The Daily Egyptian - April 17, 2024

THE Daily Egyptian

Corey Crombar named Dawg Pound president

A new era is beginning for Saluki Athletics. With current Dawg Pound president Dylan Chambers graduating, the group has found its next leader: Corey Crombar.

Crombar is a rising sophomore studying sports administration with a minor in business and administration. He is a Chancellor’s Scholar and a member of the University Honors Program. Outside of the Dawg Pound, he is an orientation leader for New Student Programs, director of academic affairs for the Undergraduate Student Government and a sponsor for the Carbondale

Community High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“I was really excited to get moving, continue the legacy that’s been built,” Crombar said. “It’s great. I’m really excited to start moving forward with my new board. We’ve got great ideas, great themes coming and a really exciting couple of sports seasons coming up. Next year should be a blast.”

Chambers says handing over the reigns to Crombar is “bittersweet.”

“This is something that I spent a lot of time revamping…and focusing on making sure that it was going to be set up for

SIU’s remote learners utilize a wide array of strategies to succeed

It takes effort to adjust to a remote learning environment, just like with in-person learning. Three SIU students who are far from campus say, despite differences in lifestyles, locations and management systems as online learners, it’s very doable. Richie Climent, living in Killeen, Texas with his wife and three kids, is currently enlisted in the U.S. Army, pursuing his journalism degree through SIU.

“It was hard to find something online that also met the criteria the Army would pay for. SIU was one of the rare ones

that offered it online,” Climent said. “I want to be a writer. I have family members that come to me when they need something written. I have a knack for it and would love to write creatively.”

He talked about being able to pursue his goals while juggling his other responsibilities at the same time.

“Everything is laid out in the syllabus, it’s structured and super easy,” he said. “I’ll read the content, and for my classes mostly everything is due on Friday, so I’ll make sure to do my reading Monday and Tuesday, and sometimes while I’m at work

Saluki softball dominates Purple Aces in weekend series

Nick PfaNNkuche NPfaNNkuche@dailyegyPtiaN

For the first time since 2019, Southern Illinois scored a whopping 20 runs against Evansville to secure the series win on Saturday. This tied the SIU softball record for runs scored in a single game.

The Dawgs hosted the Purple Aces this weekend for a threegame Missouri Valley match-up.

Maddia Groff took the circle for the Salukis in the Friday opener and delivered a stellar performance, going four scoreless innings while striking out eight.

Kiana McDowell finished off the game with a scoreless fifth.

Addi Baker and Emma Austin were key contributors for SIU’s offense in the 9-0 win. Baker went two for two including a two run homer in the first in a four RBI effort while Austin went three for three, pushing three runs across on a triple in the fourth.

Saturday’s matchup saw Madi Eberle get the start for the Dawgs. Eberle went five innings, surrendered three runs, and struck out four in her outing.

There was no shortage of impact bats in the 20-3 rout of the Aces on Saturday.

Elizabeth Warwick gave SIU the lead with a two run infield single in the second, Jackie Lis drove in a pair for the Salukis and Sidney Jones went two for four with 3 RBI, including a two-run double in the second.

Hannah Hockerman started the

com

New Dawg Pound President, Corey Crombar, stands next to former Dawg Pound President, Dylan Chambers April 13, 2024 at Saluki Stadium Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | dwilliams@dailyegyptian.com DAWG POUND |

Freshman Kiana McDowell celebrates following 20-3 win. l SIU Athletics

Small school has big differences

Photos and

story

by Enan Chediak | Echediak@dailyegyptian.com

In Carterville, Illinois, there is a small Christian school of about 14 students and a small staff. A day at Victory Christian Academy looks a lot different from a normal school. From student drop off in the morning to pick up later that day, VCA is fundamentally different.

The principal of VCA, Tony Edmonds said, “We have students –some of them as far as Benton and Galatia. So, they have a pretty far drive.”

Pastor Rick Dawson founded Victory Baptist Church in November of 1984, and the Christian school started the following year.

Edmonds said, “I always kind of describe us as kind of a hybrid homeschool. We have what we call a closed school. It’s really just an extension of the church, and so all of the students who come here are, for the most part, members of Victory Baptist Church.”

Many of the students in the school are family. Most are friends. Some of the school’s students have parents who attended before them.

The school’s curriculum is a lot

different from that of other schools.

Elementary teacher Susanna Chediak said it “tends to introduce topics way earlier than other schools.”

“It focuses a lot more on what was once called the “R”s – reading, writing, arithmetic,” she said. “There’s a lot of reading; in fact, they are reading in kindergarten… and we focus a lot on phonics in the early elementary years.”

When asked about what some students do after graduation, Chediak said, “We’ve had kids go off to Christian college. Our school has an institute that they can go to for Bible classes. Some of ours have gone on to nursing. A lot of them tend to go into things like construction and more hands-on skills, and a few tend to go into ministry. So, they’re kind of all over the place.”

But over the years, the goal of the Christian school has stayed the same. As Edmonds said, “Really our goal is to glorify Christ and that works best when the family, the church, and the school are all on the same page.”

Scott Smith turns pages of his Bible during High school Bible class at VCA Wednesday February 28, 2024 in Carterville, Illinois.

Alyssa Raglin (left) and Alijah Norman play a game of volleyball during a break between classes at VCA Wednesday Feb. 28, 2024 in Carterville, Illinois. Logan Smith (left) and Zachary DePew (right) study during class at VCA Friday Feb. 16, 2024 in Carterville, Illinois.

Tony Edmonds passes out quizzes during class at VCA Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 in Carterville, Illinois.

Victory Christian Academy sits empty before a full day of school on February 28, 2024 in Carterville, Illinois.

“We are proud and excited about Corey [Crombar] and the incoming board members,” Chambers said. “Very deserving with all of the hard work that he has already done and what he will do. He will leave a legacy.”

Crombar is a rising sophomore studying sports administration with a minor in business and administration. He is a Chancellor’s Scholar and a member of the University Honors Program. Outside of the Dawg Pound, he is an orientation leader for New Student Programs, director of academic affairs for the Undergraduate Student Government and a sponsor for the Carbondale Community High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“I was really excited to get moving, continue the legacy that’s been built,” Crombar said. “It’s great. I’m really excited to start moving forward with my new board. We’ve got great ideas, great themes coming and a really exciting couple of sports seasons coming up. Next year should be a blast.”

In addition to his long list of accomplishments, Crombar earned his qualifications before coming to SIU.

“I was the president of my high school pep club called Bleacher Bums at Carbondale high school,” Crombar said. “It was a super fun experience. I wanted to continue that at the collegiate level.” He said it was a “vivid experience” that he “definitely won’t forget.”

He calls the Dawg Pound “the best student section in the Missouri Valley Conference.”

Chambers said Crombar’s uncle introduced them to each other while Crombar was still in high school. He was told that Crombar was interested in getting

involved with the Dawg Pound, so Chambers and his team went to watch him in action.

“It’s kind of like a recruiting tactic, going there and seeing how Corey was really just engaged… how many of them were standing during the game and what they did that day…different stuff like that,” he said. “I wanted to see his leadership side on the front end, but then also get him involved with the back end with us.”

After the game, Chambers approached Crombar and invited him to watch SIU play.

“He showed up and he helped with our giveaways…He stood down there with us at the bottom of the student section for

basketball and he hung out and enjoyed his time,” Chambers said. “[It] kind of got him involved early.”

Choosing the next Dawg Pound president involved an application and interview process. Chambers said he believes Crombar’s energy is what helped him stand out.

“That makes me excited about where the Dawg Pound will go,” he said. “He’s energized. He showed exactly what I was looking for and that excited me that I would be able to know that it was going to be left in the right hands.”

Crombar will not be alone in this process either. His team consists of freshman Emma Buesing as vice president, sophomore Zuzana

SOFTBALL

Sunday, but after two outs and one run given up, Maddia Groff replaced her in the circle.

Groff was nigh unhittable in relief. She picked up the remaining 19 outs, sitting 15 down on strikes while only giving up two singles and a walk. Katherine Johnson drove in two

runs with a double and a sacrifice fly, Jackie Lis picked up her 11th homer of the year with a solo shot in the third and Erin Lee plated one run with a single in the sixth.

Gaik as chief of operations, freshman Allison DiLallo as chief finance officer, freshman Malayna Russell and sophomore Jacob Bryant as vice presidents of gameday operations and sophomore Chris Catron as vice president of member operations.

“I’ve got a great board with great ideas,” he said. “Some things I can’t share quite yet but some things I’m ready to start implementing and some changes that are ready to be made. But a lot of great things have been built by this board that I’m ready to continue.”

Pound even after he graduates.

“I have told them that I will be around as much as possible… on the back end,” he said.

“... He showed exactly what I was looking for and that excited me that I would be able to know that it was going to be left in the right hands.” .”

- Dylan Chambers Former Dawg Pound President

He credits his parents and the current leadership staff for helping him throughout this transition.

“Dylan and Tyler have done a wonderful job,” he said. “My parents [are] always there for just general support. They don’t know a whole lot about the insider stuff, but Dylan and Tyler have done a wonderful job preparing me for this role and just guiding me through this year and past month and getting me ready to fill up shoes that need to be filled.”

Chambers said he plans to continue helping guide the Dawg

With the sweep over Evansville, SIU improved to 30-8 (14-3 MVC).

The Salukis currently sit in first place in the Valley, they will take on second place Belmont (26-11, 12-4) next

“I am more than happy to help them with whatever they’re needing.”

While he is sad to let it go, he is also thrilled for the future.

“It’s hard to kind of give something up once you’ve been around it for so long or have had a lot of different times and stuff with it, but it’s been fun,” he said. “It’s been a great journey. I’m excited for my next piece or my next projects.”

Crombar said the Dawg Pound means “everything” to him. “Wherever sports teams are playing, we support. The Dawg Pound wins games,” he said. “So it really means a lot to be part of Saluki Athletics and the connections that I’ve built and continue to build are something special that you can’t even put words into. It’s just great. I’m super excited to get rolling and this has been a wonderful experience. I’m ready for the next three.”

Staff reporter Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com.

weekend in Carbondale.

Nick Pfannkuche can be reached at

Lance, Kate, Corey and Brooke Crombar poses for a family photo April 13, 2024 at Saluki Stadium Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | dwilliams@dailyegyptian.com series finale on

A title card to reveal the new Dawg Pound president sits at the event’s entrance April 13, 2024 at Saluki Stadium Suite in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | dwilliams@dailyegyptian.com

Rebuilds and championships: New coaches often face mixed bag of results in first season

Ryan GRieseR RGRieseR@dailyeGyptian com

Coaches come and go. Programs rise and fall. So is the nature of sports, with college basketball being no exception.

In the wake of firing former head coach Bryan Mullins, Southern Illinois University finds itself in a place that has been largely unfamiliar for the last five years; rebuilding territory.

While many players have entered the transfer portal, not all are guaranteed to leave. Troy D’Amico is the only one to have committed to another school, choosing to follow Mullins to DePaul.

It seems that the next will have quite the challenge as he takes the helm at SIU, starting with filling out his roster. And while the situation he is facing seems unfamiliar to most fans, it is not unprecedented across the country.

In the day and age of Name, Image and Likeness [NIL] deals, player movement is much more common than before. Players may look to go to a school where they can profit on their image.

Looser enforcement of transfer rules has also allowed players to transfer multiple times while simultaneously facing fewer penalties, including sitting out for a season.

While it may seem like doom and gloom is on the horizon for the Salukis, that may not be the case. There are many programs around the country that were able to have largely successful seasons in their first year with a new coach and largely a new roster.

Diehard college basketball and SIU fans may recognize the name of George Mason University as where Xavier Johnson played before transferring to SIU. GMU is worth looking at as a case study for what SIU’s next season could look like.

GMU’s coach, Kim English, left to coach the Providence Friars after a relatively successful 2022-23 season during which the Patriots went 20-13. This included an 11-7 conference record and a fifth place out of 12 teams finish in the Atlantic 10, which according to net ranking is a more difficult conference then the MVC.

GMU tasked Tony Skinn, an alumni and longtime assistant with successful programs like Seton Hall, Ohio State and Maryland, to rebuild the team. Skinn had to replace two thirds of GMU’s roster, but the onthe-court product remained nearly the same, at least by the numbers.

GMU went 20-12, 9-9 in conference play, and finished seventh in the conference during the 2023-24 season, Skinn’s first as a head coach. While fans and administrators certainly hope there is improvement in the future, they don’t have much to complain about if a first-time head coach replacing

10 of his 15 players is able to nearly match the production of his predecessor.

Charlotte is another good example to look at to see relative consistency, record-wise, despite significant turnover. The 49ers played the 2022-23 season in Conference USA and went 22-14, including 9-11 in conference play, good enough to finish 5th of 11, before moving to the American Athletic Conference.

2023-24 saw the promotion of Aaron Fearne, who was an assistant for five seasons at Charlotte after a long stint as a National Basketball League [not to be confused with the National Basketball Association, or NBA] coach. Fearne guided Charlotte to a 19-12 record, including 13-5 in the AAC, to finish third.

While many players likely stayed because of their preexisting relationships with Fearne, he and his staff still had to bring in six new players to fill out the program, which is no small task.

Conference USA member Western Kentucky may present a bit more optimistic picture. After going

17-16 in 22-23, including 8-12 in conference play and finishing seventh of 11 teams in CUSA, Steve Lutz was able to shape more of a winner in Bowling Green.

Lutz, who previously guided Texas A&M Corpus Christi to two NCAA tournament berths, brought in 12 new players and improved the team’s record to 22-12. This included going 8-8 in conference play, good enough to move up to a third place finish in the conference.

An experienced coach is something that SIU athletic director Tim Leonard has said he wanted in his next coach. SIU may be in for a shorter down period than expected.

Of course, the pendulum can swing the other way. Moving on from a proven head coach doesn’t always mean improvement, even if an established coach is hired to “stabilize” the program.

A recent example of this is Southern Utah. After their previous coach, Todd Simon, departed for Bowling Green, Rob Jeter was called upon to take his place. Jeter was the head coach at Western Illinois before moving to MIlwaukee for 13 years and winning three league

record while starting from scratch roster wise would be far better than many alternatives.

A team can also be completely static, with virtually no improvement or drop off with a coaching change. The Wofford Bulldogs, home to former Saluki Kyler Filliwich, hired Dwight Perry to replace Jay McAuley, who resigned after an inseason leave of absence.

Perry had been an assistant under McAuley for three seasons and was the interim head coach to finish the 2022-23 season, so there wasn’t much roster turnover. Perry took the team from 17-16, 8-10 in conference, to 17-15, 10-8 in conference. The team finished fifth in the Southern Conference during both seasons.

Two other teams with first-year head coaches who grabbed headlines during the NCAA tournament include McNeese State and Utah State.

Will Wade, who was embroiled in controversy for much of his time at LSU, is at the head of McNeese. While he did take 12 new players from 11-24 to 30-4 and an NCAA tournament berth, the Cowboys also played teams like the College of Biblical Studies and Mississippi University for Women. While their entire season shouldn’t be discounted, McNeese also plays in one of the worst conferences in the country by NET rating, the Southland.

championships during his time.

However, Jeter’s first year in Cedar City during the 2023-24 season didn’t quite go as planned.

After going 24-13, and 12-6 in conference, Jeter’s team went 1021 and finished 5-15, and only one spot out of the cellar. Jeter was working with an entirely newly constructed roster, as 15 of the 18 players listed were new to the program that season.

Familiar former Missouri Valley foe Wichita State also went the proven coach route, hiring Paul Mills away from Oral Roberts. Mills had just completed a perfect regular season and earned his second NCAA berth with the Golden Eagles. Mills’ first season coaching Wichita State was far from perfect. After finishing sixth in 2022-23 behind a 17-15, 9-9 record, the Shockers went 15-19, 5-13 in conference, and slipped to eleventh in the AAC. Seven new players were a part of the team. A season similar to Wichita State’s 2023-24 season would be a great starting point for a new SIU coach; while the conference record could be better, an almost-winning

Utah State also made the NCAA tournament behind the leadership of Danny Sprinkle, who was already hired by Washington to be their next head coach. Sprinkle took a good Mountain West program and improved it, moving from 26-9, 135, second in the conference, to 28-7, 14-4, first in the conference. Utah State’s consistency should also be applauded, as they rostered 13 new players during the 2023-24 season.

While it’s unlikely that a new coach will bring an entirely new SIU team back to the promised land after just one season, there is at least a national precedent for it.

Scott Nagy, who was hired March 28 to be the fifteenth head coach in Saluki basketball history, has a strong history of leading programs in his first season. In his inaugural season at Wright State, Nagy went 20-12, and 11-7 in conference play. Nagy’s home performance was also outstanding; the Raiders went 12-4 in front of their home crowd. Nagy also had nine new players during this season.

It’s an exciting time for SIU basketball; while uncertainty may run rampant, very few are going to say that they aren’t eager to see who is hired and how the next season in the Banterra Center will play out.

Yarauseth Zavala | yzavala@dailyegyptian.com

Racing towards a brighter future: Community unites for annual Feed Your Neighbor 5K

The Carbondale community came together once again for the annual Feed Your Neighbor 5K, held on Friday, April 12 at Turley Park. Organized by the Neighborhood Co-op, the event attracted participants to support the mission of the Good Samaritan House.

All proceeds from the race will support the House, which provides a food pantry, soup kitchen, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and emergency assistance to those who need the support. Participants were also asked to bring non-perishable food items on race day.

Francis Murphy, general manager of the Neighborhood Co-op, said, “We started the event in 2000 as part of a weekend-long celebration of our 15th anniversary, so Friday’s event is the 25th 5K that we have sponsored. Originally, we called it the Nutrition Run/Walk, and we held it in March which is national nutrition month. We got tired of uncertain weather in March so we moved it to April and changed the name to Feed Your Neighbor as it has always been a fundraiser for Good Sam.”

He believes the event has the potential to raise awareness about the growing problem of homelessness in Carbondale.

“We’re really lucky to have Good Samaritan as a resource for the unhoused community, and hopefully it just helps everyone understand that this is a community problem that we can all try to help with,” Murphy said.

Events like this one help the CoOp reach out to community members

and ask for assistance in bettering the community and organizations that need it the most.

Allison Hyland, brand manager of the Co-Op, said, “As a cooperative, one of our founding principles is ‘concern for community’. Every year, the Co-op chooses a number of nonprofits and community causes or organizations to donate a portion of our profits in various ways, and we are proud to be able to make a positive impact in our community.”

The number of people applying for assistance at Good Samaritan House has been increasing, reflecting the growing need within the community for essential services like food, shelter, and emergency help. As more individuals and families face economic hardships, the demand for donations and support for the organization has risen accordingly.

Patty Mullen, the executive director of Good Samaritan House, said, “A lot more people have been using a food pantry to the point where the shelves are so empty. I mean, I’ve worked there 20 years and I’ve never seen them like this.”

People in Carbondale need their services across all programs, not just with the food pantry, but also with the soup kitchen and residential programs.

“We’re receiving a lot more people from the community coming down to get meals to go, and more people are coming in for our residential programs, because they can’t stay in their homes because they can’t afford the villas. Then, in our assistance program, we pay people’s rent and utilities to make sure that they don’t lose it,” Mullen said.

Many participants feel that this event serves as a means to extend the impact of community support. They see it as an opportunity to broaden the outreach of assistance programs like those offered by Good Samaritan House, ensuring that more individuals in need can benefit from the resources and services provided.

Jill Hennassty, a racer at the event, said, “I think there’s a huge need in our community. I’m actually a social worker, I work with the elderly and people with disabilities. So, I think that sometimes it’s a more prevalent need than people even realize.”

When individuals are marginalized or disregarded, the collective effort to tackle local challenges becomes significantly hindered.

“There are people that don’t necessarily fit a certain type of look or demographic that are in need, so I think even small events like this, raise some money, and they also raise awareness,” Hannassty said.

Racers also expressed a sense of fulfillment in knowing that their participation in an event that was enjoyable directly contributed to helping those in need within the community.

Murphy said, “Organizations like Good Sam always need as much as they can get in terms of contributions, right. So we’re hoping to at least get several hundred dollars to them as we sell through this event. But beyond that…I’m digging the weather, because we’ve had this event sometimes when it’s been bitter cold or really hot, and this is like the perfect night. It’s nice for people to get out and go for a run. And it builds

community as well.”

It was essential to get the community engaged and involved to ensure that the broader community was aware of the challenges faced by their neighbors and have an opportunity for collective action.

Hennassty said, “I think that social media presence is so important. That’s how I knew about it even though I live on the street. I think it is being easily accessed by people in new areas, and they can stop by to participate.”

For some participants, this was their first time racing and engaging with the organizations.

Micah Cherry, first place finisher of the race, said, “This is the first time I’ve ever done this race, I heard that this event was a thing, I’ve been in Carbondale for like my whole life, but I’ve never done it.”

He felt that this event was a great way to not only fundraise for the cause, but also instill hope in the community.

“I think it helps us to unify over something that brings hope to our community. I believe in sharing hope in many ways. I’m a Christian, so I share my faith and I also really believe in sharing practical things and helping people out,” Cherry said.

In addition to the race itself, the event provided entertainment and activities for children, including coloring pages and bubbles, to keep them engaged while waiting. Live music added to the festive atmosphere, creating a lively ambiance for participants and spectators alike.

Attendees had the chance to mingle, meet new acquaintances, and catch up

with family and friends, fostering a sense of community throughout the event.

The race was also professionally timed by Southern Illinois Racing, and was a certified course providing participants with confidence in the accuracy of the distance covered and the legitimacy of their achievements.

Cherry said, “I just think the environment is really cool. It’s also really cool that Southern Illinois Racing is helping with it and giving us our official time. Music is awesome. I’ll definitely be doing it again next year.”

The Co-op aims to increase participation from both SIU students and community members next year; however, there are steps that can be taken to further the organization’s goals in the meantime.

Mullen said, “If you want to help out a nonprofit, especially one that helps your community, reach out to that nonprofit and find out you can coordinate a fundraiser because to do a food drive is relatively easy. People want to donate and we always need donations.”

Neighborhood Co-op Grocery will also be accepting monetary donations made on the event signup page for those who wish to make a contribution. Those donations will be given directly to Good Samaritan House after the event.

Visit the Good Samaritan House website to get more information on how to help.

Staff reporter Annalise Schmidt can be reached at aschmidt@dailyegyptian.com.

A new look on old towns: SIU

Photojournalism’s 2024 weekend workshop

In Cobden and Alto Pass, from La Mexicana to The Flock Farms, Southern Illinois University photojournalism students show a different view of the people and places that make up these two southern Illinois towns.

Assistant professor in the school of journalism and advertising, Julia Rendleman, hosted eight southern Illinois students and invited Greg Cooper of Eastern Illinois University and four of his photojournalism students to participate in this year’s revamped weekend workshop (see photos on page 6 and 7).

Cooper got into photography as a hobby at a young age and turned it into a full time career as an assistant professor at Eastern Illinois.

“Meeting professor Rendleman was a fantastic opportunity chance encounter at the ICPA conference two years ago, and realizing that we teach similar styles and programs and have the similar level of students and interest. When she told me about this workshop, I immediately jumped down like what can I do? I want to help make this part of my curriculum but also even if I can’t bring students down I want to be a part of this. So it

worked out, she was able to relaunch this workshop. Again this year and I just jumped in,” Cooper said.

“We’re made up of, if not, the only few photojournalism programs in the state that have instructors coming from the industry… both of our programs are really small, our students bonded at ICPA. I’m always looking to give students opportunities and because we could fit them in, why wouldn’t we?” Rendleman said.

On the drive to southern Illinois Cooper told his students that he had no expectations for them but to learn. He wasn’t worried about them making portfolio worthy pictures, he just wanted them to get out in the field and put themselves out there more than they would on a regular day.

“They learn to be human beings, they interact with the public and they make pictures good or bad,” he said.

During their 48 hours in the workshop students picked a place to go make photos, they would go out on assignment for a few hours, then come back to home base and receive critique from alumni and professional photojournalists.

“On Friday everybody from SIU started their stories this morning hopefully bright and early and then are coming in throughout the day for edits from the different visiting faculty members. Tomorrow is going to be the same going out and trying to improve on those stories, make connections in the community and find other things to photograph,” Rendleman said.

“After the sun goes down, we’ll have presentations by visiting faculty, they’ll share their work, that’ll be really inspiring. Then we’ll have a best of photos of the day for the students,” Rendleman continued about the workshop.

During critiques, alumni would go through the students’ shoots and pick their favorites while giving feedback on what they could work better on while giving them more ideas for other possible photo opportunities. Whether it be using your feet instead of your zoom to make a better photo.

Nicole Hester, an SIU alum who currently works at the Tennessean in Nashville, Tennessee, made the trip to Alto Pass to bring some of her experiences to help students better their work.

”I remember being where they are.

It was a time when I was very new to this. I was very excited about this, and I wanted to let them know that there’s someone who’s working in the industry now who they could physically reach out to,” Hester said.

Hester said that not only are the students benefiting from the workshop but she is as well. She said the workshop gives her a lot of hope for the future of photojournalism.

”I think we’re starting to balance things out from when I got into this [photojournalism],” she said.

Rendleman, the ringleader of the new and improved weekend workshop said that when she was a student at Southern the workshop was very influential for her as a student.

“…I think pivotal to my successful career was some of the fundamentals i got from the weekend workshop,” she said.

Rendleman believes there are two things that happen for the students in terms of growth, firstly, their pictures. The workshop put the students in an intense situation, shooting all day and getting feedback almost immediately and then having the opportunity to go back and improve on the things

they were given direction on. Second, they have the opportunity to grow as a photographer. They learn that photojournalism isn’t just pushing a button, it’s human relations and waiting for a moment for the perfect photo, not searching for the moment.

She found it very important that the people she invited to critique were alums that are successful in the industry to create networking opportunities to not only further their skills but give them opportunities to meet people who were in the exact same position they are currently in.

”We’re meeting former Salukis who are out there doing it,” Rendleman said. The weekend workshop gave students the opportunity to get out of their comfort zone and really dig deep to make amazing photos as well as the ability to network with people in the southern Illinois community and other successful photojournalists.

“This is more than the classroom experience can give you,” Rendleman said.

Joei Younker | @JoeiYounker de

AnnAlise schmidt Aschmidt@dAilYegYptiAn com

SIU’s photojournalism 2024 weekend workshop group April 14, 2024 in Alto Pass, Illinois. The workshop took place from April 12-14 and included photojournalism students from both SIU and Eastern Illinois University.

Dominique Martinez-Powell makes a photograph of Gloria Batiño, 47, at Taqueria Pequeña April 12, 2024, during Southern Illinois University’s Photojournalism Weekend Workshop in Cobden, Illinois. Photo courtesy of Brian Munoz | @brianmmunoz

Karen Fiorino stands in front of a clearance shelf of handmade pottery April 12, 2024 at Clay Lick Creek Pottery in Makanda, Illinois. Nicole Fox @fox.flicks

William Glays, 7, runs into his younger brother Jack, 3, with a new feeder for their chicks over his head as their turkey, Tom, stands just behind them April 12, 2024 at The Flock Farm in Anna, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto Steve and Jodi Mammoser point on a wine trail map of the local area to see their next stop April 13, 2024 at The Iron Whisk in Cobden, Illinois. Abby Harris @photoabbyharris_

Students, visiting professionals and community members look through photos produced by students in the Photojournalism Weekend Workshop in an open gallery event April 14, 2024 in Alto Pass, Illinois. SIU and Eastern Illinois University students, with mentorship from working professionals, participated in the 2024 Weekend Photojournalism Workshop visually documenting Cobden and Alto Pass, Illinois. Photo courtesy of Brian Munoz | @brianmmunoz

Edith Tomas, Zitlalli Tomas and Ana Sanchez sit around the table with family members to talk at Mark Pitts birthday party April 13, 2024 in Cobden, Illinois. Enan Chediak @echediak@dailyegyptian.com

I’ll make notes on my phone so I’ll have something to go back to when I start to do the writing. You don’t want to wait until the last minute. By Wednesday I’ll start writing my papers. Thursday I’ll try to get it done so I can submit my work Thursday or Friday.”

This is Climent’s third semester with SIU, and he’s taking two classes at a time. “I feel that for me personally, two courses is just right,” he said. “It’s a bit overwhelming but achievable, I wouldn’t want to do any more than that.”

A state away from Climent, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Jason Lombard is working towards his bachelor’s degree as well.

but this avenue for accessible education remains relevant.

Jason Lombard is a caretaker, travels for fun and frequently drives 6 hours to southern New Mexico to work on his property.

All in all, Lombard’s typically on the go. For him, organization looks a little different.

He needs to make sure he can access his courses when he doesn’t have regular access to the internet. To do this he utilizes a program called Travefy which allows him access while moving around in his trailer or just hanging out on his property.

Even without Travefy, Lombard said he uses an innovative organization system offline.

“I have been trying to use less paper and more digital methods,”

the right place, he will upload it to D2L.

Lombard plans to continue traveling even to the extent of living life on the road, which is the main reason online courses are so important to him.

“I have been taking three courses per semester, but I am going to start taking four to bring my graduation date closer,” he said.

If it weren’t for remote learning and the system he designed for his lifestyle, Lombard said it would take him much longer to complete his degree. He hopes to eventually find work meeting his life goal of following sand racing such as the Dakar Rally in southern Europe and Africa, either as a reporter or by other means.

Across the country, in upstate

everything in.

“I qualify in New York for financial aid, so I have to take at least 12 credit hours. So that’s what I’ve been doing. I think any more than that with my lifestyle right now would overwhelm me,” Miller said.

He utilizes a physical calendar and white board hanging on one of his walls. The calendar lays out his semester in full, and the whiteboard is broken up into four quadrants, detailing each class and weekly reading dates and due dates. This duo gives him an overview of the entire semester while allowing him to hone in on more immediate details simultaneously.

“Time management is the most difficult,” he said. “ The readings

especially if it’s your first time (remote learning), reach out to your professors. Introduce yourself, let them know you’re looking forward to the semester, however you want to put it, but it makes it easier to break through that awkward vibe when you have rapport with them from day one. You can get to know them.”

Miller also said it’s important to get a relationship going with each professor.

“Knowing how quickly they reply and their preferred method of communication,” he said. “Manage your time by knowing your due dates and making sure you’re on top of them. Organize your time by finding a system that works for you that allows you to track assignments, when they’re

Three prizes of $5,000 will be awarded to current Illinois college or university students for the design and implementation of projects to revitalize democracy in their communities.

Letter to the editor:

Trent Brown bids farewell to Saluki Nation

The hardwood at Banterra is where some of you may have heard my name. Others may not know me at all. This note, however, is still to you because you go to school here, serve in the restaurants, greet patients at the doctors’ offices, check out customers at the grocery store etc. etc. etc. And no matter your job, you seem to share a pride in this community. I felt that pride during my first visit, and as I’ve worn Southern Illinois across my chest the past five years, it was all of you who gave me my purpose. It was also all of you who kept me from driving away (a couple times) after packing up my car with all my belongings- yep...stuff gets tough for all of us sometimes...but again, thanks to you- I stayed. Being a blip in the history of this basketball program is something I could not have imagined would mean as much as it does. It gave me the

strength to overcome every workout and endure every challenge set forth against me. This university has shaped me to be so much more than just a kid who plays basketball. I used to believe that was my only identity, but I soon realized that was not my most important role here. I wanted to be the best teammate, friend, brother, person and student I could be. This place gave me that chance to grow, and I hope long after I leave some of those words may be how I am remembered.

It truly has been quite the journey. I moved into my dorm room for summer training one month after learning this school existed. I was 18. I’m leaving five years later at 23, and it was “the school” for me. For many, it may seem odd for someone to come all the way from Arizona just to throw a ball around for a few years in a small town, but it’s who I met along the

way that made it worth it. There is no other place quite like it. I have always described it as a place that grows on you. It is somewhere that the longer you stay the more attached to it you feel. Those who don’t know won’t appreciate it, and those who know never need to say a word.

Before I end, I have to send a special thank you to my coaches for taking a chance on a scrawny kid from AZ and giving me the opportunity to experience this special college life I have lived. And to EVERY teammate... man, that’s another letter...I’ll just say you know I love you. They know it’s because of them, and the way this town brought me in, that I am no longer just a kid from Scottsdale, Arizona. I am also a guy from Carbondale, Illinois who does understand what it means to be a Saluki. It is the greatest decision I have ever made. So, now and forever... Go Dawgs!

Trent Brown sits on the side of the court waiting to substitute in as the Salukis face the University of Evansville Purple Aces Feb. 25, 2024 at Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto

Letters to the editor: A Rabbi’s message on Gaza

Rabbi Mendel ScheiMan

Imagine someone who lives all alone, with no connection to the outside world. One bright sunny day, in the middle of the afternoon, the skies grow dark and the sun is completely covered up. Not comprehending what’s going on, this person is understandably very frightened. If they would’ve known about the total solar eclipse, they would understand that it’s not scary, it’s an opportunity to discover and appreciate heretofore unknown sights of our good ol’ sun. Having the right knowledge is key to understanding your surroundings.

While watching the eclipse on my own front lawn, surrounded by family and friends, I invariably had to think back to another moment when my world temporarily went black. Six months earlier, on October 7, my nation was attacked. Then too, and sometimes still now, it seemed like it would be dark forever. But the darkness is just temporary, and with the right kind of glasses, can be a chance to see goodness and kindness unfold in so many areas.

Next week, starting April 22, Passover will be celebrated by Carbondale and SIU’s Jewish community, who will join family and community Passover Seders–the festive ritual-filled dinner on the first two nights of the eight-day holiday. Passover celebrates the miraculous exodus of the Jewish people from

slavery in Ancient Egypt some 3,330 years ago and is traditionally celebrated together with family and friends, making it the most observed Jewish holiday in the United States.

Post October 7, many questions come to mind. How can we celebrate a holiday of freedom when over 130 hostages are still being held in Hamas captivity? How can we celebrate with family as thousands of families have been torn apart by this war? How can we conduct joyous Seders in light of rising antisemitism? When the world seems to condemn the Jewish state for protecting its citizens in the aftermath of an attack which killed the most Jews in one day since the Holocaust. When Jews were butchered, burned, raped, and tortured, just because they were Jewish.

I’m not the first rabbi to have this conundrum. Throughout the ages, the Jewish people have suffered persecution, from the hands of the Ancient Egyptians to the Crusaders, from the Assyrian-Greek empire to the Nazis. Yet we have always celebrated Passover and have always joyfully continued being proud Jews.

As we traditionally say at the Seder: “For not just one alone has risen against us to destroy us, but in every generation they rise against us to destroy us; and the Holy One, blessed be He, saves us from their hand!”

My mentor and teacher - the Rebbe — Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, whose leadership inspired the

founding of Chabad of Carbondale and SIU, taught us that a little bit of light can overcome a lot of darkness. Ultimately, by illuminating our own corner of the world, we can actually impact events on the other side of the world, through going out of our way to share kindness, and respect in the face of horror, malice and evil.

During past conflicts in the Land of Israel, and during other times of danger for the Jewish people, the Rebbe, made practical suggestions of mitzvahs to elicit G-d’s protection.

Among them are coming together in unity for prayer, men putting on tefillin, women to light Shabbat candles, putting a mezuzah on one’s doors, giving charity and doing acts of kindness, and studying Torah. These acts must be proportionate to the hate and evil.

Here in Carbondale, I have seen an increased awaking among the Jewish community over the past 6 months. Individuals, both Jewish and nonJewish alike, have come over to offer support and prayers, and everyone wants to be able to have a positive effect on the world.

We want to focus on the positivity. All of the programs we’ve hosted the past 6 months, have been dedicated to the safety and security of the Jewish people in Israel, around the world and for peace in the world. We’ve done that by emphasizing the three pillars of Prayer, Charity and Torah study.

This Friday, April 19 marks 122 years since the Rebbe’s birth. Since 1978, the President of the USA designates the Rebbe’s birthday as Education and Sharing Day U.S.A.

In 2023 President Biden wrote: “The Rebbe told us, “We must translate pain into action and tears into growth.” That is what education makes possible. Children are the kite strings that hold our national ambitions aloft — everything America will be tomorrow depends on how we deliver for our young people today. So let us remember his teachings. Let us prepare our children to be tolerant, curious, and moral, ensuring that they lift up others as they rise.”

This is the message we want to share with the community. Do another act of kindness, and let’s educate our children with values of ethics and morality.

Ahead of Passover we are seeing an increased interest in celebrating this year. Our goal is to lower the barriers to Jewish engagement and ensure everyone feels welcome and included, and has the opportunities and resources they need to celebrate the holiday.

In the 1960s and 1970s there was a movement calling for adding an empty chair and setting aside an extra matzah at the Seder table as a stark reminder of the 3 million Soviet Jews who were not free to attend a Seder.

The Rebbe, however, was not pleased with this suggestion. “So you

have an empty chair…. Go out into the street where you live, and find Jews who don’t know how to celebrate the Seder, or don’t even know what a Seder is, and sit them down at your Seder table!”

When we celebrate freedom, we will bring freedom to the hostages.

When we celebrate with family, we will help bring families together.

When we share joy and positivity, we will bring much needed joy and happiness to the world.

The great Jewish Rabbi and philosopher Maimonides teaches us that we should view the world as a balanced scale. On one side are all our collective merits, and on the other side are our collective failings. “If one performs one good deed, he tips his balance and that of the entire world to the side of merit and brings deliverance and salvation to himself and others.”

While the world turned dark for a few minutes, the sun was shining brightly all along. We wore the safety glasses because of the sun’s bright rays. At times it feels that we are engulfed in darkness, we see war, hatred, bigotry, poverty etc. But the eclipse reminds us, there is a bright future ahead of us, a time of world peace, a world of tolerance, and a pursuit of righteousness.

All it takes is one action, one good word or one positive thought that can tip the scale and bring salvation to us all.

Gaza’s citizens deserve peace

The Gaza Strip stands as a testament to the resilience of its people. The conditions of their livelihood are unbearable; Gazans have been enduring hardship since before October 7th, 2023. The constant missile attacks from Israel on the Gazan civilians have inflicted a heart-wrenching toll on civilian lives. At the heart of this issue lies a war on children, a war on innocence that should have been protected.

More than 27,100 Palestinians have died since October 7, At least 11,500 of them were children. This number was provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Despite the skepticism of the U.S. and Israeli governments, the Ministry provided a list of every citizen whose life was

lost, refuting any doubts raised.

The war on Gaza did not start on October 7. Before this date, the Gazans’ livelihood was extremely constrained. The borders of Gaza are heavily militarized, controlled by Israel with firm regulations on entry or exit, having the unfortunate title “the open-air prison”. Additionally, access to waterways such as the sea is restricted to Gazans, while Israel also asserts direct authority over Gaza’s electricity and water resources.

Other restrictions for the Gazans (and all Palestinians) include the use of Erez crossing, a mode of transportation into Israel and West Bank territories prohibited for Gazans without a specified work permit, which entails a dehumanizing experience. Palestinian families have

been torn apart, with individuals in different regions unable to reunite. Gazans traveling to Jordan have been prohibited from the human right of freedom of travel in the name of Israeli “safety” precautions, further isolating the Gazan population. Israel’s control over Gaza’s borders has profoundly impacted Gaza’s economy, forcing many children to leave their education to assist their families in securing food and finances.

Despite Israel being a state party to the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel’s restrictions and closure continue to violate the rights of civilians living under military occupation. Israel adopts “broad powers and discretion” over entry into its territory with increased obligations towards Gazan residents, making

Israel an occupying power despite its military withdrawal in 2005. International law still recognizes Israel as an occupying force. Children, the most vulnerable victims of conflict, not only endure the complete demolishment of their homes and physical afflictions/ injuries, but they also carry with them lasting mental scars. Gaza has faced many missile bombardments from Israel. For instance, the events in 2014 left children with trauma from attacks on their homes, loss of loved ones, or life-changing physical injuries. Israel has attacked farming areas, destroying the agriculture of the region. Currently, many children are suffering from hunger, as Israeli citizens block humanitarian aid, as a form of protest, preventing

humanitarian aid from reaching those who are indeed. Before the events of October 7th, 80% of Gaza’s population heavily relied upon humanitarian aid. Due to Israel’s non-stop aggression, the Strip is now entirely dependent on outside resources. It is deplorable that any individual would consciously choose to inflict hunger upon another human being, especially a child. The thought of deliberately causing such suffering is morally indefensible. The inequality towards Palestinians extends beyond the borders of Gaza. Examples include: Palestinians have encountered widespread confiscation of privately owned land, prohibition on building or living in various areas, systematic denial of residency

rights, and enduring decades-long restrictions on the freedom of movement and basic civil rights. One very prominent example that is familiar to every Palestinian is Israel’s issuance of identification cards for Palestinians as they turn the age of 16, to surveil the Palestinians, know their location, and distinguish them as Arabs.

Israel has articulated its perception of Palestinians plainly. The Knesset (Israel’s parliament) enacted the Basic Law on July 19, 2018. The Basic Law recognizes that “the right to national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish People.” (Basic Law § 1(c)). This legal ruling raises a concern as it blatantly dismisses the rights of Arabs to self-determination, favoring one group over another. The fundamental principles of Israel have a discriminatory stance and are rooted in an assertion of superiority. Israeli authorities have implemented policies to maintain Jewish Israeli control, these policies aim to address what they have openly described as a demographic “threat” that Palestinians pose.

What prompts the Israeli occupation forces’ aggression against the Palestinians? The catalyst is straightforward: land acquisition. The establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 was driven by Zionist aspirations to initiate and expand settlements, at the expense of the indigenous population. The Zionist community consisted of numerous European immigrants with a Jewish background.

Many have tried to argue that Israel has willingly entered into numerous treaties and pursued peace, but historical evidence suggests otherwise. There are many examples of Israel disagreeing/breaking the treaties: they did not respect the borders placed by the U.N. Israel took 78% of the land. More than half of Palestine’s population was forcibly displaced and faced violent attacks. Israel continues to destroy civilian homes, buildings, and historical sites. On Christmas day of 2023, Israel raided and struck Bethlehem, impacting the Christian community of Palestine. Avi Shalim, an Israeli Oxford professor who researched the conflict, found that there was not a single document that showed Israel agreeing to the negotiations.

Does the portrayal of Palestine in the media during the Intifada as individuals driven solely by a desire for violence accurately represent the reality? The Intifada was a revolution against the Israeli Occupying Force’s violent

Dominique Martinez-Powell | @dmartinez_powell.photography

occupation and constant reneging of the treaties. Yitzhak Rabin, prime minister of Israel was assassinated, being that he accumulated many enemies for wanting peace with the Palestinians. Shortly after, Israel returned to power under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu. This prime minister made his intentions for the Palestinians clear and denounced the Oslo Accords, stating it did not align with the belief that the whole land belonged to Israel. Netanyahu arrested and undermined his labor predecessors along with overturning the Oslo accords. As a result of settlement expansion, the area available for a Palestinian state has been

progressively diminishing, making a two-state solution unlikely. In current times, the number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank exceeds 350,000. This Israeli offer that was portrayed as “generous” was neither generous nor practical for the Palestinians.

Through different mechanisms, Israeli authorities have seized at least 4.5 million dunams (measurement) of land from Palestinians, according to historians, constituting 65 to 75 percent of all land owned by Palestinians before 1948 and 40 to 60 percent of the land that belonged to Palestinians who remained after 1948 and became citizens of Israel. Authorities continue

to block Palestinian citizen landowners from accessing land that was confiscated from them.

In addition to the Oslo Accords, The Camp David Summit served as another significant agreement for the Middle East peace negotiations.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Ehud Barak failed to uphold his commitment to transfer three Jerusalem villages - a commitment he had explicitly authorized President Clinton to offer to Palestinian leader Yaser Arafat.

Clinton was angry with Barak’s reneging on the agreed-upon terms.

The Camp David negotiations were transmitted orally. This agreement was

deficient due to its disregard for the state of the refugees, the land exchange was severely unequal. And much of Arav East Jerusalem would remain under Israeli authorities. Accepting these conditions would further weaken the Palestinian position.

As we sit and watch the mortifying scenes of mothers wailing for their deceased children, orphaned children weeping for their parents, and fathers clutching their children’s body parts in plastic bags, the question emerges:

Why does one group’s safety require extreme violence against another?

Why are Palestinians continually denied the basic right to live in peace?