Panel shows generational connections
Late free throws sink Panthers
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Ceremony honors veterans
VETER ANS DAY
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Sociology professor studies poverty in Coles County By Robyn Dexter In-depth Editor
STAFF REPORTER
Hunger and poverty rates in Charleston have revealed percentages to an Eastern sociology professor, which has enabled him to assess the community. Michael Gillespie, an assistant sociology professor, has done studies in the community to chart hunger in the Charleston community. “I’m looking at different areas in the county and where rates of poverty are different compared to other areas,” he said. Gillespie’s mapping will help to target services to certain areas of the county. He uses census tracking to map where there are large concentrations of people who are food insecure, or below 185 percent of poverty. “What we know based on these data is that there are definite pockets for concentrated areas in the county,” he said. “The southwest side of Mattoon and around campus in Charleston are where the pockets are in this area.” Gillespie said a common mis-
booming explosion sounded from a cannon, and smoke sailed to the sky above Eastern's campus Monday. The cannon fired three times, and the crowd stood in silence following each shot. The only sound came from above: An American flag billowing in the wind of a crisp November morning. The three-volley salute—originally a Roman military custom marking the burial of soldiers— honored U.S. service members at the annual Eastern Veterans Day ceremony on the front lawn of Old Main. During his comments at the ceremony, President Bill Perry shared the story of Martin “Otto” Schahrer, who graduated from Eastern and served in World War I. Schahrer grew up in Olney before moving in 1913 to Charleston, where he became captain of Eastern's football team and the class president. He had a teaching position in Effingham ready for him upon graduation, but he decided to enlist in the military. Schahrer’s decision to serve in the military would cost him his life in 1915 during a battle in France. “You could say, 'What a waste,' but you could also say, 'What a selfless sacrifice,'” Perry said. The Eastern class of 1916 dedicated the wrought-iron gate now located between Fourth Street and Lincoln Hall to honor Schahrer’s service. Perry said every time he walks through the gates, he is reminded of Schahrer's service. “He's just one person, one story,” Perry said. “These are stories that lift us up and amplify the human spirit.” Perry was part of a group that presented a wreath of poppy and rosemary flowers representing service and remembrance at the base of the flag pole in front of Old Main. The presentation was followed by a moment of silence. Cadet Nicholas Futrell, the master of ceremonies, said the presentation of the wreath is symbolic of Eastern's commitment to veterans and that it acknowledges the service and sacrifices of veterans. Cadet Cody Gallagher is a student veteran who gave remarks at the ceremony; he admitted to having a hard time understanding Veterans Day until he became a veteran. “Today, support for service members is incredibly high,” Gallagher said. “As a young kid, it was a day off school.” The recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have prompted Gallagher to give even more respect to older veterans. He thanked older veterans for “setting a standard of professionalism.” After the smoke from the three-volley salute had dissipated into the cold November air, two trumpeters performed “Taps” for the crowd of about 100 attendees. Futrell said the solemn song is played at the end of each military day and at the burial of military service members—a salute to their years of service in the U.S. military. In the same way, Eastern's Veterans Day ceremony honored the living and dead veterans who served in the U.S. military.
conception is that many students are food insecure. “The area around campus is the poorest part of the county and has the highest concentration of people who are at risk of going hungry every day, whether they’re students or not,” he said. The second highest area is north of the Charleston Square. Gillespie said in his studies done over a five-year period from 2006 to 2012, Coles County (including Eastern students) has 38.25 percent of individuals that are food insecure. This percentage translates into about 17,500 people of all ages. If students are taken out of the equation, there is still a 36.74-percent food insecurity rate. “People always think it’s the students, but it’s not,” he said. “Almost 40 percent of people who live here, whether they’re students or not, are at risk of not knowing where their next meal is coming from.” Gillespie said this percentage affects how members of the Charleston community and Coles County live their daily lives. POVERTY, page 5
OPPORTUNIT Y
Undergraduates gain experience teaching overseas By Robyn Dexter In-depth Editor
JACOB SALMICH | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Chacour Koop can be reached at 581-2812 or cmkoop@eiu.edu.
NOVEMBER 13, 2012
HUNGER
BY CHACOUR KOOP
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Dylan Doughty, an ROTC cadet, stands in front of Old Main on Monday during the Veterans Day Ceremony.
Before they graduate Eastern, education majors have the opportunity to apply to do their student teaching overseas. It is an opportunity awarded to 10 Eastern students a year through the Consor tium for Overseas Student Teaching. Jim Kestner, the academic adviser for the COST program, said the consortium includes participants from 15 other schools in the United States. “The biggest thing these students gain is a worldly perspective,” he said. “When they student-teach abroad, they are often introduced to very different approaches to education.” Kestner said one of his students reported the difficulty of having multiple grade levels in one classroom to teach. “When they come back, they think about the students and how best to reach them instead of just ‘this is what education is,’” he
said. Many students stay in touch with their cooperative teachers in other countries and can later use those connections for networking and perspective, Kestner said. Kestner said students go through an application process when they apply that includes essays, recommendation letters and an interview. “Most of our students will say that student teaching is one of the hardest things they’ve ever done in their lives,” he said. “We try to gauge how likely students are to thrive in a different environment.” Kestner said the number of applicants to student teach overseas varies from year to year. “We always have more applicants than we can send, and I always agonize over how many I can send,” he said. Tim Patula, a COST program participant, said the program provided him with opportunities he will never forget. EXPERIENCE, page 5