THE Daily Egyptian
Staff and faculty repond to administrative bonuses
AnnAlise schmidt Aschmidt@dAilyegyptiAn com
In the wake of salary increases and bonuses awarded to some of SIU’s top administrators, faculty and staff across campus are offering diverse reactions, ranging from concern over university priorities, to acknowledgment of the competitive pressures that leadership faces.
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SIU sees enrollment increase for fall 2024 semester
lylee
Southern Illinois University’s overall enrollment for the fall 2024 semester grew 3.8% to 11,790 according to numbers released by the university on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Undergraduate enrollment rose 4.5% and graduate program enrollment is up 2.3% according to a news release from SIU. In-person enrollment is up 1.6% from last year. The university welcomed 1,758 new freshmen for the fall semester, 8.45% more than last year and is the fifth consecutive year the freshman class has seen an increase according to the release. New students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher have increased by 8.4% from the previous year. 9,379 students take classes in person, 8,953 being on campus while 426 attend classes at offcampus sites. 2,411 students are enrolled online, a 13% increase from last year according to SIU Director of Communications Kim Renfeld. According to the release, this year marks the highest enrollment jump
in 33 years, the highest overall boost of enrollment since 1991 and highest percentage increase since 1978.
The diversity of SIU’s student body increased with 9% more Black students, 12% more Hispanic students and 2.5% more international students.
Online student enrollment increased with the help of the Saluki Step Ahead program which allows graduates of partnering community colleges to earn their degrees online through SIU.
“We have agreements, actually, with all 48 community colleges in the state,” Chancellor Austin A. Lane said. “We worked that deal out about two and a half years ago with the Illinois Community College Board.”
Saluki Step Ahead increased enrollment 111% including 62% in the southern Illinois region.
SIU’s retention rate is 67%, Lane said. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, the national average is 76.5% as of 2022.
“We’re not satisfied with that
but we’ve got plans for that fall to fall retention to be even closer to 80%,” Lane said. “We’re putting our infrastructure in place, making sure that we’ve got the right support staff that’s here to help those students get from orientation to graduation.”
According to Lane, not retaining a student isn’t always because of academic reasons, but rather some students being unable to cover the final gap in the cost of their tuition.
“So we actually probably would have been closer to 12,000 students if we had a few of those students, if they have been able to cover some of the cost of their tuition for the next semester,” Lane said. “If we could fill that gap, we would see our numbers increase even more.”
The university is on track to enroll 15,000 students by 2030, set in the IMAGiNE 2030 strategic plan, the release said. According to Lane, the priority is to highlight and red carpet the southern Illinois regions to prospective local students.
“We’ve got to be connected to
This comes after the SIU Board of Trustees approved significant bonuses on July 11 for both Chancellor Austin Lane and System President Daniel Mahony, and approved a title change for Wendell Williams.
Williams was promoted to Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management, a title change that came with a salary increase. Previously earning $165,000, his salary was raised to $185,203, a change Lane recommended due to Williams’ responsibilities in managing enrollment and strategic planning, according to previous reporting by the Daily Egyptian.
A member of the SIU system communications team declined a request for comment from Lane and Mahony.
However, SIU Board of Directors Chairman, Phil Gilbert, confirmed that his previous statements regarding the board’s approach to leadership evaluations and performance bonuses, as discussed in the Daily Egyptian article about student and alumni opinions, remain relevant for this discussion as well.
“SIU is committed to strong ethical standards,” Gilbert said. “We always welcome public input, though the board is committed to making decisions that are in the best interest of the university system as a whole. The board works to fairly evaluate our
Meanwhile, Lane and Mahony received bonuses as incentives for their work. The incentive compensation is included in both administrators’ contracts with the university. While the condition allows for annual performance bonuses, it does not mandate that they be awarded.
Centerstone hosts 5K for suicide prevention
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Attendees dance towards the end of Mike “D” Big Time Rhythm & Blues Band’s set at the 11th Annual Heritage Blues & Gospel Festival near the Ohio River Sept. 6, 2024 on Historic Downtown 8th Street in Cairo, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
Participants Sarah Heer, Helen Blackburn and Martha Martinko run the Centerstone 5K Sept. 7, 2024 at Harry L. Crisp Sports Complex in Marion, Illinois. Jason Isele | @iselephotography
Cairo’s 11th annual Blues and Gospel festival
Southern Illinois Airport manager Gary Shafer to retire
LyLee Gibbs LGibbs@daiLyeGyptian com
Southern Illinois Airport manager Gary R. Shafer will retire in March according to a news release from the Southern Illinois Airport.
Shafer began his tenure in 1979 and at the time of his retirement – effective March 31, 2025 –will have spent 46 years with the airport, 44 as airport manager. He has served as one of only two managers in the airport’s 74 years of existence and is one of the longest-serving airport managers in the country, according to the release.
Shafer is a licensed pilot and attended school at Florida Tech, Ohio State University and Southern Illinois University. He taught several undergraduate and graduate-level courses in aviation at SIU for over 25 years.
Under Shafer’s leadership, the airport has grown to 1,200 acres, doubling in size, as well as tripling its buildings to 30, according to the release. During
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his tenure was the addition of a third runway making it the fourth busiest airport in Illinois. He has attracted over $120 million in facility improvements supported by federal and state grant funds. Currently, 20 tenants call the airport home including Southern Illinois University’s Aviation and Automotive programs.
In his career, Shafer was involved in several professional programs including the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), Transportation Research Board’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (TRB/ ACRP) and the National Air Transportation Association.
“It has been the honor and privilege of my life to represent the Southern Illinois Airport for the past 46 years,” Shafer said in a statement. “...We have accomplished a lot together and I am proud of our achievements.”
Editor-in-Chief Lylee Gibbs can be reached at lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com.
those local school districts, those superintendents, you know, we’ve got to make sure they know and understand that we want their students to stay right here,” Lane said. “I think that’s our number one priority is to keep those relationships alive and well and to really make sure they have access to SIU Carbondale.”
While administration celebrates fall 2024 trends, they are already looking to 2025 in
terms of attracting and retaining students.
“It’s great to celebrate this accomplishment but you know, we’re already recruiting for the next cohort fall 2025 students, so applications are free up through, I think, Oct. 31,” Lane said. “But you know we’re looking forward to recruiting more Salukis.”
Editor-in-Chief Lylee Gibbs can be reached at lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com.
Airport Manager of the Southern Illinois Airport Gary R. Shafer to retire effective March 31, 2025. Photo provided by Southern Illinois Airport.
administrators on a regular basis; we do not evaluate the performance bonuses of our leaders through an anonymous survey.”
He continued, “These leaders are under contract, but they are required to achieve performance goals that are set each year. If they aren’t hitting the goals, they’re not entitled to this incentive pay.”
Continued collaboration between partners Jeffery Punske is the president of the SIUC Faculty Association, an organization that works to ensure faculty have a say in university decisions at SIU. It represents all tenured and tenure-track faculty, except those in the medical and law schools.
“The Faculty Association has concerns about the financial health of the institution and will continue to work closely with administration to address them in a way that is to our mutual benefit,” Punske said. “As indicated by the recent enrollment news, the shared work between SIU’s faculty, staff and administration is paying dividends. We look forward to continuing to collaborate as partners with administration.”
As of Sept. 4, SIU overall enrollment for the 2024 fall semester grew by 3.8%. The IMAGiNE 2030 plan at SIU is led by the university’s administration, with input from faculty and staff across the campus. The initiative is driven by various administrative leaders, including the Chancellor’s office and other key academic and operational departments, who oversee its implementation.
One of the goals of the program, as outlined in the IMAGiNE 2030 plan, was to “Imagine 15,000 students enrolled by 2030”. The university surpassed its fall 2024 target with 11,790 students enrolled.
Punske said, “As SIU continues to move forward and move to R1, there needs to be continued reinvestment in our faculty, staff and students. We all have been asked to take on more for less for some time. Our new CBA [Collective Bargaining Agreement] and our salary reopener make critical steps to address these issues. But there is still significant work.”
According to the FY 2025-2028 agreement, the new CBA offers significant changes in several areas, particularly around addressing salary compression. It provides raises for Full and Associate professors along with a minimum of $1.2 million in additional funding after a salary study. Promotion raises will also increase. Over the four years, faculty are guaranteed approximately $5.4 million in total raises.
SIU aims to become a Carnegie R1 university, a designation that signifies a high level of research activity. To achieve and maintain this status, it’s crucial to attract and support top-tier graduate students and faculty.
“Regarding the additional compensation for the president and the chancellor, it is my understanding that these elements were promised at the point of hire. We believe the Board of Trustees should honor all employment agreements that are made. We hope to see faculty and staff be given similar priority,” Punske said.
The Daily Egyptian completed a survey from Aug. 20 to Sept. 6. Over the course of that time, 399 total respondents self-identified themselves as students, faculty, alumni and community members.
Respondents were asked the question: “Do you agree with the decision to increase the salary of SIUC Associate Vice Chancellor Wendell Williams, and give performance bonuses to Chancellor Austin Lane, and SIU System President Daniel Mahony?”
Faculty and staff members answered as followed:
FACULTY:
• 5.1% strongly agree
• 2.6% somewhat agree
• 10.3% neutral
• 12.8% somewhat disagree
• 69.2% strongly disagree
STAFF:
• 6.9% strongly agree
• 6.9% somewhat agree
• 3% neutral
• 13.9% somewhat disagree
• 69.3% strongly disagre
students and the lack of compensation increases for those who work on the ground.
“Many of us on campus have had little increase in salary over the last ten years or longer. Many in Civil Service barely make a living wage, despite providing essential day to
“We believe the Board of Trustees should honor all employment agreements that are made. We hope to see faculty and staff be given similar priority.”
- Jeffery Punske President of the SIUC Faculty Association
Tim Janello is a retired faculty member as of July 2023. He was an associate professor in Automotive who conducted the Diesel Engine Performance and Emissions class.
Janello wrote in an email to the Daily Egyptian, that the university’s overall priorities and mission are administration centric and uncaring about students, programs and workers.
“They change student services constantly seemingly without a plan, ignoring what works,” Janello wrote. “They keep putting off improvements for admin salaries and additional administrators. They have no money to keep or attract top personnel. No funds for IT issues causing student learning to be hampered… Admin salaries should be based on performance metrics by a survey of the entire campus.”
Janello explained that these issues have contributed to a decline in faculty morale over the past 15 years.
“They are running off good people by low salaries and high demands, to be replaced by low knowledge individuals but increasing their pay. Makes zero sense. Morale is extremely low,” Janello wrote.
He said the university could do better to address the needs and concerns of both faculty and students in light of these budgetary decisions by being communicative and understanding leaders.
Janello wrote, “No students, no need for admin. I have a feeling these administrators are seeing how much money they can get out of SIU for however long, then leaving. They are only interested in self. No leadership at all.”
‘Exorbitant bonuses are out of line’
Aaron Lisec, a research specialist at Morris Library, has been with SIU since 1990. He sees the bonuses as out of line with the university’s financial reality and its mission.
“Higher administration at SIUC is already more than adequately compensated given the comparatively lower cost of living here,” Lisec said, calling the bonuses “exorbitant,” especially as staff salaries have stagnated.
Lisec said, “I’ve witnessed ups and downs during my time here. I think we’ve suffered in general from too much turnover at the top, but I don’t think that’s due to inadequate compensation. I think the biggest overall problem, the long-term decline in enrollment, is largely due to demographics and other factors outside the university’s control.”
These factors include the rising costs of tuition and student loan debt; the growth of online and alternative education options; and doubts about the value of a college degree or the relevance of specific degree programs in today’s job market, he said.
“Of course it’s worth the effort to try and attract and retain more students, but again, I think that any success is due to outside factors as much as any efforts within,” Lisec said. “But I’m only an observer, not an expert.”
Within the survey, many respondents expressed frustration over the contrast between administrative pay raises for the retention of
day services that keep the university running smoothly,” Lisec said.
He noted that these long-standing issues make the current emphasis on compensation reviews particularly critical.
Lisec said, “AP and Civil Service staff were recently pressed to complete a complicated and time-consuming survey that essentially asked us to verify our job descriptions, supposedly in the interest of seeing how our compensation compares with other universities.”
On July 22, Civil Service and AP staff received an email launching a secondary phase of a study to attain equity in compensation.
According to the email, as part of Compensation 2030, SIU has CBIZ Compensation Consulting assisting with a study of current compensation and classifications of jobs. The results of the project are said to help the school analyze what competitors pay
being asked to justify our very jobs.”
While rewarding top administrators is important, many staff members say it should not come at the expense of addressing the broader needs of the university community.
“Tying the bonuses and increase to enrollment figures is inappropriate. Any increase in enrollment is the result of hard work by countless people on campus, not by a few high profile administrators. Increasing enrollment should be a key part of their daily jobs, not a subject for extra rewards. Besides, the enrollment figures fluctuate and are easily manipulated,” Lisec said.
‘Morale at an all-time low’
Cathy Lilley, an accountant at the School of Journalism & Advertising began working at SIU in 1993 and said the staff morale is at its lowest. She has seen firsthand how budget cuts and a lack of resources within departments have affected both faculty and staff.
She said, “I feel the [university’s] priorities should be customer service to our students. It is very difficult in the colleges to offer quality service as we are short-staffed, overworked, underpaid and the monies being fed into administration has morale at an all time low.”
In the survey, respondents were asked, “How do you perceive the impact of these salary increases and performance bonuses on the overall morale and motivation of faculty members?” The results were as follows:
FACULTY:
• 76.3% reported a very negative impact
• 13.2% reported a somewhat negative impact
• 2.6% reported no impact
• 5.3% reported a somewhat positive impact
• 2.6% reported a very positive impact.
STAFF:
• 73.3% reported a very negative impact
“Many of us on campus have had little increase in salary over the last 10 years or longer. Many in Civil Service barely make a living wage, despite providing essential day to day services that keep the university running smoothly.”
- Aaron Lisec Research Specialist at Morris Library
workers for similar skills and responsibilities.
Lisec said, “An outside consulting firm was hired to conduct this survey. But any recommendation for salary increases will depend on the administration raising the necessary funds, either through increased tuition or legislative action. We should not have to justify whether we merit equal compensation with comparable institutions. Either make it happen or not, but don’t waste money on consultants or our time on unnecessary justification.”
While this study does not guarantee individuals will receive pay changes, staff were assured by HR Employment Services that there would be no pay decreases throughout the exercise.
“Earlier this summer we in the library were told in an all-staff meeting that the university is in a difficult financial position and that we have to forgo necessary hires for yet another year,” Lisec said. “Right about the same time, the trustees voted to award these large increases. Those two things don’t match up.”
The bonuses for top administrators were funded to recognize and reward their achievements, such as improving enrollment or successfully managing major projects. This allocation within their contracts was intended to motivate and retain high-level executives by linking their compensation to their performance and the university’s overall goals, according to information presented during the July 11 board meeting.
Lisec said, “Exorbitant bonuses and increases are out of line, especially when the rest of us are
• 19.8% reported a somewhat negative impact
• 5% reported no impact
• 1% reported a somewhat positive impact
• 0.9% reported a very positive impact.
Lilley said she does not think that leadership compensation aligns with the quality of education and resources students are receiving.
“It is difficult to offer top notch customer service to students when the colleges are shortstaffed and overworked,” Lilley said. “There are only so many hours in a day and we are performing duties beyond what we were hired for just so things get done. Sure, administration says to just do your duties, but that affects the students, so we suck it up and do what we can in a day’s time...while underpaid.”
She added that these issues are exacerbated by recent budget cuts and ongoing staff shortages.
Lilley said, “We are the people in the colleges serving the students, from inquiries and tours to graduation. We are valuable to this university but aren’t appreciated or rewarded. And recent budget cuts are drastic. I just don’t understand where the money is going.”
Lilley said she does not feel that faculty and staff are adequately supported by the administration in terms of resources, salaries and professional development opportunities at this time.
“Our budget cuts took our other than salaries budget which pays for office supplies, etc.,” she said. “We are the lowest paid civil service employees in Illinois with little to no raises for several years. And no professional development
opportunities at this time. The administration has even halted all ‘desk audits’ which would reward employees who are doing above and beyond their present job description. Not to mention last year’s hiring freeze, which they called a ‘chill’.”
The “hiring chill” is used to describe a less stringent approach to hiring compared to a full hiring freeze. During a hiring chill, universities such as SIU restrict new hiring, but they may still allow for some new positions or critical roles to be filled as a way to control staffing levels and manage budgets while still addressing essential staffing needs.
Lilley said, “We have lost positions in our college on both faculty and staff levels. Faculty are leaving for better jobs, so we aren’t able to offer the classes needed or desired by students.”
In order for staff to serve students, Lilley said other aspects of their jobs get neglected, or they just do not have the knowledge needed that a now unfilled position offered.
Lilley said the administration should, “Talk to us. Recognize and reward our hard work and dedication to the students. Spread the wealth. Be more transparent as to where the money is going. We are stressed out just trying to keep things going without needed resources.”
Anthony Fobs, a building service foreman with Facilities and Energy Management, who has worked for 20 years as a custodian, offered a different perspective.
Fobs said, “We are classified as a nonprofit public institution of higher learning. I believe most people understand that. However, all of that is for US tax code purposes, this is a billion dollar corporation at the end of the day. It takes talented human beings to make this entire system work, and as we have seen over the last 20 years, you get what you pay for.”
Fobs emphasized the competitiveness of leadership positions and the need to retain talent. He said that having a strong educational background and a wellrespected resume makes you a valuable commodity in the highly competitive field of higher education.
“Every year these gentlemen increase enrollment, launch a successful campaign
for a new program, raise ungodly amounts of money from strangers, all while remaining scandal-free, public gaffe-free… other large corporations try at least twice a year to take them from us,” Fobs said.
Administrators at universities may move to larger, more prestigious institutions or higher-paying positions for a variety of reasons. These include the potential for higher salaries and better benefits, as well as opportunities for greater professional prestige, increased influence and access to larger budgets and resources.
“Our best and brightest stay here because they care, because they want to see their projects come to life, because they have become part of the family around here,”
Fobs said. “At the end of the day, consider these bonuses as a thank you for not leaving us high and dry, not having some embarrassing scandal that has us looking like a joke throughout academia and not dying while in office.”
Fobs noted that the bonuses and salary increases are not solely about the financial aspect; they also serve to acknowledge and respect the administrators’ contributions. He said that while the compensation might not match what could be offered by larger institutions, it’s important to recognize their value and commitment.
“This is business and this is how the game is played, you want to do big things and change a culture, you better get your checkbook ready, because so does the rest of the world. These fellow Salukis didn’t harm us back in the day, lighten up and benefit from their talents and professionalism while we can,” Fobs said.
He emphasized that while these salary increases might be contentious, they are seen as necessary to retain top talent and move the university forward.
Fobs said, “These are necessary increases, and not everyone is going to agree with that. We have been traumatized with our paychecks being the same almost to the cent for over 10 years. It’s just gonna take time for us to not be triggered by announcements like this.”
For more information, check out last week’s article on student and alumni opinions please visit www.dailyegyptian.com.
Staff reporter Annalise Schmidt can be reached at
aschmidt@dailyegyptian.com
School of Theater and Dance hit hard by budget cut
Mylee Walker MWalker@dailyegyptian coM
SIU School of Theater and Dance, along with others on campus, have seen impactful budget cuts this year that have caused issues for different schools at SIU. For the School of Theater and Dance, this means experiencing a loss of funds that would go toward recruitment, productions and student workers.
“How are we supposed to reach these goals if you don’t give us a chance?” the director of the School of Theater and Dance, H.D. Motyl said. They have been having problems with recruitment and enrollment for the school.
“A big issue for us is we had to cut recruitment and retention,” Motyl said. “It’s kind of this catch 22 or paradox, you’re going to take away the money for recruitment. So, we can’t recruit to get the enrollment up.”
Usually, the school would go to different conferences with representatives to recruit students. Now, due to a lack of funding, they cannot do that. According to Motyl, for the 2023-2024 school year, they got $75,865 to budget towards things like recruitment and productions. For this school year they got $0.
So, the faculty and staff have been busy trying to recruit in different ways.
“We’re thinking about it as faculty, all of these alternative ways of doing recruitment. It takes away time they could be teaching or other forms of service,” Motyl said.
And the pressure doesn’t stop at recruitment, they’ve had to change their whole plan they had for this season.
“We had to rethink everything that we had planned, and we can do that by rethinking a budget and making it less,” Motyl said. “Then, we have
to think about how that affects the educational mission we have. The productions we do aren’t just to do them, they’re a part of our educational directive.”
“I’ve noticed the strain it’s had on our productions, we had to cut down so much,” Ameriah Lockett, a sophomore majoring in musical theater who is also a student worker, said. “I’m currently cast in ‘The Lightning Thief’ as Grover, and we had to basically cut our entire set.”
The school has been scrambling to find funds elsewhere, and it has taken a toll.
“No joke, it was the first thing I thought of when I woke up this morning,” Motyl said. “It’s a lot of that, a lot of constantly thinking about where I can make money… it’s a lot more pressure on us.”
The funding they do have, for the most part, is in foundation accounts. These accounts are used to hand out scholarships to students. The school has no access to these funds.
“They’re all scholarships, we can’t touch them. There are very few that are there to just give us resources,” Motyl said.
These resources would be used to fund the productions they plan to put on. With a lack of money, they’ve already had to cut back on their upcoming production of “The Lightning Thief”. They’ve also had to fire student workers to save on money. Now students, who were getting paid to do a job last year, are doing the same labor but for free.
Students have noticed the changes, and they’re starting to get anxious.
“As a student, I am nervous about it. I got very lucky to get a position here. But I know that next year I will not be able to come back to this job,”
Lockett said. She currently works with Jaemin Park, an assistant professor at SIU who teaches lighting and sound design. Due to the cuts, she will have to find a new job before next school year. “And that is really sad, because I love working with Jaemin.”
The student’s grievances are not lost on Motyl.
“It’s gotten to students. I mean, we have to say that we can’t have student workers. They know that there are issues there,” Motyl said. “If we don’t have student workers, they’re going to ask why. And, I have to tell them we have no money.”
If things continue this way, they may have to cut productions and performances. This would be detrimental to the school, according to Motyl.
“If we can only do one show a year, one musical a year, no one will come here,” Motyl said. “That’s just not enough.”
After all of these complications, Motyl said he thinks there is a disconnection.
“I think that, yes, there is some type of disconnect. And, I’m not just talking for myself,” Motyl said. Motyl feels that like many arts, theater is usually overlooked by administration. In comparison to the sports that SIU plays, theater is nowhere near as funded. This can be disheartening, especially to students. But, Motyl says that theater is an essential aspect of SIU.
“There’s more to this university than sports,” Motyl said. “We aren’t basketball players, we are not football players, but we are a part of this community,”
Staff reporter Mylee Walker can be reached at mwalker@dailyegyptian.com
Swing to the Rhythm at Cairo’s 11th annual Blues Fest
Source: https://sherylyoungbloodband.com/bio
Randy Meadows paints a unicorn design on the face of young Zo’e Allen as the sun goes down over the Heritage Blues and Gospel Festival Sept. 6, 2024 in Cairo, Illinois. Nicole Fox | @fox.flicks
Roy Simelton dances to Mike “D” Big Time Rhythm & Blues Band at the 11th Annual Heritage Blues & Gospel Festival near the Ohio river Sept. 6, 2024 on Historic Downtown 8th Street in Cairo, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs @lyleegibbsphoto
Deontae Johnson sits on the stairs that lead to the riverfront outside of the Heritage Blues & Gospel Festival Sept. 6, 2024 in Cairo, Illinois. Enan Chediak @enanchediak
A drummer plays with the Mike “D” Big Time Rhythm & Blues at the 11th Annual Heritage Blues & Gospel Festival Sept. 6, 2024 on Historic Downtown 8th Street in Cairo, Illinois. Dominique Martinez-Powell | @dmartinez_powell,photography
Along 8th street in Cairo, Illinois leading to the Ohio river, the brick street that holds the Historic Downtown Cairo was lined with vendors, food trucks, and booths Sept. 6, 2024 during the Cairo Heritage Blues and Gospel Festival in Cairo, Illinois. Attendees were invited to enjoy live blues and gospel music played by various bands and singers from Thursday to Saturday.
The weekend was full of festivities. In addition to vendors and booths, Friday’s attractions included artists such as Mike “D” Big Time Rhythm and Blues Band and Sheryl Youngblood, who is a 2015 Chicago Blues Hall Of Fame Inductee. Many attendees set up lawn chairs for the music, and many of which stayed till nightfall as well.
Saturday, the festival continued with a parade, followed by blues music for the afternoon and evening, including various artists as Tullie Brae, the Big “T” Trio, Chris Pitts and the Memphis Prime and Carolyn Mason and the Pure Energy Band.
Paws for 5 or Pause for 5?
Summer Negray aNd eNaN Chediak
SNegray@dailyegyptiaN Com @eNaNChediakphotography
On the morning of Sept. 4 the Alumni Association set up a booth in front of Woody Hall to get students to gather for their Paws for 5 event.
The event allows for students at SIU to “pause for a few minutes out of their day to come together and enjoy some coffee and donuts,” said Michelle Dirks, who has been an Alumni Association staff member for five years.
The event, which is hosted every fall and spring, is about getting students to come together and take a break before the stress of classes begins for the day. The event took place on a rainy morning and had students interacting not only with each other but also the alumni staff.
Paws for 5 events allows students to, “pause and take a break on their way to class,” said Executive Director and board member of the Alumni Association, Molly Hudgins.
“This means we want students to pause for a few minutes out of their day to come together and enjoy some coffee and donuts,” Dirks said. “We use some word play to connect back. We want them to learn where the Alumni Association building is.”
When Dirks was also asked to explain why the Alumni Association is giving back to the students, she said, “You are our future, we wouldn’t have an alumni without the student.”
Hudgins said the organization “engraves itself on students’ lives” when they start their career at SIU.
“Paws for 5 was created by the whole alumni staff as a way to give back to students on campus.”
“It’s kind of a spoof on words,” she said. “We are a Saluki Nation and the Paws is a reference to our great Saluki mascot dog.”
Hudgins also said that she wanted students to, “stop by the alumni center, take a moment, have a pause, grab a cup of coffee
““When you sign up to be a Saluki you join the Saluki Nation, and that’s what being an alumni is all about.”
- Molly Hudgins Alumni Association staff member
“When you sign up to be a Saluki you join the Saluki Nation, and that’s what being an alumni is all about,” Hudgins said.
“Scooter’s Coffee has partnered with us for the last three Paws for 5 events,” Hudgins explained.
At the booth for Paws for 5 event, free goodies and information papers could be found on the table for students to read to learn more about the events that the Alumni Association hosts and participates in.
“We want students to see [our booth] to learn more about the events that the Alumni Association takes part in or hosts,” said Dirks.
Dirks continued to explain that the Alumni Association is very involved on campus. The Association participates in events such as move-in day and legacy lunch. The association also works with the Jostens for each class ring.
Hudgins also explained that,
and have a conversation with us on your way to class.”
Dirks said the Alumni Association building is named after two SIU alumni. This happened to be brother and sister from the Guide-Moller family name.
The Alumni Association building is also located in Woody Hall. This part of campus is meaningful to alumni, meaning that SIU alumni have a connection from when they were back on campus.
“There was a line called Woody Shuffle because you stood in line for the bursar office, you stood in line for the financial aid, you stood in line for the registrar office,” said Hudgins.
On top of planning and being a part of campus events, the Alumni Association also has a Student Alumni Association.
“The association is trying to get students involved now, not later,”
said Dirks.
She explained that to become a part of the Student Alumni Council you must first be a sophomore.
“You know your capacity as a student after your freshman year,” Dirks explained.
During your sophomore year you may submit an application to the association to be considered for a spot. This application gets reviewed and if a student meets the requirements they are called in for an interview.
“We only take about 2025 students a year. We are very selective,” Dirks said.
The association looks for students who want to be leaders and are involved in campus life. Volunteerism is also a main component of the Alumni Council because of the events they participate in.
“We want to trust in our students to be a positive influence,” Dirks said.
Staff reporter Summer Negray can be reached at snegray@dailyegyptian.com.
Photo editor Enan Chediak can be reached at echediak@dailyegyptian.com
Michelle Dirks hands out coffee in the morning to students who came to the Paws for 5 giveaway of coffee and donuts Sept. 3, 2024 outside of the Alumni Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Enan Chediak | @enanchediakphotography
SIU student Yahri Edmond prepares herself coffee in line for the Paws for 5 event.
Tibretta Reiman stands under the canopy to get away from the rain as they wait for students to come for their giveaway of coffee and donuts.
Defense paves the way for Saluki win over Austin Peay
Nick PfaNNkuche NPhaNNkuche@dailyegyPtiaN com
Late in the first half, the Saluki defense needed a stop to keep the game close before halftime on Saturday, Sept.
7. When Austin Peay State University (APSU) receiver Jaden Barnes hauled in a deep pass, it appeared that that wouldn’t be the case, until Safety Ubayd Steed came down to punch the ball out of Barnes’ hands. Isaiah Bigby fell on the loose ball to give SIU possession.
“Unbelievable play,” head coach Nick Hill said. “That’s what we talk about, playing with a relentless passion.”
The game began with a trio of stalled drives. Two by SIU and one by Austin Peay.
On their second possession, the Governors got receiver Barnes wide open downfield for a 43 yard strike for six.
SIU answered with a 75-yard touchdown drive to tie the game up at seven. The Salukis got 51 yards on the ground and the drive was capped off with a nine yard run by running back Jaelin Benefield.
Looking to get the lead back, APSU was moving the ball well, getting deep into SIU territory. The Dawgs were able to put up a defensive stand and force a field goal attempt. The attempt missed wide to leave the game tied.
The Salukis were unable to do anything with the ball and punted the ball away again.
Austin Peay got back to work, but the SIU defense didn’t allow them to finish the job and the Govs took the three points.
SIU’s next possession stalled out around mid-field, giving the ball back to Austin Peay with a chance to extend the lead with three minutes until the half.
It appeared as though APSU was going to put the Dawgs in a deeper hole before the break when Austin Smith connected with Barnes for 19 yards, but cornerback Steed was able to punch the ball out and Isaiah Bigby was able to fall on it.
With 75 seconds left on the clock,
the Salukis wanted to get something on the board quickly. A couple of chunk plays, including a 24-yard run by quarterback DJ Williams and 23-yard pass to wide receiver Keontez Lewis had the Dawgs knocking on the door with six seconds left. Williams was able to find Wide Receiver Vinson Davis in the end zone to send the teams to the locker rooms with SIU up 14 to 10.
Out of the break, the Saluki defense shutdown an APSU offense looking to regain its footing, driving the Governors 11 yards backwards.
On the ensuing drive, Williams was able to find tight end Ryan Schwendeman for a 35-yard touchdown to push the Saluki lead to 11.
Desperate to reclaim momentum, Austin Peay found themselves going for it on 4th and six from the Saluki 37 yard line. The SIU defense stood tall and forced a turnover on downs.
SIU was unable to do anything with the ball and punted it right back to the Governors.
with great field position.
“He’s an awesome player, making plays all the time,” linebacker Ben Bogle said.
SIU was unable to move the ball and was content with a field goal try, but a botched hold gave the ball right back to the Governors.
The teams went back and forth with punts before SIU put together a drive. A 46-yard run from running back Shaun Lester set up a one yard run for Williams to get the lead back to two possessions.
Lester was a huge piece in the Saluki offense, finishing the night with 111 yards on the ground on 18 carries.
Lester said, “it feels good to get the ball going upfield.”
The SIU defense shut down APSU on four straight plays to set up a Saluki drive that ended with a field goal.
The Dawgs then shut down the Governors on one last drive to seal the 31-14 Saluki victory.
The SIU defense stepped up when it mattered. Austin Peay had a net
“That’s what we talk about, playing with a relentless passion.”
- Nick Hill Head Coach
Austin Peay moved the ball downfield effectively, and a 19 yard touchdown shrunk the gap back down to four.
On their next possession, the Dawgs were moving the ball downfield with intent, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty killed all the momentum and the drive ended with a punt.
On the APSU possession that followed, safety Iverson Brown jumped a short target pass for an interception, setting the Salukis up
total of negative eight yards in the 4th quarter and notched six sacks in the final 15 minutes.
“That’s how we got to close it out,” said Hill. “Sacks are going to win you games.”
The Salukis will have their home opener next Saturday when they take on the Cardinals of the University of Incarnate Word.
Staff reporter Nick Pfannkuche can be reached at npfannkuche@dailyegyptian.com
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“This is your life, and this is your story”:
Centerstone hosts 5K for suicide prevention
Carly Gist | CGist@dailyeGyptain 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 nationwide mental health organization hosted its signature 5K event in Marion on Saturday. Community members and local organizations gathered together to raise awareness for suicide prevention.
“It’s an opportunity for all of us to show support, start conversations and break down the barriers; build systems, share resources and step up for every person who is impacted by suicide,” said Anne Tyree, Regional CEO of Centerstone.
Centerstone is a nonprofit health system that offers mental health and substance use disorder services in five states. Its event, which was called “Life;Story,” took place at the Harry L. Crisp Sports Complex.
During the opening ceremony, Tyree explained the name of the event to attendees.
“Life;Story includes a semicolon which is a punctuation mark, and it indicates ‘this is not the end; there’s more to come,’” Tyree said. “Like the semicolon in Life;Story, your participation reminds our community, there’s more to your life, and there’s more to your story.
Your participation and support of this event not only brings awareness to our suicide prevention efforts but also helps provide mental health and
addiction services at Centerstone for people who have very few resources in our communities.”
While Life;Story has taken place in Florida for over 20 consecutive years, this is only the second time it has been held in Illinois.
Aaron Seibert, the marketing and community relations manager of Centerstone, said the event was the result of many hard-working individuals.
“There’s a lot that goes into trying to organize an event like this, and it takes a lot of people that really come together to be able to do it,” Seibert said. “And it’s not just Centerstone employees that are doing it, but it’s a lot of other people that are coming together and being on our board and committees and stuff like that. But really, just as far as, you know, organizing this event, it just takes a lot of heart, a lot of caring and a lot of time.”
Seibert said he was “super excited” about the event’s turnout.
“Last year we had, I believe, 245 participants, and this year we are over 300 participants,” he said. “And then with all the vendors and everybody that came out, it’s just amazing to see everybody.”
Vendors set up booths showcasing their organizations and services along the path to the start/ finish line.
Charlie Dorsey represented The Survivor Empowerment Center. Dorsey, who serves as Prevention Educator for the domestic violence shelter, said events like Life;Story are important for the community
because “we all have to collaborate if we want to make the world a better place.”
Dorsey also mentioned how suicide impacts different populations.
“We’re out here because we know the statistics show that survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence have higher numbers of suicide and suicidal ideation,” Dorsey said. “And that stretches more to marginalized communities and things like that, LGBTQ+, people of color, so we just want to show that we’re here to support and offer resources for connecting with other folks.”
Alex Waller and Calvin Mennyweathers from the Rainbow Cafe provided information about the Carbondale-based LGBTQIA+ center and its services, including counseling and support groups. Its extension, Rainbow Community Health & Wellness, offers behavioral health services, HIV testing and massage therapy.
In regards to the work Rainbow Cafe does to prevent suicide, Waller said, “I think, with the LGBTQ community, the suicide rate is super high, so us just being present and having the space where people can come and…know that they’re welcome and have a safe space. And then we have resources that we can reach out to from there if people are having those thoughts.”
He also said events like Life;Story encourage conversations about mental health.
“We all come together, it’s talked about, it’s not kept secret,” they said.
“And then we can have resources available for folks and then people are more educated about suicide prevention.”
Centerstone had a booth set up among the vendors with colorcoded wristbands available for participants. The wristbands represented who individuals were running for. For example, purple stood for running for friends.
Derek Wyatt and Josh Thompson, who completed the race together, shared who they were running in honor of.
“My cousin [died by] suicide about two years ago, so this is a call that’s near and dear to me, so when I heard about it, I couldn’t wait to be here and run for my first 5K,” Wyatt said.
Thompson said, “I am here today and walking, or actually running, in honor of my uncle Terry and our cousin Dominique…It was an honor to be here and I look forward to being here next year.”
SIU Alum M.J. Roberto ran the race with his girlfriend and his dog.
“I was running with my girlfriend who suffers from depression, so it was a way that we can just run together, and we were allowed to bring the dog out, so I ran with the dog too,” he said.
Adoptable dogs and cats were also brought to the event by Herrin Animal Control. Animal Control Officer Kevin Askew said clients from Centerstone come to the facility around three to five times a week to “work, do tasks and be around the animals.”
“Some of these people completely turn around when they’re involved in that, and [it] brings them out of, you know, maybe a darker place that they may be in,” Askew said. At the conclusion of the race, the Life;Story Champion Award was presented. Tyree said that “each year, the community nominates someone to receive this award who has shown tremendous compassion and understanding of those experiencing mental illness.”
All nominees received recognition, but the award was presented to sixteen-year-old Jaycen McBride.
After facing mental health struggles of his own, McBride used his experiences to increase mental health awareness at his school. He was nominated by a parent, who wrote a message that was read to attendees by Tyree.
“He went to counseling, we talked a lot, and through this part of his journey, he was really open about his struggles with some of the kids at school, and he realized that he was not the only one struggling,” Tyree read off.
The written piece revealed that he spoke with his school principal “about how the school needed to do something better to support student mental health.”
His parent wrote, “I also talked with my boss about his struggles and his desire to help. She arranged a meeting for him with herself and one of her board members. With their help, he was given a platform, and they helped him hire a speaker
to hold an assembly at his high school for approximately 1,100 students.”
Attendees were informed that at the assembly, McBride threw out t-shirts with the words “Stay; Tomorrow Needs You.” He also started a Snapchat page to offer encouragement to his peers and promote being open and honest about mental health.
The written piece concluded with this: “He did help a few people to find their voices and ask for help. He has helped to teach that depression happens to anyone…And because of his honesty and openness, his life today is a testament to the story that does continue. Even on our darkest days, the sun will come up tomorrow, and you’ll get better.”
Awards were also presented to the top finishers of the 5K race in various age categories.
After McBride’s recognition, keynote speakers took the stage. Anna and Aaron Goletz, who have both worked for Centerstone’s Military Services, shared their story.
Returning home from war often comes with psychological and emotional challenges. Centerstone offers free services to active military members and veterans – no matter their discharge status – as well as their families.
Anna Goletz currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of the program. She said in their speech that “military family members can oftentimes feel like bomb diffusers.”
“We find ourselves in the position of helping these brains rewire and trying to help while we’re sometimes really scared,” she said. “We’re scared of the nightmares. We’re scared of the anger outbursts. We’re scared that
we’re going through one too many bottles of Jack Daniels, but scared most of all, that the person we love most in this world, might not come out of that dark hole, and might lose their fight and end their own life.”
Aaron Goletz is a combat veteran who has worked as a case manager, counselor and researcher for Centerstone. He shared his own struggles with mental health and also said that in the time since they’ve been married, he has lost three people to suicide.
“Two of them were soldiers… and even though she wasn’t a veteran or military, she did have battles to fight – my niece died in 2020,” he said. “I imagine, right at the end, they all must have felt… tired, hopeless and so alone…”
He added: “I wish that there was an easy way to answer all of the questions, solve all of these riddles and problems, but it’s just
not. I wish it was like flipping a switch or cutting the blue wire and magically, the bomb has refused. Unfortunately, that’s almost never the case. We’re 20 years into treating these invisible wounds, and the sad truth is that too many lives have been lost, not in some far away country, but right here at home.
“I think that our biggest regret after they’re gone is that we can’t go back…and tell them, ‘I want to hear your story. Your story is worth telling, and I’m here to listen. You’re important. You matter. You may not fix it all today, but maybe we can reconnect at least one wire, and that’s worth sticking around for.’”
Centerstone also had a motto for the event. “Keep Moving Forward” was printed on the t-shirts included with registration.
“We just want people to understand that if you have issues, you know, you’re having feelings of
suicide, just keep going,” Seibert said. “And that’s really what the semicolon is about too, is [it] lets you know it’s not an end point. You still have more life to continue with.”
He wanted to thank the city of Marion for allowing Centerstone to host the event, as well as “everybody who participated and all of our organizers and sponsors.”
“It’s been a beautiful day,” he said. “We appreciate everybody that’s been out here. We’ll be hosting it again next year, here at Harry L. Crisp, so next year, come on out, join us, and have a great time.”
Before the race, Tyree told participants that “Centerstone believes that even one suicide is too many.”
“This is your life, and this is your story,” she said.
News editor Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com.
Keynote speaker couple Anna and Aaron Goletz address the crowd about their story after the Centerstone 5K September 7, 2024 at Harry L. Crisp Sports Complex in Marion, Illinois. Jason Isele | @iselephotography
Centerstone 5K participant MJ Roberto runs the race alongside his dog River.
Centerstone 5K walker participates in the Centerstone 5K with his dog Maebie.
Centerstone 5K participant stands for a photo with her dog Roxie.
Salukis votes count: Black Affairs Council hosts early registration for SIU students
Baylie lucas Blucas@dailyegyptian com
The Black Affairs Council and Student Programming Council of Southern Illinois University joined forces with Carbondale’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) branch for the “Saluki’s Vote Counts” event to encourage voter registration among the student population.
Linda Flowers, president of Carbondale’s NAACP branch said, “What I am hearing is that the young people are going to be deciding this election, and if that being true, isn’t it wonderful that the young people here on campus of Southern Illinois University is making sure other young people are doing their civic duty?”
Flowers expressed her faith in the young people of today, and shared her appreciation for Southern Illinois University with its many events for the student body to get informed and participate in both local and federal elections, such as the voter registration event.
Demetrius Lovejoy, the coordinator of administrative affairs for the Black Affairs Council emphasized the importance of student engagement with the political climate.
“This event is something I deem very important for students to be knowledgeable about. This election, the political climate in general, has become very somewhat harmful and toxic to people who may not be familiar with policies that are in place against certain stereotypes,” Lovejoy said.
He went on to talk about how this election cycle’s marketing decisions are for the younger people of the world.
“It’s a lot more marketed, specifically with the democratic party’s nominee, Kamala Harris. People may follow her on the tiktok Kamala HQ or they may tune into the record breaking zoom calls hosted weekly to see the different variety of people who come together,” Lovejoy said. “Really does help shape how this election season will turn out, and most importantly, people are really seeing and waking up and realizing, yeah, I will be affected if I don’t use my voice.”
At the beginning of the event, BAC passed out pamphlets created by the NAACP, outlining Project 2025. The 922-page list of policy recommendations constructed by the Heritage Foundation is a federal policy blueprint for a presidential transitional
project in favor of conservative policy recommendations. The pamphlets outlined key aspects and goals of Project 2025.
An attendee, Micheala Black shared, “I think it is important [to register to vote] because I feel like every vote matters. And a lot of people say, ‘oh, my vote doesn’t matter,’ just because there are so many people, but I think every vote matters, and like I wouldn’t want to miss out on voting because there’s a lot of things I don’t agree with that certain parties want to do.”
Finally, Lovejoy shared resources to gain reliable and unbiased information on political candidates and their policies.
“I try to keep a middle ground, so I can find information that is not going to throw the other party in a negative connotation.”
Lovejoy said. “I think that is important, especially on this campus to try to reach out to those who are trying to do things like this, such as voter registration, or like the NAACP, or potentially the USG [Undergraduate Student Government].
Reaching out to those students that have the ability to connect with a variety of people… to tie it all back up I would say to reach out and to do your own research.”
The pamphlet outlines many of the key points of Project 2025, such as
• Cut over time protections for 4.3 million workers
• Restrict access to medication [medical] abortion
• Deny students in 25 states and washington DC access to student loans because their state provides in state tuition for undocumented immigrants
• Roll back civil right protections across multiple fronts, including cutting diversity, equity, and inclusion related (DEI) programs and LGBTQ+ rights in health care, education, and health care.
The pamphlet went on to reveal what Project 2025 seeks to do, “restrict reproductive rights and access to health care, create a new ‘border control and immigration agency’ to resurrect Trump’s border wall, build camps to detain children and families at the border, allow discrimination where we live, study work and play-rolling back hard-fought [civil] victories, and seriously considering mandatory military service.”
Staff reporter Baylie Lucas can be reached at blucas@dailyegyptian.com
President of the Carbondale branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Linda Flowers assists students through the registration process at the voting registration event that was held by the Black Affairs Council and the Student Programming Council Sep. 3, 2024 in the Old Main Room at the Student Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Libby Phelps | @libbyphelpsphotography
Michaela Black registers to vote during the voting registration event that was held by the Black Affairs Council and the Student Programming Council Sep. 3, 2024 in the Old Main Room at the Student Center in Carbondale, Illinois.