The Daily Egyptian - August 28, 2024 by Daily Egyptian

We’re going to bring some competition: A look at SIU volleyball’s upcoming season

If you ask senior Maggie Wallenberger, playing SIU volleyball is going to be a tough match.

“We’ve been putting in so much work… we should be a really fun team to watch this year. We’re definitely going to bring some competition to the Valley,” Wallenberger said.

The Salukis, who are coming off of a 20-win season and a third-place Missouri Valley Conference finish, are looking to carry the momentum that landed them in 2023’s National Invitational Volleyball Championship into the 2024 season.

For senior Anna Jaworski,

performing even better this year starts with looking back on last year’s performance.

“I think reflecting on our team last year and understanding that we have shoes that we need to fill, and the players that we have right now need to work hard to fill those roles,” Jaworski said.

Wallenberger quickly offered two players who have stepped into bigger roles this season and who are expected to embrace bigger roles.

“Annabelle Sulish and Kelly Franklin. They both played last year, but this year they’ve really filled in any gaps in any roles. They’ve done a really great job this preseason,”

Wallenberger said.

Sulish and Franklin have done more than just step in though.

“They honestly set the standard of working hard, and the hard work… that coach wants to bring in,” Wallenberger said.

For head coach Ed Allen, another experienced player who he says has done a great job playing multiple positions is Ceci Buhlman. Buhlman is expected to play as both libero and as an outside hitter this season.

According to Allen, though this season’s roster is younger than last season’s, there isn’t cause for concern. The veteran players are joined by an

VOLLEYBALL SEASON | 13

Centerstone to host second annual Life;Story 5K

caRly Gist

cGist@dailyeGyptian com

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes content related to suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988 or visiting the online chat at 988lifeline.org

A mental health organization called Centerstone is bringing its race for suicide prevention to Marion for the second time on Saturday, Sept. 7.

“Mental health and suicide and those kind of topics a lot of times are really stigmatized in our society, and it can sometimes be looked down upon for when people are trying to have conversations about these really important and impactful topics,” Robert Lambert, Vice President of External Affairs at Centerstone, said. “And so this event creates an opportunity for us to have positive

conversations about mental health, to share resources in the community and to really encourage people to check on their friends [and] their loved ones.” The event is called Centerstone Life;Story 5K, and will be held at the Harry L. Crisp Sports Complex in Marion on Sept. 7 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with the race beginning at 7:30.

Director of Advancement Erin Camfield is the lead for the event. She said it has a semicolon in its name to represent “continuation.”

“Where an author could have chose to end their story, they’re choosing to continue their story,” Camfield said. “So an individual who might be impacted by thoughts of suicide or hurting themselves are choosing to continue their life and to continue their story. And that’s really what

5K 3

Earnest Harris of Du Quoin waves to 2024 Miss Du Quoin Grace Phipps on her float as his mom Angie Harris smiles up at him during the annual opening parade of the 102nd Du Quoin State Fair Aug. 23, 2024 in Du Quoin, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto

A mental health organization called Centerstone is bringing its race for suicide prevention to Marion for the second time on Saturday, Sept. 7.

“Mental health and suicide and those kind of topics a lot of times are really stigmatized in our society, and it can sometimes be looked down upon for when people are trying to have conversations about these really important and impactful topics,” Robert Lambert, vice president of external affairs at Centerstone, said. “And so this event creates an opportunity for us to have positive conversations about mental health, to share resources in the community and to really encourage people to check on their friends [and] their loved ones.”

The event is called Centerstone Life;Story 5k, and will be held at the Harry L. Crisp Sports Complex in Marion on Sept. 7 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with the race beginning at 7:30.

Director of Advancement Erin Camfield is the lead for the event. She said it has a semicolon in its name to represent “continuation.”

According to its website, “Centerstone is a nonprofit health system specializing in mental health and substance use disorder treatments for people of all ages.” This includes veterans, active military members and their families, who can all receive services at no cost.

“We go above and beyond by offering services to the families, and it also does not matter if the veteran was discharged [or] what their discharge status is,” Camfield said.

In addition to Illinois, Centerstone has services in Indiana, North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida.

“We do everything from outpatient counseling to residential rehab to detoxification services to housing to communitybased programs for children and adults. So at Centerstone, we really do kind of run the gamut of all mental health services across our footprint,” Lambert said.

Life;Story is Centerstone’s signature event. It began nearly 20 years ago in Florida, but is now becoming an annual occurrence for Illinois.

“The [Centerstone] Foundation has said that they would like

to get Life;Story, which… really emphasizes the work that Centerstone does and the reason that we are here to help people with mental health wellness and their treatments and prevent suicide and be of service in crisis situations,” Camfield said.

“So they had asked who would be willing to take on another Life;Story event in their state, and I said ‘I will.’ It is actually something that Centerstone is looking to eventually grow… We’re actually adding a Life;Story event in Tennessee next year.”

Participants of all ages and fitness levels are invited to walk, run or complete the race virtually.

Camfield said, “The virtual option allows people to sign up if they aren’t able to attend in person, whether it be because of distance from the location, or if they have a conflict with their schedule…This will allow them to walk or run wherever is convenient for them and at a time that is convenient for them.”

She said that once someone registers for the virtual option, instructions will be sent to them over email. The participant will then have between Aug. 30 and Sept. 7 to submit their time and be eligible for a prize.

The event is not just a race, however. There will be guest speakers, face painting, informational booths, food trucks, awards and ceremonies –all of which are free to the public.

“We start it off with an opening ceremony, with a brief introduction from our CEO,” Camfield said. “We do a presentation of colors, actually SIU’s ROTC will be doing [it] for us, and we have a youth coming in this year to sing the national anthem.”

At the conclusion of the race, all participants are welcomed back to the stage area.

“We award a Life;Story Champion Award, and this is awarded to someone in Illinois who has made a significant impact in mental health in the Illinois community,” she said. “And we also bring in a guest speaker that talks about how suicide has impacted their life, and then we award first place awards to both male and female in the Masters overall and 18 and Under categories.”

Nominations for the Life;Story Champion Award were submitted via a survey by community members. Camfield said they are “always looking for guest speakers” and that inquiries can be emailed to her at erin.camfield@ centerstone.org.

The race also has what Centerstone calls their Health and Wellness Expo.

“As part of this event as well, we invite health and wellness organizations throughout the community to join us at no charge,” Camfield said. “They’re able to put up a table and share some of the benefits and services that they can provide to residents and community members.”

Among the confirmed organizations are Take Action Today; SIU Medical Center;

Martinez-Powell dmartinez-powell@dailyegyptian.com

Radiance Coaching; Jackson County Health Department; Be SMART; Franklin-Williamson and Perry-Jackson Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC); Aetna; Molina Healthcare of Illinois; Egyptian Health Department; Stress and Trauma Treatment Center, Inc.; Gateway Foundation; Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois; Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS); and Shawnee Health.

Two animal-related organizations will also be there: Ready Set Sit LLC, which is a dog-training program, and Herrin Animal Control, which Camfield said will be bringing dogs that are available for adoption.

“They’re going to make those animals available for people to walk or run with during the race, and then they’ll also have on-site adoption applications available,” she said.

Camfield said they are looking to create opportunities that are not just for the race participants.

“That whole portion is open to the public, whether they register to participate in the race or not,” she said. “So they can just come and check out the event, and not actually participate [or] receive a t-shirt or anything like that, [but] check out some of the vendor tables and see what Life;Story is all about.”

Entry fees for the race start at $40 dollars for virtual and $35 for in-person. For those interested in participating, several discount codes are available:

• STUDENT, free entry for K-12 students 0-18 years of age

• COLLEGE, $20 entry for any college student

• MILITARY, $5 discount for any military veteran or active duty military personnel

• 1ST RESPONDERS, $5 discount for any first responders,

including police, fire, EMS, 911 operators, etc.

“We’re really trying to remove any barriers that we can so that everyone feels able to participate this year,” Lambert said.

Camfield added, “All registrations, even at a discount or the free option, include a race t-shirt and a finisher’s medal.”

She also shared testimonies from last year’s participants. She said “one of the biggest compliments” received “that really stands out” expressed how different the race was compared to other 5ks “because the cause was shared.”

“So many times you go to a 5k–I’ve participated in 5ks. I show up as soon as they say… ‘start’...and then as soon as I cross the finish line I leave, because I know that I didn’t place or win an award,” she said. “But we have that opening ceremony and we have that closing ceremony where it’s not just about ‘Okay, come start the race and then leave if you didn’t win. Thank you for donating your money.’ We’re really making this more of an event by bringing in guest speakers and having people speak about suicide prevention and Centerstone itself.”

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, suicide is the third leading cause of death for ages 15 to 34, and the 11th overall, in the state.

“Although it’s very widespread… it’s not something that you can necessarily connect with those that are closest to you because they don’t have the same shared experience as you,” Camfield said. “So it really creates that opportunity to find individuals within your community who have the same shared experiences as you that you can connect with.”

She said the event is “impactful”

and “meaningful.”

“As I get out into the community and I talk about Life;Story, 95% of the people that I talk to know someone who has [died by] suicide or has thought about suicide. They’ve been impacted by suicide in one form or another,” she said.

Camfield said suicide knows no limits.

“It doesn’t matter what social class you’re from, what ethnicity you are, it impacts all of us,” she said.

In addition to creating connections and spreading awareness about the services offered, Camfield said Life;Story lets attendees know that there is “no shame in the thoughts that they may be having.”

“If they’re thinking of hurting themselves, they shouldn’t be ashamed of that,” she said. “But most importantly, they should know that they’re not alone and that there is help out there, and they should be able to know how to get that help so that they do not become a victim of suicide.”

Participants can register online at centerstonelifestory.org or on the day of the race, beginning at 6:00 a.m. The registration page for Illinois also includes details and registration for those interested in volunteering.

“Whether you’ve been impacted by suicide or not, come out, show your support, because for every person out there who is openly admitting that they’re having thoughts of suicide, there’s probably 10 who are too scared to say anything,” Camfield said. “So come out and show your support and be a support system for those people who are struggling.”

News Editor Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com

Dominique

SIU research project studies remnants of Giant Cane Bamboo’s impact on the local environment

Jamilah lewis Jlewis@dailyegyptian com

A study on the local Giant Cane Bamboo done by two researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale looks into how the species interacts with itself and its environment via wildlife, soil, water and other factors of nature and why it’s so important to the community and it’s history.

“The study that you saw is like a side project that we tried to look at the correlation between the overstory, like forest cover, and how the cane is, like, within terms of how dense it is, how dense they are, how tall and how big the patch is,” said Thanchira “M.J.” Suriyamongkol, the graduate student leading the study.

Suriyamongkol works along with forestry professor Jim Zaczek who’s done studies on the Cane with other professors and students in the past.

“That kind of come[s] from, like, my dissertation study that we look at,” Suriyamongkol said. “We look at the occupancy, or how, like, [the] wildlife community utilize the cane in general, of like, the remnant that we have left in the area.”

The scientific name for it is Arundinaria gigantea, also known as a river cane and giant river cane.

The Cane Suriyamongkol looked at for research were located around the Trail of Tears and Cypress Creek area with around 30 patches of Giant Cane.

“The wildlife portion of it, we conduct a study in the summer, from April to the end of August, or like September, and we have been doing that for the past three years,” Suriyamongkol said. “This is the last year we’re doing that.”

Suriyamongkol and Zaczek would regularly monitor what species integrated with the cane, seeing birds, tree frogs, reptiles, raccoons and bobcats.

Audio logs were used to listen to animal calls and cameras to monitor how and when animals interacted with the cane patches.

“It’s in the grass family, Poaceae, so it is a grass… I would consider it a woody grass, because it forms these thickets when there’s plenty of light and exposure and disturbances and things like that,” Zaczek said.

Historical documents show large patches of the cane in the area along river bottoms and alluvial floodplains around the 19th century, Zaczek said. With it being an important cultural resource for Indigenous history in the

Forestry Professor Jim Zaczek holds a Giant Cane bamboo plant growing inside Thompson Woods Aug. 20, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com

community, there’s a lot of interest in restoration of the plant.

“Because of the cultural importance for Native Americans, they used it for building, they used it for Arrow shafts. .. And, you know, it was an important material, and there’s just not much of that left,” Zaczek said.

Old reports show that Native Americans were regularly using the cane, said Suriyamongkoln. As European settlers came into the community they cleared the wetlands and cleared space for agriculture which could’ve had an impact on spread and growth.

Cane benefits from periodic burning to restore it similar to prairie grass, said Zaczeck. Recommended to do it sparsely every seven to ten years, it can help the cane populate and knock back woods and trees.

A study done in the early 2000s by Zaczeck, Sara Baer and David Dalzatto tested the impact of fertilization and a prescribed direct fire on mixture to promote growth and spread of the cane in a four-year period.

Results from the study showed that fertilization on already established cane

can decrease in culm (stem) morality and the periodic burning can increase the density and spread of the cane, showing good stimulation of growth.

Another study done by Zaczek and Baer along with other forestry professors found that the giant cane’s rhizomes established in the greenhouse or planted in the fields can be used to stimulate growth in canebrakes that could lead to wide-scale restoration.

“So over the years, we’ve had a lot of students working on different methods of propagating it, and then once we figured out a good method… of propagating it, we were looking at, how do we plant it out in the fields,” Zaczek said.

Zaczek said over the years cane has been planted in Thompson Woods as a part of past student and professor studies

“It grows with underground rhizomes…which are underground stems, essentially,” Zaczek said. “There’s a little patch of light that shines through parts of the day. So this is a better spot for it to grow.”

Though the Giant Cane isn’t as populated in the area as it was in the past, studies have shown a positive rate in growth that has in return benefited the environment around it.

“ If it opens up and you get plenty of light, and they get very dense where you can barely even walk through it,” Zaczek said. “It’s all about how many resources they have, the heaven of light, water and nutrients they can really grow well.”

Staff reporter Jamilah Lewis can be reached at jlewis@dailyegyptian.com.

Thanchira “M.J.” Suriyamongkol, the graduate student leading the study, examines a patch of Giant Cane bamboo growing inside Thompson Woods on campus Aug. 20, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois.

Lylee Gibbs | lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com

RSO Fair

Enan ChEdiCk | EChEdiCk@dailyEgyptian Com

Many registered student organizations and new and returning students attended the SIU’s Registered Student Organization Fair Aug. 22, 2024 at Faner Plaza in Carbondale, Illinois. A giant beach ball welcomed incoming students to sign, doodle, and mark up with sharpies. By the end of the event, the ball had so many signatures it was difficult to find a place to sign.

Many of the clubs had their own group of people that they were tailored to, but most were open to all. As Jonathan Crane said of the Saluki Rainbow Network, “We’re a queer-based group that’s meant to help all students on campus. We’re meant to spread diversity, but we’re also here just to help build the community on campus.”

Many of the clubs also brought projects they were working on to show off to interested students. The SIU Robotics club brought their two-semester project, a lunar mining robot called Sandstorm that is part of an annual national competition put on by NASA. “It’s hosted in a simulated lunar environment with the goal being to collect as much material and deposit it in a specific location,” Marco Caliendo, a member of the SIU Robotics club, stated. “This will be our third year. Last year we got 12th place out of 50 teams, and this year we think we can beat that.”

Taminul Islam (left) and Sonkorson Talukder Sabuj (right), members of the Bangladesh Student Association, play a game of chess on the fountains.

Members of the Black Women’s Club pose for a group portrait. Caitlan Laster (second from left) said, “Black Women’s Club is a safe space for black women on campus to have those hard discussions about being a college student without shame or discrimination.”

A group of students sign the giant beach ball bearing the signatures, messages and graffiti of the students who visited the RSO Fair in Faner Plaza Aug. 22, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. Enan Chedick | echedick@dailyegyptian.com

Janessa Sydow (left) puts her information down on the sign-up sheet after talking to Ashlynn Shea (right) about the Coral Reefers Club. “You don’t think of coral reefs being in southern Illinois,” Shea stated, “but we do have them. It’s in a facility where we just learn how to grow, raise, propagate, keep them in a system in the midwest. It’s really cool.”

Du Quoin State Fair

The 102nd Du Quoin State Fair kicked off on Friday, Aug. 23 with the annual Twilight Parade. Attendees could find rides, games and a wide variety of food options along the midway. The festivities continue all the way up until Sept. 2 and the full fair schedule can be found at dsf.illinois.gov.

Attendees ride the Vertigo ride in the late evening at the Du Quoin State Fair Aug. 23, 2024 in Du Quoin, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto

Ty Lunn smiles as the SIU Color Guard marches by Aug. 23, 2024 at the Du Quoin State Fair in Du Quoin, Illinois. Dominique Martinez-Powell | @dmartinez-powell.photography

Jemma Farmer, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, tosses a ring towards rubber ducks in an attempt to win a prize from the booth while her father, Jim Farmer, watches Aug. 23, 2024 at the Du Quoin State Fair in Du Quoin, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto

Sousaphone player from the Rich Township Raptors holds his instrument as the marching band moves through the Twilight Parade Aug. 23, 2024 at the Du Quoin State Fair in Du Quoin, Illinois. Dominique Martinez-Powell | @dmartinez-powell.photography

Urijah Law (right) shows off the fish he won in a fair game as Memphis Welty (left) examined his fish Aug. 23, 2024 at the Du Quoin State Fair in Du Quoin, Illinois. Dominique Martinez-Powell | @dmartinez-powell.photography

Grey Dawg waves to the crowd as he walks with the SIU Marching Salukis through the annual Twilight Parade for the Du Quoin State Fair Aug. 20, 2024 in Du Quoin, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto

YOUR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE Student Health Services

HOUSING OR FOOD INSECURE?

Are you struggling to make ends meet? Are you having difficulty affording Counseling or Health Services? Not sure where your next meal is coming from or where you might sleep tonight? If you are experiencing any of these situations, the Higher Education Resources and Opportunities for Salukis in Need (HEROES) program can assist you.

HEROES Program can provide students with:

• Housing Accommodations

• Food Assistance

HEROES Program can provide students with:

• Financial Assistance

• Housing Accommodations

• Mental and Physical Health Resources

• Educational and Learning Support

• Resources During Academic Break

• Educational and Learning Support

• Assistance Filling out Paperwork for ID Cards, Low-Cost Housing, SNAP Benefits H E R O E S

E R O E S

• Food Assistance

• Financial Assistance

• Mental and Physical Health Resources

a p s

w h p s

• Resources During Academic Break

• Assistance Filling out Paperwork for ID Cards, Low-Cost Housing, SNAP Benefits

HEROES Headquarters: The HEROES Headquarters, located in the basement of the Student Center, includes a basic needs store next to the Saluki Food Pantry. The store offers essential supplies, including sheets, towels, microwaves, refrigerators, and other crucial supplies, including toiletries, for students in need.

HEROES Hideaway: The HEROES Hideaway, also located in the basement of the Student Center, is a de-stress zen den that offers tranquil, multicultural mindfulness features, including a massage chair, yoga, and meditation tools.

The PEERS HEROES Program: The Peer HEROES support program facilitates peer educators supporting students living with mental health conditions. In addition, mentors provide education on behavior change strategies, intervention skills, and self-care methods.

The HEROES Campus Liaison, Dr. Jaime Clark, can be contacted at 618/453-6341 or email heroes@siu.edu For more information about HEROES, please visit the following website or scan the QR code: heroes.siu.edu

counseling and psychological services

CAPS counselors provide supportive, affirmative, trauma-informed, and confidential services to students. We work with diverse students on a wide range of presenting issues and utilize treatment techniques based on individual needs. Our services include:

• Same Day Services

• Gender-Based Violence Services

• Eating Disordered Outpatient Program

• Individual Counseling

• Group Counseling

• Alcohol and Other Drugs

• Couples Counseling

• Gender-Based Violence Services

• Crisis Service

• Same Day Services

• Individual Counseling

• Group Counseling

• Crisis Service

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program

• Alcohol and Other Drugs

• Couples Counseling

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program

• SIU Mandatory Suicide Assessment

• Mental health on-line screening tool

• Eating Disordered Outpatient Program

• SIU Mandatory Suicide Assessment

• Mental health on-line screening tool

CAPS counselors are here to support you! SIU Students can access mental health counseling by calling 618/453-5371 Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 12:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (excluding university closures) or by walking into any of our locations on campus.

Counseling and risk assessment support after 9 p.m., campus closures, holiday closures, and semester breaks is available by calling Connect@SIU at 1-833-434-1217.

For more information about CAPS, please visit shc.siu.edu/counseling

Counseling and risk assessment support after 9 p.m., campus closures, holiday closures, and semester breaks is available by calling Connect@SIU at 1-833-434-1217.

For more information about CAPS, please visit shc.siu.edu/counseling

wellness and health promotion services

Confidential Advising Services is dedicated to providing survivor-centered assistance to SIU students that have experienced sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking. Call 618/536-4441 or email confidentialadvisor@siu.edu. c a p s w h p s

wellness and health promotion services

Wellness and Health Promotion Services provides health promotion and prevention education to equip students with the skills needed to make effective choices regarding their health and wellbeing. We offer presentations and workshops on a variety of topics, including:

• Physical health

• Nutrition

• Sexual Health

• Physical health

• Alcohol and Other Drugs

• Nutrition

• Sexual Health

• Alcohol and Other Drugs

• Violence and Suicide Prevention

• Stress Management

• Resilience and Coping Skills

• Violence and Suicide Prevention

• Health Equity

• Stress Management

• Resilience and Coping Skills

Feeling stressed? The Dawg Lounge is our free and open stress management lounge for students, offering three themed relaxation rooms with massage chairs, art and coping tools, and support animals! We also offer monthly Downward Dog yoga sessions and Calming Craft activities. For a schedule of events and dog days in the Dawg Lounge, or to request a presentation, visit shc.siu.edu

• Health Equity

Women’s Soccer

Photos by Libby Phelps

Marta Forne (14) and Dory Latenser (29) hug after Forne scores the first goal against the Indiana UniversityIndianapolis Jaguars on Sunday August 25, 2024 at Lew Hartzog Track & Field Complex in Carbondale, Illinois.

Freshman Guliana Balistreri (22) heads the ball during the game against the Indiana University-Indianapolis Jaguars.

McKensey Bunch (28) fights for the ball during the first home game of the 24-25 season against Indiana University-Indianapolis.

Freshman Olivia Anderson (3) looks for a fellow Saluki to pass to during the first home game of the season against Indiana University-Indianapolis.

Defender Riley Maulick sprints after the ball during the game.

Midfielder Aylie Haycock (88) goes to steal the ball from a Indiana University-Indianapolis Jaguar.

Murphysboro native named commander of SIU Air Force ROTC

Carly Gist | CGist@dailyeGyptian Com

Lt. Col. Chay M. Derbigny has recently taken over as commander and professor of aerospace studies for Air Force ROTC Detachment 205 at Southern Illinois University.

“When I saw I got the opportunity to become an ROTC commander, and then I saw the list [of locations] that came out, obviously, that jumped off the screen for me,” he said.

Derbigny calls in from the parking lot of a southern Illinois Lowe’s. He fits our conversation into a morning of errands, which is only a glimpse of how busy his schedule is about to become. In addition to SIU, he will be leading cadets at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) and John A. Logan College.

“It is tough because it’s an hour drive down there at SEMO, but we got a staff of five…We do calendar meetings once a week, and we make sure that everything’s covered,” he said. “We’re going down there to give presence and make sure that they’re getting taken care of.”

He said cadets from other schools often have to come to SIU for a program called Lead Lab.

“[It] is a Cadet-led program where they go through different activities to help build leadership and resilience…where [they] got to go solve problems, compete on the fields of friendly strife, to kind of build grit and resiliency and learn how to work better as a team,” he said.

Derbigny was born in Murphysboro, IL and grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. His mother graduated from SIU in 1984, and he said there was a time when he considered coming to the school.

“I wasn’t accepted to go to the Air Force Academy right away. I went to prep school,” he said. “I was rejected from the academy… So I was gonna come to Southern Illinois University…So when I saw this [opportunity], I was like, first I get back closer to the Chicagoland area where my family still lives, I get to go live in a chapter of my life that I don’t remember but my mom remembers vividly and I can make a whole adult chapter of my life with my family in a spot that I almost went to.”

He said he thought it was “like a calling.”

“It’s a sign from Heaven saying, ‘This is it. This is what I wanted you to do. Your whole career was lined up to go and do this,’ you know? And, yeah, I couldn’t be more happy to be here,” he said.

He was eventually commissioned through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2008.

Near the start of his career, Derbigny spent time in Air Force Special Operations Command. He had five deployments (three in Afghanistan and two in Africa) over

a span of three and a half years as well. He was stationed in Florida, where he met and married his wife, for about five years during this time. Shortly after, he received his first teaching opportunity.

“I got to go back to my alma mater and work with cadets,” he said. “I forgot how impressionable I was [back then], how young and mature, and you don’t know anything about anything…So I go back there and teach cadets how to fly.”

He said the opportunity allowed him to do more than just teach. He was able to become “like a life coach” to the students.

“You give them advice, you say things like, ‘Hey, these are things I wish I would have known, or I would have put more time in as a cadet…’ Few things in life, to me, are more rewarding than helping people realize their full potential, and I got to do that every day with every new cadet that came in,” he said. “[There were] over 2000 cadets I got to see and work and mentor. It was an incredible experience.”

He said he returned to special operations in Florida for a few years after teaching. Then, he was picked up for Intermediate Developmental Education, where he got a second masters degree and a fellowship teaching at the academy.

Most recently, he was director of Maxwell Beyond Horizon 2024 Air Show, where he worked with over 400 people and a budget of 1.3 million dollars. Despite not being a commander for the show, he said the experience, as well as his boss, helped prepare him for his role at SIU.

“My boss was the colonel of the Air Base Wing Commander there, Col. Richardson, but he was so empowering that I gave him briefs and I kept him informed, and he just kept giving me his intent,” he said. “I was able to roll with it so I acted like I was commander there.”

He said he “couldn’t imagine a better experience” to set him up for a command, especially in ROTC.

“I got [to] work with cadets, and now know how to manage a budget…people and relationships, and how to get clear intent,” he said. “After witnessing that with my boss Col. Richardson, I think it prepared me extremely well. It gave me experience that I think should help cadets as well.”

There are several other role models he credits for helping shape his career–Coach Hall (his high school baseball coach), Coach G (his fifth grade teacher that he still writes letters to) and Coach Mike Kazlausky (his assistant baseball coach, and now head coach, at the Air Force Academy).

“I didn’t really have a father figure growing up…So I really leaned on my friend’s parents and my coaches and my teachers to get to where I’m at today,” he said.

He said he likes “paying it forward.”

“I hope to help inform the cadets to make good decisions and work hard and build up their grit so they can be successful U.S. citizens wearing the uniform,” he said.

Derbigny was named commander at a change of command ceremony on June 28. He said that becoming a commander is a goal for many members of the Air Force, so the tradition can be “a culminating moment for a lot of people’s careers.”

“It’s a career of working hard and being recognized for that hard work and being trusted to take a command position,” he said. “And so it’s very rewarding and humbling in a lot of ways.”

Derbigny is taking over for Lt. Col. Jessica H. Dwyer, who has recently started serving as Deputy Division Chief for Acquisitions Workforce Development at the Pentagon.

“I help to oversee the professional development of our scientists, engineers and program managers in the Air Force, so whether that’s making sure that they have the right education, the right training, the right experiences at the right time, so that they are ready to take on more responsibilities as they progress through their career,” she said.

Dwyer said Derbigny is “the full package.”

“[He’s] an accomplished aviator, an experienced scholar and professor already, and so those are the exact things that we’re looking to bring into an ROTC detachment, because he’s going to be the role model and modeling what leaders should be like on active duty,” she said.

Dwyer said that to become an ROTC commander, applicants must state their interest and provide an application package with fitness records; educational and leadership experiences; a cover letter; and letters of recommendation. From there, a short list of applicants will become candidates, although not all will get matched with an ROTC detachment.

Dwyer said she knew Derbigny would be a “perfect fit” while he was “still in the application phase.” She also noted that being from Illinois will help him understand “the demographic of students he will be working with.”

“That is kind of nice when you can bring someone who is familiar with the area, because he may even have existing connections that can help with the program’s development and success as well,” she said.

Derbigny said that Dwyer inherited the program when it was “not in a healthy spot.” It was 2021, fresh out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“She really flipped this program around to get it healthy and make sure we graduate quality, not quantity,” he said.

Dwyer said she had four main priorities, one being more community engagements from the program.

“First was the health and

safety of our cadets, cadre…and the community,” she said. “And obviously developing our leaders of character for the Air Force and Space Force, embodying a culture of dignity and respect. And then the last one…was strengthening our relationships with the community and fostering trust amongst the public.”

She added, “I feel like I had had friends and family who were questioning our military strength compared to our other nations, and I just felt like part of my job was to reassure the public that they’re in good hands and that we are developing the future leaders who will know you know how to handle adversity when they’re faced with it.”

Derbigny said he wants to keep building on what Dwyer has accomplished, and that it becomes something everyone is proud of.

“I think SIU would love that too,” he said.

Derbigny’s vision for the program currently has two main focuses.

“It’s [SIU] not a big tech school, and that’s what the Air Force wants,” he said. “We want more people to take the technical degrees… graduate with that to try to…do more of a tech degree that will help them get the job that they want in the Air Force, whether that’s flying or engineering or something else, that gets you a good technical skill. So that’s a goal, to try to figure out how to do that and build up our tech degrees.”

He also wants to recruit

prospective cadets from other departments, namely athletics.

“In athletics, [if] you think about it, you’re competing against somebody who’s trying to beat you,” he said. “You got a lot of grit. It’s built-in resiliency…You fail all the time…So you learn to overcome resiliency with different sports… You work [on] teamwork, which [are] all huge things that help our officers perform at a higher level. So I’m hoping to try to recruit into that a little bit and see if I can convince some of the athletes to join ROTC.” Dwyer mentioned the aviation program.

“With our high density of aviation majors, not only at SIU, but in our program…we exist to support and groom pilots,” she said. “I think with his background, we’ll be able to strengthen that relationship as well, which can help with retention, so maybe bring in some more cadets.”

Dwyer wants to leave Derbigny with this advice: “Don’t be afraid to fail. See your vision through.”

Derbigny said that serving one’s nation is a “unique calling” and features lots of “camaraderie.”

“It’s a humbling experience and there’s no greater calling, I think, than to go serve other people [in] the military or [as a] policeman or teacher or whatever – anything that goes to serve your country or serves your community to help it be a safer, more enjoyable, awesome place,” he said. “That’s what you get at ROTC.”

News editor Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com

Lt. Col. Chay M. Derbigny will become commander and a professor of aerospace studies for Air Force ROTC Detachment 205 at 10 a.m. Friday, June 28, at Saluki Alumni Plaza, located between Woody and Pulliam halls on the SIU campus. Photo provided by

Different starters, same success: SIU football aims for another solid season

Nick PfaNNkuche NPfaNkuche@dailyegyPtiaN com

The ending to the 2023 SIU football season left a bit of a sour taste in the mouths of returning Salukis. Idaho’s overtime field goal, coupled with multiple missed opportunities by the Salukis, sent the Dawgs home.

Senior wide receiver Vinson Davis said, “It wasn’t anything [Idaho] did that lost us that game, it was all on us in my mind.”

However, there was no point to dwell on how things could have gone; instead it was time to gear up for the next season.

Going into the offseason, the team knew that a lot of its roster would look very different. Several players graduated, including four year starting quarterback Nic Baker, first team all conference safety PJ Jules and defensive line mainstays Dante Cleveland and Kam Bowdry.

Several foundational players also transferred to other programs. 2023’s leading wide receiver, Izaiah Hartrup, is now at Ole Miss, while All-Missouri Valley Conference linebacker Branson Combs is at Wake Forest. Dune Smith, another talented linebacker who was named a 2024 team captain, went to Incarnate Word, which will visit Carbondale on Sept. 14.

According to offensive coordinator Blake Rolan, who is entering his fifth year with SIU, the changes in personnel have led to a shift in how the coaching staff gameplans, though it won’t be too noticeable on the field.

“It will change some style of play and some play calls… but the average fan won’t notice too much difference,” Rolan said.

The new year has also seen many players

grow as leaders. Senior linebacker Colin Bohanek made note of several who have stepped into leadership roles on defense, including sixth-year safety Iverson Brown, defensive lineman Dewey Green and offensive lineman Chase Evans, Jake Green and Noah Fenske.

Amongst all the change, one unit has remained mostly the same. The offensive line returns four of its five starters, and each of those four have started at least 19 games in their collegiate career. The coaching staff believes that this experience could be a big key to offensive success this year.

“Offense starts with the O-Line, especially in the Missouri Valley,” Rolan said. “With seven to 10 capable linemen, we’ll definitely be relying on them to get the ball moving.”

Despite all the changes in starting roles, the Salukis were ranked tenth in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and picked to finish a respectable fourth in the MVC preseason poll, behind perennial heavyweights South Dakota State, North Dakota State and South Dakota, all of whom the Dawgs will face this year.

For a conference as tough as the Missouri Valley, which regularly fields at least five top 25 FCS teams and is home to 11 of the last 13 FCS national champions, this is a testament to the work that the players and coaching staff put in everyday to build a winning program. The coaching staff, however, does not have their minds on the preseason ranking.

“Those preseason polls don’t mean much come December,” Rolan said.

Saluki Football, which opens its MVC

VOLLEYBALL SEASON

CONTINUED FROM 1

exciting recruiting class, with several recruits making a push for playing time right away.

“We brought some solid freshmen in, and a class in that I think complements the players that we’ve had,” Allen said. Allen and his staff are particularly excited about one freshman, who has stood out for one key reason over the offseason.

“Ava Krakowski is doing a phenomenal job, maybe one of our best athletes, not only in that class, but in the gym,” Allen said. “We’re excited about, I think, where she can develop into, not only this year, but over the coming three years.”

Allen also mentioned Larissa Seager, a transfer student, as someone “who is giving us great presence at the net, both offensively and defensively.”

Both Krakowski and Seager play in the middle of the court, an area where Allen is excited to shore up.

“We’re looking to not only have those kids make a presence for us defensively… we really believe that both those kids can give us a couple kills a set, which will be a huge improvement over the offense we’ve been able to get out of that position over the last four years here,” Allen said.

schedule on Sept. 28 against South Dakota, will kick off its 2024 campaign with a trip out west to face off with the Cougars of Brigham Young University.

The annual matchup with an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision opponent like BYU is always a highly anticipated one for SIU and its fans, while the chance to play on a bigger stage than usual also has many players counting down the days until the game.

”It’s probably the most excited I’ve been, in college,” Brown said.

Bohanek shared a similar sentiment.

“It’s going to be a great experience and we can’t wait to soak it all in,” he said.

This year in particular gives the Salukis a chance to make history, as they will be trying to make it three years in a row with wins over FBS opponents. SIU has never beaten three FBS teams in a row, with the longest streaks (2 wins) coming in the 2006 and 2007 seasons and in the 20222023 seasons.

But it is still business as usual for the Dawgs. Bohanek said that they were still “trusting each other, trusting in the system, and believing in themselves” while Vinson Davis said it’s all about “playing our brand of football and giving 100% effort.”

SIU is expected to contend for its third straight FCS playoff bid.

SIU will travel to Clarksville, Tennessee in Week 2 to take on Austin Peay before returning for their home opener on Sept. 14, in a matchup against the Cardinals of Incarnate Word.

Sports reporter Nick Pfankuche can be reached at npfankuche@dailyegyptian.com

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About Us

The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale on a weekly basis. Fall and spring semester editions run every Wednesday. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale, Carterville, and Springfield communities. The Daily Egyptian can be found at www.dailyegyptian.com or on the Daily Egyptian app!

Mission Statement

The Daily Egyptian, the student-run news organization of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is committed to being a trusted source of news, information, commentary and public discourse, while helping readers understand the issues affecting their lives.

“As a coach, you’re always adjusting your style to best take care of what the abilities are of the team that you have,” Allen said. “But, we’re putting three new players on the floor for us this year, so we’re just trying to maximize what their abilities are at this point, and then as they get more comfortable and we’ve had a chance to train them more, we may think about system-related stuff.”

New abilities that Jaworski and Wallenberger have unveiled include their leadership skills. They are the only seniors on a team that includes nine underclassmen, with seven being freshmen.

“Coach talks a lot about how everybody has a role on this team… you still have to show up everyday and be prepared and be supportive. You have to support them in any way that you can, so that’s really how I’ve been trying to step up, is always being prepared, always ready to be supportive if somebody’s having a problem,” Wallenberger said.

Jaworski cites continuous effort as another important part of the standards that Allen has in place.

“Even if a ball isn’t touchable, you still have to make an effort… and just show that you’re all in,” Jaworski said.

While upholding standards and

Even with all the different faces and players moving into different spots, fans shouldn’t expect the on-court product to be too different.

culture from year to year may seem difficult, Allen has a simple explanation for how they are communicated and upheld.

“You just explain what those expectations are. You don’t compromise what those expectations are, and generally, you’ll get what you expect,” Allen said. “I reinforce that on a daily basis, to make sure that this is the expectation, and it’s not an option. Everyone needs to meet it.”

These expectations all feed into Allen’s keys for the season: be a better blocking team, be more productive in the middle and use it to support the outside offense and have patience as a team to be OK with playing long rallies without pressing.

The first chance to see SIU doing all these things in person will be on Sept. 6 at 10 A.M. in the Banterra Center as part of their annual Saluki Bash tournament, which includes three games in two days, all in Carbondale. Jaworski has a simple message for why fans should come out and support the Dawgs.

“I think fans can expect a really competitive and fun team,” Jaworski said. “It’s always fun for me, putting names to faces and just seeing different personalities that each team brings.”

Sports consultant Ryan Grieser can be reached at rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com.

Publishing Information

The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and functions as a laboratory for the School of Journalism in exchange for the room and utilities in the Communications Building. The Daily Egyptian is a non-profit organization that survives primarily off of its advertising revenue. Offices are in the Communications Building, room 1259, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Ill., 62901.

@2024 The Daily Egyptian. All rights reserved. All content is property of the Daily Egyptian and may not be reproduced or transmitted without consent. The Daily Egyptian is a member of the Illinois College Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Advisers Inc. and the College Business and Advertising Managers Inc.

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Letters and guest columns must be submitted with author’s contact information, preferably via email. Phone numbers are required to verify authorship, but will not be published. Students must include their year and major. Faculty must include rank and department. Others include hometown. Submissions should be sent to editor@dailyegyptian.com

WEEKEND WORKSHOP

Members from the community came to the Rotunda in the Morris Library to see the work that SIU photojournalism students made at the Weekend Workshop Aug. 24, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. The students worked together to produce a body of work that told unique stories about the community of Cobden and Alto Pass in April 12th through 14th, 2024.

In addition to community members and students, visiting professionals returned to speak and support the students at the event. Photojournalist Justin Cook engaged with the students in a panel discussion, asking the students their specific experiences at the workshop.

Jacob Wiegand looks at the photos on display at the “Views of Cobden and Alto Pass” Weekend Workshop exhibition.

Participants of the “Views of Cobden and Alto Pass” Weekend Workshop take photos after the exhibition and panel Aug. 24, 2024 at Morris Library in Carbondale, Illinois. Select photos from the weekend will be published in a book for the public to view. Simeon Hardley | shardley@dailyegyptian.com

Photography student Dominique Martinez-Powell speaks on the challenges that she faced during the workshop and how rewarding the experience was.

Photos taken by Southern Illinois University and Eastern Illinois University journalism students hang on display in the Morris Library Rotunda.

Photography student Enan Chediak introduces himself to the audience during the panel discussion.

The panel takes questions from the audience about the “Views of Cobden and Alto Pass” Weekend Workshop.