News

K. Vollmer Is November Employee Of The Month

Congratulations: Kenneth Vollmer, a grounds worker for Facilities Management, is the November recipient of the Employee Recognition Award. In the photo, Vollmer (at left) is being presented the award by Vice Chancellor for Administration Kenn Neher. In addition to the plaque Vollmer received, he was awarded a $25 gift certificate to the SIUE Bookstore, two complimentary lunch coupons to the University Restaurant or other Dining Services locations and parking close to his office for the month. (SIUE Photo by Bill Brinson)

39th Annual SIUE Holiday Crafts Fair Set For Dec. 1-2

The 39th Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is set for 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 1-2, in SIUE's Morris University Center.

Sponsored by the Morris University Center Print and Design Shop, there is no admission charge to attend the fair and the public is invited.

Items at the fair will include original works produced by local and regional artists and crafts persons. Many types of handmade goods will be available for purchase, including ceramics, wood, weaving, fiber, metal and glass, among others. Selections for purchase will include many articles suitable for holiday gifts.

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

'A Season For The Child' Continues At SIUE With 'The Nutcracker'

Audiences will enter a fairytale dream world as the young Marie encounters adventures with evil mice, dancing fairies and distant lands in The Nutcracker, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Friends of Theater and Dance (FOTAD) holiday show on Saturday, Dec. 4, part of the organization's A Season for the Child series.

The Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC), the traveling arm of the Repertory Theatre Company of St. Louis, will stage this classic show at 2 and 7 p.m. in SIUE's Dunham Hall theater. The ITC has been working with FOTAD for two decades to produce family-oriented theater for the Edwardsville area. The production is being offered twice so that families will have a chance to see the show during the busy holiday season.

The Nutcracker is E.T.A Hoffmann's beloved story that was immortalized in Tchaikovsky's legendary ballet. Although this production is not the ballet, it promises to be full of the same charm as ITC performs this wonderful adaptation for the stage, with new music, featuring the story of the little lonely girl, Marie, who finds magic in some unlikely places. She befriends a nutcracker who leads her on adventures, showing Marie that friends may not be so hard to find and that the magic of the holidays can last throughout the year.

The Nutcracker continues A Season for the Child, in its 21 ^st year of presenting family-oriented theater to Southwestern Illinois audiences. The series, sponsored by FOTAD, the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, TheBANK of Edwardsville and Ameren Utilities, features professional theater troupes from St. Louis that stage adaptations of various children's stories, using interactive techniques that not only delight children and parents but also provide a learning experience.

In January, Piwacket Theatre Company will present its quirky take on an old fairytale classic- Snow White and the Eighth Dwarf-at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, in Dunham Hall theater. All tickets for A Season for the Child are $5 per person and may be obtained through the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774.

SIUE School of Business Holds Sixth Annual Project Management Symposium

The Morris University Conference Center, on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, was the site of the annual Project Management Symposium, The Next Generation of Project Management: Are You Ready? This all-day event attracted more than 250 people from local corporations and businesses.

The symposium consisted of various presentations, break-out sessions, and roundtable and panel discussions. Topics from the break-out sessions included Stray Rescue: Making a Bad Project Good and The Impact of Social Networking on the Project Manager. Both focused on how virtual projects and teams have an impact on the way the project is managed as well as the new tools and processes involved. Maryellen Kliethermes, supervisor of the IT PMO at Ameren Missouri, attended the Social Networking break-out session. Kliethermes said, "I really enjoyed the break-out session. We discussed the value of Facebook, Twitter and other media possibly useful in business. The conversation was very lively because the topic can be a little controversial due to the broad base of understanding."

Many of those in attendance were also presenters in a break-out session or a facilitator for one of the roundtable discussions. Peter Fornof, CIO and senior vice president of Hortica, was a facilitator for the discussion on ethics. When asked why he attended the symposium, Fornof said: "Although Project Management is not my profession, I'm responsible for large, critical projects at my company. I find 'comparing notes' with other attendees is very helpful. I also learn about best practices that I can apply to projects."

This is the sixth year that the Project Management Symposium has been held at SIUE. The event was sponsored by Ameren, Edward Jones, CA Technologies, Microsoft Project 2010, Oracle, Scottrade, The Metro St. Louis Chapter of the Project Management Institute, and the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network.

Student Government Launches We Are One, We Are The "e" Campaign

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Student Government launched a campaign recently to promote diversity awareness and campus unity.

The We Are One, We Are The "e" campaign is a campus initiative to celebrate differences on the SIUE community and showcase the campus as a safe and welcoming place for students, faculty, staff and visitors. The campaign's goal is to cultivate a community of citizens dedicated to enrichment through encouraging race and international relations, as well as socioeconomic, sexual orientation, disability and age diversity on campus.

As part of the kick off celebration, Student Government provided "Free Hugs" T-shirts to students, faculty and staff.

Plans are underway to introduce a resource center with information about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, sexual harassment, race-related issues and other topics. The resources also will be available online.

The final phase of the campaign will involve working with current programs hosted on campus to educate segments of the population, boost recruitment initiatives and attendance, and engage in marketing.

The campaign will be operated through Student Government's School Spirit and Pride committee and will be comprised of SIUE students, faculty and staff members.

SIUE Collaborative Project Wins Regional Award

One Night, a program that was a collaborative effort between Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Housing office and other University departments and community agencies, was awarded the Outstanding Project Award at the recent Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO) conference in Collinsville last month.

The annual conference focuses on advancing professional knowledge and standards in the field of student housing. In addition to the project competition, more than 70 educational program sessions were offered at the conference, along with two keynote speakers focusing on partnerships with faculty and the economic impact on student housing. The Outstanding Project Award is presented to recognize and share an outstanding project developed by a GLACUHO institution and implemented during a previous academic year for its residence hall community.

The One Night program was presented in fall of last year on the SIUE campus and was led by Cathy Passananti and Jessica Vanderwood, both University Housing community directors. Nearly 700 students attended the program that was aimed at shattering students' beliefs that they are invincible to the consequences of alcohol consumption.

"The program urged students to consider how their decisions concerning alcohol could land them in a hospital, a morgue, or in jail," said Molly Sidarous, a specialist in the Office of University Housing. "This particular program put the students in regular situations they may encounter when consuming alcohol, and then presented an extreme change of events to show how easy it can be for a fun evening to have a tragic ending."

Passananti commented on the award: "I have been attending GLACUHO for six years and always saw this as a beneficial conference. The board typically recognizes the truly outstanding members and initiatives within the housing profession," she said. "When I heard them start reading from the One Night nomination I was thrilled. I feel so strongly that this program is fantastic and I am pleased that we were able to share it with the conference attendees through our presentation, and later be recognized for all the hard work SIUE staff put into it."

For additional information about the GLACUHO conference, contact Amanda Stonecipher, (618) 650-4627, or by e-mail: astonec@siue.edu.

SIUE Resident Assistants Cited At Annual National Conference

At the Annual Great Lakes Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (GLACURH) Conference recently, Amanda Woods of Winthrop Harbor and a resident assistant (RA) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, was named Communications Coordinator Of The Year, while Kolby Spiker of Effingham, an RA at SIUE's Prairie Hall, was awarded a Top 10 Program Award for his program session, True Colors.

Woods, a former National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Executive Assistant/Communications Coordinator, and Spiker, along with a group of SIUE Housing student leaders, attended the annual conference at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Woods' award was the result of a vote by her peers and communications coordinators from other regional institutions. As the NRHH communications coordinator, Woods' responsibilities included representing NRHH at the state, regional and national level. She also serves as the Illinois Residence Hall Association (IRHA) vice president for membership and NRHH.

Kyle Rice, assistant director for training and development, said, "to be recognized out of all of the students that hold this position at schools in Michigan, Ontario, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois is a huge honor. Only eight of these awards are given out per year across the United States and Canada, one per region," Rice said.

"We are very proud of the hard work that Amanda did to earn this award. She has been a credit to our student leadership program."

True Colors was named one of the Top 10 programs at the conference, based on peer evaluation and feedback. The True Colors program evaluated personality differences among staff, communities and friendships, and provided an opportunity to learn traits and habits of all personalities, as well as effective communication styles for each color. The program included a presentation about each color and how those personalities could impact each individual's career and co-curricular decisions, and a discussion on how to implement new practices and strategies.

Rice also commented on the success of Spiker's program, "Kolby presented by himself, while most students choose to present with a partner," Rice said. "Out of almost 50 different program sessions, for his program to be named one of the Top 10 is an honor.

"Kolby researched this topic and provided the participants in his program with an opportunity for introspection, and a chance to learn not only about themselves but how they interact with the people around them."

When asked about the recognition, Spiker commented, "I was excited and surprised that I received a top program award at GLACURH; there were many quality programs in my category. Since the conference, other conference attendees have requested more information about True Colors, so it is awesome to see how the program is impacting campuses regionally."

Woods, along with C.J. Massie, of Dupo, were awarded the Four-Year Service pin at the conference. The pin represents the students' ongoing, continued support for regional and national organizations. For additional information about GLACURH or student leadership opportunities in housing, contact Kyle Rice by e-mail: klineba@siue.edu, or, by telephone: (618) 650-4629.

SIUE Housing Staff Member Wins Regional Case Study

Jamie Matthews, the community director of Woodland Hall-one of four residence halls at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville-along with a colleague from Miami University of Ohio, were co-winners of the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO) Regional Case Study Competition at the recent GLACUHO conference in Collinsville last month.

Matthews participated in the post-master's category of the competition-professionals with a master's and up to five years' experience. The case study is an opportunity for professionals to apply theory to practice in a competitive case study environment. The annual conference focuses on advancing professional knowledge and standards in the field of student housing. More than 70 educational program sessions were offered, with two keynote speakers who focused on partnerships with faculty and the economic impact on student housing, as well as the case study competition.

Thirteen teams participated in the post-Master's category of the competition. The teams represented all states within the GLACUHO region. Matthews and Phil Campbell, the co-winner from Miami University, completed two cases. They first completed a case against all teams in their division and then the top two teams had a "case off," which Matthews and Campbell won.

Commenting on the experience, Matthews said, "winning the case study competition was an honor. However, more than winning, the process was a great experience; providing an opportunity for feedback from fellow colleagues and peers in a challenging environment where we apply theory to practice."

For additional information on the GLACUHO conference, contact Amanda Stonecipher, (618) 650-4627 or by e-mail: astonec@siue.edu.

SIUE Opera Theater Presents Jack And The Beanstalk On The Road

Students at elementary schools in Collinsville and Edwardsville school districts and children at St. Louis Children's Hospital are being dazzled by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Opera Theater's performances of John Davies' Jack and the Beanstalk.

The cast of vocal performance majors for the Jack and the Beanstalk Tour 2010 includes Catherine Murray, Benjamin Rardin, Jacquelyn Trapp, Zachary Snyder and Richard Ladd. The pianist for the performance is Sarah Gallaher.

The performances are part of an outreach effort on behalf of the opera theater to offer the community and area youth a fun musical experience.

"The cast is doing an excellent job of bringing the characters to life," said Marc Schapman, assistant professor of music at SIUE. "It has been a great opportunity for them each to perform a role so many times. It grows more every time I see it."

The opera theater started offering its field trip performances in October. So far, it has received rave reviews.

"The show boasts a message of anti-bullying, an important theme for today's

society," Schapman said. "I'm sure it will be a musical experience these students, and myself, will never forget. It's been a joy to see so many smiles and hear so many laughs from the

children this semester, and I'm looking forward to keeping outreach as an element of SIUE Opera Theater."

Remaining performances scheduled to take place include:

• Thursday, Dec. 2 at Midway Elementary in Moro;

• 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3-4 at SIUE's Abbott Auditorium;

• Monday, Dec. 6 at St. Louis Children's Hospital;

• Thursday, Dec. 9 at Renfro Elementary in Collinsville.

Tickets for the SIUE performances are $10 for regular admission and $7 for students, children 18 and younger, and seniors, and can be purchased through the SIUE Fine Arts Box Office, (618) 650-2774. Admission is free for SIUE students with a valid ID.

SIUE East St. Louis Center For Performing Arts, SIUE Charter High School To Present Holiday Celebration

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts and the SIUE Charter High School will present "Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice: A Holiday Celebration Just For You," at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18. Both performances will be staged at the SIUE East St. Louis Center's Multipurpose Theater, 601 James R. Thompson Blvd., Building D, East St. Louis.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. For ticket information, contact Debbie Randle, (618) 482-6908.

The holiday program will include traditional holiday songs accentuated with dance, theater and music. Theodore H. Jamison is program director for the SIUE East Louis Center for the Performing Arts. The production is choreographed by Performing Arts staff members Andrea Smythe, Jamila Ajanaku and Jack Williams, and Performing Arts parent Courtney Singleton of East St. Louis. Musical arrangements for the production were created by Performing Arts staff member E.L. Wilkes. Theatrical scenes were directed by SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School instructor Candice Jackson.

SIUE School of Engineering and Chemistry Professors Regionally Recognized

The St. Louis Post Dispatch had its eyes on two SIUE scientists. " Inventions by SIUE Scientists Test for Heavy Metals in Blood" featured Bradley Noble, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Edward Navarre, assistant professor of chemistry, for their efficient and affordable invention-a portable electrothermal analyzer.

In the article published recently, the professors are pictured with their device, along with electrical engineering student Chris Edmiston who worked with them on the project as an Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) assistant. They also discuss how it tests small blood samples for heavy metal contamination and hope that the analyzer will eventually become a tool of everyday use in environmental agencies and health departments throughout the country and the world.

This is not Noble's only innovation. This year, he also teamed with SIUE chemistry professor Michael Shaw to create an inexpensive and portable potentiostat, a device used to investigate chemical reactions related to redox chemistry and other electrochemical phenomena. The highly reduced cost of the invention would make potentiostats available to more than just chemists and those in advanced chemistry studies; it would be accessible to industries in the electrochemical field, such as battery and fuel cell manufacturers, and also to anyone taking a collegiate chemistry course, including freshmen.

Noble said, "Applying engineering concepts in collaboration with my colleagues in other disciplines to create devices that help the public gives me great satisfaction."

SIUE School of Nursing Faculty Awarded $5K Healthcare Research Grant

Roberta Harrison and Frank Lyerla, assistant professors of Primary Care and Health Systems, received the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) Phillips Healthcare Research Grant valued at $5,000. The grant was awarded to support research focusing on the efficient delivery of nursing services when dealing with hypoglycemia.

Harrison and Lyerla proposed innovative use of technology in the form of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) to improve adherence to protocol-based care of low blood glucose levels. A CDSS is a computerized program utilized within the health care setting to support decision making. The CDSS will activate when blood glucose levels of 70 or lower are entered by the nurse. A series of questions, determined Harrison and Lyerla, will then direct nursing interventions according to management guidelines.

"Our goal with this project is to improve nursing guideline adherence for managing hypoglycemia via the CDSS," explains Harrison. "This means improving patient outcomes immediately."

SIUE School of Nursing has teamed with Anderson Hospital in Maryville to create and implement this new technology. Harrison and Lyerla have fulfilled a portion of their study, and have an expected completion date of September 2011. Currently, plans are under way for related studies at larger healthcare facilities in the Midwest.

Dec. 15 George Winston Arts & Issues Event Sold Out

The Dec. 15 performance of renowned solo pianist George Winston, part of the 2010-11 Arts & Issues series at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is sold out. The evening is sponsored by the SIUE Credit Union.

"We are happy with the response to George Winston's appearance and we're sorry not everyone will have the opportunity to see this wonderful musician on our stage," said Grant Andree, director of the Arts & Issues series for the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences. "We're providing this information about the sold out concert so that other patrons will not make an unnecessary trip to campus for tickets."

Tickets still are available for the Jan. 29, 2011, appearance of Eisenhower Dance Ensemble's "On the Move" dance concert and are available through the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-5774, or through the Arts & Issues website: artsandissues.com.

SIUE Charter School Students Hear Some of Poetry's Finest

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School students recently "ego-tripped" their way through the writings of some of the most gifted poets of the 21 ^st Century.

A group of students got a chance to listen to recorded readings of Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Gwendolyn Brooks, Lucille Clifton, Nikki Giovanni, Eugene B. Redmond and Margaret Walker, reading respectively, "Still I Rise," "RhythmBlues," "We Real Cool," "Won't You Celebrate With Me," "ego-tripping," Milestones" and "Molly Means."

Howard Rambsy II, associate professor of English language and literature and director of the Black Studies Program at SIUE, presented his Black Poetry Mixed Media Project. Students participated in an interactive experience, mixing poetry and culture. The students used an audio device to listen to various African-American poets reading their own poetry.

While students listened, they also read the poems and looked at various pictures on poster board presentations. The pictures were from the Eugene B. Redmond Collection at SIUE's Lovejoy Library. Redmond, who is East St. Louis Poet Laureate, is a professor emeritus. The poster boards and plaques displayed photos, poetry and biographical information about each poet.

In the photo above: Discussing the value and contributions of black poets is Howard Rambsy II, associate professor of English language and literature and director of the Black Studies Program at SIUE, with Charter High School student Henrie Wicks.

Retired Assistant Provost Rudy Wilson To Be Honored Nov. 16

Several educators, including those from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, will gather from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, to pay tribute to retired SIUE Assistant Provost for Cultural and Social Diversity Rudy Wilson by presenting a book of essays that was published in his honor. The book, Multiculturalism in the Age of the Mosaic: Essays in Honor of Rudolph G. Wilson (Nova Publishing, 2010), will be presented at the ceremony in the Hickory-Hackberry Room on the second floor of SIUE's Morris University Center,

A collection of essays that address issues of multiculturalism and diversity, it was edited by Michael O. Afọláyan, a former SIUE faculty member who is now assistant director for Academic Affairs for the Illinois Board of Higher Education. "This collection is a festschrift (a book honoring a respected person) that takes scholarship in multiculturalism one step beyond stereotypical discourses and procedural dimensions," Afọláyan said. "With a conglomerate of scholars from fields of education, anthropology, linguistics, and allied professions around the world providing critical perspectives from their expertise, what we see here is a rare scholarship that accentuates humanities at its best.

"A meta-textual document, this work provides the definition of 'multiculturalism' in its contents as well as in its contexts. It is as practical as it is theoretical," Afọláyan said. "This is one book that will pass the test of time and broaden the horizon of scholarship in libraries as well as in classrooms, research desks and in international policy making activities."

During his tenure in the Provost's office, Assistant Provost Wilson was responsible for SIUE's Minority Recruitment and Retention Program designed to recruit and retain outstanding minority faculty and students. He also sponsored programs dealing with "at risk" learning, mentor training, pedagogy and research, and was coordinator of the Johnetta Haley Scholarship Academy. In addition, Wilson coordinated the University's initiative on diversity, "Pathways to Harmony," which helped promote greater sensitivity to and positive awareness of gender, race, culture, lifestyle and disability issues on the SIUE campus.

In addition to Wilson, the ceremony will include SIUE Provost Paul Ferguson; Northeastern Illinois University President Sharon Hahs, former SIUE Provost; SIUE Assistant Provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion Venessa Brown; and Eugene Redmond, poet laureate of East St. Louis and professor emeritus of English language and literature at SIUE, among several others.

Wagner Potters Association Hosts 34th Annual Turkey Feast

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Wagner Potters Association is hosting the 34th Annual Turkey Feast from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday, Nov. 12 in the Art and Design Building Atrium on campus.

The event is a potluck turkey dinner and will conclude the ceramic area's visiting artist workshop, featuring Susan Beiner, professor of Art at Arizona State University. Grupo Bembe will provide live music during the event. The SIUE community is invited to attend and bring a dish.

The event is partly funded by Student Government. For more information contact the department of art and design, (618) 650-3146.

Student Newspaper, The Alestle, Wins National College Journalism Award

The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's student newspaper, recently won a national award during the 89th annual Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Advisers National College Media Convention in Louisville, Ky.

The Alestle won third place for overall excellence in the Best of Show-Four-Year Weekly Tabloid category. Editor-in-Chief Aren Dow, a senior mass communications major, accepted the award on behalf of the staff. Managing Editor Rosemary Githinji, also a senior mass communications major, and Faculty Adviser Tammy Merrett-Murry also were at the ceremony, as well as other editors and staffers.

The Alestle competed nationally against several other four-year school newspapers from across the country, including top student newspapers from Wisconsin, New York, Nebraska, Vermont, Michigan, California, Florida and Missouri. Entries in the competition were judged for general excellence by members of the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Advisers.

"Placing third for general excellence ahead of some student newspapers from prestigious journalism programs really shows the hard work and dedication of SIUE's journalism students to doing journalism and doing it well," Merrett-Murry said. "I have been waiting for this moment since joining the SIUE faculty two-and-a-half years ago. I knew the students could do it. I'm extremely proud."

The Alestle placed twice in recent years in national Best of Show competitions at the fall national college media convention in 2006 and 2007 in the Special Edition Four-Year category.

Other recent awards include an honorable mention in general excellence and four additional awards during the Spring 2010 collegiate media workshops of the Illinois College Press Association. The Alestle had not been honored for general excellence by the ICPA since 2006. For more information, contact Merrett-Murry, (618) 650-3597.

Young American Muslims To Speak At SIUE

Three students will present Islamophobia in the U.S.: Young American Muslims Speak Out at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16 in the Morris University Center Hickory/Hackberry Room on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus.

The Saint Louis University students will talk about "Islamophobia" as the new racism and discuss how fellow Americans can challenge the stereotypes about Islam in American society. Born and raised in the United States, the students are offering the educational opportunity as part of the Islam 101 series, organized by the Middle East and Islamic Studies Initiatives at SIUE.

The students set to speak are Amenah Arther, a junior studying pre-med who is originally from New York; Imman Musa, a sophomore studying psychology and Spanish from Belleville, and Haariss Ilyas, a senior majoring in biology and economics from Chicago.

The program is made possible by funding from the SIUE Meridian Society. For more information, contact Steve Tamari, assistant professor of Middle Eastern history at SIUE, (618) 650-3967, stamari@siue.edu. The event is free and open to the public. Visitor parking is available at $1 per hour in lot B, the visitor's lot. For directions and parking information, visit siue.edu/maps.

Ten SIUE Students To Be Inducted Into Red Storm Chapter Of NRHH

This Sunday, 10 University Housing residents will be inducted into the Red Storm Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH). The induction ceremony will take place in Evergreen Hall at 2 p.m. Since 2006, 90 SIUE University Housing residents have been inducted.

The NRHH is the recognition branch of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH). NRHH chapters recognize top leaders by membership; NRHH inductees are considered a member of the Top 1 percent of residence hall leaders and are required to hold a minimum cumulative 2.3 grade point average, reside in housing for at least two semesters before the semester of selection, reside in housing during the semester of selection, must be a non-professional contract holding student, and exhibit outstanding leadership and service in University Housing.

Cathy Passananti, Prairie Hall community director and NRHH advisor said, "SIUE's Red Storm chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary is a small but mighty campus organization. The group represents the top 1 percent of on-campus leaders, totaling 35 members. There are four governing principles of NRHH: leadership, service, scholarship, and recognition," she said. "Our 35 members have worked diligently over the past year to build this organization through our on-and-off campus service events and recognition events.

"It is thrilling that the organization has grown so much in the past couple years. It means that our new inductees have amazing opportunities to make a difference through their membership in this organization."

Zach Sanderson, a current NRHH member, commented on the benefits of NRHH and what the new inductees can look forward to: "The NRHH has been a great way for me to interact with my peers on campus and has given me opportunities to do service and give back to the community. I appreciate the opportunities I have had to recognize others and be recognized myself. It feels good knowing that people see I am making an impact in the housing community."

The following residents will be inducted into NRHH as the 2010-2011 Red Storm Chapter: Alexa Creech, of Galesburg; Ruben Delgado, of Chicago; Crystal Harris, of Jerseyville; Mitchell Martineau, of Custer Park; Taylor McInerney, of St. Charles; Brittany Nichting, of Peoria; Gabby Shaw, of Homewood; Tori Taylor, of Belleville; Kelly Werthwein, of Springfield; and Nick Zyznieuski, also of Springfield.

Engineering Students Offer the SIUE Community a True Turkish Experience

Fifteen SIUE students from the industrial and manufacturing engineering program and the SIUE Department of Historical Studies took an exciting trip abroad this summer to Istanbul, Turkey. They joined members of the School of Engineering Dual Diploma Program, Turkish students from Istanbul Technical University (ITU). The ITU students spend their freshman and junior years at ITU and their sophomore and senior years at SIUE earning degrees from both universities.

As a way to make more American friends during their time abroad and share their culture, ITU students Emre Savas, Yagmur Kahraman-from the Dual Diploma program-and graduate student Pelin Guvenc began teaching their American cohorts the Turkish language. The initial lessons went so well, the Turkish students decided to extend the opportunity to the SIUE community.

Language lessons are held on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Willow Room of the Morris University Center. Conversation hours are Thursdays at 2 p.m. at the University Center Starbucks. The student instructors not only prepare course materials and activities, but also cook traditional Turkish meals to enrich pupils' knowledge of the Turkish culture. "We are excited about teaching Turkish," Emre Savas said. "Anyone affiliated with SIUE is welcome to learn."

The SIUE School of Engineering Dual Diploma Program provides students from Istanbul Technical University (ITU) the opportunity to earn two diplomas while gaining international exposure. Earning a degree from a respected American university is a highly regarded accomplishment in Turkey. After the successful completion of the bachelor's program in industrial engineering, the ITU students will enter the Turkish job market with a huge advantage.

University Museum Helps In Fundraising Effort

The University Museum of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville recently assembled and installed a display at the main branch of TheBANK of Edwardsville to help kick off the effort to raise funds for a memorial in city park that will pay tribute to Edwardsville-Glen Carbon area residents who have sacrificed their lives in the armed services since World War I.

The fundraising effort has been spearheaded by Douglas and Jill Garbs, parents of U.S. Army Ranger Spc. Ryan C. Garbs, who was killed in action in Zabul Province, Afghanistan. The Greater Edwardsville Area Community Foundation is accepting donations on behalf of the effort.

The monument will be constructed of two wings of granite and will display a bronze bust of a soldier to be modeled after Ryan Garbs but symbolizing those who made a similar sacrifice. The pocket tab on the bust will read "OUR SON" but will be representative of all 75 soldiers listed on the memorial wings.

TheBANK display features the bust that will eventually become part of the actual park memorial. Doug Garbs, who researched the names of the soldiers that will become part of the memorial, said he welcomes information from families to add other soldiers' names to the list.

Eric Barnett, director of The University Museum, said the display brings attention to the fund drive. The memorial's bust is at the centerpiece of the display that also includes the list of the fallen soldiers' names. "SIUE and the bank have a long-standing relationship during which they have helped support a wide variety of projects and programs at the University," Barnett pointed out. "So, when ( TheBANK Senior Vice President of Marketing) Grady Ambuel called and asked to borrow a sculpture stand on which to display the bust, I was more than happy to help.

"In fact, in addition to the pedestal, we expanded the idea to include the graphics and the list of names in the display," Barnett said. "Jill Garbs is a retiree of SIUE and part of our University family, so it was fitting that we help with this display." Jill Garbs is associate professor emerita of Library and Information Services.

According to Doug Garbs, the foundation's goal is to collect $40,000 to construct the monument. So far, he said, $11,750 has been collected from area businesses and residents, including TheBANK, which donated $2,500.

Kent Weber, president of TheEDGEBANK, has spearheaded a grass roots fundraising campaign for the monument through what is being called the Gold Star Banner Program. The banners are being offered at various area businesses to patrons who may purchase one for any donation $1 and above. "The intent of the banner program is to give every citizen in the (area) an opportunity to contribute to this monument," Weber told The Edwardsville Intelligencer.

"The Gold Star Monument is about the many brave soldiers who have no monument, no memorial to them," Garbs said. "For us, this is part of our healing and we hope it will serve a similar purpose for the families of these patriots of the Greater Edwardsville Area."

Thomas Holloway, president of TheBANK of Edwardsville, said TheBANK is "very proud to be among the businesses in the area that have supported this family's wish to memorialize their son and the solders of so many other families in the area who served their country with pride. We encourage other businesses to follow suit in support of these brave families that have given so much to our country and the local community," he said.

Donations for the memorial may be made to the Greater Edwardsville Area Community Foundation and mailed to: GEACF., P.O. Box 102, Edwardsville, IL 62025. Donors are asked to make a notation on their check that the funds are for the Ryan Garbs Memorial. For additional information about how to make a contribution to the memorial, contact Doug Garbs, (618) 656-5519.

In the photo above, (from left) Steve Grant, manager of TheBANK's main center; Eric Barnett, director of The University Museum at SIUE; Kent Weber, president of TheEDGEBANK; and Jill and Doug Garbs, parents of U.S. Army Ranger Spc. Ryan C. Garbs, who died in 2007 while on special mission in Zubul Province, Afghanistan.

Health Policy Summit To Identify Practical Steps For Sustainable Change

The Get Up & Go! Campaign has announced the agenda for the Second Annual St. Clair County Health Policy Summit 2010-Food for Life, scheduled from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Westview Church in Swansea. The Summit, an event open to the public, will be a critical forum with a focus of healthy eating, physical activities and food access. An estimated 200 leaders from communities, schools and organizations will attend the Summit to explore the issue of food security in St. Clair County.

Rita Arras-Boyd, associate professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing and president of the Get Up & Go! Campaign, will follow with a facilitated discussion, "A Local Look at our Communities." Arras-Boyd said the event will bring the community together to work toward a common goal of health and wellness. "St. Clair County has embarked on a makeover, a transformation to become the healthiest county in the United States," she explained. "Fulfilling this vision will require more than individual effort. All interested parties are invited to our table to explore this important issue."

Mari Gallagher, principal of Mari Gallagher Research and Consulting Group, will open the summit with a morning keynote address on Healthy Eating and Active Living through Community Partnership. She will assist St. Clair County in identifying practical steps communities and schools can undertake to provide affordable opportunities for healthy eating.

Roundtable discussions and breakout sessions will complete the summit. The cost of attending the Health Policy Summit is $10 per person, which includes lunch and policy materials.

The summit was created by members of the St. Clair County Health Care Commission, the Get Up & Go! Campaign, the Pioneering Healthier Communities Initiative and the Willard C. Scrivner MD Public Health Foundation. The mission of the Get Up & Go! Campaign is to serve as a catalyst for transforming St. Clair County into the healthiest community in the state of Illinois by 2020. For more information on the Health Policy Summit, visit the website: www.getupandgo.info.

Project Safe Recovery Evaluated By SIUE Team

A program introduced in January by the Madison County Probation and Court Services Department helps women address addiction and abuse by providing a safe environment for treatment of themselves and their children, if they have them.

Professors at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are evaluating the effectiveness of Project Safe Recovery, which offers women screening for substance abuse and mental health disorders, transportation to intensive treatment that is provided several times per week and child care assistance to assure attendance. Participants in the program with a history of victimization and trauma receive intervention to improve coping skills, as well as skill building to help them, if applicable, to empathize with and manage their children's behaviors. All of this is facilitated through the Madison County (IL) enhanced Drug Court support and treatment program.

Project Safe Recovery has been funded by a three-year, $899,000 grant from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA,) part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SIUE received $150,000 to evaluate treatment data from clients.

"Project Safe Recovery has shown promising results in the 10 months that clients have been receiving treatment," said Jeremy Jewell, associate professor of psychology at SIUE and lead evaluator on the project. "The extensive support and services offered by Project Safe Recovery are beneficial in getting the clients into treatment, and increases the likelihood of the client remaining in treatment until graduation from the program."

Currently 43 clients have been served, with 29 remaining in active treatment groups. The program has an average 76-percent attendance rate, which strongly correlates with the percentage of clean drug tests, Jewell said.

"The more clients who attend treatment, the less likely they are to test positive for illegal substances when given a random drug test," he said.

The SIUE evaluation team is analyzing data from clients at intake, six months into treatment and upon discharge from the program. The team gathers demographics, current drug use and type of drug use, level of education completed, living arrangements, mental health needs and social support received. Team members also are analyzing data to the degree which an individual in the program recognizes she has a substance abuse problem; her desire for help; and readiness to participate in treatment, anxiety, depression and decision-making ability.

"Our data show that clients report a significant increase in self-esteem and ability to make good decisions, while also understanding that their drug use negatively impacts not only them and their families but also society as a whole," Jewell said.

The project goal is to help 110 clients during the three-year grant period. The group is currently on track to exceed that goal. The program is available to adult women through the county's drug court.

"I believe that the holistic approach of this program is what sets it apart from others," said Susan Taylor, director of Adult Substance Abuse Services with Chestnut Health Systems. "We address childcare, parenting, family bonding, trauma, mental health, substance abuse and community support. A recovery specialist, who is a graduate of Madison County Drug Court, works directly with the women to introduce them to 12-step meetings and aid in their understanding of the steps."

New National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Members to be Inducted

(Edwardsville, IL) - On Sunday, November 14, 2010, 10 University Housing residents will be inducted into the Red Storm Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH). The induction ceremony will take place in Evergreen Hall at 2 p.m. Since 2006, 90 SIUE University Housing residents have been inducted.

National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) is the recognition branch of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH). NRHH chapters recognize top leaders by membership. NRHH inductees are considered a member of the Top 1% of residence hall leaders and are required to hold a minimum cumulative 2.3 grade point average, reside in housing for at least 2 semesters prior to the semester of selection, reside in housing during the semester of selection, must be a non-professional contract holding student and exhibit outstanding leadership and service in University Housing.

Cathy Passananti, Prairie Hall Community Director and NRHH Advisor comments, "SIUE's Red Storm chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary is a small but mighty campus organization! The group represents the top 1% of on campus leaders, totaling 35 members. There are 4 governing principles of NRHH: leadership, service, scholarship, and recognition. Our 35 members have worked diligently over the past year to build this organization through our on and off campus service events and recognition events. It is thrilling that the organization has grown so much in the past couple years. It means that our new inductees have amazing opportunities to make a difference through their membership in this organization."

Zach Sanderson, a current NRHH member, commented on the benefits of NRHH and what the new inductees can look forward to, "NRHH been a great way for me to interact with my peers on campus and has given me opportunities to do service and give back to the community. I appreciate the opportunities I have had to recognize others and be recognized myself. It feels good knowing that people see I am making an impact in the housing community."

The following residents will be inducted into NRHH as the 2010-2011 Red Storm Chapter: Alexa Creech - Galesburg, IL; Ruben Delgado - Chicago, IL; Crystal Harris - Jerseyville, IL; Mitchell Martineau - Custer Park, IL; Taylor McInerney - St. Charles, IL; Brittany Nichting - Peoria, IL; Gabby Shaw - Homewood, IL; Tori Taylor - Belleville, IL; Kelly Werthwein - Springfield, IL; and Nick Zyznieuski - Springfield, IL.

DRS Technologies Engineering Leaders Visit SIUE School Of Engineering

A team of eight engineers from DRS Technologies, including Vice President John Wooten, Senior Design Engineer Greg Hobson and other departmental leaders, visited the SIUE School of Engineering and the School's Southwest Illinois Advanced Manufacturing (SIAM) to explore opportunities in collaborative research projects.

On Thursday, Oct. 21, the visiting engineering team toured various labs in the Engineering building and met faculty members whose expertise overlaps with those of DRS Technologies, a leading supplier of integrated products, services and support to the military.

"DRS Technologies has recruited many School of Engineering graduates in recent years," Engineering Dean Hasan Sevim said. "We welcomed this visit by the various engineering division heads of DRS Technologies, and we're looking forward to a mutually beneficial collaboration in the near future."

SIUE School Of Engineering Faculty Awarded $192K Grant

Sohyung Cho, assistant professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering, received the Major Research Instrumentation Award valued at $192,844. The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Cho the grant for his research to construct a state-of-the-art supply chain test bed in the SIUE School of Engineering.

Cho has teamed with engineering professors Felix Lee, Kevin Hubbard and Louis Youn to make the test bed experience worthwhile and to ensure it serves its purposes. The device will be used for education, research and service opportunities, and will provide students, faculty and experts with the hands-on resources needed to investigate and implement solutions to manufacturing and supply chain problems currently facing the industry. The test bed will also be used to operate a student-managed, University-wide company-presently called "Cougaroar"-that will sell items through the SIUE Bookstore as a primary retailer.

In summer 2010, Cho also submitted an NSF CAREER proposal on biomechanics for substantial funding for five years. CAREER funding promotes research early in the careers of junior faculty members. Cho is awaiting the outcome of this pending proposal.

Recently, Cho along with surgeons at the School of Medicine at Washington University in Saint Louis submitted another project proposal to Intuitive Surgical Inc., the manufacturers of the surgical robot, for research focusing on ergonomic analysis of robotic surgery. Cho is expecting to learn soon, if he received the grant.

SIUE School of Engineering Graduate Stands Out And Wins

Each school year, many are nominated, but only one is chosen. Reza Baghaei, an engineering teaching assistant, is that one this year. Baghaei claimed the SIUE's 2010-2011 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. His award included a framed certificate and monetary gift presented to him at the Graduate School Honors Day Luncheon on Oct. 27.

A graduate student in the engineering science doctoral program, Baghaei teaches thermal science laboratory (ME410L) to undergraduate seniors in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He credits this honor to nominations from SIUE School of Engineering administration and professors in addition to his passion for sharing knowledge.

"I have always had a desire for teaching. My ultimate goal is to become a university professor and share what I have learned and what I am learning," Baghaei said. "I feel like all the effort I put into teaching thermal science laboratory has been noticed, and it certainly encourages me to further enrich my teaching skills. SIUE is a great place to do research and gain teaching experience simultaneously."

Majid Molki, professor of mechanical engineering and Baghaei's faculty advisor, was equally enthused about his mentee's recognition. Molki said, "I kept hearing good things from our undergraduate students about Reza's teaching, which makes me proud of him. His dedication to quality work is commendable. He truly deserves this recognition."

Professor Of International Security To Visit SIUE Campus

Luis Bitencourt-Emilio, professor of international security at Washington's Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, will visit the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus from noon-2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4.

Bitencourt-Emilio has served as dean of the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, as well as taught at Georgetown University and the Catholic University of Brasilia. He also directed Brazilian programs at the Smithsonian's Woodrow Wilson Center. For several years he was a senior advisor to the Brazilian government on strategic planning, international security, public administration, intelligence and more.

Bitencourt-Emilio earned masters' degrees from the University of Brasilia and Catholic University. He also earned a Ph.D. from Catholic University.

Nov. 16 Jazz Concert To Feature Big Band Music

Big Band music will be featured at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Music's Annual Fall Big Band Jazz Concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, in the theater of SIUE's Katherine Dunham Hall. The evening will feature the SIUE Concert Jazz Band conducted by Brett Stamps, director of SIUE's Jazz Studies Program, and the SIUE Jazz Lab Band, directed by Nick Jost, a Jazz Studies graduate student.

A big band tribute, the evening will showcase talented SIUE students with arrangements from the Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis and Clayton Hamilton big bands. The concert also will feature a premiere performance of Mike Dee's arrangement of Kenny Garrett's Sing a Song of Songs, with the vocal stylings of SIUE students Zelina Bott-Goins, Nicole Jonas and Barry Moton.

Admission to the Nov. 16 concert at SIUE is $10; senior citizens and those 18 and younger, $7. SIUE students with a valid Cougar ID will be admitted free, compliments of Arts-For-All, a program sponsored by the SIUE Office of Student Affairs. For tickets, call the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774.