Opinions: Western's school spirit is top notch.
Sports: The Bulls are working to imporve for next year.
Sports: Fighting Leathernecks win Homecoming 45-38.
Monday, October 1, 2018 - Vol. 119 Issue 18
Alumni easily find bricks in new Alumni Plaza By Marc Ramirez news editor
Alumni returing for Homecoming easily find their purchased brick with the new "Map of Bricks".
wiu.edu
Western Illinois University alumni are doing more than leaving their mark by attending Homecoming or simply staying in touch as a friend to the University, they're leaving their mark on campus. Alumni are leaving their name and legacy in the newly finished Alumni. These men and women have gone above and beyond to keep their Leatherneck pride alive by purchasing a brick that was placed in the project ove r the summer and throughout the fall semester. Phase one of what is the Alumni Plaza and Mascot Memorial ran from March to June of 2018. More than 500 alumni poured together over $77,000 to complete what would be part of a permanent legacy on Western’s Macomb campus. Alumni who returned this weekend to see the finished product were able to use a “Map of Bricks” to find theirs in a timely manner. Working under Ashley Katz, assistant director of the University Union and Kirsten Todd, assistant director of marketing for University Housing and Dining, uTech employee Sean West was able
to successfully put together a map to ease the finding of bricks. Phase two of the project is currently underway. People who’ve purchased a brick after July 1 will have the chance to see their legacy left at Western after the completion of construction next summer. Everyone his highly encouraged to show his or her support for Western and for Leatherneck Country by purchasing a brick within the next 243 days. Bricks come in different sizes including: large 7 in. x 14 in.; including four lines of text with 25 characters per line costing $225, and a small 4 in. x 8 in.; three lines of text with up to 16 characters per line for $100. If you’re debating on buying a brick, there are some reasons why it might be a good idea to make a purchase. Some of those reasons include: to commemorate a soon to be graduate, memorialize an individual, campus organization or fraternity or sorority, declare your devotion to your favorite Leatherneck team or ensure your business is displayed among other corporate supporters.
Alumni Plaza page 2
Board of Trustees approves FY20 budget recommendations
By Marc Ramirez news editor
The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees has approved an operating budget and capital budget recommendation for the Fiscal Year of 2020. The budget will now go through the steps of being presented before the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the General Assembly and Governor Bruce Rauner. The budget was also pre-
sented with FY19 All-Funds Budget at the Friday’s Board meeting. The Board approved an increase of $17.25 million in its operating budget from the current $47.2 million appropriated budget. The new budget seems to help all parties involved as there is a $2.5 million proposed to support salary and cost increases, $6.65 million for restoration of budget reduction, $5 million for deferred maintenance, $2 million for
financial aid and the list goes on. During Friday’s meeting the Board of Trustees also approved the Fiscal Year of 2019 All-Funds Budget assuming a state appropriated budget of $47.2 million for the Fiscal Year 2019, totalling the University’s operating budget for 2019 at $231.3 million. A request of $368.6 million was also approved for the FY19 capital budget. Requests include the
Western-Macomb science building totalling 156.4 million for both phases, $83 million for renovations to Stipes and Tillman Halls, $86.7 million to the Macomb campus educational building, Horriban Hall, and $17 million in capital renewal funds for critical deferred maintenance needs. It was also decided that the continuance of University Marketing’s digital marketing contract with MediaLink in Rock Island, Ill. The
contract reads that there can be seven one-year renewal opportunities. The collective bargaining agreement with the American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 31, ALF-CIO, Local No. 417, which was ratified Sept. 11. Western's Local No. 417 represents 105 employees was also approved by a vote of the Board. The next meeting will take place Dec. 13-14 on the Macomb campus.