average and is second with 23 RBI.

"Ohlau has been hitting much better ever since the conference season began," Coach Gary Collins said.

David Briesacher (Waterloo) pitched a complete game two-hitter in the first game on Sunday. The sophomore struck out three and walked none. With the victory, Briesacher ups his record to 2-2 on the season. "Briesacher had an outstanding outing," Collins said. "He has pitched his way into the rotation."

Softball Looks To Continue Streak

SIU Edwardsville softball will try to extend an eight-game winning streak this week when it plays host to non-conference foe Alabama-Huntsville. The Cougars then travel to Northern Kentucky and Bellarmine to round out a tough week of softball.

SIUE mustered 24 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Quincy this past weekend to move to 27-11 overall and 10-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Cougars trail only Lewis and this Saturday's (4/17) opponent Northern Kentucky in the conference standings.

Before getting into conference games this weekend, the Cougars will play an Alabama-Huntsville team that is coming into the week 34-5 overall and ranked ninth nationally. Alabama-Huntsville plays UM-St. Louis on Monday. "Alabama-Huntsville is a very good team," Coach Sandy Montgomery said. "They are playing well and are one of the top teams in the country. It should be a good battle."

SIUE, ranked 17th in the latest NCAA-II poll, then enters a showdown with No. 8 Northern Kentucky. The Norse have yet to lose a GLVC contest, going 10-0 in conference play so far this season.

SIUE's winning streak, which includes six conference games, can be attributed to timely hitting and strong pitching. Veronica Schmidt (Westmont) came up with some big hits last week and has increased her batting average to .261. Jenny Esker (Steeleville) is hitting .375 and has driven in a team-high 23 runs.

"I thought VJ (Schmidt) hit the ball really well last weekend," Montgomery said. "Melissa Lindgren (Frankfort) is playing well defensively and has been hitting the ball well."

The pitching staff that includes Jessica Finch (LaSalle), Ashley Hoheimer (Walton, Ind.), Missy Koenig (Mapleton) and Mary Heather White (Pulaski, Tenn.) has lowered its team earned run average to 1.35 during the streak. "We need to continue to improve on the mental side of our game," Montgomery said. "We need to get everyone on the same page on the same day."

Track And Field Reaches More Qualifying Times

SIU Edwardsville's track and field squads continue to qualify individuals for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. This time, a few athletes did so at the Cougar Classic.

On the women's side, Christen Carducci (Powell, Ohio) ran the 3,000-meter run in a school record time of 10 minutes, 4.46 seconds and put her name on the provisional qualifying list. She joins her sister, Carrie Carducci (Powell, Ohio), on the qualifying list after Carrie Carducci lowered her time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to 11:21.75.

Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) lowered her school-record time in the 100-meter hurdles to 14.51 seconds. Tairisha Sawyer (Chicago), Breanne Steffens (Moline) and Callie Glover (Bartlett) are also provisionally qualified for the national meet, which takes place May 27-29 in Pomona, Calif.

On the men's side, NCAA Indoor All-American Richard Skirball (Granite City) provisionally qualified in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:52.94.

The Cougars will look to have more qualifiers this weekend when it travels to Illinois State for the Redbird Classic.

Men's Tennis Gears For Conference Tourney

All SIU Edwardsville knows is that it is in the Great Lakes Valley Conference men's tennis tournament. Its opponent will be determined Tuesday (4/13) morning when a coin flip will be conducted to determine the seedings.

SIUE, Bellarmine, and Missouri-St. Louis all finished 4-4 in the conference standings. The teams' head-to-head records could not break the tie, so the coin flip will determine the fourth through sixth seeds.

SIUE picked up wins against Lewis and Saint Joseph's this weekend to snap its four-match losing skid. It ends the regular season 8-9 overall and 4-4 in GLVC play. "Those two wins brought us to the .500 mark in the conference and put us in a good position," Coach Bill Logan said. "All we are thinking about right now is the conference tournament."

Justin Free leads the team with a 14-7 record on the year, which includes a 6-1 mark in conference matches. The duo of Free and Doug Kummer (Fenton, Mo.) have picked up a team-high eight victories in doubles play.

Regardless of its opponent, the GLVC Men's Tennis Championships will begin Friday (4/16) morning at 9 a.m. in Indianapolis.

Women's Golf Looks Toward McKendree Inv.

The SIU Edwardsville women's golf team will finally get a chance to play close to home. The Cougars will enter the McKendree College Spring Invitational on Friday (4/17), their last regular season tournament before the NCAA East Regional.

"This will be a tournament in which the girls will try to have fun and relax," Coach Larry Bennett said.

SIUE seems to be in good shape to qualify for the NCAA Regional, although it will not know for sure until the field is announced in two weeks. "I think our regional standing is solid," Bennett said. "The team isn't yet where it wants to be, but they are getting stronger."

Kallie Harrison (Decatur) leads the team with a 79.2 scoring average. Katie Farrell (Princeton) is not far behind with an 81.6 scoring average.

Kacy Gruenkemeyer (Salem), Brittany Hood (Coulterville) and Brittany Auld (Nashville) round out the top five for the Cougars. "I'm confident that any of our top five can step up and shoot low," Bennett said. "They are certainly capable of doing so."

SIUE Chancellor Search Nears Completion

The search for SIUE's next chancellor is nearing completion, after the search advisory committee submitted recommendations on all three candidates to SIU President James Walker on April 21.

Walker will use the committee's research, interviews with references, and the counsel of the search firm Baker-Parker to make his selection. The new chancellor could be introduced at the June meeting of the SIU Board of Trustees, or as early as the May board meeting.

"Our work is completed," said chancellor search advisory committee chair Don Elliott, professor of Economics and Finance. "We reviewed many well-qualified applicants, narrowed the field to the three best candidates and brought each one of them to campus for three days of interviews, open forums and meetings with various constituencies.

"As planned, we have submitted our analysis and assessments of the three candidates to President Walker for his final decision."

Elliott emphasized that it was not the committee's charge to recommend one candidate over the others, but to send recommendations on all three. He added that open forum participants were invited to fill out evaluation forms on the candidates.

Among other questions, participants were asked to rate the candidates as "highly recommended," "acceptable," or "unacceptable." All three were rated as acceptable or highly recommended by more than 80 percent of those who returned an evaluation.

The three candidates are:

Sharon Hahs, SIUE provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs; Aaron Podolefsky, Northern Iowa provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; and Vaughn Vandegrift, Georgia Southern provost and vice president for Academic Affairs/chief information officer

The new chancellor is expected to be in the SIUE position on July 1, when Chancellor David Werner officially steps down.

Edwardsville Arts Center To Locate On Campus Site

A 15-acre plot, located at the New Poag Road entrance to SIUE, will be the new home of the Edwardsville Arts Center, according to a long-term lease agreement between the private organization and the SIU Board of Trustees.

The facility, to be built with private funds, will be operated independently of the university, although organizers propose to forge partnerships with SIUE in exhibitions, art education, and lecture programming for students, staff, faculty, administrators, and visitors to campus.

Organizers said a capital campaign is being planned to raise between $2 million and $3.5 million, which would include design, building and furnishings, and an operating endowment. Local, state, and national grant funding will be sought, organizers said.

The EAC said uses of the site "are threefold" and include art classes, exhibition space, and lectures "by local, national, and international artists." Organizers also said the design of the building and site plan would be created through an architectural design competition. In addition to parking space, other proposed uses for the site include outdoor sculpture, landscaping, and gardens.

The EAC was begun in 1999 and was headquartered in the old Wildey Theater in downtown Edwardsville. Organizers said the EAC determined that the theater site was "unsuitable for its future plans," citing allocated space, renovation costs, and completion timetable as "not compatible" with the organization's goals.

For more information about the EAC, call (618) 659-0337.

Honors Convocation Cites More Than 300 Students

More than 300 SIUE students were recognized recently at the annual Honors Convocation with special awards for academic achievement.

Each year at the convocation, the SIUE Foundation recognizes graduating male and female students with the highest four-year grade-point averages. This year's awards for highest academic excellence went to: Laura A. Walters of Maryville, majoring in Economics and Finance, and Patrick D. Bell of Granite City, majoring in Chemistry.

Also during the April 18 ceremony, the SIUE Teaching Excellence Award was given to Thomas Foster, an assistant professor of Physics (see accompanying article). The award is the highest honor that SIUE gives one of its faculty members. Foster received a $2,000 prize and will be given a plaque of recognition at the May 8 spring commencement.

In addition, Barbara Kniepkamp, a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, was cited with Teacher Recognition Award. She received a $500 prize at the convocation. Kniepkamp teaches courses for a wide variety of students, ranging from first-year general education courses to differential equations.

Colleagues say she is an "engaging speaker and lectures with clarity, precision, and concern for keeping her students connected during class sessions."

Tom Foster Wins The 2004 Excellence In Teaching Award

While he's in front of the class imparting his vast knowledge about physics to his students, Tom Foster is trying hard not to seem like the stereotypical professor imparting his vast knowledge of physics to his students.

"I hate being the center of attention," Foster said. That's why it's a bit uncomfortable these days for the 36-year-old assistant professor from Heath, Ohio. Foster is the winner of this year's Teaching Excellence Award, which puts him squarely in the spotlight. The award is the highest honor accorded a faculty member at SIUE.

A fiercely modest individual, Foster says he attempts to create a "community" in the classroom environment to put students at ease. "I try very hard not to maintain the stereotype of the teacher as demagogue and the students as dutiful drones who scribble as fast as possible to get down every word I say.

"In fact, my students should be getting an award for putting up with my bad jokes."

Foster says he uses a sense of humor in class and encourages the students to call him Tom. "I don't want them calling me 'Dr. Foster.' I treat the students as people who have their own strengths and who know quite a bit about other things. I just happen to know more about Physics than most of them."

After earning a bachelor of science in Engineering Physics at The Ohio State University, Foster went on to a master of science in Physics and a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, both at the University of Minnesota. He also did post-doctoral work at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He joined the SIUE faculty in 2000.

His teaching accomplishments at SIUE include modifying the Astronomy and University Physics courses in the Department of Physics by incorporating more student-centered and inquiry-based teaching methods. Colleagues say that Foster's work with local teachers at the elementary and secondary levels has raised the quality of Science Education in the region.

Students have said that they enjoy Foster's enthusiasm, sense of humor, and genuine concern for their understanding of physics concepts. "I do my best to keep my students engaged," Foster said. He teaches freshman Physics for non-majors and also astronomy. "I love teaching astronomy because it's always changing with new discoveries and it's a discipline in which students can fully participate-all they have to do is look up in the night sky."

Foster also teaches graduate courses in Physics teaching methods and astrobiology. "Don't get me started on the search for other life in the universe," he says with a smile. "I could go on for hours on that subject."

Because he is extremely modest, Foster finds himself a little embarrassed about the attention from winning the award. He was given a $2,000 check at Honors Convocation earlier this month and will be recognized with a plaque at SIUE's May 8 commencement.

"I don't like being the guy in front of class relentlessly teaching bored students," Foster said. "I'm embarrassed but I'm also honored that the university would give me this recognition. I consider myself to be just one teacher among very talented faculty members in this department."

Twenty-Four Faculty To Receive Promotions, Tenure

Chancellor David Werner has recommended promotions or granted tenure for the following faculty. These recommendations also have been approved by the SIUE Board of Trustees.

Promotions for all faculty are effective July 1; tenure for all faculty, except for the School of Dental Medicine, is effective Aug. 16. SDM faculty tenure is effective July 1.

The faculty names and recommended ranks, as well as those who have gained tenure, are listed by school affiliations below:

Arts and Sciences: Stephen Hansen, professor of Historical Studies; Nancy Ruff, professor of English Language and Literature; Marcus Agustin, associate professor of Mathematics and Statistics; Seran Aktuna, associate professor of English Language and Literature; Associate Professor Gary Hicks, tenure in the Department of Mass Communications; Associate Professor Kangho Lee, tenure in the Department of Music; Associate Professor Gerald O'Brien, tenure in the Department of Social Work; Associate Professor George Pelekanos, tenure in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Associate Professor John Savoie, tenure in the Department of English Language and Literature; Associate Professor Anushiya Sivanarayanan, tenure in the Department of English Language and Literature; Associate Professor Michael Starr, tenure in the Department of Geography; and Associate Professor Donald Scandell, tenure in the Department of Social Work.

Business: Michael Costigan, professor of Accounting, and Professor Bijoy Bordoloi, tenure in the Department of Computer Management and Information Systems.

Dental Medicine: Kenneth Seckler, professor of Restorative Dentistry, and Associate Professor Poonam Jain, tenure in the Department of Restorative Dentistry.

Education: Associate Professor Ann Taylor, tenure in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Engineering: Brad Cross, professor of Civil Engineering; Nader Panahshahi, professor of Civil Engineering; Bradley Noble, associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Associate Professor Albert Luo, tenure in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering; and Professor Majid Molki, tenure in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

Library and Information Services:Associate Professor Stephen Kerber, tenure in University Archives and Special Collections.

Nursing: Associate Professor Cynthia Schmidt, tenure in the School of Nursing.

SIUE Staffers Attend U Of I Women's Conference

About 90 women from SIUE recently attended the Biennial Conference for Women at the University of Illinois, giving them opportunities to discuss several women's issues dealing with situations in and out of the workplace.

And, those who attended had the full support of the SIUE administration. "The senior administration has supported the Biennial Conference since its inception in 1984," said Shrylene Clark, an executive assistant in the SIUE Office of Human Resources. "But then we had to get up at 5:30 a.m. to attend the conference and come home the same day.

"We've really progressed since then." Clark explained that the university now provides a chartered bus to and from Champaign-Urbana and lodging for one night, while departments provide the registration fee and per diem for employees to attend the conference. "We'd like to express our heartfelt thanks to Chancellor David Werner and each administrator who helps us attend," Clark said.

"As a forum designed to enlighten, inspire, and empower women, the conference is the largest and longest-running in the country," Clark said. "Each year, attendee's have heard well-known speakers who give advice, assistance, guidance, and the courage to grow and change."

She said speakers this year included Soledad O'Brien, a CNBC news anchor who spoke about challenges to diversity; Sarah Weddington, an author and attorney who argued a woman's right to choose; and Suze Orman, the financial guru who spoke about The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life.

Clark said the conference also is a great chance to network. "This conference attracts women from all sectors, private and public, from around the country," she said. "We meet women who are leaders in their fields and who have triumped over challenges in their lives."

Libraries Can Prove Their Worth, Thanks To Research By St. Louis Public, SIUE

Everyone agrees that even in tight budgetary times public libraries are a valued asset, right? Well, maybe and maybe not.

"Touching anecdotes about the joys of children participating in a summer reading program, or statistics reporting numbers of books circulated will not hold off budget cuts," said Don Elliott, professor of Economics and Finance. "The value of libraries must be demonstrated in dollar terms.

"The basic public presumption is that libraries are invaluable," said Elliott, who along with Glen Holt, recently retired executive director of the St. Louis Public Library, conducted the research. "Although that is a popularly held opinion, where's the proof?

"State and local governments all over the country have had to make hard choices about their budgets. So when it comes down to, for example, some aspect of infrastructure maintenance versus the library budget, which is the best choice?"

In an effort to quantify the value of a library, Holt and Elliott studied 14 library systems. Their studies of libraries began in 1996 with five large libraries-Baltimore; Birmingham, Ala., King County (Seattle), Phoenix, and St. Louis. With the help of SIUE's Institute for Urban Research, a second study began in 2001 on smaller libraries.

"Bigger libraries have a more diverse audience," Elliott explained. "They are used by corporate headquarters staff for business research. They are major partners with large school systems, support not-for-profits and nonprofits, and also are centers of activities for families.

"Smaller libraries are less diverse and more oriented toward families and schools. So, the first study created a methodology for valuing large libraries. The second evaluated libraries in smaller communities."

Nine mid-sized libraries in three states were sampled: Joliet, Schaumburg, and Skokie, Ill.; Montgomery County, Pasadena and Sterling/Baytown, Texas; and Everett, Kennewick/Mid-Columbia and Pierce County, Wash.

The study of smaller libraries required answering questions such as "if there was no library, how much more would a school have to spend for books and computers?

"How much would families spend?"

Results from one site in the latest study show that households report, on average, that the services they use are worth $235-$389 per year per household or $2.25-$4.35 million per year.

Households place the greatest value on adult and children's books, and audio and visual media. The study also showed that for each dollar of local operating expenditures produced at least $1.24 in benefits to library patrons. The larger libraries typically show much higher returns.

The studies are being used to create a methodology that is portable, giving most libraries the ability to create a more definitive statement about their worth. "I'm very confident that we have created a useful tool for public libraries," Elliott said.

Simmons, Cooper Announce Generous Gift For Baseball

An SIUE alumnus and his law partner have made a major donation to Intercollegiate Athletics, which will enable completion of the Cougars' baseball complex at Roy E. Lee Field.

John Simmons and Jeff Cooper, of SimmonsCooper Attorneys at Law in East Alton, announced the gift recently to SIUE Director of Athletics Brad Hewitt. The generous gift ushers in the latest in a string of improvements at Lee Field.

Hewitt said the announcement of the amount would be forthcoming pending formal approval by the SIU Board of Trustees. "The gift will enable us to complete the SIUE baseball stadium project and explore the expansion of the site into a baseball complex," Hewitt said.

Simmons grew up in East Alton and served in the Army as a combat engineer. He later attended SIUE, where he was elected Student Body president, attaining a position in the Dean's College. After earning a bachelor's, he went on to receive a law degree at Southern Methodist.

In 1999, he opened The Simmons Firm L.L.C. which has grown to 31 attorneys and 220 staff members. Recently appointed as a member of the SIU Board of Trustees, Simmons and his wife, Jayne, have four children.

Cooper was raised in Granite City, received a bachelor's from DePauw University and earned a law degree at Saint Louis University. He opened a firm in Granite City and ran for Congress in 2000. After the election, Cooper joined Simmons in what is now SimmonsCooper.

He resides in Edwardsville with his wife, Francesca, and two children, Jack and Ella. They are expecting a third child in September.

Improvements that already have been made in the past year to the university's baseball field include new dugouts, nets behind home plate, a warning track around the field, and a locker room facility.

Hewitt said previous gifts secured from former players Fernando Aguirre, Steve Davis, and current assistant Steve Haug also were instrumental in the current changes at the field.

SIUE Moves Up Freshman App Deadline Thirty Days

Due to an unprecedented number of freshman applications, SIUE has moved its admission file completion deadline for freshmen entering fall 2004 to May 1, which is 30 days earlier than the original May 31 filing deadline.

"We are very excited about the continued growing interest in SIUE; however, we are also committed to maintaining the quality of education and services that we have offered to students in our 47-year history," said Boyd Bradshaw, assistant vice chancellor for Enrollment Management.

SIUE has grown from 10,938 students in 1994 to 13,295 last fall, an increase of about 22 percent.

Three new residence halls built since 1994 have served to draw even more attention to the quality education offered at SIUE, Bradshaw pointed out. "More and more students and parents view SIUE as their first choice for a quality, affordable education," Bradshaw said. "A strong faculty, small class sizes, community service opportunities, an active campus life, and some of the newest residence halls in the state continue to fuel SIUE's growth."

Bradshaw said the quickest and easiest way for students to apply for admission is on-line: www.siue.edu. The $30 application fee also may be paid online. Applications received after May 1 will be put on a wait list; however, the university does not anticipate granting admission to wait-listed students.

Students interested in living on campus can download an application from www.siue.edu/HOUSING. The housing application and a deposit of $300 also must be submitted by May 1.

Softball Earns Bid For NCAA Regional

SIUE softball has been selected to the six-team field for the NCAA Great Lakes Region Tournament in Highland Hts., Ky. The fourth-seeded Cougars will open play Thursday (5/6) against fifth-seeded West Virginia Wesleyan at 10 a.m.

This season marks the fifth consecutive year the Cougars have advanced to the NCAA Tournament. SIUE will look to advance through the regional for a chance to play in the NCAA Division II Softball Championships on May 13-16 in Altomonte Springs, Fla.

SIUE's matchup with West Virginia Wesleyan in the first game of the tournament should be an intriguing one, as it was West Virginia Wesleyan who eliminated the Cougars at last season's regional with a 6-1 victory.

SIUE is coming off the GLVC Championships, where they were eliminated after a 2-2 record in the tournament. "I thought we played well at the conference tournament," Head Coach Sandy Montgomery said. "We didn't make any mistakes. We just couldn't get the breaks. I liked our determination and our fight. I still think we have a good chance at winning the regional."

NCAA II Great Lakes Softball Regional Schedule (hosted by Northern Kentucky University) Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field Highland Heights, Ky.

Thursday, May 6
• Game 1 - #4 SIUE vs. #5 W. Va. Wesleyan, 10 a.m.
• Game 2 - #3 Grand Valley St. vs. #6 Ald.-Broaddus, 12:30 p.m.
• Game 3 - #1 No. Kentucky vs. SIUE/WVWC winner, 3 p.m.
• Game 4 - #2 Lewis vs. GVSU/ABC winner, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, May 7
• Game 5 - Game 1 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 10 a.m.
• Game 6 - Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser, 12:30 p.m.
• Game 7 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 3 p.m.
• Game 8 - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 8
• Game 9 - Game 8 winner vs. Game 7 loser, 10 a.m.
• Game 10 - Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 12:30 p.m.
• Game 11 - If necessary, TBD (could be Sunday, May 9)

Four Cougars Tabbed All-Conference

Four SIUE softball players earned All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors for their play during the 2004 season.

Outfielder Jenny Esker (Steeleville) and pitcher Ashlea Hoheimer (Walton, Ind.) earned first-team honors. Catcher Shannon Evans (Manhattan) and utility player Alicia DeShasier (Carrollton) were named to the second team.

Esker, a 2003 All-American, has played in all 52 games for the Cougars and leads the team with a .364 batting average. She has hit seven home runs and has driven in 31 runs on the year, both team highs. "Jenny is one of the most feared hitters in the conference,"

Coach Sandy Montgomery said. "She is very deserving of the first-team honor."

Hoheimer, a first-year transfer from the University of Dayton, has an 11-6 record and a 1.35 earned run average for the Cougars. She has pitched five shutouts and has struck out 72 batters on the year. "Ashlea had a great year as a newcomer," Montgomery said. "There was some very good pitchers in our conference so this is a good accomplishment for her."

Evans, a transfer from St. Xavier University, is currently hitting .308 for the Cougars. She has excelled defensively, committing no errors in 49 games played. "Shannon is one of the best catchers in the league," Montgomery said. "It is a nice honor for her."

DeShasier, who has played in all 52 games for the Cougars, is currently hitting .308 for the Cougars. She has been a welcome commodity for the Cougars as she can play various positions in the field. "Alicia has been solid all season," Montgomery said. "She has filled gaps when we've needed them to be filled."

Baseball Ends On High Note

After struggling throughout the season, the SIUE baseball team put together a valiant effort in the home portion of their schedule but just missed qualifying for its ninth straight Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament.

The Cougars won eight of their last 10 games and were just two games away from qualifying for the tournament, one they have not missed since the Cougars joined the conference in 1996. "The team could have quit when we were struggling, but they didn't," Coach Gary Collins said. "We finished it as best we could; it was just a few games too late."

The Cougars finished the year seventh in the conference standings with a 20-32 overall record and 17-22 mark in the GLVC. Only the top six teams advance to the tournament, which will begin Thursday (5/6) at GMC Stadium in Sauget, Ill.

Luke Humphrey (Rantoul) and Wes Pickering (Springfield, Mo.), both four-year players, played their final games in a Cougar uniform last weekend, when the Cougars took three of four from Bellarmine.

"Both Wes and Luke were solid players here for us," Collins said. "They played well on some good teams."

Craig Ohlau (Chester) finished the year with a team-high .331 batting average. Ron Jones (Kankakee) led the pitching staff with a 6-1 record and a 1.42 earned run average. With the majority of its pitching staff and starting lineup returning for next season, Collins hopes this late-season surge will pay dividends in 2005.

Track Enters Final Warm-up Before GLVC's

SIUE track and field will participate in the Billy Hayes Invitational on Friday (5/7), its final scheduled meet before the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships, which begins May 13 in Indianapolis.

"We plan on taking the athletes who are close to qualifying for nationals or who needs to improve their qualifying times and distances," Coach Darryl Frerker said.

SIUE had three more NCAA provisional qualifiers at the Butler Twilight meet. Ryan Boyll (Normal) ran the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 9 minutes, 23.88 seconds to add his name to the provisional qualifying list. Phil Freimuth's (Effingham) throw of 194 feet, 1 inch in the javelin event was good for a school record and a provisional qualifying mark.

On the women's side, Mary Witte (Normal) added her name to the provisional qualifying list in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:29.89. Tairisha Sawyer (Chicago) lowered her provisional qualifying time in the 200-meter dash. The women's 4x100 meter relay team also improved its provisional qualifying time.

"Overall, Butler was a good meet for us," Frerker said. "There were a lot of personal records and some good things came out of it."

Rigdon, Witte Selected For Undergraduate Research Academy hris Ridgon (Glen Carbon) and Mary Witte (Normal), both student-athletes at SIUE, have been selected to participate in the Undergraduate Research Academy at SIUE.

The academy, which has had 212 members since its inception in 1990, currently consists of 16 members out of the nearly 11,000 undergraduates at SIUE.

Matt Warren (East Peoria), a wrestler for SIUE, was a member of the academy last season. Rigdon, a member of the men's tennis team at SIUE, will research, "Predicting Electoral Vote Totals for the Presidential Election." Witte, a member of the women's track and field team, will research, "The Effects of Linear Predictive Coding Analysis/Resynthesis of the Dysarthric Speech for Persons with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis."

The Undergraduate Research Academy (URA) at SIUE encourages, supports, and enables students to conduct original research and creative activities at the undergraduate level. An undergraduate research or creative activity enhances the quality of the baccalaureate experience by giving students opportunities to pursue ideas independently, to interact with the faculty, and to engage more fully in the educational process of discovering and creating.

Twice each year, in cooperation with the academic departments at SIUE, the URA recruits eligible students as URA Scholars to undertake research and creativity activity under the guidance of dedicated faculty members.

The URA provides budgetary support for conducting the scholarly activity as well as advisory support during preparation of the proposals and reports. In addition, URA Scholars receive a scholarship award in two installments, the first upon admission to the Academy and the second after they have completed their reports and made their final presentations.

Spurgeon To Attend NCAA Leadership Conference

Ryan Spurgeon (Bethalto), a junior baseball player from SIUE, has been selected to attend the 2004 NCAA Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla. Spurgeon is one of 324 Division I, II and III student-athletes who will attend the conference. The attendees come from 295 NCAA institutions and from a pool of 1,175 applicants.

The conference takes place May 30-June 3 at Disney World's Wide World of Sports Complex and Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Fla. It provides NCAA student-athletes with a forum to openly discuss issues that may affect them on their campuses and in their communities, while also providing them with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills.

The leadership conference also promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities. The five-day leadership conference consists of daily exercises and activities to help the student-athletes develop as individuals and as contributing members to a group.

Note: The SIUE women's golf team is playing at the NCAA East Regional on Tuesday (5/4) and Wednesday (5/5). Live scoring is available at www.golfstatresults.com/public/index.cfm?tournament_id=426

Softball Looks For Three-Peat At Tourney

SIUE softball will enter next weekend's Great Lakes Valley Conference Softball Championships in East Peoria as the third seed. Its opponent will be sixth seeded UM-St. Louis.

The Cougars will try to become the first team since the conference began sponsoring softball in 1984 to claim three consecutive conference titles.

SIUE, 33-15 overall and 15-5 in the GLVC, swept both games of a doubleheader with UMSL earlier this season in St. Louis. But in the conference tournament, Coach Sandy Montgomery says anything can happen. "Whoever gains momentum and plays with confidence is going to win, and that can be anybody," she said. "There is a lot of parity this year."

The Cougars swept Kentucky Wesleyan last weekend and split with Southern Indiana. SIUE tagged Kentucky Wesleyan for 17 hits and 22 runs in the two-game affair. Mary Heather White (Pulaski, Tenn.) and Ashlea Hoheimer (Walton, Ind.) picked up the victories on the mound for the Cougars.

After dropping game one of a doubleheader with Southern Indiana on Sunday, the Cougars bounced back behind the pitching of White. She allowed one run on five hits against USI and picked up her tenth victory.

Samantha Easterley (Belleville) picked up four hits on the weekend and drove in two runs. Montgomery also said VJ Schmidt (Westmont) played solid defense for the Cougars. "We are playing well but not yet to the level we are capable of playing," Montgomery said. "We hope to peak at the right time, which is the conference tournament and NCAA regional."

Jenny Esker (Steeleville) leads the team offensively with a .368 batting average. Hoheimer leads the pitching staff with 11 victories, and White leads with 88 strikeouts on the season.

Baseball Still Alive For Conference Bid

After winning five of six games against Great Lakes Valley Conference opponents last week, SIU Edwardsville baseball kept its hopes alive for a berth in the GLVC Baseball Championships.

The Cougars moved from 10th to ninth place in the conference standings. Only the top six teams advance to the championships, which for the first time will take place at GMC Stadium in Sauget. "We are not mathematically eliminated," Coach Gary Collins said, "but the stars would have to line up right in order for us to get into the tournament."

The Cougars must win this weekend at Bellarmine and get help from others in order to advance to its 10th straight conference tournament. Bellarmine, Saint Joseph's, and Southern Indiana stand in the Cougars' way to the sixth spot in the standings.

Last week, the Cougars swept a doubleheader with Quincy and took three-of-four games against Indianapolis.

Kyle Jones (New Baden) and Ron Jones (Kankakee) each pitched complete-game shutouts at Indianapolis, and Robert Rahn (Wood River) banged out some timely hits as the Cougars are playing perhaps their best baseball of the season. "We are getting more production out of our offense, up and down the lineup," Collins said. "Our starting pitching has been good all year long."

Track And Field Prepares For Butler Twilight

SIUE track and field will send a full squad to this weekend's Butler Twilight meet, which gets under way Saturday (5/1) in Indianapolis. Following this weekend, only the Billy Hayes Invitational remains on the schedule before the Great Lakes Valley Conference Outdoor Championships, which is scheduled for May 13-14.

The Cougars are coming off a busy week in which some athletes participated in the prestigious Drake Relays, while others stayed home and competed in the SIUE Twilight meet at Korte Stadium.

Christen Carducci (Powell, Ohio) significantly lowered her provisional qualifying time in the 3,000-meter run at the SIUE Twilight to 9 minutes, 58.31 seconds. Coach Darryl Frerker said that time should get her into the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which will be held May 27-29 in Pomona, Calif.

Callie Glover (Bartlett) broke the school record in the hammer throw with a throw of 142 feet, 8 inches. The men's hammer throw record was also broken, as Lee Weeden (Ferguson, Mo.) registered a distance of 155'8" at the SIUE Twilight.

Frerker will look for more qualifying marks to be reached at the Butler Twilight. "This is looked at as a good qualifying meet and a chance to prepare for the conference tournament," he said. "We are at the point where we want to get specific with events so we can compete in the conference tournament."

March 2004

March 29, 2004

Retired Professor Has Formula For Predicting Hurricanes' Paths

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The conventional wisdom among those who live along the Atlantic or Gulf coasts is that the National Weather Service does a fair job of identifying hurricanes when they develop. But the same meteorologists aren't very good at predicting in what direction a powerful storm might travel.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Emeritus Physics Professor Ik-Ju Kang might be able to help.

Kang recently patented a mathematical formula for calculating the direction of a hurricane and he's hoping to develop software to market to meteorologists. "Although the National Weather Service has all the latest computer software that can project hurricanes, they really don't have a clear picture of how these storms move," Kang said.

Kang, who began his career in Seoul, Korea, as a meteorologist, said he has studied hurricanes as a "wave packet" and has developed mathematical formulas to predict the path hurricanes travel. "A hurricane is a collection of various wind currents," he explained. "However, if you look at the various components, they combine to make up what I call a 'wave packet,' Once you do that, you then have to develop a way to look at how this 'packet' moves."

The U.S. Patent Office awarded Kang his patent earlier this year. The patent abstract reads: "A method of predicting the future path of a hurricane using a wave model, isothermal or isobaric lines, and current hurricane direction." Isothermal and isobaric lines on a weather map indicate temperature and barometric readings, respectively.

Using the laws of reflection and refraction, Kang said he can not only determine how each wave pattern moves, but also how it moves as a packet. "These wave patterns within the hurricane react to surfaces much like light reflects and refracts," he said. "The waves that make up the packet are moving at different rates and reacting to reflection and refraction and up until now it has been very difficult to pinpoint how all that determines the path of a hurricane.

"My formula helps determine that path. This will make predictions more precise"

Kang said his efforts are aimed at trying to make life easier for coastal residents who must pack up and leave their homes when a hurricane is spotted. Kang hopes to minimize those troubles. For example, if a hurricane is heading for the Gulf Coast, meteorologists might announce that residents along a 100-mile strip of coast should evacuate. Using Kang's formulas, they might be able to warn residents along a 25-mile stretch of coastline.

In his patent application, Kang wrote: "The flight of these people can cause huge traffic congestion, as well as panic buying of emergency supplies …. I'm hoping my methods can help minimize the cost and inconvenience to many people living in coastal regions," Kang said.

"I'm hoping to have a software model ready for testing during the next hurricane season that begins in June and July.

"Meteorologists look at numerical solutions to predict the path of a hurricane," Kang said. "They use various models to arrive at these predictions, but I've approached the problem using very basic principles of physics. I began as a young meteorologist in Korea, but I spent 30 years at SIUE teaching physics, something that gave me a different way of looking at problems."

Back to top

March 25, 2004

Media Advisory

Museum Studies Graduate Students Mount Exhibition Featuring Historic Firearms

Who: Students in the SIUE Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Program

What: "Cultural Trajectories: The Evolution of Firearms Technology," an exhibition of historical weapons from the SIUE Collection.

When: The exhibition continues through April 9, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays

Where: University Center Gallery, on the second floor of the Morris University Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

The firearms used in this exhibit were part of a large collection donated to The University Museum by Milton K. Harrington, of Belleville, beginning in 1991. Harrington was a successful businessman who spent much of his life traveling the world in search of interesting cultural artifacts. At the time of his death in 2000, Harrington had amassed nearly 100,000 items that ranged from fossils to folk art to weaponry. As a class project, graduate students from the Museum Studies program have organized, identified, and researched Harrington's eclectic assortment of firearms, and have designed this exhibit as a showcase for the pieces. Through them we can learn about firearm technology and how cultural forces shaped their design and function. For more information, call The University Museum at SIUE, (618) 650-2996.

Back to top

March 25, 2004

30th Annual Young Artists' Exhibition At SIUE Runs Through April 9

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The 30th Annual Young Artists' Exhibition, featuring works by elementary and middle school students, will continue through April 9 in the lobby of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Katherine Dunham Hall.

The invitational exhibit includes the artwork of K-9 public and private school students from both Missouri and Illinois. Approximately 90 pieces are on display, showcasing skills and creativity in drawing, painting, and collage.

Many of the students' instructors are alumni of the Art Education Program in the SIUE Department of Art and Design. There will be a reception for the young artists, their parents, and their art instructors from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, March 28, in the Dunham Hall lobby.

This exhibit coincides with Youth Art Month, a celebration of young artists across the country during the month of March. For more information, call the Art Education office, (618) 650-3183, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 3183.

Back to top

March 23, 2004

Chancellor Candidates Will Visit SIUE Campus

(EDWARDSVILLE) Three chancellor candidates will visit the SIUE campus and tour the area, beginning March 28.

The candidates are: Sharon Hahs, SIUE provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs; Aaron Podolefsky, Northern Iowa provost and vice president for academic affairs; and Vaughn Vandegrift, Georgia Southern provost and vice president for academic affairs/chief information officer. The schedule for visits to campus begins with Hahs on March 28-31; Vandegrift will visit April 4-7; and Podolefsky will visit April 14-17.

Hahs has been provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at SIUE since 2000. She had been dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1995-2000. She holds a PhD in chemistry from the University of New Mexico.

Podolefsky has been provost and vice president for academic affairs at Northern Iowa University since 1998. He had been dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Northern Iowa from 1990-1998. He holds a PhD in anthropology from SUNY-Stony Brook.

Vandegrift has been provost and vice president at Georgia Southern University since 2000. He had been dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Montclair State University (N.J.) from 1988-2000. He holds a PhD in chemistry from Ohio University.

Each candidate will participate in forums with various groups across campus during their visits. The candidates were chosen following a three-month process of screening and preliminary interviews by the chancellor search advisory committee. The committee is composed of representatives of various groups across the campus and the community.

For more information on the candidates, their visit schedules, and a list of committee members, see the Web site The site also can be reached by clicking the "chancellor search" link on the lower right corner of the SIUE homepage.

Back to top

March 22, 2004

'Celebration Of World Faiths' Set For April 3 At Religious Center

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Friends of the Religious Center (FRC), a support group for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Religious Center, is sponsoring the Second Annual A Celebration of World Faiths from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, April 3, at the domed center, located between the Morris University Center and the Art and Design Building.

Spiritual leaders and groups from several Christian and non-Christian traditions will share music, scripture, prayer, and information about their faiths. The goal is an evening of learning and fellowship, and an opportunity to tell visitors more about the Friends of the Religious Center. The support group is dedicated to preserving the center as the place on campus for serving the spiritual needs of SIUE students, as well as preserving its architectural importance.

"The FRC board of directors is made up of about a dozen members of the university community and the surrounding community at-large," said Greg Fields, an associate professor of Philosophy at the university and FRC board chair. "Also included in the group are the three ministerial directors headquartered at the center. We all share an interest in the structure for its programming available to the university community and for its architectural significance."

Admission is free to the April 3 event, but donations will be accepted. Refreshments with ethnic themes will be served, and all are welcome.

Back to top

March 22, 2004

Arts & Issues Continues April 2 With Gus Giordano Dance Troupe

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, a troupe of dancers who have been called "a riotous explosion of color and enthusiasm" and "an accelerated onslaught of ecstasy," are coming to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Arts & Issues stage April 2.

Each year, Arts & Issues brings some of the best and brightest performers and speakers from around the world to Southwestern Illinois audiences for entertaining and thought-provoking presentations on the SIUE campus. Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago will appear at 7:30 p.m. that Friday in SIUE's Katherine Dunham Hall theater.

For more than 40 years critics have been raving about Giordano's dancers, calling them Chicago's most exciting jazz dance company. "Traditionally, our Arts & Issues audiences love dance concerts and the tickets tend to go very fast," said John Peecher, coordinator of the Arts & Issues series. "Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago will be one of the most exciting dance troupes we've had on our stage," Peecher said. "They take up where Bob Fosse left off. They are pure energy."

Beginning in 1962 as Dance Incorporated Chicago, the group was founded by Giordano and several other dancers, later changing its name to the Gus Giordano Dance Company. In 1974, the company toured the former Soviet Union upon invitation of the Bolshoi Ballet. It was the first time a jazz dance troupe had toured that country. The group eventually changed its name to Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago.

With its mission to develop and preserve the indigenous American art form of jazz dance as a true artistic expression of American life, Giordano has brought that excitement to audiences around the world including Europe, Canada, Brazil, and Japan. Also performing throughout the United States, the troupe has a very active outreach education program with a Chicago Park District residency and teaching residences on many college campuses.

Jazz dance is an exciting mix of styles, as varied as jazz music itself, with elements of ballet, modern dance, percussive- and pop-based movements, as well as musical theater, wrapped in ethnic influences of every kind. Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago performs all of these styles in an energetic and highly physical way, while demonstrating amazing technique and skills.

Information about the April 2 appearance of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago and how to order tickets may be found on the Arts & Issues Web site: artsandissues.com and in a printed brochure available through John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or, by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Tickets for the April 2 event are $18; students, $9. Tickets also are available at the Morris Center Information Desk, (618) 650-5555.

The final Arts & Issues presentation of the 2003-04 season takes place April 20 with two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer, one of the most important writers of 20th century American letters.

Back to top

March 16, 2004

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Cynthia Holesko of Gillespie, a senior majoring in Accounting at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has been named recipient of the university's Carol Kimmel Scholarship. The scholarship program is co-sponsored by the Belleville News-Democrat.

The annual scholarship was established to recognize students for their outstanding leadership and community volunteer service contributions, in addition to academic excellence. It is named for Kimmel, a former member of the SIU Board of Trustees, who for many years donated freely of her time and talent to volunteerism.

Holesko will be recognized Thursday, April 1, at the Kimmel Leadership Awards Banquet. Tickets for the April 1 Kimmel banquet-scheduled at 7 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris University Center-are $30 per person. For more information about tickets or about ordering them, call the SIUE Office of Conferences and Institutes, (618) 650-2660, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2660.

Back to top

March 16, 2004

Design Firm CEO To Speak At SIUE For April 1 Kimmel Banquet

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Patricia Whitaker, president and CEO of Arcturis in St. Louis and a member of the boards of several organizations in the St. Louis area, will be the featured speaker for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's 15th Annual Kimmel Leadership Awards Banquet at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 1, in the Morris Center's Meridian Ballroom.

Arcturis, 1910 Pine St., is a full-service design firm founded by Whitaker in 1977. The firm offers planning, architecture, interiors, and technology for major corporations, higher education, developers, financial institutions, and public facilities.

The April 1 banquet honors recipients of the Kimmel Scholarship and the Kimmel Community Service Awards (see article below), all of whom have given time and effort to volunteerism. The awards are named for Carol Kimmel, a former member of the SIU Board of Trustees who devoted most of her adult life to helping others.

Whitaker is an active member of the St. Louis civic and professional community, serving on the YMCA of Greater St. Louis Board, the Regional Business Council, the Regional Chamber and Growth Association Board, also serving on the Executive Committee, Nominating Committee, and Business Services Committee. She also serves as chair of the Business Service Committee.

In addition, Whitaker serves on Webster University's Technology Advisory Board and on the United Way of Greater St. Louis Board. She was appointed in 1997 to The Hawthorn Foundation, a state board that addresses Missouri's economic policies. She also takes a leadership role in various charitable events in and around the St. Louis area each year.

Corporate memberships include the St. Louis Art Museum, as chair of the Corporate Partners Committee and the Development Committee, the St. Louis Science Center Board, and the Dance St. Louis Board. She also is current past president of the St. Louis Forum, a professional women's organization.

Whitaker also is Forest Park Forever 2004 Luncheon co-chair.

Whitaker's professional certifications include the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Whitaker was the 1996 recipient of the prestigious McKendree College Excellence in Enterprise Award, which recognizes a member of the community who reflects the true spirit of enterprise and demonstrates the skills that make enterprising efforts successful.

Tickets for the April 1 banquet are $30 per person; for more information about tickets or about ordering them, call the SIUE Office of Conferences and Institutes, (618) 650-2660, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2660.

Back to top

March 16, 2004

Several Illinois Residents Are Recipients Of SIUE Kimmel Award

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Several Southwestern Illinois residents will receive Kimmel Community Service Awards at the April 1 Kimmel Leadership Awards Banquet, sponsored by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the Belleville News-Democrat.

The annual award was established to recognize outstanding community members for dedication and contributions to community volunteer service as exemplified by Carol Kimmel, a former member of the SIU Board of Trustees, who for many years gave freely of her time and talent to volunteerism.

There are six award categories: education, social service-social welfare, environmental and civic betterment, regional leadership, agency-organizational concerns, and special populations.

Those nominated for the Kimmel Community Service Award must have been a resident of Illinois or Missouri for at least two years, and volunteered for at least one agency, organization, or business for at least two or more continuous years.

In addition, nominees must have demonstrated a variety of community service contributions for an extended period and demonstrated outstanding voluntary community service, as well as a commitment to the citizens of Illinois or Missouri; and must document leadership roles and responsibilities.

This year's winners are:

EDUCATION: Connie Barre of Belleville.

REGIONAL LEADERSHIP: J. Terry Dooling of Godfrey.

ENVIRONMENTAL-CIVIC BETTERMENT: Dennis Jacknewitz of Belleville.

SOCIAL SERVICE-SOCIAL WELFARE: Percy McKinney of Belleville.

SPECIAL POPULATIONS: Russell J. Krause of East St. Louis.

AGENCY/ORGANIZATIONAL CONCERNS: Jewell E. Backs of Granite City.

SIUE FACULTY/STAFF: Kim Kirn of Glen Carbon

Tickets for the April 1 Kimmel banquet-scheduled at 7 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris University Center-are $30 per person. For more information about tickets or about ordering them, call the SIUE Office of Conferences and Institutes, (618) 650-2660, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2660.

Back to top

March 15, 2004

'An Evening In Vienna' Set For March 27 In Meridian Ballroom

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Good music and good food are some of the highlights to be offered at "An Evening in Vienna," presented March 27 by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Music and the Friends of Music, a support organization for the department.

The festivities will begin at 6 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris University Center.

The musical portion of the evening features the SIUE Symphony Orchestra, along with 25 vocalists, performing scenes from Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss. Later, the SIUE Concert Jazz Band, featuring SIUE music students, performs music for dancing. Attire for the evening is "black tie optional."

Proceeds from the event benefit the Friends of Music Scholarship Fund.

Jane Vest, president of the Friends group, said the event is the largest fund-raiser the group conducts. "An Evening in Vienna has become a tradition in the St. Louis area," Vest said. "The money raised through this annual event helps fund a large part of our scholarship program.

"These scholarships enable the Department of Music to recruit talented students who might otherwise not have an opportunity to attend SIUE."

Tickets are $60 and are available in person at or by mailing a check or money order to the Office of Conferences and Institutes, Morris University Center, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1036. Credit card ticket purchases must be made through the SIUE Department of Music, (618) 650-3799.

Back to top

March 12, 2004

SIUE To Offer Educational Seminar On Immigration Law On March 26

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) An educational seminar, "Immigrants in our Midst: An Overview of U.S. Immigration Law." will be conducted from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, March 26, at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Religious Center. Those who register by March 19 save $5 on the admission fee.

Marti Jones, director of the Immigration Project; Carol Hallstrom, liaison officer for the Department of Homeland Security; and Eloy Salazar, director of the Illinois Migration Council will speak about U.S. Immigration law and implications for organizations providing services to immigrants. The seminar also will provide information on current legislative proposals, followed by a question-and-answer session.

The Latino Roundtable of Metro East, Immigration Project, SIUE's Equal Opportunity Office, and the university's Student Leadership Development Program and Volunteer Service are co-sponsoring the workshop. For additional information, or to register, contact Diane Schilling, (618) 650-2610, or by e-mail: dschill@siue.edu.

Registration is $35; before March 19, $30. Each additional person from the same organization is $25. Continuing Education credit is available for an additional $3 per person. Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, program materials, and a parking pass.

Back to top

March 11, 2004

Forum To Explore History Of Brown v. Board Of Education

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) A community forum will explore the history of the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education-and its relevance to today's social issues-from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, in the Hickory-Hackberry Room, located on the second floor of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Morris University Center.

The forum-moderated by attorney Dennis Orsey and co-sponsored by SIUE Student Legal Services, the Illinois Judge's Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Madison County Bar Association-will first explore "Brown v Board" itself and the impact it had on subsequent cases, and then will discuss current issues, such as race as a factor in school admissions, sex as a factor in marriage, and the interaction of the law and social issues.

Orsey, a past president of the Madison County Bar and a member of the Board of Governor's for the Illinois State Bar, will be joined on the panel by Alton attorney Lee Barron, Troy attorney James Drazen, Alton attorney Elizabeth Carrion, Edwardsville attorney Victoria Vasileff, and Madison County Associate Judge Barbara Crowder.

Admission is free and the public is invited; complimentary parking will be available in the Visitor's attendant lot behind the Morris Center.

Back to top

March 11, 2004

BOT Approves J. Baricevic For Distinguished Service Award At Commencement

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) John Baricevic, who has been chairman of the St. Clair County Board for the past 14 years, will receive a Distinguished Service Award during Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's May 8 commencement, according to action taken today by the SIU Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting conducted this month at SIU Carbondale.

Distinguished Service Awards have been given for more than 35 years at SIUE commencement exercises to those who have given outstanding or unusual service to the university, the region, or the state.

After earning a juris doctor from SIUC, Baricevic served as the St. Clair County state's attorney from 1980-1990 and was named county board chairman in 1990. He is retiring this year from the board. Baricevic also is in private practice specializing in family law, criminal law, and personal injury litigation.

Baricevic has been instrumental in promoting regionalism in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area, investing enormous amounts of time energy in a variety of projects to insure that the interests and welfare of Metro-East residents-one-quarter of the St. Louis region's population-will be provided for in planning decisions for the wider metropolitan area.

Some projects with which Baricevic has been involved include: expansion of MetroLink, development of MidAmerica Airport, maintaining Scott Air Force Base in the face of an uncertain economy, and helping secure funding for a new Mississippi River bridge.

He also lends his time and expertise to several regional organizations including Civic Progress, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, for which he is immediate past president, and the Greater St. Louis Economic Development Council.

Back to top

March 8, 2004

SIUE Students To Take Alternative Spring Break To Cherokee Nation

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Rather than participate in the stereotypical spring break trip to an ocean coastal region for fun and games, 18 SIUE students are traveling to Tahlequah and Kenwood, Okla., from March 7-11, on an alternative spring break to work on reservations of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma tribe. SIUE's spring break is scheduled March 8-14; classes resume Monday March 15.

The students will learn about social, economic, and cultural issues by participating in the tribal community in various projects. Before leaving for Oklahoma, the students took part in two orientation-training sessions in preparation.

The students will help in construction and clean-up at the elders' homes, and also work at tribal headquarters as well as at the Loyal Shawnee Ceremonial Stomp Grounds.

Members of the Cherokee Nation will prepare traditional meals and provide educational programs about tribal history, social issues, culture, and community development. The students also will visit the Cherokee Nation's principal chief and deputy chief, as well as the elders.

The experience will provide students with a hand-on experience to learn about outstanding community leaders who have been developing vision and affecting social change for tribal members. The alternative spring trip is co-sponsored by the SIUE Student Leadership Center, the United Campus Ministry and the Shurtleff Baptist Ministries, both headquartered at the SIUE Religious Center.

Back to top

March 8, 2004

Admission Deadlines Approaching For Incoming SIUE Freshmen; Enrollment Growth May Force Early Closing

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's nine-year growth trend is expected to continue in the fall; freshmen hoping to be admitted to SIUE should submit complete applications no later than May 31. The deadline for all other undergraduates is August 2; students wishing to live on campus should apply for housing by May 1.

"Although fall semester is still five months away, the deadline for freshman admission-May 31-is approaching," said Boyd Bradshaw, assistant vice chancellor for Enrollment Management. "The university is experiencing an unprecedented number of freshman applications for fall 2004 and may consider closing admissions prior to the May 31 deadline. Early projections indicate that our enrollment growth will continue in the fall, as will the demand for on-campus housing."

SIUE has grown from 10,938 students in 1994 to 13,295 last fall, an increase of about 22 percent.

Bradshaw said three new residence halls built since 1994 have served to draw even more attention to the quality education offered at SIUE. "More and more students and parents view SIUE as their first choice for a quality, affordable education," he said. "A strong faculty, small class sizes, community service opportunities, an active campus life, and some of the newest residence halls in the state continue to fuel SIUE's growth."

Bradshaw said the quickest and easiest way for students to apply for admission and pay the $30 application fee is to go online at www.siue.edu. Students interested in living on campus can download an application from www.siue.edu/HOUSING. The housing application and a deposit of $300 must be submitted by May 1.

Back to top

March 5, 2004

SIUE Nursing School Offers New Programs For Nurses Seeking to Enhance Management Skills

(EDWARDSVILLE) Two new certificate programs at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing will benefit nurses looking to move into management positions, and nurse managers who wish to enhance their management skills. Most of the course work will be offered online.

"The new programs are a response to an expressed need in the health care community for professional development opportunities," said Marcia Maurer, dean of the nursing school. "Our new nursing management education effort is designed to meet the needs of nurses with different educational backgrounds."

The nursing management option is open to RNs with an associate degree in nursing. RNs with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in nursing or another discipline may enroll in the professional development sequence in nursing. About 20 students will be admitted annually to each of the options.

Beginning in fall 2004, the new certificate programs will offer 12 credit hours in four online courses, with a focus on nursing management. Each course will offer at least 80 percent of the course work online. "These programs can be completed within two semesters," Maurer said, "providing a foundation in management skills for nurses who work as nurse managers, and for nurses interested in pursuing a career in nursing management in acute care, primary care, long-term care and community agencies."

Interested nurses may call the SIUE School of Nursing, 618-650-3956 or 800-234-4844, for more information.

The SIUE School of Nursing is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The School of Nursing awards Bachelor of Science degrees with a major in nursing, including an RN-to-BS completion program.

Master of Science degrees are awarded with specializations in Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nursing, Medical Surgical Nursing, Public Health Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Educator, Health care and Nursing Administration. Classes are offered on the Edwardsville campus, online, and at the school's newest facility in Springfield.

Back to top

March 1, 2004

34th Annual Antiques Show Set for March 20-21 at SIUE

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) More than 65 dealers in antiques from the Midwest will display and sell a variety of items including furniture, fine glass, porcelain, china, tools, toys, and books Saturday and Sunday, March 20-21, at the 34th Annual Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Antiques Show and Sale at SIUE's Vadalabene Center.

The event, sponsored by the Friends of Lovejoy Library and TheBANK of Edwardsville, will take place in the center's gymnasium from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Free informal appraisals with paid admission (2 item limit) will be offered Saturday from 2-5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-3 p.m.

Tickets are $5 and are available at the door; tickets are good for both days. For a $10 fee, "early bird" patrons may enter the show between 9 and 10 a.m. Saturday. Children under 13 years of age are admitted free. For more information, call the Friends of Lovejoy Library, (618) 650-2730.

Back to top

K. Kirn Wins Faculty-Staff Kimmel Service Award

Kim Kirn, a volunteer with area organizations and her church, is recipient of the SIUE 2004 Kimmel Community Service Award for SIUE Faculty and Staff. An attorney, Kirn is associate general counsel for the university.

In her work with the Edwardsville chapter of the League of Women Voters, Kirn has led League efforts to improve recreational opportunities in the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon area, such as ongoing plans to establish an aquatic center. She also has served on several committees and has conducted workshops and acted as moderator for several candidate meetings and voters' forums in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon.

Kirn also has been involved in several other volunteer efforts including membership in the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Junior Service Club, the Montessori School Parent's Organization, and SIUE's International Host Program for international students.

Last year, Kirn was nominated to the Glen Carbon Zoning Board of Appeals, and has been very active in fund-raising for St. Cecelia's Catholic Church in Glen Carbon.

Kirn will receive the award at the April 1 Kimmel Leadership Awards Banquet, sponsored by SIUE and the Belleville News-Democrat. She will join other volunteers from Southwestern Illinois, who will receive Kimmel awards in six categories.

The awards were established to recognize outstanding SIUE faculty or staff members, as well as others from the region, for dedication and contributions to volunteer service as exemplified by Carol Kimmel, a former member of the SIU Board of Trustees who for many years gave freely of her time and talent to volunteerism.

Kirn also believes in the concept of volunteerism as evidenced by her many activities in that regard. "I am a great believer in personal responsibility," she said. "I believe I am responsible for my successes and failures in life. Building on that philosophy, I believe I have responsibility for my community, my state, and my world.

"This extends into many areas, such as issues involving clean water, clean air, the education of my children, and the level of recreation offered to residents of my community, especially including the children and adolescents of this community," Kirn said. "While working in Springfield for more than four years, before moving to this region, I saw good works being discussed and sometimes being accomplished.

"This experience reinforced my idea that I could work for those issues I strongly believed in and really accomplish my goals," Kirn said. "I believe that I can make improvements in those areas where there is consensus within the community."

Tickets for the April 1 banquet, scheduled in Meridian Ballroom, are $30 per person. For more information about tickets or about ordering them, call the SIUE Office of Conferences and Institutes, (618) 650-2660, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2660.

Kimmel Community Award Winners Announced

Several Southwestern Illinois residents will receive Kimmel Community Service Awards at the April 1 Kimmel Leadership Awards Banquet.

The annual award was established to recognize outstanding community members for dedication and contributions to community volunteer service as exemplified by Carol Kimmel, a former member of the SIU Board of Trustees, who for most of her adult life has given freely of her time and talent to volunteerism.

This year there were six winners in the following categories: social service-social welfare, environmental and civic betterment, regional leadership, agency-organizational concerns, special populations, and education.

Those nominated must have demonstrated a variety of community service contributions for an extended period; demonstrated outstanding voluntary community service, as well as a commitment to the citizens of Illinois or Missouri; and must document leadership roles and responsibilities.

This year's winners are:

Agency-Organizational Concerns: Jewell Backs
Special Populations: Russell Krause
Regional Leadership: J. Terry Dooling
Social Service-Social Welfare: Percy McKinney
Environmental-Civic Betterment: Dennie Jacknewitz
Education: Connie Barre

Kimmel Scholarship Winner Announced

Cynthia Holesko of Gillespie, a senior majoring in Accounting at SIUE, has been named recipient of the university's 2004 Carol Kimmel Scholarship. The scholarship program is co-sponsored by the Belleville News-Democrat.

As a student senator in SIUE's Student Government, Holesko is required to volunteer in that office, attend student-funded events, and serve on at least two university committees. She currently is serving on three: Parking and Traffic, the Honorary Degree and Distinguished Service Award, the Resident Housing, and the Community Relations committees. She is a member of Beta Alpha Psi, a national accounting honor society, and the SIUE Accounting Club.

In the community, Holesko has served on the Prison Committee in Gillespie, helping the city's economy by working toward bringing a state prison facility to her hometown; served on the Make-A-Wish Foundation last fall in Edwardsville, helping to develop a budget and serving on the advertising committee; volunteering with Habitat for Humanity last year, helping to rehab a home in St. Louis.

In April, she will help chaperone the Gillespie High School Chorus on a trip to Memphis and is currently working with SIUE's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance through the School of Business, helping low-income residents prepare and file income tax forms.

In nominating Holesko for the Kimmel Scholarship, various community and university leaders commented on her maturity level and willingness to volunteer despite her work load as a student. "I have been very impressed with Cindy's ability to process the intricacies of the Parking and Traffic Committee," said Robert Vanzo, director of Administrative Services at SIUE.

"That she manages to balance her academic life, volunteer activities, and student employment is quite amazing, particularly considering the degree to which she excels at each."

Gillespie Mayor Dan Fisher, in support of Holesko's nomination, said she works "diligently" on a variety of community projects. "In regard to her Prison Committee service, Cindy did an exceptional job and she has continued to help us on similar items involving reaching out to the young people of our community," Fisher said. "She is an exceptional young woman."

Holesko said she believes in the concept of community service. "Ever since I can remember, my parents have been giving back to the community and I've learned a lot from their example," she said. "The community is the place where you grow up and it shapes the individuals that we become. In that regard, I believe it's only fair to give back what you've gained.

"Sometimes it's not easy to give up your free time, but bringing happiness to others makes it all worthwhile.

"As for service at SIUE, I take my leadership role as a student senator seriously to help insure every student has someone to come to with questions or to look to for guidance," she said. "I believe the best definition of a leader is a person to whom others go for guidance."

Admission Deadlines Approach For Incoming SIUE Freshmen

SIUE's nine-year growth trend is expected to continue in the fall; freshmen hoping to be admitted should submit complete applications no later than May 31. The deadline for all other undergraduates is August 2; students wishing to live on campus should apply for housing by May 1.

"Although fall semester is still five months away, the deadline for freshman admission-May 31-is approaching," said Boyd Bradshaw, assistant vice chancellor for Enrollment Management. "The university is experiencing an unprecedented number of freshman applications for fall 2004 and may consider closing admissions prior to the May 31 deadline. Early projections indicate that our enrollment growth will continue in the fall, as will the demand for on-campus housing."

SIUE has grown from 10,938 students in 1994 to 13,295 last fall, an increase of about 22 percent.

Bradshaw said three new residence halls built since 1994 have served to draw even more attention to the quality education offered at SIUE. "More and more students and parents view SIUE as their first choice for a quality, affordable education," he said.

"A strong faculty, small class sizes, community service opportunities, an active campus life, and some of the newest residence halls in the state continue to fuel SIUE's growth."

Bradshaw said the quickest and easiest way for students to apply for admission and pay the $30 application fee is to go online at www.siue.edu. Students interested in living on campus can download an application from www.siue.edu/HOUSING. The housing application and a deposit of $300 must be submitted by May 1.

Hays Named Chief; Takes Over After Harrison Retires

Except for that eight-year hiatus when she ran a tavern and operated a financial services business, Gina Hays has been in law enforcement since 1976.

That time frame includes two years as a dispatcher with the Jackson County Sheriff's Department and making local history as the first female officer on the Edwardsville police force, where she served as a patrolwoman and as an officer in the department's juvenile division.

After her foray into the private sector, Hays returned to law enforcement and joined the SIUE police squad, where she became a captain in 1999.

Now she's making history again. Hays is not only the first police chief for SIUE but also is only the second woman to hold the top enforcement position on a college campus in Illinois.

"Women in law enforcement are becoming much more prevalent then when I started out," Hays said. "Now, around the country, there are quite a few women who are police chiefs. Granted, it's a nontraditional role, but more and more women are choosing to become part of law enforcement and proving themselves in the ranks."

Hays said there are five women out of 35 officers on the SIUE force. "That's very close to the national average," she said. "Many women with families struggle with whether or not to join because it's not a 9-to-5 job. So, how do you juggle things like daycare if the husband also works?"

Hays' husband has been a staunch supporter of her career. "We went through the same problems early on when the kids were younger, but we worked it out. Now, they're all older, so things are easier."

Two of her children are students at SIUE, which provides an added bonus in her work, Hays said. "I get the students point of view every day. It gives me insight into what the students are thinking."

Hays took over as chief in February after Rich Harrison retired. He had been with the force for more than 25 years, the last five of which as chief. "I am continuing the community policing spirit that was established by my predecessors as a customer service aspect," Hays said. "I'd also like to continue to forge partnerships with the Office of Student Affairs and University Housing because in most cases these are the offices that we have to work with.

"Rich used these ideas all along during his tenure as chief and always involved me in the processes. I plan to continue that kind of communication with my officers."

In addition to her work as chief, Hays is very involved in several statewide law enforcement organizations. And, she has held several leadership positions within the organizations. She also is chairman of Cops for Kids, the local chapter of officers in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois.

One of the few women graduates of the FBI's National Academy, Hays also joins and exclusive group of FBI-trained female police chiefs around the country.

But there seems to be one "blemish" on Hays' record. She's a Saluki. "I earned a bachelor of science in Administration of Justice with a minor in Psychology from SIU Carbondale," she said with a smile. "I also got an MPA from SIU Edwardsville."

Yet, that Carbondale thing still lingers. "Hey, I love the Cougars, but I'm a Saluki first."

Board Approves Robert Remini For Honorary Doctorate At Commencement

Robert Vincent Remini, a history professor emeritus at the University of Illinois-Chicago and official historian for that campus, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during SIUE's May 8 commencement, according to action taken recently by the SIU Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting conducted in February at SIUE.

Honorary degrees have been awarded for more than 40 years at SIUE commencement exercises to those who have made significant contributions to cultural, educational, scientific, economic, social, or humanitarian fields, or other worthy fields of endeavor.

Remini is regarded as America's premier historian of the Jacksonian political era and of Andrew Jackson himself. In addition to his definitive works on Jackson, Remini, an award-winning author, has written biographies of John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Mormon leader Joseph Smith, Martin Van Buren, and Daniel Webster. In 2002, Remini was honored by the Library of Congress with an appointment to write a narrative history of the U.S. House of Representatives.

A member of the faculty at the U of I-Chicago since its inception in 1965, Remini earned a bachelor's at Fordham University and went on to receive a master's and a doctorate from Columbia University. He taught at Fordham for 18 years before joining the U of I history faculty at the Chicago campus, where he has served as a teacher and administrator.

In other business at the February meeting, the SIU Board approved a new fee for all predoctoral students at the SIU School of Dental Medicine to cover maintenance and updating of clinical training facilities, associated dental and sterilization equipment, and classroom and laboratory equipment.

The new fee-$1,600 each for fall and spring semesters and a pro-rated $711 fee for summer clinic sessions preceding years three and four of the curriculum-will go into effect in fall 2004.

BOT Approves J. Baricevic For Distinguished Service Award At Commencement

John Baricevic, who has been chairman of the St. Clair County Board for the past 14 years, will receive a Distinguished Service Award during SIUE's May 8 commencement, according to action taken last week by the SIU Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting conducted this month at SIU Carbondale.

Distinguished Service Awards have been given for more than 35 years at SIUE commencement exercises to those who have performed outstanding or unusual service to the university, the region, or the state.

After earning a juris doctor from SIUC, Baricevic served as the St. Clair County state's attorney from 1980-1990 and was named county board chairman in 1990. He is retiring this year from the board. Baricevic also is in private practice specializing in family law, criminal law, and personal injury litigation.

Baricevic has been instrumental in promoting regionalism in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area, investing enormous amounts of time energy in a variety of projects to insure that the interests and welfare of Metro-East residents-one-quarter of the St. Louis region's population-will be provided for in planning decisions regarding the wider metropolitan area.

Some projects with which Baricevic has been involved include: expansion of Metro Link, development of MidAmerica Airport, maintaining Scott Air Force Base in the face of an uncertain economy, and helping secure funding for a new Mississippi River bridge.

He also lends his time and expertise to several regional organizations including Civic Progress, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, for which he is immediate past president, and the Greater St. Louis Economic Development Council.

Jackson Middle School Student Wins District TRIO Competition At ESTL

Deverica Spraggins, of A. M. Jackson Middle School in East St. Louis, won applause and Best in Show for her project, "What's in the Atmosphere?" at the East St. Louis Center's TRIO Programs' 20th Annual District-wide Science Fair.

Conducted last month at the Gateway Center in Collinsville, Spraggins won the competition and will go to the regional competition on the SIUE campus later this spring.

She was one of 510 competitors from four school districts throughout the Metro-East. "It was a good turn out," said Richard Binder, TRIO program director. "There was a lot of parent and student support during the awards ceremony."

Awards were given for first, second, and third place, as well as outstanding and special categories, which included Scientific Impact, Visual Display, Originality and Scientific Research Paper.

"Next year we are looking into exploring other subject areas besides math and science," Binder said. "While math and science is our [TRIO] focus, we understand that students excel in other areas as well."

This year's participating districts included Cahokia School District No. 187, Brooklyn School District No. 188, East St. Louis School District No. 189, Venice School District No. 3, the East St. Louis Charter School and the St. Clair County Head Start program.

TRIO programs help individuals from low-income families, first-generation college students, or students with disabilities continue an education beyond high school.

Nursing Offers Programs For Nurses Seeking To Enhance Management Skills

Two new certificate programs in the School of Nursing will benefit nurses looking to move into management positions, and nurse managers who wish to enhance their management skills. Most of the course work will be offered online.

"The new programs are a response to an expressed need in the health care community for professional development opportunities," said Marcia Maurer, dean of the school. "Our new nursing management education effort is designed to meet the needs of nurses with different educational backgrounds."

The nursing management option is open to RNs with an associate degree in nursing. RNs with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in nursing or another discipline may enroll in the professional development sequence in nursing. About 20 students will be admitted annually to each of the options.

Beginning in fall 2004, the new certificate programs will offer 12 credit hours in four online courses, with a focus on nursing management. Each course will offer at least 80 percent of the course work online.

"These programs can be completed within two semesters," Maurer said, "providing a foundation in management skills for nurses who work as nurse managers, and for nurses interested in pursuing a career in nursing management in acute care, primary care, long-term care and community agencies."

Interested nurses may call the SIUE School of Nursing, 618-650-3956 or 800-234-4844, for more information.

Community Forum To Explore Landmark Brown v. Board Of Education Case

A community forum will explore the history of the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education-and its relevance to today's social issues-from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, in the Hickory-Hackberry Room, in the Morris University Center.

The forum-moderated by attorney Dennis Orsey and co-sponsored by SIUE Student Legal Services, the Illinois Judge's Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Madison County Bar Association-will first explore Brown v Board itself and the impact it had on subsequent cases, and then will discuss current issues, such as race as a factor in school admissions, sex as a factor in marriage, and the interaction of the law and social issues.

Orsey, a past president of the Madison County Bar and a member of the Board of Governor's for the Illinois State Bar, will be joined on the panel by Alton attorney Lee Barron, Troy attorney James Drazen, Alton attorney Elizabeth Carrion, Edwardsville attorney Victoria Vasileff, and Madison County Associate Judge Barbara Crowder.

Admission is free and the public is invited; complimentary parking will be available in the Visitor's attendant lot behind the Morris Center.

SIUE Students Took Alternative Spring Break To Cherokee Nation

Rather than participate in the stereotypical spring break trip to an ocean coastal region for fun and games, 18 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students traveled to Tahlequah and Kenwood, Okla., last week on an alternative spring break to work on reservations of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma tribe.

The students learned about social, economic, and cultural issues by participating in the tribal community in various projects. Before leaving for Oklahoma, the students took part in two orientation-training sessions in preparation.

The students helped in construction and clean-up at the elders' homes, and also worked at tribal headquarters as well as at the Loyal Shawnee Ceremonial Stomp Grounds.

Members of the Cherokee Nation prepared traditional meals and provided educational programs about tribal history, social issues, culture, and community development. The students also visited the Cherokee Nation's principal chief and deputy chief, as well as the elders.

The experience provided students with a hand-on experience to learn about outstanding community leaders who have been developing vision and affecting social change for tribal members.

The alternative spring trip was co-sponsored by the SIUE Student Leadership Center, the United Campus Ministry and the Shurtleff Baptist Ministries, both headquartered at the SIUE Religious Center.

Softball Prepares For GLIAC Challenge

Despite just starting Great Lakes Valley Conference play and coming away with four consecutive victories, the SIU Edwardsville softball team must now take a break from league play.

The Cougars, 16-7 overall and 4-0 in the GLVC, will travel to East Peoria, Ill., for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)/GLVC Challenge.

The tournament pits 10 GLVC schools against 10 GLIAC teams. Each team will play five games in a span of three days.

SIUE opens play in the tournament on Friday (3/26) when it faces Ashland. It has games with Wayne State, Findlay and Grand Valley State on Saturday (3/27). It will wrap up the tournament on Sunday (3/28) in a game with Gannon.

Although these are not league games, they do have regional implications that could help SIUE's chances of qualifying for the NCAA Regional at the end of the season. "It is obviously an important weekend," Coach Sandy Montgomery said. "But

since it is so early, it's not necessarily a make-or-break scenario. If we play well, it will definitely help us fight for a regional spot."

SIUE swept Saint Joseph's and Indianapolis last weekend in the GLVC opener. That was after the Cougars dropped both games of a doubleheader to Winona State on Friday (3/19).

"We did a nice job of handling adversity," Montgomery said. "The entire team bounced back after those two losses on Friday."

The Cougar pitching staff allowed only one run in all four games. Ashlea Hoheimer (Walton, Ind.) picked up two victories on the weekend. Missy Koenig (Mapleton) and Jessica Finch (LaSalle) each pitched complete-game shutouts.

SIUE's offense showed strides as well, banging out 33 hits in the four games. Jenny Esker (Steeleville) leads the team with a .338 batting average. Shannon Evans (Manhattan) and Alicia DeShasier (Carrollton) are close behind with .333 and .329 averages, respectively.

Baseball Returns To League Play

After a short break from Great Lakes Valley Conference play, the SIU Edwardsville baseball team will get back at it this week by playing six conference games.

The Cougars travel to Quincy for a Wednesday (3/24) doubleheader. Lewis will then come to town for doubleheaders on Saturday (3/27) and Sunday (3/28). At 4-15 overall and 1-5 in GLVC play, the Cougars need to find a way to win some games this week. "We need to play a lot better these next two weeks to get back into the conference race," Coach Gary Collins said.

SIUE's rescheduled game against Lincoln, which was to be played on Tuesday (3/23), has been postponed. The teams will try to hook up Wed., Apr. 28, for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Roy E. Lee Field at SIUE.

The Cougars are coming off a weekend in which they took two of three games from non-conference foe Wayne State (Mich.). The Cougars were an offensive juggernaut on Saturday (3/20), plating 26 total runs in the two seven-inning games.

But the Cougars dropped Sunday's (3/21) nine-inning game 3-2 in a pitcher's dual. "It looked as though we were coming out of our offensive slumber," Collins said, "but Sunday we fell right back into it."

Freshman Adam Tallman (Gillespie) leads the Cougars with a .333 batting average. He joined Jared Brueggeman (East Alton) and Luke Humphrey (Rantoul) as the only Cougars to hit safely in all three games against Wayne State. "I've been real happy with Tallman," Collins said. "I think he'll be a heck of a player for us."

The Cougars also got quality performances on the mound. Jared Rettberg (Divernon) pitched a one-hit shutout in game one of the doubleheader on Saturday (3/20). Kyle Jones (New Baden) and Pat Evers (St. Louis) combined to top the Wayne State offense in game two. Ryan Spurgeon (Bethalto) and Ron Jones (Kankakee) threw the ball well in Sunday's (3/21) game. "Our pitching has been good enough that we should be better than 4-15," Collins said.

Women's Golf Readies For Two Tournaments

In search of its second consecutive NCAA Regional appearance, the SIU Edwardsville women's golf team will open the main portion of its schedule this weekend.

The Cougars will play in the NKU Spring Invitational on Saturday (3/27) and Sunday (3/28). It will then enter the Bellarmine Invitational, which will be played next Monday (3/29) and Tuesday (3/30). "Both tournaments should be a good test for us," Coach Larry Bennett said.

"Most teams we are jockeying with for a position in the region should be there. If we put a solid effort in these next two tournaments, we should be in good shape to qualify for regionals."

The Cougars began the spring season at the Lady Emerald Invitational. Kallie Harrison (Decatur) finished the tournament tied for third. Katie Farrell (Princeton) finished one stroke back and tied for fifth. "We just needed to get out and play," Bennett said. "I knew we would have some rust, and we accomplished the goal of shaking it off before the heart of our schedule starts this weekend."

Men's Tennis Opens GLVC Play

The SIU Edwardsville men's tennis team opens Great Lakes Valley Conference competition this week.

The Cougars have prepared for league play by playing in eight non-conference events to begin the year. "We are ready to start conference play," Coach Bill Logan said. "I've been pleased with the team and the individual efforts of all the players."

After its final non-conference match with Northwest Missouri State on Monday (3/22), the Cougars play host to Quincy on Tuesday (3/23) at 3 p.m. in the GLVC opener. It then takes to the road for matches with Bellarmine and Southern Indiana on Friday (3/26) and Saturday (3/27), respectively.

Matt Warner (Arlington Hts.) and Justin Free (Danville) have been welcome additions to the team this year. They are the only newcomers to a team consisting of five returnees, including senior captain Doug Kummer (Fenton, Mo.) "Matt and Justin have really added strength to the team," Logan said. "Our returning letterman make it even stronger."

Chris Rigdon (Glen Carbon) has a team-high nine wins this season. Warner and Free are close by with eight each.

Women's Tennis Ends On Positive Note

The SIUE women's tennis season ended last Friday (3/19) on a positive note. The Cougars defeated Webster to cap a 3-0 spring season and a 13-5 overall record.

The Cougars nearly qualified for the NCAA Regional, but one-point losses to schools such as Lewis, Southern Indiana and Indianapolis hurt their cause. "We were just a breath away from qualifying for the regionals," Coach Bill Logan said. "I'm happy with what the women were able to accomplish."

The Cougars will hope to build on this year's success when it returns next fall. SIUE will welcome back six players currently on their roster, including Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) and Gina Wohltman (Effingham).

Men's Soccer Signs New Cougars For 2004 Season

SIUE men's soccer coach Ed Huneke bolstered his lineup with fresh faces eager to continue the Cougars' success.

SIUE has signed Grant Landon (St. Louis), Jarius Holmes (O'Fallon), Robert Ridder (Quincy) and Nicholas Frasca (St. Charles, Mo.) to national letters of intent. Huneke said he also expects to add transfers Tim Collico (St. Louis) from Missouri-Kansas City and Mike Zaegel (St. Louis) from Michigan State, both of whom have enrolled at SIUE. "In addition to winning, I enjoy attractive soccer, and these players will help bring that about," said Huneke.

Landon, a forward, set the career record for points at Marquette High School. Landon scored 13 goals, added 13 assists and won the "Best Offensive Award" two years in a row. "Grant has a good combination of deception and aggression," said Huneke.

Holmes, who played at O'Fallon High School under former Cougar defender Jason Turkington, was the Belleville News-Democrat Player of the Year and a two-time All-State selection in soccer. Holmes scored 20 goals and added 12 assists in his senior season for the Panthers.

"Jarius is fast, dynamic and recognized as one of the best in the state of Illinois," said Huneke.

Ridder, was an All-State forward at Quincy Notre Dame High School. He finished second all-time in points and goals for Quincy Notre Dame, which averaged 18 wins over the past three seasons. Ridder also is a two-time state qualifier in tennis. "Robert has flair coupled with statistical impact," said Huneke.

Frasca, a 5-foot-10-inch goalkeeper from St. Charles West High School, recorded 101 saves and a 0.78 goals against average in his senior season. A member of the 2003 Olympic Development Program, Frasca also an All-State selection.

"Nick is technically superior and is fun to watch," said Huneke.

The Cougars finished last season 16-4-1 with a school-record three All-Americans. SIUE has averaged more than 15 wins a season over the past three years.

Men's Basketball Looks To Build On Success

After qualifying for the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament for the first time in five years, SIUE men's basketball coach Marty Simmons and his players have a reason to be optimistic.

The Cougars, who finished 16-12 overall and 11-9 in GLVC play, entered the year with many new faces. Three of the Cougars' top four scorers were new to the team this year. Newcomer Tyler Hackstadt (Okawville) led the team in scoring, followed by junior college transfer Calvin Sykes (Chicago). Joel Jaye (Chicago), another junior college transfer, gave the Cougars an extra lift by coming off the bench. Nebraska transfer Dan Heimos (Waterloo) gave the Cougars a much-needed presence inside. All are slated to return for the 2004-2005 campaign.

"All those guys bring something different to the table," Simmons said. "It will be nice to have these guys come back."

One reason for SIUE's success this season was the execution of its defense. The Cougars finished first in the GLVC and 31st nationally with 65.2 points per game.

"Playing good defense takes a lot of effort," Simmons said. "Our guys did a great job of accepting our game plans and carrying them out."

The Cougars also came on strong late in the season, winning seven of their last nine regular season contests. But after being eliminated by Indianapolis in the first round of the GLVC Tournament, the Cougars were forced to look toward next year. "All the guys coming back all have areas they need to improve," Simmons said. "As coaches, we will help them define those areas and help the guys get better in the off-season."

Track And Field Excited About Two All-Americans

The 2004 SIUE indoor track and field season came to a close last weekend at the NCAA Championships. Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) and Richard Skirball (Granite City) each claimed All-American honors, making it a good ending to a record-breaking season.

Thomas, a freshman, entered both the triple jump and 60-meter hurdles. She came away with a sixth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles to earn All-American honors. "Jamie was a very talented athlete in high school," Frerker said. "We knew she'd be a major contender and that nationals would be a possibility for her."

Skirball, a senior who has competed in several NCAA Championships, finally earned All-American status after finishing sixth in the 800-meter run. "Richard's experiences gained from previous national championships attributed to the positive result," Frerker said.

This all capped an indoor season where both the men and women's teams were crowned Great Lakes Valley Conference champions. The Cougars will now prepare for the outdoor season, which kicks off April 2 at the SEMO Invitational.

"The combination of the conference championships and having two All-Americans proves it has been a great year," Frerker said, "and we are showing no signs of slowing down."

Softball Back On Track

SIUE's softball team got back to its winning ways last week, taking eight of 10 contests at the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando. "We are playing well," Coach Sandy Montgomery said. "But we have been a little inconsistent and still have to work some bugs out."

The spring break trip helped the Cougars improve its record to 10-5 overall. They will stay busy with eight games scheduled for this week.

The Cougars travel to Missouri-Rolla for a doubleheader on Tuesday (3/16), then will play host to a doubleheader with Winona State on Friday (3/19) at 1 p.m. The Cougars then open Great Lakes Valley Conference play with two games against Saint Joseph's on Saturday (3/20) and two with Indianapolis on Sunday (3/21). First pitch for both days is scheduled for noon.

Missy Koenig (Mapleton) hurled SIUE's 20th all-time no-hitter in a 2-0 victory against New Haven last week. She has started four games for the Cougars and boasts a 2-0 record and a team-low 0.90 earned run average. Jessica Finch (LaSalle) leads the pitching staff with a 4-0 record.

Offensively, Jenny Esker (Steeleville) leads the team with 20 hits and 10 RBI. Shannon Evans (Manhattan) came up big during the Rebel Spring Games and lifted her batting average to .353. Shanna Waldo (Peoria) sports a .349 average and Alicia DeShasier (Carrollton) is off to a good start with a .327 batting average.

"We are going to get better as the season progresses," Montgomery said." We are not yet as good as we are going to be. We are going to take it one game at a time and keep plugging along."

Baseball Gears For KWC, Wayne State

After a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup at Kentucky Wesleyan on Wednesday (3/17), the SIU Edwardsville baseball team will play host to Wayne State (Mich.) in a three-game series at Roy Lee Field this weekend.

The Cougars travel to Owensboro, Ky., on Wednesday (3/17) to meet the Panthers of Kentucky Wesleyan in a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Cougars then play Wayne State (Mich.) in a doubleheader on Saturday (3/20) and a single game on Sunday (3/21). Both weekend games begin at noon.

SIUE will try to rebound from a weekend series against Saint Joseph's in which the Cougars dropped three of four. SIUE got quality innings from its starting pitchers in the series, but was unable to hold leads as the Cougars fell victim to Saint Joseph's timely hitting.

Coach Gary Collins said he has been impressed with the play of starting pitcher Jarad Rettberg (Divernon). "Rettberg has pitched well," Collins said. "He's been giving us quality innings all year."

The Cougars are struggling offensively, hitting only .246 as a team. Leading the team is Robert Rahn's (Wood River) .333 batting average. "Our starting pitching has been pretty good this year," Collins said. "We just need to score more runs."

Men's Tennis Continues GLVC Preparation

In preparation for the Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule, coach Bill Logan and his men's tennis team will play four non-conference matches this week. It is the last full week of non-conference matches before the Cougars open GLVC play next Tuesday (3/23).

The Cougars will play host to Rockhurst on Wednesday (3/17) in a 3:30 p.m. match. The Cougars play Webster on Friday (3/19) at 3 p.m. before hosting matches with Brandeis and Saint Francis at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, on Saturday (3/21). All matches will be played at SIUE's outdoor tennis courts.

The Cougars are 2-3 on the season after picking up against Illinois College and Illinois-Springfield. SIUE dropped a close 5-4 decision to Lindenwood. "These are all good matches in preparation for the GLVC season," Logan said. "We hope to keep improving as the conference season draws near."

Chris Rigdon (Glen Carbon) leads the team with seven wins. Matt Warner (Arlington Hts.) and Justin Free (Danville) follow with six wins each.

Women's Tennis Closes Against Webster

The SIU Edwardsville women's tennis team will close its 2003-2004 season Friday (3/19) when it plays host to Webster at SIUE's outdoor tennis courts. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m.

The Cougars, 12-5 overall on the season, have won all three of its matches during the spring season. "We hope to finish on a positive note," Coach Bill Logan said. "It will be something to build on for next year."

Gina Wohltman (Effingham) leads the Cougars with 14 wins on the year. Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) has gone 5-1 in singles play during the spring to move her overall record to 12-6.

Chancellor Candidates Visiting, Touring Campus

Two Chancellor candidates from out of town will be visiting campus and touring the area during April. Meanwhile, SIUE Provost Sharon Hahs, also a candidate, has been participating in forums with various groups across campus since March 28 in her part of the search process.

Hahs has been provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at SIUE since 2000. She had been dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1995-2000. She holds a doctorate in chemistry from the University of New Mexico.

The two other candidates are: Vaughn Vandegrift, Georgia Southern University provost and vice president for academic affairs/chief information officer, and Aaron Podolefsky, Northern Iowa University provost and vice president for academic affairs. They are scheduled to visit campus April 4-7 and April 14-17, respectively.

Vandegrift will be available in an open forum for employees from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Monday, April 5, in the Mississippi Room, on the second floor of the Morris Center; Podolefsky's open forum is scheduled from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15, in the adjacent Illinois Room.

Podolefsky has been provost and vice president for academic affairs at Northern Iowa since 1998. He had been dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Northern Iowa from 1990-1998. He holds a doctorate in anthropology from SUNY-Stony Brook.

Vandegrift has been provost and vice president at Georgia Southern since 2000. He had been dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Montclair State University (N.J.) from 1988-2000. He holds a doctorate in chemistry from Ohio University.

The candidates were chosen following a three-month process of screening and preliminary interviews by the chancellor search advisory committee. The committee is composed of representatives of various groups across the campus and the community.

For more information on the candidates, their visit schedules, and a list of committee members, see the Web site. The site also can be reached by clicking the "chancellor search" link on the lower right corner of the SIUE homepage.

Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago Is Coming To Arts & Issues

Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, a troupe of dancers who have been called "a riotous explosion of color and enthusiasm" and "an accelerated onslaught of ecstasy," are coming to the Arts & Issues stage this Friday (April 2).The internationally known troupe will appear at 7:30 p.m. in Katherine Dunham Hall theater.

For more than 40 years critics have been raving about Giordano's dancers, calling them Chicago's most exciting jazz dance company. "Traditionally, our Arts & Issues audiences love dance concerts and the tickets tend to go very fast," said John Peecher, coordinator of the Arts & Issues series.

"Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago will be one of the most exciting dance troupes we've had on our stage," Peecher said. "They take up where Bob Fosse left off. They are pure energy."

Beginning in 1962 as Dance Incorporated Chicago, the group was founded by Giordano and several other dancers, later changing its name to the Gus Giordano Dance Company. In 1974, the company toured the former Soviet Union upon invitation of the Bolshoi Ballet. It was the first time a jazz dance troupe had toured that country. The group eventually changed its name to Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago.

With its mission to develop and preserve the indigenous American art form of jazz dance as a true artistic expression of American life, Giordano has brought that excitement to audiences around the world including Europe, Canada, Brazil, and Japan. Also performing throughout the United States, the troupe has a very active outreach education program with a Chicago Park District residency and teaching residences on many college campuses.

Jazz dance is an exciting mix of styles, as varied as jazz music itself, with elements of ballet, modern dance, percussive- and pop-based movements, as well as musical theater, wrapped in ethnic influences of every kind. Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago performs all of these styles in an energetic and highly physical way, while demonstrating amazing technique and skills.

Information about the April 2 appearance of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago and how to order tickets may be found on the Arts & Issues Web site: artsandissues.com and in a printed brochure available through John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or, by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu.

Tickets are $18; students, $9, and also are available at the Morris Center Information Desk, (618) 650-5555.

The final Arts & Issues presentation of the 2003-04 season takes place April 20 with two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer, one of the most important writers of 20th century American letters.

Four Cougars Qualify In Opening Meet

Picking up right where it left off from its successful indoor season, the SIUE track and field team had four provisional qualifiers for the NCAA Division II Championships.

The Cougars used a steady stream of top-notch performances at the opening meet of the outdoor season, the Gatorade Classic, hosted by Southeast Missouri State University.

Tairisha Sawyer's (Chicago) 200-meter dash time of 24.74 seconds broke the school record and placed her name on the provisional-qualifying list.

Breanne Steffens (Moline) broke a school record and qualified for nationals in the 1,500-meter run after finishing the event in 4 minutes, 36.80 seconds.

Jamie Thomas (Blue Island), a two-event qualifier for nationals during the indoor season, broke a school record and provisionally -qualified in the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 14.64.

Carrie Carducci (Powell, Ohio) provisionally qualified in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:28.05. She advanced to the national finals in the same event last season.

Although the men's team did not have any qualifiers, a few were close and will be expected to do so as the season progresses.

Provisional qualifying times place individuals on a national performance list by event. Only the top performers in the nation advance to the NCAA Championships.

SIUE will now look toward its own Cougar Classic on Saturday (4/10) at Korte Stadium. Field events will begin at 9 a.m. with the running events taking off at 10 a.m.

Baseball Looks Ahead To UMSL, NKU

After picking up two big wins Sunday (4/4) against Southern Indiana, the SIU Edwardsville baseball team hopes to ride some of that momentum when it travels to UM-St. Louis for two games and Northern Kentucky for a four-game weekend series.

The Cougars dropped the first two games of a weekend series with USI but stormed back and with the help of quality pitching and timely hitting swept the Screaming Eagles in Sunday's (4/4) doubleheader. With the two wins, the Cougars improved to 10-20 overall and 7-10 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

"We kept our hopes alive with those two wins," Coach Gary Collins said. "We are still in the hunt for a conference tournament spot."

Once again, it was the pitching staff that came up big for the Cougars. Ron Jones (Kankakee), who has eased through the transition from basketball to baseball, pitched his way into the starting rotation and did not disappoint. The junior pitched five innings in game one of Sunday's (4/4) doubleheader and allowed just two hits, both bunt singles, and struck out six while walking one.

Jones leads the pitching staff with a 3-0 record and a 1.04 earned run average. "He had a great outing against Southern Indiana; he won me over," Collins said. "I think he's going to continue to get better, although it will be hard for him to pitch any better than he did Sunday."

In game two, it was David Briesacher (Waterloo) who carried the load for the Cougars. Briesacher pitched seven innings in a relief role and allowed only one unearned run and scattered five hits. "Briesacher did a wonderful job," Collins said. "His velocity was up and that made him look like the Briesacher from last year."

The Cougars now look at another big week of baseball, playing six games against teams that are close to the Cougars in the GLVC standings. Missouri-St. Louis is four spots ahead of the Cougars with a 10-8 GLVC mark. The two teams split a doubleheader earlier this season at Roy Lee Field. Northern Kentucky enters the week 8-8 in the GLVC and two spots ahead of the Cougars in the standings.

Softball Prepares For Eight-Game Homestand

SIUE softball has a busy week ahead with two Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheaders sandwiching a non-conference doubleheader with Missouri Baptist.

The Cougars, 21-11 overall and 6-2 in the GLVC, begin the week Wednesday (4/7) when they play host to Missouri-St. Louis at 4 p.m. at Cougar Field in a make-up game. UMSL is eighth in the GLVC standings with a 3-5 conference record and a 15-16 overall mark.

SIUE will then step outside of the GLVC when it plays host to Missouri Baptist on Thursday (4/8). First pitch of that doubleheader is slated for 5 p.m. at Cougar Field.

Quincy will then come to Cougar Field for a Saturday (4/10) doubleheader slated for noon. Quincy begins the week fifth in the conference standings at 22-12 overall and 3-5 in the GLVC.

The Cougars were shut out in both games of a doubleheader with Lewis last Saturday. Then, SIUE's offense bounced back the next day to score 21 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Wisconsin-Parkside. "We didn't play well against Lewis," Coach Sandy Montgomery said. "But they got the job done, and we didn't. We did bounce back nicely against Wisconsin-Parkside."

After this week of play, the Cougars will welcome Alabama-Huntsville to town to complete its eight-game homestand. "We've got to get on track," Montgomery said. "With our two losses against Lewis, we can't afford to slip up and lose to someone we should beat."

Veronica Schmidt (Westmont) and Shannon Evans (Manhattan) both played well against Wisconsin-Parkside. They both had two RBIs in game one of the doubleheader. Schmidt then drove in three runs in game two and Evans added two more RBI in the second game.

Men's Tennis Enters Final Tune-up

The SIU Edwardsville men's tennis team enters its last week of the regular season and will face Saint Joseph's and Lewis at home on Saturday (4/10).

The Saint Joseph match will begin at 9 a.m. and will be followed by the Lewis match at 3 p.m. Both matches will take place at the SIUE Tennis Courts adjacent to the Vadalabene Center.

Even though the Cougars dropped three matches last week, they are still a lock to advance to the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament, which begins Apr. 16 in Indianapolis.

SIUE, 6-9 overall and 2-4 in the GLVC, dropped matches against regional rivals Missouri-St. Louis, Northern Kentucky and Indianapolis last week. SIUE will try to halt a four-game losing skid before it starts the conference tournament.

"We had a tough week against some tough teams," Coach Bill Logan said. "We are just going to focus on closing out the season on a positive note to get ready for the conference tournament."

Justin Free (Danville) leads the Cougars with a 12-7 record, playing primarily at No. 3 singles. Chris Rigdon (Glen Carbon) has 10 wins on the season after playing mainly at the No. 5 singles spot.

Baseball Looks To Build On Momentum

After winning three of its last four games, the SIU Edwardsville baseball team will try to continue its string of good play when it plays host to Missouri-St. Louis on Wednesday (3/31) and Thursday (4/1) at Roy Lee Field. First pitch for both games is slated for 2 p.m.

SIUE, 7-17 overall and 4-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, leaped to the eighth spot in the GLVC standings after picking up three conference wins last week. It will now focus on Missouri-St. Louis, which enters the week 11-14-1 overall and 6-6 in conference play. UMSL is coming off a doubleheader split against Southern Indiana.

SIUE will then play a home-and-home series with Southern Indiana on Saturday (4/3) and Sunday (4/4). USI, which enters the week 9-20 overall and 5-11 in the GLVC, visits Lee Field Sunday for a 1 p.m. start.

Things have looked to start coming together for the Cougars, who defeated Lewis in game two of a doubleheader on Saturday (3/27) to give Coach Gary Collins his 800th career win. "Winning 800 games is a very big testament to the players who have came through the program," Collins said.

The Cougars then won a rain-shortened game on Sunday (3/28) against Lewis in come-from-behind fashion. SIUE rallied from a 4-1 deficit to pick up the victory. "We swung the bats better last week," Collins said. "Craig Ohlau (Chester) is starting to hit and Eric Tritsch (Troy) is giving us something at second."

Freshman Adam Tallman (Gillespie) continues to lead the team in hitting with a .385 average and continues to receive praise from Collins. "Tallman has been very consistent all year," Collins said. "He has a great approach at the plate."

Jared Brueggeman (East Alton), who hit three home runs in a seven-inning game at Quincy, is hitting .352. Robert Rahn (Wood River) and Ohlau are hitting .312 and .304, respectively. Kyle Martin (Byron) drove in three runs in SIUE's win on Sunday.

The bullpen is another reason why the Cougars have been playing well as of late. Collins said the addition of Ron Jones (Kankakee) and the emergence of Jameson Sheley (Lincoln) and Pat Evers (St. Louis) has been a good complement to SIUE's starting pitching.

Softball Returns To GLVC Play

Coming off a 3-2 performance at the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge in East Peoria, the SIU Edwardsville softball team will now focus on conference play. The Cougars, 19-9 overall and 4-0 in the GLVC, begin a string of six consecutive conference games when they play host to Missouri-St. Louis on Wednesday (3/31) at 4 p.m. The Riverwomen are 3-1 in conference play and 14-11 overall.

SIUE then travels for weekend doubleheaders to Lewis and Wisconsin-Parkside. Because it is still early in the conference season, Coach Sandy Montgomery understands every conference game is important. "We want to win the GLVC for the third straight year, but it will not be an easy task," Montgomery said. "There is definitely a lot of parity in the conference this year."

SIUE defeated Wayne State, Findlay and Gannon at last weekend's GLVC/GLIAC Challenge. Its losses came against Ashland and Grand Valley. The Cougars bounced back from its Saturday night loss to Grand Valley and defeated Gannon on Sunday morning. Gannon previously defeated Northern Kentucky, who is atop the GLVC standings, earlier in the tournament. "In my opinion, the Gannon game was a must win," Montgomery said. "I was very happy they were able to bounce back like they did after the loss to Grand Valley."

Jenny Esker (Steeleville), who had a seventh inning home run to tie the game in SIUE's loss against Ashland, continues to lead the team with a .368 average.

Jessica Finch (LaSalle) has allowed only six earned runs in 48.1 innings pitched to lead the pitching staff with a 0.87 earned run average. Finch picked up the victory against Wayne State after pitching 11 innings. She moved her overall record to 6-0 on the season.

Track And Field Opens Outdoor Season

The SIU Edwardsville men and women's track and field squads will open their outdoor portion of the schedule this weekend when they travel to Cape Girardeau, Mo., for the Gatorade Classic.

"It was a very good meet last year," Coach Darryl Frerker said. "Since it will mostly be Division I competition, it will be a good meet for us."

The Cougars are coming off an indoor season in which they advanced a school-record four athletes to the NCAA Championships. Frerker indicated the success of the indoor season not only builds strength, but increases confidence as well. "We will have athletes in events in an attempt for them to qualify," Frerker said. "For some others, we're looking for personal records and experience that will help us prepare for the conference meet."

Richard Skirball (Granite City) was an NCAA qualifier last year for the Cougars in the 800-meter run. Carrie Carducci (Powell, Ohio) advanced to the finals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 2003 and Jenny Jaquez (Aurora) qualified for nationals in the 400-meter hurdles.

Freshman Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) will make her outdoor debut after qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships in both the 60-meter hurdles and triple jump. After the Gatorade Classic, SIUE will play host to the Cougar Classic on Sat., Apr. 10, at Korte Stadium.

Men's Tennis Faces Crucial Test

The SIU Edwardsville men's tennis team will face three regionally ranked opponents this week in Missouri-St. Louis, Northern Kentucky, and Indianapolis.

The Cougars, who opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play last week with a 2-1 record, travel to face Missouri-St. Louis on Tuesday (3/30). UMSL, No. 6 in the region, dropped its first two conference matches of the year last week. SIUE then plays host to Northern Kentucky, ranked fifth regionally, on Friday (4/2) at 3 p.m. The Cougars then welcome Indianapolis, the 10th ranked team in the region, to the SIUE Tennis Courts for a Saturday (4/3) match also beginning at 3 p.m.

Coach Bill Logan is making no doubts that this could very well be the biggest week of play for his team. "Not only are these conference matches, but they are against opponents who are all regionally ranked," Logan said. "This week may determine whether or not we advance to the NCAA Regional."

The Cougars picked up impressive conference wins against Quincy and Bellarmine but dropped its match against Southern Indiana. Justin Free (Danville) and Chris Rigdon (Glen Carbon) each has a team-high 10 victories. Free has also posted a perfect 2-0 record in GLVC play.

After this week's three matches, the Cougars will only have two more before the GLVC Championships begin on Apr. 16-17 in Indianapolis.

FRC Offers Second Annual 'Celebration Of World Faiths'

The Friends of the Religious Center (FRC), a support group for the SIUE Religious Center, is sponsoring the Second Annual Celebration of World Faiths from 7-9 p.m. this Saturday, (April 3), at the domed center, located between the Morris University Center and the Art and Design Building.

Spiritual leaders and groups from several Christian and non-Christian traditions will share music, scripture, prayer, and information about their faiths. The goal is an evening of learning and fellowship, and an opportunity to tell visitors more about the Friends of the Religious Center.

The FRC is dedicated to preserving the center as the place on campus for serving the spiritual needs of SIUE students, as well as preserving its architectural importance.

"The FRC board of directors is made up of about a dozen members of the university community and the surrounding community at-large," said Greg Fields, an associate professor of Philosophy at the university and FRC board chair.

"Also included in the group are the three ministerial directors headquartered at the center. We all share an interest in the structure for its programming available to the university community and for its architectural significance."

Admission is free to the April 3 event, but donations will be accepted. Refreshments with ethnic themes will be served, and all are welcome.

SDM Program Provides Dental Care For Those With Severe Mental Disabilities

Providing dental care for a person with severe mental disabilities is not an easy proposition. In fact, dental hygiene may be nonexistent because in most cases people with severe mental problems cannot cooperate, nor in many cases will they even allow a dentist near them.

According to Dr. William Goebel, a professor at the SIU School of Dental Medicine at Alton, the need for dental care among the severely mentally disabled in Southern Illinois is an "unending" phenomenon. "We see more than 100 patients each year and we've been providing such care for about five years," Goebel said.

Goebel directs the hospital component of the SIU/SDM's Advanced Education in General Dentistry curriculum in which dentists are being trained to provide dental care in a hospital operating room environment. "In most severe cases, a patient must be taken to a hospital and put under general anesthetic before we can begin to provide dental care," Goebel said.

"These are patients who cannot or will not cooperate in the care of their mouths. Our program not only cares for these patients but also trains dentists to take this knowledge to their practices after completion of the residency program."

Goebel said the program is making inroads with hospitals in Southern Illinois but the need is great. "In Alton, we have an agreement with St. Anthony's Hospital to help these patients."

Goebel explained that a patient who qualifies under the program is brought to the SDM for an evaluation, but the actual dental care is done at St. Anthony's with SIU/SDM dentists.

"Until the patient is under a general anesthetic, we can't even completely assess their needs, he said. "Once they are asleep we can explore their problems using X-rays, determine their needs, and then provide definitive care."

The program is not for every person with mental disabilities. "Those with milder disabilities can usually receive care as an outpatient at their own dentist's office or at the SDM's outpatient clinics," Goebel said. "Our program is only for the severely disabled patient. We're providing a full range of care including, deep cleanings, cavity restoration and dental surgery.

"We reserve this service to those with the greatest need," Goebel said. "You or I might have access to dental care and we can participate in the day-to-day care of our teeth, but we're serving those who can't or won't.

For mental health caregivers, the SIU School of Dental Medicine is a last resort. "Many dentists are not equipped to handle these patients in their offices and are often untrained in how to provide care in a hospital environment. That's part of our goal-to train dentists in these procedures. And, from what I've seen over the past five years, there appears to be an unending need for this program."

Design Firm CEO To Speak At SIUE For Kimmel Banquet

Patricia Whitaker, president and CEO of Arcturis in St. Louis and a member of the boards of several organizations in the St. Louis area, will be the featured speaker for the 15th Annual Kimmel Leadership Awards Banquet at 7 p.m. this Thursday (April 1), in Meridian Ballroom.

Arcturis, 1910 Pine St., is a full-service design firm founded by Whitaker in 1977. The firm offers planning, architecture, interiors, and technology for major corporations, higher education, developers, financial institutions, and public facilities.

The April 1 banquet honors recipients of the Kimmel Scholarship and the Kimmel Community Service Awards (see other article), all of whom have given time and effort to volunteerism. The awards are named for Carol Kimmel, a former member of the SIU Board of Trustees who devoted most of her adult life to helping others.

Whitaker is an active member of the St. Louis civic and professional community, serving on the YMCA of Greater St. Louis Board, the Regional Business Council, the Regional Chamber and Growth Association Board, also serving on the Executive Committee, Nominating Committee, and Business Services Committee. She also serves as chair of the Business Service Committee.

In addition, Whitaker serves on Webster University's Technology Advisory Board and on the United Way of Greater St. Louis Board. She was appointed in 1997 to The Hawthorn Foundation, a state board that addresses Missouri's economic policies. She also takes a leadership role in various charitable events in and around the St. Louis area each year.

Corporate memberships include the St. Louis Art Museum, as chair of the Corporate Partners Committee and the Development Committee, the St. Louis Science Center Board, and the Dance St. Louis Board. She also is current past president of the St. Louis Forum, a professional women's organization.

Whitaker also is Forest Park Forever 2004 Luncheon co-chair.

Whitaker's professional certifications include the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Whitaker was the 1996 recipient of the prestigious McKendree College Excellence in Enterprise Award, which recognizes a member of the community who reflects the true spirit of enterprise and demonstrates the skills that make enterprising efforts successful.

Tickets for the April 1 banquet are $30 per person; for more information about tickets or about ordering them, call the SIUE Office of Conferences and Institutes, (618) 650-2660, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2660. 

February 2004

February 26, 2004

Arts & Issues Series Continues March 16 With Photographer Sam Abell

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) National Geographic photographer and writer Sam Abell, who has extensively studied the Lewis and Clark Expedition for the magazine and for books about the expedition, comes to the Arts & Issues stage March 16 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for its ongoing celebration of the saga's 200th anniversary.

Each year, Arts & Issues brings some of the best and brightest performers and speakers from around the world to Southwestern Illinois audiences for entertaining and thought-provoking presentations on the SIUE campus. The veteran photographer will share his photographic research about the expedition at 7:30 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris University Center.

Among his numerous accomplishments, Abell contributed photographs to the late Steven Ambrose's book: Lewis and Clark: Voyage of Discovery (National Geographic Books, 1998, 2002). Ambrose himself called the expedition "the greatest camping trip in history." Abell captured that journey with spectacular style in his photos for the book.

"Sam Abell comes to our stage during the university's bicentennial celebration of Lewis and Clark's historic trek that began not too far from SIUE," said John Peecher, coordinator of the Arts & Issues series. "We are happy to take part in the university's celebration and we look forward to Mr. Abell's exciting journey to provide a pictorial tribute to these great explorers," Peecher said. Affiliated with National Geographic since 1970-first as a free-lance photographer and then as a member of the prestigious magazine's staff-Abell has been contributing photographer-in-residence at the magazine since 1993. His work has been celebrated for its artistic, even poetic, quality.

During his tenure with National Geographic, Abell has covered topics as varied as Leo Tolstoy, Lewis Carroll, the Mississippi River, the Civil War, and Japan's Imperial Palace. He also has written several books and exhibited his photography internationally at numerous galleries and museums. In the competitive arena of public speaking, Abell is valued highly for his ability to move and inspire through his words and his photographs.

After his presentation, Abell will be signing copies of Lewis and Clark: Voyage of Discovery, as well as three volumes of photography he authored, all of which will be available for purchase.

Information about the March 16 appearance of Sam Abell and how to order tickets may be found on the Arts & Issues Web site: artsandissues.com and in a printed brochure available through John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or, by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Tickets for the March 16 event are $9; students, $4.50. Tickets also are available at the Morris Center Information Desk, (618) 650-5555.

The remaining Arts & Issues season includes: the explosive and creative movement of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (April 2), and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer (April 20).

Back to top

February 26, 2004

Free Tickets Available To SIUE Students For Arts & Issues Event

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is offering free tickets to SIUE students for the March 16 Arts & Issues appearance of noted National Geographic photographer Sam Abell. The tickets will be ready for pick-up at the Morris Center Information Desk on March 9.

The ticket giveaway program is part of an ongoing service provided to SIUE students by the Office for Student Affairs. Abell will share his photographic essay about the Lewis and Clark Expedition at 7:30 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of the Morris University Center. Abell's appearance is part of the university's year-long celebration of the expedition's bicentiennial.

"The university believes that the offerings of Arts & Issues events are an integral part of a liberal arts education," said Vice Chancellor Narbeth Emmanuel. "My office is pleased to be working with the series to provide students an opportunity to see these events at no cost."

Free tickets for the March 16 event will be available March 9 on a first-come, first-served basis-one ticket per student; SIUE students must present a valid university ID to receive tickets. "This is an exciting opportunity for students to have greater access to what Arts & Issues has to offer," said John Peecher, coordinator of the series.

"Each year Arts & Issues brings some of the best and brightest performers and speakers from around the world to Southwestern Illinois audiences for entertaining and thought-provoking presentations on the SIUE campus."

The remaining Arts & Issues dates and the dates to pick up tickets are: the explosive and creative movement of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (April 2/March 26) and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer (April 20/April 13).

Back to top

February 26, 2004

SIUE Jazz Studies Director To Present Concert At Sheldon Hall

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Music Professor Brett Stamps-a jazz trombonist, conductor, composer, arranger and noted jazz educator-will present a concert of his big band jazz arrangements at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 11, at Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, as part of the Sheldon's Notes From Home Concert Series.

The evening of music will feature the SIUE Concert Jazz Band, as well as SIUE Music Professor Rick Haydon (guitar) and SIUE adjunct faculty members Tom Kennedy, Andy Tichenor, Jason Swagler, Jim Martin, Miles Vandiver, and Karen Baldus, all with the SIUE Jazz Studies Program.

Stamps, who is head of the SIUE jazz program, will conduct his arrangements of jazz standards such as Skylark, Tea for Two, I Remember You, Joy Spring, and Tell Me a Bedtime Story, as well as Stamps' original compositions, All We've Got To Give, Flo Jo Express, Blues For J & K, You Heard That Right, and Stuff Like This.

Admission is $5. For more information, call the SIUE Department of Music, (618) 650-3900.

Back to top

February 19, 2004

"International Business Week" Has Events for Students and the Community

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Educators from four countries will visit Southern Illinois University Edwardsville during International Business Week, March 1-6, to discuss issues of trade and global business practices.

The SIUE School of Business and the SIUE International Trade Center are co-sponsoring events during the week to provide opportunities for students and for the general public to experience global business practices from the international educators as well as regional business leaders from the community. Events are sponsored, in part, by a grant from the SIUE Excellence in Undergraduate Education fund.

The four visiting faculty members are Albrecht Sonntag, on the faculty at the École Supérieure des Sciences Commerciales d'Angers, who specializes in the political economy of the European Union; Hans Gühlert, on the faculty of Fachhochschule Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Germany, who specializes in marketing and marketing research; Sara Isabel García, on the faculty of the Instituto Tecnológico Y De Estudios Superiores De Monterrey in Mexico, who has expertise in marketing, with specialties in advertising, sales promotion, marketing planning, and business ethics; and Chen Yan, associate professor in the International Trade Department at Xiamen University in China.

They will be joined in a March 1 panel discussion by Rick Dreyer, vice president of international sales at T.J. Gundlach Machine Company in Belleville, and Stewart Dahlberg, manager of export sales at J.D. Streett & Company Inc. in St. Louis. The panel discussion is set for 6:30 p.m. in the Maple-Dogwood Room, on the second floor of SIUE's in the Morris University Center. Topics will include international trade and the state of international business.

Admission is free to the general public, but reservations are requested. Please contact Vivien Shao by e-mail: yshao@siue.edu or by telephone, (618) 650- 2452, to register and reserve seating.

The international faculty members also will speak to faculty, staff, and students from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Room 2401 of Alumni Hall on Tuesday, March 2. This session, part of the School of Business' weekly "Business Hour," will provide students with a greater knowledge of and appreciation for the global business environment and how social, legal, political, cultural, and economic forces shape business practices in various countries.

The SIUE School of Business is an active participant in international exchange programs and sends SIUE faculty and students to study overseas each year.

Back to top

February 19, 2004

Ford Foundation Grant Funds Assessment Planning At SIUE

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Thanks to a $9,000 grant from the Ford Foundation through the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will be assessing the region's needs for two new professional master's degrees in the Social Sciences and Humanities, according to Stephen Hansen, dean of Graduate Studies and Research at SIUE.

The two new graduate programs are Professional and Technical Writing and Criminal Justice Studies. "SIUE is one of only 38 institutions to receive funding for a planning grant from the Ford Foundation," Hansen said.

"These degrees are designed to meet the changing needs of the area's workforce. In order to ensure that the new programs will be meeting area workforce needs, each program will create a Business Advisory Board, modeled after other such boards for other SIUE programs," Hansen said. "The Graduate School, through its Institute for Urban Research, will be working with these Business Advisory Boards to survey workforce needs in the area."

Hansen said SIUE graduate programs are developed with the region's needs in mind, making the university a good match for funding from the Ford Foundation.

"For the past two years, the CGS has supported the development of professional master's programs in science and mathematics fields," Hansen said. "SIUE received funding for the new Biotechnology Management and Environmental Science Management programs from CGS and the Sloan Foundation."

With support from the Ford Foundation, CGS recently conducted a survey of master's education in the social sciences that generated interest among social science and humanities disciplinary societies for a collaborative research and demonstration project that assesses the need for and promising models of professional master's programs.

Professional master's degrees are interdisciplinary in design and typically combine study in various disciplines. The SIUE Professional and Technical Writing program would be housed in the Department of English Language and Literature, with students taking courses in such other disciplines as business. The Criminal Justice Studies program would be located within the SIUE Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies, with students taking courses is such other disciplines as biology, psychology, and anthropology.

"Funding from the Ford Foundation and the Council of Graduate Schools is important national recognition of the quality of graduate education at SIUE," Hansen said. Noting that graduate programs at SIUE are designed to be responsive to the needs of Southwestern Illinois, he added that "we are excited that this grant will allow us to expand our program inventory by supporting the development of two new graduate programs that serve the region."

Back to top

February 19, 2004

Adventure Of The American Mind Helps Teachers In The Region

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is in its second year of offering the Adventure of the American Mind (AAM), a project funded through the Library of Congress to prepare teachers to use the Library's American Memory Web site (memory.loc.gov).

In fact, the program has received $600,000 in additional federal funding to continue the program another two years, with the help of U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), who also helped initiate the program in the state of Illinois.

Through the AAM program, teachers can find not only interesting historical information on the Web site, but also may download historic images to help make learning more vivid for their students. The Library of Congress Web site provides 7.5 million historical items presented in more than 100 thematic collections, including photographs and rare documents, maps, films, and audio recordings.

AAM Program Manager Amy Wilkinson, of the SIUE School of Education, said the program helps teachers analyze and interpret original primary sources of information from the Web site. "Within the AAM program, teachers will learn how to download photographs taken during the civil rights era or letters written by Thomas Jefferson or George Washington, or even motion picture films from Edison Co. showing us life on the streets of New York in the early 1900s," Wilkinson said.

She explained the program is for in-service and pre-service classroom teachers, as well as for university teacher education faculty, to access and produce curriculum using the Web site's resources. "This program offers training on integrating technology, using digitized primary sources, resources, and technical support," Wilkinson said, "and provides resources such as laptops, LCD projectors, scanners, and digital cameras. We also have a technical specialist who offers a wide range of technical assistance."

Wilkinson said the AAM program involves a commitment to attend courses during one academic year, which includes three components-training (graduate course), enrichment (workshops), and mentoring. "Through the AAM program," she said, "teachers develop skills in using these primary sources to increase student's critical thinking skills and to enhance student learning.

"As technology continues to evolve, there is a need for educators to increase their technology skills to access rich educational information on the internet."

School of Education Dean Elliott Lessen said SIUE became involved in AAM because of the "unique opportunities" that were available. "The program is unique because it relies on primary source materials that have been digitized rather than pre-digested materials, such as textbooks," Lessen pointed out.

"Thus, teachers' creativity is allowed to flourish as they use primary source materials in a variety of ways. For example, one source could be used differently for math or science, or history or English.

"Through the AAM program, we are able to teach a course for graduate students and also infuse the unique features of AAM into our undergraduate teacher education programs," Lessen said.

For more information about the AAM program at SIUE, call the School of Education, (618) 650-3350.

Back to top

February 17, 2004

SIUE School of Engineering Open House Will Showcase Future of Engineering

(EDWARDSVILLE) The SIUE School of Engineering will hold its 4th Annual Open House on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year's focus is on the future of engineering.

Visitors will observe the teaching and research laboratories throughout the School and meet with faculty and students to learn about the fields of engineering, computer science and construction.

The following are some of the activities scheduled during the day:

• A panel of representatives from leading metro area firms will describe engineering projects in their companies and discuss future trends and career opportunities for new engineers in the greater St. Louis area.
• Computer Science faculty will explain how engineers create the special effects in current movies like The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
• Take a turn operating one of the school's two roaming robots, Taz and Marvin.
• Watch what happens when an earthquake shakes a structure, and witness other tests in the Structures Laboratory.
• See objects buffeted by winds equal to tornado speeds in the school's wind tunnel.
• Learn how virtual reality technology will revolutionize engineering practice in the future.
• Learn how computer engineers design and fabricate large-scale 100,000 transistors integrated chips.
• Try your hand at packaging by entering the Egg Drop Contest conducted by the Society of Women Engineers.
• Watch computers run robots and assembly lines as used in modern manufacturing facilities.

Prospective students who visit all the exhibits will have an opportunity to win a $500 scholarship to any SIUE School of Engineering Program. Everyone interested in learning how engineering will shape our future is invited to come early Saturday morning to enjoy all the events throughout the Engineering Building. For more information contact Kay Bares, 618-650-2541.

Back to top

February 16, 2004

Arts & Issues Series Presents The SLSO For A 'Leap Day' Concert

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Although it was a fixture at the Mississippi River Festival during the 1970s, the world renowned Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has only returned to the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville twice since the summer festival's heyday.

The acclaimed ensemble's presence on the SIUE campus has been as rare as, well, Leap Day, so, what better day to enjoy this magnificent organization on campus again than Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris University Center.

"Don't hesitate to 'leap' at the chance to hear again-or for the first time-one of the world's most applauded symphonic orchestras," says John Peecher, assistant development director for SIUE's College of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of the Arts & Issues series. "All joking aside, this orchestra is world class and is a wonderfully musical way to spend a winter's afternoon.

"Arts & Issues is proud to bring the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra to SIUE in a return engagement on our stage."

A familiar presence for many years in the recording industry, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has met with critical acclaim and has garnered nearly 60 Grammy nominations, winning six of the prestigious music awards. The orchestra has expanded its audience through frequent tours of the United States, including both coasts, as well as tours to Europe and to the Far East. In addition, the orchestra has played at Carnegie Hall in New York City and has been featured regularly on National Public Radio, both locally and nationally.

Information about the Feb. 29 appearance of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and how to order tickets may be found on the Arts & Issues Web site: artsandissues.com and in a printed brochure available through John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or, by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Tickets for the event are $18; students, $9. Tickets also are available at the Morris Center Information Desk, (618) 650-5555.

The remaining Arts & Issues season includes: National Geographic photographer Sam Abell, who will speak about the Lewis and Clark Expedition (March 16); the explosive and creative movement of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (April 2); and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer (April 20).

Back to top

February 12, 2004

Robert Rauschenberg's Collages Come To The Stage At SIUE

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) If you're looking for a play with a linear plot line that tells a coherent story, bobrauschenbergamerica might not be for you. However, if you love theater and would like to experience its magic in a whole new way, you might give "bob" a try.

bobrauschenbergamerica plays at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, through Saturday, Feb. 28, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 29, all at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Katherine Dunham Hall theater.

Director Charles Harper, assistant professor of Theater and Dance, recommends audience members allow the play to "wash" over them. "Playwright Charles Mee has a style that incorporates what might be called collages, using 'found' ideas,' "Harper explained. "And, the artist Robert Rauschenberg created his works from 'found' objects. So, the play is like Rauschenberg's art on stage. Some say Rauschenberg is the greatest living American artist."

Rauschenberg came out of the '50s and '60s creating work in answer to the Abstract Expressionists such as Jackson Pollack and Willem de Kooning who were part of that postwar American painting movement through which the U.S. first became the center of the avant-garde. For example, much of Pollack's work consisted of pouring, splashing, or splattering paint on canvas.

By the end of 1953, Rauschenberg had begun his Red Painting series on canvases that incorporated newspapers, fabric, and found objects, and evolved in 1954 into the Combines, a term he coined for his well-known works that integrated aspects of painting and sculpture and would often include such objects as a stuffed eagle or goat, street signs, or a quilt and pillow.

"Rauschenberg was protesting against the Abstract Expressionists and Mee is working in the same mode, using a collage of pop culture images as a collection of scenes in the play," Harper said. "There is a vague story line in this play, but the images are the important thing."

Harper, who came to the department two years ago from Seattle, has been involved with other plays by Mee. "This play will definitely broaden the horizons of playgoers who haven't seen this sort of style before," Harper said. "I'm not about shocking the audience, so I'm preparing them through articles in the printed program.

"If they know there is no real storyline, it will help them with the experience," he said. "The overall experience will satisfy them; it's very entertaining. Someone swimming in a giant martini glass might be weirdly funny to the audience," Harper said with a laugh.

"This stage experience will be like looking at an abstract painting. The viewer always finds beauty in some aspect of the artwork. This play is a reflection of the playwright's views of 1950s America," Harper said. "But, it's through Bob Rauschenberg's eyes."

Back to top

February 12, 2004

Board Approves Robert Remini For Honorary Doctorate At Commencement

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Robert Vincent Remini, a history professor emeritus at the University of Illinois-Chicago and official historian for that campus, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's May 8 commencement, according to action taken today by the SIU Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting conducted this month at SIUE.

Honorary degrees have been awarded for more than 40 years at SIUE commencement exercises to those who have made significant contributions to cultural, educational, scientific, economic, social, or humanitarian fields, or other worthy fields of endeavor.

Remini is regarded as America's premier historian of the Jacksonian political era and Andrew Jackson himself. In addition to his definitive works on Jackson, Remini, an award-winning author, has written biographies of John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Mormon leader Joseph Smith, Martin Van Buren, and Daniel Webster. In 2002, Remini was honored by the Library of Congress with an appointment to write a narrative history of the U.S. House of Representatives.

A member of the faculty at the U of I Chicago since its inception in 1965, Remini earned a bachelor's at Fordham University and went on to receive a master's and a doctorate from Columbia University. He taught at Fordham for 18 years before joining the U of I history faculty at the Chicago campus, where he served as a teacher and administrator.

In other business today, the SIU Board approved a new fee for all predoctoral students at the SIU School of Dental Medicine to cover maintenance and updating of clinical training facilities, associated dental and sterilization equipment, and classroom and laboratory equipment. The new fee-$1,600 each for fall and spring semesters and a pro-rated $711 fee for summer clinic sessions preceding years three and four of the curriculum-will go into effect in fall 2004.

Back to top

February 4, 2004

Bluff Hall Visual Arts FIC to Host Art Show

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Students who live in the Visual Arts Focused Interested Community (FIC) will play host to their first annual Art Show on Monday, Feb. 16, in the Multifunction Room of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Bluff Hall.

Gallery hours are from 2- 9 p.m., with an artists' reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m., and an awards presentation at 5:15 p.m. The show will consist of two-dimensional and three-dimensional pieces created by SIUE residential students.. Members of the SIUE Art and Design faculty and staff will serve as judges.

The Visual Arts FIC is one of 12 communities in which students, who share the same academic major or interests, live together in the same wing of a residence hall. Residents are able to meet faculty and staff in their area of interest, and they have opportunities to participate in specialized programs and study groups.

"FICs are a great way for students to meet faculty and other students who share their interests and career goals," said Kara Shustrin, assistant director of Academic Programs and Assessment for SIUE's Office of University Housing. "The FICs Living and learning programs promote more of a connection between what students are learning inside the classroom and what they are doing outside the classroom," she said.

"The art show is just one example of this connection; students are putting the show together themselves and collaborating with faculty to make it a successful event."

Residents interested in submitting pieces to the show may pick up an entry form at any residence hall front desk or in the Cougar Village Commons Building. Entry forms and artwork are due to the Bluff Hall office by Feb. 13. Those with questions about the First Annual Bluff Hall Art Show may contact Maria Mullane: (618) 650-1796 or Kara Shustrin: (618) 650-0546.

Back to top

February 4, 2004

Family Resource Center Sets Grand Re-Opening

(EDWARDSVILLE) Children and parents will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of a renovated facility at the Family Resource Center, part of University Housing on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. A grand re-opening of the facility is set for 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in Building 420, Cougar Village Apartments.

The renovated facility includes new lighting, flooring, kitchen, restroom, and office areas, among several other improvements. "The renovated FRC has been designed to meet the needs of our families for years to come," said Michael Schultz, director of SIUE's Office of Housing. The center serves approximately 120 familiesand provides services such as an After-School Program, with tutoring and arts and crafts, a Kid's and Teen Night Out, and an exercise program for working women. In addition, Family Housing staff provides activities for families throughout the week and programs about issues such as financial planning, diversity, and marriage and family seminar.

Questions regarding the grand re-opening may be directed to Beth Lawless, Residence director for families: edougla@siue.edu or (618) 650-5367.

Back to top

SIUE Spring Enrollment Reaches 12,597

Spring 2004 enrollment jumped to 12,597, compared to last spring's 12,161, about a 3.6 percent increase. Compared to spring 2002, spring enrollment is up by almost 1,000 students

Boyd Bradshaw, assistant vice chancellor for Enrollment Management, said he was pleased with spring enrollment. "We've seen consistent strong increases in our fall enrollment," he said. "Now what we're starting to see is a spring growth pattern that mirrors the fall increases."

SIUE's fall (2003) enrollment was 13,295, continuing a nine-year trend of enrollment growth. Fall enrollment was up about 4.5 percent over fall 2002.

Todd Burrell, Director of Admissions, said early projections for Fall '04 point to a slight growth in enrollment. "We believe that maintaining enrollment at a certain level best serves our students in terms of size of classes, access to professors, available resources and student services," Burrell said.

The admission application deadline for freshmen entering Fall '04 is May 31; for all other undergraduate students, the deadline is Aug. 2. Graduate students should submit applications no later than July 23. Additional information about applying for admission to SIUE is available online at www.admis.siue.edu.

UCM To Sponsor Annual 'Death By Chocolate Affair' At SIUE Religious Center

During the 1960s, comic folk-singer Tommy Smothers sang about falling into a vat of chocolate, but the United Campus Ministry (UCM) will stop short of that danger during its annual "A Death by Chocolate Affair," on Friday, Feb. 13.

But, those attending the affair might find that tasting the amazing chocolate delicacies is tantamount to the same thing. "We have more than 20 establishments from the area, many of them famous for their desserts, donating chocolate to this event," says Rev. Cherie Hambleton, dorector of the UCM at the SIUE Religious Center.

The event takes place from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. that Friday at the domed center. Hambleton said the event is an important UCM fund-raiser. "Members of the surrounding communities are invited to tempt their taste buds with the pure enjoyment of 'sinfully' delicious desserts from some favorite establishments..

"Local restaurants and establishments-Houlihan's, Neruda, Franks' on Main, Rusty's, Mrs. Seibold's Bakery, My Just Desserts, Sacred Grounds, to name a few-will be represented at the affair, and, for the cost of admission, folks can sample as much chocolate as they wish. We'll also have chocolate treats from local kitchens."

Admission is $10; children under 12 and students, $5. A "to-go" plate is $8; students and children, $5. For more information, call (618) 650-3248.

The UCM on campus represents the United Methodist Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, and the Church of the Brethren.

International Travel With Experts Also Offers Part In Video Documentary

Southern Illinois University students, their families, alumni, senior citizens, and other community members will have the chance to travel to ancient Greece or Egypt again this spring with the university's Expeditions in the Ancient World programs.

But this year there's a chance to be a "star."

SIU Carbondale has added funding to produce a video documentary of the expedition to Greece, utilizing faculty who are professional documentary producers. "This is an exciting step for our program, which is entering its 22nd year of providing expertly organized sojourns led by teams of professors in various fields of ancient culture," says SIUC Philosophy Professor Robert Hahn, who founded the travel program.

"This will be unique from other documentaries in that we will not only talk about the places and ideas that came out of Greek civilization, but we also will demonstrate the activities that fostered the ancient Greek's ideas of self knowledge and self-investigation, such as the theater and the Olympics," Hahn said.

The Greece program (May 27-June 10) takes in Athens, Delphi, and the Greek Islands of Samos and Kos, Troy, and the west coast of Turkey. Activities include performing in an ancient play in an ancient theater on Kos, with costumes and masks made by participants. Travelers also will re-enact the trial of Socrates, run an Olympic race in the stadium at Delphi, build ancient sundials on the beach, create pottery in a shop on Samos, and build an architectural model of an ancient Greek temple.

The Egypt program (May 15-28) will take up to 35 participants to Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, Egypt, as well as a luxury cruise on the River Nile. The trip includes site visits to ancient Egypt's wonders, temples and tombs, a re-enactment of the ancient mummification rituals, carving and painting hieroglyphic tablets, model-making reconstruction of the Great Pyramids, and erecting an obelisk.

Hahn says he hopes the documentary can be marketed to Public Television or to one of the cable learning channels. "We not only want the documentary to highlight our travel programs but to also attract benefactors who want to support us so that we can offer scholarships and more expanded programs," Hahn said. "We would also like to attract more participants who not only want to learn but also do."

A slide presentation about the programs will be conducted in Edwardsville, St. Louis, and Carbondale:

• 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, Wild Oats Community Market, Ladue Rd. & Interstate 170, St. Louis
• 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, both at Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S. Kansas St., Community Room, on the lower level
• 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, Rm. 3117, Peck Hall, SIUE
• 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, Illinois Room, SIU Carbondale's Student Center

Students may earn hours of credit in a variety of subjects for participating, and may apply for financial aid through the university. Both programs offer a blend of archaeological site visits each morning, with free afternoons for relaxing, swimming and shopping, and a lecture series in the evening before dinner, Hahn said. "Our travel programs provide five-star accommodations all the way."

The programs' Web site is: www.siu.edu/~nmc/hahn/origins.html. Those interested also may contact SIUE Professor Nancy Ruff by e-mail: nruff@siue.edu, or by calling: (618) 650-3649 for more information.

Exhibition at SIUE Offers Some Valentine's Day Snooker

You might not think of an appearance by the "Duchess of Doom" as a great place for a Valentine's Day date, but look at it this way: Do you want the standard box of chocolates, or the world's best snooker?

Snooker, nine ball, and trick shots will be the order of the day as Allison Fisher, one of the world's best pool players, with a host of national and world titles, will put on an exhibition from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, in the Morris Center's Recreation Center.

.Fisher began playing pool when she was 12 years old and won her first World Snooker Championship at 17. Since then, she has made a name for herself playing snooker and nine-ball, and lately can be seen frequently in pool tournaments on ESPN.

Fisher's appearance coincides with the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) Region 9 Recreation Tournament being held Feb. 13-15 at SIUE. Several hundred college students from across the region will compete in bowling, pool, and table tennis with the winners going on to national finals.

Fisher was born in England and now resides in Charlotte, N.C. She once held the top ranking on the women's tour for five consecutive years, and returned to the top spot in 2003.

She's not the first world champion pool player to play at the Morris Center. In 1967, when the center opened, 14-time world champion Willie Musconi played an exhibition.

Professor To Participate In German Language Leadership Program

Belinda Carstens-Wickham, a professor of Foreign Languages and Literature and chair of that department, has been selected to participate in a leadership program in the field of German language education.

The American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut established a program, Transatlantisches interkulturelles Nachwuchsfoerderungsprogramm Deutsch als Fremdsprache (Transatlantic Intercultural Program To Support Faculty Teaching German as a Foreign Language), designed to build future leaders in the field of teaching German. This program, now in its fourth year, is funded through the German government.

Carstens-Wickham, who has taught German at the university since 1989, will take part in the program with other participants who will strengthen their leadership skills, develop strategies for advocating German at all levels of instruction, and deepen their understanding of Germany and the European Union. Participants will also learn more about the activities of the AATG and the broader field of world languages.

Program participants will attend an orientation meeting in Washington D.C. from April 22-25. This summer, they will take part in seminars in Germany, and they also will attend the AATG Annual Meeting in Chicago in November.

SIUE Women's Golf Ranked 13th Nationally

With a 2003 Great Lakes Valley Conference championship in the bag, the SIUE women's golf team will begin its spring season ranked 13th in the nation among NCAA Division II schools, according to a coaches poll on www.thegolfchannel .com.

SIUE is coming off its best season in the history of the program. The Cougars dominated the GLVC Championships to win by 17 strokes. Kallie Harrison (Decatur) and Katie Farrell (Princeton) were both tabbed All-GLVC, and SIUE coach Larry Bennett was named Coach of the Year in the conference.

The Cougars open its spring schedule in March 15-16 at the Lady Emerald Invitational in Greenville, S.C., in hopes of making a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Men's Basketball Plays Host To USI, UMSL

With only three conference games left on the schedule and a fifth-place standing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the SIUE men's basketball team is on its way to its first GLVC Tournament appearance since the 1998-1999 season.

SIUE, 13-10 overall and 9-8 in the GLVC, will entertain 16th-ranked Southern Indiana on Thursday (2/19) and Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday (2/21). Both games will be held at the Vadalabene Center.

Southern Indiana (19-4, 12-4 GLVC) has scored over 113 points in each of its past two games and is battling with Lewis for a conference championship. "It's not like you can take away one or two things from Southern Indiana and expect to win," Coach Marty Simmons said. "They can beat you in many different ways."

Missouri-St. Louis (9-14, 5-11 GLVC) has won three of its last five games to position itself for a possible appearance in the GLVC Tournament. "I don't like to look ahead, but I know UMSL is playing good basketball," Simmons said. "They have had some good wins recently."

The Cougars defeated Northern Kentucky last Thursday (2/12), thanks to a 40-foot three-pointer at the buzzer by Calvin Sykes (Chicago). "I'm proud of the team because we battled back and gave ourselves a chance to win," Simmons said. "To see the emotion after Sykes' shot was outstanding."

Sykes powered SIUE with 19 points Saturday (2/14) at Bellarmine, but SIUE dropped the contest as Bellarmine hit 71.7 percent of its shots.

Tyler Hackstadt leads the squad with 12.2 points per game. Ron Jones follows with 11.6 ppg and a team-high 44.7 three-point field goal percentage. Sykes averages 11.3 ppg and has a team-high 84 assists.

Women's Basketball Gears For Three-Game Homestand

With its remaining three games all at the Vadalabene Center, the SIUE women's basketball team is poised to make a run at qualifying for the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament.

SIUE, 10-14 overall and 5-12 in the GLVC, will face Southern Indiana on Thursday before playing host to Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday (2/21).

Southern Indiana (16-7, 9-7 GLVC) has mathematically qualified for the tournament, but Missouri-St. Louis (6-17, 3-13 GLVC) is currently on the outside looking in. "We've been fighting all season and every game has been important," Coach Wendy Hedberg said. "Depending on what happens Thursday, Saturday's game against UMSL could be a big matchup. We will come ready to play."

The Cougars are coming off road loses to Northern Kentucky and Bellarmine. "This was the hardest I've seen them play in a while; both NKU and Bellarmine are just quality teams," Hedberg said. "We battled hard at NKU and got off to a slow start at Bellarmine, but battled back to get into the game."

SIUE shot poorly in both games, hitting 38 percent against NKU and 35.7 percent against Bellarmine. "We are just missing too many shots near the basket," Hedberg said. "We need to knock down our open looks."

Jessica Robert (Carlyle) continues to lead the team with 14.6 points per game. Post players Tanya Guell (Plymouth, Wis.) and Julianne McMillen (Pana) follow with 12.8 and 10.9 ppg, respectively.

No. 20 Softball Opens In Georgia

The two-time defending Great Lakes Valley Conference champions will open their 2004 campaign with five games in two days at the West Georgia Tournament in Carrollton, Ga., this weekend.

SIUE plays West Alabama, West Florida and Georgia Southwestern on Friday (2/20), then West Georgia and Lincoln Memorial on Saturday (2/21).

It will be the first true competition for the Cougars since the fall season. Due to the weather, SIUE has yet to have had a practice outdoors. "We'll be ready by Friday," Coach Sandy Montgomery said. "We haven't seen a few live scenarios, but I think we're talented enough to work through it."

The opening tournament of the season will give players on the squad an opportunity to work for some playing time, but Montgomery realizes that every win is important. "We play to win every game," she said. "The team knows they have been practicing for playing time. They'll get an opportunity to play and we'll make our decisions on positions at that point."

Men's Tennis Opens At The Principia Invite

With five of its players returning from a year ago, the SIUE men's tennis team will open play this weekend at The Principia Invitational in Elsah.

The round-robin tournament begins Friday and will conclude Saturday. "This is a good warm-up to start the season," Coach Bill Logan said. "This tournament gives us a chance to get things rolling."

Newcomer Matt Warner (Arlington Hts.), a transfer from Midwestern State, will compete at No. 1 singles. Matt Kuban (Pekin) will play No. 2 singles. Warner and Kuban will team up to make the No. 1 doubles team.

At No. 3 singles, Logan will get a look at newcomer Justin Free (Danville). Andy Renner (Belleville) returns to the No. 4 slot, with Chris Rigdon (Glen Carbon) playing No. 5 and Doug Kummer (Fenton, Mo.) rounding out the lineup at No. 6 singles.

Rigdon and Daniel Lipe (Edwardsville) will play No. 2 doubles, with Free and Kummer competing at No. 3 doubles.

Track Teams Split For Weekend Action

The SIUE track and field team will be scattered this weekend, with some athletes participating at Indiana University and some at the Friday Night Special at Eastern Illinois.

"Only a handful of athletes will participate at Indiana University, giving them a chance to drop some qualifying times," Coach Darryl Frerker said. "The bulk of the team will be going to EIU."

Callie Glover (Bartlett) provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in the shot put with a throw of 53 feet, 5.75 inches at the Lewis Invitational.

Richard Skirball (Granite City), who has provisionally qualified in the men's 800-meter, dropped his time to 1 minute, 53.38 seconds. On the women's side, Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) dropped her time in the 55-meter hurdles to a school record 8.41 seconds.

Overall, Frerker was impressed with his team's performance at the Lewis Invitational. "It was a great meet for us," Frerker said. "It was a continuation of what the first few weeks have shown."

This weekend marks the final competition before the Great Lakes Valley Conference Indoor Championships, which will be held Feb. 28 at Lewis University. "Every weekend gets just a little better for us," Frerker said. "If we keep it up, we'll have a shot at the GLVC Championships."

Wrestling Travels To EIU, Central Oklahoma

SIUE wrestling will conclude its regular season this week with duals at Eastern Illinois and Central Oklahoma. It is the last competition before the Midwest Regional on Feb. 29.

The Cougars, who are 7-11 in dual matches, travel to EIU Wednesday (2/18) before heading to Central Oklahoma on Saturday (2/21).

The NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association currently ranks Central Oklahoma second in the nation. "The Central Oklahoma match is important because they are in our region,"

Coach Booker Benford said. "It is important to bump off some of those guys to get higher seeds in the regional."

Eastern Illinois, who competes in NCAA Division I, will come into the match with a 4-9 dual record. "EIU is very stacked this year," Benford said. "We have competed well with them these past few years, but had to give up points because of forfeits."

SIUE is coming off the CMSU Dual Jamboree, where it went 1-3 as a team. Steve Chico (Hammond, Ind.) was the only Cougar to win all four matches.

Basketball Cougars Look to Continue Hot Streak

After enjoying a three-game home stand that resulted in three Great Lakes Valley Conference victories, the SIUE basketball Cougars will take to the road to try to continue their string of wins.

The Cougars, 12-9 overall and 8-7 in the GLVC, travel to face Northern Kentucky on Thursday (2/12) and Bellarmine on Saturday (2/14).

SIUE is currently fifth in the conference standings, but Thursday's opponent NKU is a half-game back in sixth place. Bellarmine has dropped four straight and is currently 10th in the GLVC. The top eight teams advance to the conference tournament in March. "In a conference battle like this, all games are equally important," Coach Marty Simmons said. "It all goes back to the theory that you take one game at a time."

SIUE defeated both teams earlier this season. The Cougars broke NKU's string of 14 consecutive victories against the Cougars with a 81-75 victory at the Vadalabene Center. SIUE topped Bellarmine 68-53 in the GLVC home-opener earlier this year.

Tyler Hackstadt (Okawville) is averaging a team-high 12.6 points per game. He scored a team-high 17 points in SIUE's win against Wisconsin-Parkside. "Tyler plays hard and is asked to do so many things," Simmons said. "He is probably more consistent than anyone."

Joel Jaye (Chicago) has given the Cougars a big boost off the bench. He is averaging 10.5 ppg even though he has yet to start a game. He also leads active SIUE players with 5.3 rebounds a game. "Joel gives you the option of bringing energy into a game from an offensive standpoint," Simmons said. "He is almost like a sixth starter. He has accepted his role and has done a good job with it."

Ron Jones (Kankakee) is second on the team with 12.1 points per game. Calvin Sykes (Chicago) is averaging 10.5 ppg while leading the team with 78 assists.

Records Continue To Fall

Numerous SIUE indoor track and field records were broken last weekend at Illinois Wesleyan's Titan Open, bringing the season total to 17 records broken thus far.

Overall, the women's team won the meet with 145.16 points, well ahead of second-place Illinois Wesleyan who totaled 106 points. It is the first indoor team win for the Cougars since the 1999 season. The men's squad placed second in the meet.

Perhaps more important, the Cougars gained three NCAA provisional qualifying marks this weekend on the women's side. Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) provisionally qualified in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.43 seconds. Breanne Steffens' (Moline) time of 2 minutes, 16.15 seconds put her on the qualifying list in the 800 meters.

The Cougars' 4x400-meter relay team of Valerie Simmons (St. Louis), Jenny Jaquez (Aurora), Julia Scherer (Sumner) and Shevon Shegog (Anchorage, Alaska) also provisionally qualified with a time of 3:54.99. All qualifying times also broke the school record in the respective event. Thomas also broke the triple jump school record with a jump of 11.39 meters.

On the men's side, the distance medley relay team broke the school record with a time of 10:18.16. Making up the relay team were Ryan Boyll (Normal), Cody Ellermeyer (Duquoin), Richard Skirball (Granite City) and Brian Taghon (East Moline).

Both teams will try to continue their success when they travel to Lewis University on Friday (2/13) for the Lewis Invitational. "We added this meet to our schedule for several reasons," Coach Darryl Frerker said. "First, it is one of the few meets that run the 200-meter hurdles, which will be run at the conference meet. Second, it will be good for the young athletes to get experience on the track, because it is where the GLVC Championships will be held."

Women's Tennis Begins Spring Season

The SIUE women's tennis team will open its spring schedule this weekend when five individuals participate in the Principia Invitational in Elsah.

Singles competition will be held Friday (2/13), with doubles action taking place Saturday (2/14). Coach Bill Logan hopes his team can build on its performance during the fall semester. "I really thought the team did well last year although we finished fifth," Logan said. "We had numerous close matches and could have easily placed better."

Gina Wohltman (Effingham), who led the team in the fall with 11 victories, will be one of five SIUE participants in the Principia Invitational. Lisa Warner (Arlington Hts.), Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) and Allison Coats (Belleville) also will try to build on their impressive fall season. Celia Montes (Chicago) will make her Cougar debut at the tournament. "This is a tournament with good competition and is a great tournament to start off the spring season," Logan said.

During the fall, the Cougars played to a 9-5 overall record and a 5-4 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Rujawitz Picks Up Win No. 30

Joe Rujawitz (Belleville) picked up his 30th victory of the season Saturday (2/7) in a 2-1 overtime win over Central Missouri's Jesse Zeugin.

"A 30-win season means you are doing good things for yourself and the team," Coach Booker Benford said. "He really showed a lot of heart out there in that match."

Over the past few seasons, only SIUE's elite has surpassed the 30-win plateau, including NCAA national qualifiers Zach Stephens and Titus Taylor. However, things were not as glorious from a team standpoint. The Cougars dropped the Central Missouri match 24-19 before falling to Northern Illinois 49-0 Sunday evening.

SIUE, which now posts a 6-8 dual record on the season, will travel to Central Missouri for the CMSU Dual Jamboree. Other teams expected to enter the tournament are Southwest State, Indianapolis, Northern State and Fort Hays State. "Hopefully we can pick up two or three wins, but we will have to wrestle tough to do so," Benford said. "I told the team I was proud of their performance this past weekend. There were just a few small things that cost us points. This is all part of gearing up for nationals."

Women's Basketball Looks To Build On Victory

With its win Saturday (2/7) against Saint Joseph's, SIUE remains in the hunt for post-season play. The Cougars defeated Saint Joseph's 77-69 to solidify its eighth-place position in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings. The top eight teams advance to the GLVC Tournament in March.

SIUE, 10-12 overall and 5-10 in GLVC action, will travel to Northern Kentucky on Thursday and Bellarmine on Saturday 2/14) for two GLVC contests. Coach Wendy Hedberg hopes the SJC victory will give her players a boost. "I thought coming off our win against Southern Indiana a few weeks ago would be a lift, but it wasn't," Hedberg said. "Hopefully, this win will give our players some confidence."

Julianne McMillen (Pana) recorded her sixth double-double on the season with 10 points and 10 boards against Saint Joseph's. Jessica Robert (Carlyle) poured in a season-high 23 points.

Jaque Howard (Galesburg), who prior to Saturday's game scored only six points in her last 12 games, came up big with 13 points which including four three-point field goals. "Hopefully, that will give Jaque some confidence to shoot the ball," Hedberg said. "She is a great passer, so sometimes she passes before she looks to shoot. We have not been taking enough shots lately."

Northern Kentucky enters Thursday's game with a record of 13-7 overall and 8-6 in the GLVC. It has lost its last two games, including a defeat to 5-16 Missouri-St. Louis. Bellarmine is 14-7 and 10-5 in GLVC play. "NKU will be tough, especially coming off two losses," Hedberg said. "I think we can play with them, and they are beatable as proven at UMSL."

Robert continues to lead the team in scoring with 14.8 ppg. Her 52.7 three-point field-goal percentage should be near the top in the nation when updated NCAA statistics are released Tuesday (2/10). Tanya Guell (Plymouth, Wis.) is second with 12.5 ppg. McMillen averages 11.1 ppg and leads the team with 7.7 boards per game.

'Adventure Of The American Mind' Helps Teachers In The Region

SIUE is in its second year of offering the Adventure of the American Mind (AAM), a project funded through the Library of Congress to prepare teachers to use the Library's American Memory Web site (memory.loc.gov).

In fact, the program has received $600,000 in additional federal funding to continue the program another two years, with the help of U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), who initiated the program in the state of Illinois.

Through the AAM program, teachers can find not only interesting historical information on the Web site, but also may download historic images to help make learning more vivid for their students. The Library of Congress Web site provides 7.5 million historical items presented in more than 100 thematic collections, including photographs and rare documents, maps, films, and audio recordings.

AAM Program Manager Amy Wilkinson, of the SIUE School of Education, said the program helps teachers analyze and interpret original primary sources of information from the Web site. "Within the AAM program, teachers will learn how to download photographs taken during the civil rights era or letters written by Thomas Jefferson or George Washington, or even motion picture films from Edison Co. showing us life on the streets of New York in the early 1900s," Wilkinson said.

She explained the program is for in-service and pre-service classroom teachers, as well as for university teacher education faculty, to access and produce curriculum using the Web site's resources. "This program offers training on integrating technology, using digitized primary sources, resources, and technical support," Wilkinson said, "and provides resources such as laptops, LCD projectors, scanners, and digital cameras. We also have a technical specialist who offers a wide range of technical assistance."

Wilkinson said the AAM program involves a commitment to attend courses during one academic year, which includes three components-training (graduate course), enrichment (workshops), and mentoring. "Through the AAM program," she said, "teachers develop skills in using these primary sources to increase student's critical thinking skills and to enhance student learning.

"As technology continues to evolve, there is a need for educators to increase their technology skills to access rich educational information on the internet."

School of Education Dean Elliott Lessen said SIUE became involved in AAM because of the "unique opportunities" that were available. "The program is unique because it relies on primary source materials that have been digitized rather than pre-digested materials, such as textbooks," Lessen pointed out. "Thus, teachers' creativity is allowed to flourish as they use primary source materials in a variety of ways. For example, one source could be used differently for math or science, or history or English.

"Through the AAM program, we are able to teach a course for graduate students and also infuse the unique features of AAM into our undergraduate teacher education programs," Lessen said.

For more information about the AAM program at SIUE, call the School of Education, (618) 650-3350.

SLSO Returns To SIUE As Part Of Arts & Issues Series

Although it was a fixture at the Mississippi River Festival during the 1970s, the world renowned Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has only returned to the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville twice since the summer festival's heyday.

The acclaimed ensemble's presence on the SIUE campus has been as rare as, well, Leap Day, so, what better day to enjoy this magnificent organization on campus again than Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom.

"Don't hesitate to 'leap'at the chance to hear again-or for the first time-one of the world's most applauded symphonic orchestras," says John Peecher, assistant development director for SIUE's College of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of the Arts & Issues series. "All joking aside, this orchestra is world class and is a wonderfully musical way to spend a winter's afternoon.

"Arts & Issues is proud to bring the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra to SIUE in a return engagement on our stage."

A familiar presence for many years in the recording industry, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has met with critical acclaim and has garnered nearly 60 Grammy nominations, winning six of the prestigious music awards. The orchestra has expanded its audience through frequent tours of the United States, including both coasts, as well as tours to Europe and to the Far East.

In addition, the orchestra has played at Carnegie Hall in New York City and has been featured regularly on National Public Radio, both locally and nationally.

Information about the Feb. 29 appearance of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and how to order tickets may be found on the Arts & Issues Web site: artsandissues.com and in a printed brochure available through John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or, by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Tickets for the event are $18; students, $9. Tickets also are available at the Morris Center Information Desk, (618) 650-5555.

The remaining Arts & Issues season includes: National Geographic photographer Sam Abell, who will speak about the Lewis and Clark Expedition (March 16); the explosive and creative movement of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (April 2); and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer (April 20).

Ford Foundation Grant Funds Assessment Planning At SIUE

Thanks to a $9,000 grant from the Ford Foundation through the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), SIUE will be assessing the region's needs for two new professional master's degrees in the Social Sciences and Humanities, according to Stephen Hansen, dean of Graduate Studies and Research.

The two new graduate programs are Professional and Technical Writing and Criminal Justice Studies. "SIUE is one of only 38 institutions to receive funding for a planning grant from the Ford Foundation," Hansen said.

"These degrees are designed to meet the changing needs of the area's workforce. In order to ensure that the new programs will be meeting area workforce needs, each program will create a Business Advisory Board, modeled after other such boards for other SIUE programs," Hansen said.

"The Graduate School, through its Institute for Urban Research, will be working with these Business Advisory Boards to survey workforce needs in the area."

Hansen said SIUE graduate programs are developed with the region's needs in mind, making the university a good match for funding from the Ford Foundation. "For the past two years, the CGS has supported the development of professional master's programs in science and mathematics fields," Hansen said. "SIUE received funding for the new Biotechnology Management and Environmental Science Management programs from CGS and the Sloan Foundation."

With support from the Ford Foundation, CGS recently conducted a survey of master's education in the social sciences that generated interest among social science and humanities disciplinary societies for a collaborative research and demonstration project that assesses the need for and promising models of professional master's programs.

Professional master's degrees are interdisciplinary in design and typically combine study in various disciplines. The SIUE Professional and Technical Writing program would be housed in the Department of English Language and Literature, with students taking courses in such other disciplines as business. The Criminal Justice Studies program would be located within the SIUE Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies, with students taking courses is such other disciplines as biology, psychology, and anthropology.

"Funding from the Ford Foundation and the Council of Graduate Schools is important national recognition of the quality of graduate education at SIUE," Hansen said.

Noting that graduate programs at SIUE are designed to be responsive to the needs of Southwestern Illinois, Hansen added: "We are excited that this grant will allow us to expand our program inventory by supporting the development of two new graduate programs that serve the region."

Board Approves Robert Remini For Honorary Doctorate At Commencement

Robert Vincent Remini, a history professor emeritus at the University of Illinois-Chicago and official historian for that campus, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during SIUE's May 8 commencement, according to action taken recently by the SIU Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting conducted in February at SIUE.

Honorary degrees have been awarded for more than 40 years at SIUE commencement exercises to those who have made significant contributions to cultural, educational, scientific, economic, social, or humanitarian fields, or other worthy fields of endeavor.

Remini is regarded as America's premier historian of the Jacksonian political era and of Andrew Jackson himself. In addition to his definitive works on Jackson, Remini, an award-winning author, has written biographies of John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Mormon leader Joseph Smith, Martin Van Buren, and Daniel Webster. In 2002, Remini was honored by the Library of Congress with an appointment to write a narrative history of the U.S. House of Representatives.

A member of the faculty at the U of I-Chicago since its inception in 1965, Remini earned a bachelor's at Fordham University and went on to receive a master's and a doctorate from Columbia University. He taught at Fordham for 18 years before joining the U of I history faculty at the Chicago campus, where he has served as a teacher and administrator.

In other business at the February meeting, the SIU Board approved a new fee for all predoctoral students at the SIU School of Dental Medicine to cover maintenance and updating of clinical training facilities, associated dental and sterilization equipment, and classroom and laboratory equipment.

The new fee-$1,600 each for fall and spring semesters and a pro-rated $711 fee for summer clinic sessions preceding years three and four of the curriculum-will go into effect in fall 2004.

Business Educators To Visit SIUE During International Week March 1-6

Business educators from four countries will visit Southern Illinois University Edwardsville during International Business Week, March 1-6, to discuss issues of trade and global business practices.

The SIUE School of Business and the SIUE International Trade Center are co-sponsoring events during the week to provide opportunities for students and for the general public to discuss global business practices with the international educators as well as regional business leaders from the community.

Events are sponsored, in part, by a grant from the SIUE Excellence in Undergraduate Education fund.

The four visiting faculty members are Albrecht Sonntag, on the faculty at the École Supérieure des Sciences Commerciales d'Angers, who specializes in the political economy of the European Union; Hans Gühlert, on the faculty of Fachhochschule Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Germany, who specializes in marketing and marketing research; Sara Isabel García, on the faculty of the Instituto Tecnológico Y De Estudios Superiores De Monterrey in Mexico, who has expertise in marketing, with specialties in advertising, sales promotion, marketing planning, and business ethics; and Chen Yan, associate professor in the International Trade Department at Xiamen University in China.

They will be joined in a March 1 panel discussion by Rick Dreyer, vice president of international sales at T.J. Gundlach Machine Company in Belleville, and Stewart Dahlberg, manager of export sales at J.D. Streett & Company Inc. in St. Louis. The panel discussion is set for 6:30 p.m. in the Maple-Dogwood Room, on the second floor of SIUE's Morris University Center. Topics will include international trade and the state of international business.

Admission is free to the general public, but reservations are requested.

Please contact Vivien Shao by e-mail: yshao@siue.edu or by telephone, (618) 650- 2452, to register and reserve seating.

The international faculty members also will speak to faculty, staff, and students from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Room 2401 of Alumni Hall on Tuesday, March 2. This session, part of the School of Business' weekly "Business Hour," will provide students with a greater knowledge of and appreciation for the global business environment and how social, legal, political, cultural, and economic forces shape business practices in various countries.

The SIUE School of Business is an active participant in international exchange programs and sends SIUE faculty and students to study overseas each year.

SIUE Presents Black Heritage Month Activities During February

SIUE is presenting its Seventh Annual Black Heritage Month Program during February, with its theme of Black History is American History. Below is a remaining calendar of events:

• Black Film Series: A Historic Perspective-6-10 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 23-24, presents screening of films directed by Oscar Micheaux (Lying Lips, 1939), Gordon Parks (The Learning Tree, 1969), Reginald and Warrington Hudlin of East St. Louis (The Great White Hype, 1996), and a fourth film to be announced. Elza Ibroscheva and Bala Baptiste, members of the SIUE Mass Communications faculty, will present a conceptualization of African-American films and filmmakers.

• Panel Discussion: Blacks, Radio and History, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Goshen Lounge. Local radio talk show hosts and on-air personalities will participate in the discussion.

• Lecture-Are We Still Living Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream?-7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, Maple-Dogwood Room, Morris Center. Former Washington Post reporter Leon Dash will lead the discussion..

• Black Heritage Month Quiz Bowl, 11:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, in Goshen.

• Gospel Explosion-6:30-10 p.m., Meridian Ballroom. This event features poetry, rap, praise dance, and gospel music.

For more information, call the SIUE Kimmel Leadership Center, (618) 650-2686.

Men's Basketball Set for GLVC Tournament

It has been five seasons since the SIUE men's basketball team has made an appearance at Roberts Stadium for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.

It will be Coach Marty Simmons' first time back in Roberts Stadium since becoming SIUE's leader last season. Simmons was an assistant coach at the University of Evansville.

Nostalgia aside, Simmons takes his team into the league tournament beaming with enthusiasm and confidence. The Cougars hold a three-game winning streak. Their most recent victory was a homecourt upset of 14th-ranked Lewis 78-76 on Saturday (2/28). "That was a big win. It was what we had talked about before the game. Everything was dedicated to our seniors," Simmons said, referring to Corey Bradford (Chicago), Ron Jones (Kankakee) and Dan Lytle (Edwardsville).

Joel Jaye (Chicago) led all scorers with 28 points in the win.

SIUE, 16-11 and the No. 5 seed in the tournament, faces fourth-seeded Indianapolis in the first round on Friday (3/5) at noon.

Despite losing to Indianapolis twice during the regular season, Simmons said the team's one-game-at-a-time attitude remains. "Our guys are playing with confidence, but it all comes down to execution," said Simmons.

The Cougars will face an Indianapolis team, 19-8, searching for win No. 20 on Friday. Simmons said Indianapolis has a veteran squad led by David Logan. "They have a marquee player in Logan, but some of their supporting cast would be marquee players on other teams," Simmons said.

A win for the Cougars could put SIUE in the hunt for one of the region's eight bids to the NCAA Tournament. This week's regional rankings will be announced later this week and could give SIUE an indication of what needs to be done at the GLVC Tournament in order to gain an NCAA bid. The winner of the GLVC Tournament receives an automatic bid to the 64-team NCAA Tournament.

SIUE boasts a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging double figures led by Tyler Hackstadt (Okawville), Calvin Sykes (Chicago), Jones, and Jaye. The Cougars also lead the GLVC in scoring defense at 65.2 points per game.

Women's Basketball Faces Quincy

SIU Edwardsville Coach Wendy Hedberg and her women's basketball team have the task of playing top-seeded Quincy in the first round of the GLVC Tournament.

The Cougars, 11-16, face Quincy, 23-4, at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday (3/4).

Hedberg said the key to Thursday's game is to create better passing angles into the post players and apply pressure on Quincy's guards. Hedberg said the Cougars also have been passing up open shots at the basket hoping to create a better shot. "Everybody has to step it up a little bit," said Hedberg. "Once we get the ball inside, we need to finish inside."

Despite the Cougars' No. 8 seed in the league tournament, Hedberg believes the Cougars can overcome the odds of upsetting the top seed. "Quincy is a good team, but I think we can play with them if we put two good halves together," said Hedberg.

Senior guard Jessica Robert (Carlyle) enters her final GLVC Tournament leading SIUE with a 13.9 scoring average. Junior forward Tanya Guell (Plymouth, Wis.) follows with a 12.7 scoring average. Freshman Julianne McMillen (Pana) holds a 10.3 scoring average.

Track Waits For NCAA Nods

After celebrating a first-ever Great Lakes Valley Conference championship for indoor track on both the men's and women's side, Coach Darryl Frerker now has an extra bonus.

Several Cougars have made the provisional qualifying list for the NCAA Championships in Boston on March 12-13.

Frerker, named the GLVC's Coach of the Year for men's indoor track and women's indoor track, said he expects Richard Skirball (Granite City), Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) and Callie Glover (Bartlett) to be on the entry list when it is announced later this week.

The top 12 performances in each event are invited to the national meet.

Frerker said Tairisha Sawyer (Chicago) also could make the trip with a little luck. Sawyer is 15th in the 60-meter dash, but with scratches to the meet and student-athletes who compete in multiple events, the possibility exists.

Skirball holds the 11th fastest time in the country at 800 meters. Thomas, the women's Freshman of the Year, is seventh in the 60-meter hurdles and 13th in the triple jump. Because she'll already be in attendance for the hurdles event, Frerker said, the meet committee will likely let her compete in the triple jump as well. Glover is tied for 11th in the shot put. "This is the most people we have had on the provisional list by a long shot," said Frerker.

That list also includes Brittany Reeves (Hanover Park), Breanne Steffens (Moline), and the women's 4 x 400-meter relay team. On the men's side, provisional qualifying marks also were made by Lee Weeden (Ferguson, Mo.), Cody Ellermeyer (DuQuoin) and Marvell Seals (Florissant, Mo.).

Baseball Opens Season 0-4

The SIUE baseball team must dig out of a four-game deficit after two losses to both Missouri Southern State and Grand Valley State this past weekend.

"We mixed in errors when we didn't need them," said SIUE Coach Gary Collins. "We tried to play everyone this weekend, but we just didn't take very good at-bats," said Collins.

Brad Scott (Benld) and Luke Humphrey (Rantoul) led the team with five hits each for the Cougars. Collins said despite the four losses that the SIUE pitching staff held up well. The staff completed the four-game series with a 2.01 earned run average.

SIUE has its first home contest of the season on Wednesday (3/3) when it entertains Lincoln in a noon doubleheader. The Cougars then head to Savannah, Ga., for their annual spring break trip. SIUE has six games scheduled in Savannah before returning to the grueling 40-game conference schedule which begins March 13 at home against Saint Joseph's

Collins said he'll use the trip to Georgia as an opportunity to fine-tune the team to get ready for the league season. "With a 40-game schedule, if we don't finish in the top two or three, we probably don't belong in the (NCAA) regional tournament," Collins said.

Softball Starts Over In Florida

After a 2-3 start to the 2004 season, Coach Sandy Montgomery and her SIU Edwardsville softball team will travel to Orlando, Fla., for the Rebel Spring Games.

SIUE has 10 games from March 8 to March 13 and hopes to use the opportunity to get a fresh start on the season. "I'm looking for us to play more consistent and build confidence," Montgomery said.

Shannon Evans (Manhattan) led the Cougars with a .571 batting average. Evans played four games behind the plate for SIUE. VJ (Veronica) Schmidt (Westmont) also came up with some big hits.

Montgomery also expressed confidence in the team's pitching staff despite a 3.17 earned run average to begin the season.

"Even though our pitching staff had a hard time, they've got a lot of potential," she said.

Women's Tennis Face MacMurray

The SIU Edwardsville women's tennis team will hope to continue its successful spring season when it plays MacMurray on Friday (3/5). The match will be held at 2 p.m. in Elsah at The Principia College.

The Cougars, 11-5 overall and 2-0 in the spring season, picked up wins last week against Illinois-Springfield and the University of Chicago. "They are doing well," Coach Bill Logan said. "I'm proud that they did what they had to do to get those wins."

Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) won both of her singles matches against Illinois-Springfield and Chicago. Every singles player got at least one win in the two matches.

The doubles tandem of Coryn Reich (Newton) and Yingst went 2-0 on the week, as well as the team of Gina Wohltman (Effingham) and Allison Coats (Belleville).

Men's Tennis Searches For First Win

The SIU Edwardsville men's tennis team will vie for its first win of the season when it travels to The Principia College to face MacMurray College. First serve is scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

SIUE, which is 0-2 on the season, dropped a 6-3 decision to Western Illinois last Saturday (2/28) at King's Point in Belleville.

Matt Kuban (Pekin), Andy Renner (Belleville) and Chris Rigdon (Glen Carbon) all picked up victories in singles play, but SIUE was shutout in doubles action in three close matches. Western Illinois edged the Cougars by the scores of 8-6 in No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, and used a tiebreaker to come out on top in No. 3 doubles.

"We need these beginning matches to work out some kinks," Coach Bill Logan said. "We're a good team and will do much better as the season progresses."

Including the MacMurray match, SIUE still has nine matches to prepare for the Great Lakes Valley Conference portion of its schedule, which begins March 23.

Men's Basketball Battles Lincoln, Lewis

SIU Edwardsville men's basketball will travel outside of conference play when it plays host to Lincoln University on Wednesday (2/25). It then wraps up its regular season schedule on Saturday (2/28) against Lewis at the Vadalabene Center.

Lincoln, an NCAA Division II team in the Heartland Conference, comes into the contest with a 3-19 overall record. Wednesday's tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. "We're going to treat it just like a conference game," Coach Marty Simmons said. "They are going to come in and try to beat us."

The Cougars then face Lewis at 3 p.m. Saturday. Lewis has clinched at least a share of the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season title. It can clinch the title outright with a win Thursday (2/26) at Quincy or a win against SIUE.

For the first time since the 1998-1999 season, SIUE will be involved in the eight-team GLVC Tournament. Currently, the Cougars are sixth in the conference standings, a half game behind fifth-seeded Saint Joseph's. "That was one of our goals coming into the season," Simmons said. "After achieving the goal of reaching, you want to try to win it."

Saturday's game against Lewis will mark a sendoff to SIUE's two seniors, Ron Jones (Kankakee) and Corey Bradford (Chicago).

"Both players are great ambassadors to the program," Simmons said. "They are both quality people and it has been a joy to coach and be around them."

Jones was SIUE's leading scorer last season and is currently averaging 11.6 points per game. "Jones has had an outstanding career at SIUE," Simmons said. "I am lucky to have been able to coach him."

Bradford had last season cut short after a foot injury, but he fought back and has seen action in 19 games so far this year. "Corey battles through adversity as well as anybody," Simmons said. "He worries more about the team success than any of his own accomplishments."

Women's Basketball Faces Lewis In Regular Season Finale

Already assured of an eighth-seed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, the SIU Edwardsville women's basketball team will face Lewis Saturday (2/28) at the Vadalabene Center. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

The Cougars, 11-15 overall and 6-13 in the GLVC, are coming off an 80-54 win against Missouri-St. Louis. "We went back to playing the way we are capable of," Hedberg said of her team's performance against UMSL. "It nice to put some points on the board and see some emotion and intensity. They knew their backs were against the wall, and they stepped it up."

Lewis, who has clinched a tournament berth but is still jockeying for position, comes into the week with a 15-10 record overall and a 12-6 mark in GLVC play. "We need to worry about what we are doing and execute," Hedberg said. "You would like to go into the conference tournament after playing a good game."

Saturday also will mark the final home game for SIUE's four seniors, Kristen Boss (Carrollton), Jaque Howard (Galesburg), Jessica Robert (Carlyle) and Sarah Schweers (Chatham).

Boss has played in 76 games in her career, averaging 3.6 points per game. She will end her career sixth on SIUE's all-time blocks list with 49. "Over her four years in the program she has done some nice things for us," Hedberg said. "She helped solidify the post position for us."

Howard has played 95 games throughout her four-year career, and she has contributed in a big way recently. "Jaque sees the floor well and is a great passer," Hedberg said. "As of late, she has really stepped it up and hit some big shots for us when we needed them."

Robert became the 16th player in school history to surpass the 1,000-point plateau. She is having one of her best years offensively, averaging 14.3 points per game. "Jessica has been a solid player all four years here," Hedberg said. "This year, we asked her to step up, and she has done that with her overall game."

Schweers is second all-time on SIUE's three-point field goals made list. She is also having one of her best years, averaging just less than eight points a game. "Sarah is one of the hardest working players we've had," Hedberg said. "She was a walk-on who made herself into a starter through hard work."

Track Prepares For GLVC Championships

After breaking numerous school records and posting provisional qualifying marks during the regular season, SIU Edwardsville's indoor track and field teams will attempt to claim a Great Lakes Valley Conference championship when the meet gets under way Saturday (2/28) at Lewis.

The Cougars have never won a GLVC Indoor title, but this season seems to be their best chance to do so. "Both the men's and women's team is in a position where one or both could come away with a GLVC championship," Coach Darryl Frerker said. "We are going to put ourselves in a position to score enough points to win."

The Cougars are coming off a weekend that sent some athletes to the Hoosier Hills Invitational and others to the Friday Night Special at Eastern Illinois.

Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) posted a provisional qualifying mark in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.98 seconds. She is also provisionally qualified in the 60-meter dash and triple jump.

Breanne Steffens (Moline) lowered her provisional qualifying mark in the mile with a school record time of 5 minutes, 3.60 seconds. She is also qualified in the 800-meter dash. Callie Glover (Bartlett) is a provisional qualifier in the shot put.

On the men's side, Richard Skirball (Granite City) has provisionally qualified in the 800-meter dash.

Baseball Opens At Missouri Southern

SIU Edwardsville baseball may finally get the opportunity to play outside. The Cougars will play three games against Missouri Southern and two against Grand Valley this weekend in Joplin, Mo.

The weather has prevented the Cougars from holding a practice outdoors, trading Roy E. Lee Field for the Vadalabene Center.

"We've been working hard, but its all been inside," Coach Gary Collins said. "It's hard to prepare your infielders and outfielders indoors."

Missouri Southern has played three games this season, dropping them all to Oral Roberts. Grand Valley State, ranked 10th nationally, has yet to play a game this season.

The Cougars have 10 new faces on this year's squad, and Collins is anxious to see what they can do on the playing field. "We'll probably try to play everybody," he said. "We'll be looking at the new guys to see who steps up."

Following its trip to Missouri Southern, SIUE will play host to a doubleheader with Lincoln next Wednesday (3/3) at Roy Lee Field. The Cougars then depart for a six-game trip to Carrollton, Ga.

Wrestling Prepares For Regionals

The regular season is history for SIUE's wrestling team. It will travel to Edmond, Okla., for the Midwest Regional tournament Sunday (2/29).

The top four finishers in each weight class advance to the NCAA II Championships in March. "I am counting on five or six guys to possibly qualify," Coach Booker Benford said. "It will take some upsets to do so, but they have the ability, they just have to show it on the mat."

Joe Rujawitz (Belleville), who leads the team with 34 wins, should contend in the 149-pound division. Sean Tyus (Springfield) has posted 25 wins on the season and will contend at 197 pounds. Branden Lorek (Bensenville), Steve Chico (Hammond, Ind.) and Matt Oliva (Bartlett) should also contend in their respective weight classes as well.

"We're gearing up this week," Benford said. "We are going to start practicing a little harder to set us up for our regional, which is really strong this year."

Men's Tennis Faces Western Illinois

Fresh off its first competition of the season at last weekend's Principia Invitational, SIU Edwardsville men's tennis will open its dual-match schedule Friday night (2/27) against Western Illinois. The match will be held at King's Point in Belleville.

According to Coach Bill Logan, the Cougars had a successful opening weekend. "I'm very pleased with the team's performance at Principia," Logan said. "It was probably one of our best showings in the last four years."

SIUE's two newcomers, Justin Free (Danville) and Matt Warner (Arlington Hts.), each posted 2-1 records in singles play. Doug Kummer (Fenton, Mo.) also posted a 2-1 record. The doubles tandem of Kummer and Free went 3-0 in the tournament. "The team's performance shows our guys that their hard work in the off-season is starting to pay off," Logan said.

Women's Tennis Gears For Two Matches

SIU Edwardsville's women's tennis team will face Illinois-Springfield on Friday (2/27) and the University of Chicago on Saturday (2/28). Both matches will be held at King's Point in Belleville.

The Cougars, playing in the non-traditional spring season, opened two weeks ago at the Principia Invitational. Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) won two of three matches, and teamed with Gina Wohltman (Effingham) to play to a 2-1 record in doubles action. "All and all, everyone played well at Principia," Coach Bill Logan said.

During the fall season, the Cougars played to a 9-5 overall record and a 5-4 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

January 2004

January 29, 2004

SIUE Spring Enrollment Reaches 12,597

(EDWARDSVILLE) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's spring 2004 enrollment jumped to 12,597, compared to last spring's 12,161, about a 3.6 percent increase. Compared to spring 2002, spring enrollment is up by almost 1,000 students

Boyd Bradshaw, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment management, said he was pleased with spring enrollment. "We've seen consistent strong increases in our fall enrollment," he said. "Now what we're starting to see is a spring growth pattern that mirrors the fall increases."

SIUE's fall (2003) enrollment was 13,295, continuing a nine-year trend of enrollment growth. Fall enrollment was up about 4.5 percent over fall 2002.

Todd Burrell, Director of Admissions, said early projections for Fall '04 point to a slight growth in enrollment. "We believe that maintaining enrollment at a certain level best serves our students in terms of size of classes, access to professors, available resources and student services," Burrell said.

The admission application deadline for freshmen entering Fall '04 is May 31; for all other undergraduate students, the deadline is Aug. 2. Graduate students should submit applications no later than July 23. Additional information about applying for admission to SIUE is available online at www.admis.siue.edu.

Back to top

January 29, 2004

Exhibition at SIUE Offers Some Valentines Day Snooker

(EDWARDSVILLE) You might not think of an appearance by the "Duchess of Doom" as a great place for a Valentine's Day date, but look at it this way: Do you want the standard box of chocolates, or the world's best snooker?

Snooker, nine ball and trick shots will be the order of the day as Allison Fisher, one of the world's best pool players, with a host of national and world titles, will put on an exhibition from 6-9 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 14, in the Morris Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Fisher began playing pool when she was 12 years old, won her first World Snooker Championship at 17. Since then, she has made a name for herself playing snooker and nine-ball, and lately can be seen frequently in pool tournaments on ESPN.

Fisher's appearance coincides with the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) Region 9 Recreation Tournament being held Feb. 13-15 at SIUE. Several hundred college students from across the region will compete in bowling, pool and table tennis with the winners going on to national finals.

Fisher was born in England and now resides in Charlotte, N.C. She once held the top ranking on the women's tour for five consecutive years, and returned to the top spot in 2003.

She's not the first world champion pool player to play at the Morris Center. In 1967, when the center opened, 14-time world champion Willie Musconi played at exhibition.

Back to top

January 29, 2004

U Of I Library School Dean To Speak Feb. 12 At SIU Edwardsville

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) John M. Unsworth, new dean of the Library School at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, will speak at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in the John C. Abbott Auditorium of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Lovejoy Library.

Unsworth, a specialist in digital scholarly communication and computing in the Humanities, will speak about "Open Access, Open Archives, and Open Source in Higher Education." His visit is sponsored by SIUE's Library and Information Services.

Co-founder of Postmodern Culture, the oldest peer-reviewed journal in the Humanities on the Internet, Unsworth was appointed dean in March of last year of one of the nation's premier graduate programs in library and information science. He served as director of the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va., before joining the U of I faculty.

Back to top

January 29, 2004

UCM To Sponsor Annual 'Death By Chocolate Affair' At Religious Center

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The United Campus Ministry (UCM), with offices in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Religious Center, will sponsor its Fourth Annual "A Death by Chocolate Affair" from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at the center.

The Rev. Cherie Hambleton, UCM director, said the event is an important UCM fund-raiser. "Members of the surrounding communities are invited to tempt their taste buds with the pure enjoyment of 'sinfully' delicious desserts from some favorite establishments," Hambleton said.

"Local restaurants and establishments-Houlihan's, Neruda, Franks' on Main, Rusty's, Mrs. Seibold's Bakery, My Just Desserts, Sacred Grounds, to name a few-will be donating chocolate desserts and, for the cost of admission, folks can sample as much chocolate as they wish.

"We anticipate more than 20 establishments will be supporting this event," Hambleton said, "but we'll also have chocolate treats from local kitchens." Admission is $10; children under 12 and students, $5. A "to-go" plate is $8; students and children, $5. For more information, call (618) 650-3248.

The UCM on campus represents the United Methodist Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, and the Church of the Brethren. UCM integrates fellowship, service, study, and worship for students, faculty, and staff, to provide a place to grow and to be challenged, with acceptance and love.

Back to top

January 29, 2004

International Festival To Feature Music, Food, Dancing, And Fun

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) "Toward Global Unity" is the theme of the upcoming International Fest scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 4-5, in the Goshen Lounge of the Morris University Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

International student organization booths will feature clothing, cultural artifacts, books, music, and demonstrations representing many countries. The Poor People of Paris and other bands will provide international music and entertainment.

International Night is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7, in the Meridian Ballroom, adjacent to Goshen Lounge on the first floor of the Morris Center. An international cuisine buffet will be served at 6 p.m. in the newly renovated Center Court on the lower level of the Morris Center.

The event will continue at 7 p.m. with international dance, music, and cultural presentations by student organizations in the ballroom, and conclude with a fashion show of traditional garments from countries around the world.

The Campus Activities Board and the International Student Council are co-sponsors of both events.

Also featured during the Feb. 4-5 International Fest-which is open and free to the public-will be martial arts demonstrations from around the globe, belly dancers, and a variety of other entertainment. Local elementary school students will visit the campus during the two-day Fest to enjoy the entertainment and learn about SIUE's international students and their countries.

Ticket prices for International Night are: $14; SIUE faculty and staff, $12; SIUE students with valid ID and children ages six to 12, $10. Children ages five and under are free. Tickets are on sale at the Information Desk on the first floor of the Morris Center, (618) 650-5555. Tickets also will be available at the door if the event is not sold out.

For more information, please contact Diana Peters, (618) 650-2686 or dpeters@siue.edu or Ali Soltanshahi, (618) 650-3785 or asoltan@siue.edu.

Back to top

January 29, 2004

International Travel With Experts Also Offers Part In Video Documentary

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University students, their families, alumni, senior citizens, and other community members have another chance to travel to ancient Greece or Egypt this spring with the university's Expeditions in the Ancient World programs.

But this year there's a chance to be a "star."

SIU Carbondale has added funding to produce a video documentary of the expedition to Greece, utilizing faculty who are professional documentary producers. "This is an exciting step for our program, which is entering its 22nd year of providing expertly organized sojourns led by teams of professors in various fields of ancient culture," says SIUC Philosophy Professor Robert Hahn

"This will be unique from other documentaries in that we will not only talk about the places and ideas that came out of Greek civilization, but we also will demonstrate the activities that fostered the ancient Greek's ideas of self-knowledge and self-investigation, such as the theater and the Olympics," Hahn said.

The Greece program (May 27-June 10) takes in Athens, Delphi, and the Greek Islands of Samos and Kos, Troy, and the west coast of Turkey. Activities include performing in an ancient play in an ancient theater on Kos, with costumes and masks made by participants. Travelers also will re-enact the trial of Socrates, run an Olympic race in the stadium at Delphi, build ancient sundials on the beach, create pottery in a shop on Samos, and build an architectural model of an ancient Greek temple.

The Egypt program (May 15-28) will take up to 35 participants to Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, Egypt, as well as a luxury cruise on the River Nile. The trip includes site visits to ancient Egypt's wonders, temples and tombs, a re-enactment of the ancient mummification rituals, carving and painting hieroglyphic tablets, model-making reconstruction of the Great Pyramids, and erecting an obelisk.

Hahn says he hopes the documentary can be marketed to Public Television or to one of the cable learning channels. "We not only want the documentary to highlight our travel programs but to also attract benefactors who want to support us so that we can offer scholarships and more expanded programs,"

Hahn said. "We would also like to attract more participants who not only want to learn but also do."

A slide presentation about the programs will be conducted in Edwardsville, St. Louis, and Carbondale:

• 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, and 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, both at Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S. Kansas St., Community Room, on the lower level
• 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, Wild Oats Community Market, Ladue Rd. & Interstate 170, St. Louis
• 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, Rm. 3117, Peck Hall, SIUE
• 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, Illinois Room, SIU Carbondale's Student Center

Students may earn hours of credit in a variety of subjects for participating, and may apply for financial aid through the university. Both programs offer a blend of archaeological site visits each morning, with free afternoons for relaxing, swimming and shopping, and a lecture series in the evening before dinner, Hahn said. "These travel programs provide five-star accommodations all the way."

The programs' Web site is: www.siu.edu/~nmc/hahn/origins.html. Those interested also may contact SIUE Professor Nancy Ruff by e-mail: , or by calling: (618) 650-3649 for more information.

Back to top

January 29, 2004

Postponed Coffee Concert Rescheduled For Feb. 9 At SIUE

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Coffee Concert postponed Jan. 26 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville because of inclement weather has been re-scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, in the John C. Abbott Auditorium on the ground level of SIUE's Lovejoy Library.

The Feb. 9 concert, part of the Annual Coffee Concerts Chamber Music Series now in its 28th season at SIUE, will feature works by Goetz, Piazzola, William Kraft, and Paul Bowles. SIUE music faculty will be featured performers.

Tickets are $10; senior citizens, $9; students, $5. For information, call the Department of Music, (618) 650-3900.

Back to top

January 29, 2004

Professor To Participate In German Language Leadership Program

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Belinda Carstens-Wickham, a professor of Foreign Languages and Literature and chair of that department at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has been selected to participate in a leadership program in the field of German language education.

The American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut established a program, Transatlantisches interkulturelles Nachwuchsfoerderungsprogramm Deutsch als Fremdsprache or "TrainDaF" (Transatlantic Intercultural Program To Support Faculty Teaching German as a Foreign Language"), designed to build future leaders in the field of teaching German. This program, now in its fourth year, is funded through the German government.

Carstens-Wickham, who has taught German at the university since 1989, will take part in the program with other participants who will strengthen their leadership skills, develop strategies for advocating German at all levels of instruction, and deepen their understanding of Germany and the European Union. Participants will also learn more about the activities of the AATG and the broader field of world languages.

Program participants will attend an orientation meeting in Washington D.C. from April 22-25. This summer, they will take part in seminars in Germany, and they also will attend the AATG Annual Meeting in Chicago in November.

Back to top

January 27, 2004

Media advisory

SIU Dental School to be Host of Give Kids a Smile Day

• What: About 200 Children will receive free dental care
• When: From 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7 (Brief press conference at 10 a.m.)
• Where: Alton, on the campus of the SIU School of Dental Medicine

(ALTON, Ill.) More than 200 area children will participate in the national Give Kids a Smile Day between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the SIU School of Dental Medicine in Alton.

The SDM will serve as the host site for the Metro East region, which will bring together members of the Madison and St. Clair District dental societies, as well as faculty, students and staff from both the SDM and the Lewis & Clark Community College dental hygiene and dental assisting programs. These professionals will provide free dental care, including examinations, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments, fillings and extractions for children who may not otherwise receive dental care.

Give Kids a Smile Day is a national event sponsored by the American Dental Association to provide free dental treatment for underserved children.

All children ages three to 13 who are eligible for public aid and/or the free lunch program are invited to participate. Due to the need for signed parental permission and other documentation, Give Kids A Smile will serve only pre-registered children and children accompanied by a parent or guardian. While the event will continue until 3 p.m., parents wishing to ensure that their child will receive dental care on Give Kids A Smile Day should arrive no later than 1:30 p.m.

Dr. Debra Schwenk, a faculty member at the SIU dental school and the event chairwoman, will host an informal press conference during the event at 10 a.m. Members of the volunteer team and children treated earlier in the morning, as well as their respective parents, have also been invited to participate.

Give Kids A Smile is meant to focus attention on the epidemic of untreated oral disease among disadvantaged children and deliver the message that dentists alone can not solve this problem without a real commitment from government and society.

Back to top

January 26, 2004

Science tour: Illinois State Rep. Tom Holbrook (D-Belleville), recently toured the Science Building to see firsthand the problems that have beset the 37-year-old structure. The university has been granted funding to plan for the needed renovations. Here, Physics graduate student Nathan Anterhaus (at far left) explains some of the problems to Holbrook.With Holbrook on the tour were SIUE Budget Director Dan Corbett (in background), SIUE Provost Sharon Hahs; and Associate Professor Kim Shaw, chair of the Department of Physics. SIUE Photo)

Back to top

January 26, 2004

David Perry: Violinist David Perry, an Edwardsville native who is a member of the renowned Aspen Ensemble, recently conducted a master class on campus as part of the ensemble's appearance here as part of the Arts & Issues series. (SIUE Photo)

Back to top

January 23, 2004

MAYOR GARY: Edwardsville Mayor Gary Niebur, along with SIUE students and administrators, helped kick off SIUE's annual Book In Every Home literacy campaign recently by reading to children from the SIUE Early Childhood Center and the Riverbend Head Start in Alton. The event took place in the Goshen Lounge, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris Center. Niebur also was joined by Paul Pitts, assistant to the SIUE Chancellor. For specific addresses and locations of book donation drop off points, visit the Web site: www.siue.edu/BOOKS or call (618) 650-2020 for more information. Age-appropriate books are requested for children ages six weeks to five years old. Cash donations also will be accepted. Checks for "A Book in Every Home" should be written to the SIUE Foundation, and mailed to: A Book in Every Home, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1058 (In the memo part of the check, please write "A Book in Every Home."). (SIUE Photo)

Back to top

January 22, 2004

SIUE To Present Black Heritage Month Activities During February

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will present its Seventh Annual Black Heritage Month Program during February, with its theme of Black History is American History. Below is a calendar of events:

• Panel Discussion-Affirmative Action in Higher Education After the Michigan Decision: Local Perspectives, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, Goshen Lounge, Morris University Center.
•Fundisha Dance Ensemble performs African dance, 12:45-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, Goshen Lounge.
•Lecture-KRS-ONE, rapper, hip-hop artist and motivational speaker, will address the lack of common sense and awareness in respect for one another, 7-10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, Meridian Ballroom, first floor of Morris Center.
• "Indigo Dyers in Western Nigeria," 7-9 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 5, Maple-Dogwood Room, second floor of Morris Center. Author Judith Byfield, associate professor of African History at Dartmouth, will discuss her book, The Bluest Hands (James Currey Publishers, 2002).
• Soul Food Monday-Members of SIUE's Black Student Association will sell soul food dinners from 5-10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the Cougar Village Commons Building.
• Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, in Meridian Ballroom; admission, $12.50; students, $8.
• Annual Cultural Bazaar-10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 10-11, in Goshen Lounge, offering Afro-centric books, clothing, crafts, jewelry, and other wares, as well as entertainment and prize drawings.
• SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts Dance Co. performs African dance at12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, Goshen Lounge.
• Lyrics Lounge, 8-10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11-students will read poetry, sing, rap, and perform other types of expression, John C. Abbott Auditorium, ground floor of Lovejoy Library.
• Forum Discussion-"Blacks in America"-7-9 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12, in the Mississippi Room, second floor of the Morris Center
• Annual Cultural Bazaar-10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 13-14, in Building D of the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, 601 J.R. Thompson Blvd., offering Afro-centric books, clothing, crafts, jewelry, and other wares, as well as entertainment and prize drawings.
• Poetry Reading featuring Professor Eugene B. Redmond, East St. Louis Poet Laureate, will read from his works 12:30-1:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, in Goshen.
• Black Heritage Month Networking Fair, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, Goshen Lounge; student organizations to present information about their activities.
• Panel Discussion-Contemporary Struggles for Social Justice, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Feb. 18-19, in the Missouri Room, Morris Center. Examines both the historical and continuing vitality of social movements as agents for achieving social justice.
• Lecture-Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Movement, will speak on a variety of topics, with the main focus on higher education in American society, from 7-10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, Meridian Ballroom.
• Sixth Annual Black Heritage Month Talent Show, 7-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, Meridian Ballroom. Tickets are $3; students, $2.
• Black Film Series: A Historic Perspective-6-10 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 23-24, presents screening of films directed by Oscar Micheaux (Lying Lips, 1939), Gordon Parks (The Learning Tree, 1969), Reginald and Warrington Hudlin of East St. Louis (The Great White Hype, 1996), and a fourth film to be announced. Elza Ibroscheva and Bala Baptiste, members of the SIUE Mass Communications faculty, will present a conceptualization of African-American films and filmmakers. .
• Panel Discussion: Blacks, Radio and History, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Goshen Lounge. Local radio talk show hosts and on-air personalities will participate in the discussion.
• Lecture-Are We Still Living Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream?-7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, Maple-Dogwood Room, Morris Center. Former Washington Post reporter Leon Dash will lead the discussion..
• Black Heritage Month Quiz Bowl, 11:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, in Goshen.
• Gospel Explosion-6:30-10 p.m., Meridian Ballroom. This event features poetry, rap, praise dance, and gospel music.

For more information, call the SIUE Kimmel Leadership Center, (618) 650-2686.

Back to top

January 22, 2004

SIUE Offers Financial Aid Workshop For Area Students, Parents

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Students enrolling for the 2004-05 academic year are now closing in on their selection of a college and will soon be embroiled in the financial aid process. Their first step will be completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is offering assistance in that process.

The SIUE Office for Student Financial Aid, with co-sponsorship from Edwardsville High School, will conduct a FAFSA Completion Workshop at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 in the Media Room at EHS, 6161 Center Grove Road, Edwardsville. A financial aid advisor from SIUE will be on hand to talk with students and parents about how to successfully complete the FAFSA, and to answer questions about financial aid.

"We're encouraging students to file their FAFSA application in February," said Sharon Berry, director of Student Financial Aid at SIUE. "Applications should be in by March 1 at the very latest. Completing the FAFSA accurately and on time are the first and most important steps to obtaining state and federal financial aid, so we're pleased to be able to offer this all-important workshop to everyone beginning this process."

For more information about the Feb. 7 workshop, call the SIUE financial aid office, (618) 650-3880.

Back to top

January 16, 2004

Scottish Author John Burnside To Read From His Work At SIUE Jan. 27

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Scotsman John Burnside, author of four novels and several books of poetry and short stories, will read from his works at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, in the Community Room at B. Barnard Birger Hall on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The reading is free and open to the public.

Burnside was called "one of the most outstandingly gifted poets in Britain," in The Scotsman, and a writer whose "prose is exquisite" in the Sunday Times of London. His book of poems, The Asylum Dance, won Britain's prestigious Whitbread Poetry Prize in 2000. The judges noted: "Burnside's poems have the rare power to alter one's perception of the world and of language … a sensory delight with an epiphany on every page."

At SIUE, Burnside will read from his latest novel, Living Nowhere, the story of two young men growing up in the sometimes violent industrial town of Corby, England. He also will read from his eighth volume of poems, The Light Trap, published in 2002.

Burnside teaches writing at St. Andrews University in Scotland, where he lives with his wife and son. The event is jointly sponsored by the SIUE Department of English Language and Literature, the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of Human Resources, and Student Government.

For more information, contact Professor Allison Funk, of the SIUE English faculty, (618) 650-2176.

Back to top

January 16, 2004

A Season For The Child Continues With Appearance By The Black Rep

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The St. Louis Black Repertory Company will present Telling, Singing, Beating the Drum-a collection of African and African-American folktales for children-as the next offering in A Season for the Child, the children's theater series at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Telling, Singing, Beating the Drum lovingly chronicles the legacy of African and African-American folktales as they have been passed down through three generations. Music, song, and dance help make these tales a treat for the entire family. The production will be staged at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in SIUE's Katherine Dunham Hall theater.

Telling, Singing, Beating the Drum is co-sponsored by the SIUE Friends of Theater and Dance (FOTAD) and TheBANK of Edwardsville.

A Season for the Child is in its 15th season of presenting family-oriented theater to Southwestern Illinois audiences. The series features professional theater troupes from St. Louis that stage adaptations of various children's stories, using interactive techniques that not only delight children and parents, but also provide a learning experience.

Tickets are $5 per person and may be obtained through the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774. Proceeds from the series benefit FOTAD's scholarship fund for theater and dance majors at the university.

Two Edwardsville Residents Win SIUE's MLK Humanitarian Awards

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Two Edwardsville men, one a sales representative and philanthropist and the other a counselor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's East St. Louis Center, are this year's recipients of SIUE's Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Awards.

The awards are given each year by the university to recognize those who exemplify the philosophy of nonviolent social change as demonstrated by Rev. King. This year's guest speaker will be Roland Burris, former Comptroller and Attorney General of the state of Illinois.

Rev. Larry Hogg, a counselor of high school students for SIUE's Upward Bound/Science Awareness program in East St. Louis and also an ordained minister in the Church of God in Christ, and Calvin D. Brown, a sales representative in the Neuroscience Division of Eli Lilly & Co. and active in several community organizations including the NAACP, will receive recognition plaques during the university's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration luncheon on Tuesday, Feb 10.

One of 11 children raised on a farm in rural Georgia, Brown learned from his father the values of Rev. King. "I was two when Dr. King was killed but I developed his principles through the eyes of my father, who taught me about giving back to the community," Brown said. "I've tried to live my life by those values."

Brown and his wife, Wanda, give scholarships each year to deserving students at Edwardsville High School, as well as to students at his own high school in Quitman, Ga. "When you're blessed, you should bless others. It wasn't about Dr. King when he did for others and it's not about me. For my wife and I, our first and foremost aim is to put God first in our lives," Brown said. "As long as I put Him first, everything else will fall into place."

In addition to his work as executive board member of the Edwardsville NAACP and as board member for the Edwardsville Kiwanis Club, Brown is chair of the trustee board and co-chair of the Finance Committee at Mt. Joy Missionary Baptist Church in Edwardsville. He also assists families in need and has provided financial and retirement counseling to many young couples.

Brown and his wife also donate funds to the Edwardsville School District for computer equipment and give generously to local and national charities. "I am a vessel that God uses to help others in this world," Brown said. "What my family and I do is not about receiving awards, but I was very humbled to hear that I will receive the Martin Luther King Award at SIUE. I've tried to live by the values he held sacred, as did my father."

In a letter of support from Carl Jason Sr., a previous MLK Award winner at SIUE, Brown was praised as a man of integrity who promotes racial harmony and understanding. "Mr. Brown is concerned that everyone is treated fairly and that everyone has an equal opportunity," Jason wrote. "You can be sure he will always assist in some way."

In another letter of nomination, Donald Wallace wrote: "Calvin Brown is a shining example of the humanitarian values and ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King. He is a devoted member of his church, a devoted family man, and a man devoted to uplifting minority groups."

Larry Hogg also believes in the dream that Dr. King espoused-equality for all humanity-and tries to further those values through education.

As a high school graduate in the early 1960s, Hogg learned quickly that minority studentsi in East St. Louis didn't have many career choices. "There were kids who went to college and there were kids who went to work in the factories," Hogg said. "Not that there's anything wrong with factory work-I worked for Granite City Steel for several years before I joined the university staff nearly 30 years ago."

What Hogg tries to change is the belief among minority students that factory work is the only option they have. "Showing them another side is what we're trying to do here," he said, "to prepare these kids for college, maybe going on to careers as doctors or engineers. I let them know that education is the key to choices in their lives." Hogg is credited with helping more than 800 students go on to colleges and universities, as well as graduate programs, throughout the country during his 27 years with SIUE.

Hogg said he admired Dr. King for bringing about change in the world. "Martin Luther King was able to bring races together in order to deal with important issues in society," Hogg said. "It took a special person to do that, to bring people together to solve problems. In my own way, I'm trying to help society by preparing the youth of today to become leaders. We need good leaders."

Hogg said he was surprised but pleased to learn someone had nominated him for the Humanitarian Award. "It's humbling and I appreciate that someone would take the time to nominate me, but I would do what I do without receiving any awards."

In her letter of nomination, Barbara Sams, assistant program director at the East St. Louis Center and Hogg's supervisor, wrote that Hogg has faith in the work he is doing with students. "Like Dr. King, (Larry) has faith that moves mountains," Sams wrote. "He has courage to speak the truth, he has family to keep him focused, and he has compassion for all … (he) meets."

As a minister, Hogg also has received accolades. In another nomination letter from a colleague at the East St. Louis Center, George Smith wrote: "Through his ministry, (the Rev. Hogg) has inspired and helped many people in their time of need. Spiritual guidance, financial assistance, and family counseling are just a few of the many accomplishments he has achieved in his effort to serve his community. Larry believes that a life of service to others is a life well spent."

Burris, who served as state Comptroller from 1979-1991 and Attorney General from 1991-95, currently is manager/CEO of Burris and Lebed Consulting LLC, a strategic consulting firm in the areas of public relations, governmental representation, political strategies, and corporate strategies.

Tickets for the Feb. 10 luncheon celebration are $12.50; students, $8. Reservations are being accepted at (618) 650-2660.

Back to top

January 15, 2004

SIUE Student From Ohio Wins MLK Scholarship, Humanitarian Award

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Scott Thomas Herbert, of Columbus, Ohio, is the winner of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship and Humanitarian Award for 2004.

The Scholarship and Humanitarian Award is given each year by the university to recognize a student for academic excellence and who exemplifies the philosophy of nonviolent social change as demonstrated by The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year's guest speaker will be Roland Burris, former Comptroller and Attorney General of the state of Illinois.

Herbert, who has maintained a 4.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), will receive the award and special recognition during the university's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration luncheon on Tuesday, Feb 10. The award includes a $100 cash stipend and a scholarship that provides tuition and fees, or housing, for one academic year of study at SIUE.

A 35-year-old SIUE freshman pursuing a bachelor of science in Economics and Finance toward a career in investment banking, Herbert has volunteered as executive director of Rigorous Educational Assistance for Deserving Youth and has been involved with the Organization for Minority Business Students at SIUE, the SIUE School of Business Dean's Advisory Committee, and the Johnetta Haley Scholars Academy at SIUE. He also was on the SIUE Dean's List last year.

Considered a "non-traditional" student, Herbert brings a wealth of experience to the university. An Ohio native, Herbert had been an investment broker for Dublin Securities, an investment executive with Paine Webber, and was general manager/owner of Wetworks Building Contractors Ltd. before deciding to come to Edwardsville and pursue an education at SIUE. He also was an investment columnist for the Columbus (OH) Call and Post newspaper.

"Scott's intelligence, love of ideas and human beings, determination and belief in a better world, and commitment to use his gifts to help us reach that better world are certainly qualities he shares with Dr. King," wrote Nancy Ruff, an associate professor of English Language and Literature at SIUE, in her letter of nomination. "(Scott) has a way of helping people believe in themselves that opens a comfortable space for learning."

The letter of nomination went on to note, "Scott is determined to grow personally and to use his gifts to help others. He, Like Dr. King, keeps his vision of a better world … in sight each day. His determination and talent brighten the vision for me and, I imagine, for all who know him."

Herbert said his early life was a struggle against poverty and racism, two experiences he hopes to see eradicated. "I hear the faint, distant ring of freedom, and long for all people to be free," Herbert wrote in his personal statement in applying for the award. "I strongly believe I can use my experience with poverty and my knowledge of financial planning to accomplish the goals I share with (Rev.) King. I believe I can work to protect those rights first by completing my own education."

After earning a bachelor's, Herbert plans to work toward a master's in Public Administration to help him enter the non-profit sector to raise funds for municipalities. "In this way, I will arm myself to undertake my non-violent protest of poverty in our nation. Like King, I will never be satisfied until 'justice rolls down like waters.'"

Burris, who served as state Comptroller from 1979-1991 and Attorney General from 1991-95, currently is manager/CEO of Burris and Lebed Consulting LLC, a strategic consulting firm in the areas of public relations, governmental representation, political strategies, and corporate strategies.

Tickets for the Feb. 10 luncheon celebration are $12.50; students, $8. Reservations are being accepted at (618) 650-2660.

Back to top

January 7, 2004

Feb. 6 Blind Boys Arts & Issues Event Sold Out

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Feb. 6 performance of the The Blind Boys of Alabama, part of the 2003-04 Arts & Issues series at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is sold out.

"We are happy with the response to the Blind Boys' concert and we're sorry not everyone will have the opportunity to see this wonderful group of musicians," said John Peecher, assistant director of development for the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of the Arts & Issues series.

"We're providing this information about the sold out concert so that other patrons will not make an unnecessary trip to campus for tickets."

Tickets still are available for the remaining Arts & Issues dates: The exciting Grammy Award-winning Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (2:00 p.m. Feb. 29); National Geographic photographer Sam Abell (March 16); the explosive and creative movement of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (April 2); and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer (April 20).

Back to top

January 5, 2004

Arts & Issues Series Continues Jan. 22 With The Aspen Ensemble

(EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.) The Aspen Ensemble, an internationally acclaimed chamber music group that includes an Edwardsville native, comes to the Arts & Issues stage Jan. 22 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Each year, Arts & Issues brings some of the best and brightest performers and speakers from around the world to Southwestern Illinois audiences for entertaining and thought-provoking presentations on the SIUE campus. The prestigious Aspen Ensemble will present an evening of breathtaking virtuosity at 7:30 p.m. in Katherine Dunham Hall theater.

United in their love of chamber music and their desire to bring unique, exciting programs to audiences around the world, members of the Aspen Ensemble will perform the music of J.S. Bach, Mozart, David Schiff, and Gabriel Fauré.

In the 50-year history of the Aspen (Colo.) Music Festival, the Aspen Ensemble is the first ensemble formed from resident artists of the festival to bear the Aspen name. These five musicians have performed chamber music together in Aspen for several years and, for the first time, are available for touring during the winter months.

Violinist for the ensemble is David Perry, son of violinist R. Kent Perry of St. Louis, emeritus music professor at SIUE, and Linda Perry of Edwardsville, a professor of music at the university who is well known to regional audiences as an accomplished pianist. Ms. Perry has performed for more than 30 years during the perennial favorite-The SIUE Coffee Concerts Chamber Music Series-currently performing there with the LeClaire Trio.

"Not only are we presenting a world class chamber music ensemble but with an added bonus of welcoming back one of our own-David Perry," says John Peecher, assistant director of development for the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of the Arts & Issues series. "Of course, all the members of this ensemble have been thrilling audiences throughout the world in their respective careers, performing a wide repertoire that includes music from Bach to Kodaly, from Bartok to Durufle, and from Beethoven to Mercadante," Peecher said.

In the past two years, the ensemble-made up of pianist Rita Sloan, flutist Nadine Asin, violinist Perry, violist Victoria Chiang, and cellist Michael Mermagen-has brought a standard and unusual repertoire to audiences nationwide. All members of the group serve on the faculty of the Aspen Music Festival, with extensive experience in other ensembles and at other venues including the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Bargemusic, and the Emerson Quartet.

In addition, several of the members have held high-level orchestral positions. Asin was a first-desk player in James Levine's Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Perry was among the rotating concertmasters of the renowned Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Information about the Jan. 22 Aspen Ensemble appearance and how to order tickets may be found on the Arts & Issues Web site: artsandissues.com and in a printed brochure available through John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or, by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Tickets for the Jan. 22 event are $18; students, $9. Tickets also are available at the Morris Center Information Desk, (618) 650-5555.

The remaining Arts & Issues season includes: (The Blind Boys of Alabama-Feb. 6-are SOLD OUT); the exciting Grammy Award-winning Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (2:00 p.m. Feb. 29); National Geographic photographer Sam Abell, who will speak about the Lewis and Clark Expedition (March 16); the explosive and creative movement of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (April 2); and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer (April 20).

Back to top

SIUE's A Book In Every Home To Kick Off Annual Campaign

The Cat could be in the Hat, and, then again, George might become even more Curious-it's difficult to say-but it's a sure bet several local youngsters will have fun when Edwardsville Mayor Gary Niebur reads to them at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at the kickoff of the annual A Book In Every Home (BIEH) campaign in Goshen Lounge.

Since it began, the BIEH literacy/book drive campaign has helped thousands of children own their own books, something many of them might not have otherwise been able to do. The university is again sponsoring the campaign from Jan. 15 to March 31.

Mayor Niebur, along with several SIUE students and faculty members, will read to children from the SIUE Early Childhood Center and the Riverbend Head Start in Alton.

John Davenport, coordinator of the Jan. 15 event, said the mayor and others will read from books written for children up to age five, the campaign's target audience for collecting books. "Because we've received a large amount of donated books, each child at the kickoff will receive their own book," Davenport said. "There will be a variety of children's stories available."

Literacy is one of the most critical issues facing our educational system. Studies show that children who cannot read are not likely to succeed in the classroom or in life. Recognizing that access to books is a key component to literacy, BIEH not only has placed 30,000 books in homes in St. Clair and Madison counties, it also encourages parents to read to their children.

"Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is advancing literacy at a grassroots level through the A Book in Every Home program,'" said Kay Werner, chair of the campaign. "Our goal is to place an age-appropriate book in the home of every Head Start child in Madison and St. Clair counties, as well as families served by crisis centers in those counties.

"We've also now serve juvenile centers in those counties by donating the books we receive for older youth."

In December, the campaign received a boost from the St. Louis Rams, one of the BIEH sponsors. "We received $5,000 from the Rams at the December 21 football game," Werner said. "The Rams donated $50,000 to five literacy programs and we were the only Illinois program to receive funds. We were mentioned at the game; in fact I represented BIEH and helped hold up the big check at the game," Werner said proudly. "Last year, we received $2,500 from the Rams, so they were very generous to us again."

There are drop-off points for book donations in the St. Clair County and Madison County Head Start programs, SIUE campus sites, all public libraries in Madison and St. Clair counties, the Piece of Mind Book Store in Edwardsville, and B. Dalton Booksellers Book Store, the Borders book store in Fairview Heights, and Fresh Words bookstore in Highland.

For specific addresses and locations of these drop off points, visit the Web site: www.siue.edu/BOOKS or call (618) 650-2020 for more information.

Age-appropriate books are requested for children ages six weeks to five years old. Cash donations also will be accepted. Checks for "A Book in Every Home" should be written to the SIUE Foundation, and mailed to:

A Book in Every Home
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1058
(In the memo part of the check, please write "A Book in Every Home.")

MLK Celebration Award Winners Announced

The 22nd annual celebration of the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., at SIUE is set for Tuesday, Feb. 10. Tickets are available for the 11:30 a.m. luncheon that will feature a keynote address by St. Louis attorney Frankie Muse Freeman, an author who is very active with the St. Louis chapter of the NAACP.

The luncheon program will be held in the Meridian Ballroom, followed by a reception in the Goshen Lounge for the winners of the scholarship and humanitarian awards who will be honored at the luncheon.

Winners of the awards include:

• Scott Herbert-a "nontraditional student" who won the SIUE Student Scholarship and Humanitarian Award;
• Larry Hogg, a counselor in the Upward Bound/Science Awareness program at the East St. Louis Center and pastor of Holy Temple Lifeline Ministries, who won the Faculty/Staff MLK Humanitarian Award;
• Calvin Brown, owner of the Hair Biz Salon in Glen Carbon, executive board member of the NAACP, and very active in the Mt. Joy Baptist Church in Edwardsville, who is recipient of the Community MLK Humanitarian Award;
• Jesse Favre, a junior at Belleville Township East High School-essay award;
• L. Kristina Cottone, a senior at Edwardsville High School-poetry award;
• Matthew Stolze, a sophomore at Alton High School-visual arts award.

Tickets for the luncheon are $12.50; students, $8. Reservations are being accepted at (618) 650-2660.

Arts & Issues Series Continues Jan. 22 With The Aspen Ensemble; Blind Boys Appearance Feb. 6 Sold Out

The Aspen Ensemble, an internationally acclaimed chamber music group that includes an Edwardsville native, comes to the Arts & Issues stage Jan. 22.

Each year, Arts & Issues brings some of the best and brightest performers and speakers from around the world to Southwestern Illinois audiences for entertaining and thought-provoking presentations on the SIUE campus. The prestigious Aspen Ensemble will present an evening of breathtaking virtuosity at 7:30 p.m. in Katherine Dunham Hall theater.

On another Arts & Issues note, the Feb. 6 appearance of The Blind Boys of Alabama has been sold out. Arts & Issues Coordinator John Peecher said the sell-out was exciting news but also bittersweet for those who won't be able to attend. "We are happy with the response to the Blind Boys' concert and we're sorry not everyone will have the opportunity to see this wonderful group of musicians," said Peecher, who also is assistant director of development for the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences.

"We're providing this information about the sold out concert so that other patrons will not make an unnecessary trip to campus for tickets."

The Aspen Ensemble is a group united in the love of chamber music and the desire to bring unique, exciting programs to audiences around the world. The ensemble will perform the music of J.S. Bach, Mozart, David Schiff, and Gabriel Fauré.

In the 50-year history of the Aspen (Colo.) Music Festival, the Aspen Ensemble is the first ensemble formed from resident artists of the festival to bear the Aspen name. These five musicians have performed chamber music together in Aspen for several years and, for the first time, are available for touring during the winter months.

Violinist for the ensemble is David Perry, son of violinist R. Kent Perry of St. Louis, emeritus music professor at SIUE, and Linda Perry of Edwardsville, a professor of music at the university who is well known to regional audiences as an accomplished pianist. Ms. Perry has performed for more than 30 years during the perennial favorite-the SIUE Coffee Concerts Chamber Music Series-currently performing there with the LeClaire Trio.

"Not only are we presenting a world class chamber music ensemble but with an added bonus of welcoming back one of our own-David Perry," Peecher said. "Of course, all the members of this ensemble have been thrilling audiences throughout the world in their respective careers, performing a wide repertoire that includes music from Bach to Kodaly, from Bartok to Durufle, and from Beethoven to Mercadante."

In the past two years, the ensemble-made up of pianist Rita Sloan, flutist Nadine Asin, violinist Perry, violist Victoria Chiang, and cellist Michael Mermagen-has brought a standard and unusual repertoire to audiences nationwide. All members of the group serve on the faculty of the Aspen Music Festival, with extensive experience in other ensembles and at other venues including the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Bargemusic, and the Emerson Quartet.

In addition, several of the members have held high-level orchestral positions. Asin was a first-desk player in James Levine's Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Perry was among the rotating concertmasters of the renowned Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Information about the Jan. 22 Aspen Ensemble appearance and how to order tickets may be found on the Arts & Issues Web site: artsandissues.com and in a printed brochure available through John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or, by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Tickets for the Jan. 22 event are $18; students, $9. Tickets also are available at the Morris Center Information Desk, (618) 650-5555.

55 Graduate Nurses Complete Senior Assignment At SIUE

Fifty-five School of Nursing students recently presented their senior assignment projects to an audience of faculty, peers and invited University guests.

The Senior Assignment project represents a culmination of the entire undergraduate experience at SIUE. This requirement arises from the university's belief that the ability to integrate a general education perspective into one academic discipline is an essential mark of a university-educated person.

Senior nursing assignments take the form of exploration of an issue relative to nursing such as the nursing shortage or childhood obesity, a case study involving in depth investigation of a population such as adolescents and nutrition, lead poisoning in African-American children, or a teaching project with a population such as hypertension to cardiac patients, sexually transmitted diseases to adolescents and unique clinical experiences such as working with a pediatric outpatient hospice program.

These experiences occur in locations throughout Southern Illinois and the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

At the poster presentations, students discussed their learning objectives and results of their project with faculty and University administrators. "The School of Nursing Senior Assignment provides an opportunity for students to bring together the knowledge and experience they have gained during their undergraduate learning experience," said Dean Marcia Maurer.

"Our students have provided service in the communities and demonstrated skills as researchers by collecting data on important nursing issues. We are proud of what these students accomplish during their tenure at SIUE and in the School of Nursing."

The School of Nursing is fully accredited by National League for Nursing (NLN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

SIUE Meridian Society Encourages Women In Philanthropy

The 90th Meridian of longitude passes through the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, a quarter of the way around the world from the prime meridian that passes through Greenwich, England.

The significance of the 90th Meridian serves as a symbol for the Meridian Society, a newly formed organization of women dedicated to raising funds in support of SIUE programs.

Dixie Engelman, emeritus dean of the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences and now chair of the society, said the group is dedicated to supporting a variety of SIUE programs through grants made annually at the society's spring meeting. "The Meridian Society also will provide information to women on financial and estate planning, primarily at its fall meeting.

"We are learning what we can do collectively, as well as what we need to do on an individual and personal level."

Provost Sharon Hahs, one of the group's charter members explained the society's name was chosen as a reminder of a "special feature of our campus. The 90th Meridian is an important delineation on the Earth, exactly one-fourth of the way around the globe from the Prime Meridian," Hahs said.

Julie Babington, director of development for the SIUE School of Education, provides staff support for the society. "I am very excited about the spirit of the Meridian Society Steering Committee and charter members, particularly the leadership of Dixie Engelman," Babington said.

The original concept for the society was suggested by Harold Melser, director of planned giving for the Foundation, who is providing assistance to the organization as it continues to plan for the future. "I had heard about Ball State University's Discovery Group," Melser said, "and realized that creating a philanthropic organization matched the goals of the SIUE Foundation in regard to women in philanthropy," Melser said.

The two types of society membership are full-membership (3-year pledge of $1,000 annually) and associate membership (3-year pledge of $500 annually). The Meridian Society currently has pledges totaling more than $40,000. Those interested in joining the Meridian Society, may call the SIUE Foundation, (618) 650-2345.

SIU Board Approves New Boiler System For Core Buildings At SIUE

The SIU Board of Trustees has approved a $3.2 million project to install high-efficiency boilers and heaters in the campus core buildings, effectively de-centralizing the current campus heating system. The matter was approved during the board's regular meeting conducted at SIU Carbondale in December.

University officials expect the boiler project to be completed by the fall 2004 heating season. Once the new system is in place, the related distribution system will be shut down and abandoned. The project will not affect the separate campus cooling system.

The current high-temperature, hot-water distribution portion of the system was replaced in 1994 and has been failing-four times in the past year alone. Officials estimate that in 10 years the system would need to be replaced at a cost of $10 million. In addition, the existing system draws high operating, maintenance, and utility costs. The new system would mean a $250,000 reduction annually in utility and maintenance costs.

The project would be funded through a loan from the Illinois Public Higher Education Consortium. The loan would be repaid through cost savings and with deferred maintenance funds. Under the plan, compact boilers would be placed in each of 10 buildings: Peck Hall, Lovejoy Library, the Science Building, Dunham Hall, Morris University Center, Founders Hall, Alumni Hall, the Vadalabene Center, the Religious Center, and the Engineering Building.

In other business, the Board approved procurement of an easement at no cost to allow a connection between SIUE's Supporting Services Complex and the city of Edwardsville's wastewater treatment system. Supporting Services is currently using a separate septic system from that of the core university. Officials said the city of Edwardsville has agreed to allow the complex to connect with the city's system, but it must be done through private property owned by the developers of nearby Cherry Hills subdivision. The developers have agreed to the easement.

SIU Board Approves Transfer Of Old Broadview Hotel To City

The former site of the East St. Louis Center at 411 E. Broadway, an historic hotel which later housed the SIUE center for more than 40 years, would be deeded to the city of East St. Louis under a proposal passed last month by the SIU Board of Trustees.

The East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, 601 James R. Thompson Blvd., now houses the East St. Louis Center and the East St. Louis Community College Center. By spring the campus also will house the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The proposal to transfer the old center to the city was considered at the SIU Board's regular meeting conducted at SIU Carbondale.

The university originally proposed demolition of the East Broadway building and to pass the deed to the city, but city officials asked that the building remain intact. Once the university and the city reach an agreement, the state legislature must authorize the final transfer of deed.

The building was used by SIUE as a center that housed several educational programs and community service programs, as well as health clinics. Before the university became associated with the building in 1957, it had been the Broadview Hotel since 1928.

In other business at the December meeting, the Board approved purchase of vacant land adjacent to or near the Higher Education campus. The proposal was initiated to add green space and to provide a degree of control over future development of the property near the existing campus.

The vacant parcels of land represent 17 city addresses on Bond Avenue, Market Street, Eighth Street, and Trendley Avenue. Under the proposal, the agreed price would be $152,400. The land was appraised by Joshway Harding Real Estate.

Funding for the purchase would come from SIUE cash reserves or from state Capital Development Board excess funds that were budgeted for the entire Higher Education Campus project. The purchase of the parcels also is subject to approval by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. 

Scottish Author John Burnside To Read From His Work Today At SIUE

Scotsman John Burnside, author of four novels and several books of poetry and short stories, will read from his works at 4 p.m. today in the Community Room at B. Barnard Birger Hall. The reading is free and open to the public.

Burnside was called "one of the most outstandingly gifted poets in Britain," in The Scotsman, and a writer whose "prose is exquisite" in the Sunday Times of London. His book of poems, The Asylum Dance, won Britain's prestigious Whitbread Poetry Prize in 2000. The judges noted: "Burnside's poems have the rare power to alter one's perception of the world and of language … a sensory delight with an epiphany on every page."

Burnside will read from his latest novel, Living Nowhere, the story of two young men growing up in the sometimes violent industrial town of Corby, England. He also will read from his eighth volume of poems, The Light Trap, published in 2002.

Burnside teaches writing at St. Andrews University in Scotland, where he lives with his wife and son. The event is jointly sponsored by the Department of English Language and Literature, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of Human Resources, and Student Government.

For more information, contact Professor Allison Funk, of the English faculty, (618) 650-2176.

SIUE To Present Black Heritage Month Activities During February

SIUE will present its Seventh Annual Black Heritage Month Program during February, with its theme of Black History is American History. Below is a calendar of events:

• Panel Discussion-Affirmative Action in Higher Education After the Michigan Decision: Local Perspectives, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, Goshen Lounge, Morris University Center.
•Fundisha Dance Ensemble performs African dance, 12:45-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, Goshen Lounge.
•Lecture-KRS-ONE, rapper, hip-hop artist and motivational speaker, will address the lack of common sense and awareness in respect for one another, 7-10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, Meridian Ballroom, first floor of Morris Center.
• "Indigo Dyers in Western Nigeria," 7-9 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 5, Maple-Dogwood Room, second floor of Morris Center. Author Judith Byfield, associate professor of African History at Dartmouth, will discuss her book, The Bluest Hands (James Currey Publishers, 2002).
• Soul Food Monday-Members of SIUE's Black Student Association will sell soul food dinners from 5-10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the Cougar Village Commons Building.
• Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, in Meridian Ballroom; admission, $12.50; students, $8.
• Annual Cultural Bazaar-10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 10-11, in Goshen Lounge, offering Afro-centric books, clothing, crafts, jewelry, and other wares, as well as entertainment and prize drawings.
• SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts Dance Co. performs African dance at12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, Goshen Lounge.
• Lyrics Lounge, 8-10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11-students will read poetry, sing, rap, and perform other types of expression, John C. Abbott Auditorium, ground floor of Lovejoy Library.
• Forum Discussion-"Blacks in America"-7-9 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12, in the Mississippi Room, second floor of the Morris Center.
• Annual Cultural Bazaar-10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 13-14, in Building D of the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, 601 J.R. Thompson Blvd., offering Afro-centric books, clothing, crafts, jewelry, and other wares, as well as entertainment and prize drawings.
• Poetry Reading featuring Professor Eugene B. Redmond, East St. Louis Poet Laureate, will read from his works 12:30-1:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, in Goshen.
• Black Heritage Month Networking Fair, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, Goshen Lounge; student organizations to present information about their activities.
• Panel Discussion-Contemporary Struggles for Social Justice, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Feb. 18-19, in the Missouri Room, Morris Center. Examines both the historical and continuing vitality of social movements as agents for achieving social justice.
• Lecture-Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Movement, will speak on a variety of topics, with the main focus on higher education in American society, from 7-10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, Meridian Ballroom.
• Sixth Annual Black Heritage Month Talent Show, 7-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, Meridian Ballroom. Tickets are $3; students, $2.
• Black Film Series: A Historic Perspective-6-10 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 23-24, presents screening of films directed by Oscar Micheaux (Lying Lips, 1939), Gordon Parks (The Learning Tree, 1969), Reginald and Warrington Hudlin of East St. Louis (The Great White Hype, 1996), and a fourth film to be announced. Elza Ibroscheva and Bala Baptiste, members of the SIUE Mass Communications faculty, will present a conceptualization of African-American films and filmmakers. .
• Panel Discussion: Blacks, Radio and History, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Goshen Lounge. Local radio talk show hosts and on-air personalities will participate in the discussion.
• Lecture-Are We Still Living Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream?-7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, Maple-Dogwood Room, Morris Center. Former Washington Post reporter Leon Dash will lead the discussion..
• Black Heritage Month Quiz Bowl, 11:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, in Goshen.
• Gospel Explosion-6:30-10 p.m., Meridian Ballroom. This event features poetry, rap, praise dance, and gospel music.

For more information, call the SIUE Kimmel Leadership Center, (618) 650-2686.

SIUE Offers Financial Aid Workshop For Area Students, Parents

Students enrolling for the 2004-05 academic year are now closing in on their selection of a college and will soon be embroiled in the financial aid process. Their first step will be completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and SIUE is offering assistance in that process.

The Office for Student Financial Aid, with co-sponsorship from Edwardsville High School, will conduct a FAFSA Completion Workshop at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 in the Media Room at EHS, 6161 Center Grove Road. A financial aid advisor from SIUE will be on hand to talk with students and parents about how to successfully complete the FAFSA, and to answer questions about financial aid.

"We're encouraging students to file their FAFSA application in February," said Sharon Berry, director of Student Financial Aid. "Applications should be in by March 1 at the very latest. Completing the FAFSA accurately and on time are the first and most important steps to obtaining state and federal financial aid, so we're pleased to be able to offer this all-important workshop to everyone beginning this process."

For more information about the Feb. 7 workshop, call the SIUE financial aid office, (618) 650-3880.

Book In Every Home Campaign Kick-Off Features Mayor Gary

Edwardsville Mayor Gary Niebur may have missed his calling-master storyteller. The residents of Edwardsville by and large seem to like him as a mayor, but if the kids he was reading to at the Book In Every Home campaign kick-off were any indication, he could probably get work at a daycare anytime.

"What a marvelous program this is," Niebur said. "I applaud the efforts of Kay Werner and the members of the campaign committee. There is no better way to touch our young people by reading to them."

Niebur was at the Goshen Lounge to help with the campaign's annual kick-off, along with SIUE Provost Sharon Hahs, Paul Pitts, assistant to SIUE Chancellor David Werner, and SIUE student Joe Keller. "This literacy campaign is a great way for the university to reach children of the region in a positive way," Niebur said. They were reading to children from the SIUE Early Childhood Center and the Riverbend Head Start in Alton.

Since it began, the BIEH literacy campaign/book drive has helped thousands of children own their own books, something many of them might not have otherwise been able to do. The university is sponsoring the campaign through March 31.

John Davenport, coordinator of the Jan. 15 event, said the mayor and others read from books written for children up to age five, the campaign's target audience for collecting books. "Because we've received a large amount of donated books, each child at the kickoff received their own book," Davenport said.

Literacy is one of the most critical issues facing our educational system. Studies show that children who cannot read are not likely to succeed in the classroom or in life. Recognizing that access to books is a key component to literacy, BIEH not only has placed 30,000 books in homes in St. Clair and Madison counties, it also encourages parents to read to their children.

"Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is advancing literacy at a grassroots level through the A Book in Every Home program,'" said Kay Werner, chair of the campaign. "Our goal is to place an age-appropriate book in the home of every Head Start child in Madison and St. Clair counties, as well as families served by crisis centers in those counties.

"We've also now serve juvenile centers in those counties by donating the books we receive for older youth."

In December, the campaign received a boost from the St. Louis Rams, one of the BIEH sponsors. "We received $5,000 from the Rams at the December 21 football game," Werner said. "The Rams donated $50,000 to five literacy programs and we were the only Illinois program to receive funds. We were mentioned at the game; in fact I represented BIEH and helped hold up the big check at the game," Werner said proudly. "Last year, we received $2,500 from the Rams, so they were very generous to us again."

There are drop-off points for book donations in the St. Clair County and Madison County Head Start programs, SIUE campus sites, all public libraries in Madison and St. Clair counties, the Piece of Mind Book Store in Edwardsville, and B. Dalton Booksellers Book Store, the Borders book store in Fairview Heights, and Fresh Words bookstore in Highland.

For specific addresses and locations of these drop off points, visit the Web site: www.siue.edu/BOOKS or call (618) 650-2020 for more information.

Age-appropriate books are requested for children ages six weeks to five years old. Cash donations also will be accepted. Checks for "A Book in Every Home" should be written to the SIUE Foundation, and mailed to:

A Book in Every Home
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1058
(In the memo part of the check, please write "A Book in Every Home.")

SIUE Students Offer Tax Preparation For Low-Income Citizens

School of Business accounting students will again offer income tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for students and low-income citizens.

The program, which has helped hundreds of people over the past several years, is designed for low-income taxpayers, including students. Those eligible to receive assistance from VITA will be helped by qualified SIUE accounting students under the supervision of James Dixon, instructor in the Department of Accounting.

Tax returns will be prepared in the department offices, located in Room 2114 of Founders Hall, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Fridays, beginning Feb. 9 and continuing through April 5. However, no service is available March 8 through 14.

In addition, VITA student volunteers will prepare tax returns from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays at Edwardsville Public Library from Feb. 7 through April 3. VITA services at the library will not be available Saturday, March 13.

Individuals should bring Social Security cards and driver's licenses for themselves and all dependents, along with exemptions that are being claimed. They also must bring all supporting documentation, such as Forms W-2 and 1099. Individuals also are encouraged to provide a copy of the previous year's tax return.

VITA student volunteers will prepare tax returns for U.S. citizens filing Forms 1040-EZ and 1040-A only. Students do not prepare Form 1040, also known as the long form. No dual state income tax returns can be prepared. A state return will be prepared only if the individual worked and resided in a single state for the entire year. VITA personnel reserve the right to refuse to prepare any return based on their review of the situation.

Simmons Not Looking Too Far Ahead

SIUE men's basketball coach Marty Simmons isn't going to let himself or his 10-9 Cougars look ahead to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament in March. "No, it's too early to talk about that," said Simmons. "We just have to keep winning games."

The Cougars are coming off a 60-51 victory at home over Quincy this past Thursday (1/29). SIUE next faces Wisconsin-Parkside on Thursday (2/5) at 7:30 p.m. and Saint Joseph's on Saturday (2/7) at 3 p.m.

Simmons said the team's determination and desire have been very good this season. He said a balanced approach and a move toward stressing defense has helped the Cougars. Simmons is interested in letting his players know they have to set good screens, block out for a rebound and finish their cuts to be successful. "That's what I want our guys to be thinking about out there," said Simmons.

SIUE continues to lead the GLVC in the two defensive categories of scoring and field goal percentage. The Cougars have allowed 64.7 points per game and opponents have hit just 41.4 percent of their shots from the field. Contrast those numbers to last season when SIUE allowed 75.1 points per game and opponents shot 47.6 percent from the field.

SIUE's win over Quincy was the 10th of the season, marking the first time since the 1998-1999 season that the Cougars have recorded double-digit victories.

Simmons said his team is as balanced as any team in the GLVC. The foursome of Ron Jones (Kankakee), Tyler Hackstadt (Okawville), Calvin Sykes (Chicago) and Joel Jaye (Chicago) are all averaging double digits in scoring.

SIUE has road victories over Wisconsin-Parkside and Saint Joseph's this season, but that fact doesn't make it any easier for the Cougars at home this week. SIUE defeated Saint Joseph's 77-64 on Nov. 29 to open the conference season and Wisconsin-Parkside 66-60 on Jan. 10. "It just makes it harder," said Simmons. "After you've played this many games in this league, everyone knows your strengths and weaknesses."

Women's Basketball Eyes More Intensity

With seven games left in the regular season, every game becomes an important game as the SIUE women's basketball season progresses.

"We keep telling our players that each game is a big game," says Coach Wendy Hedberg. "You don't say it to them to scare them. You say it hopefully to motivate them."

The Cougars have lacked the intensity and consistency needed to win games in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. SIUE's most recent loss to 11th-ranked Quincy saw the Cougars fall behind with a 20-2 Quincy run to begin the second half.

SIUE has picked up a boost from the three-point shooting of Jessica Robert (Carlyle) and Sarah Schweers (Chatham). Robert leads the nation in three-point field goal percentage for the fourth consecutive week, and Schweers is among the top 30 nationally in the same category.

Hedberg said the Cougars will need some improved play from the post players with games this week against Wisconsin-Parkside at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday (2/5) and Saint Joseph's at 1 p.m. on Saturday (2/7).

Wisconsin-Parkside (10-8, 7-5 GLVC) has a strong inside-outside presence in Jen Braier and Sammy Kromm. Meanwhile, Saint Joseph's (6-13, 3-10) is coming off an upset over Southern Indiana.

Track And Field Aims for More Records

It will not bother SIUE coach Darryl Frerker if he has to make multiple changes to the record books this season.

SIUE's next meet is the Titan Open in Bloomington on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan. Saturday's (2/7) meet begins at 10 a.m. "We're looking for even more records and some NCAA qualifiers," Frerker said.

The Cougars will be running on a track with softer turns and better straightaways, which could lead to improved marks.

Frerker said freshmen Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) and Valerie Simmons (St. Louis) have been running well in the sprints and hurdles.

Breanne Steffens (Moline), most recently named the Great Lakes Valley Conference's top Scholar-Athlete for women's cross country, will be looking to qualify in either the mile, 800 meters or 1,500 meters. Frerker said he won't make a decision with Steffens about which event she tries to qualify until later in the week.

On the men's side, Brian Taghon (East Moline), an NCAA qualifier for the Cougars in cross country, will likely run at 1,500 meters. Frerker said he also will be monitoring sophomore Steve Landers (Auburn), who threw an NCAA qualifying mark at the Eastern Illinois Mega Meet in the weight throw but misstepped and caused himself to foul.

Wrestlers Play Host To Central Missouri

The SIUE wrestling team has a busy weekend with a home match on Saturday (2/7) at 7 p.m. and a road dual meet at Northern Illinois at 5 p.m. on Sunday (2/8).

SIUE coach Booker Benford said his team will focus on improving to the level needed to advance to the NCAA Championships.

The Central Missouri match is SIUE's final home dual meet. The rest of the schedule is on the road, capped off by an appearance at the NCAA-II Regionals in Edmond, Okla. The top wrestlers coming out of that tournament advance to the NCAA-II Championships in Mankato, Minn., on March 12-13.

SIUE's 149-pound freshman Joe Rujawitz (Belleville) can pick up win No. 30 this week after he improved his record to 29-12 with a dominating win over Truman State's Scott Skinner 20-7.

Cougar 133-pounder Steve Chico (Hammond, Ind.) is nearing the .500 mark with an 11-12 record. He leads the team in falls with seven.

Track And Field Breaks Six School Records

Six more school records fell for the SIUE track and field teams at the Eastern Illinois Mega Meet this past Saturday (1/24). That's 11 records in two weeks, a good indication, said Coach Darryl Frerker. "That's the best start we've had in a season," said Frerker.

Breanne Steffens (Moline), SIUE's All-American in cross country, was part of two records. She broke the 3,000-meter record in 10 minutes, 17.62 seconds and ran the final leg of the record-breaking 4 X 800-meter relay with teammates Natalie Aschim (Rockford), Heather Zipparro (Mt. Prospect) and Mary Witte (Normal).

SIUE's 4 X 400-meter relay also set a new standard in 4:00.02 with Yahshi Rice (Richton Park), Jenny Jaquez (Aurora), Julia Scherer (Sumner) and Valerie Simmons (St. Louis).

Rich Skirball (Granite City), one of six runners nationally who has provisionally qualified at 800 meters, set a new mark at 1,000 meters in a time of 2:31.49.

The field events also saw some rewriting with Callie Glover (Bartlett) setting a new record in the weight throw at 48 feet, 6 inches, and Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) breaking the record in the triple jump at 36-11.5.

Frerker said it would be difficult to single out any individuals with strong performances. "We have a handful of student-athletes that we'll be surprised if they don't make it to nationals," said Frerker.

SIUE's next event is Feb. 7 at the Titan Open in Bloomington.

Men's Basketball Looks To Quincy Matchup

Coach Marty Simmons doesn't see any games in the Great Lakes Valley Conference as being easy.

The 9-9 Cougars, who are 5-7 in the GLVC, are coming off a pair of road losses to Kentucky Wesleyan and Southern Indiana. SIUE's next test is a return game with Quincy in the Vadalabene Center at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (1/29). "Quincy is a very competitive team and very well set up. They are a very hard team to score against," said Simmons.

Forget the fact that Quincy is 8-10 and holds a 4-7 mark in the GLVC. Simmons plans to focus on his own team for the week. SIUE has just one game this week being idle on Saturday (1/31).

The Cougars hope to get Kris Crosby (Belleville) and Joel Jaye (Chicago) back into the mix after injuries forced them out of most of the Southern Indiana game.

Ron Jones (Kankakee) was held to less than 10 points in the loss at Southern Indiana, breaking Jones' string of 17 straight games this season in double figures. "He's got to be more than a jump shooter. When teams try to shut down the three-point shot, he has to go to something else to do well on the offensive end," Simmons said.

Tyler Hackstadt (Okawville) led SIUE in scoring with 22 points against Southern Indiana. Simmons said Hackstadt has additional duties than simply scoring. "He gets the job of guarding the best offensive player on the other team," said Simmons. "Offensively, he can score in a variety of ways."

Simmons also is watching the progression of 6-foot-11-inch center Dan Heimos (Waterloo). "Heimos did some things well offensively," said Simmons. Confidence, however, will be a key for Heimos with nine games left in the regular season.

Women's Basketball Faces No. 10 Quincy

Putting mistakes down to a minimum has become the words of the week for SIUE women's basketball coach Wendy Hedberg. "We're giving up too many second and third chances," she said.

The Cougars played with intensity and picked up the game-winning shot with five seconds left from senior Jessica Robert (Carlyle) in the 75-73 victory at Southern Indiana. "It was a great team effort," Hedberg said of the win at Southern Indiana.

SIUE now turns its attention to a single game this week against 10th-ranked Quincy on Thursday (1/29). Tip-off time is 5:30 p.m. at the Vadalabene Center. SIUE is idle in GLVC play on Saturday (1/31).

Hedberg said she has turned to senior starters Robert and Sarah Schweers (Chatham) as two players who need to lift their roles on the team. "They have to step up and be leaders on the floor."

Freshman center Julianne McMillen (Pana) appears to be close to returning to early-season form when she was scoring and rebounding in the double-digits. McMillen scored 16 points and was a perfect 8 for 8 from the free throw line against Southern Indiana.

Wrestling Moves Ahead Despite Losses

Coach Booker Benford will have his wrestlers focus on what it takes to advance to the NCAA Championships this week as they close out the final month of the regular season. "As a team, we have to stay aggressive on the mat all the time," said Benford. "They know if they stay aggressive, they can win matches."

Some of that intensity was missing in SIUE's 25-16 loss to Truman State on Sunday.

Benford said he'll regroup the team before its next match on Feb. 7 at home against Central Missouri State. The opening whistle starts at 7 p.m.

The Cougars picked up some strong performances this past week. Steve Chico picked up his team-leading seventh pin in 4 minutes, 14 seconds, over Steve Cox of Truman State. Chico is currently 11-12 at 133 pounds. SIUE's 149-pound freshman Joe Rujawitz is on the verge of a 30-win season with a 29-12 record. He boosted his win total in dominating Truman State's Scott Skinner 20-7.