Daily Egyptian

de MAY 3, 2017

sInce 1916

Canoeing in the flood

DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

Vol.101 Issue 16 @daIlyegyptIan

Faculty leaders brace for staff reductions as budget impasse nears two years BILL LUKITSCH | @lukitsbill LUKE NOZICKA | @lukenozicka ANNA SPOERRE | @annaspoerre

As Illinois universities face uncertain levels of state funding, some professors have elected to leave for employment elsewhere.

“More and more people are considering [leaving] and it’s definitely a rational thing to do,” said Dave Johnson, president of the Faculty Association. “I don’t think you can blame someone.”

The number of faculty has dropped proportional to enrollment, Johnson said, predicting there will be fewer than 500 faculty come fall. But, he said, there are still many good faculty staying, and though there might be fewer opportunities, students can still get a good education at SIU. Enrollment at the campus peaked in fall 1991 when it totaled 24,869. But during the last two decades, SIUC has seen a generally consistent decline in students. In fall 2016, enrollment fell to 15,987, its lowest point since 1965. Overall, there are 15,987 students enrolled, a drop of 1,305 from 2015.

The number of employees at the university has fallen by roughly 14 percent since September 2015, from 3,719 people to 3,138 in January 2017, according to university data. The positions Please see FACULTY | 6

Morgan Timms | @Morgan_Timms After exploring the flooded fields adjacent to Pleasant Hill Road in their canoe, A.J. Kimble, a senior from Jerseyville studying marketing, and Jace Munselle, a senior from Fairfield studying finance and accounting, carry the canoe back to their car Sunday in Carbondale. “These are some of the most beautiful places to canoe,” Kimble said. “We saw a baby owl,” Munselle added. “This is usually the road I take to Giant City,” Munselle said. “Yesterday I was just driving around and saw it was flooded and blocked off. I haven’t been canoeing in a while so we decided to go.” The pair said they canoed for about two miles in the surrounding fields.

Resolution made to congratulate Winston

Equine therapy helps local kids

New SIU grading system to be implemented

Student trustee voting closes Wednesday

Page 2

Page 4

Page 7

Page 8

Student opinion on institutionalized white supremacy

Men's and women's tennis program comes to a close

Former Saluki linebackers in the NFL

23 SIU baseball players eligible for June MLB

Page 9

Pages 10 & 17

Page 13

Page 19

Page 2

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

‘Our passion for dance’

William Cooley | @Wcooley1980 From left: Juliette Makara, a senior from Arlington Heights studying sports administration; Caroline Bush, a junior of Germantown, Tennessee, studying university studies and physical therapy; and Clair Bammann, a sophomore from Pontiac studying civil and environmental engineering, perform a piece titled "Helium" on Saturday during the Southern Illinois Dance Company's Spring concert. in Furr Auditorium. "We had a great group this semester," said Montana Taylor, president of the SIDC and a junior from Atlanta, Georgia majoring in accounting and sports administration. "Everyone was really dedicated to making sure we had a strong, diverse concert that showed people our passion for dance and commitment to improving our technique and versatility as dancers."

Contact Us Email: editor@dailyegyptian.com Editor-in-Chief: Anna Spoerre (618) 536-3397

aspoerre@dailyegyptian.com Campus Editor: Bill Lukitsch (618) 536-3326

blukitsch@dailyegyptian.com Photo Editor: Jacob Wiegand (618) 536-3327

jwiegand@dailyegyptian.com

Advertising Chief: Ad Production Manager: Information Technology Manager: Classifieds Manager:

Design Chief: Abbey La Tour

alatour@dailyegyptian.com Graphics Editor: Reagan Gavin

rgavin@dailyegyptian.com Faculty Managing Eric Fidler Editor: (618) 536-3306

About Us

Business Office: Businesss and Advertsing Director:

Elizabeth Yohe (618) 536-3341 lyohe@dailyegyptian.com Alexis Mendez Eric Gire (618) 536-3310 Brey'onna Mong-Delane (618) 536-3399 classifieds@dailyegyptian.com Arunima Bhattacharya (618) 536-3305 Devin Miller (618) 536-3309

The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale 43 weeks per year, with an average weekly circulation of 12,500. Fall and spring semester editions run every Wednesday. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale and Carterville communities. The Daily Egyptian can be found daily at www.dailyegyptian.com.

Wednesday, May 3 , 2017

Lawmakers congratulate Winston on retirement

Anna Spoerre | @annaspoerre Winston Mezo, also known as the bagel man, shops for supplies Thursday, April 27, 2017, at Walmart in Carbondale before heading to the parking lot of Pinch Penny Liquors to open his “Winston’s Bagels” cart for the last time. Mezo officially retired Sunday, though he was not able to sell his well-known snacks Friday or Saturday because of severe weather. The Herrin native has been a fixture in the community since 1983.

LUKE NOZICKA | @lukenozicka

The Illinois House of Representatives on Thursday introduced a resolution to congratulate Winston Mezo, Carbondale’s legendary bagel man, on his “distinguished career” and retirement.

The resolution, sponsored by four SIU graduates in the legislature and one local representative, calls Mezo’s retirement a major loss to the region.

“Illinois is a better place as a result of his service,” the representatives said in the resolution.

For 34 years, Mezo has stood above a charcoal grill in the parking lot of Pinch Penny Liquors, selling bagels covered in anything from onions, cucumbers and bacon bits to sunflower seeds, raisins, apples

and cinnamon to bar-goers until as early as 3 a.m. He then packs up his supplies and heads to Walmart to restock.

Mezo, better known as the bagel man, has been a local legend since 1983.

The 75-year-old man from Herrin took up the business as a distraction from drinking alcohol.

He now works with a local 12Step program, a group that helps members achieve sobriety.

Mezo has been sober for 35 years and has been making bagels for just as long.

In a recent interview, Mezo said he will terribly miss interacting with SIU students who make their way to his cart.

“You’re not going to believe this when I tell you, but interacting with those kids is a big part of my life,” said Mezo, who never had kids

of his own. “They’re hardworking, industrious. They tell me about school, what their majors are. …

Not in my living experience have I known kids like that.”

The resolution, introduced a day after the Daily Egyptian reported Mezo’s plans for retirement, said tens of thousands of students and community members “have sated late night hunger pangs with a stop by the rolling charcoal grill known as Winston's.”

“It is universally agreed that things just will not be the same without Winston Mezo standing behind his cart,” the resolution stated.

Staff writer Luke Nozicka can be reached at 618-536-3325, lnozicka@dailyegyptian.com

Page 3

Page 4

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Jacob Wiegand | @jawiegandphoto Kennedy Baker, 7, of Goreville, rides Dauber with the assistance of Dallas Broeker, a senior from Chadron, Nebraska, studying nursing, during a session of Specialized Equine Services and Therapeutic Riding on Monday at Giant City Stables in Makanda. The session marked the second time Baker was able to ride a horse without the assistance of another rider to support her. “It’s like when you first see your kid making the first two steps by herself,” said Santiago Tomas, barn manager at the stables who typically rides with Baker. “It kind of gives you pride.”

Equine therapy helps kids take new steps JACOB WIEGAND | @jawiegandphoto

For about three years, Kennedy Baker did not have the ability to hold herself up on a horse. Last month that changed.

Baker, a 7-year-old from Goreville who has cerebral palsy and a brain injury called hypoxic-ischemic

encephalopathy, always needed another rider to sit on the back of the horse with her for support, but now she is able to take the horse’s reins alone. She regularly attends therapy sessions through Specialized Equine Services and Therapeutic Riding at Giant City Stables in Makanda.

“It’s like when you first see your kid making the first two steps by herself,” said Santiago Tomas, barn manager at the stables. “It kind of gives you pride.”

Before last week, Tomas always rode on the back of the horse with Baker, a job he said he has performed since she started therapy sessions. In the

latest session, Kennedy rode without assistance for the second time.

Tomas said he rode about half of the session with Kennedy before letting her do the last half on her own.

Kennedy’s mother, Teresa Baker, said she began bringing her daughter to the therapy sessions because

Kennedy was having some issues with her hips.

“She used to have a big problem with leaning over and not being able to sustain her posture in an upright position,” Teresa said. “And with the horse therapy I think that has helped a lot with stabilization of that.”

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Page 5

Jacob Wiegand | @jawiegandphoto Kennedy Baker, 7, of Goreville, rides Dauber with Santiago Tomas, on back of horse, while Nathan Alcorn, a senior from Galesburg studying outdoor recreation, leads the horse and Dean Arendt a junior from Chapin studying recreation management, follows alongside during a therapeutic riding session Monday at Giant City Stables in Makanda. Tomas, barn manager at Giant City Stables, said he has ridden with Baker since she started her therapy sessions.

After the therapy sessions, Teresa said Kennedy also has more ability to move herself in and out of her wheelchair.

Patricia Nardini, president of Specialized Equine Services and Therapeutic Riding, said the therapy works a person’s core, balance and range of motion all while the participant is having fun.

“The horses are not judgmental,” Nardini said. “They have an incredible healing energy and their emotional intelligence is beyond our imagination.”

She said a horse’s gait is very similar to that of a human’s, which helps riders create muscle memory while sitting on the horse.

Ramona Twellman, owner of the stables and the riding instructor for Specialized Equine Services, said the therapy helps trigger muscles on both sides of the spine for children with cerebral palsy.

“The walk of the horse mimics the hip rotation for walking so it’s real similar to a human,” she said. “People that aren’t walking get the rhythm of

Jacob Wiegand | @jawiegandphoto Ramona Twellman, owner of the stables and the riding instructor for Specialized Equine Services, gives directions to participants during a therapeutic riding session Monday at Giant City Stables in Makanda.

the walk by riding the horse.”

Twellman said the sessions can also help adults who have a range of physical and mental conditions.

Nathan Alcorn, a senior from Galesburg studying outdoor recreation, worked in therapy sessions at the stables as a way to complete fieldwork for his major.

“Many of our clients aren’t able to

walk on their own or do certain things with their hands or feet or legs,” Alcorn said. “When they’re on the horse, the horse is their legs and they get to feel the experience of walking through the horse.”

Photo and multimedia editor Jacob Wiegand can be reached at jwiegand@dailyegyptian.com.

Page 6

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

University of Illinois-Springfield faculty union to strike DAWN RHODES | Chicago Tribune

A faculty union at University of Illinois at Springfield began striking Tuesday morning after lengthy negotiations over its first contract broke down.

Leaders of UIS United Faculty, which represents around 160 tenured and tenure-track professors, announced the union will strike until further notice.

UIS United Faculty is a chapter of University Professionals of Illinois, IFT Local 4100, and was certified in

FACULTY

CONTINUED FROM

1

recorded during that time reflect faculty, staff and administrative jobs.

On Monday, the university issued letters to its non-tenure track professors that indicate whether the positions they hold will be refilled in the fall.

Shannon Lindsay, president of the non-tenure track faculty union, said those letters can definitively answer whether a teacher is rehired — with a “yes” or a “no” — or simply give them a “maybe.”

“We had a meeting in April and warned the constituency that these letters were coming,” Lindsay said.

“They come every year, but this year we were expecting more noes and maybes because of the budget impasse.”

University spokeswoman Rae Goldsmith said in an email Tuesday that there was not yet an official count of non-tenure track positions that would be offered in the coming months. The associate provost’s office is still processing the letters, which originate from individual campus units, Goldsmith said.

SIU President Randy Dunn in March announced the Carbondale campus would have to cut $30 million from its operating budget. Interim Chancellor Brad Colwell responded with a message to the campus community, saying $10 million of those cuts would come from

February 2015. There are eight other unions on the Springfield campus.

History professor Kristi Barnwell said the two sides have been in contract talks for nearly two years.

Members overwhelmingly voted in mid-April to authorize a strike.

Barnwell said union demands include faculty protections "from capricious and arbitrary" administrative decisions on reappointments and promotions, a grievance policy and fair wages.

"We did not want it to come to this, but Chancellor (Susan J.) Koch

and the U. of I. administration forced the strike by dragging its feet and playing games at the bargaining table," Barnwell said in a statement. "Our students deserve this to be settled, and we hope that management will change course and agree to a deal that's fair to the faculty, our students and the community."

More negotiating sessions are planned for May 5, May 19 and May 26, according to a campus message from Melissa Mlynski,

senior director of human resources.

"This is disappointing, but progress is being made in negotiations, and our campus will carry on in pursuit of our core mission," UIS spokesman Derek Schnapp said in a statement. "Students are at the forefront of all we do, so the work to reach a satisfactory agreement must continue."

Schnapp said it was not clear exactly how many members would walk out Tuesday, but officials previously said they expect most

courses to be held as scheduled.

Students were advised to attend their classes as normal and to wait at least 15 minutes before leaving a class if the instructor is not present.

"Should there be a strike, we will work to minimize the disruption of instruction and to ensure that you can continue to make timely progress towards your degrees, meet your course objectives and receive your grades in a timely fashion," vice chancellor for student affairs Clarice Ford wrote to students April 27.

unfilled positions and would likely result in layoffs.

The message also indicated that all vacant salary lines would be swept to a central account at the beginning of the fiscal year to allow flexibility with filling positions based on necessity. The chancellor’s office said an estimated 158 vacant positions would remain unfilled in addition to the 293 cut since the beginning of the state budget impasse, now in its 22nd month.

But when tenured professors like Stacey Sloboda leave, there’s no guarantee their jobs will be filled.

An associate professor in the university’s School of Art and Design, Sloboda began her career in academia at SIU 12 years ago. When she arrived, there were eight art historians in her department. Now there are two.

“I don’t blame the university at all — it’s just declining enrollment and declining revenue,” she said of the cuts to her department.

Had it not been for the gridlock in Springfield, Sloboda said it is unlikely she would have looked for another job. But in March, she will move with her husband and their 7-year-old son to take a position at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

“Honestly we’re excited … but it’s a huge disruption as well,” she said.

“I definitely think that there’s a lot of people like me who wanted to stay here but don’t really feel like it’s a good career move.”

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the state Legislature, including House Speaker Michael Madigan, have yet to agree on a state spending plan. Public universities in the state have instead been funded by stop-gap budgets that provided a portion of expected funding.

Carbondale was always the plan once his spouse earned a Ph.D from the university. He recently took a job as a program director of sports management at William Woods University, a private institution of roughly 3,800 students in Fulton, Missouri, and plans to move there after teaching this summer at SIU.

professors, the two could be let go from the university within 30 days notice.

That, Sanders said, is where the anxiety sets in — particularly for nontenure track faculty.

Johnson, president of the Faculty Association, which represents 500 employees on campus, said the union backed the strategy of keeping academics first, but across-the-board cuts are being proposed instead.

“In recent months, I don’t think there’s been a clear message from the administration as to what vision is guiding this campus through these really difficult conditions,” he said.

Johnson, who has worked at the university since 1998, said a sense of passivity has made morale among faculty worse.

“We’ve had an interim chancellor for a year and a half now and I find it difficult to identify any major steps that his administration has taken to put us in a better position to deal with a crisis,” he said.

“More and more people are considering [leaving] and it's definitely a rational thing to do. I don't think you can blame someone.”

- Dave Johnson, president of the Faculty Association

When Rauner announced plans to scale back state spending on higher education, Dunn described the impending cuts as affecting the outer layers of the university. He likened the university system to an onion, with academics at the center.

Sloboda said she stopped hearing that metaphor a year ago. For her, it signaled that the university’s priority of keeping academics intact had changed.

“I don’t know what happened to the onion,” she said.

For Douglas Sanders, an SIU instructor in kinesiology, leaving

After 14 years at SIU, Sanders said the move is not directly influenced by the budget impasse. But the timing is less than perfect thanks to a tough real estate market in Carbondale, he said.

“Our house may be on the market forever,” he said. “If it would’ve been five years ago, it might have been different. Because of the [university] not hiring people, there’s nobody buying houses.”

Sanders is set to relocate by the fall, but his spouse is considering teaching at SIU while their home is up for sale.

However, it’s unclear if that position will be refilled. As non-tenure track

Campus editor Bill Lukitsch can be reached at 618-536-3326 or blukitsch@dailyegyptian.com.

Staff writer Luke Nozicka can be reached at 618-536-3325 or lnozicka@dailyegyptian.com.

Editor-in-Chief Anna Spoerre can be reached at 618-536-3397 or aspoerre@dailyegyptian.com.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Page 7

Plus-minus grade system to go into effect during summer semester MARNIE LEONARD | @marsuzleo

University faculty will be able to assign plus and minus grades for undergraduate and graduate courses starting in the summer of 2017.

The Faculty Senate and Graduate Council brought resolutions to the Registrar’s office during the fall of 2016, at which point university administration decided to implement the new system.

Judy Davie, president of the Faculty Senate, said the change was advocated by both instructors and students who wanted a grading scale that would give better feedback.

“There’s a big difference between a 90 and a 100,” Davie said. “Many

Davie said this also makes SIU compatible with other universities that use the plus-minus system.

Currently, if a student transfers from a university with a plus-minus grade scale, SIU officials have to go back over the student’s transcript and recalculate the GPA, Davie said.

“Most people it probably doesn’t hurt, change or affect,” Davie said.

“But I hate to take the credit from any student for the grade they received.”

Students may be concerned about their GPA dropping as a result of the new scale, Davie said, but a detailed analysis of universities that already have a plus-minus system found that this is not the case.

“As it stands, a student who gets a 80 percent functionally has done the same amount of work as a student who gets an 85 percent. This also allows a professor to give a student a B minus where it might have been a C.” - Johnathan Flowers president-elect of the Graduate and Professional Student Council

faculty support the plus-minus system because they feel it allows them to give a grade that more accurately reflects the effort of the student.”

This change will make it so each grade will go down about one-third from the previous grade’s value. For example, an A would be worth four points and an A-minus would be worth 3.667 points. Both letter grades would still be marked as excellent.

The grading scale in place now is a four-point system that assigns a grade point average value of four points for an A, three for a B, two for a C, one for a D and zero for an F.

“The net effect on GPA was negligible,” Davie said. “They don’t go up, they don’t go down.”

Johnathan Flowers, president-elect of the Graduate and Professional Student Council, said the grade scale change gives instructors more flexibility in their courses.

“As it stands, a student who gets an 80 percent functionally has done the same amount of work as a student who gets an 85 percent,” said Flowers, who is a teaching assistant for the education and women, gender and sexuality studies departments. “This also

allows a professor to give a student a B minus where currently it might have been be a C.” The scale change has been in the works for the past five or six years, Davie said.

Davie said during that time period, the Graduate Council and Faculty Senate passed resolutions in support of the new grade system but nothing came of them because the electronic gradebook used by instructors didn’t support pluses and minuses.

Tamora Workman, director of the Registrar’s Office, said the change will only affect grades given after the 2017 summer intersession.

Any college-level work completed prior to summer 2017, whether at SIU or another institution, will not be assigned plus or minus grades, she said.

Transcripts will come with a note on the back indicating the change in grading systems as of the summer of 2017, according to the Registrar’s Office website.

Davie said some might question the new system’s lack of an A-plus grade. She and other faculty members fought for it, but Davie said the university’s electronic gradebook wouldn’t support assigning four points for both an A and an A plus.

It will be up to instructors to decide what range will make up each letter grade, which Davie said will allow grades to be curved more easily.

“My A is always a little below a 90, and my B is always a bit lower than an 80,” said Davie, who teaches biochemistry. “To mandate the ten point scale didn’t seem fair to faculty.”

Flowers said if a student feels that a faculty member has developed course objectives and grade ranges that are not fair to the

students, students can address it with the dean or the chair of their department.

“Faculty are charged with providing reasonable expectations for student learning outcomes in their development of course curricula,” Flower said.

Some programs and units have GPA requirements to remain in good standing, such as the Honors Program and the Graduate School.

Davie said as far as she knows, those requirements will stay in place.

“Where a B used to cut it, now a B-minus isn’t going to cut it,” Davie said. “That’s why I think

people need to be very aware that this change is happening.”

Davie said she hopes the scale change will provide an incentive for students to strive for higher grades.

“There have been students where it simply killed me to give them a B for something that was so close to an A, and now I feel like I can give them a little bit more,” Davie said.

“I think the same thing is true for the low end of the scale — I hope this serves as a motivator.”

Staff writer Marnie Leonard can be reached at mleonard@dailyegyptian.com.

Jack Havemann | @_redgear_

Page 8

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Meet the student trustee candidates DAILY EGYPTIAN CAMPUS DESK

The polls for student trustee are open from 6 a.m. Tuesday to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday on Desire2Learn.

With steep budget cuts on the horizon for the university in the midst of a state budget impasse approaching the two-year mark, the Daily Egyptian interviewed candidates Sam Beard and Richard York via email.

Sam Beard, a senior from Naperville and studying philosophy.

Do you have any previous leadership experience?

Throughout my 12 years in the Boy Scouts of America, I served in several leadership positions, including leading a team in a large-scale food drive that I completed while obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Moreover, I have led several grassroots student movements on campus and, generally speaking, my primary passion is community organizing.

Why do you think you would be a good choice for student trustee?

A war has been declared on higher education and I am fully committed to defending it. What we need right now are bold and daring leaders to stand against those attempting to defund and destroy our beloved university. That is precisely what I will do as student trustee.

I am running because I feel an ethical obligation to defend my fellow students, particularly those from marginalized communities, and as student trustee, I will be in a position to do so.

What do you think the SIU Board of Trustees is doing well? What could it be doing better?

The current Board of Trustees has been handed a very nasty hand and has been told to make the best of it. That being said, they have reacted to it all wrong, repeatedly shifting the burden of keeping the university open onto the backs of students by hiking tuition, housing and even the cost of food for oncampus residents. Through hiring freezes

and gutting the graduate assistantship program and research initiatives on campus, the quality of education offered at SIU is going down, yet the current board insists upon raising the cost of attendance. I do not think that is fair.

What do you hope to accomplish if elected?

When elected, I will resist any funding cuts to research and push for the revitalization of the university’s graduate assistantship program. I will ensure the university expands support systems for survivors of sexual assault and maintains a zero-tolerance for racism, sexism and homophobia. I will seek to halt the ceaseless hikes in tuition, fees and housing costs. I will urge our top administrators to take pay cuts in the name of preserving the quality of education offered at the university and implore my fellow board members to consider the necessity of these lavishly compensated positions in the first place. Finally, I will meet with students and organizations every week to see what they would like to see done around campus and how we can make it happen.

Richard York, a first year law student from Poplar Bluff, Missouri Do you have any previous leadership experience?

Student Bar Association Treasurer, Phi Delta Phi Exchequer Why do you think you would be a good choice for student trustee?

I understand the financial crisis affecting the university and can help to alleviate our budgetary issues.

What do you think the SIU Board of Trustees is currently doing well?

What could it be doing better?

They have done a good job of keeping the university running through the budget shortcomings so far. More can be done.

What do you hope to accomplish if elected?

Ensuring that SIU stays fiscally solvent, that tuition does not increase, and that fees stay where they are at.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

OpiniOn

Page 9

Letter to the editor: Concerning the new chancellor search, institutionalized white supremacy, and ways to do it differently Over the course of the last few weeks, I have participated in all the open forum question and answer sessions with each new potential chancellor. I approached each session with a sense of wariness because all candidates chosen for the position are white men.

My suggestion is not that white men cannot embody critical approaches to education and institutionalized oppression — but that it is difficult to embody this critical approach when one does not have to think about it.

Let me extrapolate on this: I am a white woman and, in many ways, I embody white supremacist ideologies. As a graduate assistant, I teach forty-four undergraduate students in a 101 public speaking course. In many ways, my pedagogical approaches to the classroom embody white supremacy. For instance, each of my speeches requires the use of eye contact, which ignores that in certain cultures, eye contact is a sign of disrespect and rudeness.

Additionally, many international students, who express anxiety about their accents, often drop the course.

Notably, researchers in 1990 found that 75 percent of students who withdrew from public speaking courses at California State University were students of color. This may be because these courses uphold white, hegemonic norms of communication. These are things that I struggle with constantly to be a better instructor who can make education welcoming to all students.

Yet, in many ways, I embody white supremacist teaching methods because I have been taught that skill, knowledge and ability looks and sounds decidedly white (use of “proper English” works here as an example).

While I do not view myself as an exemplar of critical approaches to education — in fact, I often fail my

Jacob Wiegand | @jawiegandphoto Interim Chancellor Brad Colwell speaks at a forum on the morning of April 25 in Guyon Auditorium. During the forum, Colwell spoke about numerous issues including, but not limited to, enrollment, campus diversity and the impact of the state's budget impasse on the university.

students of color — I do believe that reflexivity and honesty are places to start.

What I saw in most of the chancellor Q&A sessions was an inability to be reflexive and honest. Every candidate, for instance, noted that he would hold events to address issues of diversity and inclusivity on this campus.

While I believe events can be useful, I also believe this go-to method does not allow administration to hold themselves accountable for the white supremacist ideologies they, and the university, are upholding. Diversity Week, for instance, does not address the lack of administrational diversity and the fact that students of color often feel devalued. Additionally, I have found that individuals with marginalized identities

are often the ones putting these events together: which is to suggest that our solution to diversity issues is that those with marginalized identities do labor so that white folks can learn from them.

Interim Chancellor Brad Colwell's response to a black graduate student who asked about students of color feeling accepted but not included is an example of a lack of reflexivity.

Colwell responded by stating, “I pray that is not the case.”

Many of these forums were heavily populated by Black graduate and undergraduate students — most of whom were stating that that is, in fact, the case. A breakdown of this exchange can be read as follows: students of color expressed that they

felt dehumanized by the University’s inability to support them, and Cowell stated, “I pray that is not the case.”

This is a wholly inadequate response that does not offer suggestions, solutions or possible methods for working to humanize and support students of color.

Moreover, when a Black woman stated that she felt frustration about the lack of university support, particularly after listening sessions, surveys and meetings have occurred but no actual, realized and tangible changes have resulted, Colwell stated, “I’m sorry that you feel that way, I am not going to engage any further than that.”

Again, this is a wholly inadequate response that dismisses the feelings,

realities and frustrations of students of color. Moreover, Colwell has a choice to not engage, while students of color do not have the choice of deciding whether teachers, administration and fellow students will humanize, respect and value them.

Colwell gets to be momentarily uncomfortable while students of color must constantly navigate the ways that white supremacy have negatively impacted their educational experience on this campus.

It is the responsibility of the university to listen to its students. It is the responsibility of the university to value its students. It is the responsibility of the university to support its students. If a student of color were to tell me I was upholding racism in my teaching methods, their critiques would warrant exploration.

I would not focus on how the accusation makes me feel, but on how to support the student. It is uncomfortable to be told one is upholding white supremacist ideologies, but it is more uncomfortable to be dehumanized and devaluated by these ideologies.

Likewise, if a disabled student informed me my instructional methods were inaccessible, I would work to address my ableism and to make my classroom accessible to them.

It is inexcusable to prioritize my own embarrassment and discomfort over my students’ dehumanization.

What matters in this institution is the students: all of them.

I ask and urge all administration, faculty, professors, students and the newly appointed chancellor to work toward supporting and valuing marginalized students.

Crys LaCroix is a masters student in Communication Studies

Page 10

OpiniOn

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

We played for one another ATHENA CHRYSANTHOU | @Chrysant1Athena

As an athlete I embrace the adrenaline and emotions I go through in competitive situations.

But as a teammate, I never face these feelings alone.

When I play a match I stand on the court as an individual facing an opponent with one goal in mind: to win. Not to win for me, but to win for the nine other girls on my team.

One of the valuable lessons being on the Saluki women's tennis team has taught me is that it's not about me.

Three years ago, this was a hard idea to come to terms with.

Throughout my competitive years as a pre-collegiate athlete I competed as an individual, as most people do before joining a college team.

Not only do I now know what a team is, but more importantly the life lessons and values that come with being part of one so diverse.

Players from all different regions of the world ranging from China to Ukraine, Peru and Slovakia made up the last men's and women's tennis team for the 2016-17 season.

Even though we all came from different backgrounds we learned to build lifelong bonds and friendships through team experiences and a passion for tennis.

Athlete life is not easy and even though I have a team beside me, the reality can sometimes mean I feel lonely, sad and exhausted.

Practice before the sun rises, twelve hour bus rides and the nagging injuries that can set athletes back for weeks are all a staple of athlete life.

What is special about a team is, the individuals never go through a struggle alone. They share the injuries, the wins, the bus rides and the losses as a team.

Suffering and savoring these moments is what creates memories and helps establish the bonds between myself and my teammates.

I am lucky enough to still be with girls that I started with as a freshman three years ago. Along the way on both the men's and women's side, players have moved on or graduated.

It was not until former teammates left that I realized how much I missed them, and how much they made an impact on me.

I realized how much they taught me in terms of leadership and how to be there for my teammates at the worst times.

Dealing with adversity is a part of life and hearing about the cut of the tennis team was one such example.

We had a choice: either let it kill our motivation or let it push us to work harder.

After the news, we chose the latter.

We all needed to step up as leaders and make some tough decisions earlier than expected.

Throughout this semester we have been supportive and emphasized the importance of enjoying each others' company as time was limited.

As I walked off the court for the last ever time on Sunday,

Athena Chrysanthou | @Chrysant1Athena From left: Senior Ana Sofia Cordero, junior Xiwei Cai and junior Yana Golovkina stand courtside March 13 while supporting fellow teammates during a match against Alabama State University in Montgomery.

it hit me. I was no longer a student athlete. Tennis has defined me for most of my life — like the majority of the girls on my team — and now it is over forever.

Losing the final to Wichita State was tough. Not just because we lost, but because it was the last time we would ever compete as a team.

At the end of the match we stood in a familiar circle facing one another. This time however, it was different.

We stood in silence and in tears. There were no words to describe how proud we felt at that moment for coming so far.

We played the last tournament not for ourselves, but for each other. We played for all the 6 a.m. practices, for our parents who believed in us from the beginning and for everyone that supported us along the way.

It is not about how you start, it's how you finish. As a team we walked away from the last match leaving everything on the court. We proved to ourselves that we can deal with adversity, and by supporting each other we can be successful. We competed with our hearts and fought until the last ball was hit.

I am proud to say that I was a member of the Saluki women’s

“Even though there is no SIU women's tennis team anymore, in our hearts we will still be a team forever.” tennis team, and I am incredibly thankful to have spent my years at SIU with girls who made me who I am today. Even though there is no SIU women's tennis team anymore, in our hearts we will still be a team forever.

Staff photographer Athena Chrysanthou can be reached at achrysanthou@dailyegyptian.com.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

OpiniOn

Page 11

Athena Chrysanthou | @Chrysant1Athena Saluki women's tennis players place their hands together Jan. 27 at Garden Grove Event Center in Carbondale during their first practice after hearing the news the team would be cut after this semester. Director of tennis Audra Anderson said the upperclassmen and maturity of the team help make the difference during this time. “It fires me up even more to have the best season," Anderson said. "If anything it will help us because you don’t have anybody sitting back and saying, ‘Well there’s next year.’”

Athena Chrysanthou | @Chrysant1Athena Senior Meagan Monaghan sleeps on the bus Jan. 22 on the way to compete in a match against Eastern Illinois University.

Athena Chrysanthou | @Chrysant1Athena Junior Yana Golovkina and sophomore Caroline Taty share a moment March 3 after practice at the University of Louisville before competing for the weekend.

Page 12

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

1,2,3,& 4 BDRM UPGRADED units. Call 618-5494935.www.facebook.com/vanawkenrentals.

BIKES, VIDEO GAMES, Computers, Laptops, Minifrigs, TVs, Jewelry, Microwaves, Tools, DVDs!! Priced 1/2 of new!! Guaranteed to work! Midwest Cash 1200 W. Main (Rte. 13) Carbondale. 549-6599 Cash for Students! We discretely buy or loan on your stuff! facebook.com/midwestcash

COME SIGN A LEASE! NOW SHOWING 1,2,3,4 & 5 BEDROOM UNITS ACROSS FROM CAMPUS SCHILLING PROPERTY 805 E. PARK STREET OFFICE HOURS: MON/FRI 9-5 549 -0895 - 529-2954 schillingprop.com schillingprop@yahoo.com

GREAT LANDLORDS, 1 & 2 bedrooms, duplex apartments, available now, no pets. At 606 East Park St, 618-201-3732.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 bedrooms. Houses & apartments, walk to campus, washer/dryer, 2 bath, starting at $200 per person. 618-549-4808 www.campusviewrentals.com First months free rent, 1&2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS $300-500/mo., some utilites incl. Some furnish. Pet friendly. Call Heins Agency.

618-687-1774.

Westwood Apartments, Studios($385) & 1bedrooms ph: 618-303-9109

NICE 1 & 2 BDRM, rental list at 2006 Woodriver, a/c, near shopping, lease & dep, no pets, 529-2535.

TOWNE-SIDE WEST APARTMENTS AND HOUSES Cheryl Bryant Rentals 457-5664 3 BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE, 306 W. College, 1 block from campus, like new, central air, washer/dryer, dishwasher, private yard and off-street parking, starting at $295 per person.

Call/text 618-549-4808 www.campusviewrentals.com NICE 1,2, OR 3 bedroom apartments available now, close to campus. Bryant Rentals 529-1820 or 529-3581

AVAIL NOW 1 bdrm, across from SIU. Hi-speed Internet, satellite TV, laundry, parking, water & trash. Free pizza for a year with lease! Call 618-529-4763.

WESTWOOD APARTMENTS- STUDIO & 1 BEDS. All apts have private kitchen and bathroom. Most utilities included. Please call to schedule a viewing 618-303-9109.

1 BEDROOM APARTMENT. Central heat & air. Very close to SIU, large yard, $500/month, Call 618-924-1965.

BARGAIN RENTAL PRICES NEAR CAMPUS: 1 & 2 Bdrm Apts and Luxury Studio Apts.

CARBONDALE AREA: (7-10 Minutes from SIU-C) 1 Bdrm Apts under $300/Mo and 2 Bdrm Apts under $400/Mo. NO PETS. Call 618-684-4145.

Address list in front yard of 408 S. Poplar

4 or 5 BEDROOM, 2 bath ,unfurnished. Close to SIU, central heat & air, large yard. Ph.618-924-1965.

One block to SIU plus free parking 4-5 bdrm houses and apartments Appts. start Jan. 19th for August Call 924-1965 or go to CarbondaleHousing.com

BARGAIN RENTAL PRICES NEAR CAMPUS: 2, 3, & 4 Bdrm Houses, W/D, Most C/A, Free Mow. Also, Geodesic Dome CARBONDALE AREA: (7-10 Min. from SIU-C no zoning): SPACIOUS 2 & 3 Bdrm Houses , W/D, Most C/A, 1 3/4 Baths, Carport, Patio or Huge Deck, Free Mow. NO PETS. Call 684-4145.

Address list in front yard of 408 S. Poplar

MARTIN PROPERTIES 618-534-1550 Avail Fall ʻ16 2 Bdrm: 402 S. Ash 3 Bdrm: 416 S. Washington 416 1/2 S. Washington 401A W. Elm, 2 bath 401B W. Elm CLEAN, SAFE HOUSING FOR YOU! 1,2,3,4,5,6 BEDROOM HOUSES & apartments. Pick up list at 508 W. Oak. Call Bryant Rentals at 529-1820 or 529-3581

NICE 1 & 2 BDRM, $260-$450, lawn & trash incl, mgmt & maint. On-site, avail now, 618-529-9200, no dogs. www.salukihomes.com

HOSTESS/PHONE PERSON, apply in person, some lunch hours needed.

Quatroʼs Pizza, 218 W. Freeman.

PIZZA DELIVERY DRIVER, neat appearance, PT, some lunch hours needed, apply in person, Quatros Pizza, 218 W Freeman.

6-12 Bdrm, info call 618-549-4808 6 bdrm - 701 W. Cherry 5 bdrm - 303 E. Hester 4 bdrm - 511, 505 S. Ash, 802, 324 W. Walnut, 501 S. Hays, 103 S. Forest 3 bdrm- 310, 313, 610 W. Cherry 405 S. Ash, 1052 W. Noname Rd. 306 W. College, 106 S. Forest 2 bdrm- 503 S. Ash, 324, 406 W Walnut.

1 bdrm- 802 W. Walnut, 106 S. Forest, 310 W. Cherry

STUDENT PART-TIME HELP, afternoons,flexable hours, some heavy lifting required, good wages, Needed till the end of the semester and summer able appliance, 525-9822.

HARBAUGHʼS CAFE, NOW hiring PT cooks and servers, must be available 2 times a week, 9 am-3pm, no slackers!!! Apply within.

HELP WANTED: MUST be 21 years old, CASHIER POSITION. MUST be available: Evenings and weekends.

Apply in person at Old Town Liquors: 514 S. Illinois Avenue

Starting at $200 per person

www.campusviewrentals.com

Call or text 618-549-4808 (9-5pm

Earn up to $345 a month donating plasma and saving lives. BPL PLASMA across the street from the hospital Monday - Friday 7am - 7pm Weekends 8am - 3:00pm

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Jacob Wiegand | @jawiegandphoto Saluki senior inside linebacker Chase Allen tackles Jackrabbit junior tight end Dallas Goedert during the first half of the SIU's 45-39 loss to South Dakota State on Oct. 8 at Saluki Stadium.

More former Saluki linebackers move to the NFL after signing with Miami, Tampa Bay SEAN CARLEY | @SeanMCarley

Although they didn't hear their names called in the NFL draft, two former Salukis will still get to go after their NFL dreams.

Former linebacker Chase Allen has agreed to terms with the Miami Dolphins while another former linebacker, Deondre Barnett, joins the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as undrafted free agents, according to multiple tweets posted by teammates.

Allen finished his four-year career at SIU with one of the most impressive linebacker resumes in program history. The twotime All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection ended up

with 324 career tackles, 12th most in SIU history, and was the leading tackler on the team three times — only the second time that feat had been accomplished.

Barnett, meanwhile, tallied 65 total tackles in his two year SIU career. He was also a big play threat on defense with three career forced fumbles, 5.5 sacks and a blocked kick.

They're the second and third linebacker in as many years to move on to the NFL after Brandon Williams played through the NFL preseason with the Atlanta Falcons.

Until today, there were no former Salukis on NFL rosters.

Sports reporter Sean Carley can be reached at scar@dailyegyptian.com

Page 13

Page 14

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Answers for Wednesday >>

Brought to you by:

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www. sudoku.org.uk

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Today's Birthday (05/03/17). Energy animates your work, health and fitness this year. Clean up past messes this spring. New professional directions this summer inspire domestic renewal. A year of partnership growth dawns this autumn.

Reach new academic heights over a two-year push phase beginning this winter. Love inspires you.

To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 7 -Someone attractive has your attention. You're especially clever and charming.

Misunderstandings fade with Mercury direct in your sign for the next three months.

Open a dialogue.

Taurus (April 20-May

20) -- Today is a 7 -- Home and family have your focus.

Words and traffic flow better with Mercury direct. Journal your plans and strategies.

Articulate your feelings. Share experiences and memories.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -Communication barriers evaporate. Team coordination comes together naturally, now that Mercury is direct.

The fog clears, and you can hear each other again.

Cancer (June 21July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Manage financial transactions. It's easier to advance professionally, with Mercury direct for three months. Brainstorming gets more productive and creative.

Negotiate, collaborate and network.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Now you're cooking. It's easier to travel and launch projects with Mercury direct. Traffic flows better. Long-distance connections come together.

Confirm reservations. Get your message out.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept.

22) -- Today is a 6 -- There's less confusion now. Money, invoices and payments flow better with Mercury direct.

Buy, sell and discuss financial transactions. Sign contracts and negotiate deals.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -Teamwork thrives. Lines of communication clear up with Mercury direct. Partnership

Page 15

misunderstandings diminish.

It's easier to persuade, compromise and reach consensus. Send love letters and invitations.

Scorpio (Oct. 23Nov. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Focus on career goals.

It's easier to concentrate and communicate with Mercury direct. Mechanical equipment powers on.

Messes are fewer and farther between.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Study and explore.

Practice the art of seduction with words. Communicate your feelings, especially with Mercury direct in Aries.

Creative efforts flower.

Express your passion.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Discuss possible financial solutions.

Family communications flow clearly with Mercury direct.

Express the future you want to create. Share your visions.

Speak up.

Aquarius (Jan. 20Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Collaboration percolates.

It's easier to learn and express, now that Mercury's direct in Aries. Creative efforts take a leap forward. Sign papers, post and publish.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 -Physical action satisfies.

Practice your moves. Banking matters take a turn for the better with Mercury direct.

It's easier to discuss finances.

Eat well.

FOR RELEASE MAY 3, 2017

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Greek played by Anthony Quinn 6 Small plateau 10 Slick-talking 14 “That is to say ... ” 15 Channel showing many games 16 Sommelier’s prefix 17 Incessantly 18 *Cubicle, e.g.

20 Kids’ racing vehicles 22 Chicken __ king 23 Prefix with pass or plus 24 Cultural funding org.

25 Mottled 26 MGM motto word 27 *Singing skill that enables good phrasing 32 Get an __: ace 33 Casino gratuity 34 Overseer 37 Harbor protectors 39 “Vitruvian Man” artist 42 Pacific Rim continent 43 Mozart’s “__ fan tutte” 44 Jupiter or Mars 45 *Number after a circled “c” 50 EPA pollution std.

52 Wetland plant 53 Capri suffix 54 Bit of wordplay 55 Aviation stat.

56 “Flags of Our Fathers” setting 60 *Unobstructed view 63 Inn postings 64 Cosmopolitan rival 65 Gold diggers’ objectives 66 First in a line of Russian princes 67 River crossed by Charon 68 Old or Wild follower 69 Lacking, and what can go with each word in the answers to starred clues DOWN 1 Zest 2 Melville novel set on Tahiti

By Thomas Takaro

3 Really stink 4 Split fruit?

5 Mario who won IndyCar races in four different decades 6 Sussex stable area 7 Anka’s “__ Beso” 8 Common sports injury 9 Short sock 10 Rep. group 11 Tony-winning actress for “Miss Saigon” 12 Run up, as debts 13 Afrikaans speakers 19 Iraq’s __ City 21 Western border lake 25 “The Purloined Letter” writer 27 Westernmost Mexican state, familiarly 28 Small deer 29 With allure 30 Bank statement listings: Abbr.

31 Japanese sash 35 Edinburgh native 36 Agree (with)

Wednesday’s Answers 05/03/17 5/3/17 Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

38 Eastern spiritual path 39 One may be fetching 40 __ of hands 41 Director De Sica 43 Spanish hero El __ 46 Start to fall?

47 Soccer penalty card color 48 Make more time for hobbies, say

5/3/17 05/03/17

49 “Here we go again” feeling 50 Cathedral areas 51 Blanket that’s often hand-sewn 56 Superlative suffix 57 “Do __ once!”

58 Less, musically 59 “Not a chance!”

61 Bad spell 62 Game console letters

Page 16

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Page 17

SIU men's, women's tennis finish final matches as conference runners-up SEAN CARLEY | @SeanMCarley

As Saturday night turned into Sunday morning in Bloomington, four Missouri Valley tennis teams went to sleep with dreams of a conference championship, knowing their seasons could wind to a close in the coming day.

However, for two of these teams, the weekend meant so much more. SIU men's and women's tennis had both battled through two rounds to make the conference championship match in their final season as a program.

"Going into the day, I definitely felt a huge sense of pride in the team," said graduate assistant coach Jonny Rigby, who oversees the men's program.

For his team, it was a battle to just reach the final match. The Salukis met Wichita State, a team also competing in its last MVC tournament, in the semi-finals and for a while it didn't look good for the Salukis.

After clinching the doubles point with a close 7-6 win by senior Wilder Pimentel and freshman Param Pun, Wichita State stormed back and earned two singles wins before SIU could get one.

The Salukis then rallied with wins from senior Piotr Baranski in the No. 1 spot and junior Michal Kianicka in the No. 3 spot, to draw within one match away from clinching the team victory.

That is when things started to look bleak for SIU. The Shocker players had both come back from a set down to tie the two remaining matches. In the No. 2 spot, Shocker sophomore Marius Frosa had pulled away and looked ready to win, leaving the weight of the match on the freshman Pun's shoulders.

But the freshman came through, winning the decisive set — and also the match — 6-3 in his second crucial victory of the day.

"For a long period in the match

it looked like we weren’t going to win," Rigby said. "But, the guys kept fighting and in the end our freshman Param came up really clutch and got the win in and as a team that shows everyone what we’re all about as a team."

Meanwhile, on the women's side, the SIU team had barely broken a sweat in making the finals. On Friday, SIU — the conference's No. 2 seed — steamrolled past Missouri State without dropping a set in an official, finished match.

The next day was nearly the same story, with the Salukis dropping only one singles match to Bradley in a 4-1 result. The Saluki seniors led the way through the first day of the weekend as Ana Sofia Cordero and Meagan Monaghan both entered the final match undefeated.

Both Saluki teams entered Sunday's matches with a chance to earn some redemption against a team that had gotten the best of SIU in the past.

The men would face Drake, while the women would face Wichita State. Drake was the only team to defeat SIU in regular season conference play and Wichita was one of only two schools to defeat the Saluki women this season.

Unfortunately, neither the Saluki men or women were able to finish off program history as champions. Both teams lost in their respective final, 4-0.

“It sucks being so close to almost making it to the national tournament, but it was a good year," junior Daniel Martinez said. "I'm sad won’t play together as a team again ... won’t play for SIU again.”

Martinez's team finished 17-4 overall, the program's best season since 1972.

Despite coming back

Athena Chrysanthou | @Chrysant1Athena Members of the Saluki men’s tennis team congratulate junior Michal Kianicka after he clinched the last home match in Saluki men's tennis history April 1 at University Courts.

to Carbondale without a championship, both teams received plentiful recognition from the conference.

From the men's team Baranski, Pimentel, Kianicka and junior Alex Pozo each received All-Conference honors in their final years as Salukis.

On the women's side, Cordero and junior Xiwei Cai combined to form the No. 2 doubles All-Conference team and were both named to the

All-Select team.

Meanwhile, senior Polina Dozortseva earned the Elite 18 award for women's tennis, which honors "the highest achievement in academics and athletics by a student-athlete in each MVCsponsored sport." This is the second year in a row Dozortseva received the award.

As the now-former SIU athletes are back on campus, Rigby said

the emotions of the finality in the program are now sinking in.

"When the match finished, and even [Sunday night] and [Monday], it’s a sad empty feeling knowing that it’s all ended," Rigby said.

Anna Spoerre contributed reporting.

Sports reporter Sean Carley can be reached at scar@dailyegyptian.com.

Page 18

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Page 19

23 Salukis eligible for 2017 MLB June Amateur Draft DENTON "GIO" GIOVENCO @DentonGiovenco

With the completion of the 2017 NFL Draft over the weekend, the next professional sports draft to take place is the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft on June 12-14 at MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.

The Rule 4 draft began in 1965, and has evolved through collective bargaining agreements between owners and players into what we now know as the MLB June Amateur Draft.

The MLB Draft consists of 40 rounds, with the team holding the worst record from the preceding season garnishing the first overall pick in round one. Teams can only sign draftees to minor league contracts — not major league contracts — unless the draftee is receiving scholarship dollars for another sport other than baseball.

To be eligible for the MLB Draft, players must be a resident of the U.S or have attended an educational institution in the U.S, Canada or U.S. territory. They must also have never previously signed a professional contract with a major league team.

Players that meet these requirements first become eligible following completion of high school and retain eligibility if they enter a junior or community college. If a high school player enters a four-year institution, he must either complete his junior year or turn 21 years of age prior to the draft to regain eligibility.

This year, the SIU baseball team will have 23 players eligible for the June Amateur Draft either by process of completing their junior year or having turned 21 years of age.

Southern has a lengthy history of players being chosen in the MLB Draft. Over the 52-year history of the

draft, 103 total Saluki ballplayers have been chosen across 47 annual drafts.

While no Southern player was chosen in the inaugural draft in 1965, at least one Saluki was chosen in the following 34 drafts, with the streak coming to an end with the 2000 draft.

Beginning again with the 2002 draft, SIU was represented by at least one draftee for 13 years straight. One of those draftees was former Saluki pitcher and current pitching coach P.J. Finigan.

Finigan was chosen in the seventh round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers, reaching the Double-A level in a three-year career in the minor leagues.

Other recent Saluki alumni who were drafted and went on to successful major league careers include Jerry Hairston, Jr. and Jason Frasor.

Hairston, Jr. was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 11th round of the 1997 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut in 1998 with the Orioles, playing a total of 16 seasons in the majors with nine different teams. Hairston, Jr. earned a World Series ring with the New York Yankees in 2009, making the postseason roster as a utility infielder.

Frasor was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 33rd round of the 1999 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut in 2004 with the Toronto Blue Jays, playing 12 seasons in the majors with five different teams. Frasor also played in a World Series, appearing in three games as a relief pitcher for the Kansas City Royals against the San Francisco Giants in the 2014 Fall Classic. The Giants went on to defeat the Royals in the 2014 World Series in seven games.

SIU also has one of its most recent draftees, Sam Coonrod, playing in the minor leagues. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB

Draft by the San Francisco Giants.

The right-handed pitcher plays for the Giants Double-A affiliate the Richmond Flying Squirrels in the Eastern League. Coonrod has also been a non-roster invitee to spring training with the Giants major league squad the last two seasons.

With no draftees in 2015 and 2016, the Salukis are experiencing their longest drought since the 2000-2001 drafts saw no Southern players chosen.

This all is primed to change with the 2017 MLB Draft, as SIU sports a handful of recognized pro prospects on its roster.

Some notable seniors who have garnered looks from major league teams include pitchers Joey Marciano and Chad Whitmer.

Marciano is listed on Baseball Draft Report's follow list, and listed 15th overall on D1Baseball's Missouri Valley Conference prospect list. With a fastball that hovers in the 87-93 mph range, D1Baseball proclaimed Marciano a "raw commodity" as a lefthanded pitcher with high potential, and "the top draft prospect on the Salukis squad."

Whitmer earned second-team AllMVC honors following the 2016 season and made Baseball Draft Report's follow list for the MLB Draft.

He also earned MVC Pitcher of the Week honors twice this season for his starts against Indiana State and Dallas Baptist, both conference opponents.

A handful of juniors on the Salukis roster have also earned an eye from major league teams. Some of the notable include pitcher Michael Baird, second baseman Connor Kopach and infielder/outfielder Greg Lambert.

Baird earned first-team All-MVC honors following the 2016 season and was named MVC Preseason Pitcher of the Year by Baseball America and

Branda Mitchell | @branda_mitchell Junior first baseman Logan Blackfan records an out on Austin Peay sophomore catcher David Martinez on April 4 during SIU's 4-0 loss to the Governors at Itchy Jones Stadium.

D1Baseball coming into the 2017 season. He has also been listed on Baseball Draft Report's follow list, and is considered the 10th overall pro prospect in the Missouri Valley Conference by Baseball America.

Kopach earned an All-MVC Honorable Mention following the 2016 season and entered the 2017 season listed as the 16th overall pro prospect in the MVC by D1Baseball.

He has also been regularly listed on D1Baseball's Position Power Rankings: Second Base list throughout the current season as one of the top 25 second baseman in the NCAA, as well as being recognized on Baseball Draft Report's follow list. As of Tuesday morning, Kopach ranks fifth overall in Division I NCAA baseball in stolen bases with 26 on the year.

Lambert also earned an All-MVC Honorable Mention for the 2016 season, and as of Tuesday morning is leading the Salukis in hits, doubles, home runs, RBI's, total bases and slugging percentage while carrying

a .331 batting average. He has been recognized on Baseball Draft Report's follow list, and brings position versatility with him to the draft as both an above-average outfielder and infielder.

With an abundance of talent across 23 draft-eligible players on the Salukis roster this season, many baseball outlets see the drought of draftees hailing from SIU coming to an end this June. How many players will be chosen — and which will decide to leave the college ranks to pursue their major league dream — is all up-inthe-air.

For now, winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and making the 2017 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament that begins on June 2, and leads to the College World Series beginning on June 17, is the team's biggest concern.

Sports writer Denton “Gio” Giovenco can be reached at dgiovenco@dailyegyptian.com

Page 20

Wednesday, May 3, 2017