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COLUMN, PAGE 5: Gus Bode says stay in school.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
VOLUME 95, NO. 11
Rain can’t stop rugby
12 PAGES
Five wounded in weekend shootings Madeleine Leroux DAILY EGYPTIAN
MLEROUX@SIU.EDU
EVAN DAVIS | D AILY E GYPTIAN Freshman Zac Bird, who plays wing, struggles to maintain possession of a wet ball in Saturday’s match against Indiana University at Ruggapalooza. Even with rain in the forecast, 20 club teams traveled to the SIUC campus Saturday to participate in the event’s 10th anniversary. SIUC’s men’s team finished 1-2 and the women’s team finished 1-3. The following rugby teams were in attendance; ISU men’s and women’s teams, University of Illinois’ women’s team, Cornstars and The Lake County Gladiators from Gurnee. For more information on SIUC’s Ruggapalooza, see page 3.
University adds handicap parking spaces New spots need to comply with federal regulations Daily Egyptian ERIN HOLCOMB
EEERIN9@SIU.EDU
University parking lots have added more handicap accessible spaces, belatedly complying with federal regulations. Todd Sigler, director of Public Safety, said the addition of the nearly 40 handicap parking spaces was not done just to comply with federal laws. “If you’re disabled and you’re trying to find a space and there’s not enough, then that’s a real problem,” Sigler said. Allen Gill, city manager, said
no new ordinances were put forth by the federal government or the city of Carbondale dealing with handicap accessible parking. The new spaces were created because of a complaint made last fall semester about the lack of handicap-accessible spaces in a parking lot on campus, Sigler said. The Illinois Attorney General’s office assessed the parking lots last October, Sigler said. Most parking lots on campus only needed one or two more spaces, while Lot 44, located by the Communications Building, and Lot 45, across from the Recreation Center, needed more than 10 each, Sigler said. More than 500 federally approved handicap signs were also installed, he said.
Sigler said a nationwide for- there are more, Sigler said. Many mula is followed to determine the students have not noticed the amount of handicap spaces based change. on how many parking spots are Chelsea Gibson, a sophomore available in each lot. from Crystal Lake studying zoolSigler said the lack of handicap ogy, said she never realized there spaces was a comwere more plete accident. handicap he money is not really a c c e s s i b l e These changes a factor. It’s the right cost the Parking spaces beDivision more than cause she thing to do, and that’s $50,000, Sigler walks to what we needed to do. said. class. — Todd Sigler director of Public Safety However, he “I’m not said the project affected at would have been done at any price. all by it,” Gibson said. “The money is really not a facGibson said she has a friend tor,” he said. “It’s the right thing to who commutes to class and is indo, and that’s what we needed to do.” convenienced because of the lack No complaints have been made of parking. about the increased handicap “But it’s probably because he’s spaces, only inquires as to why always late for class,” she said.
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SIUC is scheduled to release fall 2009 enrollment numbers today. Check siuDE.com at 4:30 p.m. for immediate coverage.
Five people were hospitalized this weekend after being involved in two separate shootings. According to the Carbondale Police Department, which did not release the names of any people involved, officers responded to a disturbance at 9:55 p.m. Friday on the 500 block of North Michaels Street. Officers reported two suspects, one armed with a shotgun, had approached the victims. The armed suspect then beat one victim, who suffered minor injuries, and shot another in the leg before fleeing the scene on foot. The suspects were described as black males, about 20 years old, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 150 pounds each. One was wearing a gray shirt and jean shorts, the other a dark-colored shirt and blue jeans. The victims were taken to the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale for treatment. At 3:20 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to another disturbance call on the 400 block of South Marion Street. Officers reported several people had been involved in a personal dispute and began fighting, which lead to one suspect firing multiple shots from a handgun. Four people, all involved in the dispute, were shot and taken to the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale for treatment of nonlife-threatening injuries. One person has been arrested in connection with the shooting, but the identity of the suspect is not being released pending further investigation. Councilman Joel Fritzler said the incidents were disturbing, especially the second shooting which appeared to be in a party setting. “This is very unusual, especially two in the same night,” Fritzler said. Fritzler said these were sudden incidents and most likely could not have been prevented. He said the city could possibly look into ways to avoid these parties that happen after the bars close at 2 a.m. “My concern since I’ve lived here is why do we have a 2 o’clock bar closing, cause then you’re forcing everyone out at the same time,” he said. “If you had a later bar closing … then they’d just be gradually leaving, as opposed to all having to leave at two o’clock.” Rosslind Rice, Southern Illinois Healthcare spokeswoman, said no information on the victims conditions could be released until the police release their names to the public. Anyone with information about these shootings should contact the Carbondale Police Department at 457-3200 or Crime Stoppers at 5492677.