February 1, 2000
Thank Those Lucky STARs
At SIUE, the STARs come out nearly every day. STARs (STudents Assisting in Recruiting) are on the front lines when it comes to meeting with prospective freshmen and their parents and families.
Dressed in Cougar Red, they conduct campus tours and answer myriad questions about SIUE and the region. The tours are offered through the Admission Counseling and Recruitment Office, Mondays through Saturdays. In addition to campus tours, the STARs also visit high schools, attend college fairs, assist admissions counselors, and participate in community outreach. And, it's all volunteer work.
"We have a group of dedicated students," says Tracy Nelson, an admissions counselor and coordinator of the STARs program, and a former member of the old Ambassadors organization when she was a student at SIUE. The Ambassadors were part of the university's Information Center but were not necessarily working closely with the Office of Admissions.
The STARs program, on the other hand, is coordinated through the Admissions and Recruitment office and is more a part of the office's mission. "It's difficult for students to give up their time, but these students, many of whom are at SIUE on scholarship, are very dedicated," Nelson said. "The program has grown from 15 to 40 students."
Tami Diorio of Champaign and Jenny Meyer of southwest Chicago are STARs and they believe the program has helped them become more involved in university life. "I like talking with prospective students," says Meyer, a senior studying speech language and pathology. "It makes me proud when I show them the campus and they react positively.
"And, in the four years I've been a part of STARs, we've all become closer," she said. "In addition to the tours, we also do service projects as a group, such as Christmas caroling for canned goods for the food pantry, nursing home visits, and walk-a-thons. We also participate in social events."
Diorio, a junior majoring in Business, says the spring reception with prospective students is one event she looks forward to within the STARs program. "All of us are able to get together but also it gives us an opportunity to show parents that college students can be nice and also professional. It helps allay any fears they might have about sending their child off to college," Diorio said. "It's also a source of pride to me when the following year I bump into some of those same kids who decided to attend SIUE. I feel like we make a difference in the recruiting effort."
Nelson echoes that sentiment. "Chancellor Werner mentioned the successful recruitment effort by Admissions in his state of the university address last fall and he gave a plug for the STARs program," she pointed out. "STARs can take some of the credit for increased enrollment. We find that prospective students really relate to STARs members."
Boyd Bradshaw, director of Admissions, agrees. "Once our admission counselors meet the students on the road, it is very important that the students perception of our University remain positive," Bradshaw said. "There is no one better than current SIUE students to convey this perception.
"Since my arrival here this past summer, it has been a wonderful experience working with the STARs," he said. "Several of our STARs correspond with students via e-mail and we have set up an interactive Web site to make sure STARs are answering a student's question.
"The Web site is http://www.admis.siue.edu/stars and has become a valuable tool in the University's recruitment efforts."
SIUE Homecoming 2000 Activities Slated February 3-5
Women's and Men's Basketball will help fuel the excitement for Homecoming 2000 from Thursday through Saturday. In addition to games against IUPU-Ft. Wayne on Thursday, Feb. 3, and against St. Joseph's College on Saturday, Feb. 5, activities include coronation of a Homecoming king and queen and the Homecoming Dance, as well as a pep rally and an alumni basketball game.
Here's a complete schedule of events:
• Wednesday-Thursday, Feb. 2-3, Homecoming King and Queen Voting, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Goshen Lounge.
• Thursday, Feb. 3, Pack the Gym, Women's and Men's Basketball plays host to IUPU-Ft. Wayne, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., respectively, Vadalabene Center; "Afterset" dance in the gymnasium follows men's game.
• Friday, Feb. 4, Pep Rally at Noon in Goshen Lounge; Talent/Variety Show, 9 p.m., Meridian Ballroom.
• Saturday, Feb. 5, SIUE Alumni Basketball Game (Men and Women), 11:30 a.m., Vadalabene Center; Homecoming Game: Women's and Men's Basketball play host to St. Joseph's College, 1 and 3 p.m., respectively, Vadalabene Center; during halftime of men's game, Homecoming King and Queen 2000 will be crowned and past SIUE Alumni Association presidents will be honored; SIUE Alumni reception, 5 p.m., Student Fitness Center; Homecoming Dance (informal), 9 p.m., Meridian Ballroom.
• Sunday, Feb. 6, Homecoming Brunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Morris Center Restaurant.
DONATION:
Thanks to a $100,000 contribution from TheBANK of Edwardsville, the School of Business recently dedicated a newly renovated classroom that is receiving rave reviews from faculty and students alike. TheBANK's generous gift resulted in the transformation of a "barn-like" classroom in Alumni Hall to a modernized, comfortable learning environment. Featuring theatrical-style seating for 100-plus students, stylish, contemporary furnishings, and a computer port for Internet access and large-screen projections, the room is already in high demand from School of Business instructors. The university and the School of Business welcomed representatives of TheBANK and guests to a dedication reception that officially opened the renovated space. Shown here during the ribbon-cutting are Dean Robert Carver, Chancellor David Werner, and Robert Wetzel, president of TheBANK. (SIUE Photo)
WINNERS:
Shown here are the winners of this year's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. awards. At left is Jorge Garcia of Glen Carbon, winner of the MLK Jr. Scholarship and Humanitarian Award, and S. LaVernn Wilson, director of the SIUE Early Childhood Center, winner of the MLK Jr. Faculty-Staff Humanitarian Award.
February Is Financial Aid Awareness Month, So Be Aware
It's good news and bad news-you're the parent of a student who's decided to go to college … but you've got to figure out how to pay for it.
Well, here's some good news: SIUE will offer a financial aid workshop, to help you get the aid process started, at 1 p.m. Saturday in Alumni Hall, Room 2401. It's free and open to everyone, not just parents and students who will attend SIUE. It will last about one hour.
"Many students already have chosen a school or are narrowing their choices," said Marian Smithson, SIUE's director of financial aid. "As these choices are being made, it's important that parents and students keep in mind that there is a process for obtaining aid. And that process needs to begin now."
Workshop participants should register in advance by calling 650-3880 and bring their 1999 W2s and 1999 tax forms (if completed). Presenters will briefly explain the aid process and then walk attendees through completion of the form, item by item.
February is Financial Aid/Admission Awareness Month (FAAM) in Illinois. Smithson, who is also Past National Chair of the Direct Loan Coalition, said that in addition to information available on SIUE's Web site (www.finaid.siue.edu), the FAFSA on the Web site (www.fafsa.ed.gov) also provides information on the financial aid application process.
"There is a popular misconception that college is not affordable, or barely affordable," she said. "SIUE has a commitment to accessibility for all, and provides a quality education at a very affordable price. Additionally, we, along with many other institutions across the state, are doing our best to help students and parents understand that aid is obtainable."
Arkansas Rep Returns Feb. 3-4 To Present Blues In The Night
The Arkansas Repertory Theatre returns to the Arts & Issues stage on Feb. 3 and 4 to perform the Tony-nominated Broadway hit, Blues in the Night, a celebration of such musical legends as Bessie Smith, Alberta Hunter, Duke Ellington, and many other American favorites.
To be presented both days at 7:30 p.m. in Katherine Dunham Hall, Blues in the Night is part of the 15th annual season for Arts & Issues, a series featuring quality entertainment and provocative presentations. The event is made possible by grants from the Heartland Arts Fund and the Illinois Arts Council.
Set in 1938 Chicago, the musical has been called a "hot, steamy celebration of survival, expressed through the soul-wrenching music that is the blues." It is an emotional journey "from the depths of despair to the heights of anxious love."
Arts & Issues Coordinator Richard Walker says the play is another example of the quality of presentation by the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. "The Arkansas Rep brought Smoke on the Mountain in 1997 and The Rainmaker in 1995 to Arts & Issues audiences and we are pleased to have them back," Walker said. "The Rep continues to garner national attention for its development of new plays and for its national touring productions.
Admission includes free parking in the lots behind the Morris University Center or Dunham Hall. For ticket information, call (618) 650-2626, or, write: Arts & Issues, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1083; or by e-mail, rwalker@siue.edu. For more information about the 1999-2000 season, view the website: http://www.siue.edu/ARTS_ISSUES.
Edward James Olmos Here Feb. 17 As Part Of The Arts & Issues Series
Actor Edward James Olmos, best known for his role in Stand and Deliver and for his Emmy-award winning work in Miami Vice, will appear Feb. 17 as part of the Arts & Issues series at Siue.
In its 15th season of presenting quality entertainment and provocative presentations, the Arts & Issues series presents Olmos, known as the "Olivier of the Latino World," at 7:30 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom.
A producer, director, and community activist, Olmos recently launched an unprecedented nationwide multimedia project introducing Americanos to Americans. During his SIUE appearance, he will profile famous and not-so-famous Latinos to emphasize the value of diversity.
In addition to his presentation that evening, Olmos also will participate in a student open forum, "We Are All in the Same Gang," at 5 p.m. that day in the Faculty Club on the second floor of the Morris Center. The forum is co-sponsored by the SIUE Latin Awareness Student Organization, the University Center Board, and the Kimmel Student Leadership Development and Volunteer Services program.
According to Arts & Issues Coordinator Rich Walker, Olmos is not only a celebrated actor but also is well known for his many humanitarian efforts. "Edward Olmos is very active with UNICEF and also is a national spokesman for such organizations as the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation," Walker said. "We are proud to present this man to our Arts & Issues audience as an example of someone in a celebrated position who has given back to the community in many ways."
Admission to the Feb. 17 event is $8; students, $4, and includes free parking in the visitors' lot behind the Morris Center. For ticket information, call (618) 650-2320, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2320; write: Arts & Issues, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1083; or by e-mail: kbollin@siue.edu.
Horton Named Interim President
The SIU Board of Trustees recently appointed Frank E. Horton, Ph.D., as interim president of SIU. Horton will take over the duties of departing president Ted Sanders, who leaves Feb. 1.
A former vice president for academic affairs and research at SIUC, Horton most recently was president of the University of Toledo from 1989 until his retirement in December 1998. Previously, Horton was president of the University of Oklahoma from 1985-1988.
He also held academic and administrative positions at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Iowa, and Lake Forest College. He is currently principal partner of Horton & Associates, an education consulting firm.
Horton is a graduate of Western Illinois University (BS '63) and Northwestern University (MS '64, Ph.D. '68). The board sought the input and advice of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee prior to making the decision to appoint Horton. The advisory committee is composed of faculty, staff, and students from SIUE and SIUC.
The appointment is effective for six months, beginning Feb. 1. Horton will be paid $20,000 per month; he will not be a candidate for the permanent position of president.
Arts Week Activities Set For February 14-18 On Campus
Celebrate Arts Week from Feb 14-18 with several events and opportunities on campus. Here's a complete schedule:
• Special exhibit, Focus On Careers in the Arts, Tuesday-Thursday, Feb 15-17, at the Career Development Center on campus.
• Undergraduate Art Exhibit at new Wagner Gallery on-going for the week
• Thursday, Feb. 17, Arts and Issues presents actor Edward James Olmos, speaking bout the value of diversity (see main story in this edition of The O).
• Friday, Feb 18, Noon Jazz Concert in Goshen Lounge; Pack the Gallery! Undergraduate Exhibition at New Wagner Art Gallery in the Art & Design Building, with reception from 5-7 p.m.; Pack the Theater Night! 7-10 p.m. at Dunham Hall for performances of Keely and Du by Jane Martin and Poof by Lynn Nottage (see story elsewhere in this edition), followed by a Celebration of the ARTS party in the lobby, co-sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences; and A New Show at 7 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom by the St. Louis Black Repertory Company.
Volatile:
Jane Martin's award-winning play, Keely and Du, on a double bill with Poof by Lynn Nottage, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 18-19 and 25-26, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, all in SIUE's Katherine Dunham Hall theater. Keely and Du, about a fundamentalist Christian group that kidnaps a pregnant woman, is a volatile portrayal that deals with issues on both sides of the question of legalized abortion. Poof is a one-act comedy about a woman who "damns her husband to hell" with remarkable results. Both plays are for adult audiences. Shown here, in a scene from Keely and Du, are cast members Randall Middleton as Walter, Wendy Greenwood as a women's prison guard, Rachel Tiemann as Keely, and Sarah Maxfield as Du. Tickets are $7; SIUE faculty and staff, senior citizens, and students, $5. For ticket information, call the SIUE Fine Arts box office, (618) 650-2774, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2774. (SIUE Photo)
Day care
The SIUE Child Development Program at the East St. Louis Center, for children ages 2-6, is accepting applications. The program offers daily play, field trips, and art experiences in a program that stresses math, health, safety, language, arts, social science, music, computer skills, and dance. The program is open to all Illinois residents who are employed or in school. For more info, call 482-6971, or pick up an application at the ESLC, 411 E. Broadway, East St. Louis.
SDM
The SIUE Dental Implant Clinic wants you to know:
• Dental implants are the latest technology in tooth replacement;
• Dental implants are stronger than bridges or dentures;
• Dental implants do not require disurbing healthy teeth; and
• Dental implants are the next best thing to re-growing missing teeth.
For more information, call your dentist or the SIUE Dental Implant Clinic, (618) 650-5062.
February 15, 2000
Arts & Sciences Dean Combines Both In Astronomical Hobby
As dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Sharon Hahs likes to at least dabble in all things arts-related and science-related.
However, there is one interest she pursues that combines the two-solar eclipses. Hahs and her husband, Billy, have traveled to exotic locales around the world to view total solar eclipses six times since 1990. And, those trips have provided some fantastic photographs of these phenomena.
"As the moon passes in front of the sun, a process that takes about an hour, I use a camera with a filter that blocks out more than 99 percent of the light," Hahs explained. "When the sun is blocked completely (that's known as 'totality'), I remove the filter and the brilliant corona is captured on the film. Actually, it's always there but normal sunlight is so bright that it can't be seen except during totality.
"By varying the exposure time-the amount of light recorded on the film-different effects can be captured," Hahs said. "However, totality lasts only two to four minutes. You have to move quickly to get the dramatic shots."
In addition to the eclipse itself, the couple also takes time to soak in the culture of the regions they visit. They've traveled to Costa Rica, Chile, Thailand, Mongolia, Venezuela, and Turkey. "Chasing eclipses is also a great excuse to travel," Hahs quipped. "And, in addition to the science-related eclipse itself, there's also an aesthetic experience that's difficult to put into words.
"When totality occurs, there's an eerie few moments when the Earth is bathed in shadow; everything seems to stop," she said. "It is truly beautiful, both artistic and scientific at the same time."
Solar eclipses are a fascinating occurrence, which would not exist but for nearly precise distance and size ratios between the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. The Sun's diameter is approximately 400 times that of the Moon's but because the Moon also is about 400 times closer to Earth, the Sun and the Moon appear to be roughly the same size; thus, the Moon is at times able to block our view of the Sun.
Consider this: if the Moon's diameter was just 140 miles less than it is, there would be no solar eclipses visible from anywhere on Earth.
"The way the Earth is tilted on its axis also makes for varied angles and distances between the Earth and the Sun, therefore, the views of total eclipses are specific to certain localities at the time of the eclipse," Hahs said. "To see any solar eclipse, you have to be inside the path of the shadow, which is usually about 3,000 miles long but only about 20-40 miles wide, Hahs explained."
Traveling to see a total solar eclipse also can be disappointing. "The first time we traveled to Costa Rica, we got our camera set up and suddenly a rainstorm moved in and we missed it," Hahs said. "Three years later we went to the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, where there had been no recorded rainfall in 400 years," she said. "We got great shots of that one."
In her office, Hahs has several framed sequences of solar eclipses accompanied by maps of the regions in which they occurred and shots of the surrounding region. She's very proud of the photographs and delights in sharing her experiences. "Although I haven't done any formal research on solar eclipses, I have given informal talks and shared this with others.
"But, mostly, we do it for the enjoyment of the cultures, the countryside, the beauty of the moment," Hahs said. "And, there's an aspect to 'roughing it' that we like. In Chile, we spent the night in the desert in an Army tent. That was quite the experience.
"Last year, we traveled to Turkey and took our daughters-Cara, 28, who is a surgery resident in Kansas City, and Ona, 22, who recently graduated from Harvard in interdisciplinary social sciences-and they came to realize why Billy and I love this so much."
Faculty Development Resource Center Available
Cathy Santanello looks upon her job at SIUE as a positive force, one that can help good faculty members become even better. She's program director of the Excellence in Learning and Teaching Initiative, as well as an instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences.
The teaching program is poised to help SIUE faculty through workshops Santanello and others offer, through feedback interviews with students at mid-semester points, and by maintaining a fairly extensive lending library of pedagogical books. "I also have a budget to bring in experts on various topics.
"At SIUE we have very good faculty who are interested in becoming even better. For example, if we are asked to conduct a mid-semester student interview, we're gathering valid feedback, which we then share with the professor.
"It's voluntary, which means that the professor cares enough about student learning and teaching to find out how they can become better instructors," she said. "We see this as a positive."
Santanello recently invited faculty to a reception in the Provost's office where she displayed the books in the program's lending library. Some of the titles included The Skillful Teacher by Stephen Brookfield, Changing College Classrooms by Diane Halpern, Mentor in a Manual by A. Clay Shoenfeld and Robert Mangan, and Professors Are From Mars, Students Are From Snickers by Ronald Berk. The library also contains several video and audio titles.
"For now, the library will be located in the Provost's office, but eventually I'd like to have my own space for this program," Santanello said. Provost David Sill and Douglas Eder, director of the Undergraduate Assessment and Program Review, began the faculty development initiative and Santanello is working to continue that effort. "We're pursuing a grant to augment existing faculty development.
"My role is to be a liaison," Santanello said. "For example, a faculty member might have a problem with students being unruly in class. We have books that address that problem and offer solutions. We also have books that address other issues, such as teaching interdisciplinary courses, writing across the curriculum, and course portfolios, to name a few."
Upcoming seminars Santanello has planned to deal with topics such as technology in the classroom, humor in the classroom, classroom assessment techniques, and civility in the classroom and in the workplace. "Next fall we'll be offering several on a regular basis," she said. "Later in spring I'm also beginning a newsletter to departments and I hope to get the word out to the faculty about what we have to offer."
There's more information about the program on Santanello's Web site: www.siue.edu/~csantan.
Arts & Issues Raises $80,000 For 1999-2000 Season
Mike Smith's current show at the Morris Center Gallery-Ancient Symbols: Modern Images, One Hundred Perceptions of the I-Ching-consists of paintings that incorporate imagery and ideas from the 64 hexagrams that make up the I-Ching (EE-JING), the ancient Book of Changes.
Included in the exhibition is a set of 64 paintings offered for sale as one unit at a cost of $64,000, the proceeds from which would endow a one-year scholarship for a student from China to attend SIUE to study (?).
The exhibition runs through April 28 in the second-floor Morris gallery and is being presented by The University Museum. Gallery hours are (?)-(?) Monday through Friday and from (?)-(?) Saturday.
The I Ching, about 5,000 years old, is one of the oldest available sources of spiritual wisdom. Legend has it that Chinese Emperor Fu Hsi was responsible for creating the I Ching, although there are different stories concerning where he found his inspiration. One legend tells the story of a dragon-like creature that climbed from the water near the emperor as he was meditating.
From lines on the creatures scales, Fu Hsi set about drawing diagrams representing the patterns on the scales of this creature, believing that the diagrams would be sufficient to encompass all wisdom.
I Ching symbols are composed of lines representing Yin (female) or Yang (male) properties. The emperor's creation consisted of eight symbols, each made up of three lines (trigrams), each line of which could be either Yin-the female power, or gentleness, or Yang-the male power, or strength. Mathematically, there are eight combinations of Yin and Yang in three lines (23=8). In the year 1143BC, King Wen, whilst under sentence of death, placed the eight tri-grams in pairs to produce the sixty-four 'hexagrams' (six-lined symbols) with which we are now familiar (again, 82 = 64). His son, the Duke of Chou, added a commentary on each line in each hexagram and on the symbolism (known as the Hsiang Chuan, or the 'Image' of a hexagram). This produced 384 commentaries (64 x 6 = 384) that still form an essential part of I Ching. Centuries later, Confucius added more commentary, known as the 'Ten Wings'. The commentary states that "Change has an absolute limit: This produces two modes: The two modes produce four forms, the four forms produce eight tri-grams; the eight tri-grams determine fortune and misfortune." Over the centuries, I Ching continued to be recognized, and even given religious significance, before it came to France in the early 19th century. In the early 20th century, a German translation of I Ching was completed and published by Richard Wilhelm (who had lived in China for many years). This translation still forms the basis of many of the published I Ching texts.
SIUE Joins SIUC In Expedition To Greece And Egypt in May
Myth and Cosmos" is the theme of this year's travel seminars to Greece and Egypt with teams of professors from both campuses of Southern Illinois University.
The 18th annual seminars, led by the professors who are experts in various fields pertaining to each destination, are scheduled for May12-25 to Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, Egypt, and May 28-June 12 to Athens and Olympia, Greece, and the Greek isles of Crete, Santorini, and Mykonos. The trip to Egypt also includes a luxury cruise on the River Nile as far as Abu Simbel.
The program is open to anyone, students and non-students, including families, on a first-class, five-star travel itinerary, at a cost of approximately $3,500 per person, which includes R/T transportation, and "just about everything else," according to Robert Hahn, an associate professor of Philosophy at SIUC and director of the trips for nearly 20 years.
"What makes the SIU travel adventure so distinct is that, besides offering a series of lectures in their ancient specialties, each professor on the trip will direct a hands-on project," Hahn pointed out. "In Egypt, everyone gets to carve and paint their own hieroglyphic tablets, and will participate in the re-creation of a mummification ritual.
"In Greece, the group will make a sundial on the beach, run an Olympic race in an ancient stadium, and perform in an ancient play in a theater with costumes and masks made by participants in the group." Hahn also pointed out that groups are limited to 30 persons for each travel seminar and that the spaces usually fill up quickly.
For more information, visit the travel seminar Web site: www.siu.edu/~nmc/hahn/origins.html or call (314) 721-5645 in St. Louis or (618) 453-7670 in Illinois.
S. Henschen Named Acting Director Of SIUE Early Childhood Center
Stephanie Henschen, project specialist with the Early Childhood Center, has been named acting director of the center, effective March 1.
She succeeds S. LaVernn Wilson, who is retiring the same day. Wilson has been involved with the university's daycare program and the SIUE School of Education for nearly 30 years.
Henschen joined the teaching staff of the center in August 1991. She taught the half-day pre-school class for one year before becoming teacher in the full-day pre-school four-year old class.
She received a bachelor of science in Elementary Education from SIUE in 1989. Henschen resides in Belleville with her husband, Jeff, and daughter, Taylor.
School Of Nursing Builds Lab, Hires New "Teacher"
Providing School of Nursing students with the most technologically advanced training tools available and in a realistic medical setting, the School has completed construction of a new psychomotor skills lab. And, there's a new "teacher" in the lab.
It's a computerized patient simulator capable of replicating a variety of physical symptoms and the capacity to respond to treatments. And, please resist the temptation to call it a "dummy." The human patient simulator is a fascinating computerized, life-like human figure that can either be male or female and is programmed to respond to "treatment" in an emergency room setting. There's also a smaller "juvenile" model for pediatric sessions.
The computer driven, life-sized mannequins breathe, emit a pulse (in all the correct places), and is programmed with sophisticated patient profiles, allowing it to accurately mirror human responses. Utilizing the simulator, instructors may choose from 70 different medical scenarios allowing students to practice a wide range of nursing and medical procedures and techniques-everything from the administration of intravenous "drugs" to defibrillation.
SIUE is the first and only four-year nursing education program in the Midwest equipped with the human patient simulator. At a cost of $500,000, the School of Nursing's psychomotor skills lab offers nursing students an unparalleled degree of training through this practical, hands-on experience.
February 29, 2000
Kimmel Community Award Winners Announced
Several Southwestern Illinois residents will receive Kimmel Community Service Awards at the April 6 Kimmel Leadership Awards Banquet, sponsored by SIUE and the Belleville News-Democrat.
The annual award was established to recognize outstanding community members for dedication and contributions to community volunteer service as exemplified by Carol Kimmel, a former member of the SIU Board of Trustees, who continues to give freely of her time and talent to volunteerism.
There are six award categories: education, social service-social welfare, environmental and civic betterment, regional leadership, agency-organizational concerns, and special populations.
Those nominated must have been a resident of Illinois or Missouri for at least two years, and volunteered for at least one agency, organization, or business for at least two or more continuous years. In addition, nominees must have demonstrated a variety of community service contributions for an extended period; demonstrated outstanding voluntary community service, as well as a commitment to the citizens of Illinois or Missouri; and must document leadership roles and responsibilities.
This year's winners are:
- Regional Leadership---Carol Ann Bartle, Caseyville
- Education---Doris Gvillo, Edwardsville
- Environmental-Civic Betterment---Carol Warner, Fairview Heights
- Social Service-Social Welfare---LeRoy Stark, Granite City
- Special Populations---Millie Belobraydic, Glen Carbon
- Agency-Organizational Concerns---Dorothy Duffey, Godfrey
Kimmel Scholarship Winner Announced
Noor Fayyad Ali-Hasan, of Edwardsville and a sophomore studying Computer Management Information Systems, has been named this year's recipient of the Carol Kimmel Scholarship. Ali-Hasan also will be recognized at the April 6 awards banquet.
The scholarship program is co-sponsored by the Belleville News-Democrat. The annual scholarship was established to recognize students for their outstanding leadership and community volunteer service contributions, in addition to academic excellence.
Criteria for winning the scholarship includes maintaining a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and demonstrating 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. The scholarship provides one full year of tuition at the SIUE in-state rate.
Tickets for the April 6 banquet, scheduled in Meridian Ballroom of SIUE's University Center, are $25 per person. For more information about tickets or about ordering them, call the SIUE Office of Conferences and Institutes, (618) 650-2660, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2660.
Alton Schools Of 1872 Ahead Of Their Time In Race Relations
Before the collective consciousness was aware of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s, before Brown vs. Board of Education brought clear focus to the effort, before screaming headlines about race riots and human rights violations against African-Americans in the United States, there was the Alton School case.
In the ensuing years after Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, members of Alton's black community were proud of the progress they'd made. There were black entrepreneurs opening shops in Alton and the public schools had been integrated in an 1872 ruling from the state courts.
"At that time it was unusual for a city south of Springfield to have integrated schools," said Shirley Portwood, a professor of Historical Studies who's on sabbatical this year doing research for a book about the black community in Alton at that time. "It was a time when African Americans were insisting on their rights more and more," she said.
Alton Mayor John Brenholdt, a civic leader who was respected by blacks and whites, had helped uphold the 1872 integration ruling. But, by 1897, Brenholdt was out of office. "The mayor of Alton by then was Henry Brueggemann who, along with the city council and the board of education-most of whom were Republicans-made a decision to build segregated schools."
The mention of the Republican Party is significant because it was that political party which blacks perceived as on their side because of President Lincoln's ties to the GOP. "The 1897 decision to segregate the schools racially polarized the city," Portwood said, "and blacks banded together to fight the decision."
The Alton Citizens Committee was organized and employed various means, including boycotts, sit-ins, and litigation. "They challenged separate schools from 1897 to 1908 when the Illinois Supreme Court again called for integration in the Alton schools.
"However, the Alton City Council ignored the law and claimed that they weren't segregating the schools," Portwood said. "Further, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Alton should integrate the schools. In short, they disobeyed both the law and the Supreme Court," Portwood said.
Portwood, who grew up in a small town near Cairo, experienced racial discrimination first hand. She also is author of Tell Us a Story: An African-American Family in the Heartland (SIU Press, 2000). "That was a book about my own and my family's experiences, primarily in Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas," she said.
"But, it's been very interesting studying black history from an Alton perspective because generally cities south of Springfield tended to have pro-slavery sentiments.
"Even East St. Louis and Edwardsville had segregation of school children." When asked why Alton officials turned back the clock in 1897 after 25 years of integration, Portwood said they may have been emboldened by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling of 1896 which set forth the infamous "separate but equal" ruling.
Portwood also discovered evidence of what appears to be an anomaly in the school segregation situation in Alton. "I found there were a few middle class blacks who were in favor of segregation," she said. "Families with teachers felt that it was easier for the teachers to get jobs in all black schools than in the white schools. Also, there was some back room politics going on in which patronage jobs were promised, but that's just an inference on my part, difficult to prove with hard evidence."
Even though there was some dissent within the black community, most African-Americans in Alton pushed for integration. "Brenholdt helped in the cause for integration and was the one who argued the case in the various courts."
Portwood said she's also studying communities north of Alton and into Central Illinois and how segregation affected schools in other regions in the late 1800s. "I still have a lot more to do to finish the book."
Preview
The SIUE Graduate School welcomes undergraduates to attend Graduate School Preview Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, March 6, in Goshen Lounge. Reps from each of SIUE's graduate programs will be on hand to provide information to help in decisions about further education opportunities. Call 650-3010 for more info.
March Madness Takes Over The VC This Week
March Madness has taken over the Vadalabene Center this week and high school basketball fans will enjoy the action as SIUE plays host again to the Illinois High School Association Class AA sectional semifinals today (March 7) and Wednesday. The sectional championship will be played Friday, March 10.
Thousands are expected to come to each of the three games, giving many area residents an opportunity to see SIUE for the first time. East St. Louis and Collinsville meet today and Edwardsville faces Alton on Wednesday. These schools are expected to bring a record amount of fans. Three sellouts in the 4,100 seat arena are expected.
"East St. Louis's Darius Miles is the premier High School athlete in the area," says Associate Athletic Director Nick Adams. "This is his second appearance at the VC this year. When he came to the Full court Classic at the beginning of the season, we sold out. There will be people here that come just to see him play.
"Edwardsville and Alton are both very good teams that always draw well," Adams added. "A few years ago on this campus they played what might be the best basketball game ever." The game went into six overtimes before Alton came out on top.
This is the sixth year that SIUE has hosted the sectional finals. Most people involved with the school see it as a great event. "It has a good effect on the university," Adams said. "Anytime we can bring that many people to see the facilities and the campus it is a good opportunity."
Head Men's Basketball Coach Jack Margenthaler also sees the tournament as a great opportunity for the school and for his team. "We haven't even begun to see all the benefits and the good things that can come from this," Margenthaler said. "For three days we have over 4,000 people packed into the gym and see the facilities and the campus."
The exposure for the campus goes well beyond the Intercollegiate Athletics program at SIUE. The Office of Academic Marketing Services will set up a booth in the Vadalabene Center lobby to hand out brochures to the hundreds of high school students that will be in attendance.
"Its been a phenomenal event for both SIUE and the athletic department," Margenthaler said.
Symposium
Graduate students are invited to submit papers, posters, exhibits,or performances for the Graduate Student Research Symposium, part of the Graduate School's Spring Conference held in conjunction with the Senate's Faculty Roles and Responsibilities Committee. Graduate student presentations are scheduled for the afternoon of Tuesday, March 28. A 250- word abstract is due no later than March 20. Contact Linda Skelton, lskelto@siue.edu, for additional information.
Ryan Announces Grant For ESL "One-Stop" Center
Illinois Gov. George Ryan visited East St. Louis recently and, along with SIUE officials, announced a $25.4 million grant to open a "one-stop" service center at the site of the former Metropolitan Community College, now known as the East St. Louis Community College Center.
Ryan said the grant will pay for extensive renovations of an existing 129,000 square foot space and construct a new 51,000 square foot building. The CDB is managing the construction and the facility will be shared by SIUE, the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market (SICCM), and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Through the Illinois Capital Development Board, Ryan said, the FY00 grant is earmarked for construction and renovation at the center. According to the governor, full-service, one-stop centers, such as the East St. Louis facility, provide:
• Job development and placement
• Job search skills workshops
• Testing and career counseling
• On-going case management
• Supportive services
• On-site recruitment of prospective employees
Currently in the design phase, Ryan said the work will be bid early summer of 2001 and is scheduled for completion in fall 2003.
Marionettes Coming To SIUE March 9; Strings Attached
The Salzburg Marionettes, known worldwide for creating remarkably lifelike productions of classic operas, will present Mozart's The Magic Flute on campus Thursday, March 9, as part of the Arts & Issues series.
But, there are some strings attached. Actually, the 18-inch performers all have strings attached. The 87-year-old marionette troupe's production at 7:30 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom.
Arts & Issues Coordinator Richard Walker points out that the Salzburg company offer a delightful alternative to the usual night at the opera. "This is an historic marionette troupe that has been presenting the classics since 1913," Walker said. "We are honored to have them here for the Arts & Issues program. To see these marionettes performing a classic art form in the original language is quite a treat."
The marionettes will perform Mozart's classic opera in German, accompanied by music, sets, and lighting. The troupe features intricately-carved wooden marionettes clothed in elaborate costumes and manipulated from above by strings held by skilled puppeteers. The stage is a replica of a classic opera house stage.
Tickets for the March 9 event are $16; students, $8. Admission includes free parking in the lots behind the Morris University Center or Dunham Hall. For ticket information, call (618) 650-2626, or, write: Arts & Issues, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1083; or by e-mail, rwalker@siue.edu. For more information about the 1999-2000 season, view the website: http://www.siue.edu/ARTS_ISSUES.
New Student Support Group Under Way This Semester
New students arrive on a strange campus and immediately the stress begins. They can become overwhelmed by the surroundings and course load, not to mention the need to "fit in" socially.
Students now have another avenue to help deal with these kinds of stress-inducing factors: The Student Life Support Group. What makes this counseling program different is that it uses verbal and nonverbal "expressive approaches" to supportive therapy. Sharyl Parashak, a lecturer in the Department of Art and Design and a registered art therapist, conceived the support program.
The 12 weeks of group sessions are led by Lisa Kay, a registered art therapist, and Marvin Peterson, director of Counseling Services. The group is meeting in Woodland Hall and there is no charge for students to take advantage of the program.
Says Parashak: "There are no services like this on campus in the way of a support group for normal adjustment difficulties. With the addition of the residence halls, we now have more students living on campus and they bring these normal anxieties that have been with traditional college students from day one.
"These are problems such as an overwhelming sense of too much to do, roommate problems, or a need for better organizational skills," she said. The program is underwritten by an SIUE Excellence in Undergraduate Education grant.
Parashak explained the definition of "expressive approaches" used in the group program: "These approaches rely on more than verbalization. For example, we may use the visual arts as an approach in the sessions, but there are others, such as music and dance.
"We try to tap into another aspect of communication, to tap into emotion," she explained.
According to Parashak, goals established for the group include:
• Develop greater independent living and social skills;
• Participate in group interaction to enhance social skills;
• Reduce student isolation; and
• Reduce overall stress levels.
"This group may be beneficial for those looking for a supportive atmosphere to explore personal issues through creativity, while meeting other students," Parashak said.
If students are interested in joining the group, contact Peterson, 650-2197. Parashak also pointed out that the program also will be available during Fall Semester for another 12 weeks.
Seniors Fair
The Gerontology Program presents the 30th Annual Senior Citizens Fair on Monday, March 13, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Morris Center. Activities begin with a coffee and tea reception sponsored by the Chancellor's Office and Southwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging, and hosted by the university's civil service secretaries. Chancellor Werner will welcome guests. The Senior Fair provides an educational and recreational event for older adults and their families, including variety acts, trios, choral groups, dance troupes, ballroom and line dancing, campus tours, exhibits and displays. The Fair will also feature social service and health information tables, craft tables, and preventive health screenings. For more information, call the Gerontology Program at 650-3454.
Dress For Success Kicks Off Spring/Summer Suit Drive
East St. Louis Center, SIUE, and Dress for Success of Southern Illinois will conduct a spring/summer suit drive from March 20 - 31. Donations of new or "gently worn" women's suits, dresses, pant suits, accessories, bags, shoes, and new and packaged hosiery are being sought.
Individuals who wish to make a cash donation may make checks payable to: Dress for Success, Southern Illinois and mail the donation to 2221 Greenfield Drive, Belleville, IL 62221.
Drop offs may be made at these locations between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday:
• East St. Louis Center, Room 2071, 411 East Broadway, East St. Louis, (618) 482-6948;
• St. Joseph's Head Start, 1501 Martin Luther King Drive, East St. Louis, (618) 875-9812;
• Bluffview Head Start, 8100 Bunkum Road, Caseyville, (618) 394-8897;
• BellMac Head Start, 912 Carlyle Road, Belleville, (618) 277-4681;
• Rendleman Building, Room 2228, SIUE, (618) 650-2536;
• SIU School of Dental Medicine, Administrator Building, Business Office, Alton.
Individuals who would like to become involved with the Dress for Success program also may help organize a clothing drive in their offices, volunteer a few hours each month to help clients make their wardrobe selection, mentor one of the Dress for Success clients, design fund-raising campaigns and special events, help at special events, serve on a committee, help receive, sort and organize donated clothing, provide free or low-cost dry cleaning service, or help with alterations and minor repairs to clothing.
Last fall, the ESLC and Dress for Success formed a partnership to aid women who are living in poverty but who have a job interview. Such women are usually unsure of themselves, have little or no self-confidence, and own no appropriate business attire. Through Dress for Success these women can receive a complete business outfit-suits, shoes, handbag, accessories, and hosiery-for job interviews.
In addition clients are coached for an interview, given hair and make-up assistance, and provided a mentor. If the interview is a success, a woman may return for another complete outfit. One measure of the program's effectiveness is that 70 percent of clients come back for that second suit. The ESLC and Dress for Success have suited 130 women.
Dress for Success also continues to help after the hire. Once a month, women from professional ranks volunteer to speak to participants on subjects such as time management, budgeting, and coping with work stress. The mentoring also continues and may be expanded to involve the entire family.
Dress for Success is more than just "come in and look pretty." The program helps women set long-term professional and personal goals.
Faculty Institute
This summer, SIUE will send six faculty members to attend the annual Faculty Summer Institute on Learning Technologies (FSI) at the University of Illinois. The purpose of this institute is to aid faculty in developing skills related to web-based technologies in the classroom. The FSI will be conducted May 15 - 19. SIUE will provide lodging, meals, and transportation. Faculty members interested in applying should contact Mary Marchal, mmarcha@siue.edu, by March 13.
Nile Cruise Included In CCM-Sponsored Trip To Egypt
Egypt is a popular destination, it seems, for those connected to SIUE. In addition to the trip to Egypt in May sponsored by SIU Carbondale and SIUE, the SIUE Catholic Campus Ministry also is sponsoring a June trip to Egypt, including a cruise on the River Nile as well as visits to the Red Sea and St. Catherine Monastery.
In addition to other sightseeing, the trip also includes a stop at Mt. Sinai. The trip, "Egypt: Land of Wonder and Intrigue," is scheduled for June 3-16 at a cost of $2,655 per person, which includes:
• Round trip airfare from St. Louis
• First class hotel accommodation in Cairo, Sharm el- Sheikh, and at St. Catherine's
• Five-star cruise from Aswan to Luxor
• All domestic flights
• All land transportation with A/C motor coach
• All admission fees
• Guided sightseeing by professional English-speaking guide.
• Most meals
Informational sessions about the trip are set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 6, at the Religious Center, and at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Edwardsville. For more information, call Nassef I. Girgis, director of the Catholic Campus Ministry, (618) 650-3205, or, by e-mail: catholic@siue.edu.
Training
Opportunities for training in March are open to all staff and faculty from Human Resources. Advanced Supervisory Skills Training Program-presented by HR's Bill Misiak, 1-3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2; Preventing Workplace Violence (Employee Session)-9 a.m.- Noon (a separate session for supervisors will be offered May 11); Campus Crime-presented by University Police Capt. Regina Hays, 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, March 8; Performance Appraisal Process Review-presented by Bill Misiak, 9-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 14; Personal Safety-presented by Capt. Hays, 10 a.m.-Noon Wednesday, March 15; Grammar Review-presented by LaDonna Holshouser, Instructional Services, 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, March 22. See the Training Times Newsletter for additional information. To register for any of these sessions by e-mail: wmisiak@siue.edu. Please include your full name, department, campus box, and telephone extension.
School Of Nursing Builds Lab, Hires New "Teacher"
Providing School of Nursing students with the most technologically advanced training tools available and in a realistic medical setting, the School has completed construction of a new psychomotor skills lab. And, there's a new "teacher" in the lab.
It's a computerized patient simulator capable of replicating a variety of physical symptoms and the capacity to respond to treatments. And, please resist the temptation to call it a "dummy." The human patient simulator is a fascinating computerized, life-like human figure that can either be male or female and is programmed to respond to "treatment" in an emergency room setting. There's also a smaller "juvenile" model for pediatric sessions.
The computer driven, life-sized mannequins breathe, emit a pulse (in all the correct places), and is programmed with sophisticated patient profiles, allowing it to accurately mirror human responses. Utilizing the simulator, instructors may choose from 70 different medical scenarios allowing students to practice a wide range of nursing and medical procedures and techniques-everything from the administration of intravenous "drugs" to defibrillation.
SIUE is the first and only four-year nursing education program in the Midwest equipped with the human patient simulator. At a cost of $500,000, the School of Nursing's psychomotor skills lab offers nursing students an unparalleled degree of training through this practical, hands-on experience.
Selection
Jacky Yukchow So, professor of Finance and chair of that department, has been selected by the Academy of Entrepreneurial Finance (AEF) to serve as executive director and of its publication, The Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance, for the next five years. Currently, AEF has several hundred members from universities, government agencies, such as the Small Business Administration (SBA), and companies in varied industries: financial service, venture capital, computer, telecommunication, manufacturing, retailing, and agriculture. The AEF will hold its next annual conference in New York in August 2000. If you are interested in attending the conference, please contact So at 618-650-2980, fax: 618-650-3979, or email: jso@siue.edu.
