Meet the 7 candidates vying for 3 open spots on the Carbondale City Council
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Seven candidates are running to claim one of the three open seats on the Carbondale City Council in the upcoming April 1 election.
If elected, Brian Stanfield, Nathan Colombo, Dawn Roberts and Jason Endicott would be fresh faces on the council, while Lee Fronabarger and incumbents LaCaje Hill and Ginger RyeSanders should be familiar to Carbondale residents.
The challengers, Stanfield, Colombo,
Roberts, Fronabarger and Endicott, will all be listed on the ballot, while incumbents Hill and Rye-Sanders are running as write-ins after being removed. Their removal came after former Councilman Navreet Kang filed a grievance with the city claiming that the candidates had committed procedural violations when filing their candidacy paperwork.
According to Illinois state law, their paperwork was not properly bound, nor did they provide a receipt proving that they had submitted a statement of economic interest within the past year at the time that they had filed.
SIU Law School hosts Illinois Supreme Court oral arguments on drug possession, child custody
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Fronabarger has served on the council before, having been a member from 2011 to 2017 before losing to then-challenger Jeff Doherty.
Early voting has already begun, and Carbondale residents can vote early at the Jackson County Clerk’s Office in
In Nagy I trust
Ryan GRieseR RGReiseR@dailyeGyptian com
I’ll admit it: I made a mistake.
Last year around this time, when former head coach Bryan Mullins was fired, I wrote a column titled “Mullins decision one SIU will come to regret.” I don’t think anyone’s regretting it right now, or if they are, it’s because they’re incredibly short-sighted. The trajectory for Saluki basketball is seemingly only up, and doesn’t seem as limited as it once did.
The hiring of Scott Nagy was welcomed with the traditional fanfare that a new coach experiences, but not much more, and certainly not acceptance from a great many fans. People, including me, were upset about Mullins’ firing, and didn’t think that Nagy’s play style and ideas about the transfer portal would translate at SIU.
Close to 850 people attended the day’s event, according to Angela Upchurch, acting dean of Simmons Law School.
Among those in attendance were SIU undergraduates of various disciplines, local high school and middle
The ballroom of SIU’s student center became the setting of the Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday morning, March 18. After over a year of preparation, Simmons Law School hosted the Supreme Court of Illinois’ March Term 2025 Oral Arguments on the Carbondale campus, where topics such as sentencing, drug possession and child custody were discussed.
school students, SIU System Members and Simmons Law School students. Rows of chairs filled the ballroom as attendees gathered and waited for the judges to take their seats on stage.
“We had an enormous response from the community, both from schools but also just members of the Carbondale community,” Upchurch said.
According to a booklet provided to all attendees, the Court, which is based in Illinois’ capitol of Springfield, has held oral arguments throughout the state in recent years
“to raise awareness of the judicial branch and of the important role the court system has in interpreting state laws,” a tradition the
“So like members of the public, undergrad students and our law students, so we were really excited.”
Court calls “riding the circuit.” Since 2008, the Illinois Supreme Court has met in Mt. Vernon, Ottawa, Lisle, Champaign, Godfrey, Chicago and DeKalb.
Carbondale’s turnout, however, is the largest the Court has seen in an off-site, in-person setting, Upchurch said.
“Simmons Law School was founded in the public
Suffice to say, I was wrong. While it remains to be seen how he and his staff handle the transfer portal when they actually have most of a roster in place, Nagy and his assistants still did nothing short of a remarkable job of putting together a fairly competitive roster, especially with how little time they had to do it.
The on-the-court product for the 2024-25 season was fun and usually enjoyable to watch, even if it was wildly inconsistent and frustrating at times. I don’t want to lean into cliches
Stephen J. Cullen, representing Oren Hulsh, speaks to the seven justices of the Illinois Supreme Court as two oral arguments are heard on the SIU campus in the Student Center March 18, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
Murphysboro on weekdays until March 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday, March 29 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Carbondale residents can also vote early at the Carbondale City Hall until March 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If you are voting early, you can do so at any of the designated early voting locations during the specified times and dates listed above and do not need to cast your ballot at your regularly assigned precinct for early voting.
If voting on April 1, you must do so at your assigned precinct location.
For more info on voter registration visit jacksoncounty-il.gov.
For polling places and district maps visit elections.il.gov.
Brian Stanfield
Stanfield is an SIU alumnus from Iowa who fell in love with Carbondale during his time as a graduate student in the late ‘90s. He is currently a philosophy professor at John A. Logan College with a five-star rating on Rate My Professor.
At John A. Logan, Stanfield teaches courses like Philosophy 111: Ethics and Moral Problems, where he deals with concepts that he will bring with him as he approaches city politics, he said.
“I came to Carbondale in 1998 for graduate school in philosophy, and I’m just one of those people who never left,” said Stanfield. “I think that running for City Council makes sense. I’ve been here for so long, and I’ve known a lot of people and seen a lot of changes. I keep telling my students that if they want to make a difference in the world, they should go to their local elections, vote locally and get involved. So I think maybe it’s time that I practice what I preach. I’m at a point in my life where I’m stable enough to do something like that and I’m giving it a shot.”
In practicing what he preaches, Stanfield has made an effort to get more involved where he can, and has found that there is no shortage of involvement opportunities in Carbondale.
“As I’ve been going to all the different community organizations and candidate forums, I’m discovering that there are so many ways to get involved in town, and that City Council is just one among many ways to make a change here,” said Stanfield. “I’m so happy with the idea of running for City Council, but I’m also interested in all kinds of other ways that people can make an impact in town. I am becoming more and more fascinated everyday learning about all the different things that are going on around town and all the different community organizations. If I don’t get elected, I don’t have to give up; I can still do other things.”
Many of those opportunities can be found through the university, and
Stanfield emphasized the importance of the relationship between SIU and the city.
“The community of Carbondale depends on the university, and the university depends on Carbondale, but there have always been some problems working together in the most effective ways,” said Stanfield. “The university has retracted and the town has retracted with it. I think the university and the town have reached a point where they’ve kind of stabilized, and now, more than ever, I think that the City Council can really change the direction of where we’re going and what our priorities are as a city.”
When it comes to that relationship, Stanfield said that the involvement of SIU students and faculty is important.
“I think this is a great time to get involved in what’s going on in the city. When I came for graduate school, I didn’t really pay much attention to what was going on. Now that I’ve been here long enough, I realize that there are a lot of ways that students can get involved in town. They don’t have to just complain and say, ‘Oh, well, the city doesn’t like students.’ There are a lot of ways to get involved. This election is a great opportunity for that kind of involvement.
“There are younger candidates right now, and I think that’s exciting because it’s going to infuse some new blood into city politics. I think that should excite students. There are going to be some changes coming in terms of what we’re doing with rental properties and things around town, and I think that’s going to affect students.”
Stanfield acknowledges that many of the issues in Carbondale intersect. He highlighted that housing and homelessness are two that could be solved together by utilizing the expertise available and the research being done by SIU students and faculty while giving them a reason to stay in Carbondale and contribute to the community.
“Owning a home is becoming less and less of a given for people, yet Carbondale has so many properties that are sitting vacant,” said Stanfield.
“I think there are ways we can incentivize homeownership through grants for first-time homebuyers, converting rental properties to single-family homes, and what’s called curb appeal grants for exterior improvements on homes.
“It took me a long time before I could get a house, and things had to kind of work out just right. That’s a shame because I wanted to stay, and it was hard for me. I had to work hard at it, and I’d like to give that kind of opportunity for SIU students to stay in town. What we’ve got in the university is a brain trust of new ideas and energy that can help this community grow. It’s a resource that, in many ways, remains untapped, and I would like the city to utilize our local expertise more and encourage these students to stay.”
Stanfield found a home in Carbondale and wants to provide an opportunity for others to do the same.
“I was an SIU student,” said Stanfield. “I loved what I found. I found my home when I moved here. It’s the first place where I’ve lived that actually felt like home – like a place I wanted to be. I want to encourage students who are here to really consider staying.”
Stanfield has no campaign website and no campaign Facebook account.
Nathan Colombo
Colombo is a Carbondale native and dons alumni status as a Terrier, Vol and a Saluki.
This is not Columbo’s first attempt at being an elected official; he notably ran for Carbondale mayor in 2019, narrowly losing to former Mayor Mike Henry after nearly running for an Illinois congressional seat the year before.
No stranger to the campaign trail, Colombo is incredibly active both in the Carbondale community and on social media. His values are built from his passion for public service and his commitment to his community.
“We need quality candidates in every election,” said Colombo. “This year is no different. This is one of the many reasons I’m running. When I first ran, the inspiration was to begin building something. With so many projects nearing launch, I’m ready to turn my inspiration to ensuring what we’ve built works well. I’m dedicated to public service through elected office.”
While running for office is something that Colombo is familiar with, running for city council wasn’t necessarily always in his plans.
“It’s not that I explicitly planned for this opportunity, but that I’ve never stopped seeking out this opportunity. Win or lose, Carbondale can always expect me to show up and get involved.”
Colombo told the Daily Egyptian that there are two sayings that he carries with him during his activity around town:
“In Carbondale, I didn’t have to go to the world, the world came to me,” and “Carbondale changes people who go on to change the world.”
“This place means everything to me,” said Colombo. “My alumni status and continuing connections to these educational institutions means I’ll be able to help others unearth the kinds of opportunities that I’ve been able to pursue here.”
Colombo said that one of the things that matter the most to him is giving people a reason to return to Carbondale.
“Whether that’s for a weekend of iconic entertainment activity or to relocate their life to a place they love with people they love for a life they can actually afford to enjoy, a future Councilperson Colombo is at the forefront of promoting all of the activity and opportunity in town that may too often go unnoticed,” said Colombo.
The Carbondale City Council has had its fair share of reality TV moments in the past year, but the heightened press coverage and the aspect of drama is familiar to Colombo.
“I enter into the realm of local politics with a significant amount of experience navigating life as a somewhat public figure,” said
Colombo. “I’m prepared and capable of navigating all of the excitement that comes with being an elected official in this town. My place in this is at the forefront of setting municipal standards with bravery that the rest of the country can follow.”
On the relationship between his alma mater and the city, Colombo claims to be well-suited for strengthening that vital bond.
“I’m in the perfect position,” said Colombo. “Working with SIU on different projects as a third party, I’m able to engage with the system immediately upon election without having to operate from within the institution. I’ve put in a lifetime of work to get to the starting line, and the timing is right for me to join our city council and start running the race.”
More information about Colombo’s campaign can be found on his Facebook page.
Lee Fronabarger
Fronabarger is a challenger candidate who previously served six years on the City Council from 2011 to 2017, and five years prior to that on Carbondale’s City Planning Commission. His primary concern is the economic health of Carbondale, and seeks to help foster growth, promote local business and create jobs.
“That is what makes a community healthy,” Fronabarger said. “People move to the community because of jobs. Our No.1 goal has to be to bring in more business, find new tenants for some of these empty stores, encourage people coming to town to shop and increase sales tax revenues to keep the budget balanced.”
In his time as a council member, Fronabarger played a part in the renovation and beautification of the Strip and the expansion of the new multimodal station linking Carbondale to the Amtrak and Greyhound networks, which has been in progress since spring 2023.
Beyond his time as a council member, Fronabarger has served as Jackson County’s representative to the Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau and was an advocate for bringing the Super Splash Park to Carbondale.
Fronabarger works as the Admin and Records Supervisor for SIU and works closely with the university, most recently by commissioning SIU photography students for updated photos on the tourism bureau website.
Fronabarger has spent this election campaigning door-todoor, buying advertising space in local newspapers, and occasionally sending out mailers.
Fronabarger has no campaign website nor a campaign Facebook account.
Jason Endicott
Endicott is a lifelong resident of Carbondale. He grew up attending Unity Point school, went to Carbondale Community High School and then John A. Logan College. After graduation, Endicott worked in distribution at the Anheuser-Busch Budweiser distribution center in Carbondale for 22 years.
Endicott had always been passionate about the place in which he grew up, but it wasn’t until 2021 after he awoke from a 70-day-coma until he considered running for office. Endicott had been subject to a gas can explosion which resulted in 75% of his body having third-degree burns. Doctors said he only had a 10% chance of survival, and after overcoming those odds, Endicott decided that he wanted to give back to the community that took care of him when he couldn’t take care of himself.
“I want to do right by my community,” said Endicott. “I want to give back to the community that gave – and still gives – so much to me. When I was in a coma for 70 days, my community took care of me, and I just feel that it’s a necessity that I give back.
“If elected, for four years I will work my butt off for this community. I’ve been good at every job I’ve ever had – if I’m not good at this one I promise I won’t reapply. But if I am good at it, maybe someday down the road I’ll vie for a different position.”
An emphasis for Endicott’s campaign has been on the importance of early education and youth programming.
“Kids are the future. Early education is important. When it comes to afters-school programs, we focus a lot on sports, but we need to emphasize academics and art first.” Places in Carbondale like the Dentmon Center and the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Illinois are institutions that Endicott wants to see uplifted.
“We need more city-funded afterschool programs,” said Endicott. “We need places for kids to have fun and feel safe. They need to be able to do their digital hobbies like producing music and making videos so that they aren’t getting into trouble and hurting themselves – or others – and those things need to be supported and funded by their city.”
Higher education is also something that Endicott wants to see evolve.
“Safety for SIU students is important,” said Endicott. “Our college students also need opportunities and places to go where they can have a good time and feel safe.”
“SIU is Carbondale,” said Endicott. “If SIU thrives, Carbondale thrives. If Carbondale thrives, SIU thrives. One can’t make it without the other, and
Provided photo of Brian Stanfield.
Provided photo of Nathan Colombo.
Provided photo of Lee Fronabarger.
Provided photo of Jason Endicott.
interest for the public good — it’s our unofficial motto,” she said.
“We believe that our job is not only to train attorneys — which it very much is — but also to reach out to the community and be a conduit for them to understand government, to understand the judiciary, to understand their role as citizens. This was an opportunity for us to provide the middle schoolers and high schoolers that attended a chance to see government in action. The Supreme Court has never been here before, so it’s historic for them to come here. They do sometimes convene outside of Springfield, but it’s the first time that they’ve came to Carbondale.”
Two Illinois cases were discussed on Tuesday: Case No. 130344, People v. Hoffman and Case No. 130931, Hulsh v. Hulsh.
In the case of People v. Hoffman, the defendant, Krystle Hoffman, was convicted of drug-induced homicide. In 2017, she delivered around $60 worth of heroin to Lorna Haseltine, in what Hoffman explained as a plan to help her boyfriend with his heroin addiction. Haseltine paid for the heroin, and took the drugs, which turned out to be laced with fentanyl, while getting ready for a party at her parents’ house. Haseltine was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead.
Hoffman pleaded guilty to druginduced homicide, which typically has a minimum prison term of six years. Hoffman asked for a lesser sentence under 730 ILCS 5/5-4-1(c1.5), a statute subsection that allows a court to impose a lesser sentence if “the offense involves the use or possession of drugs.” The trial court found the statute was inapplicable in a case of drug-induced homicide, but the appellate court vacated Hoffman’s sentence and ordered the trial court to consider whether
to impose a sentence below the mandatory minimum. The state is appealing the appellate court’s ruling to the Illinois Supreme Court.
In Hulsh v. Hulsh, Jeremy Hulsh abducted his two children who were living with their mother, Viera Hulsh – the plaintiff – in Slovakia.
After divorcing in 2019, Viera was granted primary custody, while Jeremy was granted visitation rights. In October 2019, Jeremy brought the children to the Chicago area. A federal court ordered Jeremy to return the children to Viera, and Viera was awarded attorney fees and costs she incurred to get the children back. However, fees that the court found to be “duplicative or unreasonable” or “unsupported by documentation or unrecoverable under the statute,” were excluded.
Viera then sued Jeremy’s mother and brother in a state court, alleging that they assisted him with costs for a charter plane and housing, while not informing her of her children’s whereabouts. A trial court and appeals court dismissed the lawsuit.
Viera is appealing the decisions to the Illinois Supreme Court.
For the hundreds of law students who filled a majority of the room, viewing the oral hearings on campus was an opportunity to see the process with their own eyes. To first year law students Nina Severin and Olivia Miller, who are preparing to give their semester oral arguments, the opportunity was relevant to their current workload.
“It showed us how a federal proceeding works as well as a state proceeding,” Severin said. “Somewhat because it is the Supreme Court, even though it was Illinois, it gives you a general idea of how it works and everyday practice.”
This opportunity gives law students a chance to see and learn litigation skills in real time. To Severin, learning how to speak, address the judges and present a case
with a large audience was the most beneficial to her as a student, she said.
“It’s also kind of cool to bring questions to the Supreme Court so they could interpret it differently, create new laws,” Severin said. “I think the legal system evolving is super important.”
Law students were not the only ones in the crowd learning the process, but several young junior high and high school students sat in the audience and asked several questions following the event’s end.
“It was nice to see younger students here like high school students and junior high students,” Miller said. “I grew up in rural Missouri, and we never really had this type of opportunity. So to see the Illinois Supreme Court come to a rural area is kind of nice.”
Upchurch held a similar sentiment. “I hope that they (attendees) understand that professions like law are not out of their reach. One of the things that
Simmons Law School really works on is remedying what the Illinois Supreme Court has recognized as ‘legal deserts.’ Those are areas in the state where there’s very few practicing attorneys to serve the population. By inviting students that come from our region, one of the things we hope is that they leave saying, ‘I can possibly be an attorney or judge.’”
In addition to having the opportunity to witness law in practice, Upchurch said she wants the students to recognize that the Court is meant to benefit them.
“I also hope they walk away with the understanding that this state and its institutions like the Supreme Court are really for them,” she said. “That it’s in their interest to know about what’s going on, to be informed when they vote, to be really an active member of the state of Illinois.”
Before the Illinois Supreme Court adjourned, Chief Justice Mary Jane Thesis addressed the
students in the crowd.
“We talked about big ideas, but hopefully you also saw that those big ideas affect real people’s lives,” Thesis said. “Krystle Hoffman, the Hulsh family, what’s important to them happened here today. You’ve had an opportunity today to participate in one of the most central, keystone parts of who we are as democracy. That’s the rule of law. The rule of law will apply to these folks that I mentioned, to all of us, and really in an interesting way, to the future. To the future of what issues are coming in. So hopefully you enjoyed your time here. I know we have.”
Thesis said the court’s next step is to retire to the conference room, discuss the cases, begin to come to a decision and eventually write an opinion, which she said can be expected within a month or two.
News editor Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com. Editor-in-chief Lylee Gibbs can be reached at lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com.
‘The Earth Around You’: SIU’s coming-of-age adventure in Costa Rica
Carly Gist CGist@dailyeGyptian Com
I almost got stranded in Costa Rica.
After a week of sunshine and coffee and pure life – probably one of the best weeks of my life – my sister Sydney and I found ourselves tearing apart our hotel room in a panic, mere hours before our plane was leaving. I’d had our passports the night before, tucked safely away in a bag, but suddenly they were nowhere to be found. They weren’t under the beds, they weren’t in the closet, they hadn’t been thrown away by accident… We weren’t going to make it back home, and it was all my fault.
Part of me was convinced our room had been broken into while we were asleep. But it wasn’t. Turns out, my sister, who swore up and down that she didn’t have it, stuck it in
her suitcase by mistake. We’d taken everything out of it multiple times, but it wasn’t until our classmates came to help us that it was found tucked away between sets of clothes.
Sydney and I made the walk of shame to the bus, but once we were settled in and music began to play, our spirits were instantly lifted. Everyone sang along to the songs – “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts, and our field director Jonathan’s favorite, “Passionfruit” by Drake.
Then Jonathan lowered the volume and left us with some parting words.
“We can lose our passports, but no one can take your heart,” I remember him saying. “That’s the one thing in life that is yours.”
Ever heard of flashbulb memories?
I learned about them when I took AP Psych in high school. They’re vivid,
highly detailed memories associated with emotionally significant moments. Although, in this case, I think I’d refer to it as a “cinematic memory.” Because sitting on that bus singing songs with my peers who’d gone from acquaintances to friends within just a week, and receiving a motivational speech from our field director right before we had to say goodbye, felt like a scene straight out of a movie. One of those cheesy, coming-of-age dramas I love. And yeah, that sounds sappy. But if you don’t like reading sappy things, then I’d advise you to stop reading now.
PROLOGUE:
The search to study abroad
Every other year, the University Honors Program offers a global seminar called “The Earth Around You.” Led by Professor Conder, the
subject of the class is geology, but it can be taken to fulfill a Multicultural or Science 1 credit. Through EF Tours, the class consists of nine days studying abroad in Costa Rica, with activities including – but not limited to – ziplining, nature hikes, boat tours and visiting waterfalls.
Let’s rewind to the fall, when I first received an itinerary for the trip. After spending two weeks in England last summer through a separate trip led by an honors professor, I knew I wanted to continue looking for opportunities to expand my education overseas. Science 1 was the only core credit course I still needed to complete, and it was just my luck that the honors class was offered this semester. The class sounded like a dream, so I began the process of enrolling in the trip.
Our journey in Costa Rica was scheduled for spring break, but we
started prepping early. Dr. Conder held classes every Wednesday evening leading up to the trip. On the first day of class, he explained that each meeting would consist of a student or two giving a 30 minute presentation, followed by a class discussion of the content.
Initially, I was a bit nervous. I absolutely love nature, but science is not my strength. And a 30 minute presentation? I can’t necessarily say that’s something I was looking forward to. My assignment was to present on the topic of water processes during Week 4, and it felt like I spent at least 20 hours reading the textbook, researching and designing my presentation on Google Slides. I didn’t enjoy it at the moment, but it turned out to benefit me in the long run. I went on the trip with a general understanding of the
Acting Dean and Professor of Law Angela Upchurch opens the session for oral arguments to be heard by the Supreme Court of Illinois at the SIU Student Center March 18, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
COLUMN
the city must remember that. We need to coexist.”
Endicott identified housing and industry as two intersecting issues that could be ascertained to strengthen the relationship between the city and the college.
“The Southern Illinois industrial park has to happen,” said Endicott. “We need industry here so that we have jobs here. One-thousand or more jobs could combat our housing issue. The housing dilemma we face is due to supply and demand – we have too many apartments and not enough residents. We could rezone the southwest portion of Carbondale through urban development strategies and bring more families into the Arbor District. There are plenty of apartments for college students to stay in, but we need to give them a reason to stay.
“It’s going to be tough. We’ll need grants, but with the current administration at the federal level, grants may not be available much longer, so we’re going to have to work to sustain ourselves financially so that we can get people into homes.”
On par with housing and industry, another thing that Endicott would like to work on if elected would be homelessness. He told the DE that while Carbondale warming centers and community shelters are great, there are underlying issues as to why homelessness still exists that he would like to solve.
“If we break down why people are homeless, it’s often because they are addicts,” said Endicott. “Many of them are not going to get into those facilities and will choose to stay on the streets – so maybe we need more substance abuse facilities so that people who can’t get off drugs or alcohol have a safe place to stay. We need to work more to try and actually help these people – not just give them food and shelter for a day.”
Endicott can be found on Facebook and more information about his platform and policies can be found on his website.
Dawn Roberts
Roberts is a Carbondale native whose family roots run deep within the city. A graduate of Carbondale Community High School and SIU, Roberts is now running for office as she simultaneously pursues a PhD in population health.
Roberts has worked in the technology sector for most of her life, but made a pivot to a career more focused on humanitarian science after her time working at the Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development.
Despite what has been a career mostly focussed on IT, community involvement and activism is a Roberts family tradition, so running for City Council for her just makes sense.
“My grandma was one of the first five women that helped start the Carbondale Women’s Center, which is now the Survivor Empowerment Center,” said Roberts. “My mom was a teacher here in anthropology for ages. She and my grandparents and my uncle were all heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement and were very engaged in Carbondale during that period of time. My mom was a Freedom Rider. She went down to Mississippi. So we’ve got a long history of civic engagement.”
Roberts acknowledges that Carbondale is a
unique place, and wants to use innovation to solve problems unique to the city. As an avid motorcyclist, Roberts has spent a lot of time on the road and has seen a lot of different places, but she always comes back to Carbondale.
Roberts has lived in many different cities across the country and says that there are governing strategies that she’s seen elsewhere that she would like to implement in her home.
“Friends of mine are like, what’s this mythical place called Carbondale you’re always talking about? And I’m like, yeah, I mean, it’s real: the forest, the Shawnee, the lakes and just all of it – all that the town has to offer. I mean, it’s changed, but we still have all of those components.
“Living elsewhere, I always had my motorcycle friends and a community like that, but there’s just something unique about Carbondale – I keep coming back here. I hate the weather. I hate the climate. I hate the humidity. I hate all the bugs, the mosquitoes, the ticks, the tornadoes, all the crazy weather we’re having and all the allergies – but I don’t want to leave.
“It’s the people here. When I was growing up here we used to say that Carbondale was the center of the universe.”
Like Buckminster Fuller, the man who deemed Carbondale the center of the universe, Roberts understands that the relationship between SIU and the city is vital to its success.
“Being a Terrier and a Saluki, I sort of have an intimate knowledge of not only those institutions in a way, but also their relationship to the city and the city’s relationship to them,” said Roberts.
“Historically, there’s been tension between the two. Oftentimes, a lot of townies are like ‘oh the university should go do its own thing.’ But the fact is that we are inexorably intertwined. Our fates depend on one another. And now SIH is included in that.
“I think students should care about Carbondale and the makeup of the City Council because they don’t live just on campus – they interact with the city. They go to the restaurants, they go to the movie theaters, they shop, they go to grocery stores. All the decisions made for the city of Carbondale affect them directly. They may see it as if they’re only here for four years, but the reputation of SIU and Carbondale will either enhance or detract from their job prospects in the future.”
Upon the many happenings in Carbondale, Roberts identified housing as being one of the main issues in the city.
“Without decent housing, people don’t want to live here,” said Roberts. “You drive through town and don’t want to bring friends here, because it’s embarrassing – all these dilapidated and boarded-up houses. You see on all the Facebook groups people talking about mold and things not working. I’ve heard people say ‘oh my heat went out and the owner didn’t fix it for two weeks and it’s still not working,’ and stuff like that.
“Tenants need to understand their rights. When I lived in Chicago, there was a really strong tenants union, and that was really helpful. I see people posting: ‘I called four times and still nothing’s been done,’ and I’m like, you gotta put it in writing. I would love to see a pamphlet for new tenants being given out when they pay their water bill so they just automatically know that process and those steps. A lot of young students have never rented before so they’re new to it, and they don’t know their rights as a tenant, nor do they know their responsibilities.
“I’ve talked to a lot of landlords that say they’re good landlords, but then tenants break something or trash something, or they bring their dog in when they’re not supposed to and it destroys the floors and things like that. So it’s a balance. Both parties have to understand their rights and responsibilities. I think putting out documentation and information for people would be super helpful and I think that’s something the city could do better –communication with people who live here.”
If elected, Roberts would like to see the council practice ethical conduct and transparency.
According to her website, Roberts would introduce regular public reporting on council activities and decisions to increase transparency and keep residents informed while enforcing a code of ethics to ensure transparency and fairness, which she says would uphold the highest standards of integrity, and assure that city council and staff adhere to those standards, fostering a culture of civility and respect in all city dealings.
She would also want to implement open government initiatives to ensure transparency and foster trust between the City Council and the community and create measurable performance standards to evaluate staff productivity and effectiveness.
Roberts also wants to see actions being done by the council that pertain to Carbondale, and takes issue with the disruptive aspects of protests that prevent the council from doing so, like the protests last year that were held calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“The protests that happened at the council bothered me,” said Roberts. “But not just because of the content. I didn’t agree with a lot of what the people said – but it was mostly because of the disruptiveness. There were people that came to the City Council who came to citizens’ comments and wanted the council to do a ceasefire resolution – but it’s not the council’s purview for that. So politically, I didn’t agree with a lot of what people were saying overall, but I was just like, well that’s not what the council does. We need to focus on Carbondale.
“The landlord tenant ordinance got pushed back and that would have been hugely helpful to locals. It was very disruptive. I do believe that we need to respect each other and we need to be able to have real discussions with people we don’t agree with – especially within the City Council. We need to be able to do that out of respect for each other, but also because we need it to be a productive place. This is where decisions for our town happen.”
Roberts’ website emphasizes that her connection to her Jewish heritage and her active involvement with Congregation Beth Jacob are deeply meaningful parts of her life, shaping her commitment to fostering a strong, supportive community.
She believes that in a small community like Carbondale, everyone should be helping one another. Roberts says that this belief drives her dedication to making Carbondale a place where all residents feel valued and heard.
“We need to have a functioning council and I can help be part of that change,” said Roberts. Roberts can be found on Facebook and more information about her platform and policies can be found on her website.
to serve and I hope my almost two years on the council have reflected that.”
According to his social media, he is a prominent member of the Victory Dream Center church and has shown support for several social justice and local charity programs such as the Survivor Empowerment Center. He has used his platform on the City Council to call out hate in the Carbondale community, such as on Nov. 5, when he spent his time for comment during a City Council meeting to draw attention to a recent incident where a car deliberately attempted to hit a group of protesters.
“Hate has no home here,” Hill said. “And as long as I remain on this council, it will not be tolerated in any way, shape or form.”
Former Councilperson Navreet Kang previously filed grievances against Hill’s candidacy, citing Illinois election filing law, specifically that Hill had not properly filed a statement of economic interest. Two elections board meetings were held in December, both upholding the grievances against Hill, though the first one was rendered moot due to a failure to notify the public about the meeting, and resulted in Hill being removed from the ballot.
As a write-in candidate, voters in support of Hill will need to select the write-in option on the ballot and write his full name in the box beside it.
Hill was contacted by his government email, but was ill and unavailable for further comment. Hill has no campaign website and no campaign Facebook account.
Ginger Rye-Sanders
Rye-Sanders is an incumbent City Councilmember running as a write-in candidate. She has served as a member of the City Council since 2021. Her main concern is the health of Carbondale as a community, and she seeks to provide more economic and civic opportunities for residents if re-elected. One example of how she plans to accomplish this is her pledge to expand and support youth programs in the community such as the Eurma C. Hayes Center.
According to Rye-Sanders, she proposed and advocated for reform during her time on the City Council, supporting hiring practices and policies which made city staff more representative of Carbondale’s diverse demographics.
“Things are changing because I have a voice that I use to challenge the system,” Rye-Sanders
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that on February 10, 2025, a certificate was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Williamson County, Illinois, setting forth the names and post office addresses of all persons owning, conducting and transacting business known as: The Giving Tree
Located at: 8631 Sunnybrook Rd. Marion, IL. 62959
He has served as a member of the City Council since 2023, and according to him has been active in the Carbondale community for 10 years.
In an email, Hill told the DE, “I am only here
/s/ Amanda Barnes Amanda Barnes, Williamson County Clerk
LaCaje Hill
Hill is an incumbent councilmember running as a write-in candidate and will not be an official choice on the ballot.
Provided photo of Dawn Roberts.
Provided photo of LaCaje Hill.
Provided photo of Ginger Rye-Sanders.
CITY COUNCIL 12
Sweeten the deal: Touch of Nature hosts Maple Syrup Festival with breakfast and more
The Maple Syrup Festival was held this year on Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 2025 at Touch of Nature in Makanda, Illinois.
The festival starts off each day with a pancake breakfast featuring homemade maple syrup from the trees within Touch of Nature. Vendors line the walkways that lead to and from the breakfast area selling products like custom fire pokers, glass earrings and honey.
About every two hours, a maple syrup demonstration was available as participants get to watch how a maple tree is sapped and see all the tools and steps that go into making maple syrup. This is a process that can only be done from late January through March. The festival is always at the end of the maple syrup season. The sugar maple tree is present in almost all of Illinois.
Design Chief Peyton Cook can be reached at pcook@dailyegyptian.com.
Staff photographer Libby Phelps can be reached at lphelps@dailyegyptian.com
Peyton
Delta Zeta members Reese Douglas (left) and Paityn Kann (right) help gather dishes for Larkin Nottmeier (middle) to wash at Freeberg Hall/Burke Lounge March 22, 2025 in Makanda, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual
Glass artist Brandy Puckett makes a leaf pendant at her booth at the Maple Syrup Festival at Touch of Nature March 23, 2025 in Makanda, Illinois. Libby Phelps | @libbyphelpsphotgraphy
Greg Denbo holds out his hand to receive “gumballs” from his granddaughter Aurora Hammonds during a maple syrup demonstration at Touch of Nature Maple Syrup Festival March 22, 2025 in Makanda, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual
Forestry club member Megan Baker tries to spit a match with an axe at the SIU Forestry Club booth at the Maple Syrup Festival at Touch of Nature in Makanda, Illinois on March 23, 2025. Libby Phelps | @libbyphelpsphotography
Worker Kelsey Breneman (right) hands Cindy Whitley (left) her plate of pancakes during the Maple Syrup Festival March 23, 2025 at Touch of Nature in Makanda, Illinois. Libby Phelps | @libbyphelpsphotography
Rope-maker Gilbert Helvey helps a child make a rope at the Heartland Ropemakers Guild booth during the Maple Syrup Festival at Touch of Nature in Makanda, Illinois on March 23, 2025. Libby Phelps | @libbyphelpsphotography
Madelynn remembered on the field
dedicated a scholarship for their nursing program with the name
Emily Williams, a transfer student from Morehead State University, is a junior from Louisville, Kentucky. She uses softball as an outlet. It’s where she can let the toughness of the day fade away and focus on the task at hand: taking the Saluki softball team into the regional playoffs and winning another championship.
Life off the field hasn’t always been easy. In March 2021, Williams’ best friend, Madelynn Troutt, died when a drunk driver hit her head-on. Madelynn had planned on going to Bellarmine University in the fall semester of 2021, and the university
“The Madelynn Troutt Memorial Nursing Scholarship” after her passing.
Emily and Madelynn met in high school and immediately hit it off.
“She was never a mean-spirited person. She was honestly one of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” Williams said.
Madelynn had welcomed Emily to sit with her and her friends in a classroom and she was immediately comfortable in her environment, even though she didn’t know anyone in the room.
“To have a person who embodies her favorite thing so much is just wild. She was just a ray of sunshine and such a light in everyone’s life,” Williams said. Emily takes the sunflower hair tie to the line in the field before every game and prays, and before the spring season opener, she gifted all of her team the same hair tie.
Staff photographer Emily Brinkman can be reached at ebrinkman@dailyegyptian.com
Williams takes Madelynn everywhere she goes – in the form of her favorite flower, a sunflower she wears in her hair during every game. She had her room and car covered with sunflower decor. She has also planted sunflowers in her backyard back home.
a
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she
on the field
the
hair
and a
in her locker Oct 23, 2024. Williams has a tattoo on her shoulder dedicated to her friend stating, “For you are not beside me but within me” next to a heart drawn by Madelynn. “I think that there was no other person to take and I think her soul can do so many things
Emily Brinkman Jrnl 419
Emily Williams looks out at the field March 3, 2025 at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.
Williams poses for
portrait
at Charlotte West Stadium with
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Madelynn that
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Emily Williams drives to practice after class Nov. 14, 2024, in Carbondale, Illinois.
photo of Madelynn is pinned on her car’s sun visor.
Athletic trainer Ken Castillo applies athletic tape to Emily Williams as teammates Maleah Blomenkamp and Charley Pursley watch Oct. 23, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. This is the first season since Williams’ hip surgery that she can play again after six months. Her goal was to be a catcher but with the damage to her
Jackie Lis, Anna Carder, Emily Williams, Addi Baker and Kaytee Dahlstrom stand in the dugout during a game.
Emily Williams and Saluki Softball pray before the game on the foul line March 3, 2025 at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. She gave all of her teammates a sunflower hair tie to wear for their spring home opener.
Pitcher Kiana McDowell (26) and Emily Williams (2) hold up the SIU Saluki hand sign after winning a game March 3, 2025 at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.
Jackie Lis, Mikaela Coburn, Emily Williams and Kaytee Dahlstrom stand in the weight room at the Banterra Center Oct. 23, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois.
Emily Williams leaves the weight room with teammate and friend Maleah Blomenkamp just as the sun is rising Oct. 23, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois.
Emily Williams waits outside her classroom in the applied science building 30 minutes before class starts Nov. 14, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. Besides softball, when Williams graduates she wants to be a nurse working in the NICU helping babies.
Morel worshipers pray to the mushroom gods for upcoming season
Enan ChEdiak @EnanChEdiak
The bloodroots were up, and mayapples were already shrouding the forest floor with a swath of green. But I wasn’t after them.
I was maybe 11 or 12 years old, hiking the woods with my family and a friend from church. Everyone wanted to be the first to shout out, “Found a morel!” And we did. I remember telling my mom there were so many morels it was hard to walk without stepping on one.
Although that was beginners’ luck, the experience sparked something in me. Now, mushrooming is my weird hobby, and it all started with the morel.
So, when I think about mushroom hunting, I think of morels. In my defense, it’s the only wild mushroom most Americans have tried.
Morels are famous for a reason: they’re delicious and unmistakable. Not much looks like a morel, which makes them safe for beginners to forage. But if you’re going to forage, even for morels, here are some tips.
If you don’t know what kind of mushroom it is, don’t eat it! Do your research, and know what you’re looking for. You are not Super Mario; you will not gain magic powers.
If you want to gain confidence, I recommend buying a mushroom foraging guide such as “Edible Wild Mushrooms of Illinois and Surrounding States: A Field-toKitchen Guide,” which is the bible of mushroom hunting in southern Illinois.
Go with a pro. The best way to gain confidence is to learn from an expert.
Never consume wild mushrooms raw. Wash and cook them thoroughly. This is because the ground is dirty, and nobody likes to eat dirt.
Take note of where you harvest your mushrooms. If you are picking them from an area that’s been sprayed with pesticides, don’t eat them.
Never forage somewhere unless you’re sure it’s allowed. Check whether mushrooming is permitted, and don’t trespass on private property.
Know the other hunting seasons. Morel season overlaps with turkey hunting season, so make sure that you aren’t putting yourself in danger. Lastly, know the common poisonous mushrooms. Some mushrooms are deadly, and that’s why it’s essential to have a
guidebook. But the majority of wild mushrooms are harmless. I see poisonous mushrooms occasionally, so it’s good to recognize them when you see them.
The star of the year for mushroomers is the morel. They have a bulbous top with a pumicelike texture and a white to tan stem (called a stipe). Their darker honeycomb top comes in a variety of shades of forest floor, including yellow, brown, gray and black.
Unlike portabellas, morels don’t have a cap or gills but are fully hollow like a sock, growing a few inches tall. They grow in a short window during the spring around early April, mainly in deciduous forests. Despite looking like a rotting alien toe, they’re notoriously difficult to find. You’ll be staring at a pile of leaves, and suddenly a morel will pop out. Don’t worry; it wasn’t there before.
Morels don’t learn their lesson and grow in the same place every year. Because of this, once a morel hunter has found a patch, they must make an oath with the mushroom god to never tell anyone where they found them.
If you meet a mushroom hunter in the woods, you never know whether they’re friend or foe. I was hiking at the trail by the old Crab Orchard visitor center and met a man morel hunting just off the trail. He shooed me and my brother away for hunting too close but afterwards found us and apologized to us, sweetly.
When he found us, he was carrying a half-free morel and asked me if I knew what it was. I told him it was a half-free morel, and he seemed disappointed that I knew.
“If you eat one of these, you’ll drop dead,” he said and walked away. Although that’s not true, it’s important to know the few lookalikes that morels have, called false morels.
Half-free morels share the distinct cap texture and are hollow. They’re called the half-free morel because about half of the cap hangs free over the stipe like a typical mushroom.
Some dispute the edibility of the half-free morel. Like most things on the forest floor, you probably wouldn’t die if you ate it, but I don’t think it would taste good. They’re not hearty or abundant mushrooms, which makes them, personally, not worth my effort or the risk.
There are a few other morel look-
alikes that you should know about, but I’m going to give you some homework to look it up yourself. There will be a test in two weeks.
Morels aren’t the only spring edible mushrooms. Another common one is the Dryad’s saddle or the pheasant back. The pheasant back mushroom is a polypore, which is a type of woody bracket fungi that grows on dead or dying trees and remains for long periods to spread spores for longer.
Pheasant backs can be somewhat woody if old but are spongy and soft when young. They have a scaly brown top and a off-white porous underside. The pores are used to spread spores and run down the stipe of the mushroom, leading to a dark brown base where it attaches to the host tree.
They are fairly large, sometimes growing nearly a foot across. I usually find them in deciduous forests in the spring and fall but suspect they’d grow anywhere there’s dead wood.
While pheasant backs are edible, I actively despise them. Some say they smell like watermelon rind, but I think they smell worse. I thought cooking would remove the stench, but I was dead wrong. The cooked mushroom tasted exactly like it smelled and had a bizarre slimy, spongy texture.
But they are edible and abundant, and many eat them and enjoy them. I would recommend trying them
once to see if you like them, but they aren’t for me.
Thankfully, I don’t hate all polypores; my favorite wild mushroom is the chicken of the woods, which grows from spring to fall.
Chicken mushrooms are a common bright orange and yellow striped shelf mushroom with a yellow porous underside. They grow in groups, either forming rosettes or shelves on rotting wood. Like most shelf mushrooms, they often don’t have much of a stem.
They’re the caution cones of the forest. Among the largest mushrooms that I’ve found when foraging, a single cap can grow nearly a foot across, and they grow in large groups often lining fallen tree trunks or stumps.
There are a few look-alikes, so check your guidebook that you totally bought. Neither look-alikes are poisonous, but they are woody and undesirable.
Chicken mushrooms have a short window when they’re desirable. I recommend picking them when they are young or only cooking the fringes of the mushrooms, otherwise they can be somewhat woody.
They are named chicken mushrooms for a reason. I was skeptical at first, but it’s completely true, they taste like chicken.
I’ve read that some report allergic reactions to chicken mushrooms,
but I do recommend giving these a try, though, because they’re easy to identify and spot. You’re probably not going to find them if you’re looking for them, but they’re common, abundant and always a pleasant surprise.
When foraging for mushrooms, it’s also a good idea to think about how you’re going to cook them. But you must promise me you’ll treat them better than the portabellas you put in your omelet yesterday.
Sautéing them in a pan with oil and butter is always safe. Some mushrooms are heartier than others, but it’s important to make sure that the mushrooms are cooked thoroughly. You can also boil them and incorporate them into soups and stocks to punch up the flavor with a hint of umami.
There’s a lot to keep in mind when mushroom hunting. It can seem kind of daunting walking into the woods and seeing so many unfamiliar faces. But wild mushrooms are like snakes – feared and misunderstood. Think about it this way: if the apocalypse happens, don’t you want a supplementary food source that others won’t have?
So, go get a mushrooming guide, hit the trails with a friend, and go mushrooming!
Photo Editor Enan Chediak can be reached at echediak@dailyegyptian.com.
Illustation by Day Starr-Fleming | dstarrfleming@dailyegyptian.com
Scott Nagy coaches from the sidelines as the Salukis face No. 1 Drake in Arch Madness March 7, 2025 in Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
NAGY
CONTINUED FROM 1
too much, but they exhibited the highest highs and the lowest lows.
A high? Beating the University of Northern Iowa by 25. A low? Losing to Indiana State by almost 20 (though beating them four days later to keep the season alive helped to cut the sting).
In the later portion of the season, the Salukis showed that they can beat the teams that they’re supposed to and at least sometimes be competitive against the upper tier of the Missouri Valley. Their regular season matchup with Drake saw them lose by only 10, and they were within 3 points for over 30 minutes of action. They lost two games to Belmont, who finished fourth in the MVC, by a combined 9 points.
On the surface, a 14-19 and 8-12 mark in the Valley is not overly impressive. But when considering the conditions under which this team was assembled, I would consider it a success.
This year wasn’t about winning the MVC. It would have been nice to finish higher in the standings, and it was certainly possible as there were four games decided by 5 or fewer points, but that’s not what should be focused on.
Nagy can coach; while his motion offense didn’t show up too often in his first year, he was able to make adjustments and run a usually-effective offense different from what he may have wanted to.
He also trusts his assistants; veteran coach Steve Hawkins, who himself spent decades as a head coach, was tabbed as the defensive coordinator during the season. A dramatic turnaround was seen for several games after Hawkins’ appointment,
though the defense again dropped off towards the end of the season.
The fact that players bought into Nagy’s scheme, seemed to enjoy playing for him and his staff, and were able to show flashes of implementing his scheme are by far the most important parts of this season. Not the wins or losses.
The question that will forever be pondered about the 24-25 Salukis is “What if Elijah Elliott never got hurt?”
The Dawgs clearly missed having an experienced distributor, and having this kind of player could maybe have led to some extra wins.
Kennard Davis Jr. did an admirable job stepping into this role, as he played point guard — by default — for much of the season, while Ali Dibba and Drew Steffe saw limited time as a primary ball handler too. As well as he did, it’s not Davis Jr.’s natural position, and at times it felt like he was being asked to do too much on the offensive end.
Dibba was a fantastic scorer for the Salukis, demonstrating a deadly first step and an efficient skillset. He averaged over 17 points per game on 49% shooting and ranked second in the MVC in scoring per game and seventh in field goal percentage.
Davis Jr. and Dibba both got it done on the defensive end too, ranking 11th and sixth respectively in steals per game.
Outside of that pair, there wasn’t another consistent scoring threat.
Toward the end of the year, Steffe showed that he may be able to be that kind of guy moving forward, but he, nor anyone else, was able to show up gamein and game-out.
Jarrett Hensley showed flashes but was
up-and-down offensively, though he was an underrated defender, ranking 11th in the MVC in blocked shots and 10th in defensive rebounds.
Three-point shooting was never going to be a huge strength for this team. They shot only 35.1% from beyond the arc for the year, with Davis Jr. leading them with 64 made 3s and Steffe pacing them in percentage at a 37.7% clip.
For all of its flaws, this season was still nothing less than a step in the right direction, and leaves me confident that the only way forward is moving up the MVC standings, especially with coaching changes at Drake and Murray State
Davis Jr. is the heart and soul of Saluki basketball right now, and making sure that he remains in Carbondale after entering the transfer portal has to be the top priority for Nagy. Dibba has the potential to play another season, though he would have to file a waiver with the NCAA and have it approved.
Steffe, whose role will only expand in his sophomore season, has already announced that he is returning. Guard Luke Walsh from St. Louis, a former high school conference player of the year, and forward Daniel Pauliukonis, a top10 prospect in the state of Illinois’ 2025 recruiting cycle, are both set to join the Dawgs as well.
I’m incredibly excited to watch where this team will go, and truly feel that it’s in good hands with Nagy at the helm. Gear up Saluki fans: let’s look forward to the prospect of March Madness again.
Sports reporter Ryan Grieser can be reached at rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com.
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Elyse Weller celebrates after making the first score of the day March 22, 2025 at Quatro’s Deep Pan Pizza in Carbondale, Illinois. Emily Fulk | @emilyfulkphotography
Beer and birdies: Bars host 15th annual Carbondale Classic
Emily Fulk
@EmilyFulkphotography
Carbondale community members moved from bar to bar downtown wearing anything from custom shirts, capes and hats to participate in the 15th Carbondale Classic Bar 2 Bar Putt Putt Golf.
Up and down Carbondale’s main strip the constant cheers from bars erupted. At each location crowds gathered to watch participants attempt their best shot and support the outcome either way.
The Carbondale Classic is an annual fundraiser for Carbondale Main Street, an organization that assists in the improvement and promotion of downtown Carbondale according to carbondalemainstreet.com.
In 13 rounds of mini-golf multiple bars and restaurants hosted an individual hole for participants to play as well as food and drinks while waiting or taking a break from the festivities.
Holes ranged from being located in outdoor patios, dance floors and in the middle of the locations themselves, bringing a diverse variety of environments within the classic.
Each team is comprised of four players
in which each player takes a turn at each location attempting to get the lowest score possible. The top three teams split a prize of $1,000 at the end of the tournament, according to carbondalemainstreet.com.
“It helps boost businesses in Carbondale,” Quatros employee Angela said. “Brings out a lot of people that want to come out and have a fun time, and helps bring in a lot of good business. Especially today the weather is so nice and people come in a bit earlier than usual.”
Participants had a perfect sunny day and prime temperatures of low to mid 60s. While there was a prize at the end of the competition, participants such as Jaden Stears were just there for the fun of it.
“Well I came out to the putt-putt today and I thought I was going to have a good day and I’m having a good day.” Stearns said. “But, my dad is having a great day. The Mullet Man and the Putter Chicks are a great team and we’ve had a good time so far and hope for a great rest of our day.”
Staff photographer Emily Fulk can be reached at efulk@dailyegyptian.com
environment and culture of Costa Rica, which made it easier to grasp new information and build upon what I already knew.
THE STORY: A week in Costa Rica
“The Earth Around You” is an exploration of Costa Rica’s environment and culture. We traveled all throughout the country, making stops in San José, Los Chiles, Arenal Region, Monteverde, Central Pacific Coast, Manuel Antonio National Park and Sarchí.
If I had to pick a favorite stop, I’d say the Arenal Region. It was there that we visited the La Fortuna Waterfall, a gorgeous cascading waterfall that sits inside of the Arenal Volcano. We hiked near the Arenal Volcano too, which is one of Costa Rica’s largest active volcanoes. We also visited a hot springs resort, where we got to experience naturally-heated pools.
In each location, we learned about Costa Rica’s efforts to sustainability. The country, which has an unofficial catchphrase of “Pura Vida” (translation: “Pure Life”) is often nicknamed “The Living Eden,” and it’s clear why. At each stop, we learned about Costa Rica’s sustainability efforts. At Manuel Antonio National Park, plastic water bottles and food are prohibited, keeping the area clean and free of litter. Earlier in the week, we visited a cocoa plantation, where we watched a demonstration of how chocolate is made. Rather than sampling cacao beans from the plantation, we sampled ones from local residents. Costa Rica uses tourism to its advantage, ensuring that communities are supported.
Throughout the trip, we witnessed
several Costa Rican traditions. One day, we made a spur-of-the-moment decision to stop at a horse parade. These traditional festivities are known as “El Tope,” and they showcase the horse training skills of residents. The festivals are also a recognition of Costa Rica’s colonial past, where many families lived on farms and depended on horses.
We got to experience several traditions on our last day in Costa Rica as well. We took a day trip to Sarchí, where we visited the Eloy Alfaro cart factory, a popular tourist destination and souvenir shop, which showcases the manufacturing of ox carts, the national symbol of Costa Rican workers. I had a brief conversation with an artisan named Edgar, who used enamel oil paint to decorate a wheel for an ox cart. Jonathan talked with me about the modern practice as well. He said that the Costa Rica government sends artists who are hard of hearing to the factory to gain experience in their craft.
I made sure to use this trip as an opportunity to strengthen my journalistic skills as well. My specialty is writing, but I’ve been taking Beginning Photojournalism with Professor Julia Rendleman this semester. She encouraged me to bring my camera to Costa Rica, so I took more photos with it rather than my phone. Looking at the photos I took, I am very impressed with how they turned out.
I am definitely getting more comfortable working with a camera, and I’m finally starting to see progress. My goal is to become a multi-faceted journalist, and I think that hard work is starting to pay off. Also, I learned firsthand how difficult the language barrier may be, and that you have to be flexible. I haven’t taken a Spanish class since junior year of high
school, so I struggled to follow along with conversations. I had a class assignment to take a portrait of someone in their environment, and I thought Edgar would be the perfect subject, since he is an artist and was surrounded by paint. However, like my Spanish, his English was very limited. Luckily, Jonathan was able to help me ask for his permission to take the photo. This experience has inspired me to start practicing again, with the hope that one day, I’ll be able to interview and connect with people more easily and meaningfully.
Our journey in Costa Rica ended with dinner at a restaurant just outside of our hotel in San José. Almost all of the restaurants we visited were outdoors, and this one actually overlooked the San José skyline. The restaurant also held a folklore show, which is a beautiful dance
that features vibrant costumes, folk music and storytelling. The dancers even brought the crowd to the stage, having us twirl and sway with them.
I think it was the perfect ending to this story.
EPILOGUE: Reflecting on the trip
As I type this article, postcards from Costa Rica decorate my desk, and a snow globe of the Arenal Volcano sits on my shelf. It’s been two weeks since we left Costa Rica, and it’s hard to believe we were even there. Sure, I’ve got these keepsakes and my skin is still peeling from the sunburns and I keep waking up two hours before my alarms as if my body still thinks I have a 7 a.m. bus to catch, but the memories of it all just feels surreal. I made new friends, I continued to form a well-rounded education, and I
learned so much about the earth around me – pun intended.
I am so grateful to the University Honors Program for continuing to provide these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, so before I cut the camera, I want to express my gratitude. Thank you to Dr. Conder for leading this global seminar, it was a pleasure. Thank you to Jonathan Castillo for being the best field director we could have asked for. And to my classmates – Maddie, Yadhvi, Natalie, Keegan, Katelyn, Olivia L., Sydney, Ainsley, Olivia B. and Aizley – thank you for all the fun memories. I couldn’t have asked for a better group to travel with.
Pura Vida!
News editor Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com.
SIU students, left to right, Ainsley Dunderdale, Olivia Larrison, Aizley Scott, Katelyn Martin and Keegan Montgomery smile for a photo while on an aerial tram ride March 12, 2025 at Rainforest Adventures in Jaco, Costa Rica.
Carly Gist @ gistofthestory
A group of EF Tours students hike downhill to the La Fortuna Waterfall March 10, 2025 in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. Located inside the Arenal Volcano, the waterfall is a 200-foot cascade.
Edgar, an artisan of 47 years, smiles while painting an ox cart wheel at the Eloy Alfaro Cart Factory March 14, 2025 in the Sarchí District of Costa Rica.
SIU students admire the La Fortuna Waterfall March 10, 2025 in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Holi Festival adds a sprinkle of color to campus
CITY COUNCIL
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said. “For anything to be changed, you have to challenge the system, because the system can get real comfortable in doing what it’s been doing for years.”
This philosophy extends beyond her work on the council, as Rye-Sanders played a key role in the formation of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Southern Illinois, a nonprofit whose mission statement is to empower and promote African American businesses. She serves as the president of Women for Change, another nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life for residents and businesses of Northeast Carbondale and is also involved in programs that focus on crime prevention and community cleanup.
Rye-Sanders feels that these and other organizations in Carbondale should be more closely supported by the city.
“I want the city to be more involved with our organizations to make them feel that they are important, that we do need them, and that for our community to become an entire community, we need to have them fully engaged and involved,” Rye-Sanders said. “I want to look at ways that we can fully fund and publicize incentives for homeownership, for our business community, so they feel like a part of what is going on.”
Rye-Sanders has pledged herself to a number of policies, including establishing an aldermanic city council system in Carbondale, where members run to represent individual sections of a city rather than
running for common seats and pushing to renovate and beautify neighborhoods.
One of Rye-Sanders’ campaign pledges involves reinvesting revenue from the city’s hospitality tax to support local businesses, promote tourism and fund long term projects. These projects could include repurposing SIU’s vacant student housing, establishing a community aquatics center and possible sources of future revenue for Carbondale, such as hotels and a horse racing venue.
Former Councilperson Navreet Kang previously filed grievances against Rye-Sanders’ candidacy, citing Illinois election filing law, specifically that Rye-Sanders had not properly filed a statement of economic interest. The elections board held a meeting in December and decided to uphold the grievances against Rye-Sanders, agreeing that the statement of economic interest which she had filed with the county and with the city previously were not sufficient to a receipt of proof that they were filed among other objections, resulting in her being removed from the ballot.
As a write-in candidate, voters in support of RyeSanders will need to select the write-in option on the ballot and write her full name in the box beside it.
Rye-Sanders has no campaign website, but can be found on Facebook under the username “Ginger RYE Sanders for Carbondale City Council.”
Staff reporter Jackson Brandhorst can be reached at jbrandhorst@dailyegyptian.com.
Staff reporter Morrigan Carey can be reached at mcarey@dailyegyptian.com
Holi is a Hindu tradition also known as “Festival of Colors” because of its vibrant colors that represent the colors of spring to welcome its return. It is a festival to be seen for new beginnings where people can release the bad energy and welcome the new, positive energy.
It’s said that the gods turn a blind eye and allow for a time for Hindus to let loose.
Professor and Director of the University Honors Program, Jyotsna Kapur attended the event. Kapur speaks of Holi’s colors as,
“It’s my favorite part of the festival, it celebrates the start of spring,” she said. “The whole thing of coloring so you can’t see peoples faces, and they start to (look) like the flowers and spring.”
SIU’s Student Multicultural Resource Center, SIU’s Indian Student Association and the Vice Chancellor for Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion held an event on Monday, March 17 to celebrate Holi and its traditions.
Colored powder is sprinkled on Amilia Estrada’s head during SIU’s Holi celebration March 17, 2025 at Morris Library in Carbondale, Illinois. Emily Brinkman | erb_photo_
Left to right: Zac Schwartz (left) and Ardea Rhine (right) have fun at SIU’s Holi celebration March 17, 2025 at Morris Library.
Staff photographer Emily Brinkman can be reached at
Emily Brinkman @ErB photo