The Daily Egyptian - March 22, 2023

THE Daily Egyptian

DE article prompts SIU response on distance education funding

Daniel Bethers DBethers@Dailyegyptian com

Just two days after a Daily Egyptian story about confusion over distance education (DE) funding, SIU sent a memo to the university’s deans seeking to clarify what is happening with the money.

“We know there have been many questions about not only the history of the payback program but the ways in which we can make the required payments,” the memo from co-acting Provosts Marc Morris and Robert Morgan said.

The March 8 edition of the Daily Egyptian outlined SIU’s use of distance education funds and the financial stability plan enacted by the university in response to an Illinois budget impasse from 2015-2017.

The administration memo, released shortly before spring break, said the university decided to work in a deficitspending mode at that time.

“It was determined that the university would continue to operate without significant reductions to staffing levels by curtailing expenditures wherever possible and utilizing cash reserves while trying to maintain the ability to serve our students and fulfill the university’s mission,” the memo said.

The memo also attempted to offer some clarification on the issue of where the university was able to obtain the funds to continue operating after 2017’s disastrously low state appropriation fund.

“At the end of FY17, the

university was allowed to carry a deficit of $38 million in the income fund because there was enough total cash from other allowable funds to cover university cash flow requirements.”

The financial stability plan referred to this money as locally held, designated unrestricted funds which were “borrowed” from multiple sources to maintain operations, and emphasized that they must be repaid.

Provided to the right is an updated chart of the schools repayment efforts to date.

Distance education funds are generated when various schools throughout the university make their classes available online. A previous administration promised the schools they could keep a portion of the money to cover faculty and student travel, equipment and other items as needed.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the memo is a specific chart representing the DE funds generated in FY2022 and “carrying over” into FY2023, totaling 5.3 million, as well as funds from FY2021 and before which were meant to carry over into the current financial year, totaling 9.3 million. That money existed on paper and was anticipated by faculty and staff, but was not actually real, as it was spent by previous administrations during the crisis caused by the state budget impasse. According to the provosts, this fund was used, “...to maintain employment across the university, to provide

services to students and others who rely on the university and to award scholarships to help with enrollment.”

The chart is provided on page 10.

The next chart (on page 10) displays $7.1 million of distance education revenue allocated to the colleges and

the provost, generated from the start of FY2023 on July 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2022. It summarized the expenses paid with DE funds which the school currently possesses, giving us an idea of the distance education funds the school actually currently possesses (about $3.7 million as of Dec.

31, 2022).

The memo says that the university may require less for the repayment fund of 8.7 million in FY24 if revenue from state appropriations and enrollment increase, but departments should still plan to contribute.

Contact Us

Email: editor@dailyegyptian.com

Faculty Managing Editor: Annie Hammock ahammock@dailyegyptian.com

Editor-in-Chief: Sophie Whitten swhitten@dailyegyptian.com

Design Chief: Peyton Cook pcook@dailyegyptian.com

Sports Photo Editor: Lylee Gibbs lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com

Multimedia Editor: Kylen Lunn klunn@dailyegyptian.com

Sports Editor: Joey Bernard jbernard@dailyegyptian.com

Assistant Sports Editor: Cole Daily cdaily@dailyegyptian.com

News Editor: Jamilah Lewis jlewis@dailyegyptian.com

Ad Chief: Hannah Combs hcombs@dailyegyptian.com

Social Media Editor: Logan Brown lbrown@dailyegyptian.com

News Photo Editor: Dominique MartinezPowell dmartinez-powell@ dailyegyptian.com

Yarauseth Zavala | yzavala@dailyegyptian.com

Fire Department showcases women with Badd Axe Ladies Program

Carbondale Fire Department empowers women with its Badd Axe Ladies Program

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!

Mission Statement

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.

Publishing Information

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.

Copyright Information

@2021 The Daily Egyptian. All rights reserved. All content is property of the Daily Egyptian and may not be reproduced or transmitted without consent. The Daily Egyptian is a member of the Illinois College Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Advisers Inc. and the College Business and Advertising Managers Inc.

Submissions

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

The Carbondale Fire Department is hosting its second annual Badd Axe Ladies program on March 21, 24 and 25. Badd Axe Ladies will allow women to learn from women firefighters about what it means to be a firefighter and the work that goes into the profession.

Firefighters Courtney Looft and Abby Burnhamn said this event will not only teach women what firefighters go through in a day, but lets them see what other career opportunities are available.

“There’s not really a good way for women to approach it or try to get involved with the fire service. Most of them don’t even think of [firefighting] as something that they can do,” Looft said. “So we wanted to start this program, show them what firefighting is about.”

Looft said her father being a firefighter for 27 years influenced her to join the career field and hopefully this program will get more women to think about joining the firefighting profession.

Burnham said, “The fire service is still a very male dominated field and for a lot of young ladies and women it can be intimidating walking into a male dominated field that you don’t typically see a lot of women doing. So we kind of wanted to give them a chance to come in and see us doing the job.”

The event will be split up into three days. March 21 and 24 will be shadow days. They will be held at the Carbondale Fire Station. The shadow days will offer women a chance to follow firefighters Looft and Bunham and see what a normal day looks like for firefighters.

The Skills Day on March 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be held

at the regional training facility. Throughout the day, people will be able to see what skills firefighters use during calls.

“This year we expanded the program to, not just the community, but to college and high school students as well, to allow them to see what other career options are available,” Looft said.

She said the event is overall empowering for young women to go after things they don’t traditionally go for.

“Firefighting is one thing, but you can also maybe hopefully show them that they can go after like, be a police officer or just anything just like [that] we want young women to go beyond what they feel like they can accomplish,” Looft said.

Staff reporter Janiyah Gaston can be reached at jgaston@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @janiyah_reports.

Janiyah Gaston | @Janiyah reports

SIU is the first mortuary science program in the U.S. with on-site crematory

Christi Mathis CMathis@siu edu

CARBONDALE, Ill. — A love of science and the desire for a career that really helps people drew Emily Bender toward a career in mortuary science. With the decision made, she knew her educational preparation “could only be Southern Illinois University Carbondale” as SIU offers the state’s only mortuary science and funeral services bachelor’s degree program and one of just six in the country. Now, Bender said, the program’s recent addition of the only university-housed crematory in the United States has made her even happier with her choice.

“The crematory really gives me, as well as other students, confidence. The practice we will get from having an onsite crematory reaffirms we are capable of providing this service to families and doing it correctly just as soon as we enter the workforce,” Bender, a sophomore in mortuary science and funeral service (MSFS) from Normal, Illinois, said. “This

ahead.”

“Mortuary science combines my favorite subjects, from anatomy to art, and it is really meaningful to know that I get the

me to pick this major. Being able to obtain a bachelor’s degree in mortuary science is unique, as most programs are associate only. A 4-year degree allows for

postgraduation. SIU also has a beautiful, accessible campus with opportunities for research and experience that made it an obvious yes. The experience we get from program components like the crematory, the embalming lab and everything else reaffirms that I’m in the exact field I’m supposed to be in and training for it in the best place.”

SIU’s mortuary science program will also help address an anticipated shortage of funeral service industry workers in the next five years.

Crematory a decade in the making, offering rare experience

Anthony Fleege, mortuary science and funeral service program director and associate professor, said while attending a conference 10 years ago, a colleague from another school was taking a crematory operator’s course and commented that mortuary schools should teach the course on campus. Fleege agreed, noting the nationwide shift toward cremation.

The U.S. cremation rate was 57.4% in 2022, meaning more than half of all final dispositions end in cremation rather than burial, according to Fleege. While the Illinois cremation rate mirrors the national rate, some states are much higher, led by Nevada with 82%, so the need is great.

Sciences and generous support from the SIU Foundation, the unit from Crematory Systems of South Holland is now in place at SIU.

From now on, all SIU’s mortuary science and funeral service graduates will not only get hands-on training operating a crematory with the addition of a cremation class to the curriculum, but they will also complete school as a certified crematory operator as recognized by the Illinois comptroller’s office, Fleege said.

“This acquisition helps keep us at the forefront of mortuary science education,” Fleege said. “The primary goal for the crematory is to give students practical experience on campus with cremation of the cadavers used for medical education purposes. Our students will leave college with the necessary tools in their tool belt to get licensed in any state and be able to immediately make an impact as a funeral director, embalmer or crematory operator. SIU is dedicated to student success, and our mortuary science and funeral service program strives to give students the complete education that will make them valuable assets to the funeral service profession. It will also ensure that the remains never leave the university’s possession.”

is another addition to SIU’s mortuary science program that allows students to be a step

honor of taking care of someone’s loved one for the last time. The humanity of funeral service drew

a more open path to continuing education, and it makes students more competitive

Fleege pitched the idea of adding a crematory and the option for a crematory operator’s license at SIU, and Scott Collins, director of the School of Health Sciences, helped carry the plan forward. Thanks largely to gifts from private donors, the SIU School of Medicine, the dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences, the School of Health

In addition, as a public service for local coroners who occasionally must find a resolution for abandoned bodies, SIU will provide the crematory service for a nominal maintenance fee. The crematory won’t offer services to the public or funeral homes.

Filling a growing need

Faculty and administration participate in the ribbon cutting for SIU’s new crematory. Left to right: Robert Broomfield, MSFS assistant instructor; Robert Morgan, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences; Chancellor Austin Lane; Anthony Fleege, mortuary science and funeral service program director and associate professor; Monica Gray, assistant professor of practice; Sam Perry, assistant lecturer; and Scott Collins, director of the School of Health Sciences. Photo from SIU Communications

Funeral urns sit on glass shelves and are available at SIU’s new crematory. Photo from SIU Communications

Column: Spring break opens up with drag show at the Varsity

The second performance was presented by another drag queen from Carbondale, Holly Haliwell. This queen is known for her references to older pop culture during her shows nostalgic of the early to mid 1900’s. Bold lips and even bolder hair are some of her most common looks when she takes the stage. Her stage name is actually a reference to one of my favorite shows growing up, Charmed, which ran from 1998 to 2006 with the main characters with the last name of Halliwell.

The next up was another icon who’s been in the game for years, Jodie Santana. She is never seen without iconic blonde hair in every performance and has been the inspiration for newer generations of drag queens that were similarly featured in the show. This blonde bombshell is never seen without sparkles and glitter for each outfit to light up the stage with not only her colorful and fun outfits, but a dazzling smile to boot.

of hers is unique, from pop to rock and roll to folklore. Her last performance left the entire audience in amazement, myself included, at the goddess-like performance she ended the night with. Pick those jaws up from the floor!

Last but not least was the other Jodie Santana inspiration, Kailey Santana. Like her other two family members on stage, she dressed to the nines and is always seen with brunette hair to coordinate with each look. Her performances are sure to wow the crowd with the dancing she incorporates into the act, with those high kicks reaching new heights.

With spring rolling in, the Varsity Center presented the first drag show of the season with many local drag performers ready to take the stage. Southern Illinois’ Godmother of drag Blanche DuBois opened up the night and was followed by five other drag queens and king.

Blanche DuBois has been running the game for years as the reigning queen of

Southern Illinois and began the show with a performance in a dazzling blue dress fit for a queen. Afterward, she took a seat and presented the rest of the performers’ acts as well as fun games and trivia for the audience to take part in to bring everyone together for the event.

Each of the other queens and king had three different performances throughout the night with varying looks, each tailored to their preferences and personalities.

After that, Southern Illinois’ new reigning drag king took the stage, Faim Lee Jewls. Drag kings have finally begun to receive more recognition and popularity in recent years and Faim Lee Jewls is a perfect representation of what it means to be a drag king. Every time he takes the stage, he pumps the crowd up and, like a true gentleman, offers blue roses to the audience to further liven up his performances. I myself have two of his roses from shows in the past and present. His performance is never seen without an iconic shiny blazer and props to further add to his already impressive shows.

The next performer is one of two of Jodie Santana’s inspirations at the show, Leiyana Santana. Her outfits are always fit for the gods with quick but dazzling costume changes frequently seen on stage that never cease to amaze the crowd. Each performance

In light of recent events happening within the United States with increased protests and drag show bans beginning to make their way through both society and politics, it is important for everyone to know just how amazing drag can be for everyone involved. Bills are in the act of being passed throughout the country from Arizona to Tennessee to Texas, says Time Magazine.

Each of these drag queens and king showed Southern Illinois that drag is an art form that inspires others and brings everyone together through entertainment and joy. No matter what this country holds in store for those who perform or simply enjoy drag, these queens and kings will continue to perform and live on in every single soul they touch. Drag is an art form, not a crime.

“Let’s all give ourselves a round of applause for keeping the art of drag going!” said Christina Garnette, evening hostess alongside Blanche DuBois.

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

Drag Queen Holly Haliwell enacts her second performance at the Varsity Center Mar. 10, 2023 in Carbondale, Ill. Mo Collar | @m0.alexander

Drag Queen Holly Haliwell enacts her first performance at the Varsity Center Mar. 10, 2023 in Carbondale, Ill. Mo Collar | @m0.alexander

Drag King Faim Lee Jewls enacts his second performance at the Varsity Center Mar. 10, 2023 in Carbondale, Ill. Mo Collar | @m0.alexander

Mo Collar | @M0.alexander

Drag Queen Leiyana Santana enacts her final performance at the Varsity Center Mar. 10, 2023 in Carbondale, Ill. Mo Collar | @m0.alexander

Drag Queen Jodie Santana enacts her first performance at the Varsity Center Mar. 10, 2023 in Carbondale, Ill. Mo Collar | @m0.alexander

Drag Queen Jodie Santana enacts her second performance at the Varsity Center Mar. 10, 2023 in Carbondale, Ill. Mo Collar | @m0.alexander

Drag King Faim Lee Jewls enacts his first performance at the Varsity Center Mar. 10, 2023 in Carbondale, Ill. Mo Collar | @m0.alexander

Drag Queen Kailey Santana enacts her first performance at the Varsity Center Mar. 10, 2023 in Carbondale, Ill. Mo Collar | @m0.alexander

Across the country, the need for funeral service industry workers is large and growing, according to studies. The National Funeral Directors Association has indicated that within the next five years, more than 60% of the country’s funeral home directors plan to retire, and there was already a decrease of more than 1,100 in the number of funeral homes between 2010 and 2021, according to government data, with just 18,000 homes left at that time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wages for starting positions such as morticians, undertakers and funeral arrangers was about $49,000 in 2021, while for funeral home managers it was $74,000. Officials say that many get experience and/or an advanced education like the one offered at SIU and go on to become funeral home directors with even higher income.

SIU’s program is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. SIU graduates are eligible to become licensed in Illinois with reciprocal practice rights in all other states that offer a bachelor’s degree in the program, and they can also obtain a license from the Department of Professional Regulation to be a funeral director and embalmer.

110 students are currently enrolled in SIU’s program, with nearly 100 on campus and the rest enrolled as online learners in the bachelor’s degree completion program. SIU’s thorough program includes both science coursework and classes focusing on the “arts” involved, including business and psychology, according to Fleege. Students learn about every component involved in the business from embalming (SIU has an on-campus embalming facility and cadaver refrigeration unit) to handling

merchandising and arrangements (with a model selection room featuring coffins and urns and a room where practice funerals are held). The new crematory, licensed by the Illinois comptroller’s office and led by trained and certified crematory operator faculty, rounds out the comprehensive educational experience.

Extraordinary faculty make a difference.

After graduation, Bender plans to become a funeral director and embalmer with dual licensure in Illinois and Indiana and said that in addition to the numerous unique components offered at SIU, the “mortuary science faculty is a big highlight of the program. The development of the crematory just shows how much our faculty, staff and administration care about the education of their students. They send fully prepared funeral workers into the real world, making sure that we are the most capable we can be. Fortunately, that now includes being proficient in cremation. It’s really exciting to serve the community. Decedents from the Southern Illinois region and the donors who graciously give their bodies to provide educational opportunities have a place for a respectful, proper disposition, which makes this all the more meaningful to me and them.”

Fleege said the crematory project was a collaborative effort with support from Chancellor Austin A. Lane; Robert Morgan, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences; Scott Collins, School of Health Sciences director; Facilities and Energy Management and others.

“Everyone came together to create an outstanding project that SIU can be proud of for years to come,” Fleege said.

SIU attribution Christi Mathis can be reached at cmathis@siu.edu

Daily Dawgs: Why being the best good boy isn’t enough to be an ESA

Erica Loos ELoos@daiLyEgyptian

Hi guys! It’s me Rufus! Everyone thinks their dog is the best, and mom says none of them are wrong. I know she’s probably joking, because I’m the best good boy out there, but I don’t get jealous about it. Anyway, I thought I would tell you some of my tips and tricks to being the best good boy (ever) and let you decide for yourselves. I can’t tell you all my secrets – a boy has to have some things that are just his.

First off, me and my mom are school kids. I bet you probably guessed that we’re students at SIU, and you’re right! Good job! We’re studying journalism and sociology, so there’s lots of reading and writing that we have to do for homework. It might sound strange to you that I keep saying “we,” but that’s how me and mom roll! I’m her best good helper and study buddy!

I help her study in lots of different ways. Sometimes I lay on the bed and take a snooze, because I know she wishes she could, so I take the opportunity to grab a few Z’s for both of us! Other times, I sit and listen to her lectures with her. I don’t always remember everything, but she takes notes, so it’s no big deal. Other times I remind her that, even though school is very important, playtime is also important – and I can tell when she gets overwhelmed and needs a study break.

Being in tune with my mom’s emotions is one of my very best talents. Mom says I’m her emotional support Rufus. Mom has anxiety and depression, and so it’s my job to make sure I’m right there when she needs me. And guess what, no one ever trained me for this very important job, it’s just a natural talent I have!

Sometimes mom gets anxious about stuff that I don’t really understand, but I just remind her that I’m there and she isn’t alone ever! Sometimes when I’m sleeping I can hear her gasp, so I jump up and go to her to make sure everything is ok. And sometimes it is - like when she’s reading something that surprised her, and she always tells me, “Thank you baby boy, mommy’s ok. I just read something that I wasn’t expecting. Mommy’s ok,” and she gives me lots of good pets and scratches for being the best good boy (ever). She said she read something about emotional support dogs, but I don’t remember what she said, so I’ll let her tell you!

There are many jobs for dogs within our communities as service dogs, working dogs, therapy dogs and emotional support dogs. Each occupation comes with its own specific set of regulations, and some require special training, certification and registration. Additionally, there are certain rights and

accommodations protected under the law for each occupation type.

The American Kennel Club website offers insight into the differences among the occupations of dogs, including how each occupation is defined, and the differing rights covered under the law for each occupation.

Working dogs are “purpose-trained” canines who perform tasks such as herding, hunting, police and military dogs. Therapy dogs, usually working with their owner, volunteer in places like healthcare facilities and schools where they provide comfort and affection. The distinction between working dogs and therapy dogs is quite straight-forward, but there seems to be much more confusion between the difference between service dogs and emotional support dogs.

“Although all dogs offer an emotional connection with their owner, to legally be considered an emotional support dog, also called an emotional support animal (ESA), the pet needs to be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional to a person with a disabling mental illness. A therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist must determine that the presence of the animal is needed for the mental health of the patient,” said an article on the AKC website.

According to information found on the Americans with Disabilities Act website, “The ADA makes a distinction between psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals. If the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact, that would qualify as a service animal. However, if the dog’s mere presence provides comfort, that would not be considered a service animal under the ADA.”

While service dogs are generally allowed anywhere the public is allowed, that is not the case for an emotional support animal. There are, however, some accommodations concerning housing which are legally protected when it comes to an ESA.

“The Fair Housing Act includes ESAs in its definition of assistance animals. Under the act, people cannot be discriminated against due to a disability when obtaining housing. Rules such as pet bans or restrictions are waived for people who have a prescription for an ESA, and they cannot be charged a pet deposit for having their ESA live with them,” said one article from the AKC website.

Ok, back to me! But wait a second – does this mean I’m not an emotional support Rufus? The research said a doctor had to write a prescription, but mom didn’t get me at a pharmacy! Or is it

different because I’m an ‘emotional support Rufus’ and not an ‘emotional support animal’? Mom said she doesn’t have any paper from a doctor about needing me, because she’s been fortunate enough to never need one. But I just ordered some business cards and I don’t want them to be incorrect. I hope it’s not too late to cancel the order! But I’m getting off topic.

Anyway, another thing I do to be the best good boy (ever) is that I remember to use my manners –at least most of the time. Sometimes when mom is busy I paw at her to get her attention, but she can’t always stop what she’s doing, so she asks me to go play quietly and independently. I know when she says that she’s very busy, and she’ll ask me what I needed when she’s finished, so I listen and go amuse myself with a toy or some snoozes while I wait.

When mom is cleaning, folding laundry, or making the bed I always do whatever I can to help. But sometimes she says I’m more of a hindrance than a help. I’m not sure what hindrance means, but it must mean she has it under control, because she’ll say, “excuse mommy” or “scooty the booty”, which means she needs me to move, so I do!

Something else I’m the best good boy (ever)

about is to make sure I let mom know when I have to go outside to potty and do a security check. This takes out a lot of guess work for her, which is good because she’s a busy lady! I always wait patiently while mom is getting my things together, my leash and harness, and when it’s time to put my harness on I always lift my legs, one at a time, to help get myself all strapped in.

Mom always makes sure to tell me I’m a good boy, and say thank you when I do something she’s asked me to. She’s a good mom! And I tell her it’s just part of the all-inclusive good boy package!

She asks me a lot why I’m such a good boy, and my answer is always the same – it’s just who I am, and I don’t know how to be any other way! But, guys – she keeps asking me, even though my answer is always the same. Maybe I should order her some ginkgo biloba to help with her memory. That reminds me, I need to cancel those business cards!

I’m out of time right now, but next week I’m going to talk about how important it is to make sure pets get proper medical care, and tell you about the time I got really, really sick when I was a puppy.

Love, Rufus

Column: “Mouse Trap” caught my attention

The McLeod Theater production of Agatha Christie’s who done it classic, titled “Mouse Trap” caught up the audience in a wonderful murder mystery. This play transported theater-goers back to 1950s London following the story of two newlyweds on their first night as innkeepers and their five guests trapped in a terrible snowstorm.

The accuracies in the set

design, the costumes and most importantly the accents made it feel as if the audience was a fly on the wall trying to find out just who it could possibly be. One thing that really stuck out to me for this performance was the small intricacies in the accents.

According to the lead actress Xiana Jones, the cast met with Susan Patrick Steinfeldt, an instructor here at SIU that specializes in dialects to perfect the ideal regional and era-accurate depiction of a British accent.

As with most of the arts, it is important to maintain a certain expectation and to stay true to the role but, there are times when if you take the initiative to add in some of your own creativity and originality it will pay off and I think this performance had the perfect amount of that from each of its characters.

“The most crucial part of perfecting my performance was really just repetition and learning how to add new things to the way I portrayed Mollie,

but, really, with any performance I try to find new and better ways to portray the character so that I won’t bore myself with the same old tactics I used before,” said Jones.

Not only was the acting incredible, but the set design, lighting, and costume department also excelled in their work for this performance. I think when it comes to creating an immersive viewing experience, it is important to focus on the things that might

easily take the viewer out, such as a bad setting or, in this case, era or weather-inaccurate clothing. However, everything flowed together incredibly well leaving the crowd with an amazing eye-catching experience while they, along with the characters, were trying to find out just who exactly done it.

Day Starr-Fleming | @daydreamingddrawings

HOLI Festival

Group photo with all the participants in the Holi Event, March 08, 2023 at the lawn near the Morris Library in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

A child is amused with the various colowwWurs used in the Holi Event on March 08, 2023 at the lawn near the Morris Library in Carbondale, Ill Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

Dr. Jyotsna Kapoor smiles, as her colleague applies color in the Holi Event March 08, 2023 at the lawn near the Morris Library in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

The crowd have fun with colors in the Holi Event on March 08, 2023 at the lawn near Morris Library in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

Mandeep Redhu gives an overview March 08, 2023 at the Guyon Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

The audience listens to the seminar on Holi in the Holi Event March 08, 2023 at the Guyon Auditorium in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

Dr. Bhattacharya speaks about his childhood holi celebrations in the Holi Event on March 08, 2023 at the Guyon Auditorium in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

Various Coloured powders were smeared onto each other in the Holi Event on March 08, 2023 at the lawn near Morris Library in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

overview on the festival (Holi) in the Holi Event Auditorium in Carbondale, Ill. atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

Column: Roadside finds more than just junk

AAron Elliott AElliott@dAilyEgyptiAn com

There is very little in the world that sparks such joy in me as the sight of a sign with the words “free” written across it, sitting amongst a pile of junk on the curb. That is a good way to cause me to hit my brakes, pull out the gloves I keep hidden in my car for these emergencies and get to pickin’. There is very little shame in me, as I have sat legs spread with gobs of what one person might think of as trash, but to me is treasure, because if there is one thing that is certain, I will find the gold amongst the rubble.

Last year, on a seemingly normal day, driving home with the top of my little red convertible down, I decided to take a route home that isn’t my usual. While thinking and filling my ears with groovy music, I spied out of the corner of my eye a pile of goodies on the curb. Jackpot.

I slammed on my brakes and turned on my hazards. With pure adrenaline pumping through my veins, I politely started rummaging through this mound of fun that was towering before me.

Sitting beneath the old cat box and the broken storage totes sat a Victorian wicker back rocking chair. The bottom had large sleighlike legs, and there was a huge hole in the seat where you could see the love that was put upon this rocker. I gasped in shock and thought to myself, “Oh what a good trash day!”

After skimming through the rest of the pile and debating whether the heart cutout red bench was worth a second trip, I chucked the chair into the back of my open topped car and drove away into the sunset.

When I got home, I had to choreograph how to get the chair into my home without my father

Funds

continued from 1

The provosts acknowledge that previous university administrations kept DE funds with the departments that generated them. They “will continue to assess the financial position of the university and the possibility of allocating all or part the $9.3M from FY21 and prior based on sufficiency of funds within a given fiscal year.”

Given staff criticisms mentioned in a previous story, the university has resolved to provide the FY2024 budget prior to the beginning of the fiscal year, to prevent further confusion and financial complications for departments. In addition, the provosts promise current revenue allocation of 65% college / 29.5% chancellor / 5.5% provost will continue and all allocations made to the college will remain with the college.

noticing. Yes, that sounds terrible; No, he wouldn’t be mad. I just get embarrassed bringing more things home, as there is already a lot. To go unnoticed while moving a piece of furniture into the house, I had to think smart. I placed the rocking chair on the front porch and walked through the house, directly past my father, to the front door to pull the beast into my front parlor.

Finally, after all the work that had gone into getting the chair home and figuring out what quilt could hide the hole, I sat back to wonder at my new find. Not even 30 seconds into it being put together all nice, my father comes in and I step in front of the chair. As he came into the room, he very blatantly asked me, “Did you steal an old woman’s chair?” Eyes wide, I stepped aside to reveal the chair I had thought I got for free.

Apparently, in the most small town fashion, someone had rung up my father’s barbershop uptown and said that I had stolen a chair from an old woman’s yard, and that they had watched me. Chills ran down my spine, as I am a bit of a rule follower and get nervous when I’m doing wrong. Anyway, I had to take the chair back to the elderly woman and apologize for being an accidental thief. All I know is that if there is furniture next to the curb, it better be free, or it might get taken home. I’ll always look for a free sign now, but seriously don’t get my hopes up.

There are only so many things that came out of the early 2010s, but one thing that I am almost always okay with is the great movement of upcycling old furniture. Remember when everyone was bringing home antique furniture that had a little wear and tear on it, but with a little elbow grease looks amazing?

I definitely do, as I was up in that movement hard. I might have been in elementary school, but my interests started developing early on. I would watch videos on my tablet of women with massive hair stripping down buffet, painting them “Buttery Yella” and distressing the sides with a little bit of chalk paint and a sander.

I am all for trying out new methods of painting and decorating, but really only on furniture that is in a state of disrepair, but for some dumb reason a whole lot of folks would rather go out searching for a piece of furniture to strip and repaint. Pump the brakes lady, you’re gonna take the original varnish off of this gorgeous antique piece of furniture and replace it with a white wash? I don’t think so.

I feel like this trend of upcycling was all hearts and rainbows in 2014 when it was popular, but as time has gone on and too many gaudy

women have junked up all the old vanities and nightstands that were left, they have come for the good pieces. Yes, at least they are just upcycling and not destroying it to nothing, but I would argue with that. You see, something that I would consider as destruction would be taking away the original character of the piece.

Last night, while sitting and watching Little House on the Prairie, the episode that happened to be on was called “The Legacy.” The episode follows the story of Charles Ingalls and his friend Jack taking a handcrafted table to Minneapolis to sell. On the way home, they get into an accident and Jack passes away. Charles, stricken with grief, decides he wants to be remembered for something. So he strikes a deal with a store owner and starts manufacturing tables to sell, all with the stamp of his initial “C I” on the bottom. At the end of the episode, the business deal becomes a flop, and Charles gives up trying

to be remembered by many, but rather by his children. Before the credits roll, you see a couple in 1982 at an auction, buying his table and wondering about its maker and its history.

I thought long and hard about this episode and why it touched my heart so much. Everytime I buy something or take home something from the side of the road, I try to respect and honor its past as much as possible. I think about that time I accidentally stole from the old woman, and when returning it, she told me its story. She remembered buying the chair, and she told me about rocking her many babies and grandbabies to sleep in that chair.

So in this spring cleanup season, when you are snatching up goodies on the side of the road, remember to always look for a free sign, and like us, furniture has a story too.

columnist

Aaron Elliott can be reached at aelliott@dailyegyptian.com

Brooke Nicholas | bnicholas@dailyegyptian.com

Staff Reporter Daniel Bethers can be reached at dbethers@dailyegyptian.com

Take a look at the Marching Salukis

ryAn griEsEr rgriEsEr@dAilyEgyptiAn com

For over 60 years, the Marching Salukis have been one of the most distinct and visible groups at Southern Illinois University.

“We’re like the best PR tool SIU has,” said Casey Avise-Rouse, an RTD major and a member of the Marching Salukis.

The band boasts a size of nearly 200 members, all wearing their iconic maroon and white jackets.

Dozens of colleges have marching bands, but not many of them claim to be “the best dressed band in the land” as SIU does before every home football game.

But the band is about far more than being well-dressed. It is one of the biggest student groups on campus, which helps many members form close relationships and friendships.

Austin Browne, a former Marching Saluki and current graduate assistant with the band who is pursuing his master’s degree in percussion performance, said, “I met my best friends in college through marching band.”

These friendships often last far longer than just band season, too.

JT Iorio, a music education major who has also been in the band for four years, said, “I made that I’m, like, okay, I have to strive to hang out with them because I still want to… I’ve made a lot of friends in the [marching] Salukis that I want to carry on.”

These relationships typically lead to many students returning for multiple years of band.

“I was gonna stick it out with Luiie [Barrea, another band member] until the end,” said Avise-Rouse.

Loren Koenigstein, a master’s student in agribusiness economics and another member of the Marching Salukis and Saluki Pep Band, said, “I think the loyalty to my section was what really made me want to continue.”

There are often big recruiting pitches to bring members into the bands. Members often perform at open houses for visiting high school students, and the director, Dr. George Brozak, is present and promoting band whenever there is information being handed out to prospective students.

The Marching Salukis and Saluki Pep Band are not exclusive bands; both are open to all majors. There are nearly no auditions, which are just those for percussionists and a few instruments to receive assignments.

Koenigstein said, “I love that the Saluki band is for everyone. There’s no like playing test to exclude someone from being in the band, and that any instrument can join.”

Avise-Rouse remembers meeting Brozak for the first time. Avise-Rouse said the marching band director essentially told him, “It doesn’t matter what your major is. We’ll take anyone as long as you like playing.”

The members of the Marching Salukis also make up the Saluki Pep

Band, which plays at all home men’s and women’s basketball games as well as conference tournament games.

Pep band is a big departure from marching season; Iorio says it is “so different.”

The pep band, which performs during basketball season, plays a bit of a different role than it may during football.

“I think it’s a critical part of the atmosphere,” Browne said. “...It gets you a lot more in the moment when you have a live band that’s playing on the side and for everybody, I just think it brings a different kind of energy.”

The band is a constant presence at every home game. It also makes yearly trips to the men’s and women’s conference tournament games.

“We are the loudest group cheering for SIU. Even when the Dawg Pound isn’t there, or the cheerleaders aren’t there, the band always plays,” Avise-Rouse said.

Being a consistent presence comes with its benefits; Iorio especially

enjoys women’s basketball games, where the band is often the loudest group in the arena.

“You can be heard, and so the band just heckles. It’s really great when you get the opposing team’s bench to look at you angrily,” Iorio said. “... Oh my gosh, I love to heckle.”

Even if they’re not the loudest group, they still play a big role in the energy. The band and the crowd have, according to Browne, a “nice relationship.”

“We definitely feed off each other,” he said. “If the crowd gets hyped, the band gets hyped. If the band gets hyped, the crowd gets hyped.”

The good relationship with crowds extends far beyond games though.

Browne said, “I think the band is very well loved within the community.”

Iorio said a lot of people look up to the band.

“I love going down the streets and seeing kids just like, ‘wow,’ especially as we kick it [a dance move the entire band does] down the street,” Iorio said.

Dances and cheers are an essential part of the band experience and something many people automatically recognize as SIU.

“I think it’s a little more famous with the pep band because it’s easier to be heard,” Browne said. “The cheering is one of the highlights for everybody. Just being together and having a good time, and maybe causing a little bit of a ruckus in the arena.”

Band generates a lot of great memories and provides a lot of enjoyment for its members.

Koenigstein said, “I just love the excitement of the game days… even if the Dawgs win or lose, I’m always there having a good time…the band always wins.”

There are also bright days ahead and some changes possibly coming for the band; there are talks of new uniforms for the pep band, as well as possibly more support from administration.

Koenigstein said that, at a recent luncheon with Chancellor Austin A. Lane, several resolutions were talked about. These included bringing back

the “old pep band fight songs” as well as getting new uniforms and “a separate uniform for pep band.”

Another big idea that was floated was that some of the student fee goes to the band. The fee, which every student at SIU pays, is divided among several organizations, including the Dawg Pound.

And if the above things weren’t enough to sell prospective members on joining band, Avise-Rouse gives a compelling argument, especially for freshmen looking to make new friends on campus.

“The best reason to join the Marching Salukis is that before you even get to your classes, you know people, you have upperclassmen that you can talk to, they’ll tell you anything about what you need to know,” he said. “You just become great friends with these people, you play music together, and you always got something going on.”

Sports Reporter Ryan Grieser can be reached at rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com.

Marching Salukis’ brass section plays at the Football game Sept. 25, 2021 during Family Weekend at the SIU Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. Dominique Martinez-Powell | @dmartinez_powell.photography

SIU softball 12 vs Valparaiso 0

Anna Carder (19) rounds the bases towards home after she hit a tworun home run to help the Salukis sweep the Valparaiso Beacons in their weekend series to stay undefeated at home March 19, 2023 at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphotography

Anna Carder (19) tags out Taylor Herschbach (33) of Valparaiso at home to secure the Salukis their second out owf the inning March 19, 2023 at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. Lylee Gibbs @lyleegibbsphotography

Rylie Hamilton (1) cheers as she walks back into the dugout after putting the Salukis on the board for the first run of the game with her solo home run March 19, 2023 at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphotography

Rylie Hamilton (1) and Jackie Lis (00) share a handshake after they score the first two outs of the inning back to back against the Beacons of Valparaiso March 19, 2023 at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphotography

Aubree Depron (11) lays down a bunt for the Salukis when they face the Valparaiso Beacons for a weekend home series March 19, 2023 at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphotography

Erin Lee (24) goes down for the tag as Kaiah Fenters (17) of Valparaiso attempts to steal as the Salukis took on the Beacons at home in a weekend series March 19, 2023 at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphotography

College basketball players perform constant balancing act

We’re nearing the end of March Madness, the tournament where 64 universities from around the country compete in a single elimination, winor-go-home fashion. It rakes in about a billion dollars and showcases some of the best basketball talent, men and women. A team will be crowned as the national champion, and the basketball audience will countdown the next year as they anticipate the annual event.

But the journeys put in by the national champion, the 63 other teams in the dance and every college athlete in the nation are often overlooked. The lifestyles of student-athletes are easily unnoticed and forgotten. Their days are long and hard, practicing and working to perform in their athletic fields along with keeping up with their education.

According to the NCAA, student athletes average six hours and 15 minutes of sleep a night, far less than the eight hours that are recommended. Their days begin early in order to fit in everything on the agenda of their long schedule.

“It kind of ranges anywhere around 7:30 to 8:30,” SIU basketball player Trent Brown said.

Looking at basketball, we can gain a

glimpse of such athlete’s day-to-day lives. They have many things to attend to in order to stay on top of their game on the court and in the classroom.

“The first thing I do is usually come to the arena…I get treatment and then work out. And then once I’m done with that, I usually head over to class…like midday, and from after class, it’s usually to practice,” SIU basketball player Marcus Domask said. “Once practice is done that’s when I’m done for the day. I go back and then look at my schoolwork and kind of do all that stuff at night.”

Brown also said homework usually comes in the late night hours.

“After a really long day, you’re kind of mentally and physically exhausted. It’s the last thing you want to do. You just want to eat and lay down and go to bed because you gotta do it all over again the next day,” Brown said. “I’d say it’s similar to probably a working student who has like a long, full, like 30 or 40 hour a week job.”

Brown and Domask were honored for their great job of balancing their books and basketball. Domask was named the Missouri Valley Conference ScholarAthlete of the Year for the second straight year, holding a 3.99 cumulative GPA in sport administration while leading the

Salukis in scoring (16.7 points per game).

“It’s an honor that carries a little bit of a different weight because it’s not just basketball. I know academics are important in life, always been important to me. So you know, to win it in backto-back years, it’s definitely cool for me,” Domask said.

Brown was named to the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) ScholarAthlete All-Second Team as he has kept a 3.91 GPA while majoring in finance. He previously made the All-First team and was awarded the MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award during his sophomore year.

“It’s definitely always a good feeling… getting a little recognition is always very nice, but I definitely didn’t think I was gonna get one of those honors… it’s always nice to see your name on something like that.”

The coaching staff of the Saluki men’s basketball team preach the value of keeping up with schoolwork. These principles and standards instilled into the players are led by head coach Bryan Mullins, who acknowledges the challenge his players face, and the reward it holds.

“The biggest thing in our program is making sure that these guys are successful in life. And that starts with in the community and in the classroom. And we talk about how you doing anything is how you do everything,” Mullins said. “I talk to our guys about academics and their classes almost on a daily basis…going to class, turning in work is not negotiable in our program. And you know, the academic piece is a huge reason why I think we have success on the court is because we have success in the classroom.”

Mullins practiced what he is preaching, as he was no slouch in the classroom either while being a member of Saluki basketball. He also won the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year back in 2009 and was a two-time Academic All-American, along with other academic accolades. Graduating with a 4.0 in finance, Mullins knows what is necessary for his players in order to succeed on and off the court.

“I think classroom success can lead to court success and I think it’s hard to fail in one area and try to be successful in the other area…in terms of taking care of the academics and being successful in the classroom, that is what is gonna make the biggest difference in these guys lives,” Mullins said. “The ball’s always gonna stop bouncing for these guys, whether it’s right after college or five years or 10 years, but they have their whole life, their whole future ahead of them. So, to get a degree to do well in the classroom, that’s the most important thing.”

“Our coaches get on us a decent amount…trying to have us stay on top of our homework and stuff like that,” Domask said.

Brown said basketball is just one tool for moving life forward.

“I think Brian does a great job…he stresses class and schoolwork a lot. I mean, if you’re falling behind like you don’t get to practice, you have too many missing assignments, you’re in trouble,”

Brown said. “He’s all about school…he does a great job preaching academics within our program.”

An extreme amount of balance and discipline is required from studentathletes that is amplified with the accessibility of technology. Social media, streaming services and video games are a new wrench in our society that distracts the younger generation.

“I think the biggest difference when I played and when I went to school here to now is probably just that there’s a lot more other things in 18-to-22-year old’s lives right now you know, mainly with the social media, and just all the technology that’s available to these guys,” Mullins said. “It’s just a different college experience. It’s a different academic experience than it was when I was going to school.”

Domask said he does put his phone down sometimes.

“I think my phone can be super distracting…At the end of the day like I know the reason I’m here is to play basketball and get a degree, so you know, I feel like you just got to prioritize, just like, know your values in life,” he said.

Balancing their academics, athletics and social life is challenging, and time management is essential in order to endure their obligations.

“It teaches you to prioritize a lot of things…I think just being willing to work when you’re tired, work when you don’t want to is just big-time life skills,” Brown said.

Domask said athletes just learn how to “get stuff done quicker.”

“My freshman year, when I got back to my dorm room, I’d probably sit around for like an hour before I started something and you just kind of get used to being able to go from one thing to the next without so much downtime,” he said.

Mullins said the biggest adjustment in college is time management.

“Having a structure or having an organization with your schoolwork and your basketball, and there’s a lot of demands that student athletes go through,” Mullins said. “…Making sure that you have time to do your homework…study, and you have the right type of habits that are gonna lead to a successful academic career.”

The winners of March Madness reflect the hundreds of thousands of collegiate athletes around the country. Student athletes keeping the ability to maintain themselves is a tall task that the SIU basketball program has pushed in order to get the most out of them as players and as men.

“Marcus and Trent are two examples of guys that have been in this program for four years now that represented themselves… and this university extremely well, and their academic success is a byproduct of their families, who they are as people, and then just their work ethic,” Mullins said. “I’m really proud of those guys. They’re great ambassadors for our program and also for this athletic department.”

Sophie Whitten

Sophie Whitten swhitten@dailyegyptian.com