January 14, 2015

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GAME OVER GAIN

CHARLESTON ‘COSMOS’ Charleston residents flocked to Observatory for Astronomy Night even though skies were cloudy.

Chris Olivier sticks to routine and wins OVC Player of the Week. PAGE 8

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Dai ly Eastern News

THE

W W W .D A I L YE A S TE R N N E W S. C O M

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2014

VOL. 99 | NO. 76

“TELL THE TRUTH AND DON’T BE AFRAID”

Senate debates athletic spending By Stephanie Markham News Editor | @stephm202 The Athletic Department overspending its budget by $1 million last year was one issue Faculty Senate members raised while hearing a report from the Intercollegiate Athletics Board Tuesday. Senate member Jeffrey Ashley asked if the board had approved the department’s budget. “If you review the budget, did you review it two years ago when we went over by $300,000, say yeah go ahead and overspend, and then last year by $1 million?” he asked. Board member Jim Davis said the budget is a decision on the presidential level, and although the board reviews projected expenses, it does not have authority in that area. He said in the 11 years he has been on the board, he does not recall seeing a final budget from the department. “Everything that came out over the last few months was really news to us,” Davis said. “We had a long discussion in December about it; it came down to the fact that we have our assignments and that’s where our priorities lie.” Davis said the board instead has oversight over the academic integrity of the athletic program and the well being of student-athletes. He said that includes reviewing students’ GPAs and missed class times and the teams’ Academic Progress Rate, or the retention and eligibility of athletes.

FACULTY SENATE, page 5

CHYNNA MILLER| THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS

The Lincoln Book Shop located in the Charleston Square closes early Tuesday. A decrease in overall sales are causing local Charleston business owners to shut down their establishments. Despite slowed business in the area, the Lincoln Book Shop remains open for business.

Shop survives Square’s low foot traffic By Cassie Buchman City Editor|@DEN_News The Lincoln Book Shop in the Charleston Square has been in business since 1962. It was opened by Leonard Wood, a professor at Eastern, and his wife Tanya and has moved around since then, until it came to Monroe Avenue in downtown Charleston. Wendy Meyer, the current owner, has owned the bookshop for four years and is the third owner of the store since Leonard and Tanya Wood died years ago.

She describes the store as “a little step back in time.” “A lot of (the books) were already here, many of them are from when Tanya and Leonard owned the store,” she said. Many of her items are things she has collected from a variety of places, such as estate sales and donations from local patrons. “I think I have maybe 20,000 books,” she said. The shop also sells works from many local artists, including jewelry and books written by people from Charleston and surrounding areas.

As a single business owner, she says she has gotten to meet and know many new interesting people. “I have many new friends from working here.” she said. Being the sole owner of the Lincoln Book Shop also has its challenges, however. “It’s hard, having to be there (between) these times, every day. Things come up, parents need help, there’s a new grandchild in the family,” she said.

BOOK SHOP, page 6

Professors weigh in on Rauner’s speech By Luis Martinez Administration Editor| @DEN_News Bruce Rauner was officially sworn in as governor of Illinois Monday afternoon after winning the election against incumbent Pat Quinn in November, making him the 42nd governor of Illinois. During his speech, the republican governor said what he believed to be the state’s main issues, including a lack of competitiveness among other states, an unstable financial situation and a slow economy. Rauner said the reason the state’s financial condition is the way it is today is because of decades of politicians’ bad decisions. Rauner also issued his first executive order to reduce state spending for at least the next six months, including limiting certain contracts and grants. Richard Wandling, the political science department chair, said he agrees with what Rauner had said was the state’s problem. “Illinois does have shaky finances; that is a well established fact,” Wandling said. “In recent years, we’ve been running major deficits to the tune of $8 (billion) to $9 billion a year.” Wandling also said the state is infamous for its problematic budgeting. “We have a systematic structural deficit and that structural deficit is a systematic mismatch between incoming revenues and expenditures for the state,”

SUBMIT TED PHOTO

ming in some budget areas without a doubt. Jeffery Ashley, a political science professor, offered his opinion on Rauner’s address. “We clearly have a shaky economy,” Ashley said. “We lead the nation in very few things. We’re last in terms of a lot of things but in terms of in debt and owning interest, we’re number one.” Ashley also said Rauner has grasped the ramifications of being governor, unlike his predecessors. “They didn’t seem to grasp it and they were already in office,” Ashley said. “The fact that [Rauner] has gone around and met with individual legislators gives me the sense that he may have a better idea of how to govern.” During his speech, Rauner said fixing the state’s current education situation would be one of his main priorities, citing that he wants to invest “adequately” on all levels including higher education. Both professors agreed it is still too early to tell whether Rauner will have a positive or negative effect on education. Whether or not Rauner will have a successful term as governor, given the state’s history, both professors are cautiously optimistic of the future of Illinois’ new governor.

Bruce Rauner is speaks during the gubernatorial inauguration, which took place Monday. He spoke of the troubles that need to be addressed in Illinois

Wandling said. “If Governor Rauner can make some progress on that, then that would definitely

be very helpful to the state.” Wandling said he believes there will be trim-

Luis Martinez can be reached at 581-2812 or lpmartinez@eiu.edu.


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