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State tax rate key to SIU funding

University given two scenarios, one flat funding and one involving a $25 million loss

KARSTEN BURGSTAHLER Daily Egyptian Gov. Pat Quinn’s fiscal year 2015 budget calls for appropriations for state universities to stay the same.

But President Glenn Poshard said numbers depend on the Illinois legislature voting to keep Quinn’s 2011 tax increases — specifically the 5 percent personal income tax and the 7 percent corporate tax. In 2011, Quinn said these increases would only

be temporary, but he is now pushing to make them permanent.

If the legislature fails to retain the higher rates, Quinn’s contingency plan, which he does not recommend, suggests a 12.4 percent decrease in state appropriations. For SIU, funding would decrease $25 million, from $205 million to $180 million, more than half of the $45 million decrease the university has seen during the past decade.

“Without the passing, or the keeping on of those two taxes, (the governor’s

office) is saying ‘This is what we’ll have to face,’” Poshard said.

Poshard said he is scheduled to meet with the appropriations committee, in Springfield April 3, to explain what would happen to the university if it were forced to make a 20 percent appropriation cut.

However, Quinn’s warnings could be a result of the political climate this year in Springfield, Poshard said.

“There are a lot of legislators in Springfield right now that are opposed

(to keeping the present rates) because they don’t want to deal with this before the next election, which is the problem we always have,” he said.

If the tax rates are cut and the university does lose the appropriations, vital programs will feel the pinch, Poshard said. There would be a reduction in Monetary Award Program grant funds of $50.3 million and 20,000 students across the state would lose those grants.

SIU is one of the largest users of MAP grants in the state, Poshard said.

Quinn received backlash for his proposal from legislators and citizens alike. A Paul Simon Institute poll released Monday showed 60 percent of those asked would not favor retaining the 5 percent income tax, and institute director David Yepsen said while the final vote will not happen until after months of debate, keeping the tax hikes, and therefore the flat funding, will be an uphill battle for Quinn.

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The Apple of love

Wage increase could hit SIU’s wallet

Ruby Roknic, left, a senior from La Grange studying university studies, and Pearlshanna Cummings, a junior from Chicago studying speech communications, rehearse Monday at Kleinau Theatre for the upcoming premiere of the play “Athena and the Apple.”

The play is about a high school student named Athena and her love interests was written and directed by Nicole Wood and is set to premiere Thursday at Kleinau Theatre. “It has been nice to see the development of the story and be a part of it coming into birth,” Roknic said.

KARSTEN BURGSTAHLER Daily Egyptian The federal minimum wage could be raised to $10.10 an hour, but university officials are not sure where the money to support it at SIU will come from.

During his State of the Union address and in the months following, President Barack Obama has argued the wage, now $7.25, is not enough for citizens to live on. Gov. Pat Quinn has pushed for similar legislation in Illinois. But University President Glenn Poshard said the $3.2 million cost the university system would incur if the wage was increased — $2 million at SIU, $1.2 million at SIU-Edwardsville — comes at a time when funding for higher education is dwindling.

“It would be good to have a minimum wage increase, but that money’s got to come from somewhere else,” Poshard said. “If that somewhere else limits student services, takes away from the workforce and other repercussions that would result, is that going to be beneficial enough to the students? It’s a trade-off.”

While Poshard’s presidential term will end months before any legislation would take effect, his successor, Randy Dunn, could be dealt a crisis soon after taking the position if Quinn’s 5 percent personal tax and 7 percent corporate tax are allowed to expire and appropriations are cut.

“Just as I have had to face over the past several years, grappling with this thing, it appears at this point in time that, if those two tax rates go back to where they were three yeas ago, then there’s several things (Dunn) is going to be facing as president to try to continue to balance the budget.”

A request for comment from Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Kevin Bame was directed to Chancellor Rita Cheng, who said student employment presently costs the university $11 million. Each 1 percent increase in the minimum wage is approximately an added $1 million dollar expense, she said.

“Our minimum wage employees are students, and our challenge would be to implement the increase without decreasing student employment opportunities,” Cheng said.

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REMY ABROUGHT DAILY EGYPTIAN

Please see page 4 for story

School of Engineering strikes new deal KIA SMITH Daily Egyptian The transition between community college and a four-year university is easier for engineering students thanks to increasing cohesion between the university and Kaskaskia College.

Kaskaskia College in Centralia and SIU’s college of engineering signed an agreement last week that assists students who have an associate degree in preengineering with transferring their credits to the engineering college.

The agreement is part of a dual-admission program between Transfer Student Services and Kaskaskia College.

Amanda Sutton, the assistant director for Transfer Relations Services at SIU. The dual admission program was created to assist

SIU to host history fair Pg 2

students who knew they were going to attend a community college before finishing at a four-year university.

“For students who plan to attend a community college first, we help them pick classes that will allow them to transition faster,” she said. “We also allow students to take classes online so they can access courses that they would need to take here, such as the UCOL 101 class.”

Sutton said agreements like the one between Kaskaskia and SIU are very common throughout the Midwest.

“In Illinois, we have active recruiters in nearly every community college, as well as the border states such as Wisconsin and Missouri,” she said.

Students who transfer to SIU have the option to participate in the dual-admission program, with one of the major benefits

being the locked-in tuition rates, Sutton said.

“The mission of the dual-admission program is to not only eliminate extra years for students, but also saves them extra money that is usually accumulated going through a traditional university,” she said.

Chris Pearson, the coordinator of recruitment for the college of engineering, said the new agreement means a great deal of change is coming to the School of Engineering.

“The agreement is a direct articulation agreement between us and Kaskaskia,” Pearson said. “The students in Kaskaskia’s associate engineer of science program allows students to complete their degree in whatever they’re engineering desires may be.”

Though this agreement is fairly new and Please see COLLEGE · 3

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

SIU to host 25th annual history fair LUKE NOZICKA Daily Egyptian The history department will host the 25th Annual Southern Illinois Regional History Fair Saturday in the Student Center.

More than 300 high school and middle school students will have their plays, essays display boards, historical reconstructions and web productions judged by 50 history students, faculty, professor emeriti and alums.

Jonathon Wiesen, a professor in history and coordinator of the fair, said every presentation relates to the history of Illinois.

“They do a display on something regarding Lincoln or a march of neo-nazis in Skokie, or something like that,” he said.

About 19 schools will participate, half of which are middle schools, he said.

Wiesen said there is special event at 12:30 p.m. called “Highlights from Morris Library Special Collections: A Special Viewing for History Fair Students, Parents, and Teachers.”

He said this is the first time the

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“We’re going to spend several months talking about what the alternatives will be, the cuts that are going to be made if we do not do something in Illinois and that may change public opinion around.

It may prompt some legislators to … vote for this thing.”

However, Poshard said other parts of the poll show a conflict of interest. While 60 percent of those polled wanted to cut

fair will hold this event, where librarians will display treasures of the library “I’m hoping they pull out their 4,000-year-old clay tablet from Iraq,” Wiesen said.

He said librarians might also display a handwritten Abe Lincoln Speech or a page from the Gutenberg Bible.

The exhibitions are open to the public from 1 to 2 p.m. after all final judgments. The showcases will be displayed in the Student Center Ballrooms A, B and C. Winners will advance to the Illinois History Expo in Springfield May 8.

“We’re here to see students who want to pursue their interest in history further,” Wiesen said.

“Some certainly have come to SIU, some past participants who have become my student.”

Luke Nozicka can be reached at lnozicka@dailyegyptian.com, on Twitter at @LukeNozicka, or 536-3311 ext. 268.

the income tax rate, the same percentage, or even more, didn’t want any program cuts, he said.

“You can’t have it both ways,” he said. “If you can’t maintain the present revenue stream, then the only way that you can look at balancing a budget is to cut services.”

Karsten Burgstahler can be reached at kburgstahler@dailyegyptian.com, on Twitter @kburgstahler_DE or by phone at 536-3311 ext. 254.

Police Blotter February 8 Carbondale Police The Carbondale Police Department responded to the following events on the following days: Thursday On the 500 block of S. Rawlings to a report of aggravated domestic battery.

On the 900 block of W. Sycamore to a report of battery.

On the 500 block of S. Washington Street to a report of identity theft.

Friday: On the 800 block of W. Mill Street to a report of a suicide attempt.

On the 800 block of N. James Street to a report of disorderly conduct.

On W. Oak Street and N. Illinois Avenue N. to a report of four liquor control offenses.

Saturday: On the 600 block of Agriculture Drive to a report of a man down emergency.

On the 400 block of W. Mill to a report of assault.

On the 200 block of W. Monroe Street to a report of three battery charges.

Sunday: On the 600 block of Agriculture Drive to a report of sexual assault.

On the 400 block of W. Jackson Street to a report of assault.

On the 700 block of S. James Street to a report of theft from vehicle.

Monday: On the 300 block of W. Oak Street to a report of disorderly conduct.

On the 500 block of W. Sycamore to a report of criminal damage to property.

On the 500 block of S. Illinois Avenue to a report of theft.

Tuesday: On the 600 block of Agriculture Drive to a report of a suicide attempt.

On the 800 block of Lincoln Drive to a report of disorderly conduct.

On the 1900 block of W. Main Street to a report of theft.

Wednesday: On the 400 block of 1 & 2 S. Beveridge Street to a report of disturbance.

Chicago, was arrested at Lot 62 on possession of cannabis. Bivens was issued a Carbondale City notice to appear and released.

Eli X. Scherer, a 19-year-old freshman from Jonesboro, and a 17-year-old female, were arrested at Mae Smith for underage consumption of alcohol and a false fire alarm. They were issued a Carbondale City pay by mail citations and released. An unidentified suspect discharged a fire extinguisher into a dorm room. There was no fire and no reported injuries.

Investigation continues.

Friday: Jack T. Yucknut, an 18-year-old freshman from Bannockburn, was arrested at Scheider Hall for possession of drug paraphernalia. Yucknut was issued a Carbondale City notice to appear and released.

Caprisha L. Norfleet, an 18-year-old freshman from Chicago, was arrested at thr Recreation Center for theft under $500, consisting of a coat and wallet. Norfleet was issued a Carbondale City notice to appear and released.

Lauren K. Wright, an 18-year-old freshman from Chicago, and Jhamilah D. Levy, a 19-year-old freshman from Chicago, were arrested at Sam’s Cafe for resisting and obstructing a police officer. They were issued a Carbondale City notice to appear and released.

Paul D. Hall, a 21-year-old freshman from Chicago, was arrested at Schneider Hall for possession of paraphernalia.

Hall was issued a Carbondale City pay by mail citations and released.

Saturday: Malcolm A. Blockett, a 22-year-old from Plainfield, was arrested at the Student Center McDonald’s for assault. Blockett was issued a Carbondale City notice to appear and released.

Samantha M. Burnett, a 35-year-old from Centralia, was arrested at the Student Center McDonald’s on a failure to appear warrant out of Franklin County on an original charge of obstructing identification. Burnett posted $275 cash bong and released.

Aaron M. Leuty, a 20-year-old junior from Mt. Vernon, was arrested at Wall and Grand Apartment Building 2 for public urination. Leuty was issued a Carbondale City notice to appear and released.

Sunday: Isaac Lopera, a 19-year-old sophomore from Orland Park, was arrested at Charlotte West Stadium for criminal damage to state property – a light bulb – and underage consumption of alcohol. Lopera was issued a Carbondale City notice to appear and released.

DPS Crime Log The SIU Department of Public Safety responded to the following events on the following days: Thursday: Harlie R. Bivens, a 19-year-old freshman from

SOURCE: CARBONDALE CITY POLICE, SIUC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

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Though this agreement is fairly new and there has not been a chance to get feedback from students, Pearson anticipates a positive impact.

“I think it will help greatly, considering that we have such a healthy relationship already with Kasaskia,” he said. “Transfer students make up 20 to 40 percent of our combined undergrad and graduate student body. I think we will get a considerable amount of those students in Carbondale.”

Both Sutton and Pearson agreed the largest benefit of this arrangement is providing students a roadmap for what they need to do to get through college without taking extra time or spending extra money.

“I truly believe that the biggest (benefit) is for the student in this type of direct-articulation agreement because all the classes they are taking automatically transfer to a degree,” he said. “Students get dollar value for their time and money spent.”

Pearson said getting an associate degree prior to a bachelor’s makes an individual more marketable in the workplace, especially in the engineering field.

“An associate’s shows that a student took advantage of the best utilization for their time and money,” Pearson said.

For more information on the dual admission program, or transfer student services visit admissions.siu.edu/dap.

Kia Smith can be reached at ksmith@dailyegyptian.com on Twitter @KiaSmith__ or 536-3311

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Either the number of hours available or the number of students SIU is able to employ could be impacted, she said.

“Certainly either approach would be damaging to students who are working to pay for college, and their financial challenges would in turn challenge the university,” Cheng said.

Quinn has recommended flat funding for universities in fiscal year 2015, and while Quinn did not address the minimum wage during his budget address, as it does not factor in to state appropriations, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute director David Yepsen said the added expenditures could be left to the university.

“It would be up to the university to make more cuts,” he said. “That will be part of the debate on the minimum wage, but when I say minimum wage isn’t a budget issue, I’m talking about at the state level.”

Cheng said she doubts the state would provide extra funds if wages went up — flat funding is the best the university was told to hope for.

“If we chose to prioritize student employment, then we would have to look for something else in our budget, and I have not identified where we would find $2 million in our budget,” she said.

Cheng said no students have approached her seeking an increase in minimum wage on campus In general, the minimum wage issue divides economists and politicians

because of one main debate: how sensitive businesses are to wage increases, economics professor Kevin Sylwester said.

The margin of increase is also important, Sylwester said. Some politicians might argue the substantial $2.85 increase will push places to lay off. “(These people would argue) they just can’t absorb the cost increases,” he said. “And (they also say) you and I, as consumers, will also see price increases at McDonald’s and other businesses that use a lot of minimum wage labor.”

Others may argue the margin is not large enough to force businesses’ hands.

Even if the increase was not as much, for example $7.25 to $9, people who argue the increase is too high might be happy, but those who argue it is too little may

not settle.

“If you believe the minimum wage won’t cost a lot of jobs, then there’s no reason to try to find that happy medium, because in some sense you can have your cake and eat it too,” Sylwester said.

Ultimately, well-intentioned economists can be on both sides of the argument, he said.

“It’s not necessarily the case of one side trying to dupe the other,” Sylwester said. “These are hard questions to answer.”

Karsten Burgstahler can be reached at kburgstahler@dailyegyptian.com, on Twitter @kburgstahler-DE or by phone at 536-3311 ext. 254.

TSA wants police at checkpoints after LAX shooting TAMI ABDOLLAH Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The Transportation Security Administration recommended Wednesday that armed law enforcement officers be posted at airport security checkpoints and ticket counters during peak hours after a review of last year’s fatal shooting at Los Angeles International Airport.

The 25-page report to Congress obtained by The Associated Press makes 14 recommendations that do not carry a price tag and are somewhat dependent on local authorities who provide airport security.

While airport security has been beefed up since 9/11, the shooting exposed communication problems and gaps in police patrols that left an LAX terminal without an armed officer for nearly 3 1/2 minutes as a gunman targeted TSA officers with a rifle Nov. 1.

The AP has reported that the two armed airport police officers assigned to Terminal 3 were on break

that morning and hadn’t notified dispatchers as required. Months earlier, LAX had changed staffing plans to have officers roam terminals instead of staffing checkpoints such as the one the gunman approached.

TSA conducted the review of nearly 450 airports nationwide after Officer Gerardo Hernandez was killed in the agency’s first line-of-duty death.

Two officers and a passenger were wounded. Paul Ciancia, 24, a Pennsville, N.J., native, has pleaded not guilty to 11 federal charges, including murder of a federal officer.

The review found most TSA officers are concerned for their safety and want better security.

Report recommendations include requiring TSA employees, who are unarmed, to train for an active shooter incident. It specifically discarded the notion of creating an armed unit of TSA officers.

TSA Administrator John Pistole has said he doesn’t believe more guns at checkpoints are the solution, but the union representing 45,000 TSA officers said the

recommendations strengthen their position to create an armed unit of TSA officers.

While the report is being presented to Congress, there is no specific action lawmakers must take.

Airports are run by local operators, and because each airport is different, each is responsible for creating its own security plan that must be approved by TSA. The agency has general guidelines that airport plans must meet, and an airport can be fined for violations.

“The current patchwork of local law enforcement agencies across the country inevitably leaves gaps in security, as we saw at LAX,” said J. David Cox Sr., national president of the American Federation of Government Employees. “Only an armed law enforcement unit within TSA can ensure the constant and consistent presence of sufficient law enforcement resources needed in the immediate area of the checkpoints and other key locations in order to prevent another tragedy like the one that occurred at LAX.”

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

‘Athena’ bears fruit at Kleinau Theater JAKE SUDERNS Daily Egyptian One encounter this weekend at the Kleinau Theater could change a girl’s life forever.

“Athena and the Apple,” from writerdirector Nicole Wood, a doctoral candidate in performance studies from Chicago, in part explores experimentation through the frame of fruit.

“I had originally produced this script in a playwriting class,” she said. “that was about a woman who masturbated with a piece of fruit and a tree grew out of her vagina.”

Wood said the piece she originally intended to produce had so much going on, it would require a large cast, among other obstacles. It could not be produced, so she transformed the piece to focus on two central actors.

The performance features two new talents to the Kleinau Theater’s stage: Ruby Roknic, a senior from LaGrange Park studying university studies plays Athena, and Pearl Cummings, a junior from Chicago studying performance studies, plays the apple. Each, however, do participate in multiple parts.

“It’s all about being creative in trying to tell a complex, goofy, entertaining story, but also one everyone can connect to,” Roknic said. “It’s been fun to be a part of.”

As it is a Kleinau performance, “Athena” is an experimental composition of writing as well as acting. It is comprised of minimalist sets dealing with a surrealist narrative that explores extraordinary realities.

“When you experiment, you can’t have a preWood said. “You have to be genuinely open and a

Eminem, Outkast top 2014 Lollapalooza lineup CARYN ROUSSEAU Associated Press C H I C A G O — Eminem and Outkast will headline a diverse lineup of more than 130 acts at this year’s three-day Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, Jane’s Addiction lead singer and Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell announced Wednesday.

The lineup also includes recent Grammy darling Lorde, rockers Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys and electronic dance music stars Calvin Harris and Skrillex.

“Every year you’re shooting to have just an incredible bill that people will look at and say, ‘I’m there,’” Farrell said in an interview. “The music is going to entertain them and do wonders for their heart and so is the city.”

This year marks the festival’s 10year anniversary in Chicago’s lakefront Grant Park. This year acts will perform on eight stages from Aug.

1-3. The full lineup is available on Lollapalooza’s website.

Last year’s lineup included The Cure, Mumford & Sons, The Killers and Nine Inch Nails. Eminem last played Lollapalooza in 2011.

“He’s on top of his game and he’s doing a great show,” Farrell said. “His live show is incorporating really wellmade video and guest appearances.”

Outkast announced earlier this year that they were coming off hiatus and performing more than 40 festival dates in 2014.

Pop fans will be excited for Lorde, whose hit “Royals” won song of the year and best pop solo performance at this year’s Grammy Awards.

“She’s got a love affair going with her audience,” Farrell said. “They scream and howl for her.”

Farrell works each year to curate a lineup. This year he said it wasn’t that play Lollapalooza.

little bit objective to what’s in front of you.”

“Athena and the Apple” divides itself through three storylines. One storyline explores emotions to relate with the audience, while the experimental scenes. Some are musical with dramatic dance and song, while others speak directly to the audience and one makes use of a “smell-camera.” Wood got the idea for one story, set on a lifeboat, from a short story.

“I came up with these three narratives. I was still stuck on this image of the fruit, then the smellcamera and then I came upon the life boat,” Wood said. “The lifeboat story was actually adapted from a short story by Mathew Swanson called ‘Floating on the Ocean.’”

“Athena and the Apple” uses explanatory phrases in place of things that are usually silent, like body language —the actors speak phrases

such as, “an awkward silence ensues” in place of the silence. The performance often breaks the fourth wall and speaks genuinely to the audience.

Words of intrigue relative to the piece are picked apart and discussed in depth, often included and explored dramatically deep within the narrative.

The performance shifts between the literal and intangible —It must be taken as both literal and metaphorical. The piece delivers a message of simple human experience and experimentation.

Wood said that if one considers art and science the ways in which experimentation truly involves both doing and thinking.

“If you like sex, experimenting and surviving, this is the play to watch,” Cummings said.

Jake Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@dailyegyptian.com

Permanent paws

LEWIS MARIEN · DAILY EGYPTIAN

Todd Bass, right, of Carbondale, has a laugh while working on a tattoo for Lex Dietz, of Ava, Wednesday at Triphammer Tattoo in Carbondale. The tattoo Bass is working on is a paw print of the first service dog Dietz trained for her company Sit Service Dogs, that trains and places service dogs with people who have physical disabilities. Bass, who has been in the tattoo industry for 12 years, co-owns the parlor with his wife Rebekah.

OpiniOn

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Editorial Policy

Notice

Our Word is the consensus of the DAILY EGYPTIAN Editorial Board on local, national and global issues affecting the Southern Illinois University community. Viewpoints expressed in columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Egyptian.

The DAILY EGYPTIAN is a “designated public forum.” Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. We reserve the right not to publish any letter or guest column.

Illinois State’s hush money Chicago Tribune Illinois State University President Timothy Flanagan abruptly resigned last weekend after campus police finished an investigation into an allegation that he assaulted a groundskeeper at Flanagan’s universityowned home. On Tuesday, he was charged by the McLean County state’s attorney with one count of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of 30 days in jail.

In a one-paragraph news release announcing his resignation, the university’s board of trustees thanked him for his service.

Nothing to see here, folks.

Move along.

The board hired Flanagan less than a year ago. Flanagan departs with an outsized golden parachute and an agreement that everyone will keep quiet about the whole thing. Paragraph 5 of Flanagan’s departure deal: “The parties agree that other than the press release ... the parties will not make any further comments regarding Flanagan’s resignation.”

The trustees are giving him a big fat check — courtesy of students and taxpayers. Flanagan will collect at least $480,418 as a partial buyout of his three-year

contract. He’ll receive a final paycheck for his regular wages and accumulated leave time.

He’ll be allowed to live in the university-owned home at least until late July.

What are the ISU trustees thinking? What are they hiding?

Do they need a reminder that they preside over a public university?

In its latest budget proposal, ISU is asking for $74 million from taxpayers for next year, the same amount the school received in the current fiscal year, according to the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

The university’s overall budget is more than $400 million.

Your money, taxpayers. But do wnot you dare ask questions about Flanagan’s departure. Do not ask why a public university would allow a nondisclosure clause in a severance package.

Do not ask why the university would pay someone off in the midst of an investigation.

If Flanagan was in the wrong, why wasn’t he simply fired without a big payout? And if he was in the right, why is he leaving?

ISU board President Michael McCuskey, a senior U.S. District Court judge, hung up on us when we started asking those questions. Trustee Jay Bergman of Joliet said the board felt “it

was best for the university to get everything behind us and agree to a reasonable compromise. He wasn’t a good fit for ISU. All sides agreed this was the best solution, given the alternatives, the hassle.”

Read between the lines: The trustees didn’t want to deal with a potential lawsuit. They did not want to deal with questions or unflattering publicity. They wanted this to go away.

We hear that a lot in Illinois.

In 2012, Michael Hogan resigned under pressure as president of the University of Illinois, but held a professorship with a $285,100 starting salary.

Anonymous emails sent to a university advisory board that attempted to influence school policy were traced to his chief of staff, Lisa Troyer. She resigned and received $175,000 and a different job at the school. The university spent another $250,000 on public relations efforts to deal with the scandal. The school also agreed to delay Hogan’s departure long enough for him to qualify for a $37,500 bonus.

Your money at work.

Two top administrators at Northern Illinois University who faced misconduct investigations were given nearly $80,000 to go away in 2012.

Last summer, Metra’s board pulled a similar stunt with the buyout of Executive Director Alex Clifford, who said he had been pressured to hire patronage workers. Metra’s board gave Clifford a severance package worth $871,000 and everybody promised not to talk about it.

Enough. Public bodies need to be transparent about their business. They need to quit this game of hush money.

They should not be allowed to enter into secret severance agreements. We have called on the General Assembly to pass a bill aimed at stopping this practice. How much more tax money has to be shoveled into golden parachute deals before lawmakers respond?

University officials cry about diminishing state funds. They show up in Springfield every year asking for more money. They cripple their argument when they waste money like this.

Now, back to the ISU board.

Who will be the first trustee to own up to making a top hire who “wasn’t a good fit,” who lasted less than a year, whose secretive departure is costing big money?

Who will be the first trustee to take responsibility and resign?

No parachute necessary.

Editorial Cartoon

About Us The DAILY EGYPTIAN is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale 50 weeks per year, with an average daily circulation of 15,000. Fall and spring semester editions run Monday through Thursday. Summer editions run Tuesday through Thursday. All intersession editions run on Wednesdays. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale and Carterville communities.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

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Calendar Events

March 27 - 30

Friday 28

Thursday 27 Pinch Penny Pub

NCAA Action Blackhawks vs Bruins @ 6 p.m.

Blues vs Wild @ 7 p.m.

Pint Night

Tres Hombres

Mortimer Bustos @ 10 p.m.

Hangar 9

Johnathan Richman (of the Modern Lovers) / Vinyl Dance Party @ 7 p.m. $15

The Grotto Lounge

Live Jazz w/ Coulter, Goot and Wall @ 7 p.m.

Student Center

SPC Films Presents: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug @ 7 p.m. $2 SIU Students w/ ID $3 General Public $2 Children Bowling & Billards: Cosmic Bowling @ 8 - 11 p.m.

Grinnel Hall-Lower Level

Lower-Level: Movie Night hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha @ 7:06 p.m.

Pinch Penny Pub

NCAA Action Blackhawks vs Senators @ 6:30 p.m.

Tres Hombres Ivas John Band @ 9 p.m.

Hangar 9

Cosby Sweater Featuring Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee @ 9 p.m. $10

Copper Dragon Matt Poss Band @ 9 p.m.

Curbside

Fabulous Decline, Soul Census, JD Kemp @ 9 p.m.

Rustle Hill Winery Movin’ Mary @ 6 - 9 p.m.

Student Center

SPC Films Presents: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug @ 7 and 10 p.m. $2 SIU Students w/ ID $3 General Public $2 Children

7

Thursday, March 20, 2014 Dawgs Nite Out @ 8 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Saturday 29 Quigley Auditorium

Vairety Show hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha @ 7:06 p.m.

Pinch Penny Pub Blues vs Stars @ 7 p.m.

Tres Hombres The Venturis @ 9 p.m.

Hangar 9

Orismo w/ American Lion @ 9 p.m. $3

The Grotto Lounge

Well Well Well (Blues) Live @ 9:30 p.m.

Copper Dragon Wedding Banned @ 9 p.m.

Sunday 30 Pinch Penny Pub

NCAA Action Blackhawks vs Penguins @ 6:30 p.m.

The Grotto Lounge Home-Style Comfort Food Sunday

Rustle Hill Winery Rip Lee Pryor @ 1 - 4 p.m.

Blue Sky Winery

Beattie Rhodes (Acoustic Rock) @ 2 - 5 p.m.

Von Jakob Vineyard Dave Caputo Duo @ 2:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Starview Winery

Misdemeanor Marty @ 1 - 4 p.m.

Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall

Tim Whiteford @ 2 - 5 p.m.

Ivas John Band @ 6 - 9 p.m.

Outside The Box: Erik Rohde, violin - Music of Adams, Tews, Xenaxis @ 7:30 p.m.

Richard Davis Cello Recital @ 4 p.m.

Jeffrey Beers Tuba Recital @ 2 p.m.

Von Jakob Vineyard

Student Center

Rustle Hill Winery

Blue Confusion @ 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Starview Winery Adam Williams @ 3 - 7 p.m.

Student Center

SPC Films Presents: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug @ 7 and 10 p.m. $2 SIU Students w/ ID $3 General Public $2 Children Craft Shop: Fused Glass @ 1 -3 p.m. $15 Students, $20 Others Craft Shop: Basic Bike Repair @ 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. $5 students $10 others March of Dimes @ 7:06 p.m.

Student Recreation Center

Saluki Cheerleading Pre-Tryout Clinic @ 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Bowling & Billards: Sunday Funday @ 1 - 5 p.m.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Allen gets $15.5M from Bears ANDREW SELIGMAN Associated Press The Chicago Bears were looking to jolt their struggling defense. How does adding Jared Allen sound?

The Bears agreed to a four-year contract with the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Wednesday, replacing one accomplished pass rusher with another as they rebuild a defense that ranked among the league’s worst last season.

A person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press that Allen will get $15.5 million guaranteed on a deal that could be worth as much as $32 million. The person requested anonymity because the terms have not been announced.

Allen’s deal can be voided down to three years and $24 million, but the first two years of his salary and a roster bonus next March are fully guaranteed.

The 31-year-old Allen spent the previous six years with the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings. He will take over for Julius Peppers, who signed with Green Bay as a free agent after being released by the Bears.

Chicago’s defense ranked 30th in the NFL last season and was 32nd and last against the run.

“This is another important step in our continued efforts to build our team towards a championship level,” general manager Phil Emery told the team’s website.

In a statement, Allen thanked his 3150 S. Rocky Comfort Rd. Makanda (618) 995-9463 blueskyvineyard.com NEW SPRING HOURS: Hours: MON -THU 10-6:30

FRI. 10-Sunset SAT. 10:00-7:30

SUN. 12-7:00

GOLF

CONTINUED FROM

teammates and coaches in Minnesota along with the fans.

“I can only hope that I have left with you all, with even a fraction of the positive support and impact you have had on my life, my foundation and my family,” he said. “I am very excited about this next chapter in my career with the Chicago Bears and can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.”

He had 11½ sacks last season, reaching double digits in sacks for seven straight years, and is considered a solid run defender.

Allen also had talks with the Seahawks and Cowboys. His move to the Bears adds plenty of intrigue to the NFC North picture.

The Vikings acquired Allen from Kansas City in 2007 and signed him to a six-year, $73 million contract that at the time made him the highest-paid defensive player in the league. Allen was one of the mostfeared pass rushers in the NFL over the life of that deal. In 2011, he had 22 sacks.

He made $17 million last season, and the Vikings, who were coming off a disappointing 5-10-1 record, were looking to get younger at the position.

“We wish Jared the best as he turns to the next chapter of his NFL career,” general manager Rick Spielman said in a statement. “Not only was he an outstanding player on the field for the Vikings over his six

seasons, but he also helped change lives in our community through his charitable work. Jared will always be a fan favorite, and we hope he stays involved with the Vikings franchise in years to come.”

Minnesota signed Everson Griffen to a big contract to take Allen’s place and also said goodbye to stalwart defensive tackle Kevin Williams in a revamped front four under new coach Mike Zimmer. The Vikings did express some interest in having Allen return, but it became clear early in the process that the numbers wouldn’t match up.

Allen said he wasn’t looking to simply chase Super Bowl rings or become a situational pass rusher at this stage of his career, so he took his time trying to find the right fit. When Allen hit the market with Peppers and the Cowboys’ DeMarcus Ware, three of the most accomplished defensive ends of their generation were available. Ware signed with Denver, and Peppers got a three-year, $26.5 million deal with $7.5 million guaranteed from the Packers earlier in free agency.

“We believe he’s going to come in hungry and excited to be part of our football team, and we believe he’ll fit right in with the other new players that we’ve added and the guys that are already on the defensive side of the ball,” coach Marc Trestman told the team’s site.

11

One such player that will get an opportunity this weekend is freshman Savannah Myers. Myers said she is excited at the chance to play competitively on her team’s home course.

“I feel pretty comfortable playing on this course, I’ve been playing on it for a couple of months,” Myers said.

“Off the tee, I’ve been pretty nice lately. I’ve been pretty consistent in the fairway.”

Chicago State University will make the trip to Carbondale for the Saluki Invitational, where Mihelich coached from 2007 to 2011. In her time with the Cougars, Miehlich turned a perennial last place team into a golf program that was competing to win tournaments.

Mihelich said she is looking forward to hosting her former team.

“I have two players on the team still, Brooke Melvin who is a senior, and Jessica Peatross who is a senior who I

had the pleasure of coaching so it will be really good to see them,” Mihelich said. “They could be in the mix too… I love to see that school, and if there was another school to win outside of us, I’d be really happy for Chicago State.”

While the odds to win the Saluki Invitational are stacked in SIU’s favor, Rushing said she would be happy just to see her team perform well.

“It would be nice to win, we won my freshman and sophomore year and that’s a great accomplishment,” she said. “If we play our best then there will be no regrets.”

The Saluki Invitational will take place all-day Sunday and Monday at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale.

Tony McDaniel can be reached at tmcdaniel@ dailyegyptian.com, @tonymcdanielDE or at 536-3311 ext. 282

Thursday, March 27, 2014

9

10 DE

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Level: 1

2

3 4

FOR RELEASE MARCH 3, 2012

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by3 box (in bold borders) contain every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to SOLUTION solve Sudoku, visit TO WEDNESDAY’S PUZZLE w w w. s u d o ku . o rg. u k .

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

03/27/14

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved Friday’s Puzzle Solved Monday’s Puzzle Solved

UnscrambleUnscramble these four Jumbles, these four Jumbles, one letter toone each square, letter to each square, to form fourtoordinary words. form four ordinary words.

AVEEW

AVEEW AVEEW

©2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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39 “__ been to the mountaintop!”

42 Sled dog 44 Mafia member 46 __-tied; unable to speak 47 Neat as a __ 49 Bread ingredient

50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 60

03/26/14

Ms. Zellweger Ridicules Boring Bird of peace Uses a shovel Midwest state Journey Time long past Mr. Parseghian

NOONIT

NOONIT NOONIT

DIALNS

DIALNS DIALNS

Now arrange the circled letters

Now thearrange circled the letters to arrange formNow the surprise answer, circled as letters to form thetosurprise answer, as form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon. suggested by the above suggested bycartoon. the above cartoon.

Answer: Answer: Answer: Answer:

Pick up the Daily Egyptian each day to test your crossword skills

Com so e colu 3-by (in b cont digit For how Sud

Unscramble these four Jumbles, www THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME one letter to each square, © 2014 The Mepham Group. Distribute

by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

by David L. HoytTribune and Jeff Knurek Content Agency. All rights reser to form four ordinary words.

Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jumble

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 23 25 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 35 36 38

DOWN Ice cream treat Musical work Faucet problem Intertwined King’s order Mah-jongg or checkers Tear Five and six Mary __ Moore Hits Mr. Sevareid Cash register Gap Siesta Hayes or Hunt More bananas Actress Hilary Wrestler Hulk Jagged Paver’s goo Feels sore Sword fights Sight or taste Greek “T” Writer Bradbury Polite feminine address

Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jumble

1 2 3 4 5 6

Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jumble

ACROSS 1 Shoe bottom 5 White-plumed heron 10 Clockmaker __ Thomas 14 Willing to listen and reconsider 15 Occurring once every 24 hours 16 The Bee Gees, for example 17 Twofold 18 Urge on; force 19 Small brook 20 Look __ at; view with disapproval 22 Car or truck 24 Household pet 25 Actress Bo __ 26 Woolly animal 29 2,000 pounds 30 __ the way; pioneers 34 Dictionary entry 35 Tit for __ 36 Save from peril 37 Long __; in the distant past 38 UFO pilot, perhaps 40 Rooster’s mate 41 Bahamas capital 43 __ League; 8college group 44 Tormé & Tillis 45 Work bread dough 46 Golf peg 47 Group formed to help a sheriff 48 City leader 50 Tease 51 Stomach 54 Crowdedness 58 Stratagem 59 Once more 61 Bull, in Spain 62 Roof overhang 63 Sudden increase 64 Pitcher 65 Get rid of 66 Josh with 67 Gather leaves

Wednesday’s Answers:

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

(Answers tomorrow) (Answers tomorrow) (Answers tomorrow) GUESS CROWN FALLEN LIQUID Jumbles: Jumbles: GUESS CROWN FALLEN LIQUID Jumbles: GUESS CROWN FALLEN LIQUID Wednesday’s Yesterday’s Yesterday’s Yesterday’s Their choice of Leonard Nimoy to play Spock Answer: Their choice of Leonard Nimoy to play Spock Answer: Their choice of Leonard Nimoy to play Spock Answer: Answers: was thisthis — was LOGICAL this — LOGICAL was — LOGICAL

Aries — Today is a 7 — There’s a change in plans. A career opportunity arises from an unexpected source.

Friends are there for you. Be thankful for what you’ve got. Don’t gamble or make expensive vows. Replish stock.

Cancer — Today is a 7 — Your team is hot and ideas pop. Choose one and use it to grow the group fund. Someone could criticize, so rely on your support group. Use a gentle touch rather than force.

Libra — Today is a 7 — Fun does not have to be expensive. Get friends together, and go play in the park, near water, or downtown. Assign a designated driver. Don’t expect to get a lot done. Enjoy company.

Capricorn — Today is a 9 — Let advancement occur naturally. There’s money to be made. Complete tasks as they come. Meet and greet. Dance with chaos. Listen to a critic. Study how others resolved a problem.

Taurus — Today is a 7 — You can do more than you thought. Higherups speak well of you. Have your facts together. It’s empowering.

Don’t forget an important job.

Something doesn’t go as planned.

Leo — Today is an 8 — Love could seem intense; don’t be daunted. It’s worth any suprise. Move around obstacles. Work out mix-ups by being committed to partnership, and be flexible. Spend quiet time together.

Scorpio — Today is a 6 — Revamp or repair a water element in your home. Clean, organize and increase the beauty around you.

Something you try doesn’t work.

Get help from family and friends.

Aquarius — Today is a 9 — It’s a perfect time for a new look.

Revamp your haircut or style. Make creative changes. Do a chore you’ve been avoiding, and free space for something new. Look at all angles.

Gemini — Today is an 8 — Study the itinerary before dashing off. Make sure the numbers balance. Private effort pays off. Someone’s standing for you. Your holdings increase in value. Give love, not money.

Virgo — Today is a 9 — Avoid distractions to savor a moment. Fall in love again. Brainstorm creative career ideas. Infuse passion into your work. Your planning and research pays off. Prepare for your big launch.

Sagittarius — Today is a 7 — A social event could spark romance.

You stumble onto a treasure. Things don’t go as planned. One option may be expensive...it’s not the only one.

Seek advice from many viewpoints.

Pisces — Today is a 6 — Work interferes with play. A compromise can be worked out. Support your team. Get the project rolling. Verify your guest list. Negotiate a fair trade.

Wait to spend untill money comes.

11

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

White kicked the dust into my face AARON GRAFF Daily Egyptian Sprinting is the only event in track that I would be able to finish, even if my time was not ideal.

Junior McKenzie White runs sprints and hurdles for the SIU track team. She ran on the distance medley last season, which was the third-best time in school history and made her an All-Conference athlete.

I have not consistently run since high school gym, but running 30 meters wasn’t too difficult.

Sprints coach Chidi Enyia told me he was going to blow two whistles. The first whistle was to get in the set position and the second meant to run like the wind.

As soon as the first whistle blew, I got in my best position to launch from the ground, but I had no idea of the best way to do so.

The second whistle blew and White was already ahead of me. There was no chance I would catch her. Enyia said he wasn’t keeping my time, but I probably wouldn’t want to know my time anyway.

A 30-meter dash is not much at all. If one runner beats another runner by half a second, they dominated them. White beat me by roughly one second, and she’s just getting over a minor hamstring injury.

The shortest distance sprinters run in competition is 60 meters. Even with our shortened race, White steadily separated herself from me throughout.

I did not warm up near as much as White, and my shoes were worn down compared to her spikes, but that’s no excuse. White dominated the race.

Enyia said the only way to practice sprinting is to actually sprint. He said if I ran 10 to 15 30-meter dashes every day, my time would improve by at least two seconds within two weeks.

White said her best event was the 400-meter hurdles. Luckily for me, there weren’t any hurdles in the track complex. If there were, I

JAKE HAINES · DAILY EGYPTIAN

Junior sprinter McKenzie White was an MVC All-Conference athlete and member of the third place distance medley team last season. White, who recently returned from a minor hamstring injury, also runs in hurdle and relay events. White’s relay team placed first in the 4 X 400 relay at the Saluki Open indoor event. The Salukis will be this weekend for the Bill Cornell Spring Classic at the Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex. would trip over the first one and step over the rest of them to make sure I did not get hurt.

Her time would be at least 10 seconds faster.

White said she’s been on a track team since middle school. Her middle school coach encouraged her to run hurdles at a meet, and she picked it up quickly.

Enyia said sprinting is completely different from distance running. He said it’s hard for

Salukis set to tee off TONY MCDANIEL Daily Egyptian The SIU women’s golf team will look to capitalize on its one and only home tournament this weekend to grab its first win of the spring season.

SIU will host 12 teams this weekend at Hickory Ridge Golf Course for the Saluki Invitational.

Among the teams competing are Missouri Valley Conference foes Evansville University, Indiana State University and Loyola University.

Coach Alexis Mihelich said she likes her team’s chances to win this weekend.

“If we play solid for two rounds, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be in the mix,” Mihelich said.

The Salukis are in a good position heading into their home tournament.

The Salukis finished in the top five in two of the four tournaments they have played in this season. SIU closed out the fall semester with a win at the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raider Intercollegiate tournament in October.

The Salukis will have the comfort of playing on their home course this weekend and Mihelich said the players will have support from their families, as well.

“A lot of the players are regional and their parents will be in town for the home tournament,” Mihelich

said. “They’ll get more support and fan base than they would at an away match. They keep focused a little longer when they know that they have friends and family watching.”

The field for this year’s Saluki Invitational will feature some stiff competition for the Salukis, but among the Dawgs will be defending tournament champion, senior Cassie Rushing.

Rushing will play in her final home tournament for SIU and will take a reserved approach to the tournament, she said.

“I have high expectations because I have won in the past,” Rushing said. “I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself though. I’m just going to play it one hole at a time.”

Coach Mihelich will showcase some of her players that do not get to play the tournaments away from home as well. Mihelich said she will field an ‘A’ and ‘B’ team for the Saluki Invitational based on several factors.

“It’s a majority of qualifying previously for other tournaments, so they play a tournament to get into a tournament,” Mihelich said.

“My decision is based on who has qualified previously and then what their performance was at the tournaments we’ve already played.”

Please see GOLF | 8

athletes in either event do well in the other one. I would challenge White to a mile race, but by the time I finished, White would have finished and been able to take a nap. My best mile in high school was 8:19, and my average was 9:30.

I’m guessing every distance runner, sprinter, jumper, thrower and coach on the track and field roster could beat me in any distance competition.

The SIU track and field team has its first outdoor meet of the season this weekend in Carbondale. The men and women’s teams finished third in conference for the indoor season.

Aaron Graff can be contacted at Agraff@ dailyegyptian.com, @Aarongraff_DE or 5363311 ext. 269

Salukis split doubleheader with SLU TONY MCDANIEL Daily Egyptian Saluki softball turned in a Jekyl and Hyde type performance in their first mid-week matchup of the season.

The Salukis (13-12) traveled to Saint Louis University (14-11) Tuesday for a doubleheader against the Billikens.

The Salukis came into the games riding their first three-game winning streak this season after sweeping Drake University last weekend.

In game one, both teams sent their aces to the circle.

SIU started junior pitcher Katie Bertelsen, who boasts a 1.29 ERA over her last 21.2 innings pitched.

SLU countered with Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week sophomore Brianna Lore, who entered the game with a record of 10-7 and a 3.03 ERA. The game turned into a pitching duel and remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning when Bertelsen gave up a double to Lore.

The Billikens pinch ran for Lore and on the next at-bat SLU scored the run from second to give themselves a 1-0 lead. The one-run lead gave the Billikens their first win over the Dawgs in 12 meetings.

Bertelsen pitched well in the loss, only giving up four hits and the one run. Unfortunately for the Salukis, Lore pitched better. The sophomore

pitcher shut down the Saluki batters completely, throwing a no-hitter.

SIU softball coach Kerri Blaylock said both pitchers had some of their best performances to date. “[Lore] was tough,” she said. “She probably threw as tough against us as anybody we’ve faced … she threw pretty well, but I thought Bertie matched her.

Bertie threw another great game.”

In game two, the Salukis reverted to their usual ways with an offensive outburst.

SIU opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when freshman pitcher Shaye Harre continued to build upon her already impressive RBI total with a three-run double to give her 29 RBIs on the season.

The Billikens scored one run in the bottom of the first, then SIU answered back with two runs of its own in the top of the second inning when junior Kalyn Harker hit a double to left-center field that scored two to make the score 5-1.

Both pitchers were able to hold the opposing lineup in check until freshman Merri Anne Patterson recorded the first two RBIs of her career to make the score 7-2.

The Salukis scored two more runs in the next inning off of another hit

by Harker, this time a two RBI single to right field to make the score 9-2.

Harker would finish the game 3-4 with four RBIs.

Harker said a major part of her success today stemmed from her resolve at the plate.

“I just relaxed more at the plate and tried not to think as much,” she said. “I get in trouble the most when I over-think things at the plate.”

Orsburn continued her strong run of pitching in game two. Orsburn entered in the second inning after Shaye Harre allowed two runs in one inning pitched. Orsburn only allowed one run on five hits over six innings in the 9-3 win, the second of her career. In Orsburn’s last three appearances, she has only allowed one run in 13.1 innings pitched with five strikeouts.

Orsburn said she felt really good in her game against SLU. “My drop ball is working really good right now and my changeup started to work today,” she said. “I think it’s just knowing to go in and do what I’m supposed to do and being able to come through and help the team out.”

SIU’s next set of games will come on the road in a three-game series against Missouri Valley Conference foe Missouri State University (1810) Saturday and Sunday.

Tony McDaniel can be reached at tmcdaniel@dailyegyptian.com, @tonymcdanielDE or at 536-3311 ext. 282

SPORTS

For live updates of all Saluki sports follow @DEsalukis

Page 12 DE Thursday, March 27, 2014

Dawgs topple Evansville’s house of cards

TYLER DAVIS Daily Egyptian Not even 25 mph wind gusts could cool off the red hot Salukis who won their conference opener against the University of Evansville Purple Aces Tuesday.

As temperatures fell and the wind picked up, the women’s tennis team chugged along getting the first four points of the day, going on to defeat Evansville 5-2.

SIU has now won 10 of its last 11 matches and has beaten Evansville three straight times. The Purple Aces have not won in Carbondale since 2006.

The day started with SIU taking two out of three doubles matches to gain the doubles point. Then, the wind began to pick up, causing many players to abandon their normal tennis skirts and short sleeves shirts for long pants and hoodies.

Freshman Meagan Monaghan said she had to change her approach because of the wind.

“I think in the wind you always have to win kind of ugly,” Monaghan said.

“On one side, you hit the ball and it will fly, and on the other side, you hit it and it will be too short, so you definitely have to take that into account.”

It would be hard to tell if the wind affected Monaghan as she played well in singles after she and junior

Natasha Tomishima dropped their doubles match.

Monaghan went on to win her Missouri Valley Conference debut in singles in a nail-biter, 6-2, 3-6 (10-6).

Monaghan, playing No. 3 singles, said her nerves got to her to begin the match.

“I did feel nervous, of course, because it’s the first conference match,” Monaghan said. “I also felt excited because it is conference so it was a wide range of feelings.”

Fellow freshman Polina Dozortseva played well on the day winning her No. 3 doubles match with partner junior Ariadna Cairo Baza, 8-3. She also won her No. 4 singles match, 6-2, 6-4. Baza won her No. 5 singles match as well, 6-1, 6-3.

Dozortseva said her conference debut was not a big deal to her until she heard all the talk surrounding the match.

“It is kind of scary because every one is asking you, ‘First conference match, what are you going to do?’”

Dozortseva said. “‘I’m just like ‘I don’t know, I’m just playing tennis.’”

Coach Audra Anderson said on a day where the team’s top two players took losses in singles, the freshmen were a positive part of the team.

“They definitely were a bright spot and it’s a big difference from the fall,” she said. “I don’t think you could count on them then as much as you can now.”

The lone losses in singles play were

from the No. 1 and 2 slots. Junior Natasha Tomishima fell in a close one 7-6 (3), 2-6, (9-11) and senior Anita Lee lost in a three-set match as well, 6-1, 1-6, 5-7.

At No. 5 singles, junior Gisela Cairo Baza won in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.

Anderson said the team played well even in the losses, but the bottom of the lineup’s success is what carried the team.

“I think we played pretty well,” she said. “Down low, we took care of business and they had some great competitors up at top and we were right in those matches.”

SIU’s next match is at 1 p.m.

Thursday against St. Louis University in St. Louis. The Salukis took down the Billikens, 4-3, last spring.

Thursday begins a busy weekend for the Dawgs, who travel from St. Louis to Louisville, Ky., for matches against ranked opponents.

Saturday, they face the University of Louisville and Lindsey Wilson College, a school where Anderson coached from 2003 to 2007.

Louisville is ranked No. 67 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings and Lindsey Wilson is ranked No. 4 in the National Association Intercollegiate Athletics Rankings.

Tyler Davis can be reached at tdavis@ dailyegyptian.com, on Twitter @

SARAH SCHNEIDER · DAILY EGYPTIAN

Senior Anita Lee waits as her doubles partner, senior Korey Love, returns a volley during their 8-7 (2) win against the University of Evansville doubles team Marketa Trousilova and Marina Moreno Wednesday at University Courts. SIU won overall bringing its record to 11-4.