February 2003
February 3, 2003
Former Surgeon General David Satcher to Speak on SIUE's 'Arts & Issues' Series Feb. 11
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) - Physician, scholar, and lifelong public health advocate, David Satcher speaks on "Politics, Opinions and Public Health: The Parting Words of a Surgeon General" on Tuesday, Feb. 11, as part of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Arts & Issues series. The 7:30 p.m. lecture will be held in the Meridian Ballroom of SIUE's Morris University Center.
"Dr. Satcher has been praised for the courage he has shown in tackling the health issues of our time," said John Peecher, assistant director of development for the College of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of the Arts & Issues series. "The observations he will offer here at the University are based on his experience as the 16th surgeon general of the United States under the Clinton administration."
Satcher was sworn in as surgeon general in February 1998. He also served as assistant secretary for health and human services from February 1998 to January 2001, making him only the second person in history to have held both positions of surgeon general and assistant secretary of health simultaneously.
This past fall Satcher was named director of the New Center for Primary Care at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga. Prior to that, he served as a Senior Visiting Fellow with the Kaiser Family Foundation, spending time reflecting and writing about his experiences in government.
From 1993 to 1998, he served as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Before that, he was president of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., from 1982 to 1993.
He was also professor and chairman of the Department of Community Medicine and Family Practice at Morehouse School of Medicine from 1979 to 1982, and he was on the faculty of the UCLA School of Medicine and Public Health and the King-Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he developed and chaired the King-Drew Department of Family Medicine. From 1977 to 1979, he served as the interim dean of the Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School. He also directed the King-Drew Sickle Cell Research Center for six years.
As surgeon general and assistant secretary for health, Satcher led the department's efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health, an initiative that was incorporated as one of the two major goals of Health People 2010, the nation's health agenda for the next ten years. He also released surgeon general's reports on tobacco and health; mental health, that was followed by supplements on children's mental health and culture; race and ethnicity; suicide prevention, that was followed by a national strategy to prevent suicide; oral health; sexual health and responsible sexual behavior; youth violence prevention; and obesity. A conference report on health disparities and mental retardation is forthcoming.
"We're very proud that Wendy Nehring, acting associate dean of SIUE's School of Nursing, was an invited and active participant in Dr. Satcher's conferences on health disparities and retardation," said Peecher.
Satcher is a former Robert Wood Johnson Clinical scholar and Macy faculty fellow. He is the recipient of nearly two dozen honorary degrees and numerous distinguished honors, including top awards from the National Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy for the Advancement of Science, and Ebony magazine. In 2000, he received the Didi Hirsch Erasing the Stigma Mental Health Leadership Award, and the National Association of Mental Illness Distinguished Service Award. In 1999, he received the Bennie Mays Trailblazer Award and the Jimmy and Roslyn Carter Award for humanitarian contributions to the health of humankind from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. In 1997, he received the New York Academy of Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award.
Satcher graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta in 1963 and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University in 1970 with election to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He did residence/fellowship training at h4 Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester, UCLA and King-Drew. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Preventive Medicine, and the American College of Physicians.
"Dr. Satcher has said that he would most like to be known as a surgeon general who listened to the American people and who responded with effective programs," Peecher said. "He continues to make it his mission to make health work for all groups in this nation."
Following Satcher's appearance on the 2002-2003 Arts & Issues series is Gloria Steinem - feminist, writer, and co-founder of Ms. magazine - who will address "What You've Always Wanted to Know About Feminism and Been Afraid to Ask" on March 19. The world-renowned Takacs Quartet come to SIUE on March 27, for an evening of Hayden and Beethoven, and Helen Thomas - a fixture of the White House pressroom for more than 40 years - concludes the season on April 8, offering her "Wit and Wisdom From the Front Row at the White House."
Tickets for David Satcher's appearance are $8. For ticket information, call 618/650-2626, or, from St. Louis toll-free, 888/328-5168, ext. 2626; visit the series' Web site at www.siue.edu/ARTS_ISSUES; or e-mail jpeeche@siue.edu. Admission includes free parking in the lots behind the Morris University Center or Katherine Dunham Hall.
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February 5, 2003
"SIUE, as a premier metropolitan university, will be recognized nationally for the excellence of its programs and development of professional and community leaders." -- SIUE's new vision statement
State of University Address: Chancellor Updates Campus On Progress Toward Achieving Strategic Plan
(EDWARDSVILLE) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor David Werner said the university continues to make strides toward a goal of being a "premier metropolitan university…the best of its kind" and laid out a plan for continued progress Wednesday in his sixth State of the University address.
The strategic plan was created last year by a group of more than 80 faculty, staff, students and community members. The committee took several months to create the plan and re-examine the mission, vision, values, and long-term goals of the university.
"Our vision is not to be just good," Werner said, "but to be 'premier.' We strive to be among the best, to set the standard for others to emulate. And, we can point to much evidence that we are premier, perhaps not yet in everything we do, but certainly in much of what we do."
The chancellor then outlined the plan based on seven long-term goals:
• Engaged students and capable graduates
• Innovative, high-quality programs
• Committed faculty and staff
• Harmonious campus climate
• Sound physical and financial assets
• Active community engagement
• Excellent reputation.
Werner pointed to enrollment growth, degrees awarded, h4 accreditation reviews, survey and anecdotal evidence of the effectiveness of faculty and staff, a positive campus atmosphere, construction projects, success of students, the natural beauty of the campus, and unique programs as evidence of SIUE's success.
"In summary," he said, "budget difficulties notwithstanding, the state of the university is good. But, we must have a strategy to move forward over the coming years."
The chancellor said the "first and foremost" task in moving forward is to integrate the vision and long-term goals into the university's planning process. He said the University Planning and Budget Council (UPBC) is in the process of integrating its budget recommendations with the university's seven long-term goals to "complete the strategic plan."
He added, "But, the integration of the vision and goals into the life of the university must go beyond the work of the UPBC. By the end of this year, each unit needs to have measures of how it is doing on each of the long-term goals that apply to it. And, based on what the (initial) data shows, each unit needs plans to move forward."
Werner named "serious discussion" of the meaning of student engagement data, making the School of Pharmacy a reality, enhancing campus communication, securing funding for renovations to the Science Building, and continuing to enhance SIUE's reputation as being among the actions that should be priorities in short- and long-term planning.
He concluded his presentation by encouraging everyone affiliated with the campus to continue the steady progress of the university.
"Over the last year, we have made steps, some large, others small, in moving SIUE to achieve its vision, in making Edwardsville synonymous with academic excellence, in making this a great place for students to live and learn," Werner said. "We will continue to move in steps, not giant leaps, just as those who came before us moved the university forward a day, a week, a month at a time.
"Let us resolve to continue our progress this academic year, continuing into 2003 proud of our accomplishments, confident of our future, and knowing that the fruit of our labor will be our ability to say again next fall 'Now is the best time ever to be a student at SIUE.'"
(The full text of Chancellor Werner's speech is available on line at www.siue.edu. Click on "From the Chancellor" then go to "State of the University, February 2003.")
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February 6, 2003
Take a vacation, Change Your Life At Adlerian Institute
(EDWARDSVILLE) A journey into Adlerian Psychology may not sound like an interesting family vacation, but if you're looking to learn some new approaches to communication and cooperation and would enjoy a few high-summer days in the cool climate of Canada, listen up.
"Our summer institute really is a transforming experience for professionals and families interested in developing a system of real cooperation and teamwork," said Eva Dreikurs Ferguson, professor of psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. "We have experts come from around the world to teach about organizational, social, self-improvement and relationship issues."
The International Committee for Adlerian Summer Schools and Institutes (ICASSI) was founded by Ferguson's father, Rudolf Dreikurs. The annual conference is held for two weeks in July and August in a different country every year. This year, it will be held July 27 through August 8 at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
ICASSI is dedicated to the teachings of Adler and Dreikurs. Adler, according to the institute that bears his name, "developed the first holistic theory of personality, psychopathology, and psychotherapy that was intimately connected to humanistic philosophy of living."
That's another way of saying that Adler taught an approach to psychology and emotional health centered on the concept that the human being is also a part of larger wholes or systems, such as the family, or community. He taught that a feeling of "human connectedness," and a willingness to develop oneself fully and contribute to the welfare of others, are the main criteria of mental health.
"We stress these concepts in all our teachings (at ICASSI)," Ferguson said. "We draw a wide range of students…families, business leaders, attorneys, employee relations professionals. It's a very exciting, interdisciplinary environment. We have participants from all over the world, helping make this an exciting and enriching experience."
Course topics include "Psychology in the workplace," "Sexuality and Couples Relationships," "Families in Crisis," and "Constructive Communication." There also are children and youth programs led by expert staff members.
"This program presents life-changing strategies," Ferguson said. "It is a unique opportunity to gain a new perspective on yourself and your family, your workplace, your community."
For more information, go to the ICASSI website: www.icassi.org.
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February 6, 2003
SIUE Jazz Studies Director To Present Concert At Sheldon Hall
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Music Professor Brett Stamps-a jazz trombonist, conductor, composer, arranger and noted jazz educator-will present a concert of his big band jazz arrangements at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, as part of the Sheldon's Notes From Home Concert Series.
The evening of music will feature the SIUE Concert Jazz Band, as well as SIUE Music Professor Rick Haydon (guitar), SIUE Associate Music Professor Reggie Thomas (piano), and SIUE adjunct faculty members Tom Kennedy, Andy Tichenor, Jason Swagler, Jim Martin, and Miles Vandiver, all with the SIUE Jazz Studies Program.
Stamps, who is head of the SIUE jazz program, will conduct his arrangements of jazz standards such as Sugar, My One and Only Love, Giant Steps, Emily, Oleo, Yes Or No, and I Mean You, as well as compositions by Thomas, Haydon, and Ray Kennedy.
Admission is $5. For more information, call the SIUE Department of Music, (618) 650-3900.
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February 10, 2003
'Auntie Anne's Pretzels' To Come To SIUE Morris University Center
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) - It won't be long before students, faculty, staff and visitors of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville find there's a new twist to the food offerings in the campus' Morris University Center (MUC). Auntie Anne's Pretzels is on its way!
"We've just signed a contract with Auntie Anne's, Inc., to bring their pretzel store to SIUE," said Mary Robinson, director of the Morris University Center. "When we asked students what they wanted to see in the renovation of the center, new food retail outlets were at the top of the list. That's why Starbucks is here, that's why Auntie Anne's Pretzels is coming."
Robinson said that if everything goes according to plans, the new pretzel store will open in mid-summer with a grand opening celebration to follow in the fall. Auntie Anne's will offer hand-rolled soft pretzels and Dutch ices from its location across from Union Station and Starbucks on the first floor of the MUC.
Anne Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels, got her first taste of entrepreneurship at the age of 12 when she baked cakes and pies for her family to sell at a farmer's market in Pennsylvania's Lancaster County. As an adult, Beiler ran a concession booth at a farmer's market selling everything from pizza to pretzels to help support her family. Eventually her hand-rolled pretzels became her most popular item, and soon Auntie Anne's Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels was born. The company now has stores nationwide in more than 600 locations in 42 states.
"In looking at potential food outlets, we wanted to be sure to offer a variety of options," said Robinson. "Auntie Anne's seemed to fit well into the mix of our expanded menu in the new Center Court, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Chik-Fil-A, the University Restaurant, and the new Casa Ortega Cantina that is scheduled to open by the spring of 2004 in Cougar Den." The Cantina will offer a variety of Mexican and Southwestern dishes.
The ongoing renovation of the Morris University Center is supported by a student fee increase that students approved through a referendum in 2000. Among the completed projects are new and brighter lighting throughout the building's main hallways, an expanded Union Station convenience store, new administrative offices, new offices for the Kimmel Leadership Center, a renovated and improved Meridian Ballroom, a new recreation center, a new copy center, and the aforementioned Starbucks and new Center Court. Work continues on the infrastructure of the building, as well as the creation of a computer lab, an improved conference center, and a renovated University Restaurant with outdoor dining.
The anticipated completion date for the Morris University Center renovations is Summer 2004.
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February 11, 2003
ICTM Mathematics Regional Contest At SIUE Feb. 22
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Some 300 students from 13 schools will compete at the regional level of the High School Mathematics Contest to be conducted at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Saturday, Feb. 22, according to coordinator Marilyn Hasty, an SIUE associate professor of Mathematics and Statistics.
Regionals will be conducted the same day throughout the state. Organized by the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) with financial support from CNA Insurance Companies, the statewide event will involve 250 schools at 21 regional sites.
Winners of the SIUE regional will advance to the state finals at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana on April 26. Skills to be tested include factoring logarithms, inequalities, logical reasoning, and creative analysis used in algebra through calculus.
Plaques and ribbons will be presented to individuals and schools with the best scores; an awards ceremony will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. at SIUE on the day of the competition.
The ICTM competition is open to any high school math teacher interested in observing, Hasty said. For more information, call (618) 650-2382.
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February 11, 2003
SIUE Small Business Development Center To Conduct Workshop
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Potential small-business owners can learn what it takes to become an entrepreneur by attending a Feb. 19 workshop sponsored by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Small Business Development Center.
The workshop, How To Start a Small Business, will be conducted twice at 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., as a brief overview of start-up basics. It is a required course for all "micro-loan" applicants and is highly recommended for any prospective new business owner. Participants will be able to ask questions about start-up concerns and learn how to develop a cash-management plan.
For more information, call the SIUE Small Business Development Center, (618) 650-2929 or (618) 650-2669.
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February 11, 2003
'Linkages' Program Celebrates Black History, Heritage Feb. 18
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club will offer its annual Black Heritage Symposium from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, in Room 0003 of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center, 411 E. Broadway, East St. Louis.
The free, family event-with its theme of Linkages: Black History & Black Literature-will feature a cross-gender, intergenerational cast of poets and writers-also known as the Soular Systems Ensemble-which includes Darlene Roy, John Haynes Jr., Evon Udoh, Sherman Fowler, Patricia Merritt, K. Curtis Lyle, Sheryl Johnson, Roscoe Crenshaw, Christienne Hinz, Bala Baptiste, Sandra English, Bruce Petty, Charlois Lumpkin, and Eugene B. Redmond, a professor of English Language and Literature at SIU Edwardsville.
The program is co-produced by the National Black Writers Conference (Center for Black Literature) of Medgar Evers College at City University of New York, in Brooklyn, NY. MEC is named for the civil rights leader who was murdered in the 1960s.
Many of the tributes will take the form of a kwansaba, a seven-line poem of seven words per-line, invented by the writers club in the mid-1990s. For information about Linkages, call (618) 650-3991.
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February 13, 2003
Board Approves Awarding Two Honorary Degrees At May 10 Commencement
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) A jazz legend and a world-renowned genetic biotechnologist will receive honorary degrees at the May 10 commencement at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, according to action taken today by the SIU Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting.
Recording artist John "Bucky" Pizzarelli, master of the seven-string guitar, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Music, and Roy Curtiss III, a professor of biology at Washington University in St. Louis, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science.
Pizzarelli, who has conducted workshops at SIUE for the university's Jazz Studies Program, has been an integral part of the music world for more than half a century. His career dates from 1943 when he was 17 and was asked to play guitar with the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra. During his career he has performed with the NBC Orchestra, toured with Benny Goodman, and performed with Goodman and Frank Sinatra at the White House. He also was featured on the late Charles Kuralt's CBS-TV Sunday Morning program in 1992.
In 1998, he played at the Carmichael Auditorium in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the opening of the Smithsonian Museum of American History exhibit, "Blue Guitars," with his son, John Pizzarelli Jr., a jazz recording artist in his own right.
Since the 1970s, Professor Curtiss and his research group have sought to define the biochemical bases and genetic controls by which bacterial pathogens cause tooth decay, gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, leprosy, pneumonia, and septicemia (blood-poisoning). Some of their groundbreaking research has been patented to develop commercial products that will prevent disease in animals and humans.
Curtiss discovered the development of plant-edible vaccines and holds three patents in this area. In 1997 he was named Missouri Inventor of the Year. Before joining the Washington University faculty, Curtiss was the Charles McCauley Professor of Microbiology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, where he established the Cystic Fibrosis Research Center.
In 1956, Curtiss earned a bachelor of science in agriculture from Cornell University and a doctorate in microbiology from the University of Chicago six years later. In 2001 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
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February 13, 2003
SIU Board Awards Bids For Outdoor Recreational Complex At SIUE
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees has awarded bids totaling more than $500,000 to four Southwestern Illinois contractors for construction of the first phase of an outdoor recreational complex at SIU Edwardsville. The action was taken at the board's regular monthly meeting.
The four contractors are: Hart Contracting Inc., Alton, $308,497 for general work; Electrico Inc., Columbia, $119,734.00 for electrical; France Mechanical, Edwardsville, $64,000 for plumbing; and GRP Mechanical Co., Bethalto, $12,404 for ventilation.
The complex will be located across Northwest Road from the SIUE Early Childhood Center on what is now referred to as the Intramural Fields. The first phase of the two-phase project will include re-grading of the property, and construction of a lighted softball field and an 1,800-square-foot support building. It will be funded through a combination of Campus Recreation and Student Welfare and Activity Fees (SWAF), as well as operating funds.
The complex would provide enhanced multi-purpose use for Campus Recreation's intramural, recreational, and club sports programs to accommodate needs expressed by a growing population of residential students at the university. The second phase of the project will include a second lighted field.
According to Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Narbeth Emmanuel, the complex will provide a quality environment for intramural sports. "There is a continuing demand for expanded outdoor intramural activities," Emmanuel said. "Since building the residence halls, we have seen a significant growth in the number of teams wanting to participate in intramural sports.
"The new outdoor complex addresses those needs, thereby enhancing the quality of campus life we provide our students."
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February 13, 2003
'Rutledge Memorial Electrical Engineering Scholarship' Established By Late Professor's Daughters
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) - As they grew up, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was a familiar place for Kathy Bretsch and her sister Carolyn Willmann. Their father, Robert Rutledge, joined the faculty of SIUE in 1962 as an instructor in the mathematics department, and the two sisters would often visit their father's office on campus.
Rutledge would go on to become a professor in the University's School of Engineering's electrical engineering department - becoming chair of that program in 1985 - and the two sisters themselves would become graduates of SIUE. The Rutledge family association with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville would be a long and happy one.
The association will continue now that Bretsch and Willmann have established the Dr. Robert B. Rutledge Memorial Electrical Engineering Scholarship Fund in memory of their late father.
"The Rutledge sisters have chosen a fitting tribute to their father, an instructor whose work was instrumental in creating one of the area's finest Schools of Engineering," said Sarah Hunt MacDougal, director of development for SIUE's School of Engineering. "We're most appreciative of their gift to establish this scholarship fund. While the school has many scholarship opportunities for its students, this is the first endowed scholarship intended to cover the full amount of a student's tuition."
With memorial gifts from friends, colleagues of their father, and family members, Bretsch and Willmann created the endowed scholarship, specifying that the award be given to a junior, senior or graduate student majoring in electrical engineering who has demonstrated academic merit in his or her chosen field of study. The sisters hope to increase the level of the endowment over time so that it will be able to cover housing costs in addition to tuition.
"In addition to the tribute to their father, this is a wonderful sign of support from our alumni," said MacDougal. Bretsch graduated from SIUE with a B.S. in mass communications, returning later to complete an MBA. Willmann also holds an MBA in addition to her undergraduate degree in accountancy, both from SIUE.
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February 17, 2003
The SIUE Black Theater Workshop Presents Joy And Pain
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Take a journey through the highs and lows, the ups and downs of relationships, all from an African-American perspective, as the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Black Theater Workshop, with its theme of Joy and Pain, takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Feb.27-28 and March 1, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2, all at the James F. Metcalf Theater.
The workshop features performances of scenes from August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Seven Guitars and Two Trains Running; Ron Milner's Checkmates; and Love Interrupted by SIUE student Joel P.E. King. The production also will feature poetry from the Harlem Renaissance, "fresh choregraphy," and music from the Urban Contemporary scene.
Admission is free; for more information, call the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774.
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February 24, 2003
SIUE Indian Student Association Offers India Night On March 8
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Indian Student Association (ISA) of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will present India Night 2003, the "premier event" on the ISA's annual calendar, at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 1, in Meridian Ballroom on the first floor of the Morris University Center.
The evening features a traditional Indian dinner, a classical dance by the Asha Prem Group, south Indian dance numbers, and the latest Hindi music and dance sequences from the Josh Group and Planet Josh. A traditional fashion show concludes the festivities by showcasing the clothing diversity of India.
Tickets are $12; SIUE students with a valid ID, $10, and may be purchased through Thursday, Feb. 27, at the SIUE Information Center on the first floor of the Morris Center. Tickets also are available on-line: www.sulekha.com/stlouis for $15. For more information, call Praveen Minumula, (618) 531-8579, or by e-mail: indianight03@yahoo.com.
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February 27, 2003
Women With A-'Peel' - The Guerrilla Girls Come to SIUE
'Masked Avengers' of Feminism Go Bananas Presenting A Theatrical History of Their Humorous Protests
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) - Audiences will be going "ape" as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's women's studies program celebrates Women's History Month with the outrageous 'masked avengers' of feminism, the Guerrilla Girls, on Tuesday, March 18, in the University's Dunham Hall theater.
"The Guerrilla Girls will present what they bill as a 'theatrical romp' through their history when they visit SIUE," said Martha Bailey, associate professor of political science and coordinator of the University's women's studies program. "They'll be arriving dressed in gorilla masks and throwing bananas to their audience before presenting a history of the group. The 'girls' will demonstrate how they get their ideas for using humor as a weapon to combat discrimination."
The Guerrilla Girls - a group of female artists, writers and performers - originated in 1985 as a response to an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The exhibit was a summary of the most significant contemporary art in the world featuring 169 artists. Only 13 of the artists in the exhibit were women.
The original protests were staged by women visual artists, but by the mid-90s the Guerrilla Girls had expanded to include not only visual artists, but also actors, playwrights, performance artists, costume designers and filmmakers. In 1996, some of the performing artists in the group formed a committee to discuss how they could address the lack of opportunities for women in film and theater. Because creating and displaying their infamous posters had become increasingly difficult for the Girls, and because plays and films were shown inside of theaters, the group decided to create satirical stickers they could paste inside toilet stalls to amuse and provoke an audience.
When the Guerrilla Girls voted in 2001 to split into three wings, the film and theater committee became "Guerrilla Girls on Tour," dedicated to bringing the spirit of feminism, activism and performance around the world. They packed their bags and went on tour with the piece they will be presenting at SIUE - "The Guerrilla Girls' Gig." The performance combines the didacticism of a slide lecture with the rhythms of vaudeville.
The Guerrilla Girls On Tour has 13 active members: Aphra Behn, Fanny Brice, Coco Chanel, Alice Childress, Hallie Flanagan, Lorraine Hansberry, Edith Head, Louisa Honor de Medina, Julia Philips, Diana Sands, Gertrude Stein, Sophie Treadwell and Anna May Wong. (The members eschew real names in favor of those of pioneering female artists.)
"The Guerrilla Girls Gig" at SIUE is free and open to the public; however seating is limited.
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February 27, 2003
SIUE 'Arts & Issues' to Present Gloria Steinem
Feminist to Speak Wednesday, March 19
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) - As a feminist, writer, and co-founder of Ms. magazine, Gloria Steinem has embodied the idea of equal rights for women. Her voice and her ideas have shaped the direction women are moving today. She will speak about "What You've Always Wanted to Know About Feminism and Been Afraid to Ask" as part of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Arts & Issues series at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, in the Meridian Ballroom of the Morris University Center.
"SIUE is celebrating 'Women's History Month' in March, and it seemed logical for Arts & Issues to present a prominent figure from the women's movement," said John Peecher, assistant director of development for the College of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of the Arts & Issues series. "When I spoke with women on campus, the name that always topped their list of who they would like to hear speak was Gloria Steinem. It is exciting to have one of America's leading feminist voices in the late 20th century - and today - coming to SIUE to speak."
Gloria Steinem was born on March 25, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio. After her parents' divorce, the young Steinem was left to care for both herself and her mother who suffered from chronic depression. Steinem won a scholarship to Smith College, from which she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude in 1956. Upon her graduation, she won a fellowship for two years of study in India at the Universities of Delhi and Calcutta.
While in India, Steinem became involved with the nonviolent protest movement, joining a group called the Radical Humanists to protest governmental policy in the bitterly divided southern region of India. She returned to the United States with a new awareness of social and political issues, especially those of wealth and poverty.
In 1960, Steinem began a career as a freelance writer and journalist in New York City. She earned both popular and critical notice with her 1963 article "I Was a Playboy Bunny," published in Show magazine. In that piece, Steinem recounted (often ironically) her three-week experience working undercover as a waitress in a New York Playboy Club and exposed the low wages and poor working conditions to which she and her fellow "bunnies" were subjected. By the mid-1960s, Steinem had published a number of pieces in some of the country's leading publications and garnered a good deal of respect from her colleagues and readers for her incisive and witty reporting about celebrities and political figures alike.
Steinem joined the founding staff of New York magazine as a contributing editor in 1968. She began writing a column for the magazine, "City Politic," in which she voiced her support for a number of liberal causes. Soon, Steinem had become much more overtly political in her writing, especially after she attended a 1968 meeting of the Redstockings, a New York-based feminist group. At that time, the rise in female participation in both the civil rights movement and the anti-Vietnam War movement had spurred a rebirth of the women's liberation movement, which had been dormant for some time. Steinem embraced the new wave of feminists in the late 1960s, and became arguably the most articulate and outspoken leader of their cause.
With Bella Abzug, Shirley Chisholm, and Betty Friedan, Steinem formed the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971 to encourage active female participation in the 1972 presidential election. Steinem herself was extremely active in the election that year, arguing for an abortion plank to be included in the Democratic platform and protesting the lack of non-white and female delegates at the party's national convention in Miami.
Ms. magazine, of which Steinem was the founding editor, first appeared as an insert in the December 1971 issue of New York. Its premiere issue in January 1972 sold out, and circulation soon reached 500,000. Steinem served as editor for the next 15 years, then as a columnist, and from 1988 she has been a consulting editor.
In 1983, Steinem published her first book, a collection of her articles and essays entitled Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions. Three years later, she published Marilyn, a biography of the screen icon Marilyn Monroe from a feminist perspective, which many saw as an appropriately sympathetic and feminist counterpoint to Norman Mailer's somewhat sensationalist 1973 biography of Monroe. Steinem's next book, Revolution from Within (1992), was a highly personal look at the way an individual's self-esteem affects and is impacted by society, and in 1994 she released a collection of essays, Moving Beyond Words.
In September 2000, Steinem was married for the first time, at the age of 66, to David Bale, a South African-born entrepreneur. The couple divides their time between New York and Bale's home base of Los Angeles.
Following Steinem's appearance on the 2002-2003 Arts & Issues series is the world-renowned 2003 Grammy Award-winning Takacs Quartet on March 27, for an evening of Hayden and Beethoven, and Helen Thomas - a fixture of the White House pressroom for more than 40 years - concludes the season on April 8, offering her "Wit and Wisdom From the Front Row at the White House."
Tickets for Gloria Steinem's appearance are $8. For ticket information, call 618/650-2626, or, from St. Louis toll-free, 888/328-5168, ext. 2626; visit the series' Web site at www.siue.edu/artsandissues/; or e-mail jpeeche@siue.edu. Admission includes free parking in the lots behind the Morris University Center or Katherine Dunham Hall.
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February 27, 2003
SIUE Master Of Social Work Program Receives Accreditation
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Master of Social Work Program has been awarded accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The Council is the national accrediting organization for social work educational programs in the United States.
Achievement of accreditation affirms the quality of SIUE's MSW program, said Professor Thomas Regulus, chair of the SIUE Department of Social Work. "The accreditation standards set by the CSWE indicates a level of quality program performance that is recognized nationwide by the higher education community."
Regulus pointed out that graduation from an accredited social work program is a requirement for licensing to practice social work in many states including Illinois and Missouri. "The university's MSW program, implemented in 1997, serves students in both states," Regulus said, "but primarily in the St. Louis and Southwestern Illinois region.
"The Department of Social Work's MSW program sees its active presence in the Southwestern Illinois region as a force for social change and for the development of greater social and economic justice among the region's diverse population," Regulus said. "Within this vision, the MSW program's mission is to preserve, promote, and achieve the social well being of all individuals, families, groups, and communities through the education of competent and ethical advanced social work practitioners.
"Our mission includes strengthening the profession of social work and supporting the social and economic development of Southwestern Illinois through scholarship and public service."
Regulus said approximately 150 social workers have graduated from the program over the past five years. The Metro-East Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and many social work practitioners and agencies in the Metro East and St. Louis area have been supporters of and instrumental in the development and growth of the program."
The program currently prepares students for practice with children and families, and in health, mental health, and disability services. A school social work certification program is expected to be added to the curriculum in the next academic year. For more information about enrollment in the MSW program, call the SIUE Department of Social Work, (618) 650-5758.
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February 27, 2003
SIUE Choir Director Is "Renaissance Man" To His Students
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) If someone suggested that Joel Knapp is a Renaissance man, he would politely brush the comment aside, but he might point out he's the conductor who has taken the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Concert Choir twice to the Renaissance Fair in Kansas City.
He's also the SIUE choir director who started the university's Madrigal Dinner, featuring choir students singing madrigals during the holidays. The annual dinner has caught the attention of Edwardsville-Glen Carbon residents who have flocked to the event two years in a row.
"When I took over the choral program at SIUE four years ago, I had three men in the choir," Knapp said. "Now, there are 45, which provides a much better balance in the sound."
Knapp acknowledges the work of his predecessor, now-Emeritus Music Professor Leonard Van Camp, who built the program into a powerhouse over three decades. Knapp said he has been working to continue that tradition. Van Camp started the program at SIUE in the early 1960s and during his tenure took the choirs around the world, performing in concerts and competitions.
But, in the years before Van Camp's retirement, recruiting became a problem. "It's been tough, but I've tried to turn that around, but with tight budgets, it's not easy to offer many scholarships," Knapp said. "I'd like to see us build another h4 tradition such as Leonard created in the 1980s."
Knapp must be doing something right. The Concert Choir recently won a statewide competition among high school and college choirs to sing at the annual Illinois Music Educators Association Conference in Peoria, a prestigious achievement. "It was a blind audition," Knapp said, "in that participants sent a recording and the judges decided who would perform without knowing who was auditioning.
"Four choirs were selected from more than 50 and we were the only college choir chosen. I was proud of the choir's achievement and it was a thrill to stand in front of them at the concert. They were singing for many important music teachers in the state. It was intimidating but they did a great job."
But the choirs aren't all about competitions. "In addition to the Madrigal Dinner, we also sing an early fall concert, a Christmas concert, a major works concert with the SIUE orchestra in late spring, and a Broadway concert in late winter. "And, recently we had a chance to sing before an Eventide service at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis. We sang with that incredible pipe organ at the cathedral and it was very exciting for the students."
As an educator, Knapp must balance the music curriculum with the performance time. "It's part of my educational plan to perform major works from all the musical eras in a two-year rotation. "And, I have to plan programs that are appealing to audiences in addition to being educational for the students."
Knapp continues to conduct the Community Choral Society, a group of about 100 singers from the surrounding communities that was begun by Van Camp. "It's an outreach group and it also allows the Concert Choir and the University Singers to perform with a larger group.
"And, we provide a creative outlet for the community," Knapp pointed out, "because once you've sung in a mixed choir, it gets in your blood. If you don't have opportunities to sing later, it takes away a big chunk of your spirit."
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February 27, 2003
SIUE International Trade Center To Conduct Roundtable Series
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The International Trade Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Illinois Trade Office, and United Parcel Service will begin a forum in March for exchanging ideas and experiences on international trade through roundtable discussion.
The Business Roundtable Series will provide a forum for regional firms and foreign market experts to conduct in-depth discussions about specific market opportunities. Attendees will also participate in videoconferencing sessions. The first program is set from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, in Room 3307 of SIUE's Founders Hall. The topic will be "Business Opportunities in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean Region".
This discussion will include a live videoconference with trade specialists from the U.S. Commercial Service in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, followed by a roundtable discussion with representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Illinois Trade Office to address important issues regarding the region.
Space is limited; early registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, call the SIUE International Trade Center, (618) 650-2452.
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February 27, 2003
SIUE Hockey Club Team Wins MACHA Division II Championship
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougar Hockey Club won the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Division II Silver Tier Championship after defeating powerhouse Robert Morris College recently at the East Alton Ice Arena.
It was the same matchup that left the Cougars in defeat during the 2001-02 championships, which led many to worry about "déjà vu all over again" this year, said Coach Larry Thatcher. "From 'worst to first' in a period of six years is quite a feat from any organization," Thatcher said. "This accomplishment is testament to the character and dedication of the players involved."
Thatcher praised the student-athletes who worked hard to build the club since its inception at SIUE in 1996 and then moved on after graduation. He also praised later members for believing in the program even after it had languished for a season, working to re-establish the team for the 1998-99 season.
"These were some character guys who had a tremendous impact on the formation and the success of this club," he said. "I'm happy that the freshmen players were able to get to know the seniors who were leaving, because they were able to experience the veteran presence in the locker room."
Although the team had a losing return season in 2000-01, the players battled back to go to the championships the following season. "The 2001-02 season was a turn around year for the club," Thatcher said. "Building on the foundation set in place the two previous seasons, new players began to arrive and the team got back on track and went 18-9-1 for the year. They finished first but came up short in the championships against Robert Morse College. Beating them to win the championship this year made it that much sweeter."
A ceremony to recognize the hockey Cougars is set for 12:15 p.m. Thursday, March 6, in the Goshen Lounge of the Morris University Center.
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February 27, 2003
SIUE & St. Louis Blues to Score Books for Kids
Fans to Have Chance To Win Team Signed Jersey
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the St. Louis Blues Hockey team have joined forces to promote literacy throughout the Metro East. On Saturday, March 22, SIUE's "Book In Every Home" early childhood literacy campaign will collect new book donations and cash for the purchase of new books at the Savvis Center during the Blues hockey game.
"We're absolutely thrilled to embark upon this partnership with the St. Louis Blues hockey team," said Kay Werner, SIUE "Book In Every Home" chairperson. "Rather than 'bleeding blue,' as the Blues' slogan suggests, we hope that many six-week to five-year-olds in the Metro-East will be 'reading blue' after our campaign!"
About 60 "Book In Every Home" volunteers will collect new books and cash donations beginning at 1 p.m. at the Savvis Center entrances as the Blues face their rivals, the Detroit Red Wings, on March 22. The game will begin at 2 p.m. and collections for the books will end after the first period. Each person who donates a new book or cash will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win an official team-signed St. Louis Blues jersey. The winner will be announced that day during the final period of the game.
"Our ultimate goal is to generate excitement about literacy and reading to young children," added Werner. "This partnership with the St. Louis Blues and others in the community reinforces the importance of helping young children develop a passion for reading that will last a lifetime. Think back and remember the pure excitement surrounding a moment in your childhood when you received a new book. We are recreating this feeling for thousands of children in Illinois, many of whom are at-risk."
In addition to the effort with the St. Louis Blues, SIUE's "Book In Every Home" campaign works hand-in-hand with the St. Louis Rams Foundation to promote literacy in the Metro-East. Jackie Joyner-Kersee is the honorary chairperson for the 2003 campaign.
The "Book In Every Home" campaign officially kicked-off in January and will run through March. Book collection points for the campaign include the SIUE Bookstore, the centers of SIUE Early Childhood, SIUE Head Start and Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, and more. A complete listing of book drop-off points and additional information is available at the campaign's website, www.siue.edu/BOOKS.
SIUE's "Book In Every Home" campaign began in 1998, and now distributes more than 3,000 books each year to local Head Start and early childhood programs in the Illinois counties of Madison and St. Clair, including SIUE Head Start, SIUE Early Childhood and Riverbend Head Start & Family Services.
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February 11, 2003
Chancellor Maps New Strategic Plan In State Of SIUE Address
Chancellor David Werner said the university continues to make strides toward a goal of being a "premier metropolitan university…the best of its kind" and laid out a plan for continued progress, in his sixth State of the University address.
The strategic plan was created last year by a group of more than 80 faculty, staff, students and community members. The committee took several months to create the plan and re-examine the mission, vision, values, and long-term goals of the university.
"Our vision is not to be just good," Werner said, "but to be 'premier.' We strive to be among the best, to set the standard for others to emulate. And, we can point to much evidence that we are premier, perhaps not yet in everything we do, but certainly in much of what we do."
The chancellor then outlined the plan based on seven long-term goals:
1. Engaged students and capable graduates
2. Innovative, high-quality programs
3. Committed faculty and staff
4. Harmonious campus climate
5. Sound physical and financial assets
6. Active community engagement
7. Excellent reputation.
Werner pointed to enrollment growth, degrees awarded, h4 accreditation reviews, survey and anecdotal evidence of the effectiveness of faculty and staff, a positive campus atmosphere, construction projects, success of students, the natural beauty of the campus, and unique programs as evidence of SIUE's success.
"In summary," he said, "budget difficulties notwithstanding, the state of the university is good. But, we must have a strategy to move forward over the coming years."
The chancellor said the "first and foremost" task in moving forward is to integrate the vision and long-term goals into the university's planning process. He said the University Planning and Budget Council (UPBC) is in the process of integrating its budget recommendations with the university's seven long-term goals to "complete the strategic plan."
He added, "But, the integration of the vision and goals into the life of the university must go beyond the work of the UPBC. By the end of this year, each unit needs to have measures of how it is doing on each of the long-term goals that apply to it. And, based on what the (initial) data shows, each unit needs plans to move forward."
Werner named "serious discussion" of the meaning of student engagement data, making the School of Pharmacy a reality, enhancing campus communication, securing funding for renovations to the Science Building, and continuing to enhance SIUE's reputation as being among the actions that should be priorities in short- and long-term planning.
He concluded his presentation by encouraging everyone affiliated with the campus to continue the steady progress of the university.
"Over the last year, we have made steps, some large, others small, in moving SIUE to achieve its vision, in making Edwardsville synonymous with academic excellence, in making this a great place for students to live and learn," Werner said. "We will continue to move in steps, not giant leaps, just as those who came before us moved the university forward a day, a week, a month at a time.
"Let us resolve to continue our progress this academic year, continuing into 2003 proud of our accomplishments, confident of our future, and knowing that the fruit of our labor will be our ability to say again next fall: 'Now is the best time ever to be a student at SIUE.' "
Click here for the full text of Chancellor Werner's speech.
Spring Enrollment Is Up Over Last Year's Tally
SIUE's spring 2003 enrollment is up by more than 500 students over last year's spring enrollment, reflecting the university's increased emphasis on retention.
Spring '03 enrollment stands at 12,161; spring '02 enrollment was 11,623. "Continuing undergraduate" students were up about 400 over last year. Continuing graduate students were up about 100.
"There is a h4er emphasis on retention campuswide," said Boyd Bradshaw, acting assistant vice chancellor for enrollment.
"From student life activities to additional emphasis on academic programs outside the classroom, we have instituted a range of activities designed to keep students engaged in their studies and the community."
SIUE's fall (2002) enrollment was 12,708, continuing an eight-year trend of enrollment growth. Fall enrollment was up about 2 percent over fall 2001.
Bradshaw said early projections for fall '03 are "looking good" for an increase roughly equal to or slightly better than fall '02. He said the admission application deadline for freshmen entering fall '03 is May 31; for all other undergraduate students, the deadline is Aug. 4.
Graduate students should submit applications no later than July 25. Additional information about applying for admission to SIUE is available online at www.admis.siue.edu.
Fuller's SIUE Dome Now Has 'Friends' To Care For It
R. Buckminster Fuller was quite a thinker by most accounts, a visionary to many who advocated the environmental global village idea long before anyone else really could grasp the concept.
His structure-The SIUE Religious Center-embodies the "Spaceship Earth" concept that Fuller espoused-that we are a global family and Earth is our vehicle that must be maintained. It's distinct geodesic design has always been a conversation piece for campus visitors.
But, after 30-plus years, the center itself needs some major repair and the Friends of the Religious Center (FRC) support group is being created to facilitate matters. The FRC is made up of about a dozen members of the university community and the surrounding community at-large, including the three ministerial directors headquartered at the center. They all share an interest in the structure as an architectural treasure.
"Many people may not know it, but the Religious Center structure is not a university-owned building," says Greg Fields, an associate professor of Philosophical Studies at SIUE and chair of the Friends group. "It was built with private money and opened in 1971 to serve the spiritual needs of the students.
"The Center is dedicated to keep religious faith and experience in dialogue with higher education," Fields said, "and to enriching the spiritual lives of students, faculty, and staff, as well as residents of the surrounding communities.
"The building has been maintained through the years by the University Religious Council, a private group, which in turn leases the land on which the center stands from SIUE," Fields said. "However, because of dwindling resources, the council has had more trouble in the past few years attaining funds to keep the building in repair. So, some concerned members of the community have banded together to form the FRC and help raise money for the building," Fields said.
Fields said the group is planning fund-raising events and hopes to attract attention to others who are concerned with preserving local architecture. The FRC is hosting A Celebration of World Faiths, from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at the Religious Center. Spiritual leaders and groups from several traditions will share music, scripture, prayer, and information about their faiths. The goal is an evening of learning and fellowship, and an opportunity to cultivate more Friends of the Religious Center. This is a free event, with donations accepted. Refreshments with ethnic themes will be available, and all are welcome.
"This building was designed by Buck Fuller when he was a member of the faculty at both Edwardsville and Carbondale," Fields pointed out. "Not only is this a unique piece of architectural wonder, but also an integral part of the history of this university."
Most of the money raised by the URC through the years has helped maintain the building on a daily basis; however, a capital campaign is needed for more extensive projects, such as major roof repair and replacement of the heating and cooling system,as well as landscaping to deter flooding.
The FRC also is concerned with raising funds to help with programming at the center. "The FRC is interested in expanding the resources of the university's new minor program in Religious Studies, a subject, Fields says, "that is important for both religiously inclined students, and for those who are not, as a means to understand religion as a major force in the history and future of the world."
Nomination Forms Are Available For Kimmel Award, Kimmel Scholarship
Nomination applications for the SIUE Carol Kimmel Scholarship and Community Service Award for Faculty and Staff are now available in the Kimmel Leadership Center on campus. Deadline for the nominations is Friday, Feb. 28.
The annual service award and scholarship were established to recognize students for outstanding leadership and community volunteer service contributions, as well as for academic excellence, and for faculty and staff who are community volunteers.
The awards were named for Carol Kimmel, a former member of the SIU Board of Trustees, who has been very active in dedicating her time and talent to volunteerism. The awards are co-sponsored by the Belleville News-Democrat.
For the scholarship, individuals may nominate a student, or students may nominate themselves, according to the following criteria:
• currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student at SIUE, with sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate standing;
• an accumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale);
• demonstrated volunteer contributions within the last two years in leadership, service, and/or citizenship, including leadership in a student organization or at least one elected office;
• and more than 30 hours of nonpaid service to a community agency or community organization.
In addition, a nominee must provide two letters of documented university service and leadership, as well as two letters documenting community service and leadership. In order for a student to be considered for a second Kimmel Scholarship, documentation submitted for previous Kimmel Scholarships will not be reconsidered.
The scholarship provides one full year of tuition at the SIUE in-state rate.
For the community service award, the following criteria apply:
• Organizations, agencies, businesses, or individuals, including colleagues, may nominate those who they have known through professional association for at least two years;
• who have been a full-time, continuing employee of SIUE for at least two years;
• who have demonstrated continuous service to a single community agency, organization, or business for at least two years.
• who have demonstrated a variety of community service contributions for an extended period of time; and
• who have demonstrated outstanding voluntary community service, as well as a commitment to the citizens of Illinois or Missouri.
Nominees must document leadership roles and responsibilities, and provide two letters of recommendation. Prior recipients are ineligible to apply. Only community service unrelated to a nominee's job duties will be considered. Posthumous nominations will be considered if the nominee died during the past 12 months. Past recipients are not eligible to re-apply.
Winners will be recognized Thursday, April 3, at the Kimmel Leadership Awards Banquet. For more information about nomination procedures or for a nomination-application form, call the Kimmel Center, (618) 650-2686, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2686.
Quincy, UMSL Up Next For Cougars
Although it is in the midst of a nine-game losing streak, the SIUE men's basketball team is still striving to get better.
"We are taking each practice and each day one at a time," said Coach Marty Simmons. "We have done some things better but just not enough to win games."
The Cougars, 7-16 overall and 3-13 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, travel to Quincy Thursday (2/20) and Missouri-St. Louis Saturday (2/22) for two important GLVC contests.
Quincy (11-13, 5-12 GLVC) enters Thursday's match up on a three-game losing skid. It edged the Cougars 72-65 earlier this year at the Vadalabene Center.
"Quincy has a lot of weapons," Simmons said. "They are big, physical and quick."
The Hawks are led in scoring by Cory Cummens' 13.1 points per game. As a team, they average 9.58 steals a game, which ranks them atop the GLVC. Missouri-St. Louis (5-18, 2-15 GLVC) has struggled through a 12-game losing streak. Despite ranking last in the GLVC standings, the Rivermen are second in the league in scoring defense, allowing an average of 69.0 points per game.
"UMSL can guard as good as anyone in the league," Simmons said. SIUE defeated Missouri-St. Louis 61-51 earlier this season at the Vadalabene Center.
SIUE is led in scoring by Ron Jones (Kankakee). The junior leads the team with 15.9 points per game and his 46.9 percent three-point field goal percentage ranks him in the top 10 in the country. "He has done outstanding for us this year," Simmons said of Jones. "He was asked to add to his game. His efforts create more offense for us." Jones needs seven more three-point field goals to break Garrett Thomas' SIUE record of 73 three-point field goals made in a season.
Cougars Look To Avenge Quincy, UMSL Losses
The streaking SIUE women's basketball team will travel to Quincy for a Thursday matchup (2/20) and Missouri-St. Louis for a Saturday (2/22) contest.
The Cougars, 13-10 overall and 9-7 in the GLVC, have won seven of its last nine games. They swept a road series last week against Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis. "We played hard last weekend at two tough places to play," Coach Wendy Hedberg said. "Both wins were just a great team effort."
SIUE will try to continue its hot streak against Quincy (19-5, 13-4 GLVC). The Lady Hawks defeated the Cougars 68-56 earlier this season at the Vadalabene Center. "The game against Quincy earlier this season was back-and-forth most of the game," Hedberg said. "If we minimize our mistakes and keep playing good defense we'll be successful."
Missouri-St. Louis (9-13, 4-13 GLVC) also defeated the Cougars earlier this season at the Vadalabene Center. Ebonie Halliburton scored 33 points and hit clutch free throws in the final minutes to seal the victory for UMSL. "Halliburton is a dangerous shooter, and UMSL's inside play is tough," Hedberg said.
Ruth Kipping (Quincy) is second in the GLVC with 18.6 points per game. She trails Wisconsin-Parkside's Sammy Kromm who averages 19.3.
Liz DeShasier (Carrollton) scored a career-high 22 points in the Cougars' win against Lewis. Her scoring average has jumped to 9.1 points per game, just behind Jessica Robert's (Carlyle) 9.2 points per game.
Track Prepares For GLVC Championships
The SIUE men's and women's indoor track and field teams will begin preparation for the GLVC Indoor Championships, which will be held March 1 in Kenosha, Wis.
The Cougars are coming off the Saluki Open in Carbondale in which several athletes achieved personal records. "It was a good meet for us," Coach Darryl Frerker said. "It will make them more confident going into the conference meet."
Jennifer Jaquez (Aurora) finished fourth in the 400 meter dash in a time of 52.08 seconds. On the men's side, Darren Dinkelman (Nashville) won the 800 meters with a time of 1:54.63 and Kevin Koller (Centralia) placed fourth in the 400 meters in a time of 49.66.
Mark Milleville (Altamont) won the weight throw with a toss of 58 feet-0.25 inches. The mark improved his chances of qualifying for the NCAA-II Championships from March 14-15 in Boston. Milleville finished third in the shot put, also an event in which he has provisionally qualified.
Cougars Travel To Central Missouri
The SIUE wrestling squad has one dual remaining before its Regional meet. It travels to Central Missouri State Tuesday (2/18) to take on the Mules in a 7 p.m. dual.
"Central Missouri is in our region," said Coach Booker Benford, "so this dual is important because we need to beat them to get a higher seed in the Regionals."
Benford indicated the team will once again be short-handed in a few weight classes, thus he will concentrate on individual victories instead of a team victory. "Just like the recent duals, this will be used as a fine-tuner for Regionals," Benford said. "Each guy is going to have to wrestle tough for seven minutes against Central, because they are a tough team to compete against."
Zach Stephens (St. Charles, Mo.) is currently third in the nation at 174 pounds. He has a record of 25-10 this season.
Results of Feb. 18 wrestling match.
Kipping Named GLVC Player Of The Week
Ruth Kipping (Quincy) has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week for the second consecutive week.
The senior scored 26 points in a win against 18th-ranked Northern Kentucky and had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds in a losing effort against 15th-ranked Indianapolis. In her past four games, Kipping has averaged more than 22 points per game.
"Ruth is a great offensive player," said Coach Wendy Hedberg. "She does well when she is double-teamed as well, whether she kicks the ball out to a teammate or tries to split the defense." Kipping leads the GLVC with 19.6 points per game.
Milleville Provisionally Qualifies In Shot Put
Mark Milleville (Altamont) has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in a second event.
Milleville, a sophomore, threw the shot put 16.35 meters (53 feet-7.75 inches) for a school record at the Titan Open in Bloomington. His throw does not guarantee a spot in the national indoor meet, set for Boston on March 14-15. He'll need to be among the top 12 when the final performance list is released in early March.
Milleville previously qualified on a provisional basis in the weight throw. "Mark has thrown equally well or better before," said SIUE Coach Darryl Frerker. "He'll have a couple of more meets to improve his spot on the performance list."
Freshman Steve Landers (Auburn) threw the shot put 15.10 meters this week and lost his school record to Milleville. "They are staring to hit their peak. Hopefully, they will carry it through to the national meet," said Frerker.
The SIUE men placed third at the Titan Open with 79 points behind junior colleges Rend Lake (93) and St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley (92).
Frerker said he expects at least three others to be close or break provisional qualifying this week.
Many of the top SIUE runners will head to the Canon IV Classic in Indianapolis. Meanwhile, most of the throwers will head south to Carbondale for the Saluki Open.
Frerker said he expects Richard Skirball (Granite City) to earn a spot in the 800-meter run at the indoor nationals just like last season. Skirball did not run the 800-meter event this week but still has two more meets in which to qualify.
Kevin Koller (Centralia) and Jeff Fearday (Teutopolis) also are among those who are nearing NCAA qualifying marks.
Frerker said the SIUE women also have a couple of student-athletes on the verge of qualifying for the national indoor meet.
Jennifer Jaquez (Aurora) and Breanne Steffens (Moline) look to qualify in the 400-meter dash and the mile, respectively.
The SIUE women placed seventh at the Titan Open with 32 points. Host Illinois Wesleyan won the meet with 102 points.
Cougars Begin Four-Game Road Swing
With six games left in the regular season, every game will be important for the SIUE women's basketball team as it travels to Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis this weekend for two Great Lakes Valley Conference games.
SIUE has won five of its last seven games and has jumped into fifth place in the conference standings. The Cougars hold an overall record of 11-10 and a 7-7 mark in the GLVC.
The Cougars face Wisconsin-Parkside Thursday (2/13) for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. SIUE defeated the Rangers 65-59 in overtime earlier this season at the Vadalabene Center. "Wisconsin-Parkside played tough on our court," said Coach Wendy Hedberg. "I have no doubt it will be just as tough on their home floor."
Sammy Kromm leads the team and is second in the GLVC with 19.4 points per game. The Rangers (10-11, 6-8 GLVC) are coming off a 25-point win against Saint Joseph's.
The Cougars then travel to Lewis for an afternoon tip-off on Saturday (2/15). The Flyers (8-14, 4-11 GLVC) snapped their nine-game losing streak last Saturday (2/8) with a win over Saint Joseph's.
"Lewis had a big win over Saint Joseph's," Hedberg said. "The win lets them know they can still win games, and that will be fuel for the fire."
Liz DeShasier (Carrollton), one of two Cougars who have started every game this year, has contributed valuable minutes as of late. She is currently second on the team with 5.4 rebounds per game and third with 8.5 points per game.
Cougars Travel To UWP, Lewis
The SIUE men's basketball team will try to halt a seven-game losing streak this week when it travels to Wisconsin-Parkside for a Thursday (2/13) night matchup and Lewis for a Saturday (2/15) afternoon game.
The Cougars are currently 7-14 and 3-11 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. They are just behind Bellarmine and Saint Joseph's, both 4-11 in the GLVC, for the eighth spot in the conference standings. The top-eight teams qualify for the conference tournament in March.
Wisconsin-Parkside (11-10, 6-8 GLVC) is led in scoring by Quincy Moman's 16.6 points per game. Moman scored a game-high 21 points in the Rangers' 70-53 triumph over the Cougars earlier this season.
Lewis (18-4, 11-4 GLVC) is currently the 19th-ranked team in the nation and is on a three-game winning streak. Monta McGhee leads the team with 17.9 points per game. Lewis defeated the Cougars 74-64 earlier this season at the Vadalabene Center behind McGhee's 18 points per game.
Ron Jones (Kankakee) paces SIUE with 16.1 points per game. He also is ranked in the top-30 in the nation with a 45.5 percent three-point, field-goal percentage.
Ron Heflin (Gary, Ind.) and Justin Ward (Moline) average 12.4 and 12.1 points per game, respectively.
Tim Bauersachs (Pinckneyville) is the team's leading rebounder with 4.9 boards per game.
Cougars Travel To Face Truman State
The SIUE wrestling squad will travel to Truman State University Sunday (2/16) for a dual meet with the Bulldogs. The meet will begin at 2 p.m.
"Truman State is kind of in the same boat as us in the fact it is hard for them to fill their lineup," said Coach Booker Benford. "If our guys wrestle tough, and Truman State's lineup falls in our favor, I think this is a team we can beat."
SIUE is coming off a 47-3 defeat to Northern Illinois. Zach Stephens (St. Charles, Mo.) claimed the lone victory for the Cougars. Stephens is currently ranked third in the nation at 174 pounds.
After Sunday's dual, the Cougars only have one more meet before the NCAA Regionals on March 2. The NCAA Championships are set for March 14th and 15th.
Cougars Open Season At Principia Invitational
The SIUE men's tennis team will participate in its first competition of the season this weekend at the Principia Invitational.
The Cougars will compete against Truman State, Washington University and The Principia.
No team scores will be calculated. "This is mainly a warm-up tournament for the teams," said Coach Bill Logan. "We will use it as a preparatory tournament for our players."
Singles will be held Friday (2/14) with the doubles action taking place Saturday (2/15). "The team has been practicing really hard," Logan said. "We have had some really good practice sessions."
TRIO Programs Announce Science Fair Winners
Fourteen-year-old Jorrell Bonner of A.M. Jackson Academy in East St. Louis won the top ranking award at the East St. Louis Center's TRIO Programs 19th Annual Science Fair Competition. The contest was held Feb. 11 at the Gateway Center in Collinsville.
Jorrell won the Best of Fair award for his project, "Clap Your Hands If You're Happy With Your Weight." Jorrell also left the fair with four other awards: an Outstanding ribbon, a Scientific Impact plaque, an Originality plaque and a Regional Representative plaque.
Some other top winners at the science fair included SIUE's St. Joseph Head Start Center. The center won three plaques for Scientific Impact, Originality and Visual Display for its class project, "First Head Start Astronaut in Space." The SIUE Child Development Program won a plaque for Scientific Impact for its class project, "Leaf Prints."
Of the more than 600 projects that were displayed at the science fair, 45 received outstanding ribbons. A total of 10 students were selected to serve as regional representatives at the SIUE Regional Science Fair on March 21 and 22 on the Edwardsville campus. Regional winners will go to the State Expositions on May 9 and May 10 in Champaign.
The annual sponsor award went to Opal Crosby, science teacher at A.M. Jackson Academy, for the most projects selected to go to the regional competition.
The science fair was made possible by the following: the Illinois-American Water Co., the Greater East St. Louis Community Fund, Laidlaw, Solutia, Gillian Graphics, New York Cleaners, The Boeing Co., Shop N' Save, and Wal-Mart.
In other TRIO Program news:
The Belleville News Democrat recently named Aisha Franklin, a student in the Upward Bound Math and Science program, as the Scholar Athlete of the Year for Cross Country in St. Clair County.
Franklin, who has participated in Math and Science for four years, is ranked number five academically in her senior class at East St. Louis Senior High School. She will graduate in May and has been accepted for a scholarship at Tennessee State University at Nashville.
However, her mother Ronda Franklin says that offers from Howard University and Hampton are also being considered.
Some of her past athleticS accomplishments include: first place in the St. Clair County, Southwestern Conference and the Alton Class AA Regional cross-country meets; state honors at the 2002 State Finals; placed first in the Southwestern Conference class AA Regional cross-country meet; East St. Louis High School's record for three miles; athlete of the week for The St. Louis American and all metro girls cross-country award from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
lke McIntosh, assistant program director of Math and Science for the TRIO Programs at the East St. Louis Center, reports that three students who have been in Upward Bound have been accepted at the University of Illinois in Chicago.
The students are Armond Harold, Lorran Lewis and Jermya Harris. All three attend East St. Louis Senior High School and are ranked in the top 10 percent of their 2003 graduating class and have completed college preparatory courses.
Armond and Jermya have been Upward Bound students for four years. Lorran enrolled during her high school sophomore year. Each student believes that the Math and Science program has provided a rewarding experience, especially the summer component, that includes six weeks of instruction by SIUE faculty.
Armond and Lorran work after school at Walgreens pharmacy, while Jermya is employed at Taco Bell in Belleville. All three were active in the Junior Achievement program and have served in various high school activities. Armond wants to major in medical research. Lorran will focus on forensic science. Jermya plans to become a pediatrician.
As the probability of war intensifies in the Middle East, Deasha Gower, an Upward Bound Math and Science student, is facing possible activation of her unit, the Illinois National Guard Unit 634th Field Service Battalion station in Springfield, Ill.
Gower is a medical supply specialist with the 634th battalion. She expects to graduate in May from Lovejoy High School, where she has the highest grade point average. She has applied at Eastern Illinois University for the fall and plans to major in the medical studies.
"Upward Bound has helped me cope with life's ups and downs and hasprovided a certain amount of maturity," said Gower, a Brooklyn native. "The six weeks I attended summer camp and stayed in the dorms at Edwardsville allowed me to adjust and find out what it's like to be away from home. I don't think I could have served with the Guard if I didn't have the exposure with Upward Bound."
Lovejoy High School principal Catherine Calvert and counselor Sarah Rials both believe that Upward Bound has been a positive influence on Gower and has helped to build her self-esteem. Gower works as a tutor with Lovejoy grade school and serves as an usher at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Brooklyn.
"I hope our unit is not activated and there will be peace, but I will go if ordered to," she said.
Two World-Renowned Figures To Receive Honorary Degrees At Commencement
A jazz legend and a world-renowned genetic biotechnologist will receive honorary degrees at the May 10 commencement, according to action taken recently by the SIU Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting.
Recording artist John "Bucky" Pizzarelli, master of the seven-string guitar, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Music, and Roy Curtiss III, a professor of biology at Washington University in St. Louis, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science.
Pizzarelli, who has conducted workshops at SIUE for the university's Jazz Studies Program, has been an integral part of the music world for more than a half-century. His career dates from 1943 when he was 17 and was asked to play guitar with the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra.
During his career he has performed with the NBC Orchestra, toured with Benny Goodman, and performed with Goodman and Frank Sinatra at the White House. He also was featured on the late Charles Kuralt's CBS-TV Sunday Morning program in 1992. In 1998, he played at the Carmichael Auditorium in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the opening of the Smithsonian Museum of American History exhibit, "Blue Guitars," with his son, John Pizzarelli Jr., a jazz recording artist in his own right.
Since the 1970s, Professor Curtiss and his research group have sought to define the biochemical bases and genetic controls by which bacterial pathogens cause tooth decay, gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, leprosy, pneumonia, and septicemia (blood poisoning). Some of their groundbreaking research has been patented to develop commercial products that will prevent disease in animals and humans.
Curtiss discovered the development of plant-edible vaccines and holds three patents in this area. In 1997 he was named Missouri Inventor of the Year. Before joining the Washington University faculty, Curtiss was the Charles McCauley Professor of Microbiology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, where he established the Cystic Fibrosis Research Center.
In 1956, Curtiss earned a bachelor of science in agriculture from Cornell University and a doctorate in microbiology from the University of Chicago six years later. In 2001 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
Student Senate Approves FY05 Athletics Fee Increase
The SIUE Student Senate passed an $8.60 Intercollegiate Athletics fee increase for FY2005. The vote of 7-2, with one senator voting present, paves the way to increase the fee beginning July 1, 2004.
"I am extremely happy for the student-athletes and the athletics programs," said SIUE Athletics Director Brad Hewitt. "This increase will have a positive impact on the quality of the experiences for the students."
The increase is the third year of a four-year Campus Life Enhancement Plan. The increase places the athletics fee at $113 per semester. Hewitt said an increase of $8.70 also will be asked in FY06.
The first phase of the Campus Life Enhancement Plan began in FY03 with monies going toward enhancing scholarships for student-athletes. The second phase, which begins this July, provides for enhancements to all sports' recruiting budgets. "We're already seeing the positive results of the Campus Life Enhancement Plan, with the quality of the student-athletes and the retention of quality student-athletes," Hewitt said.
The latest increase slated for 2005 is expected to increase the athletics program budget by nearly $78,000. Numerous sports will see modest increases in operating budgets. Plans also call for the hiring of a full-time women's soccer coach and a boost to graduate assistants from nine-month contracts to 10-month contracts.
BOT Approves Bids For New Outdoor Sports Facility
The SIU Board of Trustees has awarded bids totaling more than $500,000 to four Southwestern Illinois contractors for construction of the first phase of an outdoor recreational complex at SIU Edwardsville. The action was taken at the board's regular monthly meeting earlier in February.
The four contractors are: Hart Contracting Inc., Alton, $308,497 for general work; Electrico Inc., Columbia, $119,734.00 for electrical; France Mechanical, Edwardsville, $64,000 for plumbing; and GRP Mechanical Co., Bethalto, $12,404 for ventilation.
The complex will be located across Northwest Road from the SIUE Early Childhood Center on what is now referred to as the Intramural Fields. The first phase of the two-phase project will include re-grading of the property, re-seeeding, and construction of a lighted softball field and an 1,800-square-foot support building. It will be funded through a combination of Campus Recreation and Student Welfare and Activity Fees (SWAF), as well as operating funds.
SIUE officials said construction of the first phase is expected by fall, but the field won't be open until fall 2004 so that the grass re-seeding will have one year of growth.
The complex would provide enhanced multi-purpose use for Campus Recreation's intramural, recreational, and club sports programs to accommodate needs expressed by a growing population of residential students at the university. The second phase of the project will include a second lighted field.
According to Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Narbeth Emmanuel, the complex will provide a quality environment for intramural sports. "There is a continuing demand for expanded outdoor intramural activities," Emmanuel said. "Since building the residence halls, we have seen a significant growth in the number of teams wanting to participate in intramural sports.
"The new outdoor complex addresses those needs, thereby enhancing the quality of campus life we provide our students."
Summer Institute In Canada Is An Adlerian Experience
A journey into Adlerian Psychology may not sound like an interesting family vacation, but if you're looking to learn some new approaches to communication and cooperation and would enjoy a few high-summer days in the cool climate of Canada, listen up.
"Our summer institute really is a transforming experience for professionals and families interested in developing a system of real cooperation and teamwork," said Eva Dreikurs Ferguson, professor of psychology at SIUE. "We have experts come from around the world to teach about organizational, social, self-improvement and relationship issues."
The International Committee for Adlerian Summer Schools and Institutes (ICASSI) was founded by Ferguson's father, Rudolf Dreikurs. The annual conference is held for two weeks in July and August in a different country every year. This year, it will be held July 27 through Aug. 8 at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
ICASSI is dedicated to the teachings of Adler and Dreikurs. Adler, according to the institute that bears his name, "developed the first holistic theory of personality, psychopathology, and psychotherapy that was intimately connected to humanistic philosophy of living."
That's another way of saying that Adler taught an approach to psychology and emotional health centered on the concept that the human being is also a part of larger wholes or systems, such as the family, or community. He taught that a feeling of "human connectedness," and a willingness to develop oneself fully and contribute to the welfare of others, are the main criteria of mental health.
"We stress these concepts in all our teachings (at ICASSI)," Ferguson said. "We draw a wide range of students … families, business leaders, attorneys, employee relations professionals. It's a very exciting, interdisciplinary environment. We have participants from all over the world, helping make this an exciting and enriching experience."
Course topics include "Psychology in the workplace," "Sexuality and Couples Relationships," "Families in Crisis," and "Constructive Communication." There also are children and youth programs led by expert staff members.
"This program presents life-changing strategies," Ferguson said. "It is a unique opportunity to gain a new perspective on yourself and your family, your workplace, your community."
For more information, go to the ICASSI website: www.icassi.org.
Auntie Anne's Pretzels Is On The Way ... To The MUC
It won't be long before students, faculty, staff and visitors of SIUE find there's a new twist to the food offerings in the Morris University Center (MUC).
Auntie Anne's Pretzels is on its way! "We've just signed a contract with Auntie Anne's Inc. to bring their pretzel store to SIUE," said Mary Robinson, director of the Morris University Center. "When we asked students what they wanted to see in the renovation of the center, new food retail outlets were at the top of the list.
"That's why Starbucks is here, that's why Auntie Anne's Pretzels is coming."
Robinson said that if everything goes according to plans, the new pretzel store will open in mid-summer with a grand opening celebration to follow in the fall. Auntie Anne's will offer hand-rolled soft pretzels and Dutch ices from its location across from Union Station and Starbucks on the first floor of the MUC.
Anne Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels, got her first taste of entrepreneurship at the age of 12 when she baked cakes and pies for her family to sell at a farmer's market in Pennsylvania's Lancaster County. As an adult, Beiler ran a concession booth at a farmer's market selling everything from pizza to pretzels to help support her family.
Eventually her hand-rolled pretzels became her most popular item, and soon Auntie Anne's Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels was born. The company now has stores nationwide in more than 600 locations in 42 states. "In looking at potential food outlets, we wanted to be sure to offer a variety of options," Robinson said. "Auntie Anne's seemed to fit well into the mix of our expanded menu in the new Center Court, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Chik-Fil-A, the University Restaurant, and the new Casa Ortega Cantina that is scheduled to open by the spring of 2004 in Cougar Den."
The ongoing renovation of the Morris University Center is supported by a student fee increase that students approved through a referendum in 2000. Among the completed projects are new and brighter lighting throughout the building's main hallways, an expanded Union Station convenience store, new administrative offices, new offices for the Kimmel Leadership Center, a renovated and improved Meridian Ballroom, a new recreation center, a new copy center, and the aforementioned Starbucks and new Center Court.
Work continues on the infrastructure of the building, as well as the creation of a computer lab, an improved conference center, and a renovated University Restaurant with outdoor dining.
The anticipated completion date for the Morris University Center renovations is Summer 2004.
Choir Director Continues Vocal Legacy At SIUE
If someone suggested that Joel Knapp is a Renaissance man, he would politely brush the comment aside, but he might point out he's the conductor who has taken the SIUE Concert Choir twice to the Renaissance Fair in Kansas City.
He's also the SIUE choir director who started the university's Madrigal Dinner, featuring choir students singing madrigals during the holidays in a Renaissance setting. The annual dinner has caught on with Edwardsville-Glen Carbon residents who have flocked to the event at Sunset Hills Country Club for four years in a row.
"When I took over the choral program at SIUE four years ago, I had three men in the choir," Knapp said. "Now, there are 45, which provides a much better balance in the sound."
Knapp acknowledges his predecessor's work for three decades in building the program at SIUE, and he has been working to continue that tradition. Professor Leonard Van Camp started the program at SIUE in the early 1960s and built it into a powerhouse, but in the years before his retirement, recruiting became a problem.
"It's been tough, but I've tried to turn that around. With tight budgets, it's not easy to offer many scholarships," Knapp said. "I'd like to see us build another h4 tradition such as Leonard created in the 1980s."
Knapp must be doing something right. The Concert Choir recently won a statewide competition among high school and college choirs to sing at the annual Illinois Music Educators Association Conference in Peoria, a prestigious achievement. "It was a blind audition," Knapp said, "in that participants sent a recording and the judges decided without knowing who was auditioning.
"Four choirs were selected from more than 50 and we were the only college choir chosen. I was proud of the choir's achievement and it was a thrill to stand in front of them at the concert. They were singing for many important music teachers in the state. It was intimidating but they did a great job."
But the choirs aren't all about competitions. "In addition to the Madrigal Dinner, we also sing an early fall concert, a Christmas concert, a major works concert with the SIUE orchestra in late spring, and a Broadway concert in late winter. "And, recently we had a chance to sing before an Eventide service at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis. We sang with that incredible pipe organ at the cathedral and it was very exciting for the students."
As an educator, Knapp must balance the music curriculum with what audiences want to hear. "It's part of my educational plan to perform major works from all the musical eras in a two-year rotation. And, I have to plan programs that are appealing to audiences in addition to being educational for the students."
Knapp continues to conduct the Community Choral Society, a group of about 100 singers from the surrounding communities that was begun by Professor Van Camp. "It's an outreach group and it also allows the Concert Choir and the University Singers to perform with a larger group.
"And, we provide a creative outlet for the community," Knapp pointed out. "Because once you've sung in a mixed choir, it gets in your blood. If you don't have opportunities to sing later, it takes away a big chunk of your spirit."
Stephens Qualifies For NCAA-II Nationals
SIUE senior Zach Stephens (St. Charles, Mo.) won the 174-pound division at this past weekend's NCAA Division II Midwest Wrestling Regionals, and has qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships from March 14-15 in Wheeling, W.V.
Stephens, currently ranked third in the nation at 174 pounds, won all three of his matches at the regional tournament. He defeated Jason Tapio of Central Oklahoma, the fourth-ranked wrestler at 174 pounds, 7-4 in the finals. "Zach wrestled tough," Coach Booker Benford said. "It's good that he's beating these good wrestlers by more than a point. He needs to keep up his intensity while he prepares for nationals."
Aaron Wiens (Cicero) was the only other Cougar to finish among the placewinners. His sixth-place finish at heavyweight, however, did not qualify him for the national tournament.
Cougars Face Bellarmine In GLVC Quarterfinals
The SIUE women's basketball team will face Bellarmine for the third time this season. The stakes will be raised for this game, however, as it is a quarterfinal contest at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
Game time is set for noon Wednesday (3/5) at Roberts Stadium in Evansville, Ind. Bellarmine (19-8) enters the game as the No. 4 seed. SIU Edwardsville (15-12) is the No. 5 seed.
Bellarmine took both games against SIUE in the regular season, including a 75-67 victory just last Saturday (3/1) at the Vadalabene Center. "In both games we've played against Bellarmine," said Coach Wendy Hedberg, "we dug ourselves a hole in the first half but came out and played well the second half.
"We are confident going into this game. If we give them 40 minutes of solid basketball I think we will be able to win."
Ruth Kipping (Quincy) leads the SIUE offense with an 18.6 scoring average. The Cougars also have been relying on the scoring of senior Liz DeShaiser (Carrollton), who has improved her scoring average to 9.2 points per game.
SIUE's three-prong backcourt has stepped up their play of late. Jessica Robert (Carlyle) is second on the team in scoring at 9.7 points per game. She also leads the team in assists with 126. GLVC Freshman of the Year candidate Amber Wisdom (Geneseo) has been steady at 7.9 points per game at the point guard position. Sarah Schweers (Chatham) leads the Cougars with 38 three-pointers.
For more on the GLVC Women's Basketball Tournament www.glvcsports.com.
Cougar Softball Escapes To Florida
After a handful of cancelled games and several practices in the Vadalabene Center, the SIUE softball team will have the opportunity to have some extended time oudoors.
The Cougars will travel to Florida for at least 16 games. Their spring break trip will take them to Saint Leo, Fla., for the Saint Leo Tournament, then to Orlando for the Rebel Spring Games.
"We're going down there to win," said Coach Sandy Montgomery. "We need to come out and play hard. We are playing some good teams."
The Cougars, ranked No. 11 nationally in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's NCAA Division II preseason poll, are the defending champions of the Saint Leo Tournament, and they posted a 7-2 record at last season's Rebel Spring Games.
The Cougars have had six games cancelled due to inclement weather this season.
Baseball Travels To Savannah, Ga.
The SIUE baseball team will travel to Kennesaw, Ga., for the 2003 Savannah Invitational. SIUE will play 10 games during its spring break trip, including three Great Lakes Valley Conference contests against Northern Kentucky.
"We play our first conference games, so this trip will be critical," said SIUE Coach Gary Collins.
The Cougars are currently 1-1 on the season after a win against Christian Brothers and a loss to North Alabama. They have had eight games cancelled due to weather.
The Cougars' home opener against Lincoln, originally scheduled for Tuesday (3/4), has been postponed due to unplayable field conditions.
Cougars End Season With Win Over Bellarmine
The SIUE men's basketball team ended its season on a positive note with an 84-76 win over Bellarmine on Saturday (3/1) at the Vadalabene Center.
SIUE, which finished 9-18 overall and 5-15 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, won two of its last three games.
The win against Bellarmine was the last home game for seniors Andy Gajewski (Nashville), Ben Garwitz (Springfield, Mo.) and Ron Helfin (Gary, Ind.). Heflin scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the game. Gajewski scored 10 points, including two crucial three-pointers. Garwitz was inactive due to an ankle injury.
For the season, junior Ron Jones (Kankakee) led the team in scoring, averaging 15.5 points per game. His 74 three-pointers broke the all-time single-season mark, previously 73 set in 2000-2001. Heflin was second on the team at 13.3 points per game, and freshman Justin Ward (Moline) averaged 12.2 points per game.
"We didn't reach some of our goals we set at the beginning of the year, especially the goal of making the conference tournament," said Coach Marty Simmons. "But looking back on this season, the team kept working hard and was very resilient. Winning two of our last three games will give us some momentum in the off-season. It will give us something to build on."
Men Third, Women Fourth At GLVC Indoor
The SIUE men's track and field finished third and the women finished fourth at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Indoor Championships, held this past weekend at Wisconsin-Parkside.
"The majority of the team had personal records," said Coach Darryl Frerker. "It was an outstanding conference meet for us."
The men finished third with 134 points, behind second-place Indianapolis (153) and champion Lewis (154.5). Five individuals earned All-Conference honors by finishing in the top two in their respective event. They were Jeff Fearday (Teutopolis) at 400 meters, Darren Dinkelman (Nashville) at 800 meters; Phil Freimuth (Effingham) in the high jump, Steve Landers (Auburn) in the shot put, and Mark Milleville (Altamont) in the weight throw and shot put. The Cougars' 4x200-meter relay team and their distance medley team both came in first.
On the women's side, two Cougars earned All-Conference honors: Jennifer Jaquez (Aurora) at 400 meters and 200 meter hurdles and Carrie Carducci (Powell, Ohio) at 3000 meters. The Cougars finished fourth with 79 points. Lewis also took home the women's championship.
"I was impressed with what we accomplished," Frerker said. "People stepped up to the plate and performed really well. Assistant Coaches David Astrauskas and Ben Beyers have done a fantastic job with this group, which is one of the reasons we had outstanding team performances from both teams."
GLVC Indoor Championships Up Next For Track
The SIUE men's and women's track and field teams travel to Kenosha, Wis., Saturday (3/1) for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Indoor Championships.
The meet will be the final chance for the athletes to attempt to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 14-15 in Boston.
"On the women's side, our goal is to see how many All-Conference performers we can have," said Coach Darryl Frerker. The top two finishers in each event earns All-Conference honors. "For the men, we'll see how close to the top we can get," Frerker said. "We have good individual performers in each area."
Mark Milleville (Altamont) has posted provisional qualifying marks in the shot put and the weight throw. Milleville will look to better his qualifying performances to ensure his spot at the NCAA meet.
Cougars Gear Up For NCAA Regionals
The SIUE wrestling team travels to Kirksville, Mo., Sunday (3/2) for the NCAA Midwest Regional.
"I hope this is where all our hard work and wrestling all the tough teams will pay off," Coach Booker Benford said.
Zach Stephens (St. Charles, Mo.) will look to defend his title in the 174-pound weight class. The top four finishers in each weight class will advance to the NCAA Wrestling Championships March 14-15 in West Liberty, W.V.
"Everyone should wrestle to their potential," Benford said. "Everyone has the ability to qualify." Stephens currently has a 27-10 record. Aaron Wiens (Cicero) has a 16-17 record as a heavyweight.
Senior Men Enter Final Homestand
Andy Gajewski (Nashville), Ben Garwitz (Springfield, Mo.) and Ron Heflin (Gary, Ind.) will be entering their final home games this week. SIUE plays host to Kentucky Wesleyan Thursday (2/27) at 7:30 p.m. and will finish its season Saturday (3/1) at 3 p.m. against Bellarmine.
"Our seniors have been great," said Coach Marty Simmons. "It's been a joy to coach them, and I appreciate the opportunity to be around them."
Gajewski, a three-year guard at SIUE, has started 17 games in his career. "Andy has superb attitude," Simmons said. "He always wants what is best for the team. He worries about the team more than himself."
Garwitz, who had his final season cut short due to an ankle injury, has started 34 games in his three-year career as a Cougar. "Ben has given us good minutes," Simmons said. "He'll be successful in whatever he does after college."
Heflin, the team's second-leading scorer this season at 13.0 points per game, has started 28 games for the Cougars in his two-year career. "Ron is a wonderful guy and has been playing well lately," Simmons said. "He has had a great career at SIUE."
SIUE, 8-17 and 4-14 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, snapped its 10-game losing streak in a 63-61 victory over Missouri-St. Louis last Saturday (2/22). The Cougars also are holding on to a slim chance of advancing to the GLVC Tournament. The Cougars must win their final two games and hope for some help around the conference.
Simmons said he has been pleased with his team's attitude heading into the final two games of the year. "I've been impressed with the resilience of this team," Simmons said. "When you lose like we have, it is always a worry of the coach to see how the team will respond. They have good attitudes and play hard."
Senior Women Enter Final Homestand
Liz DeShasier (Carrollton), Megan Grizzle (Salem) and Ruth Kipping (Quincy) enter the final homestand of their SIUE careers. The Cougars play Kentucky Wesleyan Thursday (2/27) evening and Bellarmine Saturday (3/1) afternoon.
DeShasier, a four-year player for the Cougars, is in the midst of her best season. She is averaging 9.3 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. "Liz is a leader on and off the court," said Coach Wendy Hedberg. "She just has a great love and passion for the game."
Grizzle, also a four-year player, has been a valuable asset for the Cougars during her career. "Megan gives us that added experience off the bench," Hedberg said. "She is capable of scoring any given night. She has been a solid contributor all four years."
Kipping, who has been with the Cougars two years after transferring from Michigan, has not only been the team's premier scorer, but the Great Lakes Valley Conference's as well. "Ruth is a very good offensive player and a h4 rebounder," Hedberg said. "She is the go-to player for us when we are down. She's just a great offensive weapon."
SIUE, 14-11 overall and 10-8 GLVC, used overtime to win at Kentucky Wesleyan earlier this year. Bellarmine defeated SIUE in Louisville, a game that also went into overtime. "Both games will be tough," Hedberg said. "Bellarmine is coming off a great game and Kentucky Wesleyan played us hard at their place."
The Cougars also are likely to play Bellarmine in the quarterfinal round of the GLVC Tournament beginning March 5 in Evansville, Ind. Bellarmine and SIUE are likely to be the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, respectively, when the brackets are announced on Saturday night.
Cougar Baseball Earns Split At North Alabama
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville baseball team finally got the chance to open its season this past weekend. The Cougars defeated Christian Brothers College 12-2 but fell to North Alabama 5-2.
SIUE was able to give its pitchers some work, as eight hurlers saw time on the mound in the two games. "As a group, our young guys pitched as good as our older guys," said Coach Gary Collins. "That is a good sign because I know our older guys will be fine."
In the two games, Kyle Jones (New Baden), Zach Wooley (Alton), Jeff Ebeler (Waterloo), and Jarrod Peters (Ellis Grove) all pitched without giving up a run. Craig Ohlau (Chester) and Jason Kessler (Mattoon) led the offense with .600 batting averages.
Next on the schedule for the Cougars will be a two-game series Saturday (3/1) and Sunday (3/2) at Missouri Southern in Joplin, Mo.
SIUE Softball Rained Out
For the second straight week, poor weather conditions forced the cancellation of SIUE's softball games. SIUE Coach Sandy Montgomery and her team are next scheduled to play at the Saint Leo Tournament in Florida on March 7-8.