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Daily Egyptian THURSDAY
OUR WORD, PAGE 5: Gus Bode says should we water the liberty tree?
SEPTEMBER 3, 2009
VOLUME 95, NO. 9
12 PAGES
GLBT director speaks out against signs Christina Spakousky DAILY EGYPTIAN
XTINA25@SIU.EDU
When Virgina Dicken saw a sign posted at the Student Center stating unmarried sex is a hate crime and sexual abuse, she acted quickly. Many of her students were concerned they were being accused of violent crimes, said Dicken, director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center. Dicken said the signs were posted as a means for a group to spread its beliefs about marriage and sex. “There are a lot of different reasons why people don’t participate in marriage. They are not guilty of violent crimes . . . in my opinion, (it’s) slander,” Dicken said. Dicken submitted a letter to the editor, which was published in the Daily Egyptian Friday, explaining why some same-sex and heterosexual couples choose not to marry for religious, political or other such reasons. She said accusing people of crimes because they are incapable or unwilling to marry belittles real acts of violence. Shortly after the letter was published, the signs were removed, Dicken said. See GLBT | 8
JULIA RENDLEMAN | D AILY E GYPTIAN Erving Gada, left, a freshman from Grays Lake studying Japanese and art, and Sandra Gibson, a freshman from Centralia studying political science, chat during the GLBT Welcome picnic Wednesday. Virginia Dicken, director of the GLBT Resource Center said the picnic is a way to introduce students, faculty, and staff to the resources on campus. “It helps to get the year off to a good start,” she said.
USG back in session for fall semester Erin Holcomb DAILY EGYPTIAN EEERIN9@SIU.EDU
SIUC’s Undergraduate Student Government is considering going online this semester and is already Undergraduate Student Government Chief of Staff Krystin McDermott sings happy birthday to USG President Priciliano Fabian during closing remarks at the first USG meeting of the fall semester Wednesday. A major topic of discussion at the meeting was the elimination of the Monetary Assistance Program (MAP), a grant that has paid the tuition and fees of undergraduate students from low-income families. USG Senator Dave Loftus commented on the loss of the MAP grant program saying, “We are going to lose students unless we do something about it.” JAMES DURBIN
D AILY E GYPTIAN
in the process to help fellow students with their money woes. The senate had its first meeting of the semester in the Student Health Center Auditorium Wednesday. Introductions went quickly as the senators were eager to discuss the new
software program, OrgSync. Jay Glogovsky, a former senator, spoke in favor of the software program. “I was not happy with the lack of communication on campus between students and (Registered Student
Organizations),” Glogovsky said. “This will simplify and create communication on campus.” OrgSync would allow Registered Student Organizations to track its members, promote events and host homepages all under one program.
Communication, grant money among concerns All SIUC students would be able to access the program and search for groups and events, even if they do not belong to an RSO, Glogovsky said. OrgSync also links up with Facebook and the new university-wide Banner system, Glogovsky said.
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was not happy with the lack of communication on campus between students and (Registered Student Organizations) — Jay Glogovsky former USG senator
USG President Priciliano Fabian said he is a strong supporter of the software program. “It focuses on students and that’s why I like it the most,” Fabian said. However, OrgSync would cost $12,500 for one year. See USG | 8