February 2008

2/29/08

Co-Founder Of 'Code Pink' To Speak At SIUE March 6

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink-a women's initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement and dedicated to ending war in Iraq-will speak at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 6, in the Maple-Dogwood Room on the second floor of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Morris Center. Benjamin will speak about "Peace Activism as a Way of Life," co-sponsored by SIUE's Women's Studies Program as part of Women's History Month.

Her appearance is the sixth event in a year-long series under the general rubric, "Peace in a Time of War," which has examined ways of addressing conflict nonviolently as well as the human costs of war and violent responses to conflict.

In addition to her work with Code Pink, Benjamin is a co-founder of the international human rights organization, Global Exchange. Described as "one of America's most committed-and most effective-fighters for human rights" by Newsday, Benjamin has distinguished herself as an eloquent and energetic figure in a progressive movement. In June 2005, Benjamin was one of 1,000 women from 140 countries nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Prize collectively, on behalf of the millions of women who do the essential work of peace worldwide.

Benjamin also has led several fact-finding delegations to Iraq and helped establish the Baghdad-based Occupation Watch Center. During the 1990s, she focused on tackling the problem of unfair trade as promoted by the World Trade Organization. Widely credited as the woman who helped place the issue of sweatshops on the national agenda, Benjamin was a key player in the campaign that won a $20 million settlement from 27 U.S. clothing retailers for the use of sweatshop labor in Saipan. She also pushed Starbucks and other companies to start carrying fair trade coffee.

A former economist and nutritionist with the United Nations and World Health Organization, Benjamin is author-editor of eight books, and resides in San Francisco with her husband and two daughters.
The last event in the Peace series will feature Jim McGinnis, of the Institute for Peace and Justice, speaking about "Gandhi, King, and the Challenge of Non-Violence" at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, in the Maple/Dogwood Room of SIUE's Morris University Center. The entire series has been made possible by the Excellence in Undergraduate Education Program, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Lovejoy Library.

For more information about Peace Studies at SIUE, contact Denise DeGarmo, (618) 650-3375. For more information about the speaker series, contact Steve Tamari, (618) 650-3967. For more information about Women's Studies and Women's History Month events, contact Professor Mariana Solares, director of the SIUE Women's Studies Program, or Liz Stygar, a Women's Studies graduate assistant, (618) 650-5060, or by e-mail: wmstdept@siue.edu.

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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2/29/08

SIUE School Of Engineering Open House Attracted Record Numbers

Cold and icy weather apparently couldn't stop 500 prospective students and parents from attending the recent School of Engineering Open House. "The atmosphere inside was very warm and festive," said Hasan Sevim, dean of the School.

The dean said the open house was designed for interested students to learn about curriculum and programs. "The faculty, staff and students of the School of Engineering made a commendable presentation of what we offer," Sevim said.. "After a general presentation, visitors were directed to the departments in which they were interested. There, faculty and students introduced their disciplines through presentations and laboratory demonstrations.

"Members of the Joint Engineering Student Council provided hotdogs and nachos for the guests," he said. "Formula race car, mini- baja, autonomous robot, steel bridge, concrete canoe and other student projects dazzled the prospective students. Staff members from companies such as Boeing, Anheuser-Busch, Bitrode, Oats Associates, and Ehrhardt Tool & Machine set up booths in the atrium, and volunteered their time to explain to prospective students what engineers do in the real world.

"There were more visitors here than I've ever seen for an open house."

2/29/08

Shakespeare-He's Not Just For Adults Anymore

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Marilyn Spirt, managing director of the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, believes Will Shakespeare's works are the birthright of every English-speaking citizen. It's that attitude that has made the Shakespeare Festival so successful at interpreting the work of Avon-on-Stratford's favorite son. And, as we'll see at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on March 29-when the Festival brings its children's version of Shakespeare's love story-fantasy to the SIUE main stage-the bard's not just for adults anymore.

A Midsummer Night's Dream ... in the Wink of an Eye, a magical tale of mistaken identity, faeries and young people in love, is based on A Midsummer Night's Dream. And, its the final production of the 2007-08 season of A Season for the Child, the family-oriented live theater series sponsored by the SIUE Friends of Theater and Dance (FOTAD) and TheBANK of Edwardsville, now in its 18th year of offering quality children's theater to Southwestern Illinois. The showing of the classic play is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, March 29, in the main stage theater at SIUE's Katherine Dunham Hall.

In the past, the Festival has offered Julius Caeser as a rap production and a scaled back version of Macbech for schools. "This will be the first time the Shakespeare Festival has been featured on the SfC bill and FOTAD is thrilled to have them aboard," says Gregory J. Conroy, president of FOTAD. "We've always used the most professional theater troupes in the St. Louis area to entertain our patrons and this group of enthusiastic performers will be no exception," Conroy said.

One of Shakespeare's beloved romantic comedies, Midsummer reveals what can happen on a warm summer night, but is it a dream? Spirt points out that youngsters take to Shakespeare very well. " If you present Shakespeare in the way it was intended, on stage, you see that the kids really love it," Spirt said. "They not only appreciate it, they understand it," she said. "The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis brings Shakespeare to a diverse audience of students throughout the St. Louis Area and we find that it affects them very much."

Robin Weatherall wrote the music for the adaptation, while Chris Limber, a former member of the SIUE theater faculty, and Andrew Michael Nieman co-adapted Midsummer for children's theater-shaving a five-act play down to 50 minutes. However, they contend they did not sacrifice story quality or the beauty of the language. "We tried to retain as much of the original poetry of the play as possible," Limber explained. "Andy and I picked the high points, using five actors to play several of the parts," Limber said.

He explained that the characters are of three types-lovers, faeries and rude mechanicals (the comic relief characters). "We are blessed to have skillful and creative actors who can play these characters clearly, using masks and other theatrical devices to not only make it work well but also make it fun."

FOTAD, a support group for the SIUE Department of Theater and Dance, uses the proceeds from A Season for the Child to help fund merit awards for talented SIUE theater and dance students. Each year, the organization awards some $5,000 in merit scholarships to qualified students. In addition, FOTAD awards another $5,000 each year for freshman scholarships, travel stipends and other support for the department. FOTAD also sponsors a Mystery Dinner Theater in early November (this year on Nov. 2) and a Trivia Night in January (set for Jan. 17, 2009).

"And, we're very excited about the new FOTAD endowment we just started through the SIUE Foundation," Conroy said. "With the help of generous donors, we can use this endowment to build a theater and dance scholarship legacy through FOTAD."

Tickets for A Midsummer Night's Dream ... in the Wink of an Eye are $5 per person and are available through the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774.

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2/29/08

Twenty-Fifth Annual SIUE Summer Writing Camp Set For June, July

(EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.) The 25th Annual Summer Writing Day Camp at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has been set for two sessions Monday through Friday, June 16-June 27 and July 7-18. Enrollment per session is limited to 50 students, ages eight through 18, according to Camp Director Susan Garrison, an instructor in the Department of English Language and Literature.

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 SIUE campus life, such as attending classes in session, and visit facilities, such as WSIE-FM.

Garrison 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 at all grade levels will use computers extensively in the composition process, but participants do not need prior experience with computers to do well in the program. She also pointed out that individual instruction in grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and other basics of language usage are provided as needed but she also said these are not the total objective of the program.

Garrison will be assisted at the day camp by recreational counselors, as well as area elementary and secondary teachers and university lecturers. 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 12 for the first session or July 3 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.

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2/28/08

SIU Board Of Trustees Considers Increase In Tuition

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Under a proposal considered today by the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees, new undergraduate students entering SIU Edwardsville this fall would pay $622.50 more in annual tuition than new students who entered the University in fall 2007. The proposal is part of the University's guaranteed tuition plan, under which students pay their entering tuition rate for four years.

The proposal, given first reading today at the board's regular meeting at SIU Carbondale, would create an annual tuition rate of $5,850.00 for new undergraduate students entering this coming fall. Students who entered SIUE in fall 2007 currently pay a $5,227.50 rate. The proposal will see a final vote at the board's April 10 meeting on the Edwardsville campus.

The SIUE plan also calls for $15,970 annual tuition rate for the SIUE School of Pharmacy and a $21,760 annual tuition rate at the SIU School of Dental Medicine in Alton. Pharmacy students currently are paying $14,520 annually and dental students currently are paying $19,960 annually.

The SIUE School of Pharmacy, the only such school in downstate Illinois, opened its doors in fall 2005 and currently enrolls more than 240 students. This year, the number of applicants for fall 2008 has increased nearly 6 percent over 2007, with more than 80 percent of them residents of Illinois.

The SIU School of Dental Medicine has been serving the healthcare needs of Southern Illinois
for more than 30 years by graduating quality dental care professionals, many of whom practice in downstate Illinois.

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2/28/08

SIUE Nursing Program Fee, Athletics Fee Changes Considered By BOT

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees have given first reading to a proposal to continue the Nursing Program fee and an Intercollegiate Athletics fee change, both st SIU Edwardsville. The fee proposals were considered by the Board at its regular meeting conducted today at SIU Carbondale.

For a full-time undergraduate student enrolled as a sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student in the SIUE School of Nursing and taking clinical courses, the Nursing program fee will continue at the existing rate of $220 per clinical course per semester. Freshman Nursing students do not take clinical courses.

Under the Intercollegiate Athletics fee proposal considered today, the change would mean a full-time undergraduate student (enrolled in 15 hours or more) would pay $117.50 per semester as opposed to the current $71.20 beginning in fall. In considering the proposal, the board learned that the proposed fee change would support the initial year's operating expenses associated with the reclassification from NCAA Division II to Division I status and would move the program toward established fund balance targets.

The fees will be on the April 10 board meeting agenda for approval.

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2/28/08

SIUE Fee, Rental Rate Changes Considered By SIU Board Of Trustees

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees today considered fee-related changes that will affect the SIU Edwardsville campus, including changes in the student fees for Information Technology, for Textbook Rental and for the Student Success Center currently under construction.
Other student fee changes considered include those for the University Center, the Student Fitness Center, the Student Welfare and Activity (SWAF), and Facilities Maintenance. The fee changes were considered by the Board at its regular meeting conducted today at SIU Carbondale. The fees will be on the April 10 board meeting agenda for approval.

For a full-time undergraduate student, the Student Success Center fee would change from its current rate of $55.20 per semester to $63 per semester in fall 2008, $70.80 per semester beginning in fall 2009 and $79.20 per semester beginning in fall 2010. The center will provide 68,000 square feet of space for all student services in one central location.

Under the new Textbook Rental fee considered today for undergraduate students, the change would mean a full-time undergraduate student (enrolled in 15 hours or more) would pay $307.50 annually as opposed to the current $288. With textbook costs continually increasing, often resulting in hundreds of dollars in expense at other schools, the SIUE textbook rental program is popular among students.

If approved by the board, the Information Technology fee would change from $6.20 per credit hour to $6.25, resulting in a full-time undergraduate student paying $187.50 annually (two academic semesters of 15 hours each) compared with $186 that is paid currently for two semesters. This fee helps defray the costs of supporting computing resources and networking infrastructure on campus.

Below is a chart of the proposed changes in other student fees:

Annually (for a full-time student enrolled in 15 hours or more during fall and spring)
FY08 FY09 Change
o SWAF $173.10 $182.00 +$ 8.90
o University Center $296.00 $297.80 +$ 1.80
o Student Fitness Ctr. $124.60 $138.60 +$14.00
o Facilities Maint. $472.50 $495.00 +$22.50

The Board also considered changes in SIUE's housing rental fees and a change in the Housing Activity Fee, both for the fall term.

Under the proposals, rental rates for a shared room at Woodland, Prairie and Bluff residence halls would be $4,380 per semester compared with the current charge of $4,170. A deluxe single room would cost $8,760 annually compared with $8,340 now. Housing rates at Evergreen Hall would be $4,880 annually for a shared apartment compared with $6,510 for a private apartment. A studio apartment would be assessed at $9,130 annually while a private suite rate would be $5,520.

Meal plan fee changes for students in the residence halls would range from $80 more per year
for Plan A (most popular) to $110 more annually for Plan B.

Upperclassmen residing in Cougar Village Apartments would pay $3,560 annually for a shared room compared with $3,460 paid currently per year, while a single room would cost $5,290 annually compared with $5,140 now. A deluxe single room would be assessed at $7,120 per year compared with $6,920 per year now.

Families in Cougar Village, now paying $855 per month for a two-bedroom, unfurnished apartment, would pay $880 per month in fall 2008 and $905 in fall 2009. The same family paying $1,000 per month now for a furnished apartment would pay $1,030 per month in fall 2008 and $1,060 in fall 2009. Families in a three-bedroom unfurnished apartment now paying $960 per month would pay $990 per month in fall 2008 and $1,020 in fall 2009; a three-bedroom furnished is now $1,120 per month and would be $1,155 in fall 2008 and $1,190 in fall 2009.

Under a separate proposal, the Board also considered today a change in the Campus Housing Activity fee for family residents at SIUE during fall term from $40 to $41 per term and, for singles students, from $15 per semester to $15.50. This fee supports programming, activities and services at the Family Resource Center at Cougar Village.

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2/28/08

S. Haar Named Employee Of The Month For February

Congratulations: The February recipient of the Employee Recognition Award is Sharon Haar, a secretary in the Department of Social Work. She is shown in the photo flanked by Vice Chancellor Kenneth Neher, who presented the award, and Associate Professor Gerald O'Brien, acting chair of the department and the one who nominated her. In addition to the plaque she received, Haar 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 Bill Brinson)

Click here for a photo of Sharon. (SIUE Photo by Bill Brinson)

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2/27/08

Senior Citizens Fair At SIUE To Offer Free Health Screenings

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The 34th Annual Senior Citizen Fair-set for March 10 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville-will provide information and services to older adults, with free preventive health screenings, medical information tables, social service booths, entertainment, ballroom dancing, art by seniors, and food and beverages. The fair also features special exhibits, gift packs and more.

Sponsored by the SIUE Gerontology Program, the fair is scheduled from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. that Monday in SIUE's Morris University Center. The Gerontology Program is part of the SIUE School of Education. Bette Bergeron, dean of the School, will welcome guests and SIUE Provost Paul Ferguson will extend a welcome on behalf of the University.

Fair-goers will find free parking available in Lots B and E, closest to the Morris Center. All activities are free except for various lunch options. In Center Court, located on the lower level of the center, a variety of lunch options will be available, including a salad bar, grill options, sandwiches and Chick-Fil-A.

For more information about attending the event, call the SIUE Gerontology Program, (618) 650-3454. Bryce Sullivan, director of the SIUE Gerontology Program and chair of the SIUE Department of Psychology, is director of the fair this year.

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2/27/08

SIUE Student From Effingham Recognized with Leadership Award

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Kari Kabbes of Effingham, a business major at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, recently was honored with the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation Student Leader of the Month Award. Kabbes is a sophomore studying Business Administration-with an emphasis in Marketing-in the SIUE School of Business. The award recognizes SIUE business students who are nominated by student organizations for outstanding participation and responsibility.

Kabbes' award recognizes her work as a member of the SIUE American Marketing Association (AMA), which strives to foster relationships with fellow marketing majors as well as faculty and future employers, and exposes students to the marketing and sales professions. Kabbes was chosen for this award because of her hard work and dedication to the AMA while participating in an AMA competition. During her involvement with the competition, the SIUE AMA team has placed in the Top Eight Finalists in this year's competition.

"This is truly a testament to the hard work and dedication Kari put toward this effort, as there were about 50 entrants this year," said Edmund Hershberger, assistant professor of Management and Marketing, and advisor to the SIUE AMA.

The award carries with it a $50 stipend and certificate. In addition, Kabbes will be recognized at a reception later this spring semester that will honor all Enterprise Rent-A-Car award recipients while providing SIUE business students an opportunity to network with Enterprise executives.

The SIUE School of Business is among an elite 10 percent of business schools worldwide that have earned the prestigious seal of approval from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). The School has been AACSB International accredited since 1975. This assures that students receive the highest quality in strategic resource management, interaction with faculty and achievement of learning goals. In addition, the SIUE Accounting Program is accredited through AACSB. Less than 33 percent of AACSB-accredited business schools hold an accounting accreditation.

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2/25/08

SIUE Begins March 3 To Offer "e-Lerts" To Students, Employees

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Beginning March 3 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will offer students and employees the opportunity to register their cell phones as part of a new campuswide "e-Lert" program through a wireless emergency notification system.

It's an additional method of continuing to make SIUE a safe campus, says Dave McDonald, director of the SIUE Office of Emergency Management and Safety. "During February, we've been testing the software and we'll be ready for a March 3 launch," McDonald said. "This alert system will be used only in the case of an ongoing emergency on campus, such as a hostile intruder or tornado warnings," McDonald explained. "Such emergency notifications will include events that present a serious significant disruption to the campus community and pose an immediate danger to life, health and University property.

"In addition, snow closures will be included. However, no non-emergency text messages other than testing will be allowed. We will not send SPAM (unwanted messages) through this system." McDonald said the service would be tested periodically each year. Those registering on any given day will be updated into the system overnight. He also said the University will continue to send emergency messages through its current protocol-web site, e-mails to personal computers and voice mails to all University phones.

Before March 3, e-mail messages will be sent to all 13,500 SIUE students and to more than 2,300 employees, directing them to a Web site (www.siue.edu/e-lert) where they will be able to register a cell phone number if they have an active e-ID and a password. Although there is no cost to register a cell phone in the system, receiving a text message may or may not incur a nominal charge for the recipient, depending on a user's cell phone contract with a provider.

"SIUE Police will be in charge of sending e-Lerts because of the 24/7 nature of the operation," McDonald explained. "This software has Tier 1 provisioning with all North American carriers," he said, "which means they have a higher priority in sending. Text messaging worked much better than other types of communications during (Hurricane) Katrina and during other disasters. If cell phone towers are up, the phone may not work but text messaging has a better chance of getting through because it takes less bandwidth to send a text message."

Employees and students with active e-IDs at all five SIU campuses will be able to opt in to the system. The Edwardsville campus will have jurisdiction over the SIU School of Dental Medicine at Alton and the SIUE East St. Louis Center. The Carbondale campus will have jurisdiction over the SIU School of Medicine and the SIUE School of Nursing facilities, both in Springfield.

SIUE Police Capt. Tony Bennett said the new system will help get the word out faster about any ongoing emergencies on campus, which could mean the difference between life and death. "Research on these systems shows that text messaging doesn't get bogged down like e-mail does from time to time," Bennett said. "Text messaging can often get through faster. "That's why we looked at the text messaging route. It's important to get a quick and efficient emergency message to those on campus so that they can get out of harm's way and find safe haven during a life-threatening event."

McDonald also pointed out that a recipient is not required to reside on campus or even be located on campus to receive an e-Lert from the system. "If the recipient is within cell phone access, they will receive an e-Lert from our campus if one is sent."

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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2/21/08

Changes

Personnel

• Marie Byrd-Blake, assistant professor of Educational Leadership, left the University Aug. 15 to accept a position elsewhere.
• Martha Claflin, assistant professor of Special Education and Communication Disorders, left the University Dec. 31 to accept a position elsewhere.
• Regina McBride, associate dean at Lovejoy Library, was appointed acting dean Nov. 16.
• Michaela Moore, assistant professor of Historical Studies, left the University Dec. 31 to accept a position elsewhere.
• Mona Musa, assistant professor of Mathematics and Statistics, left the University Aug. 15.
• Laura Perkins, chair of the Department of Speech Communication, stepped down Jan. 1 to return to teaching full time.
• Andrea Reaka, assistant professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, left the University Dec. 31.
• Cynthia Schossberger, assistant professor of Philosophy, left the University Dec. 31.
• John Smith, assistant professor of Kinesiology and Health Education, left the University Dec. 31 to accept a position elsewhere.
• Asha Tickoo, associate professor of English Language and Literature, left the University Aug. 15.

Retirements

• LaVerne Bloemker, an administrative clerk for University Police, effective Feb. 1, after more than eight years.
• Arleen Fearing, professor in the School of Nursing who retired July 31, was granted status as associate professor emerita.
• Rahim Karimpour, a professor of Mathematics and Statistics who retired Aug. 30, has been granted emeritus status.
• Frederick Morrison, an associate professor in Foreign Languages and Literature who retired in September, has been granted emeritus status.
• Anthony Traxler, professor of Psychology and director of the Gerontology Program who retired last March, was granted emeritus status.

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2/21/08

MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Response To Violence; Campus Readiness To Be Discussed
Panel Of Campus Experts To Present, Discuss Issues

• Who: Various members of the SIUE Community with perspectives on violence
  and emergency response plans at SIUE
• What: Discussion of campus violence issues and safety and security at SIUE
• When: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26.
• Where: Goshen Lounge, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris Center.

With the seeming escalation of violence and violence-related incidents on college and university campuses in the past year, the SIUE Office of Student Affairs will conduct a panel discussion about the subject of violence on campus and also will address emergency response plans on the SIUE campus.

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2/20/08

SIUE Focuses On Protecting Intellectual Property Rights Through Seminars

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southwestern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will host Protecting Intellectual Property Rights Seminars from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, March 19 and April 9, in the Mississippi Room on the second floor of SIUE's Morris University Center.

The two-part series is open to the public and the fee for each session is $10 per person. Individuals may attend one or both events, said Kristine Jarden, director of the SIUE Entrepreneurship Center. The first seminar, Introduction to Intellectual Property, is a basic introductory seminar, while the second seminar, Basics of Licensing, addresses the legal side of the issue.

Matthew J. Smith, an attorney at Polsinelli, Shalton, Flanigan, Suelthaus P.C., will be the speaker for both seminars. Smith's practice primarily involves general corporate representation for businesses and individuals, with an emphasis on the areas of licensing, e-commerce, trademarks, copyrights and other matters concerning intellectual property rights.

For more information or to register, visit siue school of business web site, or contact Jarden (618)-650-2166. Registration is required. For maps and directions, please visit the University's main Web site: www.siue.edu/maps.

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2/20/08

Pie In The Face For A Good Cause

PIE-D: The SIUE Student Nurses Association (SNA) raised $100 recently during a fundraising campaign that resulted in pies being thrown. One of the recipients with pie on her face was SIUE Nursing Dean Marcia Maurer, who good-naturedly took one for the team. She was joined in the fun by SNA Treasurer Shelli Willemarck. Both Dean Maurer and Willemarck wore appropriate attire for the pie-throwing-plastic coverings and goggles. Willemarck said buckets with names of SNA students and Nursing faculty were circulated and the one with the most cash collected won the opportunity to take a pie in the face. (SIUE Photo by Bill Brinson)

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2/19/08

MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

SIUE Student Group Hosts Roundtable Discussion On Minority Issues

Who: PRIME (which stands for Promoting, Recruiting,
Increasing, Minority Educators) is hosting a roundtable
discussion titled Bringing the Rainbow to the Colorless Sea
What: The discussion will tackle several topics, including
minority recruitment, enrollment and retention at Southern
Illinois University Edwardsville
When: 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20
Where: SIUE Morris University Center Illinois-Mississippi Room

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2/19/08

MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Memorial Service To Be Conducted For NIU Victims A Candle Will Be Lit, Remarks From The Chancellor, Reflections Planned

Who: SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift, Provost Paul Ferguson, Vice Chancellor Narbeth Emmanuel, Student Body President Laurie Estilette, musical selections by Department of Music students.
What: Memorial Service for the victims and all those affected by the tragic Feb. 14 shootings at DeKalb.
When: Noon Monday, Feb. 25.
Where: Goshen Lounge, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris Center.

In the wake of the shootings in DeKalb that injured and killed more than 20 Northern Illinois University students last week, the SIUE University Community will gather in Goshen Lounge for a memorial service. Remarks will be made, a candle will be lit, a commemorative book will be available for participants to sign and musical selections will be performed by SIUE Music students. The commemorative book will eventually be sent to NIU.

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2/18/08

Folksinger Arlo Guthrie Returns To SIUE As Part Of A&I Series

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Award-winning composer-folksinger Arlo Guthrie-who appeared four times at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Mississippi River Festival (MRF)-will make his triumphant return to the University in a 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, concert on campus. His "Solo Reunion Tour-Together At Last" is part of SIUE's 2007-08 Arts & Issues series in Meridian Ballroom and also part of the University's year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration. Guthrie's appearance is being sponsored by the SIUE Alumni Association.

Throughout his career, Guthrie has furthered the legacy of his father, the legendary folksinger Woody Guthrie, but with a more modern sound within American string traditions. Whereas his father, the itinerant folksinger who traveled around the country championing the cause of the poor and the downtrodden worker, Arlo preferred to forge his own style that has endured. The younger Guthrie recently created a program of symphonic arrangements of his own songs and other American classics, An American Scrapbook. By the end of 2007, Guthrie had performed in more than 40 concerts with 27 symphony orchestras throughout the United States, including a broadcast on PBS's Evening at Pops.

"Arlo Guthrie became an institution of American counterculture in the late 1960s with his epic musical adventure, Alice's Restaurant, and with a legendary performance at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair of 1969 in upstate New York," said Grant Andree, coordinator of the Arts & Issues series. "He is an American music icon, bringing his special brand of music to stages throughout the world. If you remember Guthrie at the MRF, you will enjoy this concert with all the attendant memories, but if you've never seen Arlo in concert you are in for a treat," Andree said.

"It's a great opportunity for fans of all ages to relive the Guthrie musical legacy."

As a special event for the 50th Celebration, a pre-performance wine-tasting reception with a variety of gourmet tapas items, will be offered from 6:30-7:30 p.m. See the ticket order form on the Arts & Issues Web site ( www.siue.edu/artsandissues) to order tickets for the reception and for the performance. Tickets for the concert are $35; students, $15, and may be purchased through the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774, or through the Web site. Tickets for the reception are $25; there is no student pricing for the pre-performance.

For additional information about the series, call Grant Andree, (618) 650-2626. The remaining Arts & Issues events of the 07-08 season are Anna Deavere Smith, playwright, professor and performance artist, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27, in Meridian, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and best-selling author Anna Quindlen, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, also in Meridian and sponsored by National City Bank.

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2/15/08

Women's History Month 2008

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Women's Studies Program at SIUE is sponsoring several events to commemorate Women's History Month. Here's the schedule:

March, ongoing
Women's History Month Exhibit
Lovejoy Library

March, ongoing
40 percent off books from Women's Studies Section (excludes textbooks and sale items)
University Bookstore, MUC

Wednesday, March 5
Peck Hall 3404
Noon- 1:15pm
"Women and Elections"
Carly Hayden-Foster

Wednesday, March 5
Founders Hall 0100
7:30 - 9pm
Sociology Graduate Students: Feminism Panel
Liz Stygar, Lauren Rowe, Natalie Mette-Bory, & Jamie Paul

Thursday, March 6
Maple / Dogwood Room in the SIUE Morris University Ctr.
5 - 7pm
"Peace Activism as a Way of Life"
CODE PINK: Medea Benjamin Organized by Peace Studies and Co-sponsored by Women's Studies

Thursday, March 6
Founders Hall 0100
7:30 - 9pm
English Graduate Students: Feminism Panel
Derek Velazco, Amber Scruton, & Michelle Ashley

Monday, March 17
Peck Hall 3404
Noon- 1:15pm
"Conflicting Marian Images in Sacred Texts and Western Paintings: Mary as Scholar, Sexual Being, Reluctant Mother, and Early Church Leader."
Isaiah Smithson

Tuesday, March 18,
11am - 12:15pm Peck Hall 2405
3:30 - 4:45pm Peck Hall 3417
"Diversity and Interpersonal Communication" (Workshop #1 and #2)
Rudy Wilson

Wednesday, March 19
Founders Hall 2407
11 - 12:15pm
"Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (as Resource) in the Classroom"
Ralph Cordova, Seran Aktuna, Joel Hardman, Zsuzsanna Szabo, Howard Rambsy

Monday, March 24
Peck Hall 3404
Noon- 1:15pm
"Diversity and Interpersonal Communication" (workshop #3)
Rudy Wilson

Wednesday, March 26
Peck Hall 3404
Noon- 1:15pm
"Sexual Assault and Date Rape"
Megan Denton and Jen Ladd (SIUE Counseling Services)

Wednesday, March 26
Peck Hall 0304
7 - 9pm
"The Vagina Dialogues"
Wendy Cook-Mucci & Florence Maätita

*** Thursday, March 27,
John C. Abbott Auditorium
Lovejoy Library
7pm
"A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, A Prayer" - Theatrical Production
Making Waves - SIUE's Feminist Student Organization

Thursday, March 27,
Peck Hall 3417
11 - 12:15pm
"Policing Women"
Trish Oberweis

Friday, March 28
Peck Hall 0307
Noon- 1:15pm
"Poetry by Women Writers of Latin America: Bilingual Readings"
Students of Spanish 352 (Latin American Literature / Elizabeth Fonseca)

*** Friday, March 28, Abbot Auditorium in Lovejoy Library
7pm
"A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, A Prayer" - Theatrical Production
Making Waves - SIUE's Feminist Student Organization

Thursday April 3
Cougar Field
3pm
SIUE Women's Softball Game - Violence Prevention Center Benefit
All donated personal products will get entry into the game and benefits the Violence Prevention Center in Belleville. Call (618) 650-5060 to learn about needed items.

*** All events, except the production of "A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, A Prayer", are free and open to the public

For Further Info, contact Professor Mariana Solares, Director Women's Studies Program, or Liz Stygar, Women''s Studies GA - (618) 650-5060 or wmstdept@siue.edu

Event sponsors include: Women's Studies Program, College of Arts and Sciences, Making Waves, University Bookstore, Lovejoy Library, Peace Studies Program, School of Education, AAUW, Department of English Language and Literature, and the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies.

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2/14/08

SIUE School of Business Program Offers Study In Jaurez, Mexico

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Twenty college students and three professors from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville recently returned from a travel study and outreach project in Juarez, Mexico.

A service learning initiative allowed students to enhance their foreign language and business skills, while helping others in need. The students and professors worked together to build two cinder-block homes in less than a week.

"Juarez really makes you appreciate the things we have back at home," said Chris Toenjes, a graduate student from the School of Business who participated in the program. "I thought I would want to leave by the end of the week, not having the necessities of home, but I got used to it and didn't want to leave."

George Watson, SIUE associate professor of management and marketing in the School of Business and the trip's leader, said students and professors developed an appreciation for others during the effort.

"In no other environment do the teacher and student come together and work with each other's character as they do in helping the impoverished of Juarez, Mexico," he said. "You simply can't get this experience in a classroom."

Watson said the people in Juarez played a major role in determining what students and faculty took away from the experience.

The group was welcomed to the area by Diana Natalicio, a St. Louis native and the president of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Students and faculty attended a series of lectures about the economic and business climate on the border, which were led by UTEP faculty Tom Fullerton of economics and Kathy Staudt from political science, as well as El Paso technology entrepreneurs Ron Munden and Bill Holmes.

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2/14/08

SIUE Art Auction Of Original Art Set For Feb. 29 At S.H.C.C.

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The 30th Annual Art Auction, sponsored by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Friends of Art, is set for Feb. 29, at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville. All donated artwork is original and may be previewed from 6 until 7 p.m. when professional auctioneer Gary Niemeier will begin the event. Admission is free to students and those who have donated pieces for the event, as well as members of the Friends of Art. Others are asked to pay $5 at the door.

Since 1977, the Friends of Art organization has assisted the SIUE Department of Art and Design in staging this fundraiser that has helped collect more than $250,000 in proceeds. These funds have assisted in bringing local, national and international artists, and lecturers to the SIUE campus. In addition, the Friends group annually donates money to help purchase new books, videos and films about art for SIUE's Lovejoy Library; sponsors awards for the annual high school art exhibit and other SIUE student exhibits; sets aside funds for a graduate scholarship; and helps support the local ARTEAST Studio tour.

Last year, more than 170 art pieces by faculty, alumni, friends and students were available for auction. Participants have almost as much fun bidding as winning the bid at this lively event. Food and drink will be available for purchase. To view some of the artwork to be auctioned, visit the Friends of Art Web site: www.siuefriendsofart.com. For more information or directions, contact Dianne Lynch, (618) 650-3073, or by e-mail: dlynch@siue.edu; or Pam Decoteau, (618) 650-3107, or by e-mail: pdecote@siue.edu.

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2/14/08

SIUE Education Faculty Members Use $134K Grant, Promote Lincoln

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) A grant worth $134,075 to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Education's Department of Curriculum and Instruction will be used to educate teachers from across the nation about Abraham Lincoln and his influence in shaping modern America.

The project, Abraham Lincoln and the Forging of Modern America, is being organized by the principal grant writer, Caroline Pryor, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction, and the project's co-director, Susan Breck, associate professor of curriculum and instruction. Both are SIUE faculty members in the School of Education.

Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Landmarks of American History and Culture: Workshops for Schoolteachers will take part in two, one-week sessions: June 22-27 and July 20-25. Organizers hope to attract 50 teachers at each event.

"The grant will provide a stipend for teachers across the nation to come to SIUE for one of two weeks in June or July and study with historians from the greater St. Louis area, including SIUE's Stephen Hansen," Pryor said. "This grant provides for travel to Springfield to learn from scholars at the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library and other historic sites."

Hansen is associate provost for research and dean of the SIUE Graduate School, and a member of the SIUE Historical Studies faculty.
For more information, visit the project Web site, www.siue.edu/education/neh/.

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2/14/08

SIUE Education Faculty Member Named International Journal Editor

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Caroline Pryor, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Education, is now the editor of the peer-review journal Learning for Democracy: An International Journal of Thought and Practice. The project was formerly housed at the University of Brighton in England.

A Web site through SIUE has been created for the publication, www.siue.edu/lfd.

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2/13/08

SIUE Hosts Spring 2008 Open Houses, Highlights Programs

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Spring 2008 Open Houses at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are a great way to learn about exciting, rewarding degree programs.

Open house events slated for February, March and April will offer prospective students the chance to explore academic programs, tour the SIUE campus, visit residence halls and talk to representatives from the offices of Admissions and Student Financial Aid.

The Schools of Nursing, Business, Education and Engineering will host open houses for students interested in undergraduate and graduate programs. The School of Pharmacy will host an open house for students interested in a Pharm.D. degree.

Open houses are taking place the following days, times and locations:
o School of Nursing, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Feb. 16, Alumni Hall;
o School of Business, 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Feb. 23, Founders and Alumni halls;
o School of Engineering, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23, Engineering Building;
o School of Education, 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, March 1, Morris University Center;
o School of Pharmacy, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, April 19, University Park.

For more information, call (618) 650-3705, or visit http://www.siue.edu/prospectivestudents/ or register on the Web site.

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2/13/08

SIUE School of Pharmacy Presents Diabetes Education Program

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Free screenings, foot exams, blood pressure checks and testing will be offered during a diabetes education program from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Morris University Center.

The SIUE School of Pharmacy, in collaboration with the American Diabetes Association, is hosting the event, which will feature free lunch, vendors and professional speakers hosted by the American Diabetes Association.

Lisa Lubsch, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice for the School, will present Are Children at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease? and Chris Lynch, assistant professor of pharmacy practice, will present Exercise and Diabetes.

"A diabetes diagnosis necessitates lifestyle changes and a positive attitude," Lubsch said. "The diabetes education program is for anyone with diabetes who wants to learn from, and interact with, experts in the field.

"We'll cover everything from testing your A1c levels and blood sugar, to risk factors for various disease complications. It's truly an all-encompassing program in a relaxed environment." The A1c test, which is offered at no charge to attendees with diabetes, measures blood sugar averages over the last three months.
Space is limited, so advanced registration is recommended. For more information, or to register, call (888) 342-2383, ext. 6835.

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2/13/08

SIUE Mass Comm. Students, Instructor Produce Award-Winning TV Commercial

Although a recent Southern Illinois University Edwardsville entry to the AquaFresh Extreme Clean national video competition did not place in the top three, the SIUE entry did win an Award of Excellence from the Broadcast Education Association (BEA).

The video, created by Mass Communications Instructor Cory Byers and his students in his electronic media advertising class, will be honored among other winners of the Awards of Excellence at the BEA Festival of Media Arts in Las Vegas in April. The Festival has become one of the largest faculty and student competitions among communications educators.

SIUE's 30-second video commercial depicts a mortician brushing the teeth of a deceased man presumably because of foul breath; of course, using AquaFresh toothpaste. Cut to the funeral parlor for the viewing and the grieving widow is saying her good-byes to the departed husband. She notices he has "fresh breath" and, therefore, kisses him … and kisses him … and continues to kiss him as the product credit roles announcing AquaFresh toothpaste "for an extreme clean." The final shot is the deceased holding a box of toothpaste … with a wide grin.

"I can't say I agreed with the top choices of the AquaFresh judges," Byers said good-naturedly, "but, I was thrilled to hear the BEA was recognizing our efforts." According to the BEA's Web site, the award honors "professionalism, the use of aesthetic and/or creative elements, a sense of structure and timing, production values, technical merit and the overall contributions to the discipline in both form and substance." Established in 1955, the BEA is the professional association for professors, industry professionals and graduate students who are interested in teaching and research related to electronic media and multimedia enterprises.

"I think this is a testament to the good work everyone did on the spot." Students in the class wrote, produced and served as members of the video crew, as well as doing post-production and editing of the final product. Two local professional actors volunteered to play the parts of the deceased husband and the grieving widow. Byers was director and editor, and also played the part of the mortician.
"For this kind of production class, one of the best ways to teach it is to actually go out and do it with all hands on deck, treating it like a real project."

Click here to view the commercial for as long as it's posted on YouTube.com

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2/13/08

The Trip To Bountiful Runs On SIUE's Main stage Feb. 27-March 2

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) We may yearn to return to our childhood in an effort to shed some years and remember the simpler, healthful days of our youth, but can we go back? Thomas Hardy said "no" to that question and Carrie Watts may come to the same conclusion in Horton Foote's endearing play, The Trip To Bountiful. The play runs at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 27- March 1, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2, all in the theater at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Katherine Dunham Hall.

Bountiful, which takes place in the mid-1940s, tells the tale of the elderly Mrs. Watts and her strong desire to return to her childhood home in Bountiful, a now abandoned, rural Texas town. However, she is thwarted at every turn by a vindictive daughter-in-law and an overprotective son. "This play seems to exemplify something most of us know-there is no place like home," said Bountiful Director Lana Hagan, a faculty member in the SIUE Department of Theater and Dance. "The bulk of Horton Foote's plays are set in his home state of Texas, in small towns like Wharton, where he was born," Hagan explained.

"He understands the way people long for home and human connections, and his characters are so real they seem to walk right off the pages of his scripts. These kinds of challenging characters invite actors, especially student actors, to hone their skills," Hagan said. "As a director, I was drawn to this work because I remembered how my Mom in her final years often asked me to drive her past her 'home place.' This short journey seemed to bring her peace and pleasure, and brought to me bits and pieces of her childhood which I had not grasped as a child.

"But, as an adult, her recollections resonated in my head and brought deeper understanding of my own childhood, as well as hers." Hagan said the play seems to say that understanding our histories may help us deal better with the future. "This play was chosen to help our student actors grow as artists," she said. "I also hope that it will help audiences grow in the compassion they have for home and the ones they love."

Tickets for The Trip To Bountiful are $10; senior citizens, $8; SIUE faculty-staff, $6; and SIUE students with a current ID, no admission charge. For more information or to order tickets, call the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774.

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.

Photos suitable for print are available by clicking on the following numerals: Photo 1 | 2.

In the first photo, Carrie Watts, portrayed by Acacia Moll of Altamont, is caught sleeping on a park bench near the station where she is waiting to take a bus back to her childhood home. The deputy is played by Andrew Riedemann, of St. Peters, Mo., while the ticket clerk is portrayed by Gabriel Cranston, of Collinsville. (SIUE Photo by Bill Brinson)

In the second photo, Mrs. Watts, portrayed by Acacia Moll of Altamont, is hiding from her overprotective son, Ludie Watts, played by Philip Leveling of Glen Carbon, and her overbearing daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae Watts, portrayed by Maggie Conroy, of St. Louis. Ludie and Jesse Mae or against Carrie traveling back to her childhood home. The ticket clerk is played by Gabriel Cranston, of Collinsville. (SIUE Photo by Bill Brinson)

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2/12/08

SIUE-Mackey Mitchell Design Wins Peoples Choice A Second Time At ACUHO-I

A group of SIUE Housing staff and SIUE students, teamed with architects from Mackey Mitchell Architects of St. Louis, have created their vision of the residence hall of the future, a design that was voted the Peoples Choice Award in the second phase of a three-phase competition conducted by the Association of College & University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I).

It was the second time that the SIUE-Mackey Mitchell design concept captured the imagination of ACUHO-I competition attendees for the Peoples Choice Award. The overall winning design of the 21st Century Project, as the competition has been called, will eventually lead to prototypes being constructed on identified campuses. The overall winner-created by the team of "net+work+camp+us," which consists of four architects-incorporates modular rooms around atriums, with several areas and spaces conducive to study.

The SIUE plan includes a design structured around European-style piazzas, as well as sliding doors that can be rearranged easily to expand and contract communal areas within suites.

According to Mike Schultz, director of SIUE University Housing, the SIUE team was the only one that included students. "One of the reasons I think we were fortunate to be awarded the Peoples Choice Award two years in a row, is because our team was the only team that included practitioners, users and design professionals in the design of the 21st Century," Schultz said. "This not only made the design realistic but it provided useful innovations that will build community.

"I think it is a great honor for SIUE to be the only higher education institution to compete and be so successful in this competition. Our collaboration with Mackey Mitchell and the expertise of its architects has been a great learning experience for all those involved." Mackey Mitchell is known nationwide for its expertise in providing student housing to campuses including Kansas State University, The University of Notre Dame, Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Cincinnati.

The SIUE concept focuses on the "block and neighborhood" of a residence hall community, defined by the interaction of the students and the relationship between public and private spaces, and how those concepts foster social and academic activity, Schultz explained. Each contestant was challenged to incorporate sustainable features, finding creative uses of technology as it relates to both the social and academic component of the residence hall and a flexible, multi-use of space.

Narbeth Emmanuel, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, said the efforts of the Housing members as part of the design team are indicative of the excellent work they do on a daily basis for the students. "Much of SIUE's Housing success can be attributed to the excellence of both our residential and facilities staff who bring a level of commitment and excellence that is high valued and appreciated by our residential students, which is reflected in our Educational Benchmarking Inventory (EBI) surveys," Emmanuel said.

Results from the competition will be shared at the ACUHO-I Annual Conference & Exposition to be held this June in Orlando, Fla.

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2/12/08

Click Here For Photo Of Collective Bargaining Scholarship Winners

Scholars: Morgan Clymer of Godfrey, (second from left) and Kaitlyn Rausch of New Douglas (third from right) each recently received the Faculty for Collective Bargaining Scholarship from the SIUE Staff Senate. The scholarship is awarded, when funds are available, to children or grandchildren of current or retired SIUE staff who are members of a represented union under contract on campus. From left are Melanie Schoenborn, an operations assistant at Lovejoy Library and chair of the Staff Senate Scholarship Committee; Clymer, a senior majoring in Spanish, who received a $1,000 scholarship; SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift; Rausch, a sophomore majoring in psychology, who received a $500 scholarship; Jesse Harris, a counselor in the Office of Counseling and Advising and also Staff Senate treasurer; and Todd Bartholomew, a building service worker and president of the Staff Senate. (SIUE Photo by Bill Brinson)

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2/9/08

East St. Louis Charter School Seniors Help the Homeless

(EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.) It was a cold, frigid Saturday morning and high school senior Terrion Johnson was helping prepare 1,000 sack lunches, rolling blankets and later distributing these and other much needed items to strangers on the streets.

"I feel like I did something good with my time, and it was time that wasn't wasted," said the 18-year-old. Terrion was one of nine East St. Louis Charter School students who volunteered with Project Compassion of Belleville, a nonprofit organization with an outreach ministry to the homeless. Others seniors joining Terrion were Nicola Dismukes, 19; Brittney Lawson, 17; Embryal Henderson, 18; Retunda Jackson, 18; George Goodwin Jr., 18; Chardarous McCain, 17; Danyale McKinzie, 18; and Devonte Jones, 17. Charter School instructors Carolyn Breihan and Johnnie Fernandez accompanied the students on their senior project.

The East St. Louis Charter School is operated by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's East St. Louis Center.

Rachel Jackson-Bramwell founded Project Compassion in October 2005 after rebounding from what she called a "pity party" about her current circumstances. "The Lord showed me that I had a roof over my head, an income and was more fortunate than a lot of other people," said Mrs. Jackson-Bramwell. So, the O'Fallon woman set out to prepare 1,000 sandwiches in her kitchen and took a few foot soldiers to the streets of St. Louis and East St. Louis in search of homeless people. "It was not organized well at all," she said.

But after three years, which included a television appearance on the Tyra Banks show, dozens of volunteers (including area high schools and businesses) have enlisted to help Mrs. Jackson-Bramwell in her mission to the area homeless. Each month, Project Compassion prepares 1,000 sack lunches and dozens of care packages from donated items. "I felt good that I was able to help someone, and I would do it again," said Brittney, who has 718 community service hours. Ten volunteer hours are required for Charter School seniors to graduate.

After passing out food, blankets, gloves and more at area shelters and locations where many homeless frequent, Terrion and Brittney said they were even more grateful for what they have. "The homeless situation is so vast," said Mrs. Jackson-Bramwell, "but I have yet to feel defeated by it. For me, it was a matter of where do I start."

 
In Photo 1: SIUE East St. Louis Charter School Seniors George Goodwin and Embryal Henderson prepare sandwiches during a recent volunteer day at Project Compassion.

In Photo 2: Chardarous McCain and Danyale McKinzie (background) fill paper bags with sandwiches and pastries.

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2/7/08

SIUE Celebrating Black Heritage Month During February

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is presenting its 11th Annual Black Heritage Month Program during February, with its theme of United or Divided: Where Do We Stand. Below is a calendar of events:

• Friday, Feb. 8 Fifth Annual Gospel Explosion
• 7-10 p.m. Meridian Ballroom, Morris University Center
  An inspirational evening "to spread the gospel of healing, reconciliation, and unity to the campus and community." This event will feature poetry, rap, praise dance, and gospel music.
• Wednesday, Feb. 13 Panel Discussion: "Justice and the Black Athlete"
  1-2:30 p.m. Goshen Lounge, Morris Center.
  A distinguished panel of experts led by Maruice Mangum, assistant professor of political science, will discuss the differences in treatment received by black athletes when compared with white athletes. The panel will address the position that black athletes are held to a different standard by the Justice System, the media and public opinion. Topics for discussion will include issues surrounding Barry Bonds, O.J. Simpson, Michael Vick and the "Jena 6."
• Friday-Saturday, Feb. 15-16 Black Theater Workshop
  7:30 p.m. SIUE Metcalf Theater
  2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17 A compilation of theatrical scenes, song. Poetry and dance that celebrates the diversity of today's family. Directed and performed by SIUE students
• Sunday, Feb. 17 Workshop-"Titanically Speaking; Sink or Swim"
  2-4 p.m. Meridian Ballroom
  Led by Assistant Provost Venessa Brown, this workshop will be a simulation designed to challenge and strengthen the cultural competency and leadership abilities of students
• Tuesday, Feb. 19 Panel Discussion-"Are We Still Miseducating the Negro?"
  11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Goshen Lounge
  A discussion of views outlined in Carter G. Woodson's The Miseducation of the Negro published in 1933 as well as views of African Americans today. The panel, led by Assistant Professor Shonda Lawrence, of the SIUE Department of Social Work, will respond and comment on issues and concerns raised by Woodson and what are seen as issues today.
• Thursday, Feb. 21 Health Fair: "A Celebration of Health"
  10 a.m.-2 p.m. Goshen Lounge, Morris University Center
  Celebrate health through screenings and evaluations. Learn how simple lifestyle changes and acquaintance with community health-care providers can improve your health in 2008 and beyond. Co-sponsored by the SIUE School of Nursing and SIUE Counseling Services.
• 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Charles Drew Blood Drive
  Mississippi-Illinois Room, second floor. of the University Ctr.
  Charles Drew, an African-American physician and medical
  researcher, pioneered techniques for blood storage that made development possible of large-scale blood banks. Dr. Drew also protested the practice of segregating blood on the basis of the race of the donor.
• 7-10 p.m. Black Heritage Month Student Talent Show
  Meridian Ballroom, Morris University Center
  SIUE students will take their turn on stage singing, dancing, reading poetry, and performing music.
• Wednesday, Feb. 27 "A Lesson Before Dying: The Burial Of The 'N' Word"
  11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Goshen Lounge, Morris Center
  Using a funeral as a backdrop, this event will discuss the history and social significance of the most offensive word in American culture. Members of the SIUE community will "bury the 'N' word" as a symbolic gesture for improving race relations and encouraging racial sensitivity.
• Wednesday, Feb. 27 Blackthink: Who and What Is Black?
  7-9 p.m. Goshen Lounge, Morris University Center
  Discussion of African-American stereotypes in current society in addition to other provocative issues.

All events are free unless otherwise noted. Contact the SIUE Kimmel Leadership Center, (618) 650-2686, for a detailed schedule of events or visit www.siue.edu/cab. All events are subject to change.
Black Heritage Month is sponsored by the SIUE Campus Activities Board.

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2/7/08

'For The Love Of Music' To Showcase Student Musicians Feb. 11

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will showcase its talented students during "For the Love of Music," an evening of performances by SIUE's Concert Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Jazz Combo, Brass Ensemble, the Suzuki String Ensemble and solo pianists.

The evening of music begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris Center.

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased through the SIUE Department of Music, (618) 650-3900. Proceeds benefit the Friends of Music, a support organization for the department. Door prizes also will be awarded.

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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02/06/08

SIUE School of Pharmacy Service Learning Project Could Save Lives

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) A service learning project for first-year students through the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy could help save lives in the region.

The File of Life program is the focus of the students' service learning project this spring. In partnership with the Area Agency on Aging of Southwestern Illinois and the Illinois Visiting Nurse's Association, student-pharmacists will work at locations throughout Southern Illinois. They will help community members fill out a medical information form that will be included in the File of Life, which is a magnetic pocket that is kept on a participant's refrigerator and a card that is carried with the individual at all times.

The objective of the project is to make a person's medical information accessible in case of an emergency. If a medical condition or an accident renders an individual unconscious or unable to communicate effectively with emergency responders, pertinent information can be found in the magnetic pocket or on the card.

"We can teach about the importance of patient counseling and developing a one-on-one relationship with patients, but this is a chance for our students to identify, first-hand, the discrepancies between theory and practice, while providing assistance to community members. It's truly a win-win situation," said Teri McCullough, assistant
director of Experiential Education and Clinical Assistant and professor of Pharmacy Practice.

Service Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities.

The File for Life form provides space to list contact information for the doctor, medications including dose and frequency, immunization history, medical conditions and describes any other special circumstances that rescue personnel should know in the care of a patient.

For more information on times, dates and locations where community members may work with SIUE School of Pharmacy students to complete the File of Life cards, contact Teri McCullough, (618) 650-5128, or visit www.siue.edu/pharmacy.

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