The Daily Egyptian - September 13, 2023

THE Daily Egyptian

SERVING THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1916.

Record freshman class helps fuel SIU’s growth

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2023-24 is a year of historic growth for SIU Carbondale’s enrollment. SIU grew across the board, according to a news release by SIU Director of Communications Kim Renfeld.

The overall enrollment at the university stands at 11,359 students and represents a 2.3% increase over the 2022-23 academic year. The group that saw the largest increase was new transfer students, which increased nearly 11% up to 1188.

The freshman class, with 1621 people, is nearly 7% larger than the previous academic years; in 2022, 1486 new freshmen enrolled. The increase continues a now four-year trend of ENROLLMENT

Rollin’ upHill

Saluki defense shines bright in win over Huskies

Down go the Huskies 14-11.

Two years in a row now, the Salukis have defeated yet another Football Bowl Subdivision team on their schedule. In a statement performance by defensive coordinator Antonio James, the Saluki defense kept Northern Illinois University (1-1) scoreless into the third quarter, and held the Huskies to just 11 points total to move to 2-0 on the young season.

Annie HAmmock AHAmmock@dAilyegyptiAn com

Architecture professor dies Bring back the Wheel! Salukis aim for revenge in game against SEMO

Architecture Professor Jon Daniel Davey is being remembered as having a “glorious career.” College of Arts and Media Dean

Hong Cheng announced Davey’s death in an email to his colleagues Sunday.

“With a very heavy heart, I am bringing you this sad news: Dr. Jon Daniel Davey, our beloved colleague and a longtime professor of architecture at SIUC passed away at Herrin Hospital yesterday ‘after several weeks in a delicate state of health,’” Cheng wrote.

Davey is listed on SIU’s website as Distinguished Faculty and had earned the architecture school’s Teacher of the Year award five times.

“With his kindness, talent, and dedication, Professor Davey enlightened numerous individuals’ souls and lives in his glorious career. He will be dearly missed by the CAM family and far beyond,” Cheng said.

It was a tough pill to swallow last season when the Southeast Missouri State SEMO Redhawks stole a win and “The Wheel” at Saluki Stadium via a last-second touchdown. It left Saluki players, coaches and fans disappointed to lose grip of the coveted wheel in the final moments of the matchup.

“Just to come down to the end and lose like that, it was pretty heartbreaking,” SIU defensive tackle Kam Bowdry said. “… And losing that wheel is always something we don’t like.”

Wide receiver D’Ante’ Cox shared Bowdry’s sentiments about losing a game that means so much by such a close score (34-31).

“The emotions were obviously down, just because we lost the rival game plus The Wheel,” Cox said.

The storied rivalry between SIU and SEMO goes back over a century, with the schools facing off 90 times on the gridiron. So

far, it has swung in favor of the Redhawks who hold a 43-39-8 advantage over the Dawgs. That is something that Southern will look to swing back to their side in this year’s game.

which was, in fact, the War for the Wheel game. With only 50 miles separating the schools, he recognized the significance of the game. It provided a unique experience for him as a player.

Despite allowing nearly 400 total yards on offense, the Dawgs defense came when it mattered most. They forced three interceptions, including one by junior safety Ubayd Steed in the final minute of regulation to seal the deal.

Desman Hearns and Mark Davis also had picks of their own on separate occasions. The defense also took down NIU quarterback Rocky Lombardi for four different sacks with senior defensive end Tim Varga leading the charge with two.

It wasn’t the prettiest day for the Saluki offense, but no huge turnovers were given up either as the Dawgs won the turnover battle 3-0. Quarterback Nic Baker was put under pressure throughout the whole game, with five separate sacks. Baker finished completing 16 of his 24 passes for 168 yards passing. He rushed for a touchdown to break open the scoring late in the first.

“I know it’s very important for the school and it didn’t go our way last year, but we want to get it back,” center Jacob Caughall said.

After transferring to SIU before the last season, Caughall’s introduction to the rivalry was the 2022 home opener for SIU

“That one hurts a little extra because they’re right up the road,” Caughall said. “…Probably one of the best [atmospheres] I’ve played in in my whole career.

The close proximity causes an increased competitive environment

Senior running back Ro Elliot led the charge on offense for the Dawgs, with 81 total yards from scrimmage. Elliot rushed for 58 yards off nine attempts, including a 10-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Elliot caught two more for 23 yards as well. Junior tight end Aiden Quinn led the Salukis in receiving

The Salukis take the field for the first game of the season as they face Austin Peay at home Sept. 2, 2023 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto

DAVEY

JosepH BeRnARd JBeRnARd@dAilyegyptiAn com

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“... it didn’t go our way last year, but we want to get it back.”

- Jacob Caughall Saluki Center

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Walk Up Resume Critiques

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Student Center Art Gallery Table #5

Contact: Jaime Conley-Holt, jbcholt@siu.edu

Farmer’s Market

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Student Center, The Exchange

Contact: Kent Epplin, kepplin@siu.edu

Song Festival presents: Sarah Tannehill Anderson

7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

OBF Recital Hall 104

Contact: Carissa Scroggins, carissa.scroggins@siu.edu

Thursday, Sept. 14

Walk Up Resume Critiques

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Student Center North Table #2

Contact: Jaime Conley-Holt, jbcholt@siu.edu

Saluki Rainbow Network (Weekly Meeting)

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Student Center Mississippi

Public- Campus Life

Contact: Johnathan Crane, jazzmine.crane@siu.edu

Friday, Sept. 15

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!

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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.

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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.

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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

Monday, Sept. 18

Morton-Kenney Lecture Series with Cheri Bustos

Paul Simon Public Policy Institute

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

LIB Guyon Auditorium

Contact: Brittney Gant, brittney.gant@siu.edu

Reverse Job Fair

Career Development Center

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Student Center, Corker Lounge

Contact: careerdevelopment@siu.edu or 618-453-2391

Students or student organizations can sign up on Handshake or just show up at the event. Students should be professionally dressed.The Career Development Center

Clothing Closet offers professional attire loans for students, if needed.

Tuesday, Sept. 19

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

EnrollmEnt

growing freshmen classes.

Pete Lucas, the associate director of University Communications and Marketing at SIU, said, “What you’re seeing is a very, very nice turnaround. I’ve been here in some form or another for 17 years, so it’s exciting to see us grow.”

Getting all of these new students on campus isn’t easy though; employees like Lucas and dozens others in offices spread throughout campus put in hundreds of hours to sell SIU as the place where students want to be.

According to Cordaro Thomas, the recruitment and retention coordinator for the College of Arts and Media, there are many different strategies

in attendance can be partially traced to a change in how SIU marketed itself.

“We really shifted our focus from not only just advertising the university, but advertising at a program level,” Lucas said.

That means showing students SIU has something relevant to them.

“If I know you’re interested in accounting, let’s just start talking about accounting,” Harmon said.

Another strategy is making it easier for students to get information without being flooded or overwhelmed with information.

“The goal is really to provide the student with more information earlier… I know that students are gonna be bombarded. The goal is really to try to become relevant to what that is,” Harmon said.

when you get a group of students who come in together and kind of go through the process together, you have that community, and that helps in retention.,” Lucas said.

Individual colleges also do their part to keep students coming back.

Thomas said, “Having things for our students to stay engaged

and stay excited, to have the Saluki spirit and to be proud of the college that they are attending, that’s vital for us.”

And while administrators certainly think the enrollment increases are a positive, Lucas thinks that everyone around SIU should too.

Lucas said, “When you bring

in more students… you bring in a bigger student base, you bring in more student programming, more student affairs. It gives people the opportunity to be part of a larger community.”

Party Culture: College Survival Guide Black Women’s Club

4:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Student Center Kaskaskia/Missouri

Contact: Mariam Al-Faruqi, mariam.alfaruqi@siu.edu

Yoga and Meditation Bhakti Yoga Club

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

OUT Free Forum (Morris Library)

Contact: Digvijay Verma, digvijay.verma@siu.edu

Poodles, Popcorn, and Pjs! Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

GRN Event Space A (Dining Room)

Contact: Elizabeth Dairo, elizabeth.dairo@siu.edu

Saturday, Sept. 16

Esports Apex Event Night SIU Esports Club

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Student Center Esports

Let’s Talk Tech

SalukiTech

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

LIB Morris Library 754

Contact: David Brooks, iamdavidbrooks@siu.edu

Job and Internship Fair

Career Development Center

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Student Center, Ballrooms

Contact: careerdevelopment@siu.edu or 618-453-2391

Free for all students; undergraduate and graduate students from all majors can attend. Students can preregister and view a list of participating employers by visiting Handshake. The Career Development Center Clothing Closet offers professional attire loans for students, if needed.

Wednesday, Sept. 20

Farmer’s Market

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Student Center, The Exchange

Contact: Kent Epplin, kepplin@siu.edu

Study Abroad & Passport Fair

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

SC Art Gallery, 1st Floor

Contact: studyabr@siu.edu

Explore your options for Study Abroad at SIU Carbondale. Meet with returning students, faculty program leaders and study abroad staff as well as program representatives. You will also be able to apply for a passport if you are a first time applicant or were under 16 when you received your last passport. You will need proof of citizenship, photo ID, application fee and a passport photo. Check online or with our office for the specifics. The Center for International Education will pay the USPS Execution Fee for current, fulltime SIU students with valid student ID.

Clarinet Studio Recital

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

OBF Recital Hall 104

Contact: Eric Mandat, emandat@siu.edu

“Our retention numbers are some of the best we’ve had in years...”

used in recruiting students. CAM’s plan includes 10, such as creating outreach activities for high school and even elementary students and building relationships with recruits.

Thomas said it comes down to, “making sure that we’re known everywhere, because we have an amazing program. We have amazing things to offer within our schools as well, and so we want students to know that.”

Thomas puts a specific focus on getting prospective students to visit campus and letting them see SIU personally.

“I think that our number one job is getting students to campus. Once we get students to campus, our tours and the equipment and the characteristics of the staff, they speak for themselves,” Thomas said. “So when students see the things that we have to offer… they’re wowed by knowing that they’re coming right into it.”

Lucas, who mainly deals in marketing and advertising for the entire university, thinks the increases

University administrators are among those most thrilled by the increase in enrollment.

Associate Vice Chancellor Wendell Williams said, “We’re excited about the opportunity to grow at a strategic pace. We are excited about the opportunity to work with the community and work with other areas… We’re excited that a lot of things are finally coming together.”

SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane said in a press release, “This is a moment for all Salukis to celebrate. Over the last three years, our faculty, staff, students, alumni and donors set out to strategically increase our enrollment in a number of key ways.”

He said that work has paid off and there’s more to come.

“I want to personally thank everyone in Saluki Nation for everything they did to set us on the right trajectory,” Lane said. “[The] exciting news proves Salukis imagine ambitious goals, and then we make them reality,” Lane said.

Recruiting is one thing, but keeping these large classes and their members at SIU is also a priority for administrators. Lucas thinks that students themselves play a big part in convincing their peers to stay.

“Our retention numbers are some of the best we’ve had in years…

Class Of 2027 students dart across the field during the annual Saluki Sprint just before the football’s season home opener against Austin Peay September 05th, 2023 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. Simeon Hardley |@simshardphotography

Ruth Kvistad (Left) and Celeste Woods (Right) enjoy their Starbucks coffee September 5, 2023 at the Student Center in Carbondale, Ill. Kvistad is a 3rd year student studying in the MD/JD program (Medical Doctorate). Woods is a Sophomore majoring in Political Science and minoring in Biology, Journalism, and Spanish. Simeon Hardley| @simshardphotography

Freshman radiology student Kaeleigh Sauceda does homework in the cafeteria September 5, 2023 at the Student Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Simeon Hardley| @simshardphotography

Wednesday, Sept. 13

- Pete Lucas Associate director of University Communications and Marketing

What’s in a name: Morris Library

The Morris Library is not only a prominent landmark on campus, it is a tribute to the lasting legacy of its namesake: Delyte W. Morris.

SIU archivist Matt Gorzalski said, “I think the school would not have such a strong nameplate as it does now… I don’t even think we would even have our Edwardsville campus if it weren’t for him.”

Morris was elected president as SIU’s longest-serving president by the teacher’s board in 1948, just before the state implemented a seven-member independent board to overlook the university. Morris held the reins until 1970.

Cindy Chester, the head of Circulation Services, said, “Former President Morris made a lot of contributions to the university while he was here; a lot of people do not realize it, but the name Morris has a lot of history behind it.”

During his 22 years at SIU, he helped catapult the university into becoming one of the highest-ranked American colleges. He contributed to entrepreneurship, implementing that willingness to be innovative, seize opportunities and reward creativity.

Morris, born in 1906, was originally from Xenia, Illinois—a small town located in Clay County, about two hours northeast of Carbondale. He graduated from Park College in Missouri with his bachelor’s in 1928.

He also completed a master’s and Ph.D. program, completing all his studies in 1936.

He began teaching at a high school in Oklahoma from 1928 to 1930.

He then became an instructor at the University of Maine, where he taught public speaking and became the director of forensic activities; he was at that university from 1930 to 1936.

After that, he became chairman of the speech department and director of the special education clinics at the Indiana State Teachers College from 1938 to 1946.

While he was president, Morris implemented many Ph.D programs to the university’s curriculum. Morris also advocated for the creation of a TV station, and an FM radio station, the university press. He supported the Daily Egyptian, and a news service. In addition, he promoted outdoor

Spiders, scorpions and scarabs, oh my!

Nature program gets people close to creepy crawlies

Humans are born with two fears: loud sounds and heights. Fear of the unknown comes later. Most people become inherently afraid of creepy crawlies like spiders and insects due to not understanding them. The Rend Lake Environmental Science series is looking to help change that.

“It’s been a decade, at least, since we started this program and showed live animals to the public,” Breanna Whitley, Natural Resources Specialist and SIU alumni, said. She said what motivates her most is the impact the school’s programs have.

“I get calls every day to do field trips and school visits because we’re a free resource and free resources just don’t really exist much now,” Whitley said. The Rend Lake Environmental Science series has been working nonstop all summer to inform Southern Illinois residents about various kinds of animals that simultaneously work in unison to help better our environment. On Sept. 2-3, the center collaborated with

Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Chesterfield, Missouri, to educate people about the amazing world of arthropods and insects and just how fascinating these small creatures can be. This program, Amazing Arthropods and Interesting Insects, focused on the role that some of our smallest animal friends play in our ecosystem. There were three different areas that most of the bugs shown fall into to help keep our habitats in check: population control, pollination and nutrient cycling. Each of these processes not only help other animals maintain a healthier lifestyle, but provide humans with vast amounts of natural resources that we consistently use day to day.

The curly haired tarantula was the first of three population control animals presented during the event. This furry arthropod, along with its other eight-legged siblings, are critical to maintaining the insect population. Without spiders, insect populations would grow exponentially and consume our food supply. The same can be said for

scorpions, the second animal presented. The next bug shown off to the crowd was a praying mantis, which similarly acts as insect population managers, but are also commonly involved in food webs where other insects, arthropods, or vertebrates consume them to maintain a healthy diet.

“Insect population control is necessary for the world we live in because without it, we might very well face a massive loss in food, and hey, who wants to have insects controlling us, right?” Chris Hartley, Butterfly House representative and science education coordinator, said.

Pollination is another role insects play in the ecosystem. When considering the idea of pollination, many think of butterflies and bees as the most common insects that contribute to seed dispersal, but what you may not know is that beetles are also pollinators.

Not only that, but beetles are the largest order of insects to date and have hundreds of thousands of different species, all working together to pollinate

and cycle nutrients throughout the environment. The rainbow leaf beetle falls in line with that idea and was shown off to the attendees on Sept. 3.

“These little guys can be responsible for over a hundred different seeds being dispersed in a habitat,” Hartley said.

The last major role insects can play in the ecosystem is nutrient cycling and decomposition. The giant millipede does both, acting as a decomposer for plant materials and cycling nutrients through the soil. Similarly, roaches can fulfill those tasks as well.

The Madagascar hissing cockroach was the last of the insects shown at Rend Lake and left many bugged out, but more appreciative of what the roaches can do, especially considering how helpful they are to some of the world’s favorite foods: ice cream.

“These roaches in particular help upkeep the soil [that] grass within farms is planted in, which is feasted on by cows, and given milk, but

they also pollinate cocoa plants so that wonderful chocolate ice cream you might have had earlier is mostly possible because of the hissing cockroaches of Madagascar,” Hartley said.

Shelby Mitchell, SIU Forestry student and Rend Lake intern, said bringing such animals to the public is a rewarding experience.

“It’s something new every day here and that feeling you get helping teach kids about nature, showing them what there is to love about it is just what makes this place so unique,” she said. Bugs are vital to maintaining life on Earth, and we have those little guys to thank for keeping us around. So next time you see a creepy crawler wandering around, remember that each and every one of them has a role to play that betters life on our planet.

Staff reporter and photographer Mo Collar can be reached at mcollar@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @m0.alexander.

education and advocated for ecology as well.

The former president integrated facilities for people with disabilities and made the premises accessible for disabled people way before our society demanded them. He also created SIU’s law, medical and dental schools.

Most importantly, he developed SIU’s second campus located in Edwardsville, Illinois, which is about a two-hour drive northwest of the Carbondale campus.

The Morris Library was built in 1956, starting with one floor and a basement. Shortly thereafter, the school added four floors making the library 272,673 square feet.

In more recent years, the school renovated the library on several occasions, adding the fifth, sixth, and seventh floors, making it one of the largest libraries in the region with a square footage of just over 320,000, making it able to accommodate

15,000 students.

The library was originally designed to hold one million volumes, but today it holds over 2.6 million volumes, 200,000 e-books and 3.6 million microform units. It is known to be state-of-the-art, with labs, classrooms, group studies and collaborative spaces.

The Morris Library serves as the main information hub for those on campus. It is also a popular spot for students to collaborate since it is located in the middle of campus. The library hosts workshops, seminars and training sessions.

SIU graduate Nicholas Harris, a journalism major, said, “The library is an open and collaborative space; during finals the Morris library can become very populated. However, there are seven floors. When I was at SIU, I used to go up to the seventh floor if I wanted some quiet time to study. You can also rent out rooms for meetings; it’s overall a very nice space to work in.”

Next time you walk by or go inside the Morris library, remember what the significance of that name means to the SIU community.

Guest contributer Jonathan Warda can be reached at jonathan.warda@siu.edu

Morris Library receives additional laptops for students

A recent donation of nearly 50 laptops to Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Morris Library by Schneider in helping augment students’ educational opportunities.

The additional laptops will “make a significant difference to our students’ ability to succeed and remain enrolled” and is in line with the university’s mission of working to ensure student success, Dean of Library Affairs John Pollitz said in an SIU Communications press release.

The library now has 117 laptops available for students to check out during the semester. The laptops are available on a first-come, firstserved basis.

“Although laptops can be viewed as a convenience, not having one can be an enormous

barrier to success,” Ellermann said in the press release.

“Students have more flexibility to complete coursework both online and in person while balancing their personal lives, which is invaluable. Schneider’s positive impact on our students will continue for years as each laptop circulates to another individual.”

Students receive a laptop, charger and a bag, and within a week, students receive a followup email, which includes a reminder of when laptops are to be returned.

“It’s a serious privilege, so we make sure they understand that,” Ellermann said.

For more information on the program, contact Ellermann at 618-453-1159 or mellermann@lib.siu.edu.

Jonathan

Mo collar | @M0.alexander

Morris Library, Monday, Sept. 10, 2018. Isabel Miller @IsabelMillerDE

“...the name Morris has a lot of history behind it.”

- Cindy Chester Head of Circulation Services

Saluki

Bash

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

that the players could feel throughout the game.

“The atmosphere is one of the best you’ll play in, everything that goes into it, it’s right around the corner, 45 minutes away,” Cox said.

Although it wasn’t the highest attended game at Saluki Stadium, with 8,662 people in the stands, the crowd sounded as if it was a full house to the players.

“I think the loudest game probably at home last year. It was so crazy man, I love the fans, I love the atmosphere,” Bowdry said. The actual wheel, which sits

on the sidelines during the game and will go with the winner, was introduced in the 2018 matchup between SEMO and SIU. It is a ship’s wheel to remind players of the time when teams traveled on the Mississippi River to play each other when the series began in 1913.

The rivalry is now titled as the ‘War for the Wheel’, with the physical wheel acting as extra incentive for the players to give it their all. SIU claimed the Wheel in 2020 and didn’t relinquish it until last year’s loss on their home turf, but the Saluki’s sights are bringing the Wheel back to Carbondale.

yards with 51, but it was sophomore wide receiver Vinon Davis who saw the most targets from Baker with five receptions and 46 receiving yards.

After stalling at midfield on their first drive, NIU forced a three-and-out by the Salukis at their own three-yard line to force a short punt that gave the Huskies the ball on the SIU side of the field to start. After gaining a first down on the first play, a false start by NIU pushed them behind and forced NIU to go for a field goal from 47 yards out. Husky kicker Jake Seibert would miss to keep it scoreless and give Southern the ball back at their own 30-yard line.

The Saluki offense responded with a fiveplay drive to take the lead thanks to Baker’s 40-yard pass to Quinn over the middle to get to the Husky red zone. Two plays later Baker would run it in for his score.

On the next drive heading into the second quarter, another promising NIU drive ended up with nothing to show for it after Seibert missed yet another field goal for the Huskies. This one is from 42 yards away.

Getting late into the half, Lombardi was dicing to make for a late push to tie it all up before halftime. He completed 4 passes in a row for 48 yards and rushed for eight more before throwing a pick to Davis with less than thirty seconds left of the half. The defense went into the locker room with a shutout in the back of their minds.

Coming out of the break, the Dawgs forced another three and out for NIU to put the ball back in Baker’s hands, for which he would lead a quick 2-minute and 48-second drive to double their lead to 14-0.

The Huskies would lead another long and

“Having the Wheel on your side… is obviously something you look forward to and always want to walk past and see in your facility,” Cox said. With only 11 games guaranteed on the football slate, every second on the game clock is valuable; but this specific game means extra to everyone involved.

“It’s something special that you can take home and have some pride for a year,” Caughall said. “We’re all competitive out here. We’re all football players. We just want to go out and win, and that just adds a little something to it.

promising drive into the Saluki red zone but would be stopped short at the 10-yard line after PJ Jules stepped in for a tipped pass and forced another NIU field goal attempt, only this time Seibert would nail it from 27 yards out to make it 14-3.

The Salukis would stall on their next drive, not even gaining a single yard before freshman punter Nathan Torney drilled a 64-yard punt to stuff the NIU offense at their own one-yard line. However, that wouldn’t matter much this time, as Lombardi would lead a nine-play, 99yard drive to cut the deficit to a field goal with 14 minutes to go at 14-11.

Another three-and-out for the Dawgs offense ensued, but Hearns would bail out the Dawgs on the next NIU drive with an interception on the second play from scrimmage. A third threeand-out by the Dawgs would occur, followed by a turnover on downs for the Huskies at midfield.

The Dawgs positioned themselves at the NIU 24-yard line to go up by 6 with another field goal, but junior kicker Thomas Burks missed wide to prevent the much-needed insurance for the Salukis.

Down to the last two minutes of play and the Huskies with possession starting in Saluki territory, Steed would come up with the play of the day and pick off Lombardi on 2nd and 12 to seal the deal and send SIU home with a win.

Graduate Assistant Joseph Bernard can be reached at joseph.l.bernard@siu.edu or on Twitter @Jojobernard2001.

After SEMO dominated the early portion of the rivalry, SIU has rallied to win 21 of the last 31 games between the schools.

The trend so far, since the tangible wheel’s incorporation, has been one side wins two years in a row before the other side claims it. After last season’s loss, SIU will look to revert this course after getting a taste of it in their hands in 2020 and 2021.

“It’s great walking in that room every day and seeing that wheel right there when you win. It just brings life every day you get to walk in,” Bowdry said.

“You might be feeling down or

something, but you get to see that wheel, all the hard work you put in during the week, that’s what you get at the end. It keeps us going…”

In order to bring the Wheel back to Carbondale, the Salukis will have to get the job done on the road at Houck Stadium on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m., where it is sure to be a high-octane matchup.

“Lot of people go to it, lot of people look forward to it, so looking forward to a good game between good teams,” Cox said.

Staff reporter Howard Woodard can be reached at hwoodard@dailyegyptian.com

Junior Anna Jaworski goes low for a save during the 0-3 loss against Arkansas State during the Saluki Bash on Friday, Sept. 8 2023 at Banterra Center. Libby Phelps lphelps@dailyegyptian.com

Senior Nataly Garcia (17) spikes the ball over the net toward Arkansas State’s Blocker during the 0-3 loss on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, during the Saluki Bash at Banterra Center. Libby Phelps lphelps@dailyegyptian.com

Saluki senior Nataly Garcia (17) goes for a spike during the 0-3 Saluki Bash Match against Arkansas State on Friday, Sept. 8 2023 at Banterra Center. Libby Phelps lphelps@dailyegyptian.com

Saluki setter junior Anna Jaworski sets the ball during the 0-3 match against Arkansas State during the Saluki Bash at Banterra Center on Friday, Sept. 8 2023. Libby Phelps lphelps@dailyegyptian.com

SIU

A Climb To Remember

Top Left: SIU Athletic students walk up and down flights of stairs during the 9/11 Saluki Stair Climb in Carbondale, Illinois.

Top Right: John Needham walks up and down flights of stairs in his firefighting gear.

Center: Joe Gomez with Team RWB’s (Red, White and Blue) American flag. Team RWB’s mission is to enrich veterans’ lives.

Bottom Left: Participants were challenged to climb 110 flights.

Bottom Center: Kyle Darnell and Emma Gass walk back after finishing up their climb.

Bottom Right: Charity stands by and watches her handler, Brad Lam, climb. Lam was one of the orginal eight members to go to Ground Zero in October after 9/11 and is currently a retired firefighter with the Carbondale Fire Department

Dominic Martinez Powell @dmartinez_powell .photography

Raylynn Elder, a sophomore student majoring in Political Science, studies in the Student Center Sept. 05th, 2023 in Carbondale, Illinois. Simeon Hardley |@simshardphotography

Dylan Chambers and his friends enjoy food at the tailgate ahead of SIU’s home opener Sept. 2nd, 2023 in the Banterra Center parking lot in Carbondale, Illinois. Simeon Hardley| @simshardphotography

Sam Yungling, a Sophomore at SIU, walks across campus during a rainy day on his way to class Sept. 05th, 2023 in Carbondale, Ill. Simeon Hardley| @simshardphotography

The Marching Saluki freshman take the field at the Saluki Sprint on Sept. 2, 2023 in Carbondale iL. Simeon Hardley| @simshardphotography