Housing Edition
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Supreme Court declines to review
Carbondale abortion clinic ‘bubble zone’
Carly Gist CGist@dailyeGyptian Com
Editor’s note: This story was produced in partnership with the Saluki Local Reporting Lab.
Case could have overturned similar protections nationwide.
The U.S. Supreme Court this week declined to review a case challenging a since-repealed Carbondale ordinance intended to create a buffer between anti-abortion activists and those seeking reproductive care.
Carbondale officials declined to comment and have given no indication they plan to reinstate the ordinance, though anti-abotion activists vowed to fight it again if they do.
The case, Coalition Life v. City of Carbondale, sat on the Supreme Court’s schedule for four months before justices declined to take it up, effectively ending the case.
After the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision ended federal abortion protection, Republicanled states tightened abortion restrictions, while Illinois moved in the opposite direction, becoming a safe haven. Three clinics opened in Carbondale, a small southern Illinois college town with direct access to multiple southern and Midwestern states and an Amtrak stop.
It quickly became one of the closest options for patients traveling from across the region — but also drew antiabortion protesters and self-described sidewalk counselors who aim to dissuade women from seeking abortions.
During a January 2023 Carbondale City Council meeting, residents and abortion rights activists decried what they called disruptive behavior outside clinics as patients and staff tried to enter. The council then voted unanimously to amend its disorderly conduct ordinance,
making it illegal to come within eight feet of a person without their consent within a 100-foot radius of a medical facility.
Following the enactment of this “buffer zone,” Coalition Life, an antiabortion organization based in St. Louis, sued the City of Carbondale, claiming the ordinance was an infringement on one’s right to free speech. Two lower courts had previously dismissed the challenge, citing Hill v. Colorado, a 2000 Supreme Court ruling that upheld a similar Colorado law.
In July, Coalition Life petitioned the Supreme Court to review the Carbondale case in hopes of overturning Hill v. Colorado. Three days earlier, the Carbondale City Council rescinded the ordinance, but Coalition Life pressed forward with its petition, saying nothing would otherwise stop the city from reinstating it.
Though the case did not receive the four votes necessary for a review, Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas wanted to hear it, along with a similar case from Englewood, New Jersey.
Thomas dissented writing, “a majority of this Court recently acknowledged that Hill ‘distorted [our] First Amendment doctrines.’” He noted that several justices have described Hill as “absurd,” “defunct,” and “erroneous.”
The justices argued that since Roe v. Wade was overturned in Dobbs v. Jackson, any justification for buffer zones has been weakened.
“Hill has been seriously undermined, if not completely eroded, and our refusal to provide clarity is an abdication of our judicial duty,” Thomas wrote. “...I would have taken this opportunity to explicitly overrule Hill. For now, we leave lower courts to sort out what, if anything, is left of Hill’s reasoning, all while constitutional
A sign warns patients to not stop before the entrance at Planned Parenthood in Carbondale, Illinois. Carly Gist | @gistofthestory
rights hang in the balance.”
Coalition Life Executive Director Brian Westbrook said this week that his organization is “frustrated that the Supreme Court did not take up the case” but also is “very thrilled with Justice Thomas’ dissenting opinion.”
Coalition Life volunteers and paid staff participate in sidewalk counseling outside Carbondale’s abortion clinics most days to offer alternative services and engage in what Westbrook describes as “peaceful and prayerful discussion” with those entering for reproductive health services.
Mayor Carolin Harvey and City Attorney Jamie Snyder declined to comment on the Supreme Court’s decision not to take up a review.
Regardless, Andrea Gallegos, executive administrator of Alamo Women’s Clinic, said it represents a win for patients and reproductive care clinics.
“Anti abortion protestors use harmful rhetoric and impede on patient privacy and safety everyday,” she said. “Any protections that cities can provide is vital.”
Over a 2 ½ year period since the Dobbs decision, Carbondale police had responded to more than 250 calls at the city’s three reproductive health clinics, according to police records obtained by the Saluki Local Reporting Lab.
Though some were requests for medical assistance and other miscellaneous calls, the total included more than 60 reports of public disturbances, safety concerns and traffic issues, including disorderly conduct, suspicious activity, people in the roadway and requests for traffic enforcement. Nearly 100 calls — the vast majority — were requests for extra police presence around the clinics.
Gallegos said safety and security is at the forefront of Alamo’s values,
and the organization will continue to respect patients’ decisions and provide protections.
“We know that (Coalition Life) and others alike will never stop,” she said. “We know that they are always planning their next move on the infringement of the rights of our patients. We will move forward with continuing to provide care and helping to dismantle their misinformation campaigns.”
Westbrook said Coalition Life will continue its sidewalk counseling while monitoring the City Council’s next move.
“The city council should know loud and clear that if they plan to put yet another bubble zone in place in Carbondale, we will be right back in court,” he said.
Staff reporter Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @gistofthestory.
SIUE financial deficit spurs budget cuts, layoffs as enrollment declines
annalise sChmidt asChmidt@dailyeGyptian Com
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is facing a significant financial deficit, according to a message from SIUE Chancellor James Minor. Minor addressed the campus community in a letter to the campus community on Feb. 28 that the Edwardsville campus will face layoffs as the school encounters a significant financial deficit as part of the university’s strategy to address a long-standing structural deficit.
While emphasizing that SIUE is not in a financial crisis, Minor acknowledged long-standing structural imbalances in the budget that must be resolved to ensure financial stability in the coming years.
“SIUE must be more responsive and resilient to successfully meet
this moment and to ensure that we are in the best possible financial position going forward,” Minor wrote.
The letter highlighted the growing reliance on tuition revenue amid a decline in high school graduates. According to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, Illinois is projected to see a 32% decline in high school graduates between 2023 and 2041, creating a more competitive environment for student enrollment. In addition, inflation and other economic pressures have increased the costs of university operations, from maintenance and utilities to research funding.
Minor pointed to recent financial struggles at universities across the country, including West Virginia University, Penn State and Brown University, as evidence of broader
challenges in higher education. SIUE, he said, has taken proactive steps to avoid crisis-mode decisionmaking.
“In 2015, SIUE enrolled 13,972 students with a salary expense of $145.8 million,” Minor wrote.
“Today, we enroll 15% fewer students (11,893), with a $164.2 million salary expense obligation—a 12.6% increase.”
To address these challenges, SIUE is implementing several initiatives according to Minor’s letter:
• “Academic Program Prioritization”: SIUE is working with deans to review and adjust academic offerings to align with enrollment trends and institutional goals.
• “Early Retirement Incentive Program”: The university will offer incentives for early retirement to help manage salary expenses, with details to be shared with eligible
faculty and staff soon.
• “Organizational Restructuring”: SIUE’s Human Resources Department and vice chancellors will evaluate opportunities to consolidate or reduce positions in an effort to maximize resources.
• “Updated Budget Reporting Processes”: The university will modernize its budget tracking and reporting to improve transparency and decision-making.
Minor acknowledged that these decisions will be challenging but stressed their necessity.
“Although some of the decisions will be difficult, inaction is the most dreadful threat we face as an institution,” he wrote.
While the full scope of layoffs has not been disclosed, Minor indicated that more details would be shared in the coming weeks.
“We will do our very best to
communicate university-wide and with various constituent groups,” he wrote.
Despite the planned adjustments, Minor emphasized that SIUE’s financial position remains stable.
“Today, SIUE’s financial situation is manageable, the institution is stable, and we have not had to access cash reserves to operate,” he wrote. “My message today is not one of doom and gloom. I write with optimism and confidence about the University’s future.”
The administration will continue communicating updates in the coming weeks as changes take effect, the Daily Egyptian will continue to follow the story.
Staff Reporter Annalise Schmidt can be reached at aschmidt@dailyegyptian.com
‘He
was Saluki baseball’: The enduring legacy of Itchy Jones
Ryan GRieseR RGRieseR@dailyeGyptian com
If you know anything about SIU baseball, there’s a good chance that you know the name Itchy Jones.
Itchy presided over the program for 21 seasons as head coach, but he was much more to the program than just a coach. He was an advocate. A teacher. A donor.
Richard C. “Itchy” Jones died on Monday, Feb. 17 at age 87 according to a Saluki Athletics press release.
To retired Saluki Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Reis, who broadcasted SIU baseball games for 12 seasons while Itchy was at the helm, he was a friend.
“He was my closest professional friend, and I would say that he would be tied for first among my best personal friends,” Reis said.
Itchy also had a profound impact on the life of Bill Lyons, a former player under Itchy who was at SIU from 1977 to 1980 and eventually played in the MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals.
“I think our relationship developed even more as I got older, and it means the world to me. I mean you look at it this way; if I didn’t know Itch, I wouldn’t have the family I have,” Lyons said. “I met my wife… when I was playing in a collegiate league after my freshman year, and she just happened to be going as an incoming freshman to Carbondale. We met up down here, and the rest is history.”
Putting it plainly and with a chuckle, Lyons said, “Itch is either responsible, or the cause of my family, I don’t know which.”
Itchy, who has membership in nine halls of fame, including the Saluki Hall of Fame, was known to his players as a great storyteller and somebody who could “command a room like no other,” though not as a yeller or screamer.
“He motivated you, he made you want to be around him because you could learn so much,” Lyons said. “He was one of those people you just knew you had to listen to because you were going to learn stuff all the time.”
As the coach of a powerhouse program, “like a Southern California, like an Arizona,” that garnered national attention, Itchy’s talent as a speaker was on full display in the media too, even when he had to, as Reis put it, “suffer fools,” or inexperienced reporters.
“He had a patience and a confidence, not only in coaching but in the media as well,” Reis said. “It requires a special person for that to work.”
According to Les Winkeler, a longtime sports editor and writer at The Southern Illinoisan, it wasn’t always Itchy dealing with the media though.
“After every road game, Itchy would call The Southern to talk to our reporter
to get a story for the next day,” Winkeler said. “Gene Green (an assistant coach) apparently, on the bus rides before Itchy would get on the bus, would do a great imitation of Itchy. So Itchy goes, ‘Green! I hear you do an imitation of me.’ Gene’s like ‘yeah, uh.’ (Itchy) goes, ‘Go to the phone and call Greg Severin, give him some quotes.’”
“Greg Severin was the sports writer at the time. He played baseball for Itchy, so he knew Itchy very well. And Green’s impersonation of Itchy was so spot-on that Severin didn’t know it. So for three years, all of the road comments from SIU baseball were Gene Green speaking as Itchy Jones,” Winkeler said.
Itchy, though he “was awful with names,” according to Reis, was always invested in those that he knew, or maybe recognized.
“he always remembered to ask about you… he never forgot that he knew you,” Reis said.
This extended well to his players too, who he made sure to keep up with even once they were out of Carbondale.
“He was as concerned about what they were able to accomplish after they left the Saluki baseball program as when they were there,” Lyons said.
While mild-mannered may not be the way to describe it, Itchy was also known for being a stand-up gentleman, with this even extending to the umpires.
“Southern had a home run to take the lead in a weekday game, two man umpiring crew, and they muffed the call.
a sixth grade softball game.
That 17-year streak almost didn’t exist though. Reis said that Itchy was more on course to work in basketball, another sport that he excelled in, to the point that he even was a letterman at SIU his freshman year. Itchy is also a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
“He was headed on a basketball coaching career course when Joe Lutz got him to be his assistant coach… in 1969,” Reis said. “And then Itch was taking a look
“He had a patience and a confidence, not only in coaching but in the media as well...it requires a special person for that to work.”
- Mike Reis
Former Saluki Hall of Fame Broadcaster
It was clear to everyone that it was a foul ball, but they called it fair for Southern,” Reis said.
“The other team just goes nuts, the head coach is going ballistic. Itch goes out and tells the umpires they got it wrong, it was a foul ball. And they change the call to a foul ball because of his opinion,” Reis said.
Itchy, Missouri Valley Conference hall of famer, made it nearly through his first 17 seasons as head coach without being thrown out of a game, according to Reis. Even in his days as a standout baseball player in Legion ball, at SIU and in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system, Itchy was thrown out only once. And it was by his dad, in
at an Eastern Illinois assistant basketball job when Lutz was fired or resigned, or whatever they ended up calling it.”
If he had taken that Eastern Illinois job, he, a licensed pilot, wouldn’t have been around to coach Lyons and even fly the team to a game.
“We had our usual pilots for the game, but Itch went up to the cockpit, and then all of a sudden we see the pilot walking back down the aisle,” Lyons said. “We’re like, ‘Hold on, wait a minute, what’s going on here?’”
“Itch was flying the plane. And I think a lot of guys thought, ‘There’s no way this can happen.’ But it was kind of funny to see the look on their face, to see that he was
flying the plane,” Lyons said.
And if Itchy had taken that EIU job, he never would’ve become the winningest baseball coach in SIU history with 738. He also never would have been able to make what was arguably his largest impact, and what truly made him the embodiment of Saluki baseball: how he gave back to the program.
“One of his values, his importance to Southern today is he always told his players that they should donate back to the university,” Reis said. “Historically at every school, athletes are poor donors. But at Southern, its baseball alums have been good in terms of the number of them that contribute.”
This includes helping renovate and build what was eventually named the Itchy Jones Stadium. “The Itch,” which opened in 2014, cost nearly $4 million to build, and about $1.8 million of that money was from baseball alums.
“The stadium is named for Itchy and it would be named for Itchy if he didn’t do
anything financially with it because of his record,” Reis said. “But he made the lead contribution on it… this was a person who did the same thing he asked his players to do.”
Despite leaving SIU to go to the University of Illinois in 1990, Jones never stopped caring about SIU and southern Illinois.
“He always cared. He always listened. He always watched. He followed the team no matter who was the head coach, and he stayed in touch,” Reis said.
“The people who’ve worked at Southern, played at Southern, are attached to Southern… How many really have done for Southern as much as Southern has done for them? This guy did. I don’t know that there have been many people who helped raise SIU’s profile in their area of expertise better than Itchy Jones,” Reis said.
Sports reporter Ryan Grieser can be reached at rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com.
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
/s/ Amanda Barnes Amanda Barnes, Williamson County Clerk
(Published in The Daily Egyptian on March 5, 19, and 26, 2025)
Richard C. “Itchy” Jones. Photo provided by Abby Harris.
You rock, she rocks, they rock, Y’all Rock
Carbondale group gears up for another Rock Roulette fundraiser
Jackson Brandhorst JBrandhorst@dailyegyptian com
Music creation, to most people, is a foreign concept. Nearly everyone consumes the arts, but only a few are offered the opportunity to create them.
Having had that opportunity granted to them through the Rock Roulette band competition and fundraiser, Isabella Bullock and Kiersten Owens now work to provide that same opportunity for others by serving on the board of the organization that made that opportunity possible for them.
Started by Jessica Lynn in 2014, Y’all Rock Carbondale (YRC) is a southern Illinois based, radical music organization that offers young girls and other members of the gender marginalized youth a way to express themselves through songwriting, musicianship and camaraderie.
A branch of the larger, international Girls Rock Camp Alliance (GRCA), YRC is part of a broader movement focussed on gender equality and the acknowledgement of marginalization in the arts.
In 2019, to be even more inclusive, the Carbondale branch rebranded, changing its name from Girls Rock to Y’all Rock, setting southern Illinois slightly apart from the larger umbrella organization.
Since then, YRC has been running year-round programs that help participants find their voice –whether that’s learning an instrument for the first time or connecting with a stranger whose upbringing is different than theirs.
Through art workshops, music camps, festivals and more, YRC paves the way for people to scratch their creative itch and make their dreams of music creation come true.
A prime focus of YRC
programming includes a one-week summer camp for girls and gendernonconforming youth and a hybrid program that serves as both a band competition and a fundraiser for the camp called Rock Roulette.
Gathered as groups of strangers, Rock Roulette participants are tasked not only with raising money for the organization, but with raising their hands, their spirits and their vibrations in the name of rock and roll.
Despite its inclusive nature, the sheer concept of the Rock Roulette fundraiser rattles the nerves of even its most confident participants, including Bullock and Owens.
The first time that either of them had ever picked up a bass guitar was in a room full of people that they had
stage, but in their community as well.
Bullock, who is now the board president of YRC, first got involved with the organization as a camp volunteer in 2021 and has since become an integral part in keeping the organization rocking.
“I just wanted a way to make music,” said Bullock. “I didn’t feel like there was an opportunity like that for me before – like the encouragement or the ease of access.”
Through Rock Roulette, YRC offers to adults, as it did for Bullock, a creative way to get into music making, all while raising funds for children to do the same.
The Rock Roulette band competition and fundraiser, which had its kickoff party on Feb. 3, is a sixweek-long event that groups gender-
“You can make a stage anywhere... As long as you can make some noise, you can make some music, and you can have a show.”
- Kiersten Owens
Y’all Rock Carbondale outreach chair
never met.
Fumbling your words when trying to make friends is one thing, but fumbling your chords when trying to make music is another.
Couple those concepts together, and it gets difficult to hear the consistent click of a metronome over the thump, thump, thumping of four nervously beating hearts.
Ironically, this collection of commotion is exactly what made Bullock and Owens the rock stars that they are today – not just on a
marginalized individuals together to form brand new bands with strangers that are tasked with raising funds for YRC programming.
Women, trans and gendernonconforming adults sign up as individuals and are placed into a band with others as dictated by the YRC board members.
YRC provides a space for participants to create, experiment and perform music without the usual barriers that often inhibit marginalized gender groups.
No prior musical experience is necessary, and participation is completely free.
“With this program, we give you the instruments, you know? We give you the space and the guidance to learn how to do this thing,” said Bullock.
Before Rock Roulette, Bullock had never strummed a tune, nor had she ever met the people that she would be doing it alongside.
“I didn’t know how to put a band together – I had never even picked up a bass guitar before,” said Bullock, who has now served as a volunteer, participant and president of the program.
“It was both exciting and nerveracking, and I think we all grew pretty close during that time,” said Bullock of her bandmates. “You have to see each other at least once or twice a week for that period, so we got to know a lot about each other’s lives. I still know and see all of these people when they’re around, which is sweet.”
On top of the lifelong friendships that Bullock made, she also developed a special bond with her instrument.
“It got me into playing bass, and I still play bass to this day,” said Bullock. “It was really easy and really motivating, because the whole purpose is to fundraise for the program and to help fund camp.”
During Rock Roulette, each band is competing to see who can raise the most money – not who can make the best music.
Bands are all working toward the ultimate prize, which this year is a professionally recorded mix and master of a song that they create during the six-week period. Not only that, but the winning band will also get the full rock star experience by starring in their very
own music video.
If helping the local youth wasn’t motivating enough, the grand prizes seem to be pretty inspiring.
“When I did Rock Roulette, the prize was a T-shirt-making workshop where we got to make our own merch,” said Bullock. “We sort of ebb and flow and change the prizes around every year. We’ve really upped the ante a lot recently.”
Owens, who now serves as the outreach chair for YRC, won the Rock Roulette competition with her band last year, raising over $2,000 for the organization.
“I went in last year to the kickoff meeting not knowing 90% of the people that were in that room,” said Owens. “It was really nerve-racking – even for me as a confident person. Meeting up for the first time and just trying to make new friends, you feel like a kid again, kind of out on your own in the world.”
Owens, like Bullock, had never before played bass. Now, she plays all the time and has lifelong friends to do it with.
“It’s a year later and I’m still playing the bass,” said Owens. “And now me and my band book shows, so it’s really cool, and it’s cool to not only have them as a band, but as friends too. We hang out even if we aren’t making music, and we have a good time. I know that we’re probably going to be friends indefinitely.”
Owens and her Rock Roulette band, previously called BurnBand, are still together and performing around southern Illinois.
They now go by the Daisy Ladies, and are performing at PK’s on March 16.
The ladies just cashed in their grand prize from last year, having recently filmed their music video
2024 Rock Roulette photo provided by Jen Haselhorst.
at the historic Liberty Theater in Murphysboro.
“We raised the most money, and that’s why we won the prize,” said Owens. “The grand prize was shooting a music video with a group around here called Cinemaclique, led by Charlie Queen, who’s a filmmaker in the area.”
YRC will be showing that video at this year’s Rock Roulette showcase on March, 29 at Slabz Skate Park in Carbondale.
“It was so fun,” said Owens. “It was really cool to feel like an actual rock star getting filmed. They had a whole team of people helping us with hair, costumes, the set, the video –everything. It was a great time.”
This year, the song mastering and video production for the winning band will be done in house by members of the YRC board.
“It was really cool, and it kind of brought everything full circle to shoot the music video, and I’m just excited to give that experience to other participants as well,” said Owens. “The cause is supporting the organization, which supports kids’ music all year round. We do open mic nights, we do merch making workshops and just other fun things like that. We have a festival every year where some of the kids that participated in the summer camp come to perform.”
The summer camp is staffed by volunteers, who are musicians, academics and artists from the
Carbondale community. They help campers experience small group instrument instruction, band practice sessions, art workshops, community empowerment and self esteem boosting – all while being fed locallysourced, homegrown breakfast and lunch throughout the week.
Camp is five days long, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and takes place at the Eurma Hayes Center each day.
“I believe we had almost 40 campers this past year, and it’s sort of similar conceptually to Rock Roulette,” said Bullock.
The YRC board sorts all of the campers into bands just as they do with their fundraising competition.
Campers then get to pick an instrument which they will learn to play throughout the week through structured lessons and workshops.
Simultaneously throughout that week, the bands are tasked with writing a song that they get to perform on the camp’s final day, where everything comes together for a grand finale.
In the meantime, campers stay busy with the myriad workshops, like DIY magazine making, songwriting, patch making and anything that can get those creative juices flowing.
“Last year we had Art For All collaborate with us, and they did record painting, where the kids got to decorate their own record sleeves – it was really sweet,” said Bullock.
This year the camp will run from July 7 through 11. Sign ups should be open by the time of the Rock
Roulette showcase and are typically cut off at least a week prior to the camp’s commencement.
On par with the rest of the YRC programming, the summer camp is all about inclusivity and accessibility – no matter economic status.
“It’s accessible for all incomes. If a kid wants to play music, they can be there and they don’t have to worry about paying for anything,” said Bullock.
According to Bullock, nearly 95% of the campers attend at a reduced cost.
“We love to mention the camp’s sliding scale,” said Bullock. “A lot of campers attend at no cost. Tuition fees for camp only pay for maybe 30 to 40% of what it actually costs. So a lot of that Rock Roulette fundraising is filling in the camp budget. All of our volunteers are paid stipends for being there for the week, so that takes up a lot of the funds.”
“And fundraising supports the rent all year round,” added Owens. “It’s not just the camp. We’re trying to do more programming, and the more money we get, the more programming we can do.”
To help fundraise, volunteer, donate equipment or support a local camper, visit the Y’all Rock website or one of their social media pages. Donations are accepted through PayPal, and further information about donating is available online.
Rock Roulette bands are currently in the process of fundraising and making music for the showcase on
March 29, which will look a little different this year than in years past.
“Usually we start Rock Roulette in January, but we weren’t able to start it until February this year because we had to secure a different location, because we’ve always held it at Hangar 9,” said Owens, referring to the iconic music venue and bar that shut down in Carbondale on the first of this year.
“I feel like this year is more DIY in a way. And I’m really hoping that the bands can focus on fundraising, because that’s mostly what it’s about,” said Owens. “But also, I think there’s a mix of some pretty interesting people. I mean, we have a wide age range and that’s always a good thing. We have a mix of genders as well, which is also always a good thing, because hopefully these people can come together and learn from their shared experiences, either through life or through music.”
Owens added that, while inclusivity is a recurring theme for all YRC programming, this year the organization is also emphasizing comfortability.
“This year we have a designated practice space available for the bands. So I think that’ll maybe make people more comfortable,” said Owens. “Having a space that they can all come into, which is our Y’all Rock studio space, should be more comfortable for everybody and maybe the bands can practice more.”
“We’re not trying to limit anyone’s creative expression. They can play whatever – really,” said Bullock.
The program, coupled with Carbondales’ radical history, punk scene and do it yourself culture, serves as an allegory for its marginalized participants and the rock star volunteers that so soundly orchestrate it all.
For Owens, having this year’s showcase at a skate shop is the perfect way to mirror that Carbondale culture and to serve the community through the very things that it embodies.
“You can make a stage anywhere,” said Owens. “It doesn’t have to have the best sound system. It doesn’t have to have the biggest, widest spot open for all your instruments to fit. As long as you can make some noise, you can make some music, and you can have a show. So I’m excited. It’s all about organizations in the community working together to make something cool happen. And it doesn’t have to be large and perfect for it to be fun and memorable.”
It’s clear that YRC isn’t just about the music – it’s about creating a world where gender, experience and resources aren’t barriers to creativity, but catalysts for something louder, bolder and radically inclusive.
Just as gender expression is encouraged, so is genre, so the bands are free to practice whenever, however and whatever they want.
Staff reporter Jackson Brandhorst can be reached at jbrandhorst@dailyegyptian.com
Daily Egyptian brings home 28 awards from the windy city
LyLee Gibbs @LyLeeGibbsphoto
As a train chugs along the track heading a little over five hours north from Carbondale to Chicago, eight of us staff members from the Daily Egyptian are excitedly waiting to reach the windy city for the annual Illinois College Press Association conference.
Accompanied on the trip by our adviser Alee Quick and professor Molly Parker, the conference took place on Feb. 28 and March 1 and was filled with plenty of learning opportunities and experiences, as well as the opportunity to connect with fellow student journalists.
The Daily Egyptian staff brought home 28 awards from entries in numerous categories. Across the contest, 863 unique entries were entered by colleges around the state and judged by 42 judges.
A second place finish in both print and web general excellence marked an improvement from last year where the DE placed third in print and received an honorable mention in web. As well as being awarded a second place sweepstakes award for medium schools, meaning the DE won the second most awards across the medium schools.
While photo editor Enan Chediak and student managing editor Dominique Martinez-Powell competed in a photo competition, the rest of us attended various breakout sessions that dove into different topics of journalism. Ranging from sports reporting to website design, we all split up and listened to the different topics, taking notes on ways we can improve and how other college newspapers operate.
Molly closed out Friday’s
conference as a keynote speaker alongside journalist Beth Hunsdorfer for the final session of the evening.
The two Capitol News Illinois investigative reporters discussed investigative journalism throughout their careers and how to best navigate the process. Students and advisers alike gathered in the ballroom to hear them speak and asked plenty of questions to keep the conversation flowing. We, of course, sat at the closest table to the stage in support.
Once the event was over, Molly received plenty of questions from students and I keep recalling Ryan Grieser turning to me to quietly and jokingly say “you guys can not have her, she’s our professor!” to the other students.
The trip wasn’t entirely conferences and learning either. I talked everyone into checking out this karaoke place I found if we had some free time. Following the end of Friday’s conferences, we braced ourselves for the windy, cold Chicago streets and walked a few blocks over to check it out. However, despite all our preparations on choosing karaoke songs and getting excited about the food menu… our karaoke appearance didn’t exactly work out. So, instead we opted for a nearby pizza place at the recommendation of our northern Illinois native, staff videographer Will Elliott, which turned out to be pretty tasty.
At the white round tables in the hotel’s ballroom for the award luncheon on Saturday, tall, colorful candles were lit and we interrupted the chatter of the room to sing and celebrate news editor Carly Gist’s 20th birthday. As Carly pointed out, we also celebrated Alee’s official start date as our permanent faculty
managing editor. We cut the cake, which somehow perfectly fed all of us with none leftover (shoutout to Molly for her excellent cake purchasing and cutting skills), and celebrated both of these exciting moments during the award ceremony.
This whole experience makes me proud. I’m proud of my staff for their all-around effort in the last year and for our improvement of reporting on not only campus events but now in the community. Awards or not, the entire staff of the Daily Egyptian has and continues to put the effort in their reporting. I think our success at this conference each year embodies that effort. I am beyond grateful to be here and to work with everyone.
We owe a large thank you to SIU alum Steve Warnelis for sponsoring our trip and providing us this opportunity to connect with other student journalists around the state and to become more proficient in journalism. This is something we look forward to each year and it would not be possible without Steve and the School of Journalism department.
Following the conference’s end, we quickly raced to Union Station to board the train and found ourselves at the very back of the train watching the train tracks left behind us as we headed home. The city passed us by out the back window until we were once more surrounded by the rural fields of southern Illinois. We returned to Carbondale with new knowledge of how to improve our journalism as well as some pretty nice awards to note our effort from the last year.
Editor-in-chief Lylee Gibbs can be reached at lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @lyleegibbsphoto
Four first place finishes:
Front Page Layout, Daily Egyptian Staff and Peyton Cook
Photo Essay, Lylee Gibbs
Headline writing, Brandyn Wilcoxen
Sports Column, Ryan Grieser
10 second place finishes:
Print General Excellence, Daily Egyptian Staff
Web General Excellence, Daily Egyptian Staff
Sweepstakes, Daily Egyptian Staff
Best Print Advertisement, Peyton Cook
Feature Story, Lylee Gibbs
Sports News Story, Brandyn Wilcoxen
Sports Feature, Ryan Grieser
In-depth Reporting, Carly Gist
Headline Writing, Ryan Grieser
Feature Photo, Lylee Gibbs
Four third place finishes:
Graphic Illustration, Dominique Martinez-Powell
Sports Page Design, Yarauseth Zavala
Opinion Column, Carly Gist
Sports Game, Brandyn Wilcoxen
10 honorable mentions:
Digital Ad, Lane Frost
Feature Page Design, Peyton Cook
Sports News Story, Brandyn Wilcoxen
Sports Game Story, Ryan Grieser
Sports Feature Story, Lylee Gibbs
Sports Column, Ryan Grieser
Diversity Equity and Inclusion Coverage, Enan
Chediak, Simeon Hardley and Jamilah Lewis
Photo Essay, Simeon Hardley
Sports Photo, Lylee Gibbs
General News Photo, Dominique Martinez-Powell
News editor Carly Gist holds up her awards from the Illinois College Press Association March 1, 2025 at the Union Station in Chicago, Illinois. Enan Chediak @enanchediak
Assistant professor Molly Parker caries news editor Carly Gist her birthday cake to celebrate her 20th birthday while at the awards ceremony March 1, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Enan Chediak | @enanchediak
Faculty managing editor Alee Quick lights candles for Carly Gist’s birthday cake to celebrate her 20th birthday while at the awards ceremony March 1, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Enan Chediak | @enanchediak
Photo editor Enan Chediak laughs out the window of the train on the way to Chicago for the annual Illinois College Press Association conference Feb. 27, 2025. Lylee Gibbs @lyleegibbsphoto
Ad chief Kassity Lee waits at the train station to return to Carbondale March 1, 2025 at the Union Station in Chicago, Illinois. Enan Chediak | @enanchediak
Lylee Gibbs and Dominique MartinezPowell pose for a polaroid photograph.
DE staff sits at a table during the ICPA paper critiques.
Ryan Grieser (left) and Lylee Gibbs (right) hold up ICPA awards March 1, 2025 at Union Station in Chicago, Illinois.
Salukis shine on Senior Night, crush Illinois State Redbirds 88-79
Five Salukis scored in double figures, but senior Jarrett Hensley was at the center of the 88-79 Saluki win.
Hensley, who was the lone senior honored for SIU, racked up 17 points and 6 rebounds, including shooting 50% from beyond the arc.
“Just happy for Jarrett, for him to be able to have a good senior night,” head coach Scott Nagy said. “It’ll be a positive memory for him.”
Drew Steffe was on fire for the Dawgs, going 5-5 from 3-point range and 6-9 from the field on his way to 18 points.
Kennard Davis Jr. and Ali Dibba wouldn’t be forgotten though. Davis Jr. put up 24 and Dibba had 22. The Salukis shot 50% from the floor overall, including 54.2% from 3.
SIU rose to the challenge of guarding ISU, including holding center Chase Walker to only 3-8 shooting.
“I thought (assistant coach Steve) Hawk(ins) did a good job. It’s a hard team to guard,” Nagy said.
The win also snapped a four-game Saluki losing streak.
“We started 0-5… We’ve come out of this before. We know how to
home game of the regular season Feb. 25, 2025 at Banterra Center in Carbondale Illinois.
Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
do this,” Nagy said.
The Redbirds were playing SIU to a tie before back-to-back Steffe and Hensley 3-pointers put the Dawgs up 19-10 and forced ISU to take a timeout.
Dibba and Davis had baskets, but Hensley continued his standout first half by hitting another 3 pointer with 9:17 in the half before
swishing another with 5:48 to go to put SIU up 35-23.
The Banterra Center was buzzing with energy throughout the first half, and the roof nearly came off when Dibba threw down the hammer for a dunk, which was followed by a Steffe 3 that raised the volume even higher.
ISU closed the first half on a 7-1
run to find themselves down 43-35, and pulled to within five early in the second half.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Davis Jr. got the Dawgs going again, and Dibba showed off his deadly first step for a layup. Two free throws from Davis Jr. had the Dawgs seemingly cruising to a win, up 65-51 with 11:11 left
to play.
Three quick fouls on Rolyns Aligbe extinguished the momentum the Salukis had, but the Salukis weathered the storm and again were up double digits. But after a run, the Redbirds found themselves down only 76-71 with 4:17 left to go.
Former Saluki Dalton Banks shined for ISU, scoring a team-high 18 points, including two baskets in crunch time for the Redbirds. But it wasn’t enough to overcome Davis Jr., who seemingly couldn’t miss from beyond the arc.
Davis Jr. hit another pair of backto-back 3 pointers to slam the door on a possible Redbird comeback, and Dibba and Hensley helped put the game away at the free throw line in the closing minutes.
Nagy said that his team is in a good spot to finish the season and enter the conference tournament.
“I think the guys are in a good spot. They’re loose, but they’re also locked in and focused. In terms of a mental aspect, it’s about as good a spot as we can have them in,” Nagy said.
Sports reporter Ryan Grieser can be reached at rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com.
Drew Steffee, right, hugs teammate Davion Sykes, left, following the Salukis 88-79 win over Illinois State in the final
Salukis set to take late-season momentum into Arch Madness
Ryan GRieseR @RGRieseR@siu edu
If the Salukis go on a run in Arch Madness, look back at their Feb. 25 victory over Illinois State as the catalyst.
“When you put together a good game like Illinois State, against a really solid team that beat us by 30 earlier in the year, it gives us coaches the opportunity to go to the guys and say ‘Look how much we improved,’” assistant coach Steve Hawkins said.
Guard Drew Steffe, who has averaged nearly double his season average in scoring since February and is putting up nearly 13 points per game in his last six contests, also recognized the importance of the win.
“It just helps the team morale, and we know how good we can be,” Steffe said. “So just going out there and showing what we can do just proves that we compete with anybody and make a run in the tournament.”
While morale doesn’t win tournaments, Steffe was able to key on several things the Salukis will have to concentrate on if they are going to hoist the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament trophy.
“Defense first. Just get stops. You know, if we play good defense, then everything else will follow,” Steffe said. “And just playing as a team. On the offensive end, just sharing the ball, getting everybody involved and just getting up and down and playing hard.”
Dibba echoed the thought of everything falling into place after defending hard.
“Our defense is our best offense. If you play good defense, it will help our offense too,” Dibba said.
Another facet of the game that can help turn into good offense is limiting turnovers, something the Salukis have done better in their last few games. Since their Feb. 5 matchup with Evansville, the Dawgs have averaged only 11.42 turnovers per game, which is nearly 1.2 less than their season average.
“We have to limit our turnovers,” Dibba said. “Last two games, we
averaged 15 turnovers, so that’s big for us, just for us to not have that many turnovers and keep the ball in our hands so we can get more shots up.”
Against Illinois State, shots were going both up and in. The Salukis had their seventh game of the season in which they shot over 45% from the field and 40% from 3-point range, and it served as a stunning display of what this SIU team is capable of.
“When that happens, everything just starts clicking and then it just opens up everybody else and just gets it going,” Steffe said. “We just got to share the ball, and once we get stops on defense, push it, get transition easy 3s.”
These 3s are coming easier later in the season. Though their season average is 35.3%, SIU has shot 41.1% from 3-point range since Feb. 5, with Steffe tied with Kennard Davis for the team lead in made 3s in that time frame. Hawkins isn’t surprised that the team’s shooting has picked up either.
“When you’re new to a system, it always takes, especially shooters, it always takes them a while to get adjusted because you have to know when your shot is coming,” Hawkins said. “You’re not in rhythm taking shots.”
“Drew has been in rhythm… he knows when they’re coming out and muscle memory takes over, then he can relax and take the shots he’s used to taking,” Hawkins said.
On a team-wide scale, Dibba has a solution for how the team can stay hot.
“Always play with confidence, do what you’re good at and just play hard and get some easy, easy points,” Dibba said.
While it’s easy to assume that the hot shooting and strong play at the tail end of a long season will continue, Hawkins was specific about what it will truly require.
“It’s effort. Right now, we’re not doing a lot of physical stuff,” Hawkins said. “We just have to try and keep guys as healthy as possible, knowing full well that… you’re
going to have to, if you do what you want to do, you’re gonna play four games in four days.”
If the Dawgs are going to play those four games in four days, Steffe knows that they will have to stick to strong plans that coaches put together.
“Just defense, and it’s just execute our matchups, execute the game plan that the coaches put in on that and really just keying in on that and everything else follows on that,” Steffe said.
While they bring a team that can execute, the Salukis don’t bring a lot of Arch Madness experience to St. Louis after returning only three Salukis.
“There’s only a couple of guys that have been through it, and also Tyler Bey and Damien Mayo Jr. were with Missouri State. The rest of us, including the coaching staff, except for Jevon (Mamon) and Will (Veasley) who was at UIC, this will be our first time going through Arch Madness as well,” Hawkins said.
That doesn’t mean that they aren’t ready and enthusiastic about going to St. Louis. Steffe, who is a redshirt freshman, will be competing in his first-ever conference tournament.
“I’m super excited, it’ll be my first one… and I really want to start it off with a win and go far in it,” Steffe said.
Dibba is in a different boat, having played three seasons of collegiate basketball before coming to SIU. Still, he hasn’t experienced a tournament quite like Arch Madness yet.
“It’ll be fun playing in this tournament, and playing against some good teams and show what we can do,” Dibba said.
Excitement doesn’t end with the players either.
“It’s a lot of tradition and a lot of excitement, but I can’t wait to get over there and get to it,” Hawkins said.
Sports reporter Ryan Grieser can be reached at rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com.
editor@dailyegyptian.com
Faculty Managing Editor: Alee Quick aquick@dailyegyptian.com
Business Manager: Amy Dion adion@dailyegyptian.com
Editor-in-Chief: Lylee Gibbs lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com
Design Chief: Peyton Cook pcook@dailyegyptian.com
Photo Editor: Enan Chediak echediak@dailyegyptian.com
Ad Chief: Kassity Lee klee@dailegyptian.com
Student Managing Editor: Dominique Martinez-Powell dmartinezpowell@dailyegyptian.com
News Editor: Carly Gist cgist@dailyegyptian
Sports Consultant: Ryan Grieser rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com
Digital Editor: Bhayva Sri-Billuri bsri-billuri@dailyegyptian.com
About Us
The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale on a weekly basis. Fall and spring semester editions run every Wednesday. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale, Carterville, and Springfield communities. The Daily Egyptian can be found at www.dailyegyptian.com or on the Daily Egyptian app!
Mission Statement
The Daily Egyptian, the student-run news organization of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is committed to being a trusted source of news, information, commentary and public discourse, while helping readers understand the issues affecting their lives.
Publishing Information
The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and functions as a laboratory for the School of Journalism in exchange for the room and utilities in the Communications Building. The Daily Egyptian is a non-profit organization that survives primarily off of its advertising revenue. Offices are in the Communications Building, room 1259, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Ill., 62901.
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@2025 The Daily Egyptian. All rights reserved. All content is property of the Daily Egyptian and may not be reproduced or transmitted without consent. The Daily Egyptian is a member of the Illinois College Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Advisers Inc. and the College Business and Advertising Managers Inc.
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Letters and guest columns must be submitted with author’s contact information, preferably via email. Phone numbers are required to verify authorship, but will not be published. Students must include their year and major. Faculty must include rank and department. Others include hometown. Submissions should be sent to editor@dailyegyptian.com
Uchenna breaks record, Salukis still trampled by Racers
Ryan GRieseR RGRieseR@dailyeGyptian com
The SIU women’s basketball team saw improvement on the offensive side of the ball to start the month of March, scoring their most points since Feb. 7.
But, as has been the case so many times this season, it wasn’t enough in their 87-64 loss.
In their March 1 matchup with Murray State, the Salukis gave up 87 points for the fourth time this season, tied for the secondmost points they’ve given up in a game.
The ever-consistent Gift Uchenna found her way into the record book after she put up 15 points and 14 rebounds, which brought her season total to an astounding 348 and broke the single-season rebounding record with two games left to play.
Uchenna pulled down the record-breaking board and her eighth rebound of the game with 9:06 to play in the second with the Salukis trailing 18-11 after a slow first quarter that saw them score only 8 points.
The Dawgs stayed within striking distance throughout the second quarter, keeping the gap within 10 points until a 12-4 run by the Racers put the halftime score at 43-27.
Kayla Cooper, who led the Salukis with 4 steals, put up 5 points in the second,
while freshmen Alice Curman and Isabella Palmqvist each had 4 points. The Dawgs had 19 points in the frame, which was a welcome change from the low offensive outputs that have been increasingly commonplace.
The third quarter saw perhaps the strongest performance of the game. SIU put up 17 points, including going 2-3 on 3 pointers, and was outscored by only 2 points, with the deficit sitting at 62-44 entering the fourth quarter.
Uchenna put up 8 points in the fourth quarter as the Salukis aimed to shrink Murray State’s lead, but the Dawgs were unable to contain the Racers, who went 4-4 from beyond the 3-point line in the quarter and finished the game on fire, shooting 64.3% in the quarter.
Murray had a strong shooting game, going 10-21 from beyond the arc and 45.5% overall. The Salukis only converted 30.8% 3-pointers, but managed to shoot 44.1% from the floor and 8-10 from the line.
SIU will return home for their final two games of the season and will first face off with the Bradley Braves on March 6 at 6 p.m.
Sports reporter Ryan Grieser can be reached at rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com.
Photo courtesy of Saluki Athletics.
10th Annual Quinceañera
Photos by Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
Court and attendees waltz in the circle at the beginning.
An assortment of Mexican food is provided for the court and the attendees.
Xzeyla Fernandez cuts a cake at the 10th Annual Mock Quinceañera March 1, 2025 at SIU Student Center in Carbondale Illinois.
Xzeyla Fernandez and dama Makayla Hayes dance in sync during a prepared dance.
Chocolate cake sits on a table for the court and attendees.
Carbondale United hosts potluck for economic blackout
JasmineThompson@dailyegypTian com
On Feb. 28, 2025, the community of Carbondale, Illinois, came together at Carbondale United for an event organized by United We Boycott Against the Far Right.
Carbondale United organized a Solidarity Potluck for Economic Blackout, Latino Freeze and Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) to promote social justice through economic power. The event took place at the Carbondale United office, starting at 5 p.m., and aimed to help people get a meal without spending money.
The economic blackout movement recommended people to avoid spending money for the entire day, which meant no shopping, making online orders or buying fast food. The aim was to send a strong message by not supporting corporations that contributed to social and political issues, while instead supporting local businesses that had shared values.
This economic blackout drew inspiration from past movements, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s activism in the 1960s. The event also supported two ongoing initiatives: the BDS Movement, which pressured businesses linked to Israel’s actions toward Palestinians, and the Latino Freeze Movement, which promoted economic empowerment in Latino communities by encouraging support for inclusive businesses.
Carbondale United, a grassroots organization dedicated to eradicating the root causes of gun violence, continues to mobilize the community in efforts that extend beyond its initial mission.
Founded by Nancy Maxwell and others, the group has evolved into a force for activism, organizing events that challenge systemic injustices and inspire collective action.
Nancy Maxwell, a Carbondale City Council member and the executive director of Carbondale United, spoke passionately about the group’s origins and ongoing work. “Carbondale United kind of started because me and Luke (Herron-Titus) and a whole bunch of other people were marching when George Floyd was murdered, and we’ve been going ever since. So whatever comes up, and this is huge.” She said that their activism is far from a onetime event. Instead, it is a continuous fight against oppression and systemic violence.
Recently, Carbondale United organized the People’s Assembly, a potluck event aimed at fostering discussions on social justice and community empowerment. Luke Herron-Titus, the main organizer of the event, said the significance of bringing people together was to unite them for a common cause.
“We wanted to create a space where people could come together, share food, and engage in meaningful conversations about the injustices that persist in our society. These gatherings help us build stronger connections and reinforce the importance of sustained action,” Herron-Titus said.
Maxwell said her goal is to sustain the momentum.
“I just don’t want it to stop there. Okay, we had a great event, and then, you know, we’re gonna go back to being fearful, sad, depressed. No, we’re gonna be in that fight mode. We’re going to keep doing that boycott mode, you know, we’re not
going to sit back and just take this,” Maxwell said. Boycotts have historically been powerful tools for social change, from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the Birmingham movement.
“Hey, historically boycotts have worked, you know, going back to the Birmingham boycotts, and it was a good opportunity to bring together boycotts not just for today, but to highlight the ongoing ones, like BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) and the Latino Freeze boycotts in response to deportations and attacks on workers and immigrants,”Herron-Titus said
Macklen Makhloghi, another speaker at the event, elaborated on the importance of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel.
“It is a Palestinian-led movement that started in the early 2000s when it became evident that the entire world, specifically the western world, is watching an apartheid state oppress, arrest, harass, brutalize, intimidate, marginalize, kidnap an entire people,” Makhloghi said.
He said that economic pressure remains one of the most effective strategies to demand justice: “We can’t wait for justice to happen, we need to cause it to happen.”
The event also touched on the importance of solidarity across movements, from supporting Starbucks Workers United, a union that represents the cafes’ workers, to advocating for racial and economic justice.
“We all want environmental justice. We all want racial justice. We all want economic justice. And in the genocide, we see this confluence of racism, xenophobia, capitalism, colonialism and imperialism all in this one hotbed issue,” Makhloghi said.
With these principles in mind, Carbondale United and its allies remain committed to collective action, using their voices and economic choices to
Correction: The previous print edition mislabeled the date on the front cover as Wednesday, October, 9, 2024. Vol. 108, Issue 1 and instead should read Wednesday, February 26, 2025. Vol. 108, Issue 23.
In the previous edition in a photo on the front page, the name of a chef serving food at the Taste Of Blackness was misspelled. The correct spelling is Jacqueline Cole.
drive systemic change. Their message is clear: the fight for justice does not end with one event—it is a sustained movement that requires continuous effort and unwavering commitment.
“I hope everybody enjoys themselves and eats as
much food as they want, and keep coming back,” Maxwell said.
Staff reporter Jasmine Thompson can be reached at jasminethompson@dailyegyptian.com
Jasmine Thompson
Macklen Makhloghi gives a speech during the potluck Feb. 28, 2025 at Carbondale United in Carbondale, Illinois. Deangelo Handley | @_deevisuals4