MISSING GOALS
COMING HOME
Women’s soccer falls to Northern Kentucky for the home opener at Lakeside Field Sunday.
New students move into campus with the help of Panther Pals and ROTC.
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THE
D aily E astern N ews
Monday, August 24, 2015
“TELL THE TRUTH AND DON’T BE AFRAID ”
C E L E BRATI NG A CE NTUR Y OF COV E RA GE
19 15- 201 5
VOL. 100 | NO. 2 W W W . D A I L YE A S TE R N N E W S. C O M
Annual pep rally closes First Night before class By Mackenzie Freund City Editor |@mgfreund_news Members of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority released balloons in memory of those who have lost their lives because of social injustice. Sigma Gamma Rho performed a step routine, which included cheers as well as a tribute to the fallen, which was one of the student acts of First Night an Eastern tradition organized by student government. Eastern President David Glassman started off the night with a speech to welcome the students. The night was lead by the emcees Omar Solomon, an admissions counselor, and Ryan Alderman, a junior kinesiology and sports studies major. During the pep rally there were performances by the marching band, Pink Panthers, and the EIU Cheerleaders. The emcees, along with the Blue Crew split the crowd in half and with the help of the cheerleaders, performed a cheer off to see which side of the crowd could yell the loudest. Athletes also went up on stage to introduce themselves and their sports on campus. Shirmeen Ahmad, the student body president, said she was glad the athletes could really participate in the pep rally. The athletes participated in a competition to see who could get a cookie from their forehead to their mouths without using their hands. Glassman said that he enjoyed the spirit that came from the crowd during the pep rally. “There is so much excitement and energy,” Glassman said. “It’s wonderful to see and experience.” Towards the end of the pep rally, students were brought up on stage to participate in a dance off. “There were only supposed to be five students on stage, but 20 showed up and it worked out perfectly,” Ahmad said. While in the process of planning the pep rally, Ahmad said she wanted to get more student groups involved. “Every student is in something they really love, and they put all their heart into it and make successes, they leave their mark, and that’s what makes EIU, EIU,” Ahmad said. Mackenzie Freund can be reached at 581-2812 or mgfreund@eui.edu.
DOMINIC BAIMA | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Students dance at First Night in the South Quad. Students were introduced to Greek organizations and sports teams throughout the evening.
JASON HOWELL | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Billy the Panther dances along with the Pink Panthers before First Night kicks off on the South Quad on Sunday.
JASON HOWELL | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Catie Witt, executive vice president and Shirmeen Ahmad, student body president, welcome students to campus during First Night on Sunday on the South Quad.
Eastern sees layoffs start Police respond to reports during summer months of possible gunshots By Stephanie Markham Editor-in-Chief | @stephm202 Though sparsely populated during the summer as usual, Eastern experienced a lot of activity as news of university-wide layoffs spread across campus. President David Glassman first announced his plans for reducing expenses with layoffs on June 30. In his initial email, Glassman cited the need to avoid a projected deficit of between $12 million and $14 million based on the General Assembly’s proposed 6.5 percent cut in appropriations. Though fiscal year 2016 began July 1, legislators have yet to approve any spending bills other than elementary and secondary education and road construction for the state. Meaning, universities are left to make payments out of tuition and income funds until state appropriations come in rather than draw-
ing from both equally. This also means Eastern’s budget of about $172 million for fiscal year 2016, which the Board of Trustees approved June 26, is preliminary. Therefore, expenditures could change depending on how much money comes in from the state. Eastern’s budget predicts an 11.7 percent decrease in personnel services, down from about $107 million to $94.5 million. Glassman also stated in his initial announcement that the vice presidents would have to provide him with layoff recommendations for their areas by the end of July. The first of the layoffs came when three of the university’s electricians were let go as of July 10. Faculty layoffs were then revealed July 13, as the university was set to eliminate about 40 positions.
LAYOFFS, page 5
By Mackenzie Freund City Editor | @mgfreund_news Police responded to fights in progress after gunshots were reported around 2 a.m. Saturday near the intersection at First Street and Grant Avenue. Tweets from Coles County Scanner Feed Co-Administrator Chris Hanken said Mattoon police were assisting the Charleston Police Department who were handling fights in progress at a party of approximately 300 people. Charleston police could not confirm details and said to call for information on Monday. Dane Sauer, a senior finance major, said he heard what sounded like gunshots early that morning. “I was sitting out on my porch. I heard two gunshots go off; people were saying it was just fireworks,” Sauer said. “Two minutes later there were three more gunshots that went
off.” Sauer said he saw a large group of people running down the street and through yards. Jake Haberer, a junior communication studies major, said he walked over to see what was happening when police officers ushered him back to his house. Haberer said people who attended the party began to run through yards away from the party’s location when they heard what sounded like gunshots. “(police) asked us if we saw where they went and we said they went over there,” Haberer said, pointing in the direction of Old Main. More information will be shared as it becomes available. Mackenzie Freund can be reached at 581-2812 or at mgfreund@eiu.edu.