Daily Egyptian THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016
DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM
SINCE 1916
VOL. 100 ISSUE 74
Black leaders on Research labs filled with energy campus meet to discuss violence at events, racism TIERRA CARPENTER | @TIERRAMC_
A group of the campus' black student leaders met Wednesday to discuss ways to cut down violence at SIU's predominantly black events. Michael Smith, a senior from Chicago studying political science, organized a meeting with about a dozen of his peers to discuss solutions following fights and a shooting at events over the last few semesters. Smith, president of Black Male Roundtable — a registered student organization designed to give African-American males the opportunity to congregate in a safe place — said the violence at these events has remained unaddressed and he sees it as his responsibility to bring the issue to light. He said there are almost eight large events coming up that could potentially become violent. He said these events include Greek-sponsored gatherings such as Stroll like an Iota, Kappa Karnival, Stroll like a Kappa, Kappa Klassic, Players Ball, March of Dimes, the Lil Bibby and Lil Herb concert and a possible variety show. During the meeting Smith suggested he and the other campus leaders help police these events. "Students themselves have certain knowledge of other students our age or non-students our age, we see certain things that administrators might not see or we see certain things that police officers might not see, and we also know certain things," he said. "I feel as though that since we do possess that knowledge, and we have a certain ability in order to prevent things from happening." Jasmine Easter, a senior from Country Club Hills studying psychology, said she doesn’t attend most of these gatherings because of her age and the possibility of violence. "As leaders on this campus … we do self-police in our own situations," said Easter, president of the Association of Black Psychologists. "That’s something that’s great in itself, but I don’t think the responsibility is on every organization to self-police every event, because me personally, I don’t go out every weekend. I don’t go to these events. I'm not going to start to go just to self-police." Smith, who said he will continue to attend black-led events, he wants other campus leaders to be observant and to verbally defuse situations before they escalate. Most of his peers at the meeting were not receptive to the idea — saying they lack training and fear putting themselves in harm's way. However, Smith said he will still take it upon himself to be more vigilant and say something to those in authority, if needed. Other students proposed checking people at the door for weapons and hosting opportunities for students to learn more about the results of violence and how it affects the reputation of minorities on campus. "You can pat people down at the door and let them in, but you can’t stop them from bringing a gun outside," Smith said. "As far as the event that goes on inside, you also can’t stop a fight that happens just because you patted people down. There needs to be extra steps taken." Creyana Towner, a sophomore from Chicago studying accounting, said the solutions to the issue need to be more thought out.
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Autumn Suyko | @AutumnSuyko_DE Sam Bheemireddy, a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry from India, gives a tour Wednesday in Neckers Building of the organic energy research being done in the lab of Kyle Plunkett, an associate professor in chemistry and biochemistry. The Glove Box is filled with non-reactive argon gas so chemicals can be stored without decomposing. The attached gloves are used to prevent air contamination. Researchers in this lab, which was being toured as a part of SIU Energy Day, are attempting to create organic materials that can be used in technology.
DE Poll: How is the budget impasse affecting you? ANNA SPOERRE | @AnnaSpoerre
Seventy percent of SIU students think the Illinois budget stalemate has directly affected their university experience, according to a straw poll conducted this month by the Daily Egyptian. The anonymous poll, conducted April 1 through April 5 collected 970 student responses, many of whom expressed concern for the university's financial state. "It has increased the stress levels in my department, leading to more tension and increased negative interactions among faculty, as well as between faculty and students," one respondent wrote. "It also caused my main professor to retire, and is making recruitment of new students incredibly difficult. It has been a great source of concern and a distraction that has taken away from my educational experience." "I'm a graduate student, and I am fearful that my program will be cut or I will not be funded to teach next year," a student said. "This is distracting and counterproductive to both my student duties (learning, test taking, projects) and my teaching. Graduate school is stressful enough." April begins the 10th month without a
state budget thanks to a stalemate between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democratic legislators, causing many state programs and universities to be affected. State colleges and universities have not received any state money since July 1. Many students directed their anger toward Rauner. "Attempts of our governor to cut educational funding as an approach towards [sic] balancing the Illinois budget shows extreme shortsightedness," a student wrote. "Education is one of the best ways to encourage progress in a variety of industries as well as enhancing economic growth. Clearly governor Rauner doesn't recognize these benefits." Students' jobs have been affected as well. "Funding for research has dramatically decreased and led to my paid research position to not be funded like I was promised," a student wrote. "In turn I have to find a job to cover expenses I have during the school year." Of the almost 1,000 students who responded, nearly half said they are or have been Monetary Award Program grant recipients and almost a third of those respondents said they will not be able to attend SIU in the fall without the grant.
"I am a single mother with little income, living with my son and disabled mother," one woman wrote. "Without this grant, there is no way I will be able to afford college. This grant is vital to my education." MAP grants — which are supposed to be state funded — are awarded on a need basis to help students finance their education. The university has not received any money for the grants and has suggested students may have to repay the grants if the budget impasse isn't resolved. At least one student said MAP grant funding is not among the most important aspects of the funding shortage. "With all of the state's university's struggles with the budget cuts, the MAP grants should be at the bottom of the priority list," another said. "There are several things more important. Keep more teachers, and quit letting kids go to school on my income." When asked about how well-informed they thought they were about the state budget impasse, 22 percent of respondents said they felt very informed, 57 percent said they felt sort of informed, and the rest said they were either not well-informed or unsure. Please see POLL | 2