Daily Egyptian

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6WXGHQW LQMXUHG DIWHU IDOO 0$77 '$5$< 'DLO\ (J\SWLDQ A student fell from a window on University Hall’s fourth floor early Friday morning. An email sent Friday morning to all SIU students and faculty from Chancellor Rita Cheng stated Tyler Gravitt, a pre-major freshman from Matteson, is in the intensive care unit of a St. Louis hospital. Cheng asked for everyone to support Gravitt and his family. The email also said the SIU Department of Public Safety’s initial investigation shows the incident was an accident. Rod Sievers, university spokesman, said Monday he has not received an update on Gravitt’s accident or condition. Students and Carbondale residents who walked by University Hall early Friday morning noticed multiple police cars, an ambulance and police tape that marked off the north side of the building where Gravitt fell. Please see ACCIDENT| 2

TIFFANY BLANCHETTE | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Ray Clover, of Carbondale, rides his bike Saturday through the flash flooding that covered East Walnut Street. The flood shut down several streets in Carbondale until the fire department alleviated the drain system and towing services cleared strewn cars.

/RQJWLPH 6,8 HPSOR\HH NLOOHG LQ SODQH FUDVK 5,/(< 6:,1)25' 'DLO\ (J\SWLDQ A plane crash in rural Missouri last week killed two southern Illinois men, including a longtime SIU information technology employee. John R. Johnson, a 74-year-old Carbondale native who worked at the university for nearly 20 years, and Carl S. Maiden, 47, of DuQuoin, were killed Wednesday morning when the small plane they were flying crashed in a pasture near Canton, Mo. The two men were flying from Pinckneyville to Iowa for an airshow when the 1956 Piper-23-150 plane

owned by Johnson crashed around 6 a.m., according to a statement from Parrish and Lewis County Coroner Larry Arnold. The two men were pronounced dead at 9:20 p.m. Wednesday. The crash is believed to be an accident, according to reports from Arnold. Jak Tichenor of WSIU knew Johnson through the Experimental Aviation Association Chapter 277 in Carbondale. Tichenor said Johnson was a longtime active member of the group of pilots and flying enthusiasts. “It’s a terrible tragedy to lose someone like John,� Tichenor said. “He was a wonderful person who will

be greatly missed by his family and his many friends. My heart goes out to his family and to the family of the other gentleman who was flying with him.� Tichenor also said Johnson especially loved antique airplanes, which was what Johnson was flying when he died. “John was one of the smartest people I ever met, and he was a treasure trove of information about antique aircraft and how to keep them flying,� he said. Tichenor said Johnson was instrumental in bringing Morris Library into the computer age during his time at SIU. “He was also a very friendly person,� Tichenor said. “I never saw

him without a smile on his face.� Charles Rodriguez, a visiting lecturer of aviation, worked with Johnson as safety counselors for the Federal Aviation Administration and was also a member of Chapter 277. Rodriguez said Johnson ran an airplane repair business at the Pinckneyville Airport for many years and had a very strong passion for flying. “He possessed varied knowledge in the discipline of aeronautics, and he was an aircraft mechanic and inspector,� Rodriguez said. “He will be missed by many in aviation.� Maiden was also active with Chapter 277 and loved flying,

Rodriguez said. David NewMyer, chair of the aviation department, said he did not know either man, but the loss is very sad. “Any accident that happens in the aviation world is one too many,� NewMyer said. “Any accident that strikes pilots and their families close to home is never good. All of us at SIUC Aviation are thinking of those families in this time of mourning and hope that whatever happened comes to light so that we can learn from the accident.� Riley Swinford can be reached at rswinford@dailyegyptian.com or 536-3311 ext. 268.

5HTXLUHG FODVV LQWURGXFHV VWXGHQWV WR XQLYHUVLW\ OLIH .$567(1 %85*67$+/(5 'DLO\ (J\SWLDQ While college-life adaptation classes were offered as options in past semesters, freshmen are now required to spend some time learning about university life. Although the University College 101 core curriculum requirement was approved last year, it was not required of freshmen until this semester, said Amber Manning, a graduate assistant and UCOL 101 teacher. The class aims to help students become more accustomed to the university and college life in general, and class assignments often require students to attend events on campus and then write a paper on their experience, Manning said. “Everybody gets to let their hair

down, talk about what’s been important in influencing them,� said Pat Manfredi, director of University Core Curriculum. “Then we get to talk about, ‘Here you are. What do you want to look like as an individual four years from now?’� Among assignments UCOL class is the lifeline assignment, which requires students to look back at significant events in their lives to see what has helped them to become the individuals they are, Manfredi said. “The lifeline for me is really a way to understand where (students) are coming from,� Manning said. “We’re all human. We’re all here, and we’re all developing in our own ways.� Manfredi said it is important to note that the instructors are connecting with students not just as an instructor, but also as a friend and mentor. If the students are having problems with

roommates or making a transition, they have someone to connect with, he said. “It is definitely part of the instructor’s role to connect with students,� Manfredi said. “That’s a major part of the course so that students begin to see SIU as their home and they begin to develop those skills that are going to make them successful when they hit their sophomore, junior and senior years.� Events and political issues are often tied into class, Manning said. If students are going through issues as a group, the class will talk about the issue, she said. “Because instructors relate to students on a personal level, it gives students and instructors the chance to bridge these (generational) gaps,� Manfredi said. Emily Craske, UCOL 101 instructor and coordinator of Student Programs, said she tries to give students the tools

to be successful, including knowledge of reference points on campus and important offices students need to know. However, she said it is up to the students to use those tools. “I really try to be honest with them and let them know that everything is not going to go their way,� Craske said. “Everything is not going to go as planned, and sometimes you have to roll with the punches.� Requiring freshmen to take this class and complete the assignments, especially the RSO assignment, can be useful for new students, said Brandon Truax, a freshman from Elgin studying architecture. Truax said after attending an architecture RSO meeting as a part of the course assignments, it helped him to reflect on his experience. Elizabeth Evans-Mosley, a freshman

from Cape Girardeau, Mo., studying criminal justice, said the class would help students become more familiar with the university’s traditions. In a Facebook poll posted on the Class of 2016 page, several students gave their opinions on the class. User Eric Palley said UCOL is not needed at all. User Rob Goodin said the class is a waste of time and money, and user Bradley S. Maschhoff said the class could be beneficial to those who pay attention. Craske said she tries every class period to let students know she cares about them and their success. “Those are powerful words that you can say to a student,� Craske said. “Should they need anything that maybe their parents or guardians or other friends can’t help them with, I am a resource they can use on campus.�

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