The Daily Egyptian 9/16/11

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Officers investigate disturbance

SARAH SCHNEIDER Daily Egyptian

Officers are looking for possible suspects who initiated and participated in fights outside Brush Towers Wednesday. Rod Sievers, SIUC spokesman, said the Department of Public Safety is not sure how long the investigation will last, but taking the case very seriously. Around 1,000 students gathered after the power went out on campus around 9:30 p.m. Students flooded the streets outside the dormitories and chanted, “USA,� “Africa,� “America,� and “F--- the police.� Sievers said the vast majority of students present when the incident began were not the problem, but students who fought were. In a letter to parents of students, Chancellor Rita Cheng said at no time was the situation out of control. “In addition, students who are found to have violated campus policy or were involved in inappropriate behavior last night will be subject to discipline through the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities,� she said in the email. Depending on the charges, Sievers said the penalty could be expulsion from the university. The SIU Department of Public Safety, Carbondale police, Jackson County Sheriff ’s office and Illinois State Police officers were all present when the disturbance occurred. Todd Sigler, director of the Department of Public Safety, did not return any phone calls, declined comment and referred all comments to Sievers. Sievers said many students have called the incident a riot, but he does not think that is the case. “Certainly the ambulances were called, certainly the state police showed up with their riot helmets on, but that is standard operating procedure for them,� he said. “Certainly no crowd control measures were needed, no crowd dispersal actions were taken, there was no tear gas fired. None of the stuff that would normally be associated with breaking up a riot were implemented.� State police officers wore riot helmets and carried riot sticks Wednesday. David Sneed, spokesman for the Illinois State Police, said the officers did not wear all of their riot gear because they were there primarily to have a presence. He said state police officers were asked to assist with the situation because of the lack of manpower. The primary goal of the officers was to ensure no one was hurt and property was taken care of. “We had no issues or incidents,� he said. “I think there might have been some arguments among students in a couple locations. .. as far as the Illinois State Police, we did not make any arrests and we did not have any altercations or anything like that,� he said. In 2000, the Halloween riot left 78 people arrested and five businesses on the Strip damaged. Sievers said the two people injured were taken to the emergency room at Carbondale Memorial Hospital and have been released, he said. The third refused to go to the hospital and was treated at the scene. Bryanna Jones, a freshman from Chicago studying criminology and criminal justice, said late Wednesday she saw a bleeding male run from a group of students into Grinnell Hall. Madison Tolefree, a sophomore from Evansville, Ind., studying journalism, said when the lights went out at the dorms, people went outside and crowded the middle of Neely Drive. Please see DISTURBANCE | 2

BROOKE GRACE | DAILY EGYPTIAN

An unidentified police officer puts on a helmet Wednesday outside Brush Towers. The helmet is part of Illinois State Police riot gear that was worn during a disturbance after a power outage across campus. Although none of the gear was actually used, David Sneed, spokesman for the Illinois State Police, said gear is worn as a preventative measure.

Rec Center to improve energy efficiency SEAN MEREDITH Daily Egyptian

The Recreation Center awaits approval to fund energy efficient renovations to its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. If approved, the renovations will replace the 33-year-old HVAC system but administrators emphasize the change will improve student comfort, reduce energy cost and limit energy consumption, said William Ehling, director of Recreation Sports and Services. “Our number one complaint in this facility from students is the temperature,� Ehling said. Talisa Nave, a senior from Arcola studying hospitality and tourism administration, has worked at the center for three years and said she thinks improvements would be beneficial for students because the center is one of the most used buildings on campus. She said when the current system initially turns on, it can make a room either too hot or too cold and students often complain about the center’s temperature being uncomfortable. “As an employee, I don't really notice it as much as I do when I'm a patron,� Nave said. The center has asked for a $4 million bond from the university for the improvements which will be paid back over a 20-year period through energy cost savings as a result of the renovations, Ehling said. Ehling said if the center had relied on student fees to pay for the updated system, instead of the bond, student fees would have increased by $12. As a result of the bond being used, the center now plans to ask for a $1 student fee increase to help with funding instead, he said. The SIU Board of Trustees approved funding for the project Sept. 8, but the center is still waiting for a final approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education before

STEVE MATZKER | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Paul Lannom, a university custodian, stands next to one of the air handling units, or HVACs, Wednesday in the basement of the Recreation Center. If the Illinois Board of Higher Education approves a $4 million bond requested by the

Recreation Center, all HVACs will be replaced with modern ones. CornĂŠ Prozesky, associate director of facilities and operations, said once the bond is approved, it will take about 12 months to start the project and 18 to 24 months to complete.

the renovation process can begin, said Corne Prozesky, assistant director of facilities and operations. The new system will use energy management software to schedule HVAC operation which directly reduces energy consumption and utility cost for the center, he said. Joe Klontz, a junior from Chicago studying video production, said he thinks improvements to the system would be a plus for students. He said he uses the center at least five days a week and thinks most students would like the improvements, but others may disagree and want the money to go to other areas. “If I would notice a distinguishable

difference then I’d probably make more of an effort to go there,� Klontz said. Phil Gatton, director of Plant and Services Operations, said campus buildings often have problems with equipment as they get older which can require the plant to make emergency repairs. “We have a lot of (equipment) around the university that’s beyond its useful life; we just put Band-Aids on it and try to keep it going,� he said. Gatton said the new system would scale back on energy use at certain times of the day when people aren’t in the building or using certain rooms. Please see CONSERVATION | 2


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