'( 'DLO\ (J\SWLDQ 6LQFH
:HGQHVGD\ 6HSWHPEHU
Councilman Joel Fritzler announces mayoral candidacy CHRISTINA SPAKOUSKY Daily Egyptian Carbondale City Councilman Joel Fritzler announced Tuesday he would run for the office of mayor, according to his press release. There are two confirmed candidates for mayor. Brent Ritzel, 42, of Carbondale,
announced his campaign early last week. There are speculations as to former SIUC Chancellor Sam Goldman and Councilman Steven Haynes running as well. The election for the mayor’s seat will occur April 5. Brad Cole currently holds the position of mayor. City Council seats held by Council Members Steven Haynes, Lance Jack and Mary Pohl-
mann will also be filled. If three more candidates file for the position of mayor and/or more than 13 candidates file for the three council positions, a primary election will be held Feb. 22. Fritzler has served on City Council since April 2005 and will hold a press conference at noon today in the Carbondale Civic Center.
9ROXPH ,VVXH SDJHV
ZZZ GDLO\HJ\SWLDQ FRP
Physical Plant combats $450M deficit LAUREN LEONE Daily Egyptian Phil Gatton says the university is trying to play “catch-up� with an estimated $450 million deferred maintenance deficit. “It’s similar to someone putting off getting their oil changed on their car,� said Gatton, director of the Physical Plant. “The longer you push it off, the worse it’s going to get. So when a building on campus becomes unusable, that’s when deferred maintenance starts.� Scott Pike, former superintendent of building maintenance, said in 2007 the amount of money needed for maintenance projects — such as deteriorating roofs — on campus has risen to about $200 million in the past ten years.
PAT SUTPHIN | DAILY EGYPTIAN
STUDENTS PREP FOR ART AUCTION Laurie Marshall, a graduate student in small metals from Springfield, Mo., works Monday at Pulliam Hall on a bracelet that will be auctioned off at the Southern Illinois Metalsmiths Society Conference on Saturday. The conference will feature a live and silent auction, with all the proceeds going toward SIMS. The Neighborhood
Co-Op Grocery, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, is sponsoring the conference, according to Jerry Bradley, Outreach and Owner Services Coordinator for the Co-Op. Student and faculty donations make up the majority of the art in the auction. “I always knew I wanted to be an artist,� Marshall said. “It’s really fun and kind of addictive.�
Please see DEFERRED | 6
Freshmen adjust to newfound collegiate independence
œœT
A month after starting college, first year students deal with new transition SARAH SCHNEIDER Daily Egyptian Juggling school, swim team, and having a part in the musical “Crazy for You� is no change from her busy high school life, Cayman Bone said. Bone, a freshman from Sarasota, Fla., studying musical theater, said it’s her new independence that is a burden. “Now on top of everything I have dishes and laundry, and I have to clean,� she said. “Whereas at home I had people help me with all of that.� After several weeks on campus, freshmen at SIU are now trying to balance their newfound independence and responsibilities, said Mark Amos, director of Saluki First Year, a support network for first year students. Barb Elam, stress management coordinator for the Student Wellness Center, said new students are dealing with many new stresses they aren’t used to. In the first month alone, freshmen experience homesickness,
here are some nights that I just cry, a lot. Then there are other days when I am happy-go-lucky and I’m fine. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time.
— Kelsey Whitecotton freshman studying biological sciences
roommate issues, not feeling adequate for college classes and challenges to their values, Elam said. She said organization, time management and procrastination are also major issues freshmen are facing. Adjusting hasn’t been easy for some students. Erika Watkins, a freshman from Christopher studying zoology, said she still hasn’t gotten used to college life. “There are good days and bad days, but I am still trying to figure it all out,� she said. “I don’t like walking everywhere; I don’t like the food; I have had a hard time making friends and I don’t like the parking.� Kelsey Whitecotton, a freshman from Buckner studying biological sciences, said during the
first several weeks of school she has experienced a large amount of added stress. “There are some nights that I just cry, a lot,� she said. “Then there are other days when I am happy-go-lucky and I’m fine. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time.� For some students, the biggest transition has been getting used to college classes. Marc Foster, an undecided freshman from Rockford, said college classes are less demanding because homework is assigned once a week as opposed to every day. Taking courses at her local community college in high school helped Bianca Castelli know what classes at SIU would be like. Castelli, a freshman from Decatur studying radiology, said she
misses the smaller class sizes from high school. “The lecture halls at first were kind of intimidating because there were so many people in there, and you can’t really get the one-onone interaction with the teacher,� she said. Watkins said while she was in high school she thought she was well-prepared for college, but after a couple days of classes she started rethinking that. She said in high school the teachers try to prepare students for college, but they don’t know how to because they went to college so long ago. Castelli said in high school, teachers and guidance counselors pushed her to do well, but in college she is on her own and has to push herself. “Expectations are high, and there is more pressure to do well in school because it is basically determining the rest of your life,� she said. As for living in a new environment, Paris Griffin, a freshman from Chicago studying business management, said the dorms are the best and worst part. She said she likes be-
ing on her own but she feels alone. “I was used to having my sisters and mom around, so when my roommate is gone it gets kind of lonely,� she said. Castelli said living in the dorms is something everyone should experience. It opens students up to new experiences, new people and a new way of living, she said. Amos said in addition to the First Year Program, SIU offers many resources to help first year students. The Counseling and Wellness Center offers emotional support, while Saluki Cares is a referral service for on-campus resources or case management. It also offers student success courses as well as a support network for first year students. Amos said these services could be very beneficial for freshmen coping with the new lifestyle of college. “College is hard; it is different; it’s not easy and that can be unsettling,� he said.
Sarah Schneider can be reached at sschneider@dailyegyptian.com or 536-3311 ext. 259.