Trans-exclusionary activist speaks at Carbondale PD
A group of protesters gathered at the Carbondale Police Station Thursday evening on Oct. 10 to push back against a controversial speaker associated with the Riley Gaines Center, an organization named after a former collegiate swimmer who advocates for policies that exclude transgender women from competing in women’s sports. The event, initially planned to be held on the SIU campus, was moved to the Carbondale Police Department, but event organizers made it clear that their voices wouldn’t be silenced.
The event, titled “Real Women’s Day,” was hosted by SIU’s chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), an American nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school, college and university campuses.
According to a statement SIU released on Thursday, Turning Point USA had been placed on probation as of Oct. 4, 2024, due to a violation of the RSO Handbook Flier policy. The violation occurred when the organization posted stickers on the exterior of the Agriculture Building’s newly repainted door openers, resulting in damages amounting to approximately $200. As a result of
this probation, the group was not permitted to use university facilities, including the Student Center, for their event.
In the statement it was noted that,
“For an RSO to use university facilities, including the Student Center, it must be in good standing, and its members must adhere to university policy and the Student Conduct Code. A group’s ideology and the topic of the event are not criteria.”
Earlier in the day on Thursday, members of the group also set up a table outside of Lentz Dining Hall on campus to advertise the event and were asked to leave by a representative from the housing department.
The SIU chapter of Turning Point USA, which has previously had events on campus before, will be permitted to resume regular activities as of Nov. 1.
“We respect the First Amendment rights of our campus community to peacefully express their opinions, including those on issues where people passionately disagree,” the SIU statement further clarified.
“We will balance that right with the necessity for our community to be safe, the requirement to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment, and the obligation
Jungle Dogs last performance
Salukis drop fourth in a row on Homecoming Weekend
Nick PfaNNkuche
NPfaNNkuche@dailyegyPtiaN com
SIU completed the celebration of Homecoming week on Oct. 12 with a football game against No. 2 North Dakota State University (NDSU), but with a final score of 24-3, the Salukis marked their fourth straight loss of the season, leaving them at 2-5.
Against the powerhouse ninetime national champion, the Salukis wanted to set the tone by scoring first. It looked like they were going to do just that as their first drive got deeper into Bison territory, but a fumble recovered by the defense ended the drive and set the tone for the rest of the game.
“Looking back, that was a tough play,” Head Coach Nick Hill said.
The Salukis got the ball first on the sunny Saturday afternoon with true freshman Jake Curry under center. The Dawgs would work their way into Bison territory, with some help from three penalties on the defense. Curry completed a pass to Allen Middleton which was
promptly fumbled and recovered by an NDSU defender.
Curry, in the first start of his career, finished with 15 completions for 152 yards.
The freshman found himself starting after the Salukis lost both quarterbacks DJ Williams and Hunter Simmons to injuries earlier in the season.
“I was proud of Jake,” Hill said. ”18 years old, making your first start against that defense, tough task.”
After a couple of short gains, NDSU quarterback Cam Miller found a wide open Joe Stoffel for a gain of 37 to get into Saluki territory. Two runs by CharMar Brown set up Barika Kpeenu to punch it in from 6 yards out.
Looking to answer, SIU was unable to get anything going and punt. The Bison responded with an unsuccessful series of their own and punted the ball right back.
The Salukis were able to pick up a pair of first downs before NDSU’s defense put an end to the drive.
A well-placed punt by Paul
Geelen had the Bison starting from their own five. NDSU made their way up to their own 36, but an offensive pass interference took the momentum away and forced another Bison punt.
On the next SIU possession, Curry found Middleton for a pickup of 18 and Vinson Davis for a 24-yard gain, to get into Bison territory. The drive would end with a 50-yard field goal by Geelen to get the Dawgs on the board.
“I’d say I have a pretty good connection with all the receivers,” Curry said. “It kind of shows sometimes.”
NDSU responded to the score with their running game, picking up 53 yards on nine carries before Miller connected with Chris Harris for a touchdown.
With 31 ticks before halftime, the Salukis tried to respond, but were only able to get just beyond midfield when the clock hit zero.
Out of the break, NDSU quickly made their way into SIU territory,
aNNalise schmidt
aschmidt@dailyegyPtiaN com
D. Ward (left) waves at the crowd that came to watch the Jungle Dogs perform while Keith Huffman (right) plays with the band Oct. 11, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. Enan Chediak | @enanchediak
Carbondale protesters march down the strip during the trans-exclusionary event hosted by the SIU chapter of Turning Point USA Oct. 10, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. Libby Phelps | @libbyphelpsphotgraphy
to conduct education and research without disruption.”
The “Real Women’s Day” event featured speaker Kaitlynn Wheeler. The date, Oct. 10 or 10/10, was chosen to symbolize the XX chromosomes that often determine a person is assigned female at birth. Wheeler, known for her opposition to trans-inclusive policies, framed the event around the exclusion of transgender women from women’s sports and public spaces, which sparked the protest.
Protesters met at Friendship Plaza (at Mill St. and Illinois Ave) and marched to the Carbondale Police Department. Carrying signs, passing out water, and chanting messages of support for the transgender community, they rallied with chants like, “Trans liberation, in this nation,” and “Trans athletes, trans rights.”
The event was open only to preregistered attendees, which limited public access, and the lobby of the Carbondale Police Station was temporarily closed from 4 to 8 p.m. during the event. President of SIU’s chapter of Turning Point USA at SIU, Zachary Lochard, denied a Daily Egyptian reporter and photographer entrance to the event. Police Sgt. Dylan Yost and Police Chief and Interim City Manager Stan Reno also confirmed Daily Egyptian journalists would be unable to report from within the building without having pre-registered.
A statement from the city of Carbondale released on Thursday said, “We were met with a request from a group, Leadership Institute, a non-partisan organization, to rent a public space to hold a public forum this evening. This event was scheduled to be held on SIU Campus and was cancelled due to a technicality… With following First Amendment Rights, we must honor the following components: freedom of speech… and freedom of assembly.”
In the statement, Stan Reno, Carbondale’s interim city manager and police chief, said, “The City of Carbondale is a public entity dedicated to protecting the First Amendment rights of everyone. We recently received a request from a group to rent a public space for a forum. At that time, the City did not realize the same group was canceled at SIU. When the City was approached, our staff carefully considered options while balancing other scheduled
events at the Civic Center.”
The same night, the City of Carbondale sponsored an event to commemorate LGBTQ+ History Month at the Civic Center. The event, inspired by the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center’s 2024 theme, “Reclaiming Queer History,” was held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of LGBTQ History Month in the U.S.
In a follow-up call with Reno, he said he stood by the contents of the statement and said hosting the event at the police station was the best option to protect the safety of both groups involved.
Police presence at the protest outside of the police department was not large, but remained on the premises throughout the event. After the event had concluded, police personally escorted participants of the event out of the building in waves.
Groups of demonstrators gathered at both the front and south sides of the police station, making their presence known through chants and pounding on windows and doors.
Among the protest leaders was Christina Garnette, representing Pride in Action Southern Illinois, an organization working to engage
the local LGBTQ+ community in political activism.
“So one of my biggest reasons for being here today is to open everybody’s eyes,” Garnette said. “My group has been posting since we found out about it [the event], to get as many people as we can here to make sure these people know that we’re not accepting any transphobia in this area.”
Garnette spoke about her motivation for attending as a drag queen of over 30 years.
“I am 52 years old, and being one of the older queens in the area really puts me out there to try to help out the community, especially our younger people that are quite aware of what’s going on,” Garnette said.
She said she wants everybody to feel comfortable in the community.
Garnette said, “I’m hoping that people that aren’t aware of what’s going on with the transphobia will be more aware, and people that live here in Carbondale and are afraid to come out and fight stuff like this will maybe feel a little more comfortable fighting as well, because they’ll see that there are people here backing them and supporting them.”
As a trans woman, she said, she
has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community, sharing her experiences and insights to educate others and combat discrimination.
“I can talk about this kind of stuff my whole life,” Garnette said. “I mean, that’s what I am. I came out in days when there was still the Westboro Baptist Church and everything else, and have fought so many different issues throughout the years. I’ve been out in the community since 1990 so every day for me is trying to get more rights for our community.”
The Westboro Baptist Church is an unaffiliated Primitive Baptist church in Kansas. This church gained significant notoriety and was most prevalent in the late 1990s and 2000s. It is known for its public protests against LGBTQ+ individuals and various other groups.
Groups like these continue to engage in controversial activism, often sparking discussions about the balance between free speech and hate speech, as well as the impact of their actions on the communities they target.
One organizer of the protest, who gave the punk name, “Gritty Biscuit,” said, “TPUSA’s whole shtick is that
they’re against anything progressive. They’re against women’s rights. They’re against trans rights. They support the genocide in Palestine. They support basically everything that’s bad. And I think it’s laughable the idea that anyone in TPUSA actually cares about women’s sports or women’s rights. They’re just doing this as a dog whistle to attack trans people.”
He said that he thinks the group moved the event to the police station after SIU shut down the event and as a way to intimidate the group of protesters. He spent the evening running between groups outside and starting chants to keep the momentum going.
“Personally, the change in location made me feel even more militant, because it’s like a challenge,” he said. “It’s like, it’s a crazy play on their part to come to the police station, but police and bigots have always been in alliance together. The police are going to protect intolerance and attack dissenters.”
The Commune is a local punk house in Carbondale, credited as one of the rallying points for those opposing the views expressed by the speaker at the TPUSA event. Activists
Pride In Action board member Christina Garnette marches down the strip with a transgender pride flag during the protest outside of a trans-exclusionary event hosted by the SIU chapter of Turning point USA Oct. 10, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. Libby Phelps | @libbyphelpsphotgraphy
from The Commune played a key role in organizing the protest through social media, bringing together community members to voice their support for the transgender community and challenge hate speech.
Gritty Biscuit said, “There’s a network of radical individuals in Carbondale. We see events like this. It’s communicated to us, and we come up with an action on how we’re gonna combat this.”
He said that The Commune and all the other punk houses create this radical space in Carbondale that allows for not only punk kids to get together and have fun when there are shows, but it also creates a network where they can bring people together for political activism as well.
Biscuit emphasized the protesters’ commitment to free speech while advocating for the rights of marginalized communities.
He said, “It’s not about not allowing
them to speak. It’s about having someone else to speak to. They try to argue that we’re trying to infringe on their free speech, and we don’t want them to have free speech, but that’s not what it is at all. It’s just that we’re gonna use our free speech too.”
Izzy Burkhardt was a protester at the event as well. She said her current education and future goals pushed her to participate in the protest.
“For me, I’m going to be a teacher, and I see my students who are trans and who do participate in sports and do things like that, and I want to fight for them and for all my friends who are trans, because it’s not okay to go around and say that they are not valid people, because they are,”
Burkhardt said.
Another protester, Amber Koteras, added onto this statement.
They said, “Transphobic rhetoric is hate. Hate leads to violence, and then we get dead kids. You know it’s – and that seems extreme to say – but it’s not because of this kind of thing. It leads people to believe they’re not valid. It leads them
to commit suicide. What about the kids going through this?”
Burkhardt said she hopes that by aiding in the protest, other individuals in the community feel safer.
“Those populations who are marginalized deserve to know that there’s people who are going to stand up for them,” Burkhardt said.
Koteras said, “Transphobes need to know they’re not welcome in our town. We don’t deal with bigots, we don’t deal with transphobia, we don’t deal with homophobia, we don’t deal with racism, none of it. Trans women are women, and women belong in sports, and that is the end of it. And it never stops with just sports. Once it’s scorched, it spirals. They don’t want trans people to exist.”
Garnette also expressed her views on the stance of Turning Point regarding transgender individuals in sports.
“They are really against trans people in sports, but I really think, honestly, if the person is legally blood tested and have qualified for the gender they have chosen,
then they should have every right to support,” she said. “They don’t realize how much transgender people go through to become the gender they’ve chosen, so why can’t we represent that in every aspect.”
She continued by offering a possible solution for the future of sports participation.
Garnette said, “If there is really that fear of it, then maybe we need a different category in sports. Something like that isn’t going to happen right away, but that’s really an issue. Maybe we ought to see what we can do to make it better for everybody.”
In the midst of the 2024 presidential election season, this event has sparked conversations about LGBTQ+ rights and the political ideologies of candidates on the ballot.
Garnette said, “Pride in Action Southern Illinois, works more with the political side of the Carbondale LGBTQ community, as well as getting people registered to vote and everything else. So that’s one of our big things. We have actually done multiple
forums already in town this year to get ready for this year’s voting season.”
She said part of being with Southern Illinois Pride in Action includes pulling up any legislation that is going against the LGBTQ+ community. Part of their mission statement is educating the public about these issues, ensuring that individuals are informed about the legal challenges and barriers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals.
“We already have politicians that are against the trans community. This just gives them more fuel for the fire, to be honest with you, and we really don’t need that at this time,” Garnette said. “We need people to see how much trouble the trans community, as well as women’s rights and everything else, is in right now, because if certain people end up in the White House, we could lose our rights altogether. They’ve already tried.”
Staff reporter Annalise Schmidt can be reached at aschmidt@dailyegyptian.com
Jason isele Jisele@dailyegyptian com
The annual Homecoming parade is one of the most valued traditions of the occasion. SIU’s Homecoming parade features several Illinois groups of all different ages. Various marching bands along with the Marching Salukis and organizations throughout southern Illinois marched through Carbondale in celebration ahead of the game.
One participant was long-time Saluki sports announcer Mike Reis. Reis was a SIU student from 1974 to 1978 who graduated in radio and television and got the job shortly after. He was in the position until 2023 and participated in the parade this year for the very first time as the 2024 Grand Marshal.
“It feels tremendous.…It
means a little bit more in the high moments, it hurts a little bit more in the low moments. I couldn’t think of a better place for me to be than here,” Reis said.
Greek houses also participate in the parade by creating floats. A key group this year was the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and the Sigma Alpha sorority, who made a Saluki Ranch float for the event and later on won first place for large floats.
“We decided to add a bunch of Western themes and incorporate them onto our float. You can see a horse and a Saluki riding the horse with a covered wagon,” said AGR member Braden Baldauf.
A second participant was Mayor Carolin Harvey of Carbondale.
“We try to connect the city and SIU. Since we are both, we thrive on each other. So, participating in
the SIU Homecoming Parade is just something that I think should be done. We are part of the city. SIU is a part of the city. We’re part of SIU and SIU as part of us,” Harvey said.
The SIU Center For Autism Spectrum Disorder was also present. This franchise was started last year to raise awareness about autism and help people in need. Director Denise Croft said, “The reason why we joined the parade and started last year is to get our name out there to the community.”
Homecoming has always been a series of events not only for current students to gather and have fun, but also where alumni are invited back and recognized.
Staff photographer Jason Isele can be reached at jisele@dailyegyptian.com
Various parties prepare their groups and vehicles for the SIU Homecoming Parade.
The Marching Salukis walk down the route during the SIU Homecoming Parade Oct. 12, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. Jason Isele | @Iselephotography
The Harrisburg High School Marching Bulldogs perform in the SIU Homecoming Parade.
The Marching Cougars of Carbondale Middle School walk in the SIU Homecoming Parade.
Members of the SIU Center For Autism Spectrum Disorder march in the SIU Homecoming Parade Oct. 12, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. “The reason why we joined the parade and started last year is to get our name out there to the community,” said Director Denise Croft.
Homecoming royalty candidates Lora Judge and Leslie Duran wave to the crowd.
The Mt. Vernon Township High School Band marches in the SIU Homecoming Parade.
Ryan GRieseR
Shaped by faith: a young councilman’s coming of age
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lylee Gibbs lGibbs@dailyeGyptian com
As a teen in St. Louis, Gabriel Dickerson’s life was veering off course. He was trapped in a cycle of bad choices, and was in trouble.
In December of 2021, at the suggestion of an associate, Dickerson attended a Shabbat service in Cairo, a small town that sits at the very bottom of Illinois at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, 158 miles from his hometown. After the service, Dickerson knew he wanted more from his life – and that he needed a fresh start to make it happen. Soon after, he packed up and moved to Cairo. And what he found in this small, rural town was even greater than he expected: He discovered his voice and ignited a passion to make a difference in service to his community.
Just over a year after making Cairo his new home, Dickerson ran for and won a seat on the Cairo City Council, taking nearly 63% of the vote in the April 2023 election.
When he was sworn into office the following month, the then 20-year-old became one of the youngest council persons ever elected in the town’s 200year history.
“I didn’t come down here to be a politician,” Dickerson said. “I didn’t come down here to be an elected official or be in government of any sorts, I was just trying to escape what I was in and find something better for my life.”
In the process, he’s also working to make things better for Cairo. While breaking into politics in a bigger city can be challenging at his age, Cairo embraced his youth.
The government seat of Alexander County, which is the fastest shrinking county in America, Cairo faces significant challenges. Its population of 1,600 is not only dwindling, but it’s also aging, as what few young people remain leave for opportunities elsewhere. Dickerson wants to reverse those trends, and his youth may be an asset in getting it done.
“I want to tackle entertainment,” he said, naming one of his top goals for the three remaining years of his four-year term. “We don’t have anything to really do in Cairo. That’s a lot of our problem right now, a lot of reasons why the kids don’t want to stay here. If there’s nothing for them to stay and want to hold on to, then they’re not going to stay, they’re going to leave. And if everybody starts leaving, then the city eventually dies.”
Federal Co-Chair of the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) Dr. Corey Wiggins believes that creating a space for young people to become involved in local government creates space for new voices to be heard. The DRA, established in 2000, focuses on investments in projects supporting development in communities and infrastructure across eight states and 252 counties.
Cairo City Councilman and Fire Commissioner Gabriel Dickerson, 22, looks out the window of the Cairo Public Library Oct. 4, 2024 in Cairo, Illinois. Dickerson was elected to the city council in May of 2023 where he is the youngest man in the council’s history to be sworn in. Dickerson, originally from St. Louis, moved to Cairo and says his biggest drive is his faith.
Lylee Gibbs | lgibbs@dailyegyptain.com
“I think ultimately at the end of the day, whether you’re young or old, you want to have a good, strong, vibrant community,” Wiggins said. “And I think as a young person who’s serving on city council, elected government, serving on boards or just being active in our community, that voice is powerful, that voice has value.”
Driven by service, faith
At nearly every step, Dickerson’s path to political office has been shaped by his faith. It’s what originally brought him to Cairo, and is one of the reasons why he ran for city council in the first place.
“At the time that I came down here… I was going through a lot of stuff back at home or my hometown that I was putting myself through, and it was a point in time that I didn’t know what to believe in,” Dickerson said. “I didn’t know if there was a God or not.”
These uncertain thoughts were answered when, according to Dickerson, “the Most High showed himself to me.” This led to Dickerson making the permanent move to Cairo and to one of the most important moments of his life: when he joined the local congregation of the Seventh Day Assembly.
“I came down on the Sabbath, so it was a Saturday morning when I came down here. That’s when I met my mentor, and then we went to service together,” Dickerson said. “I sat in the first pew, and I remember them playing the music, and I just broke down. I’m crying, tears all down my face, everything.”
He knew he wouldn’t be the same after that day.
“That was the first time in my life that I really felt something, and it’s
families and represented some of the last affordable housing to be found in the city.
Dickerson said that how HUD announced the decision was “really wrong,” and that flipped a switch for him.
“I couldn’t just sit back and not do anything, because I felt like if I did, if I’m seeing the problem and not being a part of the solution, and I’m part of the problem… somebody has to get out there and fight for those people that don’t know how to fight for themselves,” Dickerson said.
indescribable. It’s just divine, you know?” Dickerson said.
This divine connection led Dickerson to begin digging deeper into his faith, prompting him to read the entire Bible and a number of commentaries. Now, he’s a teacher himself.
“I teach on TikTok Live with my friend. He teaches the word, I teach the word, and it’s just a beautiful thing,” Dickerson said. “I came from a place of not knowing what to believe in, and now that I found it, it’s not even a belief for me anymore… I know that Yah is real.”
That initial Sabbath was important for more reasons than affirming Dickerson’s faith. It also marked the day he met his mentor, Phillip Matthews.
Matthews, who serves as the shepherd of the congregation at the Seventh Day Assembly, is also the Alexander County Democratic Party Chair. Dickerson said Matthews helped him see his potential.
“I never really had somebody with spiritual insight like that really talk to me about what I got going on, and I think we made a connection,” Dickerson said, adding that Matthews “really wanted to push me to do better with my life.”
Dickerson said it was Matthews who encouraged him to get involved in politics. But when Matthews suggested it to him, “I told him at first that I didn’t want anything to do with it,” he recalled. But then Dickerson agreed to give it a try, first by serving in a largely background role as a precinct committeeman. But then he got angry.
In 2022 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced plans to tear down the Connell Smith public housing apartment complex in Cairo, which displaced 53
Setting a good example
As a newly minted councilman who is also relatively new to town, Dickerson acknowledges he faces a steep learning curve.
“This is my first term, so I’m not going to sit here and lie to you guys and say that I have everything figured out, that I know exactly what I’m doing, because I don’t,” Dickerson said.
But only one year into his term, he’s already leaving his mark. Dickerson said one of the best parts of his leadership role is helping set a good example for other youth. He encourages them to embrace their own potential and get involved, too.
One youth in particular drew Dickerson’s focus.
“A young kid, he’s two blocks down from me… he’s in middle school, but he comes to the city council meetings. I caught him in the hallway of City Hall one day… he was looking at the pictures of all the old council members and mayors,” Dickerson said.
“I’m like, ‘Is this what you want to do? You’re interested in this stuff?’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah. That’s what I want to do,’” Dickerson said.
In today’s world of hyper-partisan politics, Dickerson is a bit of a throwback.
“I’m not Democrat only or Republican, I vote for people and character,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who or what you represent, but as long as you have the right motives, I will vote for you, because that’s what I believe in.”
Working with the Democratic Party, Dickerson has met and talked with many politicians, including several highranking state officials. His motivation for running for office didn’t stem from awe
of them though.
“It wasn’t really the fact that they were so high up that got me to that point where I was like, ‘I want to do this to help people.’ It was more the fact that I saw that they have influence to help people,” Dickerson said.
The job doesn’t always come easy. Dickerson feels as though his leadership style is both fair and stern. Though, being both new to politics and so young, he said he does sometimes experience times of uncertainty and awkwardness.
“What I will say is that I’m doing everything I can to the best of my ability to really make a difference. I don’t want to just sit in the seat and not do anything… I at least want to, if I decide to run again, give people a reason to vote for me again,” Dickerson said.
If Dickerson does decide to run for reelection, it seems as though he’ll have a clear path to victory. Though Dickerson sees them as jokes, some people in town have started calling him the next mayor. One resident has an even higher office in mind for him.
“I have an older lady that lives a few blocks down and calls me Mr. President,” Dickerson said with a laugh. Dickerson isn’t ready to say whether he’d run for a higher office, such as mayor, a state representative or even Congress.
“I plan to stay here for the next three years to finish off this term, and if the Most High allows me to stay again and run again, and allows me to hold the position, absolutely I will. If it’s a higher office… I’m with it. If that’s where he sends me, I’m not going to fight against any of it, whether I want to do it or not,” Dickerson said.
And he hopes his perseverance sets a good example for other young people in town.
“Our young people have to get out of this mindset that there’s nothing we can do. There is something we can do, and all that is just getting involved,” Dickerson said. “The more you’re involved, the more people you come in contact with, the more connections you make, the more legs you have to stand on.”
Reporters Ryan Grieser
Cairo City Councilman and Fire Commissioner Gabriel Dickerson, 22, sits in the front row pew at his church where he sat for the first time when he initially moved to Cairo Oct. 4, 2024 at Seventh Day Assembly in Cairo, Illinois.
Carbondale Closes down the strip for the Jungle Dogs last performance
The Jungle Dogs played their final concert on The Strip in Carbondale which was closed down along Illinois Avenue for the Off the Rails Concert October 11, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. SIU students, returning alumni and community members from Carbondale and surrounding areas visited the concert to hear performances from the Modern Day Saints and the Jungle Dogs.
Many came to support the Jungle Dogs at their final performance.
The Jungle Dogs were started in 1987, according to one of its founding members Eddie Chappa. “We were all in college,” Chappa said, “going to SIU. We were music students.”
“It kind of evolved over time and different members came on board,” Chappa said. Now, the band consists of eight principal members, but for the performance on Friday, the band brought back some members. “One of our old drummers is flying in from Los Angeles to join us. So there’s going to be ten Jungle Dogs performing on stage together, which has never really happened before all at the same time,” Chappa said.
But the Jungle Dogs also chose to have their final performance on The Strip because of their connection to the Carbondale area. “My very first time was actually right next to the Rec Center,” Chappa said. “So it’s kind of like coming back full circle for me.”
Chappa said out of the 10 members performing on Friday, 9 are SIU alumni, and the band members were among many alumni returning to the Carbondale area for Homecoming week. “Homecoming is a perfect time to do it because so many people come back to town.” Eddie Chappa said. “We always see so many friends this way.”
“It’s bittersweet,” Chappa said. “It’s hard not to get nostalgic and melancholy about [The Jungle Dogs] ending, but the fact that we’re playing on the strip is so incredible…”
perform with their band the Jungle Dogs.
D. Ward raises his hat for fans during the Jungle Dog’s performance Oct. 11, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois.
Jim Owens (left), Larry Daly (middle) and Klaus Bank (right)
oct 18 - Nov 9 2024
but the Dawgs responded just as quickly, forcing three short gains to set up fourth and one. Two Saluki defenders got into the backfield, on the attempt, and made the tackle to give the ball back to their offense.
SIU couldn’t build momentum off of the stop and punted the ball
back to NDSU.
The Bison got the ball downfield in small increments to get into the red zone. The Saluki defense held their own and forced a field goal to make it a 14 point game.
In contrast, the Salukis answered with big plays, picking up at least 10 on five of their first seven plays.
A pass interference on the Bison would have the Dawgs knocking on
the door of the endzone. NDSU’s defense stood their ground and forced a field goal attempt that missed to the left.
Following the miss, the SIU defense stood tall and forced a three and out. The Bison forced a punt to get the ball right back.
A big completion to Bryce Lance got the Bison into Saluki territory. NDSU then moved the ball in
small chunks before Brown scored a 9-yard touchdown.
The Bison got the ball back after Curry missed his man on the run and threw the ball right into a defender.
NDSU ran out the rest of the clock to complete the 24-3 win.
The 24 points scored by the Bison is the fewest amount of points that they have scored in a game all season.
“I feel like (the defense) played
good as a group,” Louis Wilbert said. “But we still got stuff to work on.”
SIU will have next Saturday off on a bye week before hitting the road to take on the Indiana State Sycamores on Oct. 26.
Sports Reporter Nick Pfannkuche can be reached at npfankuche@dailyegyptian.com.
Political Science and Pre-Law Paralegal Studies major Laura Judge and Agriculture Business Economics Communication major Eric Metz are crowned Homecoming king and queen during halftime Oct. 12, 2024 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Emily Brinkman | erb_photos_
Cornerback Sebastian Vargas (13) of Saluki Football jumps up to block the incomplete pass to wide receiver Braylon Henderson (1) of North Dakota State. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
Saluki Football links arms on the sideline for the coin toss just before the start of the annual Homecoming Game against North Dakota State. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
Shane Roth (42) guards North Dakota State Joe Stoffel (82) of North Dakota State as the Salukis faced the No. 2 Bison for homecoming October 12, 2024 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Emily Brinkman | erb_photos_
Ameriah Lockett, Sydney Ryan and Edie Balester who play Grover, Percy and Annabeth respectively perform a scene as the cast of “The Lightning Thief” does a full dress rehearsal Oct. 8, 2024 at the Mcleod Theater in Carbondale, Illinois. “The moment I saw the cast list [I] pooped my pants a little bit, just a little bit, but it was cool. We got to perform at the SIU Day [of Giving] for all of these high schoolers that came to visit and some of them were singing along in the audience and knew the songs. It makes me think hopefully we have a good turnout,” Ryan said. “I think all of us have seen our chemistry build over this entire process and even as we near the end I think we still find moments on stage to create more of a connection with each other, and I think our relationships off stage have helped build the connections between characters so much more. I think it’s very apparent when you watch it,” Balester said. Dominique Martinez-Powell | dmartinez-powell.photography
Review: School of Theater & Dance defies odds in an electrifying performance of ‘The Lightning Thief’
While their characters fight monsters on stage, the cast fights gender barriers, role-juggling and budget cuts. And they come out victorious.
Carly Gist CGist@dailyeGyptian Com
In Act One of “The Lightning Thief,” audiences learned that normal is a myth.
The message was delivered gently through song by Israeli Jones in the role of Sally Jackson. She was singing to her son Percy, played by Sydney Ryan. Percy is friends with Grover (Ameriah Lockett), who’s taught by Chiron (Abby Ohlau), who occasionally mentors Luke (Kaitlyn Rose).
All but one of the characters aforementioned are men. And every single one of their portrayers are women.
“I auditioned all kinds of people,” director Angela Schulz said. “I probably called back about 24 people…and then went through several different scenarios that I could do casting wise, but the one that excited me the most was all women.”
SIU’s production of “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” ran at the McLeod Theater from Oct. 10 through Oct. 13. The musical, which is adapted from the first novel of the “Percy Jackson and
the Olympians” series by Rick Riordan, follows namesake Percy Jackson, a troubled 12-yearold who, after being kicked out of school, finds himself in a summer camp for demigods, where he is framed for stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt. To prevent a war between the gods, he must embark on a quest with two friends: Annabeth (who was played fiercely by Edie Balester) and Grover.
“I thought about these fight sequences, because there’s actual sword play and things like that,” Schultz said, “and it was really exciting to me to think about young girls sitting out in the audience and seeing these roles that are normally played by boys to be played by other young women and have those kinds of role models and to show that they can do these intense, physical things as well.”
Her creative choice paid off.
Despite some technical hiccups during Tuesday night’s dress rehearsal, the actresses remained unfazed. Their roles were performed so passionately that if you were to take Riordan’s novel and shake
it upside down, I wouldn’t be surprised if this cast fell out.
In fact, Logan Lerman, Chris McCarrell and Walker Scobell should all go ahead and step aside, because Sydney Ryan is Percy Jackson. From her mannerisms and facial expressions to her captivating energy, Ryan fully embodied the role, making it her own. Schultz’s decision to change the key of the songs to fit each actress’s voice proved to be the right choice as well, as the number “Good Kid” was arguably as good as (if not better than) the Broadway soundtrack.
“Percy is like the classic tenor Broadway role. I never, ever thought that I would be playing one of those,” Ryan said. “Like I’m having my ‘Santa Fe’ moment…It feels really cool.”
“Santa Fe” is a song from “Newsies” in which the leading male dreams about escaping his past. Similarly, Percy goes on a journey of self-discovery. He’s always struggled with dyslexia and ADHD, but soon he learns that, as Jones beautifully sang, those are the very things that make him strong.
Ohlau said the casting choice
for Percy was “really important,” as learning disabilities are often overlooked in women.
“It’s so much harder to find in women, because people just say that, ‘Oh, that’s just how you are’...so a lot of women don’t end up getting tested for those kinds of things until much later in their life,” she said. “So I think, you know, if there’s like, a little girl sitting in the crowd, and she’s watching this all-female cast of Percy Jackson, and she’s like, ‘Well, maybe that could be me. Maybe I might have those problems, but they make me stronger, not weaker.’”
The cast’s performance also illustrated another prominent theme: People are stronger together than alone. There were only seven actresses in total, but with how powerful their harmonies were, you’d never realize there wasn’t a full ensemble backing them up.
It helped that the cast is close off stage. Ryan, who bought her co-stars matching lightning bolt necklaces as a good-luck charm, said the cast was so proud to see their hard work pay off that they recorded the harmonies in an empty hallway. Additionally, Rose
said they’ve found solace and comfort in one another.
The script features over 30 characters including principal and ensemble roles, but the original production was written for seven actors. Schultz had the opportunity to cast more people, but she elected to push students with the challenge.
“We thought about it as a faculty and then decided it’s such a good opportunity acting-wise for those seven actors to play all of these different characters,” she said.
The cast deserves all the praise for their acting range. In addition to her hippie, endearing portrayal of Grover, Lockett was a comedic genius as Dionysus. Rose played a charming Luke at Camp HalfBlood and an infuriating Ares during the trio’s quest. Olivia Manning, who primarily played Clarisse, was tasked with the role of evil Mrs. Dodds. But that’s only a small portion of the parts the cast had to juggle. Ohlau, for example, took on nine roles in addition to Chiron. While the actors weren’t able to fully disguise themselves for every
SIU dedicates band tower to former director Mike Hanes
Morrigan Carey MCarey@dailyegyptian CoM
Dozens of Marching Salukis, from current members to generations of alumni, gathered on Sam Rinella Field on Friday, Oct. 10 to celebrate the memory of former Band Director Mike Hanes by dedicating the band tower in his name as the Mike Hanes Marching Salukis Tower. The field, in between Grinnell Hall and the Student Recreation Center, will serve as the new practice grounds for the band.
The Hanes Tower and Sam Rinella Field will be the new home and rehearsal space of the Marching Salukis, which were previously relegated to Lot 56 behind the Banterra Center.
“Lot 56 holds a special place in a lot of people’s hearts, but there were some things about it that were a real challenge,” SIU Alumni Band Group President Brian Munoz said. “When it was really hot outside, the asphalt would start getting hot, there were a lot of wasps floating around sometimes, and the old, wooden tower. This new rehearsal space really sets up the band for future success as it grows over the years.”
The event opened with a band
performance, including school songs as well as popular music like “Dance the Night” by Dua Lipa. Many people spoke at the dedication, including Hanes’ daughter Lisa Breithaupt.
“[Marching Salukis] are a huge family,” Breithaupt said. “ And once my dad passed, they all really took me under their wings, and helped me get through some of the grief. They’re just great.”
Hanes was the Marching Salukis director of bands from 1965 to 2005, and remained involved with the program until his death in 2022.
According to the memorial sign on the Mike Hanes tower, he “shaped the lives of countless Salukis over the years.” One such Saluki is George Brozak, current SIU director of athletic bands.
“The Mike Hanes I knew was long since retired, and when I got here in 2009, they still talked about him. There was a band director before me, but I got here and they still talked about him like he was the band director.” Brozak said. “If you talk to any of his students, any of the alumni, they revere him.”
Staff reporter Morrigan Carey can be reached at mcarey@dailyegyptian.com.
The new Mike Haynes Marching Saluki Tower is located at Sam Rinella Field Oct. 11, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | dwilliams@dailyegyptian.com
SIU Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations and SIU Foundations CEO Matt Kupec speaks at the naming of the Mike Haynes Marching Salukis Tower.
The new Mike Hanes Marching Saluki Tower is climbed by attendees of the event.
The Saluki Silks twirl their flags in sync Oct. 11, 2024, at Sam Rinella Field in Carbondale, Illinois.
An ensemble of brass instruments play at the event Oct. 11, 2024 at Sam Rinella Field in Carbondale, Illinois.
The Marching Salukis play songs from their shows this season in dedication of Mike Hanes.
Alpha Gamma Rho and Sigma Alpha create wild west float
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Member of Alpha Gamma Rho, Zach Kampwerth uses an electric saw on the Alpha Gamma Rho and Sigma Alpha homecoming float Oct. 9, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois.
Sigma Alpha member Sarah Brase paints the Alpha Gamma Rho and Sigma Alpha homecoming float
Member
Disc Golf in the sun
Photos taken by Daylin Williams | dwilliams@dailyegyptian.com
Robert Ellithorpe throws the disc towards the hole. Ellithorpe competes in the Mixed Amateur Division (MA3) in disc golf.
Leslie Hopkins prepares her throw on the fairway for the Hickory Winds Fall Fling. Hopkins competes in the Top Amateur Division (FA1).
Robert Ellithorpe tees off at Hole 13 for the Hickory Winds Fall Fling Oct. 5, 2024 at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale, Illinois.
Jim Peacock tees off at Hole 15.
Leslie Hopkins throws her disc after it lands on a trash pile.
Leslie Hopkins (left) watches as Robert Ellithorpe putts on Hole 9.
their versatility was impressive. I can’t recall a single time that I was confused about which character was being portrayed.
Jones, who had five parts in addition to her principal role, said she didn’t mind the cast size until they “started putting stuff together.”
“First dress was terrible,” she said, followed by laughter from her castmates. “It’s just the different costumes and the throwing stuff and running around with just seven people and then such a small crew as well.”
But if the cast really did have a terrible first dress, they somehow managed to turn things around overnight. Their performance in the second dress rehearsal was seamless, especially when it came to the song “Put You in Your Place,” which brought to life a game of capture the flag.
In the number, Percy comes face to face with the scrappy daughter of Ares, Clarisse. Manning is a phenomenal singer, but surely audiences weren’t just blown away by her vocals. The number, which featured choreography from Matthew Williams and Darryl Clark, teetered between a battle and a dance. For that reason, Lockett said the scene was her favorite.
“I think that combat on stage is really interesting to an audience who doesn’t know about stage fighting, you know? So I think it’s gonna be very exciting,” she said.
Characters shifted from opposing Clarisse to joining her in interrogating Percy, foreshadowing the conflicts and isolation he would soon face.
Lockett said they were originally going to have a few additional cast members take over some of the ensemble roles, but budget cuts prevented them from doing so. The school faced a significant lack of funding this year, as they received $0 for productions and recruitment in comparison to the $75,865 they received the previous year.
“That was stressful, but we are doing great, I think,” she said.
Schultz said the set and costumes were the areas most affected.
“We had to completely redesign our set based on that, which is a big challenge,” she said. “So there was much more to the set itself originally, like there was a huge structure and a second floor to it, and that all had to go.”
Ohlau said, “It’s not even a problem that we can’t buy the resources to make this stuff, because we have tons of supplies in the scene
shop and the costume shop that could be torn apart, remade into what we needed. We didn’t have the money to hire the student workers to do it.”
The production might not have had a scaffolding set, but it remained resourceful. Scenic designer Ron Naversen presented a stage outlined in Greek marble designs and surrounded by frost king curtains. Images were projected by Brad Carlson, transporting the audience from New York City to settings
like the beach, forest and Camp Half-Blood, all without the need for physical set changes. Mitchell Brandon deserves all the kudos for his lighting design, as blackouts and flashing lights paved the way for realistic fight scenes.
As for costumes, the cast praised designer Wendi Zea.
“She was really creative in terms of how to represent, you know, the god of war in a modern sense,” Manning said, adding that their “camper clothes” were all gender-neutral outfits inspired by Greco-Roman designs.
Gender-bending a popular story amid budget constraints is no small task, and the actresses noted how much pressure they faced. Fortunately, they were seeing an impact even before opening night. Manning, for example, said that she broke the news of an all-female cast to the public at an event at Carbondale Public Library.
“I was a little afraid…but they were so awesome about it,” she said. “There were these two girls; they were like, 8 or 9, and they were like, ‘I have read every single book, and
I’ve seen all of the [TV] show, and I watched all the movies…’ and they were so excited. They were like, ‘We already got tickets. We’re gonna come see the show.’ And it was so amazing to see kids and people younger than us still appreciating this story, and being able to read it for the first time.”
Schultz said she had many discussions with the cast regarding their roles, but there were two notable instances.
“Thankfully, we had a good conversation with one of the writers of the musical, Rob Rokicki…and he is so supportive of casting the show however you want to do that…So just getting my cast to embrace that was fun, because now I think there’s not a fear about it, so that’s good for six weeks in,” she said.
Jonathan Raviv, who played Chiron in the original Broadway production, also spoke with the cast. Ohlau said these conversations helped them better connect with their characters.
When asked if there was any message they wanted audiences to take away from the show, Ryan had
just one thing to say: “Girl. Power.”
“Girl power,” her castmates echoed.
“This is on, sort of, non-traditional casting,” Manning said. “‘We also encourage you to look beyond traditional casting types when it comes to the characters’ race, gender and physical ability,’” she said, reading from the authors’ note in the musical’s script. “‘Above all, the characters in ‘The Lightning Thief’ are gods and heroes – and gods and heroes can look like any of us.’ So I think I would love for people to leave the show with the knowledge that gods and heroes can be any of us.”
“The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” was an electrifying opener to SIU School of Theater and Dance’s 2024-2025 season. While their characters fought monsters onstage, the cast fought gender barriers, rolejuggling and budget cuts – and they came out victorious. For information regarding upcoming productions, visit theateranddance.siu.edu.
Edie Balester, who plays Annabeth Chase, snatches a backpack from Sydney Ryan and Ameriah Lockett, playing Percy and Grover respectively, while running through a full dress rehearsal before opening night Oct. 8, 2024 at the McLeod Theater in Carbondale, Illinois.Dominique Martinez-Powell | @dmartinez-powell.photography
Olivia Manning, who plays Clarisse, spins a prop weapon as the cast of “The Lightning Thief” runs through a dress rehearsal.
Sydney Ryan (left) and Ameriah Lockett (right) go through a Camp HalfBlood backpack.
Planned Parenthood of Illinois
