September 2007

·SIUE To Host Two Previews For College-Bound Students And Parents
·New Bronze Sculpture Commemorates SIUE Cougar Mascots
·Unveiling Of The New Cougar Logo For SIUE
·SIUE's A Lesson Before Dying Promises To Be Thought-Provoking Play
·SIUE's Lovejoy Library To Host "Forever Free" Exhibition
·Annual SIUE Jazz Dinner To Feature Singer Ann Hampton Callaway
·Scientific Study Of Prayer Is Topic Of Oct. 3 WoRKS Series
·Kwame Contracts With SIUE For Management Of Upcoming Construction Projects
·SIU Board Gives Project, Budget Approval To Success Center
·BOT Gives Approvals For SIUE Renovations, Expansions
·AIA Touts SIUE Campus Among Great Places In Illinois
·Speaker, Film Series Begins With Peace Studies Scholar
SIUE To Celebrate 50 Years in Edwardsville, Alton and East St. Louis
SIUE Hosts Idea Bounce Featuring Business Ideas, Innovation
·SIUE's Drum voices Revue Issues Call For Poetry For Spring Issue
· SIUE Faculty/Students Go To China
·Singer, Composer, Author Judy Collins Returns To SIUE Sept. 29
·Engineering Students Form Cougar Baja To Race And Educate
·SIUE Civil Service Banquet Set For Oct. 18 At Moose
·Important Presentations Set For BOT Meeting In Evergreen
·SIUE's Arts & Issues Brochure Hits The Streets
·Decision To Move Testing Lab To SIUE A Boost To The Region
· Overwhelming Ticket Sales Lead To Flashback Encore Event
·ARC Selects University Park To Locate Blood Manufacturing And Testing Facility
· Additional Rec Plex Lighting Affords Night Time Fun
·Fall Enrollment Includes Largest New Freshman Class Ever At SIUE
·SIUE Founders Day Parade Set For Sept. 26 In East St. Louis
·September Employee Of The Month
· SIUe Day-Employee, Community Fundraising Initiative To Kick Off
·SIUE School Of Business Students Visit Shanghai, Suzhou, Xiamen
·Early Childhood Leader To Speak At SIUE Education Reunion

9/28/07

50th Anniversary Alumni Art Exhibit Runs Oct. 5-Nov. 2 In U. Gallery

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The 50th Anniversary Art Alumni Exhibition, displaying 50 pieces of artwork from graduates of the Art and Design program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, opens Friday, Oct. 5, and continues through Friday, Nov. 2, in the University Gallery on the second floor of SIUE's Morris University Center.

More than 1,300 alumni residing within a 150-mile radius of the University were invited to submit up to two pieces each. Jurors Dennis Ringering, Phillip Hampton and Dan Anderson-all emeritus faculty of the Department of Art and Design-chose the final 50 pieces of artwork from more than 300 pieces that were submitted.

An artists' reception is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at the gallery. A color catalogue of the pieces in the exhibit will be available for purchase for $17.

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9/28/07

SIUE Celebrates Homecoming Weekend; Club Sports Logo Launch

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The excitement of homecoming activities is the perfect backdrop for a big unveiling for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Club Sports program Saturday, Oct. 6.

"This year's homecoming events have an extra sense of excitement surrounding them with the 50th Anniversary tie-in," said Keith Becherer, assistant director of Campus Recreation. "The design and unveiling of a new SIUE Club Sports logo mark an exciting time for the Club Sports program.

"This new logo will allow for consistent recognition of the whole range of active and diverse clubs within the program."

Club Sports has between 20 and 30 organizations under its umbrella at any given time, with nearly 460 student participants this academic year. For more than 30 years, Club Sports participants have engaged in activities as diverse as skydiving, rock climbing, football, soccer, basketball, fencing, ice hockey, underwater hockey, cricket and rugby, to name a few.

Saturday's activities will begin with a Campus Recreation 5K Poker Run at 8:30 a.m. starting at the SIUE Student Fitness Center. Big Red Read with Clifford the Big Red Dog will follow at 10 a.m. in the Goshen Lounge, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris Center, and Family Weekend at the Rock Climbing Wall, on the first floor of the Student Fitness Center, will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Third Annual Homecoming Classic and Custom Car Show is scheduled from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in Parking Lot B, with an SIUE Alumni Picnic, Sh-Boom concert and Kids Corner Inflatables throughout the afternoon in the field west of the Morris Center.

Festivities will continue Saturday with A Family, Friends and Fun Bowling Tournament from noon-5 p.m. at Cougar Lanes, on the lower level of the center. Nursing Simulated Lab Tours are scheduled from 1-3 p.m. on the second floor of Alumni Hall.

A Student Affairs Alumni and Friends Homecoming Hospitality Tent will be open from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Recreational Sports Complex (Rec-Plex), with pom-poms and popcorn offered from 2-3 p.m., sponsored by the Cougar Parent and Family Association. SIUE Club Football will tackle Marquette University during a 3 p.m. game at the complex.

Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship Alumni, Friends & Family Ice Cream Social will take place from 2-4 p.m. at the Religious Center, while a University Housing Trivia Contest will kick off in Conference Center, on the second floor of the Morris Center, from 3-6 p.m.

Festivities will come to a close Saturday with the Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet at 6:30 p.m. in the Vadalabene Center as well as a Club Showcase featuring hypnotist Frederick Winters and INPULSE, an a capella group, at 8 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of the Morris Center.

The Chancellor's Literary Society Closing Ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, in the Mississippi-Illinois Room, on the second floor of the Morris Center, followed by a Sunday brunch from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the University Restaurant, on the second floor of the center.

SIUE Women's and Men's Soccer teams will take on University Missouri-Rolla at noon and 2:30 p.m., respectively, at Korte Stadium.

For more information, contact the Kimmel Leadership Center, (618) 650-2686.

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9/28/07

SIUE Set To Celebrate Homecoming Week 2007

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is set to celebrate Homecoming 2007, with a week of events scheduled Monday-Friday, Oct. 1-5.

Activities will begin with Homecoming King and Queen voting from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 1-2, in the Goshen Lounge, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris Center. An old-fashioned soda shop will be set up in the lobbies of the Engineering Building on Monday and in Peck Hall on Tuesday, both from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

A Golf Cart Parade will kick off in the Stratton Quadrangle at 11:30 a.m. Monday.

On Tuesday, Oct. 2, Recliner Races will take place at noon in the Quad, followed by a concert at noon, featuring Meg Allison from USA Network's Nashville Star as part of the Livewire Concert Series in the Goshen Lounge. Cosmic Bowling will complete the day's festivities from 7-9 p.m. at Cougar Lanes in the lower leve of the Morris Center.

A new SIUE Cougar logo launch promises to captivate audiences in Goshen Lounge at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, followed by a Cougar statue dedication at noon at the north entrance to the center. The day will be completed with a showing of the movie, Hairspray, at 7 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom. On the first floor of the center.

Cougar Karaoke '80s Style will take the campus by storm at noon Thursday,

Oct. 4, in Goshen Lounge. Also Thursday an early childhood reunion reception will be held from 4-8:30 p.m. in the University Club Restaurant, on the second floor of the center.

A pep rally and bonfire will kick off at 6:30 p.m. in front of Woodland Hall, or in Goshen Lounge in case of inclement weather, followed by a homecoming dance, Dancin' Through the Decades, sponsored by the Residence Housing Association from 9-11:30 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom. The Homecoming Prince and Princess Coronation will begin at 11 p.m.

The Sixth Annual SIUE Chili Cook-off, presented by the SIUE Club Sports program, is set for 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct.5, at Korte Stadium as part of Homecoming Week.

Homecoming soccer games, with Cougar women and men playing the University of Missouri-St. Louis at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively, will take place the same day at Korte Stadium. Tricycle races will take place between the games, sponsored by the Residence Housing Association.

The Homecoming Royalty Coronation will happen during halftime of the men's game. A casino night will follow the festivities starting at 9 p.m. in Goshen Lounge and Meridian Ballroom.

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9/27/07

SIUE Music Department Presents The 30th Coffee Concerts Season

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Music will launch its 30th season of the Coffee Concerts Chamber Music Series with a 50th Anniversary Coffee Concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris Center.

Guests will enjoy the sweet sounds of music, with performances by music alumni, faculty and retirees, as well as some coffee and conversation.

Featured alumni will include Diane Dietz, Sarah Engelke, Eddie Hitchcock, Shawn Neace, Angela Powers and Doug Meyer. Performances by professors Rick Haydon, James "Mac" Hinson and Linda Perry; and emeritus professors Marion Lampe, George Mellott and Bob Schieber also will be featured. Emeritus Professor Stephen Brown, at the piano, will close the reception with Seven Songs of Delyte, in honor of Delyte W. Morris, considered the founder of SIUE.

The series will include additional performances Jan. 28-featuring Irish Folk Songs for Trumpet and Cello and new faculty tenor Assistant Professor Marc Schapman singing Benjamin Britten's On This Island, and March 31-offering an all-instrumental concert of Dvorak's Dumky Trio in E Minor for Violin, Cello and Piano, Jazzberries for Trumpet, Cello and Piano by William Schmidt, Miniatures for Clarinet, Cello and Piano by Paul Juan and Three Pieces for Piano Trio by Lubomir Pipkov.

Tickets per concert are $10; senior citizens, $9; and students, $5. Subscription series tickets are $27; senior citizens, $24: and students, $15. Reservations are required for the first concert. For more information, call the SIUE Department of Music, (618) 650-3900. For tickets, contact the Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774.

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9/27/07

SIUE To Host Two Previews For College-Bound Students And Parents

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill) Each year more and more students have been considering Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and that means a growing number of them have been attending PREVIEW SIUE each fall. Last year, the University added an additional day because the number of PREVIEW participants has nearly doubled in the past six years. The additional day was very successful.

PREVIEW SIUE is an opportunity for prospective students and their families to see the beauty of the campus, visit with faculty and staff and obtain answers to their questions in one visit to campus. This year, SIUE will conduct its annual open house events on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 8, and Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 12.

"Last year, we added the second day and made the event much more manageable than trying to accommodate everyone on one day," said Karen Bollinger, assistant director of SIUE Admissions and Academic Marketing. "We believe we can do a much better job in personalizing PREVIEW by offering the event on two separate days," she said.

"We like to get to know the students and their parents, while at the same time offering them the information they'll need to make sound decisions about a college choice. Our program is one of the few campus-visit programs that include participation from virtually all academic and student services units in one setting," Bollinger said.

"At PREVIEW SIUE, our faculty and staff take an active role in talking with prospective students and introducing them to the academic opportunities available at SIUE."

At both events, Scott Belobrajdic, assistant vice chancellor for Enrollment Management, will present opening remarks at 8:30 a.m. in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Delyte W. Morris University Center. Students may speak one-on-one to department representatives at each event during the information fairs in the Goshen Lounge, also on the first floor of the Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

At both PREVIEW opportunities, the opening session, SIUEssentials, will cover information on admission requirements, financing an education, and University Housing options. Students then

will have opportunities to tour the central campus, meet with faculty and staff at the information fair, or attend an informational session of their choice. All academic units will play host to the informational sessions for students interested in their respective program.

Also, prospective students may attend a panel session made up of current SIUE students. Similarly, prospective parents also may attend a panel of parents of current SIUE students.

Informational session topics include Tailor-Made Careers, A 'Major' Decision, Transferring to SIUE and Extreme Financial Aid as well as academic sessions presented by the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences and the schools of Business, Education, Engineering, Nursing, Pharmacy and Dental Medicine.

Check-in and on-site registration begins at 8 a.m. in the Morris University Center. It is recommended that interested students pre-register online at the Web site: www.siue.edu/prospectivestudents/visit, or by telephone: (800) 447-SIUE.

Tours of the campus and residence halls will be offered until 2 p.m., while campus offices will remain open until 4:30 p.m. PREVIEW parking will be available at Korte Stadium, on Stadium Road, just west of the main campus at the bottom of the bluff. Shuttles will bring guests to SIUE's Morris Center. There is no charge for either event.

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9/27/07

MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

New Bronze Sculpture Commemorates SIUE Cougar Mascots

SIUE Renews Its Love Affair With The Cougar Mascot

• Who: SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift, Narbeth Emmanuel, vice chancellor for Student Affairs; SIUE Student Body President Laurie Estilette; former Student Body presidents; and members of the Cougar Guard who were students who cared for the cougars.
• What: Unveiling of new Cougar sculpture
• When: Noon Wednesday, Oct. 3
• Where: In front of the main entrance to SIUE's Morris Center

The former Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougar mascots are honored with a life-size bronze statue unveiled today at the entrance to SIUE's Morris University Center.

The School Spirit and Pride Committee of SIUE's Student Government began a fund-raising campaign in 2005 to erect a bronze sculpture of a cougar, the University's mascot, on campus. The committee said the sculpture would be "a monument" to the live cougars that lived on campus between 1968 and 1987.

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9/27/07

MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Unveiling Of The New Cougar Logo For SIUE

SIUE Renews Its Love Affair With The Cougar Mascot

• Who: SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift and Intercollegiate Athletics Director Brad Hewitt
• What: Unveiling of new Cougar logo and congratulations to the SIUE Softball Cougars
• When: 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3
• Where: Goshen Lounge, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris Center

Just in time for its 50th Anniversary, SIUE has created a new University Cougar logo that will be revealed to the public in a special ceremony led by SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift. A banner will be unfurled to reveal a new sleek look for the Cougar.

University officials were quick to point out the new Cougar logo will not take the place of the SIUE wordmark or the marketing logo-SIUe-but will be used primarily to support the Athletics teams. The new logo represents a sharper, edgier cougar image reflective of highly competitive sports teams.

After the new Cougar logo is revealed, the Chancellor also will congratulate the SIUE Softball team for winning this year's NCAA Division II National Softball Championship. In addition, members of the 4 Alarm design team will be on hand for any questions about the new logo.

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9/27/07

SIUE's A Lesson Before Dying Promises To Be Thought-Provoking Play

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) A talented black schoolmaster longs for a better life, away from rural Louisiana of 1948 where Jim Crow reigns and opportunity is nonexistent. But before Grant Wiggins can move on, he agrees to help a wrongly accused, illiterate black man to "die like a man," and along the way learn his own life lessons.

Based on the Earnest Gaines novel, playwright Romulus Linney explores the relationship between Jefferson, the condemned man, and Wiggins. A Lesson Before Dying runs at SIUE's Dunham Hall theater at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Oct. 10-13, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14.

Director Kathryn Bentley found the themes in the play to be very intriguing. "Linney is asking us to ask ourselves 'What is justice? What is the lesson to be learned before we die?' and each individual has to decide these for themselves."

Bentley, an instructor in the SIUE Department of Theater and Dance, explained that during the trial Jefferson's own attorney says he's no better than a hog, a subhuman. While in jail, Jefferson begins to act like one. But the schoolmaster's aunt, Miss Emma, prevails on Wiggins to visit Jefferson, her godson, in jail to help him die with dignity. The schoolmaster agrees and begins a relationship with the jailed man.

Bentley, an instructor of multicultural theater, said "this is the kind of play that will promote discussion. It's a thought-provoking piece."

With an energetic cast, the play promises to be an exciting drama but there have been one or two interesting hurdles Bentley is facing. "One of the biggest hurdles is that no one in this cast has ever done a drama before," she explained. "They've only done comedies or musical theater. "But, during the first read-through I could tell they were moved by Linney's text," Bentley said. "I knew then they would be up to the challenge and they would do well."

With the recent disturbing news out of Jena, La., the play, written during the 1990s, resonates now as much as it did a dozen years ago. "All of us need to look at the idea of justice in this country," Bentley said, "and consider the issues of equality."

For tickets or for more information, call the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774.

Click on the numbers for two photos suitable for print: 1 | 2.
In Photo 1, the Incarcerated Jefferson, played by Curtis B. Lewis Jr. of Rock Island, is refusing help to "die like a man." In the background are Greg Fenner of Florissant, Mo., as Grant Wiggins; Rudy Wilson of Edwardsville in the role of Rev. Moses Ambrose; and A.J. Hemphill, also of Florissant, as Miss Emma. (SIUE Photo by Bill Brinson)

In Photo 2, Jefferson, the man wrongly accused of murder, played by Curtis B. Lewis Jr. of Rock Island, is being consoled by the Rev. Moses Ambrose, portrayed by Rudy Wilson of Edwardsville, and Miss Emma, played by A.J. Hemphill of Florissant, Mo. In the background is Greg Fenner as Grant Wiggins, the schoolmaster who will try help Jefferson face his execution. (SIUE Photo by Bill Brinson)

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9/26/07

SIUE's Lovejoy Library To Host "Forever Free" Exhibition

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) "Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln's Journey to Emancipation," a traveling exhibition that explores why the United States tolerated for so long a harsh labor system, will be on display Oct. 31-Nov. 30 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Lovejoy Library.

Charlotte Johnson, director of User Services at Lovejoy Library, said the exhibition "looks for answers about why a nation founded on ideals of freedom and equality had one of the harshest labor systems the world has known?" Johnson pointed out the exhibit traces Abraham Lincoln's gradual transformation from an antislavery moderate into "The Great Emancipator," who freed all slaves with a revolutionary wartime proclamation in 1863.

Organized by the Huntington Library, San Marino, Calif., and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History of New York City, in cooperation with the American Library Association, the traveling exhibition is made possible through major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, created by Congress and charged with planning the national celebration of Lincoln's 200th birthday.

"We are pleased to have been selected as one of the 63 sites for this exhibition," Johnson said. "The Civil War and slavery are topics which must constantly be revisited in order to help 21st century Americans better understand their causes and more clearly see how their effects are still with us today.

"Forever Free" draws upon original documents in the collections of the Huntington Library and the Lehrman Institute, curated by John Rhodehamel, the Norris Foundation Curator of American historical manuscripts at the Huntington. Lovejoy Library also is sponsoring the following free programs for the public in connection with the exhibit:

• Sunday, Oct. 21, 3-4 p.m., the John C. Abbott Auditorium, lower level of Lovejoy, "Forever Free," opening keynote presentation by SIUC Prof. John Simon
• Sunday, Oct. 28, 3-4 p.m., Abbott Auditorium, "Lincoln's Pragmatic Proclamation: Abraham Lincoln and the Black Freedom Struggle," lecture by SIUE Professor Stefan Bradley
• Sunday, Nov. 4, 3-4 p.m., Abbott Auditorium, "Whitman on Lincoln and Emancipation," lecture by SIUE Professor Jason Stacy
• Friday, Nov. 9, 7:30-10 p.m., Abbott Auditorium, "The Massachusetts 54th" lecture by SIUE Professor Stefan Bradley, followed by the movie, Glory
• Sunday, Nov. 11, 3-4 p.m., Abbott Auditorium, "Music in the Time of the Civil War" by SIUE Professor Joel Knapp & 4 Choral Singers
• Sunday, Nov. 18, 3-4 p.m., Lovejoy Library Lightwell, "Dance in the Time of the Civil War," by Dance Discovery

For more information or if attendees need special assistance, call Johnson, (618) 650-3830 or e-mail: cjohnso@siue.edu.

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9/26/07

Annual SIUE Jazz Dinner To Feature Singer Ann Hampton Callaway On Oct. 21

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Singer-songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway, known as "keeper of the flame of the Great American songbook" and known for starring in the hit Broadway musical, Swing, will be the special guest performer at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's 19th Annual Jazz Dinner from 6-10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21.

The annual event is a fundraiser for the SIUE Friends of Music; proceeds benefit the University's Music Scholarship Fund. Reservations for the event must be made by Oct. 15. The evening also includes appearances by SIUE Jazz Studies faculty members, Zeb Briskovich, Rick Haydon, Brett Stamps, Reggie Thomas, Miles Vandiver and the SIUE Concert Jazz Band.

Callaway, a national and international recording artist, also is known by many as the singer (and composer) of the theme to the long-running network television sitcom, The Nanny, with Fran Drescher.

This exclusive one-night engagement Oct 21 will take place in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris Center. The $60 admission price includes dinner, the concert and music for dancing. A cash bar also will be available. The evening's co-sponsors are TheBANK of Edwardsville, the Belleville News-Democrat and WSIE-FM (88.7), the University's NPR affiliate.

Whether she's captivating an audience with her piano accompaniment to her own pop and jazz vocal interpretations or dazzling them with her lyric arrangements while fronting a jazz orchestra, Callaway also can impress us with her spontaneity, intelligence and "soulful charisma." Critics say all these traits have won Callaway a diverse fan base including notables Barbra Streisand, Clive Davis, Carly Simon and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis.

Callaway's repertoire touches the blues, jazz and pop and she's been compared to several classic vocalists such as Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald, as well as Streisand and Judy Garland. And, she's known to bring down the house with her seemingly off-the-cuff comedy routines. Critics have said Callaway's possessed of a "huge voice with a huge range" and that "she can belt, she can growl, she can croon."

For tickets, call the SIUE Department of Music, (618) 650-3900.

Click here for a photo suitable for print

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9/26/07

Scientific Study Of Prayer Is Topic Of Oct. 3 WoRKS Series

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) "The Evidence of Things Not Seen: Scientific Studies of Prayer" is the topic of an Oct. 3 presentation by the World Religions, Knowledge, and Science (WoRKS) Group, Edwardsville, which offers dialogues about religion and science for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville community and surrounding communities throughout the academic year.

J. Brian Cassel, senior analyst for the VCU Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, will conduct the presentation at 7:30 p.m. in the SIUE Religious Center, the geodesic dome designed by famed theorist R. Buckminster Fuller at SIUE.

This is the second of three years that WoRKS is sponsoring a Distinguished Speaker Series and a Study Group Series. This year's Study Group will be discussing Belief in God in an Age of Science (Yale University Press, 1998) by John Polkinghorne. The first Study Group session to study chapter one of Polkinghorne's book will be hosted by SIUE Philosophy Professor Greg Fields at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Religious Center. Readings are optional, and participants may attend any or all of the monthly dialogues.

WoRKS Group events are free and open to the public. Parking is available for $1 per hour in Visitor's Lot B, between the Religious Center and the Morris University Center. The WoRKS Group-Edwardsville is one of approximately 240 science and religion dialogue groups worldwide supported by Metanexus Institute of Philadelphia, which seeks to encourage thoughtful and dynamic exploration of the interrelationship of science and religion.

The group's initial three-year series of events is funded by a grant from the Metanexus Institute, with matching funds provided by the SIUE Graduate School, the Office of the Provost, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Philosophy, the University Religious Council and the Friends of the Religious Center. For more information, contact Greg Fields by telephone, (618) 650-2461, or by e-mail: gfields@siue.edu, or visit www.metanexus.org.

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9/21/07

Kwame Contracts With SIUE For Management Of Upcoming Construction Projects

SIUE has retained Kwame Building Group of St. Louis as its construction manager for various upcoming capital projects. Under the contract, Kwame will act as an advisor to the University by reviewing various project's program, design and construction phases for issues such as cost, schedule, constructability and quality control. Part of Kwame's challenge is to track multiple projects scheduled at the same time to mitigate any adverse impact on the University. Projects will include both renovation and new construction. Currently, Kwame is studying the Vadalabene Center bleacher replacement project approved recently by the SIU Board of Trustees. The contract with Kwame will help assure quality and timely projects as efficiently as possible.

Click here for a photo showing company officers as well as SIUE officials: (from left) Craig Lucas, vice president of Kwame; Richard Walker, vice chancellor for Administration; Gloria Atkins, vice chancellor for Administration; Scott Kolath, project manager for Kwame; and SIUE Campus Architect Rick Klein. (SIUE Photo by Denise Macdonald)

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9/20/07

SIU Board Gives Project, Budget Approval To Success Center

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees today gave final project and budget approval for construction of the Student Academic Success Center (SASC) addition to the Morris University Center, estimated to cost $16.6 million and to be funded through student fees.

Last year, the board approved adding an Academic Success Center Fee to the University's fee structure to fund the center. Construction of the 66,000-square-foot building is expected to begin in spring 2008 with a target completion date of June 2009. The center will serve the increased number of residential students at SIUE who need more space for academic-student support services. Currently, such services are scattered throughout campus.

The SASC would concentrate all such services under one roof, including Instructional Services, Disability Support Services, Counseling Services, Health Service, Academic Counseling and Advising & SOAR (Student Opportunities for Academic Recognition), the Career Development Center, the International Student Center, the Honors Program and expanded space for the Kimmel Leadership Center.

The project also must gain approval of the Illinois Board of Higher Education as a non-instructional capital improvement.

In other business today, the Board of Trustees confirmed and awarded $293,252 in contracts for construction of sidewalks along South Circle Drive between Whiteside Road and the entrance to Prairie and Woodland halls. The project provides walkways to connect the University's four residence halls including the newest, Evergreen Hall. The project also includes a lighted asphalt walkway from the main campus to Evergreen Hall.

Keller Construction, Glen Carbon, received a $257,655 contract for asphalt and concrete, while a $35,597 contract was awarded to Lowry Electric Co. of East St. Louis for the electric portions of the project.

Beautifully situated on 2,660 acres, SIUE is a public institution offering a broad choice of degrees and programs ranging from liberal arts to professional studies. Nearly 13,500 students choose SIUE for undergraduate and graduate education just 25 minutes from St. Louis. SIUE celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2007-2008.

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9/20/07

BOT Gives Approvals For SIUE Renovations, Expansions

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees today gave final project and budget approval to various renovations and expansions scheduled for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus, for some $18 million.

Votes were taken by the board today at its regular meeting held in SIUE's newest residence hall, Evergreen Hall.

The board gave project and budget approval to a proposed $10.5 million expansion of the Student Fitness Center to be funded through student fees. Opened in 1993, the center was expanded in 1996 for increased student enrollment.

Since then, enrollment has increased and more expansion is necessary, including the need for two additional multi-purpose rooms for group exercise and student organization activities, and office additions and related renovations to consolidate staff currently scattered throughout the building. The project also must gain approval of the Illinois Board of Higher Education as a non-instructional capital improvement. The project is expected to be completed by May 2009.

In other business today, the board gave project and budget approval to a proposed $6 million renovation of the Vadalabene Center, including replacement of the 23-year-old bleachers, which in turn will convert 13,800 square feet into additional office space, classrooms and storage. The project, to be funded through the Facility Maintenance Fee, includes expansion of the women's public restrooms. The project is expected to be completed by December 2008.

The board also gave project and budget approval to a proposed $1.6 million renovation of the SIUE Bookstore, located in the Morris University Center and to be funded through the Center's cash reserve funds. Through remodeling, minor renovation and equipping, this project will address insufficient lighting by updating fixtures, while providing better compliance with ADA guidelines by incorporating a more open sales floor, new signs, display fixtures, new technology and a new fire suppression system. The renovation is expected to be completed by October 2008.

In another SIUE-related project, the board awarded a $106,600 contract to Plocher Construction of Highland for renovation of the School of Pharmacy Building, 200 University Park Drive, University Park, SIUE's research and technology park. The proposed project includes additional office and student lounge space to be funded through remaining proceeds and interest income from previous Pharmacy project loans.

Beautifully situated on 2,660 acres, SIUE is a public institution offering a broad choice of degrees and programs ranging from liberal arts to professional studies. Nearly 13,500 students choose SIUE for undergraduate and graduate education just 25 minutes from St. Louis. SIUE celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2007-2008.

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9/20/07

AIA Touts SIUE Campus Among Great Places In Illinois

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) It's a great day to be a Cougar-and the campus at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a great place to be, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Illinois Council.

SIUE's campus buildings are featured among the top 150 Illinois Great Places by the AIA Illinois Council and members of the AIA Southern Illinois Council were on hand today at the SIU Board of Trustees meeting to award a plaque to SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift. The plaque, announcing the designation, will be mounted in a prominent place on campus.

AIA officers who awarded the plaque today were: Brad Klein, president-elect; Eric Spencer; Bill Reichert, president; and Tim McMinn, treasurer. The AIA ranks the campus with such popular structures as the Illinois State Capitol, the Old State Capitol, the Sears Tower, Wrigley Field, the home of Abraham Lincoln and Cahokia Mounds.

The original campus buildings were designed by architect Gyo Obata of the firm Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabum Inc. "with a common vocabulary of strong masonry volumes connected by concrete and glass," the council said. Its Web site continued, "The original six buildings have been expanded over the years, and the landscaping has now matured to create a campus that is both suburban and urban."

The 150 places designated were chosen by a selection committee comprised of architects in honor of the organization's 150th anniversary. For more information, visit the AIA Illinois Council Web site: www.illinoisgreatplaces.com.

Click here for a photo that shows SIUE Chancellor Vandegrift receiving the AIA plaque from Brad Klein, president -elect of the AIA Southern Illinois Council.

Also, after the board meeting, state legislators, board members and Edwardsville Mayor Gary Niebur were on hand as SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift and SIU President Glenn Poshard unveiled a plaque dedicating Evergreen Hall. Evergreen, the fourth residence hall on campus and the fifth housing unit at SIUE, opened Aug. 18 to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students. Illinois Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton), Illinois Rep. Tom Holbrook (D-Belleville) and Illinois Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Collinsville), as well as Neibur, commented on the beauty and the importance of the building.

With the addition of Evergreen Hall, there are now 3,500 students living on campus. That's nearly double the amount of students who first enrolled at the University in 1957. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education now lists SIUE as "a primarily residential university." The newest residence hall is a state-of-the-art facility with apartments and suites that make living on campus a comfortable experience.

At today's dedication ceremony, Chancellor Vandegrift said Evergreen Hall "continues a commitment to our mission of offering a quality education, while supporting students through an environment conducive to academic success and while promoting the benefits of active involvement in campus life. Marketing research tells us that the campus visit, which includes a residence hall tour," he pointed out, "is the most important recruiting tool for potential students. Evergreen Hall is one more tool in SIUE's belt for making sure we continue to attract high-quality students who succeed and graduate."

Click here for a photo in which SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift presents the Evergreen Hall plaque to SIU President Glenn Poshard.

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9/20/07

Speaker, Film Series Begins With Peace Studies Scholar

Tony Bing, renowned peace studies scholar and educator, will present "From a Hilltop in Kharbatha: Peace-Building in Israel and Palestine through Nonviolent Resistance" from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, in the Maple-Dogwood Room, on the second floor of the Morris University Center. Bing's appearance marks the beginning of The Peace in a Time of War speaker and film series, says Assistant Professor Steve Tamari, of the SIUE Historical Studies faculty.

"For the last two years," Tamari points out, "the Palestinian residents of the West Bank village and their Israeli supporters have waged a campaign of nonviolent resistance against Israel's 'separation barrier,' which separates the villagers from their farms. On Sept. 4, Israel's highest court ruled in favor of the villagers." Tamari explained Bing believes this is a vindication of the view that nonviolent resistance and peace-building between Israelis and Palestinians is delivering results on the ground.

"Since 1967, Dr. Bing , emeritus professor of English literature and peace studies at Earlham College in Indiana, has been promoting peace in the Middle East by taking students there to learn for themselves," Tamari said. "He served as executive director of the Peace Studies Association, which recognized him as peace educator of the year in 1992. He's also the author of a biography of Joseph Abileah, Israeli pacifist and musician."

Tamari said this year-long series, organized by the Peace and International Studies program at SIUE, is made possible by a grant from SIUE's Excellence in Undergraduate Education program and through support from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Lovejoy Library. "The Peace in a Time of War series will include national and international figures in the peace movement, in the military, and in the field of international criminal law. A full program will be publicized shortly."

For more information about the series, please contact Steve Tamari, (618) 650-3967.

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9/18/07

SIUE To Celebrate 50 Years in Edwardsville, Alton and East St. Louis

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The week of Sept. 24-29 will be filled with exciting activities, as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville celebrates turning 50 with style.

A Founders Day Convocation will take place at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 24, in the Vadalabene Center on the Edwardsville campus. Chancellor Emeritus David Werner, who spent 38 years at SIUE, will deliver the keynote address. Taste of SIUE, featuring food from area restaurants, will follow the convocation and birthday cake will be offered in the Morris University Center at 1:30 p.m.

The following day, Tuesday, Sept. 25, the SIU School of Dental Medicine will host Founders Day in Alton-A Celebration of Versatility from noon-2 p.m. in the Science Building, building 279 on the Alton campus. The Alton Museum of History, which is located on the School of Dental Medicine campus, will offer free admission to its array of exhibits during the festivities.

Founders Day in East St. Louis will take place from 1:30-5 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the East St. Louis campus. A parade will kick off the celebration, starting at the Lessie Bates parking lot (at 11th and State streets) at 1:30 p.m. and will continue to the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus in the parking lot of Building A. The day will feature other activities, including a display of historical photographs and memorabilia, and music and dance performances. A reception will follow the program.

Government proclamations designating Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Day will be read at each event.

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9/18/07

SIUE Hosts Idea Bounce Featuring Business Ideas, Innovation

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Beware of bouncing business ideas flying across the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20.

SIUE will host IdeaBounce at the Technology and Management Center, 245 S. Research Drive, in University Park.

Organized by SIUE Southwestern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center, unusual, out-of-the-ordinary, fun and perhaps somewhat zany, outrageous ideas are being sought, said Kristine Jarden, the center's director. Past ideas have included ideas for new restaurants, retail shops and cars.

"This is an opportunity to share creative, innovative and maybe just weird ideas," she said.

Out of all the ideas submitted, a number of presenters will be selected to give two-minute presentations to a panel of judges and a room full of spectators. The judges will select winners to receive $100 each. "Even if you don't have a business idea, please come and listen to the presenters," Jarden said. "Networking, hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be available for everyone after the ideas are bounced."

Those interested in participating should register by calling Jarden at (618) 650-2166.

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9/18/07

SIUE's Drum voices Revue Issues Call For Poetry For Spring Issue

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) For its Spring 2008 issue, Drum voices Revue-a journal of "Literary, Cultural & Vision Arts" co-published by the Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville-is issuing a "call" for "kwansabas" for Richard Wright (1908-1960) in honor of the Wright Centennial (1908-2008).

The kwansaba, a 49-word poetic form invented during the Writers Club's 1995 workshop season (in East St. Louis), consists of seven lines of seven words each, with no word containing more than seven letters. Exceptions to the seven-letter rule are proper nouns and some foreign terms. Selected kwansabas will be published in the Spring 2008 issue of Drum voices. Final date for submission of the kwansabas is Nov. 1. Previous issues of Drum voices have featured kwansabas for Miles Davis, Katherine Dunham, Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, Jayne Cortez, Maya Angelou and Quincy Troupe.

Kwansaba submissions should be sent to Drum voices Revue, SIUE Department of English Language and Literature, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1431. Submissions may be sent in hard copies and/or in Microsoft Word on a computer storage disk. For more information, call (618) 650-3991, send e-mail: eredmon@siue.edu, FAX (618) 650-3509, or postal mail, EBRWC, East St. Louis, IL 62202-6165.

Founded in 1986 and named after East St. Louis Poet Laureate Eugene B. Redmond, the EBR Writers Club is currently celebrating its 21st year of twice-monthly meetings (first/third Tuesday), 6-8 p.m., in the Library (Building B) of the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, 601 J. R. Thompson Drive, from September through May. All writers-beginners to professionals-are welcome.

The Spring-Summer edition of Drum voices Revue (Vol. 15) features kwansabas for Maya Angelou and Quincy Troupe, as well as interviews with Angelou, Troupe and Michael Datcher. The edition also contains "Drumming a Continent's Dreams: A Selection of African Writings," "Art and Activism in Sacramento/Northern California" and also "Mari Evans: A Poetic Mosaic."

To purchase a copy of Vol. 15, send $10 (plus $2 for shipping and handling) in check or money order to Editor, Drum voices Revue, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1431. In addition, a copy of Images & Homages: 'Memwars' from the Eugene B. Redmond Collection is available at the same address for $15 (plus $2 for S&H). Images & Homages contains some 80 pages of photos, visual memorabilia, poetic sketches and captions from the collection of poet-historian Redmond.

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9/17/07

SIUE Faculty/Students Go To China

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) A group of students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville recently traveled to China to learn about the country's cultures, views and language. The trip was sponsored in part by SIUE's Study Abroad Programs and the College of Arts and Sciences.

This was the third consecutive year that students took part in a study abroad program, which offered them the opportunity of a lifetime, while allowing them to earn six credit hours of college study.

"We hope these students can understand more about the Chinese culture and the language, and we want them to see how the Chinese people live their every day lives," said Bin Zhou, professor of geography at SIUE. "The students get a sense of what it's like to be a Chinese person: What is it like to live in a Communist country."

While in China from June 3-28, the group of 15 undergraduate and graduate students visited the Great Wall, toured historic sites in Beijing, listened to lectures from Chinese professors and became versed in political and social practices and traditions, and changes in the country with the formation of the People's Republic of China.

As China is the country with the largest population in the world, it faces challenges when it comes to having adequate space for housing and business needs. Zhou, who is originally from Beijing, said students learned about how the Chinese people use space, compared with how it is used in the United States.

SIUE's annual Study Abroad Fair will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, in the Morris University Center Goshen Lounge. The fair is an opportunity for students to learn more about study abroad opportunities and other information regarding international travel.

For more information about Study Abroad programs, contact the Study Abroad Office, (618) 650-2419, or visit the Web site: www.siue.edu/studyabroad. Study Abroad programs are housed in the Center for International Programs, Morris University Center, Room 2053.

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9/17/07

Singer, Composer, Author Judy Collins Returns To SIUE Sept. 29

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Legendary folk singer, composer and accomplished author Judy Collins, who graced the stage under the Mississippi River Festival (MRF) big tent five times at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, makes a triumphant return to SIUE on the Arts & Issues stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, in "An Evening with Judy Collins."

Collins will make her appearance in Meridian Ballroom just five days after the University kicks off its yearlong 50th Anniversary Celebration Sept. 24-SIUE Founders Day. Meridian Ballroom is on the first floor of the Delyte W. Morris University Center. Collins' appearance is co-sponsored by Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. and the SIUE Alumni Association.

Arts & Issues, which has a long-standing tradition of bringing world-class performers and noted speakers to Southwestern Illinois, continues that excellence in its 23rd season. "We are so excited this year to be celebrating the University's 50th anniversary," said Grant Andree, who began this year as assistant director of development for the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences and director of the Arts & Issues series. "To be a part of this tradition makes me proud."

Andree, who came to SIUE earlier this year from the Fox Associates Foundation in St. Louis, said this new season is even more distinctive because of its connection to the MRF. "Everyone I meet seems to ask about Judy's appearance and Arlo's show coming in March. (Singer-composer Arlo Guthrie comes to Arts & Issues on March 5.) Between those two performers who are linked to the University's past and the other great speakers and performers we've lined up, this is going to be one of the most memorable seasons ever."

Collins, who last appeared here in 1976, is one of the few singers who has the staying power of folk icon. For nearly 45 years, she has had numerous hit records of songs that feature her special sound. Many of her more than 40 albums have garnered several Grammys as well as other awards. In 1961, at the age of 22, Judy Collins released her first album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, and began a 35-year association with Jac Holzman and Elektra Records. She also is noted for her rendition of Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now on her classic 1967 album, Wildflowers. Both Sides Now has since been entered into the Grammy Awards Hall of Fame.

She won Song of The Year at the 1975 Grammys with her version of Send in the Clowns, a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim from his hit Broadway musical, A Little Night Music. This past summer Judy released Judy Collins Sings Lennon & McCartney.

In addition to her prowess with a guitar and as a singer, Collins recently published The Seven T's: Finding Hope and Healing in the Wake of Tragedy in spring 2006. This book follows her 2003 book, Sanity and Grace, A Journey of Suicide, Survival and Strength, a deeply moving memoir focusing on the death of her only son and the healing process following the tragedy. The book speaks to all who have endured the untimely loss of a loved one.

A season brochure is available to the public and may be found at Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S. Kansas St.; the office of the Ed-Glen Chamber of Commerce, 200 University Park Drive, SIUE; or by calling (618) 650-5194. The brochure contains information about the events and subscription sales for the 2007-08 season. For additional information about the series, call Grant Andree, (618) 650-2626.

More information and tickets are available through the Web site: artsandissues.com.

Click here for photos suitable for print.

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9/14/07

Engineering Students Form Cougar Baja To Race And Educate

Mechanical Engineering students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville visited Nashville Community High School recently to promote math, science and teamwork.

The SIUE students are members of Cougar Baja, a student organization of future engineers who design, plan, fund, fabricate, test and race off road vehicles. For example, the team recently traveled to Rochester, NY., to compete against 140 other universities. The students are dedicated to using their involvement with Cougar Baja to help close the gap between classroom lessons and real-world application.

At the suggestion of The Dow Foundation the group decided that a community outreach program would be a great opportunity to help promote the sciences for high school students. The team members stressed the importance of good communication and teamwork to approximately 75 Nashville High students interested in various technologies. Cougar Baja Co-Captain and Business Manager Miles Musick said, "This is a great opportunity for our group to get out into the communities and stress the importance of the sciences as well as the fundamentals of teamwork." He went on to say, "No matter what profession these students choose, I am willing to bet they will work as part of a team. We are trying to help these students realize the things they are learning today will be valuable for ever."

Justin Schnitker, Cougar Baja Co-Captain and Fabrication Manager, added, "If our time helps inspire just one person to become something great, to strive for lofty goals, then it is time well spent." The group intends to continue the practice of community involvement with the goal of increasing the awareness of math and science to high school students throughout the Metro East area. However, the team also intends to promote communication and teamwork. "I know not all kids are interested in engineering, so for them we are here to discuss how vital it is to be a good teammate," Musick said.

With all eyes focused on the upcoming year, Cougar Baja hopes to place in the top 40 internationally. Even though the racing component is important to the group, members are are quick to point out that they represent more. "The competitions are only a small part of what we do as an organization," Schnitker said. Personally, I enjoy things like helping young people realize their potential."

For more information about Cougar Baja or hosting a community involvement program, contact Miles Musick by e-mail: mmusick@siue.edu.

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9/14/07

SIUE Civil Service Banquet Set For Oct. 18 At Moose

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Civil Service Banquet Committee wants SIUE retirees to know that the annual Civil Service Banquet is set for 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at the Moose Lodge in Edwardsville.

The evening includes attendance prizes, and "great food, magical and mysterious entertainment." Proceeds from a 50/50 raffle will be donated to the SIUE Staff Senate Scholarship Fund.

This year's banquet is hosted by Civil Service staff from the SIUE Office of Information Technology and Library and Information Services. Banquet Committee members include Darlyne Alldredge, Maxine Bell, Traci Claro, Pat Connaway, Anita Corradini, Roxanne Field, Sherri Guardiola, Shari Renken, Laura Scaturro and Jill Schaefer.

For more information, call Laura Scaturro, (618) 650-2712.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is proud to celebrate its 50th Anniversary and first half century of excellence. The University has grown from 1,776 students in 1957 to nearly 13,500 students today. SIUE is a catalyst for the cultural and intellectual vitality and economic development of Southwestern Illinois and the greater St. Louis region.

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9/14/07

MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Important Presentations Set For BOT Meeting In Evergreen

AIA Presentation During Meeting; Evergreen Hall Dedication Afterwards

• Who: SIU Board of Trustees, state legislators, civic leaders, SIUE leadership
• What: Dedication of SIUE's newest residence hall; AIA designation of SIUE as one of the architectural gems of Illinois
• When: Approximately 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20
• Where: Evergreen Hall, 74 Circle Drive

Earlier this year, SIUE's campus buildings were featured among the top 150 Illinois Great Places by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Illinois Council. AIA ranks the campus with other popular structures such as the Illinois State Capitol, the Old State Capitol, the Sears Tower, Wrigley Field, the home of Abraham Lincoln and Cahokia Mounds.

During the Sept. 20 BOT meeting, representatives of the AIA will present the board with a plaque designating the AIA distinction.

At the end of the meeting and after the usual news conference, Evergreen Hall, SIUE's newest, state-of-the-art residence hall, will be dedicated. State legislators and local civic leaders have been invited to attend the ceremony. Housing 511 beds, the opening of this residential unit brings the number of students living on campus to 3,500. After the dedication, building tours will be available and refreshments will be served.

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9/14/07

SIUE's Arts & Issues Brochure Hits The Streets

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Arts & Issues series will kick off soon at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with the Sept. 29 appearance of folk-singing legend Judy Collins. And, now, a new A&I season brochure is available at Edwardsville Public Library, at the offices of the Glen-Ed Chamber of Commerce and at the SIUE Fine Arts box office to help series fans plan for the upcoming season.

Arts & Issues has a long-standing tradition of bringing world-class performers and noted speakers to Southwestern Illinois. The colorful brochure contains all the information needed to enjoy the great performers and provocative speakers who will grace this season's Arts & Issues stage. In addition, the brochure offers annual subscription ticket information and who to call for more series information.

Edwardsville Public Library is located at 112 S. Kansas St., the Chamber offices are at 200 University Park Drive in SIUE's University Park and the box office is in Room 1042B, Katherine Dunham Hall. The brochure also is available through postal mail by calling (618) 650-5194.

SIUE is proud to celebrate its 50th Anniversary and first half century of excellence. The University has grown from 1,776 students in 1957 to nearly 13,500 students today. SIUE is a catalyst for the cultural and intellectual vitality and economic development of Southwestern Illinois and the greater St. Louis region.

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9/13/07

Decision To Move Testing Lab To SIUE A Boost To The Region

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) With the news that the American Red Cross (ARC) is locating its new state-of-the-art Blood Processing Center and National Testing Laboratory facility and more than 500 new jobs to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's University Park, Jim Pennekamp is not stopping to collect accolades.

Instead, he's been on the phone to the many community organizations and individuals in the region who helped make it happen and he's thanking them.

Pennekamp, who is executive director of the 330-acre applied research and technology park, is very pleased with the ARC's decision, knowing full well it is a great boost to the economic development of the region. And, that's what he does-brings the University's resources to bear as an economic development engine for Southwestern Illinois.

He points out that SIUE has significant economic development resources in place to support the region's economic development needs. In addition to other businesses and organizations, the park houses the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center-a federal, state, and SIUE venture and the only research center of its kind in the world-and a separate biotechnology laboratory facility aimed at serving the workforce and applied research needs of the St. Louis region's life science industry. "The ARC's move to University Park is the culmination of efforts by many at the local, county, regional, and state level," Pennekamp said. "This was a collaborative effort involving a number of organizations and individuals. Their support and participation played a significant role in the final decision."

Pennekamp said those parties include Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns Program, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Illinois Department of Transportation, U.S. Congressman John Shimkus (R-Collinsville), U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-Belleville), Illinois Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Collinsville), SIUE, the University Park Board, the Madison County Board, the city of Edwardsville, Madison County Transit, the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority and the Alliance of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon.

Blagojevich said the ARC's move is a good fit for the state. "We are thrilled to welcome the American Red Cross to Illinois as they continue to advance their important work while taking advantage of the region's strong business climate, strategic location, exceptional infrastructure and highly skilled workforce," the governor said. "We have been working together with the Red Cross and will continue to have discussions about the ways we can offer our assistance as this important project moves forward."

The ARC plans to build a 170,000-square-foot facility on 15 acres along University Park Drive. This new facility has a targeted completion date of November/December 2009. According to the ARC, the new center will process blood from donors throughout the organization's South Central Division and then distribute blood components back to hospitals and transfusion centers in those states. Improved design and advanced technology in the new facility will enable the Red Cross to have its blood donations processed, tested and out to hospitals more quickly.

The project also brings a total annual payroll, excluding benefits, projected to be more than $25 million. More details will be available as the project progresses. A groundbreaking is scheduled for spring 2008.

SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift is pleased. "We welcome the ARC to the campus and to the community," he said. "This is a great example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and government entities all work together for economic development. We will all benefit from the ARC's relocation."

Pennekamp points out that University Park offers leading-edge applied research and technology-based businesses the resources and environment to improve their success and competitive advantage. There are currently 23 tenants in the Park. University Park tenants have on-site access to a variety of resources available through SIUE: technical assistance, marketing research, business management, faculty consulting and student employees.

"This move by the ARC is a tremendous opportunity for Southwestern Illinois and it clearly demonstrates the value of an engaged university committed to the economic vitality of the region it serves. I firmly believe SIUE and University Park are key assets in this region's economic development initiative," Vandegrift said.

"I appreciate the efforts of Jim Pennekamp and our partners in bringing the American Red Cross to SIUE."

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9/12/07

Overwhelming Ticket Sales Lead To Flashback Encore Event

An overwhelming demand for tickets to the Flashback to the MRF has prompted the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Alumni Association to stage an encore event the next night.

The Flashback to the MRF events will take participants back in time to the days of the University's Mississippi River Festival. Tickets to the first Flashback event, slated for Thursday, Sept. 27, sold out within a few hours, which led Alumni Affairs to investigate the possibility of hosting another event.

"We're just thrilled the tickets went so fast," said Steve Jankowski, director of SIUE Alumni Affairs. "And we're glad we can provide this second opportunity to those who might not have been able to get tickets the first time around."

A second Flashback event will take place Friday, Sept. 28, in the same time and place as the first event: from 6:30-10 p.m. in the Morris Center Meridian Ballroom, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. both nights.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive when doors open to find a spot on the ballroom floor, and "bring your blankets and your memories," Jankowski said. For $2 per ticket, those who attend will enjoy the musical sounds of Rich Dalton and the Classics Band, watch two MRF films and eat Cracker Jack ™ and drink Boone's Farm ™ wine.

Tickets will go on sale online and at SIUE's Birger Hall at 8:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 17. For more information, call the Alumni Association, (618) 650-2345, or to purchase tickets online, visit the Alumni Association Web site, www.siue.edu/alumni.

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9/12/07

ARC Selects University Park To Locate Blood Manufacturing And Testing Facility

The Red Cross will build a 170,000 square foot facility on a 15-acre site with a targeted completion date of November/December 2009. This project will help create more than 500 new jobs within University Park. The new design utilizes technological advancements in equipment and overall layout for a state-of-the-art manufacturing area.

"We welcome American Red Cross employees and families to our campus and to our community," said SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift. "In its 50-year history, SIUE has played a key role in the economic and educational development of Southwestern Illinois. We are fortunate to have had the assistance of great partners who are committed to community engagement and growth in attracting the Red Cross to SIUE. This new project in University Park means jobs, not just for the American Red Cross, but for the surrounding communities resulting from both direct and indirect expenditures related to the construction project and ongoing operations of this exciting enterprise."

The City of St. Louis has been home to Blood Services for more than 50 years. "Our anticipated move from the city brings a note of sadness to today's announcement," said David A. Chumley, Chief Executive Officer of the Missouri-Illinois Blood Region. "While Blood Services will not be headquartered within the city of St. Louis directly, we will continue to provide the same quality products and services that we have been providing here for over half a century."

The new Red Cross center will process blood from donors throughout the Midwest and Southwest and then distribute the blood components back to hospitals and transfusion centers in those states. Improved design and advanced technology in the new facility will enable the Red Cross to have its blood donations processed, tested and out to hospitals more quickly. "The need for more room to incorporate technological advances was a major factor in the decision to build a new facility," adds Chumley.

"We are thrilled to welcome the American Red Cross to Illinois as they continue to advance their important work while taking advantage of the region's strong business climate, strategic location, exceptional infrastructure and highly skilled workforce. We have been working together with the Red Cross and will continue to have discussions about the ways we can offer our assistance as this important project moves forward," said Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.

In a national study conducted six years ago, the Red Cross learned that many of its blood-processing facilities around the country needed major renovations in order to continue to meet the highest blood safety standards and to assure blood availability to hospitals. The current Red Cross facility on Lindell Boulevard is more than 50 years old, has an aging infrastructure and is not set up for large-scale manufacturing. The SIUE campus provides the ideal location for the Red Cross to build its new facility, which will enable the organization to better position itself to meet the ongoing needs of the patients it serves. As a result of this study, the Red Cross has embarked on a National Strategic Program making this new facility at SIUE the fourth of its kind since the national study was conducted.

In 2006, a team of individuals from the Region, NTL, South Central Division and National Headquarters began reviewing numerous proposals for potential locations in Missouri and Illinois for this new site. The search area was limited to the Greater St Louis metro area. The final location selected came from 20 original sites that met the criteria. The SIUE site offers a strategic location with a strong business climate, a highly skilled workforce and the potential for exceptional infrastructure.

The design of this new facility allows for the consolidation of many Regional activities and services. The SIUE site will create a cost-effective model for manufacturing practices, allowing other Blood Regions serviced by the St. Louis NTL to send their products to this location for production and manufacturing. This project will help the Red Cross meet the increasing demand for blood products and services now and into the future.

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9/10/07

Additional Rec Plex Lighting Affords Nighttime Fun

Additional lights at the SIUE RecPlex are in place and are affording University students, student organizations, and, yes, even employees, a chance to use the sports fields for more than just intramural and club sports, and to beat the summer heat, according to Keith Becherer, assistant director of Campus Recreation in charge of recreational programs.

'We're trying to get the word out to increase awareness and educate the University Community on the availability of the Rec Plex," Becherer said, "Campus Rec is going to be implementing an informal recreation night on Tuesdays during fall semester when students or employees can use the fields for open play, such as flag football, ultimate Frisbee or lacrosse, or any variety of sport.

'The lights were put up to also help us expand our intramural leagues during the week as well as meeting general demand for campus programming," Becherer said. He pointed out funding for the lighting came from student fees and the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

"Because of the change from a commuter campus, more and more of our residential students are understandably looking for more recreational opportunities," he said. "The lighting will allow for some exciting sports during the evening hours." For more information, contact Campus Recreation, (618) 650-2348.

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9/7/07

Fall Enrollment Includes Largest New Freshman Class Ever At SIUE

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has enrolled the largest fall freshman class in its history, according to Scott Belobrajdic, SIUE's assistant vice chancellor for Enrollment Management.

Belobrajdic released the fall numbers today, saying 1,829 first-time freshmen had enrolled for fall, up from 1,764 last year, representing the fourth consecutive year of growth in new students enrolled at SIUE. "We continue to attract new students who are coming to SIUE as a first-choice institution in Illinois," Belobrajdic said.

Fall enrollment also shows the fifth year in a row of steady full time enrollment (FTE) growth at 11,280, the highest in the university's history. FTE is based on the number of hours taken by all students; the number is then divided by 12 semester hours for undergraduates and nine for graduate students, the level at which a student is considered full-time at SIUE. "The increase in FTE is an indication that we have more students on campus taking heavier course loads than in previous years, which translates to stronger student retention."

Belobrajdic also pointed out that SIUE's new freshmen have an average ACT score of 22.5, two points higher than the Illinois average (20.5) and about one point higher than the national average (21.2). SIUE's new freshman ACT average has been at or above 22.5 for the second straight year.

Todd Burrell, the University's director of Admissions, said the University's total enrollment of 13,398 includes 649 new graduate students, a dramatic increase over the 470 new graduate students who enrolled last fall and the highest student total for that group in five years.

Burrell also said SIUE's housing is near capacity. "We were very fortunate to have room for all freshmen on campus this year," Burrell said. "If Evergreen Hall had not come online, we would have had to turn students away again this fall," Burrell said.

Some 3,500 students live in four residence halls-including the newly opened Evergreen Hall, as well as Woodland, Prairie and Bluff halls, and in Cougar Village, Burrell pointed out. "More and more quality students and their 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."

The enrollment numbers were released on the heels of the news that U.S. News and World Report recently named SIUE a Top 10 public master's level institution in the Midwest. Also, for the third year in a row, U.S. News touted SIUE's senior assignment program as a national model among 13 other elite universities-including Harvard, MIT, Brown, Duke and Princeton-for its comprehensive programs measuring the competency of graduating seniors.

SIUE is proud to celebrate its 50th Anniversary and first half century of excellence. The University has grown from 1,776 students in 1957 to nearly 13,500 students today. SIUE is a catalyst for the cultural and intellectual vitality and economic development of Southwestern Illinois and the greater St. Louis region.

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9/7/07

SIUE Founders Day Parade Set For Sept. 26 In East St. Louis

(EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.) The first Southern Illinois University classes opened in East St. Louis and Alton in September 1957, and 50 years later SIUE is better than ever. To commemorate the anniversary, there are several activities taking place this month including a very special East St. Louis Founders Day Celebration Alumni Parade beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26.

The parade is scheduled to start at 1045 State Street (11th and State streets) at the Lessie Davis Adult and Child Development Center and will end at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus (ESLHEC), 601 James R. Thompson Blvd. SIUE alumni, Experiment in Higher Education alumni, supporters and friends are asked to wear red and white while participating in the parade.

To be a part of the commemorative march or for more information, call (618) 482-6912 or (618) 482-6978. For information about all the 50th Anniversary activities, visit the Web site: www.siue.edu/50.

Following the parade at 2:15 p.m., more activities will include a proclamation to be read by East St. Louis Mayor Alvin L. Parks, acknowledging SIUE's East St. Louis Center and its long-term commitment to empowering people and strengthening communities in the region. The mayor also will read the same proclamation during a 7 p.m. Sept. 13 East St. Louis Aldermanic Council meeting at East St. Louis City Hall, 301 River Park Drive.

The Sept. 26 festivities also will include honorary salutes as well as music and dance performances on the grounds of the ESLHEC. Reggie Thomas, a professor of Music in the SIUE Jazz Studies Program and director of the SIUE Black Studies Program, will provide entertainment for the day with an SIUE jazz combo.

A reception will follow at 3 p.m. in the ESLHEC's Building D/Multipurpose Room. In the event of inclement weather, the program and all celebratory activities will begin at 2 p.m. and take place in Building D/Multipurpose Room at the ESLHEC.

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9/6/07

September Employee Of The Month

Click here for photo

Congratulations: Candace Hanfelder, a snack bar attendant for Dining Services, is recipient of the September Employee Recognition Award. Hanfelder (center) is shown here (from far left) with Joe Schuette, an administrator in Dining Services who supported the nomination; Vickie Edsall, also a Dining Services administrator who supported the nomination; Gloria Reading, assistant professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the SIUE School of Education who nominated Hanfelder; and Bill Canney, assistant director for Dining Services. Hanfelder received the award from Kenneth Neher, vice chancellor for Administration. In addition to the plaque she received, Hanfelder was awarded a $25 gift certificate to the SIUE Bookstore, a parking spot close to her office for one month, and two complimentary lunch coupons to the University Restaurant. (SIUE Photo by Denise Macdonald)

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9/06/07

SIUe Day-Employee, Community Fundraising Initiative To Kick Off

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is launching the Second Annual SIUe Day, a fund-raising initiative aimed at providing a convenient opportunity for University employees and members of the community to help support the institution's efforts.

"The overall focus is to celebrate SIUE, while gaining faculty, staff and local business support annually," said Julie Babington, director of Annual Giving for the SIUE Foundation. She added that for each entity, "the number one goal for SIUe Day is participation.

"This is a way to show support for your favorite SIUE programs and services on an annual basis."

Staff will be asked to participate in the initiative from Monday, Sept. 10-Monday, Sept. 17. On Friday, Sept. 21, area businesses-through the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce-will be asked to review materials about giving opportunities and to pledge support on commitment forms. Commitment forms will be picked up by volunteers with the campaign Thursday, Oct. 11.

This year's honorary chair is Bruce Coury, publisher of the Edwardsville Intelligencer. For more information about SIUe Day, call Babington, (618) 650-2378, or by e-mailing: jbabing@siue.edu.

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9/01/07

SIUE School Of Business Students Visit Shanghai, Suzhou, Xiamen

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Eleven Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business students recently visited the People's Republic of China as part of the School's Travel Study Program.

The students visited Shanghai, Suzhou and Xiamen along with Professor Tom Douglas, of the School's Department of Management and Marketing, and Assistant Professor Tom Lavallee, of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences.

The group visited several companies, one of which is a "foreign-owned" enterprise-Andrew Telecommunications, a company that designs and manufactures equipment for telecommunication systems globally. The company is headquartered in Chicago.

This was the second visit to China for SIUE student Tom Kurilla, having traveled to Beijing in summer 2006, also with an SIUE travel study course in the College of Arts and Sciences. He was so enthralled that he could not wait to return.

"This travel study course had more of a business focus than the course I took last summer," Kurilla said. "On the factory tours, I was surprised by how similar the working conditions in China are to what one might find in a typical American manufacturing facility.

"When we walked into the lobby of Andrew Telecommunication, it felt like I was walking into a firm in America," he explained. "Since so many companies move overseas to cut production costs, I did not expect that they would invest in 'creature comforts' for their factories there."

However, Kurilla did not find everything to be just like home. "The biggest difference was in the work ethic," he pointed out. "It was amazing to see how hard the Chinese work. They regularly keep long hours."

Prior to such travels in the School of Business program, students attend classes to prepare them for the experience. SIUE alumnus Dion Joannou, president of Nortel North America, was on a visit to SIUE when he was asked to address this group about doing business in China. "Dion shared his experience working with the Chinese and was able to compare it to doing business in other countries, which helped show students the contrasting environments in which business is done globally," said Cyndi Peterson, assistant director of the School's International Program.

"One example that Dion shared with the students really hit home-when touring a Nortel Research and Development facility in China, it was common to see workers with a sleeping bag next to their desks because they often work extremely long hours," Peterson stated. "The thought of that drew gasps from around the room."

The SIUE group also toured two Chinese businesses in the Xiamen area. The Tenfu Tea Group, which grows, packages and sells teas of all varieties, and the Yinlu Beverage Company, which bottles juices, flavored teas and water. Students developed a more sophisticated appreciation of the complexity of doing business in China through their experience of visiting multinational enterprises.

The students said the trip was a "positive experience," especially when they interacted with students at Soochow University and Xiamen University. One student noted that "this trip to China helped me experience a wonderfully rich culture, make long-lasting friendships, and see the global world of business in a whole new light."

In October, four faculty members and one graduate student from Xiamen University will visit SIUE to continue the relationship that is more than 10 years old. The fall group will come from liberal arts and business, including advertising-journalism, foreign languages and literature, as well as international economics and business.

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9/1/07

Early Childhood Leader To Speak At SIUE Education Reunion

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Lillian Katz, an international leader in early childhood education and one of the founders of the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children, will be the guest of honor and featured speaker at the Early Childhood Reunion Reception Oct. 4 sponsored by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Education.

The event, to be conducted from 4-8:30 p.m. in the University Restaurant, on the second floor of SIUE's Morris Center, will offer hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. There is no cost to attend the event, but a reservation is preferred by Sept. 25. Suzie Nall and Bob Rockwell, emeriti faculty of SIUE's early childhood program, and Martha Latorre and Elizabeth Sherwood, members of the current faculty, will be on hand to greet SIUE early childhood alumni, current students and friends of the program.

Elizabeth Sherwood, assistant professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the SIUE School of Education, said Katz is a distinguished educator in her field and is known worldwide. "It is quite an honor that she has agreed to join us for this event," Sherwood said. "SIUE has been central to the development of early childhood programs throughout the region and statewide over the past 35 years.

"This event will give us an opportunity to celebrate our work and that of our graduates and faculty," Sherwood said. "We also will display architectural plans for the expansion of the SIUE Early Childhood Center, which currently is under way.

Katz, a graduate of Stanford University, taught at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for more than three decades, from 1968 until 2000, and also directed the ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education for more than 30 years. She has lectured in all 50 states and in 56 countries, and she has held visiting posts at universities in Australia, Canada, England, Germany, India, Israel, the West Indies and in many parts of the United States. In 1997, she served as Nehru Professor at the University of Baroda in India.

Katz was one of the founders of the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children and served as its first president. In addition, she served as vice president of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) from 1986 to 1990 and later was elected president of NAEYC, serving from 1992-1994.

Author of more than 150 publications, including articles, chapters, and books about early childhood education, teacher education, child development, and parenting, Katz also wrote a monthly column for several years for Parents Magazine on parenting three- and four-year-olds. She founded two journals: Early Childhood Research Quarterly and Early Childhood Research & Practice, which began publication in early 1999 as the first peer-reviewed, internet-only journal in early education. Katz currently is principal investigator for the Illinois Early Learning Project, while also lecturing and consulting around the world.

SIUE is proud to celebrate its 50th Anniversary and first half century of excellence. The University has grown from 1,776 students in 1957 to nearly 13,500 students today. SIUE is a catalyst for the cultural and intellectual vitality and economic development of Southwestern Illinois and the greater St. Louis region.

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