Eastern News
Thursday
“Tell th e t r u t h a n d d o n ’ t b e a fr a i d . ”
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OC TOBER 18, 2012 V O LU M E 9 7 | N o. 4 2
EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CHARLESTON, ILL. D A I LY E A S T E R N N E W S . C O M T WIT TER.COM/DEN_NE WS
‘Almost’ explores different affairs of love
Eastern set to return for tournament play
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BREAST C ANCER AWARENESS
Bowling for a cause
CHEMISTRY
Research grants help fund work by chemistry students, group By Chacour Koop Staff Reporter
PHOTOS BY K ATIE SMITH | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Pat Hall focuses during Bowling for Breast Cancer. Hall and his daughter were there in support of Hall’s wife who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. (Photo below) Lamarr Pottinger, a senior sports management major, wears pink glow stick glasses. Pottinger is part of the National Pan-Hellenic Organization and helped organize the event.
Community bowls for breast cancer awareness charity By: Katie Smith Staff reporter
President Bill Perry was the first of many to donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation during Bowling for Breast Cancer Wednesday at the EIU Bowling Lanes. “It was fun,” Perry said. “I’m glad I found out about it.” Perry added that he and his wife support similar causes off campus as acts of personal philanthropy. “I think anything we can do to support breast cancer awareness and support, and promote those, is a good thing,” Perry said. The bowling fundraiser was hosted by the National Pan-Hellenic Council and Sigma Lambda Gamma. Lamarr Pottinger, a senior sports management major and member of NPHC, said the organizations wanted to have the event in addition to “Walk for a Cure,” which they host annually. “We wanted to have an extra fundraiser to help with donations,” Pottinger said. Those who attended were offered shoes, soda and one game of cosmic bowling, each costing $1. Anyone who made a donation received free shoe rental and a free game token. Cristina Perez, a junior pre-pharmacy major and member of Sigma Lambda Gamma, said they wanted to try something new to raise the additional money that will
count toward the sorority’s philanthropy. “We decided, ‘why not make it a big event,’” Perez said. Students like Jesus Aguirre, a freshman sports management major, who have witnessed the battle against cancer first-hand, said it was a good way to support lovedones who fought cancer. “My aunt dealt with it and fought through it,” Aguirre said. “My grandmother also passed away from it so I’m here to sup-
“I wanted to help raise money not only for breast cancer, but for all cancer.” Pat Hall, resident
port her.” The fundraiser also brought Charleston community members to come show their support as well. Among those community members were Pat Hall and Caroline, her 8-year-old daughter. “A f r i e n d o f m i n e c a l l e d a n d t o l d m e a b o u t i t ,” Pa t H a l l s a i d . Pat Hall said he was previously employed by the University Police Department until suffering a brain aneurism in Oct. of 2007.
For chemistry majors at Eastern who want to be accepted to graduate schools, it is a competitive battle on two fronts: getting research experience and the money to fund a project, sometimes lasting years. Gopal Periyannan, the chemistry chairman for the Undergraduate Research Committee, said students with no research experience seem a bit “shaky” to graduate schools. “We write recommendation letters based on their performance in the lab,” Periyannan said. “If I don’t say anything about research, that doesn’t take (students) too far.” Although Eastern provides numerous funding opportunities for student researchers such as Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities grants, the process remains competitive. Logan Hurst, a senior chemistry major, applied once before and received no funds. This semester, he is trying again; he is competing with 10 other research groups for the same funds. “It can be really difficult. A lot of people don’t get the money they deserve,” Hurst said. “We all want the money at the end of the day.” The research done by students can be costly; it requires a good deal of funds to conduct lab experiments, he said. Last summer, Hurst’s research group needed 10 milligrams of a substance. “That’s just like a flake in your hand,” Hurst said. The price tag: more than $700. Despite theses high costs, experience gained by students in research groups is invaluable, Hurst said. When grants from Eastern do not come through, research advisers have usually applied for grants from external sources such as the National Science Foundation. RESEARCH, page 5
UNIVERSIT Y “My family has been through a lot,” he said. Recently, Hall and his family were shocked when his 45-year-old wife was diagnosed with colon cancer. “It is unusual for someone her age,” Hall said. He said she had been dealing with cramps and sharp, stabbing pains for about one year. “We were waiting for about a month to find out how far it had gone, what kind of treatment she would need and whether she could have it operated on,” Hall said. Wednesday, Hall received the news that his wife will be operated on at the end of the month. He said the fundraiser sounded like a good idea. Hall’s grandmother died of colon cancer, and he said it is important that awareness is raised about any form of the disease. “I wanted to help raise money not only for breast cancer, but for all cancer,” Hall said. A pink bowling pin with the signatures of each donor will be awarded to the person with the largest contribution and the Susan G. Komen foundation.
Katie Smith can be reached at 581-2812 or kesmith2@eiu.edu.
CAA canceled for fifth time this semester Staff Report
The Council on Academic Affairs canceled its meeting for Thursday because of a lack of urgent items. There are six items pending on the agenda, including a new introduction to humanities course and a revised senior seminar. Stephen Lucas, the vice chairman of the CAA, said the council is not meeting because the agenda contains no urgent items and few items requiring action. The CAA Learning Goals Committee and subcommittees will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Edgar Room of the Booth Library to continue discussing the four university learning goals, which are writing, speaking, critical thinking and global citizenship. Lucas said the council requested the syllabi from general-education courses and samples of 10 to 12 syllabi from each major. He said they would analyze the course work and learning objectives listed on each class syllabus to determine how the university learning goals are being addressed and affecting student learning. The next CAA meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Oct. 25 in Room 4440 of Booth Library.