February 2004
February 26, 2004
Arts & Issues Series Continues March 16 With Photographer Sam Abell
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) National Geographic photographer and writer Sam Abell, who has extensively studied the Lewis and Clark Expedition for the magazine and for books about the expedition, comes to the Arts & Issues stage March 16 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for its ongoing celebration of the saga's 200th anniversary.
Each year, Arts & Issues brings some of the best and brightest performers and speakers from around the world to Southwestern Illinois audiences for entertaining and thought-provoking presentations on the SIUE campus. The veteran photographer will share his photographic research about the expedition at 7:30 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris University Center.
Among his numerous accomplishments, Abell contributed photographs to the late Steven Ambrose's book: Lewis and Clark: Voyage of Discovery (National Geographic Books, 1998, 2002). Ambrose himself called the expedition "the greatest camping trip in history." Abell captured that journey with spectacular style in his photos for the book.
"Sam Abell comes to our stage during the university's bicentennial celebration of Lewis and Clark's historic trek that began not too far from SIUE," said John Peecher, coordinator of the Arts & Issues series. "We are happy to take part in the university's celebration and we look forward to Mr. Abell's exciting journey to provide a pictorial tribute to these great explorers," Peecher said. Affiliated with National Geographic since 1970-first as a free-lance photographer and then as a member of the prestigious magazine's staff-Abell has been contributing photographer-in-residence at the magazine since 1993. His work has been celebrated for its artistic, even poetic, quality.
During his tenure with National Geographic, Abell has covered topics as varied as Leo Tolstoy, Lewis Carroll, the Mississippi River, the Civil War, and Japan's Imperial Palace. He also has written several books and exhibited his photography internationally at numerous galleries and museums. In the competitive arena of public speaking, Abell is valued highly for his ability to move and inspire through his words and his photographs.
After his presentation, Abell will be signing copies of Lewis and Clark: Voyage of Discovery, as well as three volumes of photography he authored, all of which will be available for purchase.
Information about the March 16 appearance of Sam Abell and how to order tickets may be found on the Arts & Issues Web site: artsandissues.com and in a printed brochure available through John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or, by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Tickets for the March 16 event are $9; students, $4.50. Tickets also are available at the Morris Center Information Desk, (618) 650-5555.
The remaining Arts & Issues season includes: the explosive and creative movement of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (April 2), and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer (April 20).
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February 26, 2004
Free Tickets Available To SIUE Students For Arts & Issues Event
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is offering free tickets to SIUE students for the March 16 Arts & Issues appearance of noted National Geographic photographer Sam Abell. The tickets will be ready for pick-up at the Morris Center Information Desk on March 9.
The ticket giveaway program is part of an ongoing service provided to SIUE students by the Office for Student Affairs. Abell will share his photographic essay about the Lewis and Clark Expedition at 7:30 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of the Morris University Center. Abell's appearance is part of the university's year-long celebration of the expedition's bicentiennial.
"The university believes that the offerings of Arts & Issues events are an integral part of a liberal arts education," said Vice Chancellor Narbeth Emmanuel. "My office is pleased to be working with the series to provide students an opportunity to see these events at no cost."
Free tickets for the March 16 event will be available March 9 on a first-come, first-served basis-one ticket per student; SIUE students must present a valid university ID to receive tickets. "This is an exciting opportunity for students to have greater access to what Arts & Issues has to offer," said John Peecher, coordinator of the series.
"Each year Arts & Issues brings some of the best and brightest performers and speakers from around the world to Southwestern Illinois audiences for entertaining and thought-provoking presentations on the SIUE campus."
The remaining Arts & Issues dates and the dates to pick up tickets are: the explosive and creative movement of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (April 2/March 26) and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer (April 20/April 13).
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February 26, 2004
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. Thursday, March 11, 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) and SIUE adjunct faculty members Tom Kennedy, Andy Tichenor, Jason Swagler, Jim Martin, Miles Vandiver, and Karen Baldus, 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 Skylark, Tea for Two, I Remember You, Joy Spring, and Tell Me a Bedtime Story, as well as Stamps' original compositions, All We've Got To Give, Flo Jo Express, Blues For J & K, You Heard That Right, and Stuff Like This.
Admission is $5. For more information, call the SIUE Department of Music, (618) 650-3900.
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February 19, 2004
"International Business Week" Has Events for Students and the Community
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Educators from four countries will visit Southern Illinois University Edwardsville during International Business Week, March 1-6, to discuss issues of trade and global business practices.
The SIUE School of Business and the SIUE International Trade Center are co-sponsoring events during the week to provide opportunities for students and for the general public to experience global business practices from the international educators as well as regional business leaders from the community. Events are sponsored, in part, by a grant from the SIUE Excellence in Undergraduate Education fund.
The four visiting faculty members are Albrecht Sonntag, on the faculty at the École Supérieure des Sciences Commerciales d'Angers, who specializes in the political economy of the European Union; Hans Gühlert, on the faculty of Fachhochschule Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Germany, who specializes in marketing and marketing research; Sara Isabel García, on the faculty of the Instituto Tecnológico Y De Estudios Superiores De Monterrey in Mexico, who has expertise in marketing, with specialties in advertising, sales promotion, marketing planning, and business ethics; and Chen Yan, associate professor in the International Trade Department at Xiamen University in China.
They will be joined in a March 1 panel discussion by Rick Dreyer, vice president of international sales at T.J. Gundlach Machine Company in Belleville, and Stewart Dahlberg, manager of export sales at J.D. Streett & Company Inc. in St. Louis. The panel discussion is set for 6:30 p.m. in the Maple-Dogwood Room, on the second floor of SIUE's in the Morris University Center. Topics will include international trade and the state of international business.
Admission is free to the general public, but reservations are requested. Please contact Vivien Shao by e-mail: yshao@siue.edu or by telephone, (618) 650- 2452, to register and reserve seating.
The international faculty members also will speak to faculty, staff, and students from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Room 2401 of Alumni Hall on Tuesday, March 2. This session, part of the School of Business' weekly "Business Hour," will provide students with a greater knowledge of and appreciation for the global business environment and how social, legal, political, cultural, and economic forces shape business practices in various countries.
The SIUE School of Business is an active participant in international exchange programs and sends SIUE faculty and students to study overseas each year.
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February 19, 2004
Ford Foundation Grant Funds Assessment Planning At SIUE
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Thanks to a $9,000 grant from the Ford Foundation through the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will be assessing the region's needs for two new professional master's degrees in the Social Sciences and Humanities, according to Stephen Hansen, dean of Graduate Studies and Research at SIUE.
The two new graduate programs are Professional and Technical Writing and Criminal Justice Studies. "SIUE is one of only 38 institutions to receive funding for a planning grant from the Ford Foundation," Hansen said.
"These degrees are designed to meet the changing needs of the area's workforce. In order to ensure that the new programs will be meeting area workforce needs, each program will create a Business Advisory Board, modeled after other such boards for other SIUE programs," Hansen said. "The Graduate School, through its Institute for Urban Research, will be working with these Business Advisory Boards to survey workforce needs in the area."
Hansen said SIUE graduate programs are developed with the region's needs in mind, making the university a good match for funding from the Ford Foundation.
"For the past two years, the CGS has supported the development of professional master's programs in science and mathematics fields," Hansen said. "SIUE received funding for the new Biotechnology Management and Environmental Science Management programs from CGS and the Sloan Foundation."
With support from the Ford Foundation, CGS recently conducted a survey of master's education in the social sciences that generated interest among social science and humanities disciplinary societies for a collaborative research and demonstration project that assesses the need for and promising models of professional master's programs.
Professional master's degrees are interdisciplinary in design and typically combine study in various disciplines. The SIUE Professional and Technical Writing program would be housed in the Department of English Language and Literature, with students taking courses in such other disciplines as business. The Criminal Justice Studies program would be located within the SIUE Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies, with students taking courses is such other disciplines as biology, psychology, and anthropology.
"Funding from the Ford Foundation and the Council of Graduate Schools is important national recognition of the quality of graduate education at SIUE," Hansen said. Noting that graduate programs at SIUE are designed to be responsive to the needs of Southwestern Illinois, he added that "we are excited that this grant will allow us to expand our program inventory by supporting the development of two new graduate programs that serve the region."
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February 19, 2004
Adventure Of The American Mind Helps Teachers In The Region
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is in its second year of offering the Adventure of the American Mind (AAM), a project funded through the Library of Congress to prepare teachers to use the Library's American Memory Web site (memory.loc.gov).
In fact, the program has received $600,000 in additional federal funding to continue the program another two years, with the help of U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), who also helped initiate the program in the state of Illinois.
Through the AAM program, teachers can find not only interesting historical information on the Web site, but also may download historic images to help make learning more vivid for their students. The Library of Congress Web site provides 7.5 million historical items presented in more than 100 thematic collections, including photographs and rare documents, maps, films, and audio recordings.
AAM Program Manager Amy Wilkinson, of the SIUE School of Education, said the program helps teachers analyze and interpret original primary sources of information from the Web site. "Within the AAM program, teachers will learn how to download photographs taken during the civil rights era or letters written by Thomas Jefferson or George Washington, or even motion picture films from Edison Co. showing us life on the streets of New York in the early 1900s," Wilkinson said.
She explained the program is for in-service and pre-service classroom teachers, as well as for university teacher education faculty, to access and produce curriculum using the Web site's resources. "This program offers training on integrating technology, using digitized primary sources, resources, and technical support," Wilkinson said, "and provides resources such as laptops, LCD projectors, scanners, and digital cameras. We also have a technical specialist who offers a wide range of technical assistance."
Wilkinson said the AAM program involves a commitment to attend courses during one academic year, which includes three components-training (graduate course), enrichment (workshops), and mentoring. "Through the AAM program," she said, "teachers develop skills in using these primary sources to increase student's critical thinking skills and to enhance student learning.
"As technology continues to evolve, there is a need for educators to increase their technology skills to access rich educational information on the internet."
School of Education Dean Elliott Lessen said SIUE became involved in AAM because of the "unique opportunities" that were available. "The program is unique because it relies on primary source materials that have been digitized rather than pre-digested materials, such as textbooks," Lessen pointed out.
"Thus, teachers' creativity is allowed to flourish as they use primary source materials in a variety of ways. For example, one source could be used differently for math or science, or history or English.
"Through the AAM program, we are able to teach a course for graduate students and also infuse the unique features of AAM into our undergraduate teacher education programs," Lessen said.
For more information about the AAM program at SIUE, call the School of Education, (618) 650-3350.
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February 17, 2004
SIUE School of Engineering Open House Will Showcase Future of Engineering
(EDWARDSVILLE) The SIUE School of Engineering will hold its 4th Annual Open House on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year's focus is on the future of engineering.
Visitors will observe the teaching and research laboratories throughout the School and meet with faculty and students to learn about the fields of engineering, computer science and construction.
The following are some of the activities scheduled during the day:
• A panel of representatives from leading metro area firms will describe engineering projects in their companies and discuss future trends and career opportunities for new engineers in the greater St. Louis area.
• Computer Science faculty will explain how engineers create the special effects in current movies like The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
• Take a turn operating one of the school's two roaming robots, Taz and Marvin.
• Watch what happens when an earthquake shakes a structure, and witness other tests in the Structures Laboratory.
• See objects buffeted by winds equal to tornado speeds in the school's wind tunnel.
• Learn how virtual reality technology will revolutionize engineering practice in the future.
• Learn how computer engineers design and fabricate large-scale 100,000 transistors integrated chips.
• Try your hand at packaging by entering the Egg Drop Contest conducted by the Society of Women Engineers.
• Watch computers run robots and assembly lines as used in modern manufacturing facilities.
Prospective students who visit all the exhibits will have an opportunity to win a $500 scholarship to any SIUE School of Engineering Program. Everyone interested in learning how engineering will shape our future is invited to come early Saturday morning to enjoy all the events throughout the Engineering Building. For more information contact Kay Bares, 618-650-2541.
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February 16, 2004
Arts & Issues Series Presents The SLSO For A 'Leap Day' Concert
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Although it was a fixture at the Mississippi River Festival during the 1970s, the world renowned Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has only returned to the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville twice since the summer festival's heyday.
The acclaimed ensemble's presence on the SIUE campus has been as rare as, well, Leap Day, so, what better day to enjoy this magnificent organization on campus again than Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIUE's Morris University Center.
"Don't hesitate to 'leap' at the chance to hear again-or for the first time-one of the world's most applauded symphonic orchestras," says John Peecher, assistant development director for SIUE's College of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of the Arts & Issues series. "All joking aside, this orchestra is world class and is a wonderfully musical way to spend a winter's afternoon.
"Arts & Issues is proud to bring the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra to SIUE in a return engagement on our stage."
A familiar presence for many years in the recording industry, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has met with critical acclaim and has garnered nearly 60 Grammy nominations, winning six of the prestigious music awards. The orchestra has expanded its audience through frequent tours of the United States, including both coasts, as well as tours to Europe and to the Far East. In addition, the orchestra has played at Carnegie Hall in New York City and has been featured regularly on National Public Radio, both locally and nationally.
Information about the Feb. 29 appearance of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and how to order tickets may be found on the Arts & Issues Web site: artsandissues.com and in a printed brochure available through John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or, by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Tickets for the event are $18; students, $9. Tickets also are available at the Morris Center Information Desk, (618) 650-5555.
The remaining Arts & Issues season includes: National Geographic photographer Sam Abell, who will speak about the Lewis and Clark Expedition (March 16); the explosive and creative movement of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (April 2); and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer (April 20).
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February 12, 2004
Robert Rauschenberg's Collages Come To The Stage At SIUE
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) If you're looking for a play with a linear plot line that tells a coherent story, bobrauschenbergamerica might not be for you. However, if you love theater and would like to experience its magic in a whole new way, you might give "bob" a try.
bobrauschenbergamerica plays at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, through Saturday, Feb. 28, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 29, all at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Katherine Dunham Hall theater.
Director Charles Harper, assistant professor of Theater and Dance, recommends audience members allow the play to "wash" over them. "Playwright Charles Mee has a style that incorporates what might be called collages, using 'found' ideas,' "Harper explained. "And, the artist Robert Rauschenberg created his works from 'found' objects. So, the play is like Rauschenberg's art on stage. Some say Rauschenberg is the greatest living American artist."
Rauschenberg came out of the '50s and '60s creating work in answer to the Abstract Expressionists such as Jackson Pollack and Willem de Kooning who were part of that postwar American painting movement through which the U.S. first became the center of the avant-garde. For example, much of Pollack's work consisted of pouring, splashing, or splattering paint on canvas.
By the end of 1953, Rauschenberg had begun his Red Painting series on canvases that incorporated newspapers, fabric, and found objects, and evolved in 1954 into the Combines, a term he coined for his well-known works that integrated aspects of painting and sculpture and would often include such objects as a stuffed eagle or goat, street signs, or a quilt and pillow.
"Rauschenberg was protesting against the Abstract Expressionists and Mee is working in the same mode, using a collage of pop culture images as a collection of scenes in the play," Harper said. "There is a vague story line in this play, but the images are the important thing."
Harper, who came to the department two years ago from Seattle, has been involved with other plays by Mee. "This play will definitely broaden the horizons of playgoers who haven't seen this sort of style before," Harper said. "I'm not about shocking the audience, so I'm preparing them through articles in the printed program.
"If they know there is no real storyline, it will help them with the experience," he said. "The overall experience will satisfy them; it's very entertaining. Someone swimming in a giant martini glass might be weirdly funny to the audience," Harper said with a laugh.
"This stage experience will be like looking at an abstract painting. The viewer always finds beauty in some aspect of the artwork. This play is a reflection of the playwright's views of 1950s America," Harper said. "But, it's through Bob Rauschenberg's eyes."
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February 12, 2004
Board Approves Robert Remini For Honorary Doctorate At Commencement
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Robert Vincent Remini, a history professor emeritus at the University of Illinois-Chicago and official historian for that campus, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's May 8 commencement, according to action taken today by the SIU Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting conducted this month at SIUE.
Honorary degrees have been awarded for more than 40 years at SIUE commencement exercises to those who have made significant contributions to cultural, educational, scientific, economic, social, or humanitarian fields, or other worthy fields of endeavor.
Remini is regarded as America's premier historian of the Jacksonian political era and Andrew Jackson himself. In addition to his definitive works on Jackson, Remini, an award-winning author, has written biographies of John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Mormon leader Joseph Smith, Martin Van Buren, and Daniel Webster. In 2002, Remini was honored by the Library of Congress with an appointment to write a narrative history of the U.S. House of Representatives.
A member of the faculty at the U of I Chicago since its inception in 1965, Remini earned a bachelor's at Fordham University and went on to receive a master's and a doctorate from Columbia University. He taught at Fordham for 18 years before joining the U of I history faculty at the Chicago campus, where he served as a teacher and administrator.
In other business today, the SIU Board approved a new fee for all predoctoral students at the SIU School of Dental Medicine to cover maintenance and updating of clinical training facilities, associated dental and sterilization equipment, and classroom and laboratory equipment. The new fee-$1,600 each for fall and spring semesters and a pro-rated $711 fee for summer clinic sessions preceding years three and four of the curriculum-will go into effect in fall 2004.
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February 4, 2004
Bluff Hall Visual Arts FIC to Host Art Show
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Students who live in the Visual Arts Focused Interested Community (FIC) will play host to their first annual Art Show on Monday, Feb. 16, in the Multifunction Room of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Bluff Hall.
Gallery hours are from 2- 9 p.m., with an artists' reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m., and an awards presentation at 5:15 p.m. The show will consist of two-dimensional and three-dimensional pieces created by SIUE residential students.. Members of the SIUE Art and Design faculty and staff will serve as judges.
The Visual Arts FIC is one of 12 communities in which students, who share the same academic major or interests, live together in the same wing of a residence hall. Residents are able to meet faculty and staff in their area of interest, and they have opportunities to participate in specialized programs and study groups.
"FICs are a great way for students to meet faculty and other students who share their interests and career goals," said Kara Shustrin, assistant director of Academic Programs and Assessment for SIUE's Office of University Housing. "The FICs Living and learning programs promote more of a connection between what students are learning inside the classroom and what they are doing outside the classroom," she said.
"The art show is just one example of this connection; students are putting the show together themselves and collaborating with faculty to make it a successful event."
Residents interested in submitting pieces to the show may pick up an entry form at any residence hall front desk or in the Cougar Village Commons Building. Entry forms and artwork are due to the Bluff Hall office by Feb. 13. Those with questions about the First Annual Bluff Hall Art Show may contact Maria Mullane: (618) 650-1796 or Kara Shustrin: (618) 650-0546.
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February 4, 2004
Family Resource Center Sets Grand Re-Opening
(EDWARDSVILLE) Children and parents will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of a renovated facility at the Family Resource Center, part of University Housing on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. A grand re-opening of the facility is set for 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in Building 420, Cougar Village Apartments.
The renovated facility includes new lighting, flooring, kitchen, restroom, and office areas, among several other improvements. "The renovated FRC has been designed to meet the needs of our families for years to come," said Michael Schultz, director of SIUE's Office of Housing. The center serves approximately 120 familiesand provides services such as an After-School Program, with tutoring and arts and crafts, a Kid's and Teen Night Out, and an exercise program for working women. In addition, Family Housing staff provides activities for families throughout the week and programs about issues such as financial planning, diversity, and marriage and family seminar.
Questions regarding the grand re-opening may be directed to Beth Lawless, Residence director for families: edougla@siue.edu or (618) 650-5367.
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SIUE Spring Enrollment Reaches 12,597
Spring 2004 enrollment jumped to 12,597, compared to last spring's 12,161, about a 3.6 percent increase. Compared to spring 2002, spring enrollment is up by almost 1,000 students
Boyd Bradshaw, assistant vice chancellor for Enrollment Management, said he was pleased with spring enrollment. "We've seen consistent strong increases in our fall enrollment," he said. "Now what we're starting to see is a spring growth pattern that mirrors the fall increases."
SIUE's fall (2003) enrollment was 13,295, continuing a nine-year trend of enrollment growth. Fall enrollment was up about 4.5 percent over fall 2002.
Todd Burrell, Director of Admissions, said early projections for Fall '04 point to a slight growth in enrollment. "We believe that maintaining enrollment at a certain level best serves our students in terms of size of classes, access to professors, available resources and student services," Burrell said.
The admission application deadline for freshmen entering Fall '04 is May 31; for all other undergraduate students, the deadline is Aug. 2. Graduate students should submit applications no later than July 23. Additional information about applying for admission to SIUE is available online at www.admis.siue.edu.
UCM To Sponsor Annual 'Death By Chocolate Affair' At SIUE Religious Center
During the 1960s, comic folk-singer Tommy Smothers sang about falling into a vat of chocolate, but the United Campus Ministry (UCM) will stop short of that danger during its annual "A Death by Chocolate Affair," on Friday, Feb. 13.
But, those attending the affair might find that tasting the amazing chocolate delicacies is tantamount to the same thing. "We have more than 20 establishments from the area, many of them famous for their desserts, donating chocolate to this event," says Rev. Cherie Hambleton, dorector of the UCM at the SIUE Religious Center.
The event takes place from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. that Friday at the domed center. Hambleton said the event is an important UCM fund-raiser. "Members of the surrounding communities are invited to tempt their taste buds with the pure enjoyment of 'sinfully' delicious desserts from some favorite establishments..
"Local restaurants and establishments-Houlihan's, Neruda, Franks' on Main, Rusty's, Mrs. Seibold's Bakery, My Just Desserts, Sacred Grounds, to name a few-will be represented at the affair, and, for the cost of admission, folks can sample as much chocolate as they wish. We'll also have chocolate treats from local kitchens."
Admission is $10; children under 12 and students, $5. A "to-go" plate is $8; students and children, $5. For more information, call (618) 650-3248.
The UCM on campus represents the United Methodist Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, and the Church of the Brethren.
International Travel With Experts Also Offers Part In Video Documentary
Southern Illinois University students, their families, alumni, senior citizens, and other community members will have the chance to travel to ancient Greece or Egypt again this spring with the university's Expeditions in the Ancient World programs.
But this year there's a chance to be a "star."
SIU Carbondale has added funding to produce a video documentary of the expedition to Greece, utilizing faculty who are professional documentary producers. "This is an exciting step for our program, which is entering its 22nd year of providing expertly organized sojourns led by teams of professors in various fields of ancient culture," says SIUC Philosophy Professor Robert Hahn, who founded the travel program.
"This will be unique from other documentaries in that we will not only talk about the places and ideas that came out of Greek civilization, but we also will demonstrate the activities that fostered the ancient Greek's ideas of self knowledge and self-investigation, such as the theater and the Olympics," Hahn said.
The Greece program (May 27-June 10) takes in Athens, Delphi, and the Greek Islands of Samos and Kos, Troy, and the west coast of Turkey. Activities include performing in an ancient play in an ancient theater on Kos, with costumes and masks made by participants. Travelers also will re-enact the trial of Socrates, run an Olympic race in the stadium at Delphi, build ancient sundials on the beach, create pottery in a shop on Samos, and build an architectural model of an ancient Greek temple.
The Egypt program (May 15-28) will take up to 35 participants to Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, Egypt, as well as a luxury cruise on the River Nile. The trip includes site visits to ancient Egypt's wonders, temples and tombs, a re-enactment of the ancient mummification rituals, carving and painting hieroglyphic tablets, model-making reconstruction of the Great Pyramids, and erecting an obelisk.
Hahn says he hopes the documentary can be marketed to Public Television or to one of the cable learning channels. "We not only want the documentary to highlight our travel programs but to also attract benefactors who want to support us so that we can offer scholarships and more expanded programs," Hahn said. "We would also like to attract more participants who not only want to learn but also do."
A slide presentation about the programs will be conducted in Edwardsville, St. Louis, and Carbondale:
• 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, Wild Oats Community Market, Ladue Rd. & Interstate 170, St. Louis
• 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, both at Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S. Kansas St., Community Room, on the lower level
• 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, Rm. 3117, Peck Hall, SIUE
• 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, Illinois Room, SIU Carbondale's Student Center
Students may earn hours of credit in a variety of subjects for participating, and may apply for financial aid through the university. Both programs offer a blend of archaeological site visits each morning, with free afternoons for relaxing, swimming and shopping, and a lecture series in the evening before dinner, Hahn said. "Our travel programs provide five-star accommodations all the way."
The programs' Web site is: www.siu.edu/~nmc/hahn/origins.html. Those interested also may contact SIUE Professor Nancy Ruff by e-mail: nruff@siue.edu, or by calling: (618) 650-3649 for more information.
Exhibition at SIUE Offers Some Valentine's Day Snooker
You might not think of an appearance by the "Duchess of Doom" as a great place for a Valentine's Day date, but look at it this way: Do you want the standard box of chocolates, or the world's best snooker?
Snooker, nine ball, and trick shots will be the order of the day as Allison Fisher, one of the world's best pool players, with a host of national and world titles, will put on an exhibition from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, in the Morris Center's Recreation Center.
.Fisher began playing pool when she was 12 years old and won her first World Snooker Championship at 17. Since then, she has made a name for herself playing snooker and nine-ball, and lately can be seen frequently in pool tournaments on ESPN.
Fisher's appearance coincides with the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) Region 9 Recreation Tournament being held Feb. 13-15 at SIUE. Several hundred college students from across the region will compete in bowling, pool, and table tennis with the winners going on to national finals.
Fisher was born in England and now resides in Charlotte, N.C. She once held the top ranking on the women's tour for five consecutive years, and returned to the top spot in 2003.
She's not the first world champion pool player to play at the Morris Center. In 1967, when the center opened, 14-time world champion Willie Musconi played an exhibition.
Professor To Participate In German Language Leadership Program
Belinda Carstens-Wickham, a professor of Foreign Languages and Literature and chair of that department, has been selected to participate in a leadership program in the field of German language education.
The American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut established a program, Transatlantisches interkulturelles Nachwuchsfoerderungsprogramm Deutsch als Fremdsprache (Transatlantic Intercultural Program To Support Faculty Teaching German as a Foreign Language), designed to build future leaders in the field of teaching German. This program, now in its fourth year, is funded through the German government.
Carstens-Wickham, who has taught German at the university since 1989, will take part in the program with other participants who will strengthen their leadership skills, develop strategies for advocating German at all levels of instruction, and deepen their understanding of Germany and the European Union. Participants will also learn more about the activities of the AATG and the broader field of world languages.
Program participants will attend an orientation meeting in Washington D.C. from April 22-25. This summer, they will take part in seminars in Germany, and they also will attend the AATG Annual Meeting in Chicago in November.
SIUE Women's Golf Ranked 13th Nationally
With a 2003 Great Lakes Valley Conference championship in the bag, the SIUE women's golf team will begin its spring season ranked 13th in the nation among NCAA Division II schools, according to a coaches poll on www.thegolfchannel .com.
SIUE is coming off its best season in the history of the program. The Cougars dominated the GLVC Championships to win by 17 strokes. Kallie Harrison (Decatur) and Katie Farrell (Princeton) were both tabbed All-GLVC, and SIUE coach Larry Bennett was named Coach of the Year in the conference.
The Cougars open its spring schedule in March 15-16 at the Lady Emerald Invitational in Greenville, S.C., in hopes of making a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Men's Basketball Plays Host To USI, UMSL
With only three conference games left on the schedule and a fifth-place standing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the SIUE men's basketball team is on its way to its first GLVC Tournament appearance since the 1998-1999 season.
SIUE, 13-10 overall and 9-8 in the GLVC, will entertain 16th-ranked Southern Indiana on Thursday (2/19) and Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday (2/21). Both games will be held at the Vadalabene Center.
Southern Indiana (19-4, 12-4 GLVC) has scored over 113 points in each of its past two games and is battling with Lewis for a conference championship. "It's not like you can take away one or two things from Southern Indiana and expect to win," Coach Marty Simmons said. "They can beat you in many different ways."
Missouri-St. Louis (9-14, 5-11 GLVC) has won three of its last five games to position itself for a possible appearance in the GLVC Tournament. "I don't like to look ahead, but I know UMSL is playing good basketball," Simmons said. "They have had some good wins recently."
The Cougars defeated Northern Kentucky last Thursday (2/12), thanks to a 40-foot three-pointer at the buzzer by Calvin Sykes (Chicago). "I'm proud of the team because we battled back and gave ourselves a chance to win," Simmons said. "To see the emotion after Sykes' shot was outstanding."
Sykes powered SIUE with 19 points Saturday (2/14) at Bellarmine, but SIUE dropped the contest as Bellarmine hit 71.7 percent of its shots.
Tyler Hackstadt leads the squad with 12.2 points per game. Ron Jones follows with 11.6 ppg and a team-high 44.7 three-point field goal percentage. Sykes averages 11.3 ppg and has a team-high 84 assists.
Women's Basketball Gears For Three-Game Homestand
With its remaining three games all at the Vadalabene Center, the SIUE women's basketball team is poised to make a run at qualifying for the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament.
SIUE, 10-14 overall and 5-12 in the GLVC, will face Southern Indiana on Thursday before playing host to Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday (2/21).
Southern Indiana (16-7, 9-7 GLVC) has mathematically qualified for the tournament, but Missouri-St. Louis (6-17, 3-13 GLVC) is currently on the outside looking in. "We've been fighting all season and every game has been important," Coach Wendy Hedberg said. "Depending on what happens Thursday, Saturday's game against UMSL could be a big matchup. We will come ready to play."
The Cougars are coming off road loses to Northern Kentucky and Bellarmine. "This was the hardest I've seen them play in a while; both NKU and Bellarmine are just quality teams," Hedberg said. "We battled hard at NKU and got off to a slow start at Bellarmine, but battled back to get into the game."
SIUE shot poorly in both games, hitting 38 percent against NKU and 35.7 percent against Bellarmine. "We are just missing too many shots near the basket," Hedberg said. "We need to knock down our open looks."
Jessica Robert (Carlyle) continues to lead the team with 14.6 points per game. Post players Tanya Guell (Plymouth, Wis.) and Julianne McMillen (Pana) follow with 12.8 and 10.9 ppg, respectively.
No. 20 Softball Opens In Georgia
The two-time defending Great Lakes Valley Conference champions will open their 2004 campaign with five games in two days at the West Georgia Tournament in Carrollton, Ga., this weekend.
SIUE plays West Alabama, West Florida and Georgia Southwestern on Friday (2/20), then West Georgia and Lincoln Memorial on Saturday (2/21).
It will be the first true competition for the Cougars since the fall season. Due to the weather, SIUE has yet to have had a practice outdoors. "We'll be ready by Friday," Coach Sandy Montgomery said. "We haven't seen a few live scenarios, but I think we're talented enough to work through it."
The opening tournament of the season will give players on the squad an opportunity to work for some playing time, but Montgomery realizes that every win is important. "We play to win every game," she said. "The team knows they have been practicing for playing time. They'll get an opportunity to play and we'll make our decisions on positions at that point."
Men's Tennis Opens At The Principia Invite
With five of its players returning from a year ago, the SIUE men's tennis team will open play this weekend at The Principia Invitational in Elsah.
The round-robin tournament begins Friday and will conclude Saturday. "This is a good warm-up to start the season," Coach Bill Logan said. "This tournament gives us a chance to get things rolling."
Newcomer Matt Warner (Arlington Hts.), a transfer from Midwestern State, will compete at No. 1 singles. Matt Kuban (Pekin) will play No. 2 singles. Warner and Kuban will team up to make the No. 1 doubles team.
At No. 3 singles, Logan will get a look at newcomer Justin Free (Danville). Andy Renner (Belleville) returns to the No. 4 slot, with Chris Rigdon (Glen Carbon) playing No. 5 and Doug Kummer (Fenton, Mo.) rounding out the lineup at No. 6 singles.
Rigdon and Daniel Lipe (Edwardsville) will play No. 2 doubles, with Free and Kummer competing at No. 3 doubles.
Track Teams Split For Weekend Action
The SIUE track and field team will be scattered this weekend, with some athletes participating at Indiana University and some at the Friday Night Special at Eastern Illinois.
"Only a handful of athletes will participate at Indiana University, giving them a chance to drop some qualifying times," Coach Darryl Frerker said. "The bulk of the team will be going to EIU."
Callie Glover (Bartlett) provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in the shot put with a throw of 53 feet, 5.75 inches at the Lewis Invitational.
Richard Skirball (Granite City), who has provisionally qualified in the men's 800-meter, dropped his time to 1 minute, 53.38 seconds. On the women's side, Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) dropped her time in the 55-meter hurdles to a school record 8.41 seconds.
Overall, Frerker was impressed with his team's performance at the Lewis Invitational. "It was a great meet for us," Frerker said. "It was a continuation of what the first few weeks have shown."
This weekend marks the final competition before the Great Lakes Valley Conference Indoor Championships, which will be held Feb. 28 at Lewis University. "Every weekend gets just a little better for us," Frerker said. "If we keep it up, we'll have a shot at the GLVC Championships."
Wrestling Travels To EIU, Central Oklahoma
SIUE wrestling will conclude its regular season this week with duals at Eastern Illinois and Central Oklahoma. It is the last competition before the Midwest Regional on Feb. 29.
The Cougars, who are 7-11 in dual matches, travel to EIU Wednesday (2/18) before heading to Central Oklahoma on Saturday (2/21).
The NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association currently ranks Central Oklahoma second in the nation. "The Central Oklahoma match is important because they are in our region,"
Coach Booker Benford said. "It is important to bump off some of those guys to get higher seeds in the regional."
Eastern Illinois, who competes in NCAA Division I, will come into the match with a 4-9 dual record. "EIU is very stacked this year," Benford said. "We have competed well with them these past few years, but had to give up points because of forfeits."
SIUE is coming off the CMSU Dual Jamboree, where it went 1-3 as a team. Steve Chico (Hammond, Ind.) was the only Cougar to win all four matches.
Basketball Cougars Look to Continue Hot Streak
After enjoying a three-game home stand that resulted in three Great Lakes Valley Conference victories, the SIUE basketball Cougars will take to the road to try to continue their string of wins.
The Cougars, 12-9 overall and 8-7 in the GLVC, travel to face Northern Kentucky on Thursday (2/12) and Bellarmine on Saturday (2/14).
SIUE is currently fifth in the conference standings, but Thursday's opponent NKU is a half-game back in sixth place. Bellarmine has dropped four straight and is currently 10th in the GLVC. The top eight teams advance to the conference tournament in March. "In a conference battle like this, all games are equally important," Coach Marty Simmons said. "It all goes back to the theory that you take one game at a time."
SIUE defeated both teams earlier this season. The Cougars broke NKU's string of 14 consecutive victories against the Cougars with a 81-75 victory at the Vadalabene Center. SIUE topped Bellarmine 68-53 in the GLVC home-opener earlier this year.
Tyler Hackstadt (Okawville) is averaging a team-high 12.6 points per game. He scored a team-high 17 points in SIUE's win against Wisconsin-Parkside. "Tyler plays hard and is asked to do so many things," Simmons said. "He is probably more consistent than anyone."
Joel Jaye (Chicago) has given the Cougars a big boost off the bench. He is averaging 10.5 ppg even though he has yet to start a game. He also leads active SIUE players with 5.3 rebounds a game. "Joel gives you the option of bringing energy into a game from an offensive standpoint," Simmons said. "He is almost like a sixth starter. He has accepted his role and has done a good job with it."
Ron Jones (Kankakee) is second on the team with 12.1 points per game. Calvin Sykes (Chicago) is averaging 10.5 ppg while leading the team with 78 assists.
Records Continue To Fall
Numerous SIUE indoor track and field records were broken last weekend at Illinois Wesleyan's Titan Open, bringing the season total to 17 records broken thus far.
Overall, the women's team won the meet with 145.16 points, well ahead of second-place Illinois Wesleyan who totaled 106 points. It is the first indoor team win for the Cougars since the 1999 season. The men's squad placed second in the meet.
Perhaps more important, the Cougars gained three NCAA provisional qualifying marks this weekend on the women's side. Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) provisionally qualified in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.43 seconds. Breanne Steffens' (Moline) time of 2 minutes, 16.15 seconds put her on the qualifying list in the 800 meters.
The Cougars' 4x400-meter relay team of Valerie Simmons (St. Louis), Jenny Jaquez (Aurora), Julia Scherer (Sumner) and Shevon Shegog (Anchorage, Alaska) also provisionally qualified with a time of 3:54.99. All qualifying times also broke the school record in the respective event. Thomas also broke the triple jump school record with a jump of 11.39 meters.
On the men's side, the distance medley relay team broke the school record with a time of 10:18.16. Making up the relay team were Ryan Boyll (Normal), Cody Ellermeyer (Duquoin), Richard Skirball (Granite City) and Brian Taghon (East Moline).
Both teams will try to continue their success when they travel to Lewis University on Friday (2/13) for the Lewis Invitational. "We added this meet to our schedule for several reasons," Coach Darryl Frerker said. "First, it is one of the few meets that run the 200-meter hurdles, which will be run at the conference meet. Second, it will be good for the young athletes to get experience on the track, because it is where the GLVC Championships will be held."
Women's Tennis Begins Spring Season
The SIUE women's tennis team will open its spring schedule this weekend when five individuals participate in the Principia Invitational in Elsah.
Singles competition will be held Friday (2/13), with doubles action taking place Saturday (2/14). Coach Bill Logan hopes his team can build on its performance during the fall semester. "I really thought the team did well last year although we finished fifth," Logan said. "We had numerous close matches and could have easily placed better."
Gina Wohltman (Effingham), who led the team in the fall with 11 victories, will be one of five SIUE participants in the Principia Invitational. Lisa Warner (Arlington Hts.), Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) and Allison Coats (Belleville) also will try to build on their impressive fall season. Celia Montes (Chicago) will make her Cougar debut at the tournament. "This is a tournament with good competition and is a great tournament to start off the spring season," Logan said.
During the fall, the Cougars played to a 9-5 overall record and a 5-4 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Rujawitz Picks Up Win No. 30
Joe Rujawitz (Belleville) picked up his 30th victory of the season Saturday (2/7) in a 2-1 overtime win over Central Missouri's Jesse Zeugin.
"A 30-win season means you are doing good things for yourself and the team," Coach Booker Benford said. "He really showed a lot of heart out there in that match."
Over the past few seasons, only SIUE's elite has surpassed the 30-win plateau, including NCAA national qualifiers Zach Stephens and Titus Taylor. However, things were not as glorious from a team standpoint. The Cougars dropped the Central Missouri match 24-19 before falling to Northern Illinois 49-0 Sunday evening.
SIUE, which now posts a 6-8 dual record on the season, will travel to Central Missouri for the CMSU Dual Jamboree. Other teams expected to enter the tournament are Southwest State, Indianapolis, Northern State and Fort Hays State. "Hopefully we can pick up two or three wins, but we will have to wrestle tough to do so," Benford said. "I told the team I was proud of their performance this past weekend. There were just a few small things that cost us points. This is all part of gearing up for nationals."
Women's Basketball Looks To Build On Victory
With its win Saturday (2/7) against Saint Joseph's, SIUE remains in the hunt for post-season play. The Cougars defeated Saint Joseph's 77-69 to solidify its eighth-place position in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings. The top eight teams advance to the GLVC Tournament in March.
SIUE, 10-12 overall and 5-10 in GLVC action, will travel to Northern Kentucky on Thursday and Bellarmine on Saturday 2/14) for two GLVC contests. Coach Wendy Hedberg hopes the SJC victory will give her players a boost. "I thought coming off our win against Southern Indiana a few weeks ago would be a lift, but it wasn't," Hedberg said. "Hopefully, this win will give our players some confidence."
Julianne McMillen (Pana) recorded her sixth double-double on the season with 10 points and 10 boards against Saint Joseph's. Jessica Robert (Carlyle) poured in a season-high 23 points.
Jaque Howard (Galesburg), who prior to Saturday's game scored only six points in her last 12 games, came up big with 13 points which including four three-point field goals. "Hopefully, that will give Jaque some confidence to shoot the ball," Hedberg said. "She is a great passer, so sometimes she passes before she looks to shoot. We have not been taking enough shots lately."
Northern Kentucky enters Thursday's game with a record of 13-7 overall and 8-6 in the GLVC. It has lost its last two games, including a defeat to 5-16 Missouri-St. Louis. Bellarmine is 14-7 and 10-5 in GLVC play. "NKU will be tough, especially coming off two losses," Hedberg said. "I think we can play with them, and they are beatable as proven at UMSL."
Robert continues to lead the team in scoring with 14.8 ppg. Her 52.7 three-point field-goal percentage should be near the top in the nation when updated NCAA statistics are released Tuesday (2/10). Tanya Guell (Plymouth, Wis.) is second with 12.5 ppg. McMillen averages 11.1 ppg and leads the team with 7.7 boards per game.
'Adventure Of The American Mind' Helps Teachers In The Region
SIUE is in its second year of offering the Adventure of the American Mind (AAM), a project funded through the Library of Congress to prepare teachers to use the Library's American Memory Web site (memory.loc.gov).
In fact, the program has received $600,000 in additional federal funding to continue the program another two years, with the help of U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), who initiated the program in the state of Illinois.
Through the AAM program, teachers can find not only interesting historical information on the Web site, but also may download historic images to help make learning more vivid for their students. The Library of Congress Web site provides 7.5 million historical items presented in more than 100 thematic collections, including photographs and rare documents, maps, films, and audio recordings.
AAM Program Manager Amy Wilkinson, of the SIUE School of Education, said the program helps teachers analyze and interpret original primary sources of information from the Web site. "Within the AAM program, teachers will learn how to download photographs taken during the civil rights era or letters written by Thomas Jefferson or George Washington, or even motion picture films from Edison Co. showing us life on the streets of New York in the early 1900s," Wilkinson said.
She explained the program is for in-service and pre-service classroom teachers, as well as for university teacher education faculty, to access and produce curriculum using the Web site's resources. "This program offers training on integrating technology, using digitized primary sources, resources, and technical support," Wilkinson said, "and provides resources such as laptops, LCD projectors, scanners, and digital cameras. We also have a technical specialist who offers a wide range of technical assistance."
Wilkinson said the AAM program involves a commitment to attend courses during one academic year, which includes three components-training (graduate course), enrichment (workshops), and mentoring. "Through the AAM program," she said, "teachers develop skills in using these primary sources to increase student's critical thinking skills and to enhance student learning.
"As technology continues to evolve, there is a need for educators to increase their technology skills to access rich educational information on the internet."
School of Education Dean Elliott Lessen said SIUE became involved in AAM because of the "unique opportunities" that were available. "The program is unique because it relies on primary source materials that have been digitized rather than pre-digested materials, such as textbooks," Lessen pointed out. "Thus, teachers' creativity is allowed to flourish as they use primary source materials in a variety of ways. For example, one source could be used differently for math or science, or history or English.
"Through the AAM program, we are able to teach a course for graduate students and also infuse the unique features of AAM into our undergraduate teacher education programs," Lessen said.
For more information about the AAM program at SIUE, call the School of Education, (618) 650-3350.
SLSO Returns To SIUE As Part Of Arts & Issues Series
Although it was a fixture at the Mississippi River Festival during the 1970s, the world renowned Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has only returned to the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville twice since the summer festival's heyday.
The acclaimed ensemble's presence on the SIUE campus has been as rare as, well, Leap Day, so, what better day to enjoy this magnificent organization on campus again than Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. in Meridian Ballroom.
"Don't hesitate to 'leap'at the chance to hear again-or for the first time-one of the world's most applauded symphonic orchestras," says John Peecher, assistant development director for SIUE's College of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of the Arts & Issues series. "All joking aside, this orchestra is world class and is a wonderfully musical way to spend a winter's afternoon.
"Arts & Issues is proud to bring the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra to SIUE in a return engagement on our stage."
A familiar presence for many years in the recording industry, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has met with critical acclaim and has garnered nearly 60 Grammy nominations, winning six of the prestigious music awards. The orchestra has expanded its audience through frequent tours of the United States, including both coasts, as well as tours to Europe and to the Far East.
In addition, the orchestra has played at Carnegie Hall in New York City and has been featured regularly on National Public Radio, both locally and nationally.
Information about the Feb. 29 appearance of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and how to order tickets may be found on the Arts & Issues Web site: artsandissues.com and in a printed brochure available through John Peecher, (618) 650-2626, or, by e-mail: jpeeche@siue.edu. Tickets for the event are $18; students, $9. Tickets also are available at the Morris Center Information Desk, (618) 650-5555.
The remaining Arts & Issues season includes: National Geographic photographer Sam Abell, who will speak about the Lewis and Clark Expedition (March 16); the explosive and creative movement of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (April 2); and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer (April 20).
Ford Foundation Grant Funds Assessment Planning At SIUE
Thanks to a $9,000 grant from the Ford Foundation through the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), SIUE will be assessing the region's needs for two new professional master's degrees in the Social Sciences and Humanities, according to Stephen Hansen, dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
The two new graduate programs are Professional and Technical Writing and Criminal Justice Studies. "SIUE is one of only 38 institutions to receive funding for a planning grant from the Ford Foundation," Hansen said.
"These degrees are designed to meet the changing needs of the area's workforce. In order to ensure that the new programs will be meeting area workforce needs, each program will create a Business Advisory Board, modeled after other such boards for other SIUE programs," Hansen said.
"The Graduate School, through its Institute for Urban Research, will be working with these Business Advisory Boards to survey workforce needs in the area."
Hansen said SIUE graduate programs are developed with the region's needs in mind, making the university a good match for funding from the Ford Foundation. "For the past two years, the CGS has supported the development of professional master's programs in science and mathematics fields," Hansen said. "SIUE received funding for the new Biotechnology Management and Environmental Science Management programs from CGS and the Sloan Foundation."
With support from the Ford Foundation, CGS recently conducted a survey of master's education in the social sciences that generated interest among social science and humanities disciplinary societies for a collaborative research and demonstration project that assesses the need for and promising models of professional master's programs.
Professional master's degrees are interdisciplinary in design and typically combine study in various disciplines. The SIUE Professional and Technical Writing program would be housed in the Department of English Language and Literature, with students taking courses in such other disciplines as business. The Criminal Justice Studies program would be located within the SIUE Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies, with students taking courses is such other disciplines as biology, psychology, and anthropology.
"Funding from the Ford Foundation and the Council of Graduate Schools is important national recognition of the quality of graduate education at SIUE," Hansen said.
Noting that graduate programs at SIUE are designed to be responsive to the needs of Southwestern Illinois, Hansen added: "We are excited that this grant will allow us to expand our program inventory by supporting the development of two new graduate programs that serve the region."
Board Approves Robert Remini For Honorary Doctorate At Commencement
Robert Vincent Remini, a history professor emeritus at the University of Illinois-Chicago and official historian for that campus, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during SIUE's May 8 commencement, according to action taken recently by the SIU Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting conducted in February at SIUE.
Honorary degrees have been awarded for more than 40 years at SIUE commencement exercises to those who have made significant contributions to cultural, educational, scientific, economic, social, or humanitarian fields, or other worthy fields of endeavor.
Remini is regarded as America's premier historian of the Jacksonian political era and of Andrew Jackson himself. In addition to his definitive works on Jackson, Remini, an award-winning author, has written biographies of John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Mormon leader Joseph Smith, Martin Van Buren, and Daniel Webster. In 2002, Remini was honored by the Library of Congress with an appointment to write a narrative history of the U.S. House of Representatives.
A member of the faculty at the U of I-Chicago since its inception in 1965, Remini earned a bachelor's at Fordham University and went on to receive a master's and a doctorate from Columbia University. He taught at Fordham for 18 years before joining the U of I history faculty at the Chicago campus, where he has served as a teacher and administrator.
In other business at the February meeting, the SIU Board approved a new fee for all predoctoral students at the SIU School of Dental Medicine to cover maintenance and updating of clinical training facilities, associated dental and sterilization equipment, and classroom and laboratory equipment.
The new fee-$1,600 each for fall and spring semesters and a pro-rated $711 fee for summer clinic sessions preceding years three and four of the curriculum-will go into effect in fall 2004.
Business Educators To Visit SIUE During International Week March 1-6
Business educators from four countries will visit Southern Illinois University Edwardsville during International Business Week, March 1-6, to discuss issues of trade and global business practices.
The SIUE School of Business and the SIUE International Trade Center are co-sponsoring events during the week to provide opportunities for students and for the general public to discuss global business practices with the international educators as well as regional business leaders from the community.
Events are sponsored, in part, by a grant from the SIUE Excellence in Undergraduate Education fund.
The four visiting faculty members are Albrecht Sonntag, on the faculty at the École Supérieure des Sciences Commerciales d'Angers, who specializes in the political economy of the European Union; Hans Gühlert, on the faculty of Fachhochschule Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Germany, who specializes in marketing and marketing research; Sara Isabel García, on the faculty of the Instituto Tecnológico Y De Estudios Superiores De Monterrey in Mexico, who has expertise in marketing, with specialties in advertising, sales promotion, marketing planning, and business ethics; and Chen Yan, associate professor in the International Trade Department at Xiamen University in China.
They will be joined in a March 1 panel discussion by Rick Dreyer, vice president of international sales at T.J. Gundlach Machine Company in Belleville, and Stewart Dahlberg, manager of export sales at J.D. Streett & Company Inc. in St. Louis. The panel discussion is set for 6:30 p.m. in the Maple-Dogwood Room, on the second floor of SIUE's Morris University Center. Topics will include international trade and the state of international business.
Admission is free to the general public, but reservations are requested.
Please contact Vivien Shao by e-mail: yshao@siue.edu or by telephone, (618) 650- 2452, to register and reserve seating.
The international faculty members also will speak to faculty, staff, and students from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Room 2401 of Alumni Hall on Tuesday, March 2. This session, part of the School of Business' weekly "Business Hour," will provide students with a greater knowledge of and appreciation for the global business environment and how social, legal, political, cultural, and economic forces shape business practices in various countries.
The SIUE School of Business is an active participant in international exchange programs and sends SIUE faculty and students to study overseas each year.
SIUE Presents Black Heritage Month Activities During February
SIUE is presenting its Seventh Annual Black Heritage Month Program during February, with its theme of Black History is American History. Below is a remaining calendar of events:
• Black Film Series: A Historic Perspective-6-10 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 23-24, presents screening of films directed by Oscar Micheaux (Lying Lips, 1939), Gordon Parks (The Learning Tree, 1969), Reginald and Warrington Hudlin of East St. Louis (The Great White Hype, 1996), and a fourth film to be announced. Elza Ibroscheva and Bala Baptiste, members of the SIUE Mass Communications faculty, will present a conceptualization of African-American films and filmmakers.
• Panel Discussion: Blacks, Radio and History, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Goshen Lounge. Local radio talk show hosts and on-air personalities will participate in the discussion.
• Lecture-Are We Still Living Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream?-7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, Maple-Dogwood Room, Morris Center. Former Washington Post reporter Leon Dash will lead the discussion..
• Black Heritage Month Quiz Bowl, 11:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, in Goshen.
• Gospel Explosion-6:30-10 p.m., Meridian Ballroom. This event features poetry, rap, praise dance, and gospel music.
For more information, call the SIUE Kimmel Leadership Center, (618) 650-2686.
Men's Basketball Set for GLVC Tournament
It has been five seasons since the SIUE men's basketball team has made an appearance at Roberts Stadium for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
It will be Coach Marty Simmons' first time back in Roberts Stadium since becoming SIUE's leader last season. Simmons was an assistant coach at the University of Evansville.
Nostalgia aside, Simmons takes his team into the league tournament beaming with enthusiasm and confidence. The Cougars hold a three-game winning streak. Their most recent victory was a homecourt upset of 14th-ranked Lewis 78-76 on Saturday (2/28). "That was a big win. It was what we had talked about before the game. Everything was dedicated to our seniors," Simmons said, referring to Corey Bradford (Chicago), Ron Jones (Kankakee) and Dan Lytle (Edwardsville).
Joel Jaye (Chicago) led all scorers with 28 points in the win.
SIUE, 16-11 and the No. 5 seed in the tournament, faces fourth-seeded Indianapolis in the first round on Friday (3/5) at noon.
Despite losing to Indianapolis twice during the regular season, Simmons said the team's one-game-at-a-time attitude remains. "Our guys are playing with confidence, but it all comes down to execution," said Simmons.
The Cougars will face an Indianapolis team, 19-8, searching for win No. 20 on Friday. Simmons said Indianapolis has a veteran squad led by David Logan. "They have a marquee player in Logan, but some of their supporting cast would be marquee players on other teams," Simmons said.
A win for the Cougars could put SIUE in the hunt for one of the region's eight bids to the NCAA Tournament. This week's regional rankings will be announced later this week and could give SIUE an indication of what needs to be done at the GLVC Tournament in order to gain an NCAA bid. The winner of the GLVC Tournament receives an automatic bid to the 64-team NCAA Tournament.
SIUE boasts a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging double figures led by Tyler Hackstadt (Okawville), Calvin Sykes (Chicago), Jones, and Jaye. The Cougars also lead the GLVC in scoring defense at 65.2 points per game.
Women's Basketball Faces Quincy
SIU Edwardsville Coach Wendy Hedberg and her women's basketball team have the task of playing top-seeded Quincy in the first round of the GLVC Tournament.
The Cougars, 11-16, face Quincy, 23-4, at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday (3/4).
Hedberg said the key to Thursday's game is to create better passing angles into the post players and apply pressure on Quincy's guards. Hedberg said the Cougars also have been passing up open shots at the basket hoping to create a better shot. "Everybody has to step it up a little bit," said Hedberg. "Once we get the ball inside, we need to finish inside."
Despite the Cougars' No. 8 seed in the league tournament, Hedberg believes the Cougars can overcome the odds of upsetting the top seed. "Quincy is a good team, but I think we can play with them if we put two good halves together," said Hedberg.
Senior guard Jessica Robert (Carlyle) enters her final GLVC Tournament leading SIUE with a 13.9 scoring average. Junior forward Tanya Guell (Plymouth, Wis.) follows with a 12.7 scoring average. Freshman Julianne McMillen (Pana) holds a 10.3 scoring average.
Track Waits For NCAA Nods
After celebrating a first-ever Great Lakes Valley Conference championship for indoor track on both the men's and women's side, Coach Darryl Frerker now has an extra bonus.
Several Cougars have made the provisional qualifying list for the NCAA Championships in Boston on March 12-13.
Frerker, named the GLVC's Coach of the Year for men's indoor track and women's indoor track, said he expects Richard Skirball (Granite City), Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) and Callie Glover (Bartlett) to be on the entry list when it is announced later this week.
The top 12 performances in each event are invited to the national meet.
Frerker said Tairisha Sawyer (Chicago) also could make the trip with a little luck. Sawyer is 15th in the 60-meter dash, but with scratches to the meet and student-athletes who compete in multiple events, the possibility exists.
Skirball holds the 11th fastest time in the country at 800 meters. Thomas, the women's Freshman of the Year, is seventh in the 60-meter hurdles and 13th in the triple jump. Because she'll already be in attendance for the hurdles event, Frerker said, the meet committee will likely let her compete in the triple jump as well. Glover is tied for 11th in the shot put. "This is the most people we have had on the provisional list by a long shot," said Frerker.
That list also includes Brittany Reeves (Hanover Park), Breanne Steffens (Moline), and the women's 4 x 400-meter relay team. On the men's side, provisional qualifying marks also were made by Lee Weeden (Ferguson, Mo.), Cody Ellermeyer (DuQuoin) and Marvell Seals (Florissant, Mo.).
Baseball Opens Season 0-4
The SIUE baseball team must dig out of a four-game deficit after two losses to both Missouri Southern State and Grand Valley State this past weekend.
"We mixed in errors when we didn't need them," said SIUE Coach Gary Collins. "We tried to play everyone this weekend, but we just didn't take very good at-bats," said Collins.
Brad Scott (Benld) and Luke Humphrey (Rantoul) led the team with five hits each for the Cougars. Collins said despite the four losses that the SIUE pitching staff held up well. The staff completed the four-game series with a 2.01 earned run average.
SIUE has its first home contest of the season on Wednesday (3/3) when it entertains Lincoln in a noon doubleheader. The Cougars then head to Savannah, Ga., for their annual spring break trip. SIUE has six games scheduled in Savannah before returning to the grueling 40-game conference schedule which begins March 13 at home against Saint Joseph's
Collins said he'll use the trip to Georgia as an opportunity to fine-tune the team to get ready for the league season. "With a 40-game schedule, if we don't finish in the top two or three, we probably don't belong in the (NCAA) regional tournament," Collins said.
Softball Starts Over In Florida
After a 2-3 start to the 2004 season, Coach Sandy Montgomery and her SIU Edwardsville softball team will travel to Orlando, Fla., for the Rebel Spring Games.
SIUE has 10 games from March 8 to March 13 and hopes to use the opportunity to get a fresh start on the season. "I'm looking for us to play more consistent and build confidence," Montgomery said.
Shannon Evans (Manhattan) led the Cougars with a .571 batting average. Evans played four games behind the plate for SIUE. VJ (Veronica) Schmidt (Westmont) also came up with some big hits.
Montgomery also expressed confidence in the team's pitching staff despite a 3.17 earned run average to begin the season.
"Even though our pitching staff had a hard time, they've got a lot of potential," she said.
Women's Tennis Face MacMurray
The SIU Edwardsville women's tennis team will hope to continue its successful spring season when it plays MacMurray on Friday (3/5). The match will be held at 2 p.m. in Elsah at The Principia College.
The Cougars, 11-5 overall and 2-0 in the spring season, picked up wins last week against Illinois-Springfield and the University of Chicago. "They are doing well," Coach Bill Logan said. "I'm proud that they did what they had to do to get those wins."
Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) won both of her singles matches against Illinois-Springfield and Chicago. Every singles player got at least one win in the two matches.
The doubles tandem of Coryn Reich (Newton) and Yingst went 2-0 on the week, as well as the team of Gina Wohltman (Effingham) and Allison Coats (Belleville).
Men's Tennis Searches For First Win
The SIU Edwardsville men's tennis team will vie for its first win of the season when it travels to The Principia College to face MacMurray College. First serve is scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
SIUE, which is 0-2 on the season, dropped a 6-3 decision to Western Illinois last Saturday (2/28) at King's Point in Belleville.
Matt Kuban (Pekin), Andy Renner (Belleville) and Chris Rigdon (Glen Carbon) all picked up victories in singles play, but SIUE was shutout in doubles action in three close matches. Western Illinois edged the Cougars by the scores of 8-6 in No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, and used a tiebreaker to come out on top in No. 3 doubles.
"We need these beginning matches to work out some kinks," Coach Bill Logan said. "We're a good team and will do much better as the season progresses."
Including the MacMurray match, SIUE still has nine matches to prepare for the Great Lakes Valley Conference portion of its schedule, which begins March 23.
Men's Basketball Battles Lincoln, Lewis
SIU Edwardsville men's basketball will travel outside of conference play when it plays host to Lincoln University on Wednesday (2/25). It then wraps up its regular season schedule on Saturday (2/28) against Lewis at the Vadalabene Center.
Lincoln, an NCAA Division II team in the Heartland Conference, comes into the contest with a 3-19 overall record. Wednesday's tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. "We're going to treat it just like a conference game," Coach Marty Simmons said. "They are going to come in and try to beat us."
The Cougars then face Lewis at 3 p.m. Saturday. Lewis has clinched at least a share of the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season title. It can clinch the title outright with a win Thursday (2/26) at Quincy or a win against SIUE.
For the first time since the 1998-1999 season, SIUE will be involved in the eight-team GLVC Tournament. Currently, the Cougars are sixth in the conference standings, a half game behind fifth-seeded Saint Joseph's. "That was one of our goals coming into the season," Simmons said. "After achieving the goal of reaching, you want to try to win it."
Saturday's game against Lewis will mark a sendoff to SIUE's two seniors, Ron Jones (Kankakee) and Corey Bradford (Chicago).
"Both players are great ambassadors to the program," Simmons said. "They are both quality people and it has been a joy to coach and be around them."
Jones was SIUE's leading scorer last season and is currently averaging 11.6 points per game. "Jones has had an outstanding career at SIUE," Simmons said. "I am lucky to have been able to coach him."
Bradford had last season cut short after a foot injury, but he fought back and has seen action in 19 games so far this year. "Corey battles through adversity as well as anybody," Simmons said. "He worries more about the team success than any of his own accomplishments."
Women's Basketball Faces Lewis In Regular Season Finale
Already assured of an eighth-seed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, the SIU Edwardsville women's basketball team will face Lewis Saturday (2/28) at the Vadalabene Center. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
The Cougars, 11-15 overall and 6-13 in the GLVC, are coming off an 80-54 win against Missouri-St. Louis. "We went back to playing the way we are capable of," Hedberg said of her team's performance against UMSL. "It nice to put some points on the board and see some emotion and intensity. They knew their backs were against the wall, and they stepped it up."
Lewis, who has clinched a tournament berth but is still jockeying for position, comes into the week with a 15-10 record overall and a 12-6 mark in GLVC play. "We need to worry about what we are doing and execute," Hedberg said. "You would like to go into the conference tournament after playing a good game."
Saturday also will mark the final home game for SIUE's four seniors, Kristen Boss (Carrollton), Jaque Howard (Galesburg), Jessica Robert (Carlyle) and Sarah Schweers (Chatham).
Boss has played in 76 games in her career, averaging 3.6 points per game. She will end her career sixth on SIUE's all-time blocks list with 49. "Over her four years in the program she has done some nice things for us," Hedberg said. "She helped solidify the post position for us."
Howard has played 95 games throughout her four-year career, and she has contributed in a big way recently. "Jaque sees the floor well and is a great passer," Hedberg said. "As of late, she has really stepped it up and hit some big shots for us when we needed them."
Robert became the 16th player in school history to surpass the 1,000-point plateau. She is having one of her best years offensively, averaging 14.3 points per game. "Jessica has been a solid player all four years here," Hedberg said. "This year, we asked her to step up, and she has done that with her overall game."
Schweers is second all-time on SIUE's three-point field goals made list. She is also having one of her best years, averaging just less than eight points a game. "Sarah is one of the hardest working players we've had," Hedberg said. "She was a walk-on who made herself into a starter through hard work."
Track Prepares For GLVC Championships
After breaking numerous school records and posting provisional qualifying marks during the regular season, SIU Edwardsville's indoor track and field teams will attempt to claim a Great Lakes Valley Conference championship when the meet gets under way Saturday (2/28) at Lewis.
The Cougars have never won a GLVC Indoor title, but this season seems to be their best chance to do so. "Both the men's and women's team is in a position where one or both could come away with a GLVC championship," Coach Darryl Frerker said. "We are going to put ourselves in a position to score enough points to win."
The Cougars are coming off a weekend that sent some athletes to the Hoosier Hills Invitational and others to the Friday Night Special at Eastern Illinois.
Jamie Thomas (Blue Island) posted a provisional qualifying mark in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.98 seconds. She is also provisionally qualified in the 60-meter dash and triple jump.
Breanne Steffens (Moline) lowered her provisional qualifying mark in the mile with a school record time of 5 minutes, 3.60 seconds. She is also qualified in the 800-meter dash. Callie Glover (Bartlett) is a provisional qualifier in the shot put.
On the men's side, Richard Skirball (Granite City) has provisionally qualified in the 800-meter dash.
Baseball Opens At Missouri Southern
SIU Edwardsville baseball may finally get the opportunity to play outside. The Cougars will play three games against Missouri Southern and two against Grand Valley this weekend in Joplin, Mo.
The weather has prevented the Cougars from holding a practice outdoors, trading Roy E. Lee Field for the Vadalabene Center.
"We've been working hard, but its all been inside," Coach Gary Collins said. "It's hard to prepare your infielders and outfielders indoors."
Missouri Southern has played three games this season, dropping them all to Oral Roberts. Grand Valley State, ranked 10th nationally, has yet to play a game this season.
The Cougars have 10 new faces on this year's squad, and Collins is anxious to see what they can do on the playing field. "We'll probably try to play everybody," he said. "We'll be looking at the new guys to see who steps up."
Following its trip to Missouri Southern, SIUE will play host to a doubleheader with Lincoln next Wednesday (3/3) at Roy Lee Field. The Cougars then depart for a six-game trip to Carrollton, Ga.
Wrestling Prepares For Regionals
The regular season is history for SIUE's wrestling team. It will travel to Edmond, Okla., for the Midwest Regional tournament Sunday (2/29).
The top four finishers in each weight class advance to the NCAA II Championships in March. "I am counting on five or six guys to possibly qualify," Coach Booker Benford said. "It will take some upsets to do so, but they have the ability, they just have to show it on the mat."
Joe Rujawitz (Belleville), who leads the team with 34 wins, should contend in the 149-pound division. Sean Tyus (Springfield) has posted 25 wins on the season and will contend at 197 pounds. Branden Lorek (Bensenville), Steve Chico (Hammond, Ind.) and Matt Oliva (Bartlett) should also contend in their respective weight classes as well.
"We're gearing up this week," Benford said. "We are going to start practicing a little harder to set us up for our regional, which is really strong this year."
Men's Tennis Faces Western Illinois
Fresh off its first competition of the season at last weekend's Principia Invitational, SIU Edwardsville men's tennis will open its dual-match schedule Friday night (2/27) against Western Illinois. The match will be held at King's Point in Belleville.
According to Coach Bill Logan, the Cougars had a successful opening weekend. "I'm very pleased with the team's performance at Principia," Logan said. "It was probably one of our best showings in the last four years."
SIUE's two newcomers, Justin Free (Danville) and Matt Warner (Arlington Hts.), each posted 2-1 records in singles play. Doug Kummer (Fenton, Mo.) also posted a 2-1 record. The doubles tandem of Kummer and Free went 3-0 in the tournament. "The team's performance shows our guys that their hard work in the off-season is starting to pay off," Logan said.
Women's Tennis Gears For Two Matches
SIU Edwardsville's women's tennis team will face Illinois-Springfield on Friday (2/27) and the University of Chicago on Saturday (2/28). Both matches will be held at King's Point in Belleville.
The Cougars, playing in the non-traditional spring season, opened two weeks ago at the Principia Invitational. Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) won two of three matches, and teamed with Gina Wohltman (Effingham) to play to a 2-1 record in doubles action. "All and all, everyone played well at Principia," Coach Bill Logan said.
During the fall season, the Cougars played to a 9-5 overall record and a 5-4 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.