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7KXUVGD\ -XO\ Red Cross sees blood shortage; blood drive at Morris Library WHITNEY WAY Daily Egyptian The American Red Cross faces critical blood shortages as donations remain low, Laurie Nehring said. “Blood inventory is low,� said Nehring, communications manager of the American Red Cross. “Turnouts are so low that we haven’t added any more
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(donation) schedules.� Morris Library will host a Red Cross blood drive today from from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help alleviate the national blood shortage. Trained specialists will set up booths where students can give donations. Heather D. Willis, assistant dean of Morris Library, said the blood drive will be held to increase donations and curb
shortages. Due to the shortage, the Red Cross has issued an appeal for all blood types. Willis said all students, faculty and community members are encouraged to come. “The summer months are typically when donations begin to slow down,� she said. Please see BLOOD | 3
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Post offices in jeopardy LAUREN LEONE Daily Egyptian The United States Postal Service announced Tuesday that it is considering closing 3,643 of its 32,000 post offices across the U.S. — and Illinois may lose more than 200 local post offices, said Valerie Welsch, communications manager of the Gateway District of the US Postal Service. Welsch said she wasn’t shocked by USPS’s announcement. “Customers have changed the way they do business with the postal service,� Welsch said. “Many of them use a post office online. ... Some use mobile applications, some use party providers like local grocery stores.� She said 35 percent of all transactions made within the Gateway District are now made online. “That number is growing,� Welsch said. “More and more of our customers are finding other ways to do business with us rather than walking into a brick and mortar post office.� Walk-ins have declined by 200 million, and the number of retail transactions made within a post office building itself has declined by $2 billion in the last five years, she said. In reaction to the decline in revenue and walk-in transactions, Welsch said the USPS is conducting a nationwide study with nearly 3,700 locations to determine which ones would be shut down. Carbondale is not included in this list, but Welsch said the post office in Colp is being considered. The study would look at a number of variables including the number of walk-ins and transactions throughout the day, the revenue of each transaction, how a closure would affect postal employees and potential economic savings. USPS is considering closing 153 offices, or 16 percent, of the 932 post offices in southern Illinois, northeastern Missouri and portions of central Illinois, also known as the Gateway District, Welsch said. Fourteen offices in the Chicago area are under review. Welsch said she doesn’t expect to see any closings until December. “I suppose there could be an oddball one here and there, but the studies are just starting, and it’s going to take a while for those to be completed,� she said. Postal employees may be assigned to another location and some may decide to retire. Welsch said she doesn’t know the likelihood of employees being laid off. Please see POST OFFICE | 3
LYNNETTE OOSTMEYER | DAILY EGYPTIAN
The United States Postal Service announced Tuesday the possible closing of 3,643 post offices nationwide, with Illinois seeing as many as 200 closings. Alternative means of communication, such as e-mail, are contributing to the decline of business for post offices.
ERIC GINNARD | DAILY EGYPTIAN
Kathryn Ross, a recent SIU law graduate from Mundelein, twirls a technicolored hula hoop during the July 21 Sunset Concert at Turley Park. Ross, along with the rest of those in attendance, braved the extreme heat and humidity to enjoy The Black Lillies, an americana-
bluegrass band from Knoxville, Tenn. The summer’s final Sunset Concert will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. with a performance by the alternative rock-pop group Fools for Rowan. Turn to page 6 for a complete preview of the band.
Collinsville bans baggy pants TARA KULASH Daily Egyptian Collinsville, Ill. has become the first Metro-East town to ban baggy pants. The ordinance, which passed July 11 on a 3-2 vote, states pants must be secured at the waist to prevent them from falling more than three inches below the hips, and the law applies only on public property. On a first offense, violators will be fined $100 and be required to complete community service. On a second offense, he or she will be fined $300 and given more community service to fulfill. Collinsville city council member Liz Dalton proposed the ordinance because she said multiple citizens complained to her about seeing undergarments. “We are elected by the people, and we are supposed to represent the people,� Dalton said. “If there is a problem out there that they want us to address, then it is our duty as an elected official to address that.� Mayor John Miller said he heavily protested the idea at the meeting. “It might be offensive to a person that’s viewing it, but it doesn’t give that person the right to criticize and make laws prohibiting it in a community,� he said. Miller said he thinks the law will be challenged in court and will be costly
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LYNNETTE OOSTMEYER | DAILY EGYPTIAN
An ordinance passed July 11 in Collinsville states pants cannot be worn more then 3 inches below the hips. The ordinance applies to people on public property.
Violators will be fined $100 and ordered to do community service on the first offense and $300 plus additional community service on the second offense.
for taxpayers. Council member Michael Tognarelli said he voted for the ordinance because he said he thinks there’s a direct connection between saggy pants and gang activity. “This is not speech we’re talking about. This is appearance,� Dalton said. “There are signs in restaurants that say ‘no shoes, no shirt, no service’. Why should someone be able to come in with their underwear hanging out and still be served?� Those opposing the ordinance
said it is a violation of the First Amendment. Senior Michael Velazquez from Chicago said he doesn’t think baggy pants should be criteria for judging a person. “I think the prohibition of baggy pants is not only senseless, but it can be linked to stereotyping,� the sport administration major said. He said baggy pants are just a style and way for people to express themselves. Please see PANTS | 3