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New policy promotes child welfare by gabi wy news@usishield.com ShieldsterGabi
Photo by ISaAc Williams | The Shield
USI president, Dr. Linda Bennett, cuts the ribbon with LillyBea Ireland at the Performance Center.
RIBBON CUTTING TAKES CENTER STAGE Performance Center officially unveiled by Madison nelson mknelson@eagles.usi.edu The late James Blevins, the first dean of liberal arts, dreamed of USI having its own performance center and teaching theatre for years. Blevins’ dream was finally recognized Thursday with an official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new $17.2 million facility—just days before the university’s 50th anniversary celebration. Before the official ceremony started, guests mingled and enjoyed cookies, punch and music by The Flatheads. As they entered the performance center, they were handed pamphlets by costumed students from USI Theatre. The ceremony started with some of the university’s theatre alumni singing “Seasons of Love” from the hit Broadway musical “Rent.” The song was performed on the new, neverbefore-played Steinberg Concert Grand Piano made especially for the Performance Center. On the projector screen some former uni-
versity theatre majors told the audience how the program helped jumpstart their successful careers in the theatre industry. “(The center) is such a wonderful addition to our department and we’re very blessed to have it,” said junior theatre major Keely McGill. President Linda Bennett, who opened and closed the ceremony, said it was a proud day. “It’s been a long time coming and this facility is just amazing,” Bennett said. “It’s going to make a tremendous difference to our performing arts program that’s already getting national recognition. This facility is a game changer.” Performing Arts Chairman Elliot Wasserman also spoke at the ceremony. “It puts students in a situation where their natural dynamic qualities will be amplified,” Wasserman said. “It’s just a tremendous place for creating theatre. We’re so grateful to have it. ” Before the official ribbon cutting, LillyBea Ireland performed “Tomorrow” from the
musical “Annie.” Ireland went on a national Broadway tour for the musical. People such as Elliot Wasserman, Jeff Knight, chair of the Board of trustees, Ireland and SGA President Alexa Bueltel cut the ribbon, just to name a few. When the ribbon was finally cut, guests were given tours of the facility by theatre students. The beauty of the center was certainly aesthetically pleasing to the guests. The theatre has already shown three productions and has “Grapes of Wrath” and “Tartuffe” on the way. There is no doubt it will be enjoyed by generations of Screaming Eagles to come. “It needs to be said that this is one of the finest cities not just in the state, but in the Midwest,” Wasserman said. “For a theatre of this size you’d have to go a long way to find anything like it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it appearing in architectural magazines. Despite the contemporary aspects of it, it fits well within the grand traditions of theatre.”
Children’s Learning Center Manager and a mother Jamie Madigan is “proud of the university for developing child protection policy.” USI’s Child Protection Committee (CPC) developed and recently released the new Child Protection Policy. Madigan said the learning center, which caters to 2 to 5-year-olds during the school year and 6 to 11-year-olds during the summer, has independent checks and training other than that outlined in the university’s policy. Children’s Learning Center workers are required to complete CPR and first aid training, child abuse and neglect training, and a minimum of 12 in-service training hours in the area of early childhood. “For our staff, we need all of those trainings,” Madigan said. “The Child Protection Policy helps us understand where to go if something happens. The (CPC) is a go-to for guidance.” University provost Ronald Rochon asked Scott Gordon, dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education, to step onto the CPC. “The genesis of us developing these policies were situations like Penn State and Syracuse and other institutions where children were not properly supervised,” Gordon said. “We put forth this policy that is very similar to policies that have developed and are being developed around the country.”
Child protection, PAGE 3
Sodexo to replace to-go containers by gabi wy news@usishield.com ShieldsterGabi Sodexo plans to help cut down on garbage with recyclable, plastic to-go containers. This plan, known as the OZZI recycling system, should go into effect within two to three weeks and will eliminate all paper togo boxes. Kylie Burdette, an undecided freshman said she isn’t completely happy with the current to-go boxes. “I feel like the paper boxes could be (improved),” she said. “I’ve had some melt on me before. I would enjoy reus-
On Stands Now
able boxes as long as they are sturdy and don’t break often.” Freshman pre-nursing major Tiffany Sutton considered the benefits of a recyclable system not only for students, but also for workers. “I hate that we have to continually ask for a new box,” she said. “I feel like it would be easier for the people serving because they wouldn’t have to constantly hand out boxes and refill the stacks.” Sodexo manager Chris Briggs said everyone on a meal plan gets one container for free, but customers without a plan must pay for a box. After eating out of the box, students will return
the boxes to one of two collecting machines on campus. Staff will remove the boxes from the machine and sanitize them. Upon returning a box, the machine gives the student a token, entitling the student to another container. The system will begin in The Loft. After Briggs can evaluate its success, the system can expand to retail dining on campus. “There’s a lot of programs that we do to be cautious about our environment,” Briggs said. “Some are already in place, like the type of chemicals we use in our dish machine and how much water (and electricity) we use.”
Photo by katie rumple | The Shield
Rachel Coudret gets her to-go food bagged up at The Loft Tuesday. Coudret said she prefers plastic to-go boxes because she can reuse them.
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Celebrating 50 Years Grab a copy of The Shield’s magazine commemorating USI’s 50th anniversary. Also available at usishield.com.