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Salaries books removed from library, not to be destroyed TARA KULASH Daily Egyptian Rumors surfaced that Chancellor Rita Cheng ordered Morris Library to shred books which contain campus salary information when the SIU Legal Counsel advised they be taken off public shelves. David Carlson, dean of Morris Library, said this wasn’t true.
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The books, which state the salaries of employees at the university, also included the salaries of graduate assistants and were removed from shelves Sept. 28 and put in the special collections office at the library. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, information about students such as their transcripts and salaries cannot be made public unless the student gives written permission. The
Legal Counsel advised the books, which date back to the ‘70s, be removed from public use. Carlson said he and library workers discussed shredding the books, not Cheng. He said at first he thought they would be locked in a closet and never used again, so he didn’t see the point to keep them. Please see BOOKS | 2
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Water, sewer rates may rise 5-year plan needs funds to repair Carbondale system
SOUTHERN RECEIVES SMITHSONIAN EXHIBIT
Jane Rendleman, 10, of Carbondale, explores displays Thursday at The Way We Worked exhibit in the University Museum. The Way We Worked is a traveling Smithsonian exhibit, which examines the history of laborers in America. Dr. Dona Bachman, director of the University Museum, said the exhibit is particularly nice because it covers the subject on both the national and local level. “There is extensive material on the local scene and what work has been like in southern Illinois,� she said. Bachman said the exhibit is going to seven other locations in the state, though this is the only stop in southern Illinois.
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ates would also increase considerably for large users such as SIU. The university’s water and sewer bill will increase by $80,000 by 2016. ELI MILEUR Daily Egyptian Representatives of the city and Ehlers Inc. presented a proposal to raise water and sewer rates to Carbondale residents Wednesday at the Carbondale Civic Center. About a dozen residents showed up to the meeting, half of whom had questions. Mayor Joel Fritzler said it was a smaller crowd than he’d hoped to see. The plan prepared by Ehlers Inc., a financial consulting firm, and Fehr-Graham and Associates, an engineering consulting firm, addressed the city’s need for increased revenue to make repairs to its aging water and sewer systems. Several displays illustrated the need for investment into the water system. Maps showed water main breaks and sewer line stoppages in the city. A complete list of needed projects was displayed, spanning several long sheets of paper and adding up to more than $100 million. A collection of rusted, dilapidated pipes sat in one corner of the room, as well. The worn pipes showed the city had the choice to either pay more for its water or have no water in the future, Fritzler said. Sean Henry, director of public works, said in the report the city currently raises $1.3 million a year for investment into the systems. “That is just a drop in the bucket compared to what we need to do,� Henry said. The plan calls for raising the investment to about $5.2 million by 2016. The proposed 5-year plan is considerably scaled down from an original plan to make all needed repairs within 20 years, City Manager Allen Gill said. The plan simply wasn’t feasible, he said. Gill compared the needed repairs to a grocery list. “This 5-year plan is only taking a bite out of that shopping list,� he said. The proposed rates are based on a fixed monthly fee plus a charge based on usage. The total cost for water and sewer for a resident using 2,600 gallons a month would go from $21.78 in 2012 to $35.41 in 2016. Rates would also increase considerably for large users such as SIU. The university’s water and sewer bill will increase by $80,000 by 2016. One resident asked Gill what assurance there was the system would not be privatized in the future. “Your vigilance is the best answer I can give you,� he said. Scott Thorne, of Carbondale, raised the possibility of the city maintaining a public list of repairs and improvements to the system that would be updated as they were done. Henry said it was something the city could look into.
Eli Mileur can be reached at emileur@dailyegyptian.com or 536-3311 ext. 266.
ISAAC SMITH DAILY EGYPTIAN
Administrators: Recruitment, retention efforts unaffected by labor disputes JACQUELINE MUHAMMAD Daily Egyptian For first-year students at SIU, the semester has been unlike that of their peers, as contract disputes between four unions and the administration point closer to a potential walkout. Four unions on campus have authorized their governing bodies to set a strike date if a collective bargaining agreement is not ratified. A walkout by the unions — Faculty Association, Graduate Assistants United, NonTenure Track Faculty Association and the Association of Civil Service Employees — could affect recruitment and retention for the university. Rod Sievers, university spokesman, said SIU is committed to maintaining the academic mission and he hopes enrollment and retention will not be
affected. “At the current time, there has been no indication that any recruitment efforts have been impacted by the strike authorizations,� Sievers said. Eric Secrist and Kegan Witham, freshmen from Carlinville studying architecture, both said the disagreements taking place have not affected them so far, but said they believe students will begin to feel the impact if the issues continue. “One of my professors mentioned what is going on, but we haven’t heard anything else. We do need to know what happens because it will affect us,� Secrist said. Contract disputes have not yet affected the admissions office, as potential students continue to show interest in the university. Katharine Johnson Suski, interim
director of undergraduate admissions, said because a strike date has not been set and negotiations are still under way, there are no plans to address the issues with prospective students. “We will continue to talk about the experience of coming to SIU, regardless of what’s going on campus. That’s what our job is: to bring in new students and show them how great SIU is,� Suski said. Some students agree with the unions’ reasoning for authorizing a strike but say other students may suffer. Samuel Shils, an undecided freshman from Western Springs, said the labor issues are being discussed in some of his classes. He understands why a strike may be necessary, but it is inconvenient for students. Please see RECRUITMENT | 2