Saturday, December 31, 2011

Love-Roberts rescues UIS in overtime men's basketball win

The Lindenwood University-Belleville men’s basketball program is only in its second year of existence, but the Lynx took the University of Illinois Springfield to overtime Friday night.

Behind senior guard Jermaine Love-Roberts’ 30-point game, UIS survived for an 81-74 victory in the non-conference contest at The Recreation and Athletic Center.

In overtime, Love-Roberts hit back-to-back 3-pointers for a 77-71 UIS lead with 35 seconds remaining.

Love-Roberts scored 12 of the Stars’ 18 points in overtime. He poured in 21 of his 30 over the final 11 minutes 7 seconds. It was the second 30-point effort for a UIS player since Richard Oruche scored 36 in 2009.

The win was featured in an December 31, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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UIS women hit free throws to close out McKendree

Perfect free throw shooting in the final minute by the University of Illinois Springfield women’s basketball team resulted in a 76-71 win over the McKendree University Bearcats on Friday night.

UIS seniors Cristina Nevins and Bailey Beale and sophomore Alyssa Palmer shot a combined 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the last 58.7 seconds. Palmer and sophomore Megan Bergerud scored 17 points for the Stars (6-4). Both Nevins and Beale finished with 13.

“We played better in the second half,’’ UIS coach Marne Fauser said. “We break it down into five-minute segments. We won a couple of those five-minute segments and really pushed that lead."

The win was featured in an December 31, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Illinois group pushes to exonerate man convicted of Krajcir crime

An Illinois group is pushing for the posthumous exoneration of a man convicted of an attempted murder a known serial killer recently confessed to. Grover Thompson was convicted in 1981 and sentenced to 40 years in prison. He died in prison in 1996.

After Thompson's death, convicted serial murder and rapist Timothy Krajcir told authorities he had committed the crime. Krajcir is more than four years into an 80-year sentence for murders in Williamson and Jackson counties in Illinois.

The Downstate Illinois Innocence Project and students from Southern Illinois University's law school are now collaborating to get Thompson posthumously exonerated for Krajcir's crime, according to a news release sent Thursday. The group will present its case to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board in Springfield, Ill., on Jan. 11.

The Downstate Illinois Innocence Project, which is based at UIS, was featured in an December 30, 2011, article in the Southeast Missourian.

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Upbeat arts in a down economy

Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson, director of theater at University of Illinois Springfield, is determined to continue providing another kind of artistic experience for Springfield theatergoers with a taste for something different.

“In Springfield, we realize that our niche is continuing to be: we do the plays. A lot of people do the musicals around town, and we love musicals, but we’re a little more the place for dramatic literature onstage,” he explains. “Not just the classics like Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekhov, but also the newer work that’s winning Tonys and Pulitzers on Broadway, from playwrights like Neil LaBute and Rebecca Gilman. I love a good production of Annie or Fiddler on the Roof, but we want to complement that with other things that theater can be.”

Thibodeaux-Thompson's comments were featured in an December 22, 2011, edition of the Illinois Times.

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Monday, December 19, 2011

Prairie Stars soar past crosstown rival Robert Morris

University of Illinois Springfield coach Ben Wierzba and Robert Morris University coach Scott Eades left the court with respect for one another’s programs after UIS beat the visiting Eagles 84-75 Saturday in a non-conference men’s basketball game.

The game between Springfield schools was close for most of the first half, and then UIS pulled away for a 45-32 halftime lead in front of a crowd of 875 at The Recreation and Athletic Center.

It was a welcome win for the Prairie Stars (3-7), who suffered a heartbreaking 66-64 loss to McKendree less than 24 hours earlier.

“Robert Morris came out and played hard,” Wierzba said. “They came right at us. They didn’t back down. They shot the ball well and attacked us.”

The win was featured in an December 18, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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UIS women get past the .500 mark

The University of Illinois Springfield women’s basketball team had never won a game when trailing at halftime under third-year coach Marne Fauser.

Until Saturday, that is.

UIS picked up a 66-63 non-conference victory over the Hannibal-LaGrange Trojans at The Recreation and Athletic Center after being down by a point at halftime.

The 5-4 Prairie Stars, who were down 10-1 at the start, have a winning record for the first time since the first week of December 2010.

A layup by junior Ashley Coffey on the first possession of the second half put UIS ahead 36-35 for its first lead. UIS and Hannibal-LaGrange (8-7) stayed within six points of each other the rest of the way.

The win was featured in an December 18, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Photographer and historian team up to produce a fine new book

Rarely in publishing is there such a perfect collaboration of writer, photographer and publisher as in the new book, Abraham Lincoln Traveled This Way. The lovely landscape photographs by Illinois photographer Robert Shaw are complemented by the narrative of preeminent Lincoln scholar Michael Burlingame.

Shaw, from Heyworth, south of Bloomington, wondered some 10 years ago if anyone had done such a project – documenting with photographs locales where Lincoln lived and worked. After learning that no one had, he began photographing various sites in Illinois.

After hearing Burlingame speak about Lincoln several times, Shaw contacted the historian to see if he would collaborate on the project, and the two began their years-long journey, which led them from Illinois to Kentucky and Indiana, and on to Washington, D.C., and the East Coast. Burlingame is, of course, the Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield.

Burlingame was featured in an December 15, 2011, article in the Illinois Times.

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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Chancellors back creating enrollment director

The three campus chancellors at the University of Illinois have signed on to the creation of a new university "executive director for enrollment management," a key priority of President Michael Hogan.

Hogan and trustees are eager to move forward with the post as quickly as possible, spokesman Tom Hardy said Monday.

"He's listened and he wants to hear what everyone has to say and be sensitive to" their concerns, Hardy said.

The idea of an enrollment management director was part of a consultants' report that included 21 recommendations for managing admissions, financial aid and other enrollment matters across the three campuses.

The position was spotlighted in an December 13, 2011, article in the Champaign News-Gazette.

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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Rance Carpenter honored at Governor's Conference on Aging

The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) hosted an awards program to honor individuals from around the state, who have shown outstanding dedication and compassion about aging issues, during the Governor’s Conference on Aging on December 9, 2011

Rance Carpenter, of University of Illinois, in Springfield, received the Joyce Sill Memorial Award. Carpenter worked at the Illinois Department on Aging for 26 years and was responsible for the administration of all Older American Act Title III-C nutrition funds. He also helped create a new home delivered meal fund.

After serving the aging network, he was recently selected as director of the university’s Graduate Public Service Internship Program in the Center for State Policy and Leadership.

Carpenter was featured in an December 12, 2011, article in the Aledo Times Record.

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Monday, December 12, 2011

Phil Rock's new book proves Illinois' big issues just stay the same

A casino for Chicago, private school vouchers, mounting deficits and doomsday budgets. Those are big topics in the Illinois legislature these days. And they were just as big almost two decades ago when Philip J. Rock was president of the state Senate.

The Democrat from Chicago – and later Oak Park – is out with a new book. Now 74 years old, Rock wrote Nobody Calls Just to Say Hello with Ed Wojcicki, an assistant chancellor at the University of Illinois in Springfield and former publisher of Illinois Issues magazine.

WBEZ public radio in Chicago interviewed Wojcicki on December 12, 2011.

Read the article & listen online

Holiday card creativity is pushing the envelope

David Bertaina, assistant professor of history at the University of Illinois Springfield, said tradition remains strong because the public still embraces the cultural values — fostering and strengthening family and business relationships — that gave birth to the Christmas card in the 1870s.

“In the ‘50s, it was sentimental. The ‘60s and ‘70s were irreverent with Santa lounging on the couch. The ‘90s went back to the more Thomas Kinkade-style. Now, you have one’s own card with your picture on it.

“The pictures, letters are modern cultural attempts to express those values with the technology at hand.”

Bertaina's comments were featured in an December 10, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Creative space: Artists find inspiration at The Pharmacy

On a recent crisp, fall Sunday evening, in a building from which pharmaceuticals and root beer floats formerly were dispensed to customers, more than 30 people gathered to hear University of Illinois Springfield student fiction writers read their work.

Flanked by paintings hanging in Springfield’s newest artist-run co-op, gallery and community center called The Pharmacy at 401 South Grand Ave. W., one by one the students stood in front of the audience to read.

Kristen Chenoweth read an excerpt from “Cabbages and Kings,” her story about a woman walking away from her marriage to a man from an affluent family with whom she has little in common. In the passage Chenoweth read, the woman was headed inside a bookshop.

On the recent Sunday before students read their writings, their instructor, Meagan Cass, assistant professor of creative writing at UIS, expressed thanks for what The Pharmacy has brought to the community.

Given the recession and a political climate in which the value of art and “the necessity of supporting artists has been repeatedly called into question, this place is a bulwark as well as a sanctuary,” Cass said.

Chenoweth & Cass were featured in an December 11, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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RLC's Harp signs with University of Illinois - Springfield

Rend Lake College sophomore golfer Josh Harp signed a national letter of intent this week to play at the University of Illinois - Springfield in the fall. Harp, a 19-year-old political science major from Benton, said it's the perfect fit.

“I’m extremely happy,” Harp said. “I couldn’t have made a better choice, for my major especially. Smaller class sizes, a beautiful campus and to be able to come in and help them reach their goal of winning a regional championship – I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Harp said Prairie Stars coach Frank Marsaglia is in the process of rebuilding the program which competes in the NCAA DII Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The offer he accepted from UIS consists of both an academic and athletic scholarship, which will combine to cover tuition.

Harp was featured in an December 11, 2011, article by WJBD radio.

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Women's soccer: Stars' Egolf makes all-region 3rd team

University of Illinois Springfield junior midfielder Erin Egolf was named to the All-Midwest Region third team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America on Friday.

The Chatham Glenwood High School graduate scored a team-leading six goals and dished out three assists. She scored two game winners and led the team in points (15), shots (43) and shots on goal (19). Her 2.69 shots per game ranked 10th in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Egolf was also named to the GLVC third team this season.

Egolf was featured in an December 10, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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UIS makes Majerus work for 500th win

This was supposed to be Saint Louis University coach Rick Majerus’ big day, but for more than a half the University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball team grabbed the attention.

The Division II Prairie Stars took a two-point halftime lead against Division I Saint Louis before the Billikens recovered for a 72-62 victory Saturday at Chaifetz Arena. Majerus earned his 500th career win, and the Prairie Stars earned some respect.

“We showed up ready to play in the first half,” UIS coach Ben Wierzba said. “We executed very well on offense and defense.”

Michael Fakuade finished with 14 points to lead the Prairie Stars, and Jermaine Love-Roberts went 5 for 5 from the field and scored 13.

The game was featured in an December 11, 2011, edition of The State Journal-Register.

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Friday, December 9, 2011

Women's Basketball: Stars crush Oakland City

Alyssa Palmer scored 16 points and Carly Goede connected on 4-of-6 3-pointers to add a career-high 15 points, pacing the University of Illinois Springfield past Oakland City 74-55 Thursday at The Recreation and Athletic Center.

Megan Bergerud scored 14 points and Elizabeth Kelly recorded her second double-double of the season with 11 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Ashley Coffee grabbed a career-best 12 rebounds.

The win was featured in an December 9, 2011, edition of The State Journal-Register.

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

Bernard Schoenburg: Bipartisanship in action

There must be something about the water out at the University of Illinois Springfield that makes people get along.

Back in the spring of 2010, I wrote a story about how the president of College Democrats at the time, MATT VAN VOSSEN, and the then-chairman of College Republicans, RYAN MELCHIN, were roommates in campus housing.

Well, it’s happening again.

SEAN MILLER, president of College Democrats, and ZACH WATKINS, chairman of College Republicans, are roommates this year. So are the secretaries of the organizations — MICHELLE TUMA of the Democats and ANDREA CARLSON of the Republicans.

“We get along fairly well,” said Miller, a senior from Dieterich in Effingham County, about him and Watkins, a native of Mossville, near Peoria. “We look at each other as people. … Most of the time we just try to put our politics aside.”

“We share a bathroom, so we kind of have to get along,” he said.

Carlson, a Plainfield native, and Tuma, of Elgin, met at freshman orientation. Both intended to double-major in legal studies and political science, so they decided to room together.

The roommates were featured in an December 8, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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A&E Notebook: UIS art auction

Today is the last day for the annual auction and benefit for the Visual Arts Gallery at the University of Illinois Springfield. A closing reception and final bidding is set for 5:30-7 p.m. today in the gallery, located in Room 201 in the Health and Sciences Building.

The event features work donated by area artists such as Felicia Olin, Thom Whalen, Chris Britt, Bob Sill, Mike Miller and Betsy Dollar. Items up for auction include photographs, ceramics, sculpture, paintings and works on paper. There’s also a custom printing package donated by Miles Ahead Productions and theater tickets from UIS Theatre.

The reception will have complimentary refreshments and two music performances, by the UIS Chorus from 5-5:30 p.m. and the UIS Chamber Ensemble from 5:40-6:10 p.m.

Admission is free; proceeds from the auction will benefit the gallery.

The auction was featured in an December 8, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

New book traces Lincoln's life in photos

A landscape photographer and a Lincoln scholar have collaborated on a new book that weaves images and writing to trace Abraham Lincoln’s life story.

“Abraham Lincoln Traveled This Way—The America Lincoln Knew” is a collection of images by Robert Shaw and writing by Michael Burlingame that aims to take readers on a visual journey that explores Lincoln’s life story.

The 276-page hardcover book, available at several locations in Springfield, required five years of research and hundreds of days of photography in 10 states and the District of Columbia, according to Shaw, who traveled more than 100,000 miles in taking the photographs that range from the Mississippi River to New Hampshire.

Burlingame is the author of “Abraham Lincoln: A Life, The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln,” and most recently “Lincoln and the Civil War.” He is the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield.

The book was featured in an December 7, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

UIS Theatre to present evening of short scenes

UIS Theatre will present an evening of student-directed scenes at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday in the Studio Theatre, on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield.

The event provides an opportunity to sample a variety of playwrights and styles rather than commiting to one show for an entire evening. This year's selections are by American playwrights, some of whom are still working today. Each scene lasts 10 to 15 minutes, with an intermission in the middle.

The scenes are part of the final project for students in THE 476, Directing for the Theatre, taught by associate professor and UIS Theatre director Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson. The evening of student-directed scenes in 2009 eventually led to a full-scale production of one of the shorts.

The scenes were featured in an December 6, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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UIS names Zandler baseball coach

The University of Illinois Springfield has added another coach with NCAA Division I experience by hiring Mike Zandler as its new head baseball coach.

Zandler served as an assistant coach the last five seasons at Davidson College, a Division I school near Charlotte, N.C. UIS Director of Athletics Kim Pate introduced the 43-year-old at a press conference Monday. His salary is $45,000.

“When I looked at his resume, learned a little more about him and got him on campus, his experience is outstanding for where the program is,” Pate said. “He is positioned to take this program forward, primarily because of his experience.

“He has been recruiting nationally and has great recruiting contacts. He has recruited for a highly selective institution like Davidson. … He has looked for the quality student-athletes that we would like to bring to UIS.

“He has been at a smaller Division I school and has his hand in a lot different things. Having had the experience he had to coach at the high school, Division I and Division III levels and the success he demonstrated really was appealing to us.”

Zandler was featured in an December 6, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Student's gift endows English professorship in teacher's name at U of I at Springfield

Some teachers make such a strong impression on their students that they are never forgotten.

This fall, Decatur native and University of Illinois at Springfield alumna Cheryl Peck recognized one of her favorite instructors, former English professor Judy Everson, by donating $500,000 to establish a professorship in her honor.

"I was so thrilled and honored," Everson said of the professorship. "I never expected it."

The Judith E. Everson Professorship in English is the university's first from a graduate honoring a former professor. Peck, a former Herald & Review reporter and copy editor, was more than happy to honor a teacher who influenced her so greatly.

"She was one of the most dynamic and energetic teachers I ever had," Peck said of Everson. "She inspired me to study harder than I ever thought I could."

The gift was featured in an December 4, 2011, article in the Decatur Herald & Review.

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Monday, December 5, 2011

Men's Basketball: Fakuade lifts UIS to victory

Michael Fakuade had 15 points and 16 rebounds for his fourth straight double-double, and Jermaine Love-Roberts scored a game-high 19 points to lead the University of Illinois Springfield past William Jewell College 70-61 Saturday at The Mabee Center.

Fakuade, a senior, also had six blocked shots to give him 101 for his career at UIS (2-5 overall, 1-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference).

Love-Roberts came off the bench to score his points. Lester Hart added 15 points to reach double figures for the fifth straight game.

William Jewell fell to 3-3, 1-1.

The win was featured in an December 4, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Friday, December 2, 2011

Online learning's finest is here in central Illinois

Online learning and education is growing more and more every semester. Did you know one of the nation’s leaders in online education is the University of Illinois Springfield? One student says she wouldn't have been able to complete her degree without online classes.

Jamie Worthy is a non-traditional student, so a Monday-Friday class schedule at school wouldn't be an option. She's sought out one of the country's premier online curriculum's, the University of Illinois Springfield.

"This semester, almost two-thirds of our students are taking at least one online class. More than one-third of our credit hours are earned entirely online this fall term," said Ray Schroeder, UIS associate vice chancellor for online learning.

Online programs were featured in an December 1, 2011, CiLiving.TV broadcast on WCIA-TV.

Watch the story online

Women's Basketball: Beale lifts UIS in OT

Bailey Beale hit a field goal and two free throws in overtime, and Alyssa Palmer added two free throws with 25 seconds remaining to ensure the University of Illinois Springfield’s 70-68 victory over Rockhurst in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game Thursday night.

Beale, who scored 18 points to lead the Prairie Stars, hit a 3-point field goal with 10 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 62.

In overtime, UIS opened on a 6-0 run as Beale hit a jumper and Mallory Beck and Beale each converted two free throws to give the Prairie Stars a 68-62 lead.

Megan Bergerud, Carly Goede and Elizabeth Kelly each added 10 points as UIS improved its record to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the GLVC. The Hawks fell to 1-6 and 0-1.

The win was featured in an December 2, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Thursday, December 1, 2011

Stars open GLVC play with Rockhurst

As tough as the non-conference schedule has been, it only gets tougher for the University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars men’s basketball team as it makes its way through the Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule.

UIS plays its first GLVC contest at 7:30 tonight on the road against the Rockhurst Hawks in Kansas City, Mo.

The Stars (1-4) and Hawks (2-3) are among eight teams that make up the GLVC’s West Division. Of those eight, only three have winning records. In comparison, the eight teams in the league’s East Division all have winning records.

“Every night of the conference is going to be a battle,” UIS coach Ben Wierzba said.

The game was featured in an December 1, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Women's Basketball: Indianapolis recruit signs with UIS

Meredith Marti, a 5-foot-9 senior at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis, has signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Illinois Springfield women’s basketball team.

Marti averaged 4.1 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game before suffering a season-ending knee injury as a junior.

“We are excited to add Meredith to the program,” said UIS coach Marne Fauser. “She is an athletic guard and a true competitor.”

The future student was featured in an December 1, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Men's Golf: UIS picks up two new players

Rend Lake College sophomore Joshua Harp and Woodlawn High School senior Nickolas Tannahill have signed national letters of intent to play for the University of Illinois Springfield men’s golf team.

Tannahill tied for 15th at the Class 1A Boys State Tournament in October. He is a three-time sectional qualifier. Tannahill had the team’s lowest scoring average for four seasons.

Harp played for Benton High School’s Class 1A state runner-up squad in 2008 and tied for 69th. He tied for 59th at the 2009 tourney.

The future students were featured in an December 1, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Monday, November 28, 2011

UIS international students get taste of American Thanksgiving

Zhao Yue, an exchange student from Harbin, China, got his first taste of an American Thanksgiving dinner Thursday.

The 22-year-old University of Illinois Springfield student was a guest at Tom and Tracy Knox’s home on Lake Springfield. The couple has been inviting exchange students to their home since 2004. Zhao was one of three international students who sat down with the family for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.

“I’ve never tried this food before. It’s amazing,” Zhao said. “I liked the turkey. The combination of turkey and gravy was awesome.”

In addition to food, the international students got a crash course in the origins of the first Thanksgiving.

The international students were featured in an November 25, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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UIS home against Findlay on Monday

The University of Findlay men’s basketball team is ranked No. 7 in the NCAA Division II poll. But the Oilers are beatable.

Illinois Springfield (1-3) plays host to Findlay (3-1) in a non-conference game at 7:45 p.m. today at The Recreation and Athletic Center.

UIS hopes to follow in the footsteps of Malone, which ended the Oilers’ 71-game home win streak Nov. 15 with a 74-71 victory.

Senior forward Michael Fakuade is off to a hot start for the Stars. He leads the Great Lakes Valley Conference in rebounds (13.3 per game) and blocked shots (4 per game), and he’s averaging a team-high 15.8 points per game. The Stars’ other top scorers are junior guard Kyle Gupton (12.5 points) and senior guard Lester Hart (10.5).

The game was previewed in an November 28, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Tamara Browning: 'Snapshots' offers hands-on experience

Visitors to artist Shane Harris' “Snapshots” interactive installation at the University of Illinois Springfield’s Visual Arts Gallery get a chance to play with objects.

From the small-scale sculptural pieces lining the walls of the gallery, visitors are encouraged to “select a couple pieces that catch your eye, and arrange your pieces on one of the bases on a pedestal,” according to a “Snapshots” instructions card.

Pedestals arranged on the floor of the gallery are encased in various materials and range in colors from turquoise to black.

“Please take a picture with your camera phone and send me the photo at saharris@uis.edu or tag me on Facebook!” the instructions continue.

“If you don’t have a camera phone, you can still play! Just ask the Gallery Attendant to use our camera! I will print the photos I receive and post them in the gallery for the remainder of the show!”

“Snapshots” will be displayed through Dec. 1 at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery, Room 201 in the Health and Sciences Building. Gallery hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The exhibit was featured in an November 24, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

After a 'thin' year, CWLP tries to plan ahead

City Water, Light and Power made money generating electricity during the past year, but just barely, Springfield’s top municipal utility official told the Citizens Club last week.

What might happen in the future is tough to predict, panel members said.

Natural gas is a wild card, according to Karl McDermott, Ameren Distinguished Professor of Business and Government at University of Illinois Springfield. A controversial method of extracting gas from rock by injecting water and chemicals into the earth could prove a boon to gas-fired power plants that are now more expensive to operate than coal-fired plants.

“We will have a ton of it (gas), and the price will come down, if the technology is allowed to come to fruition,” McDermott said.

McDermott's comments were featured in an November 23, 2011, article in the Illinois Times.

Read the story online

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

More people order out for Thanksgiving dinner

Keith Burton, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Illinois Springfield, said he thinks people are re-evaluating how to spend the holiday.

“I think it’s a reflection of the growing mindfulness of the time-versus-money tradeoff,” Burton said. “We’re seeing more and more folks choosing to place value on time over money.”

His family made a similar choice recently.

Every Nov. 24, the extended family treks to Wisconsin where the potluck meal always had been crowned with his grandmother’s turkey. Four years ago, the centerpiece was swapped with store-bought fried chicken.

“There were some folks who kind of huffed. It pretty much split along the lines of who liked fried chicken,” Burton said. “Now, it’s become ‘the thing.’ I’d be disappointed if (fried chicken) was missing.

Burton's comments were featured in an November 22, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Ritual sacrifices: Holiday customs subject to change

For almost a decade, Ollie Rogers worked hard to keep her late mother's Thanksgiving tradition alive by cooking an elaborate feast for her family.

But this year, she's over it.

"I'm not going to be in the kitchen at all," said Rogers, 44, who has happily turned the stove and saucepans over to her 22-year-old daughter. "I'm going to have my feet up and I'm just going to watch."

Her daughter, Ashley Price, is an avid cook who began experimenting in the kitchen while she was a student at the University of Illinois at Springfield. These days, she voluntarily cooks dinner every night for her brothers and stepfather while her mother works.

"Food always brings the people and family together. It keeps the heritage and family alive," said Price, who added that she'll insist that the family keep its other tradition of playing board games after dinner.

Price was featured in an November 22, 2011, article in the Chicago Tribune.

Read the story online

Monday, November 21, 2011

Men's Basketball: UIS earns first win of season

Despite an 0-2 start, the University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars had no doubt they were better than their record suggested.

UIS proved it Saturday in the men’s basketball home opener. The Stars notched an 82-74 non-conference victory over the Lincoln University Blue Tigers at The Recreation and Athletic Center.

“It was a total team effort,” UIS junior forward Chigozie Umeadi said. “We realized we had to pull together and it was a must win. We started out 0-2. We had to get a ‘W’.”

Defense was the name of the game at practice throughout the week for the Stars (1-2), yet the versatility of their offense was on display against the Blue Tigers (0-3).

The win was featured in an November 20, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Thursday, November 17, 2011

Music Notes: UIS music showcase set Friday

The University of Illinois Springfield’s chorus, chamber ensemble and band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Sangamon Auditorium.

UIS Music’s Fall Showcase Concert features music from around the world.

The chorus is to perform Christopher Tin’s “Baba Yetu,” the chamber ensemble will perform Sooon Hee Newbold’s “Egyptian Legacy” and Jeremy Woolstenhulme’s “The Creation of Stonehenge,” and the band will perform Eric Whitacre’s “October” and Vasilij Agapkin’s “A Slavic Farewell.”

Admission is free but donations will be accepted on behalf of the UIS Music Student Merit Award.

The concert was spotlighted in an November 17, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Woodlawn golfer will continue career at Illinois Springfield

Nick Tannahill recently completed a success golf season for the Woodlawn Cardinals that ended at the 1A state finals.

Tannahill’s golf career won’t end with high school as he recently announced his commitment to the University of Illinois Springfield. Tannahill said the Division II school was a draw because of both athletics and academics.

“It had a really nice business degree, and that’s what I’m really after,” Tannahill said. “It also had a really nice golf program as well. They play at some really nice courses, and that will be a lot of fun playing there.”

The senior became the first Woodlawn golfer in school history to advance to the state finals. In the two-day event, he tied for 15th. He shot an 82 in his first round and improved by four strokes on the second day to finish with a 160.

Tannahill was featured in an November 15, 2011, article in the Mt. Vernon Register-News.

Read the article online

Monday, November 14, 2011

Good Deeds: UIS students grateful for help with food drive

On Oct. 31, more than 125 University of Illinois Springfield students took part in the Trick or Treat for Canned Goods Food Drive service project. Students went door-to-door collecting food for the Central Illinois Foodbank.

I would like to thank the community for its participation in our efforts. Each year, the students return to campus, telling stories of welcoming and generous community members. In addition, some students share stories of how they were even offered hot chocolate and candy! Without the support of the community, we would not be able to put on this event year after year.

This year, the students collected more than 7,500 pounds of food.

UIS and its students are proud to be part of the community and look forward to many more collaborations. Thank you again for all of your giving!

— Brittany Elder, AmeriCorps VISTA, University of Illinois Springfield

The "Good Deeds" letter was published in an November 12, 2011, edition of The State Journal-Register.

Read the letter online

Good Deeds: Thanking UIS Athletic Department

I would like to thank the University of Illinois Springfield coaches, all the players and athletic staff for writing me an inspiration book and supporting me while I have been sick.

I want to especially thank coach Marne Fauser for putting together a basket for my trip to Children’s Hospital. All the coaches put together a wonderful basket with things I love and it really helped me get through the last couple of days there.

Your support has meant a lot to me and my family. I think the UIS athletic department and players are the best around!

— Joelie Bennett, Chatham

Bennett's comments were featured in a "Good Deeds" letter submitted to The State Journal-Register and published on November 12, 2011.

Read the letter online

Don't forget your manners when attending work-related parties

Many companies and businesses plan at least some type of corporate seasonal or holiday party as a way to bring employees together and show support and appreciation for their staff.

At the University of Illinois Springfield, a campus-wide holiday gathering is held either on a Monday or Friday afternoon at the end of the fall semester to allow both staff and faculty to attend.

“In an effort to create a community within our campus community, we think it’s important for the campus culture to gather together,” said Joan Sestak, director of community relations who sits on the party planning committee each year. “It gives us the ability to interact with colleagues we may not see every day and share a little holiday spirit and talk about what’s going on in everybody’s lives.”

Whether a fall picnic or big holiday bash, in the office or out of the office, during office hours or on the weekend, when it comes to a company social gathering, as a guest you always should remember it is just that: a company event.

Sestak's comments were featured in an November 12, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Women's basketball: UIS holds off Lakers

The University of Illinois Springfield took a 29-point halftime lead and hung on for a 73-64 victory over the Lake Superior State Lakers.

UIS was outscored 42-22 in the second half. The Prairie Stars’ Bailey Beale and Megan Bergerud scored 22 and 21 points, respectively.

Beale pulled down six rebounds and sank four of nine 3-point attempts. Ashley Coffey came up with 11 points, 10 rebounds and four steals for UIS (1-1).

The win was featured in an November 13, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Friday, November 11, 2011

UIS Men's Basketball: Prairie Stars healthy for opener

For the first time since the season officially began, every player on the University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball roster practiced this week.

That allowed Prairie Stars coach Ben Wierzba an opportunity to get a good look at the Stars and prepare the team for tonight’s season opener against Northwood University at the Great Lakes Valley Conference/Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Challenge in Midland, Mich.

The Stars, who have been dealing with a series of minor injuries, enter the matchup having dropped exhibition contests to a pair of NCAA Division I programs. Southern Illinois-Carbondale handed UIS a 79-56 loss and Evansville knocked off the Stars 74-61.

UIS hopes to replicate the success it experienced last season at the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge. The Stars scored one-point victories over both Lake Superior State and Northwood. There will be a rematch between UIS and Lake Superior State at 4 p.m. Saturday.

The men's team was featured in an November 11, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Thursday, November 10, 2011

Senators' Ramirez to sign with Stars

Springfield High senior Becca Ramirez’s dream of playing college golf has come true.

She will sign a letter of intent to play for the University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars today. UIS is the only school Ramirez considered.

Ramirez was one of the Senators’ top golfers. She placed 58th at the Class AA State Tournament in October. She placed third at the Lady Dragon Classic, was fourth at the Railside Shootout and finished sixth at the Central State Eight Conference Tournament. She claimed medalist honors along with a teammate at the Girls Ryder Cup Tournament and was medalist in multiple nine-hole matches this fall.

Ramirez was featured in an November 10, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Voters care more about abuse of power than sex scandals

Political scandals are, in a sense, like car crashes: They attract our attention because they bring out our morbid curiosity. Will this be the end of a big-time politician’s career? Or will the voters simply shrug?

Newly published research suggests the answer depends upon the type of misbehavior that has been uncovered. It finds that while sex scandals tend to get the most media coverage, they have the least impact on voters’ views.

“On average, financial scandals are worse than moral ones, and abuses of power amplify the negative effects,” said University of Illinois Springfield political scientist Michael G. Miller. “Perhaps we’ve been so conditioned to sex scandals that people just brush them off.

“Whereas the ‘steward of the public trust’ idea — which is raised by scandals involving tax fraud, or misappropriation of the people’s money — has a much bigger impact in terms of voting behavior.”

Miller is co-author of a paper titled “Are Financial or Moral Scandals Worse? It Depends,” published in the October issue of the journal PS: Political Science and Politics.

Miller was featured in an November 7, 2011, article by Miller-McCune Magazine.

Read the article online

Monday, November 7, 2011

Springfield native Rebecca Skloot chronicles woman's immortal life

Rebecca Skloot, aged 16 and sitting in a classroom at Portland Community College, has no idea she’s about to have one of the pivotal moments in her life.

“Donald Defler, a gnomish balding man, paced at the front of the lecture hall and flipped on an overhead projector,” Skloot would write years later.

After a few confusing minutes lecturing about cellular biology, Defler wrote a name on the chalkboard in large letters: HENRIETTA LACKS.

Lacks, he explained, was a woman who died from cervical cancer in 1951. Scientists had taken a sample of her cancer cells and with them made a breakthrough. Where decades of work had failed to get human cells to grow in a lab, suddenly Henrietta’s cells were growing endlessly.

Since then, the cells have played a crucial role in medicine, from the polio vaccine to modern cancer research.

More than 20 years after that biology class, Skloot would chronicle the strange tale of the cells — and the family the cell “donor” left behind — in “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”

The book has become a sensation: More than 1 million copies have been sold. It was named one of the best books of 2010 by many critics and newspapers. Oprah Winfrey is making it into a movie.

And after a decade toiling in relative obscurity, Skloot has become a sensation, too.

The author will talk about her book during a free lecture Wednesday night at Sangamon Auditorium, on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield.

It’s a homecoming for Skloot: she was born in Springfield and spent the first 10 years of her life here.

Skloot was featured in an November 6, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Film on Aldo Leopold to be shown at UIS Tuesday

A new feature film about the life, writings and legacy of Aldo Leopold — considered the father of the modern conservation movement — will be screened at the University of Illinois Springfield on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Leopold is best known for “A Sand County Almanac,” a collection of essays published in 1949, shortly after his death. His writings have inspired generations of conservationists, environmentalists and others with an affinity for the natural world.

The book has sold more than 2 million copies and has been translated into 10 languages.

The film, “Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time,” is being presented free of charge and will be shown in Brookens Auditorium at 7 p.m.

The screening was featured in an November 7, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Volleyball: Prairie Stars win finale

The University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars ended the season with a 25-23, 16-25, 25-23, 25-22 victory over the Maryville Saints in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match Saturday at The Recreation and Athletic Center.

Sam Krilich led UIS with 18 kills and Kellee Mahaffay added 12. The Stars finished 5-25 overall and 2-16 in the GLVC. Emily Fox had 21 assists for UIS.

The win was featured in an November 6, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Illini Basketball: No game yet against UIS

When Southern Illinois-Carbondale defeated the University of Illinois Springfield 79-56 Sunday, Bruce Weber took notice but still wants the Prairie Stars program to mature before he schedules an exhibition against UIS.

“My thought was to let them get established and get the talent they feel that’s competitive at the Division II level,’’ Weber said. “We can look at them over the next couple of years.’’

Weber's comments were featured in an November 5, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Thursday, November 3, 2011

Music Notes: WUIS-FM to hold sale

Local public radio station WUIS-FM (91.9) will host a music sale this weekend.

Used CDs, LPs, 45s, 78s and cassettes — and audio equipment and musical instruments — have been donated for the sale.

Most vinyl records will cost $1, and CDs will cost $2, though collectibles might be priced higher. Admission costs $5, and proceeds benefit the station. Only cash or checks will be accepted.

Existing donors can get in from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday; the sale is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. It will be in the WUIS Studios, near parking lot B on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield.

For more information, call 206-9847.

The sale was featured in an November 3, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Former student donates $500,000 in honor of UIS professor

A former student and University of Illinois Springfield employee has donated a half-million dollars to establish a named professorship in honor of her former English professor.

The professorship — the university’s first from a graduate honoring a former professor — is the Judith E. Everson Professorship in English. Everson taught at the university for 31 years and was a charter faculty member at UIS’ predecessor, Sangamon State University.

Everson’s former student, Cheryl Peck, who served as director of public relations at UIS from 1992 to 2009, donated $500,000 to establish the endowment fund.

“I first met Judy Everson in a class, ‘Literature Between the Wars,’” Peck said. “I was immediately inspired by her energy and enthusiasm and how she skillfully involved the students in discussions about literature.”

Peck said she went back to college in midlife during the 1980s.

“That was the beginning of a personal transformation that lasted several years,” she said. “She gave me confidence in my ability to succeed academically. I was inspired to make a major career change from journalism to higher education and established a lifelong friendship with Judy now that we’re both retired.”

The professorship was featured in an November 2, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Tuesday, November 1, 2011

UIS women's basketball team searches for winning formula

The word chemistry is used frequently by University of Illinois Springfield women’s basketball coach Marne Fauser when discussing this season’s group of players.

“Chemistry is very important to me and I think that’s what we have,’’ Fauser said. “I think the returners had good chemistry. Our newcomers have some great people to look up to, so I’m excited about their chemistry as well.’’

The foundation the Stars laid last season en route to an 8-18 overall record and a 3-15 Great Lakes Valley Conference mark remains. Five of their top six players are back from a team that won three of the last five games.

UIS’ only notable loss is Paulina Pogorzelski, the sole key senior on last season’s roster. She led the team in rebounding at 7 per game and averaged 9.9 points.

Fauser has paired the five returning players with seven newcomers. But building chemistry didn’t begin in the preseason. It started in the offseason with senior guard Cristina Nevins organizing a group of seven players for a summer league at Gold’s Gym.

The team was featured in an November 1, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online

Monday, October 31, 2011

UIS to begin offering online seminars

The University of Illinois Springfield has a successful record of offering online for-credit and degree courses, yet it hadn’t delved much into not-for-credit seminars and activities.

That’s about to change, said Ray Schroeder, director of the Center for Online Learning, Research and Service at the university. Starting in November, five continuing education seminars will be offered online.

“Many universities do offer those kinds of things, and we thought we could do well in that area,” he said.

The seminars and workshops can be taken by anyone, anywhere but are aimed at those living in Springfield and surrounding areas.

The first live, online seminars to be offered are called “HR Training Tuesdays” and consist of five two-hour seminars on human resources topics that enable HR professionals to earn continuing education credit connected to their certification.

The seminars will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays — three in November beginning Nov. 1 — and two in December. Each costs $49. Sign up on the UIS website.

The workshops were featured in an October 31, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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UIS men's basketball team a work in progress

Coach Ben Wierzba’s project of building the University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball team into a competitive NCAA Division II program has entered Year 2.

Wierzba appears better equipped for the challenge. Getting hired one month before the 2010-11 season kept him from assembling a recruiting class and spending the bulk of the off season with the players. Wierzba has been hard at work since the Stars played their last game in February.

“We’ve had a good off season,” he said. “We’ve had a good preseason. The two biggest needs we were looking for was adding size and length and adding depth at every position. I think we’ve done that.”

He has brought in six newcomers. UIS returns seven players from last season’s team that produced records of 8-17 overall and 4-14 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The team was featured in an October 29, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Review: 'I Hate Hamlet' gives humorous glimpse into acting profession

The notion that playing the Melancholy Dane is to acting what rocket science and brain surgery are to other professions -- or as the main character describes it, "algebra on stage" -- is humorously deflated in UIS Theatre's fall production, "I Hate Hamlet."

Written by Paul Rudnick and directed for the University of Illinois Springfield by Eric Thiboudeaux-Thompson, "I Hate Hamlet" takes place in the New York City apartment once occupied by legendary actor John Barrymore (and, in real life, by Rudnick when he wrote the script in 1991).

"I Hate Hamlet" runs 2 hours with a 15-minute intermission, and contains some adult language and themes. The show will be presented at 7:30 p.m. today and Nov. 3-5, and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors age 65 and older, $8 for UIS faculty and staff, and $6 for UIS students. An additional charge of $2 applies to tickets purchased at the door. For tickets purchased online or by phone, additional charges of $5 apply.

Tickets may be purchased during regular business hours or up to 90 minutes before each show at the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office, located on level two of the UIS Public Affairs Center. Tickets can also be purchased by phone at 206-6160 or (800) 207-6960 or at www.uis.edu/theatre.

The review was published in an October 30, 2011, edition of The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online

Thursday, October 27, 2011

UIS Theatre to perform 'I Hate Hamlet'

Shortly after “I Hate Hamlet” opened on Broadway in 1991, the comedy became legendary for its leading man problems.

Paul Rudnick’s play, the subject of a new local production by UIS Theatre, tells the story of TV actor Andrew Rally. He gets the chance to play Hamlet in Central Park, but as the title suggests, Andrew is not wild about the role, and he’s soon tempted by a lucrative Hollywood deal.

At the urging of his agent, Andrew holds a séance in which he conjures the ghost of early 20th century actor John Barrymore. The legend of stage and screen not only appears, but proceeds to take over Andrew’s life.

Hilarity ensues as Andrew wrestles with his conscience — and swordfights Barrymore’s ghost — over his career.

On Broadway, the aging actor playing Barrymore was clashing with his cast mates to the point where he injured the actor playing Andrew in a stage swordfight. The row became front-page news in The New York Times.

Here’s hoping for better luck for UIS Theatre’s production, which opens Friday in the Studio Theatre on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield.

The play was featured in an October 27, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Processed foods still dominate school lunches

Schools and education experts say providing healthier entree options comes down to how to most easily meet nutrition guidelines and cost.

“I’d love to have full-cut chicken breasts, instead of pre-formed,” Hillsboro food director Tracy Collins said. “But the price point, it’s just not affordable.”

An educator from the University of Illinois Springfield said such lunch tray fare is all too common among American schools, despite highly visible pushes to get school children eating healthier.

“The biggest factor is the nutritional guidelines,” said Allan Cook, an associate professor of teacher education at UIS. “They tend to encourage pre-processed food, rather than locally grown, locally prepared.

“The guidelines say ‘vitamin A,’ instead of broccoli. Unless you have a nutritionist on staff, it’s a lot easier to go by the labels.”

Cook was featured in an October 26, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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UIS men's hoops team picked 6th in GLVC West

The University of Illinois Springfield has been picked to finish sixth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference West Division in a preseason coaches poll released Tuesday.

Drury is the favorite to win the division with 15 first-place votes. Quincy was picked second, followed by Missouri-St. Louis, William Jewell, Missouri S&T, UIS, Rockhurst and Maryville. Missouri-St. Louis received one first-place vote.

Defending NCAA Division II champion Bellarmine was picked to win the East Division and received 15 first-place votes. Kentucky Wesleyan was second and earned one first-place vote.

The ranking was featured in an October 26, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Golf: McKillips leads UIS

Mike McKillips tied for seventh and the University of Illinois Springfield placed four golfers in the top 20 to finish in third place Monday at the 14-team Maryville Fall Invitational.

McKillips shot 2-over-par 73 in both rounds to finish with a 146 for the Stars, who had a 603 team score.

Playing as an individual, UIS’ Sam Norbom fired a 72-79—151 to finished tied for 13th.

Rockhurst University won with a 594.

Shane McCafferty finished in a tie for 10th with a 74-75—149 for UIS.

The team was featured in an October 25, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Thursday, October 20, 2011

Civil War symposium slated Friday, Saturday

The causes, conduct and consequences of the Civil War will be addressed Friday and Saturday during the second annual Wepner Symposium on the Lincoln Legacy and Contemporary Scholarship.

Admission is free.

A number of scholars will discuss topics during the symposium, which begins Friday at the Public Affairs Center Restaurant at the University of Illinois Springfield. A reception begins at 6 p.m., with the first symposium session at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, sessions meet from 9 a.m. to noon at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site in downtown Springfield, and from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

The symposium was featured in an October 20, 2011, edition of The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online

Internship hall of fame to induct five

Five people, including four Springfield residents, are being inducted into the Samuel K. Gove Illinois Legislative Internship Hall of Fame at a Nov. 7 reception at the Executive Mansion.

The honorees, all former interns, are David Kennedy, Bruce Kinnett, Michael Maibach, Catherine Shannon and Frank Straus.

Illinois Issues magazine is sponsor of the Hall of Fame, which is named for the late Sam Gove, a founder of the magazine and longtime director of the internship program, which began in 1961.

The Nov. 7 event at the Executive Mansion will begin at 5:15 p.m., with the induction ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 and reservations are required by Friday. Information is available at 206-6084, and tickets can be purchased online at http://illinoisissues.uis.edu.

The hall of fame was featured in an October 20, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Jackie Jackson releases her magnum opus, Vol. 1

Jacqueline Jackson still tends a herd of cows but nowadays they’re figurines on her mantle.

Raised on the Dougan Guernsey Dairy Farm near Beloit, Wis., in the 1930s and 40s, Jackie decided at age 14 to chronicle her family’s business. In the decades since, she’s published more than a dozen books, had several plays and musicals produced, and has written a poem a week for Illinois Times the past seven years. At long last, The Round Barn: A Biography of an American Farm will be released this month. See www.roundbarnstories.com for details.

Jackson’s Round Barn projects led directly to her teaching “Writing a Woman’s Life” and later “Writing from Family Materials” at UIS. She was a founding faculty member at Sangamon State, now the University Illinois Springfield, and is currently a professor emerita.

She will be signing copies of her book on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Trout Lily Cafe, 218 South Sixth St. She’ll speak briefly around 6 p.m.

Jackson was featured in an October 20, 2011, article in The Illinois Times.

Read the article online

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Local colleges see effects of state backlog

As of late last week, the state owed the University of Illinois about $323 million, with $233 million of that owed from fiscal 2011. About $10.5 million of that is owed UIS.

Susan Koch, chancellor at UIS, said the university’s responses to the shortfall were implemented before she started her position this summer.

“We’re being very, very prudent in financial management,” she said. “We’ve implemented an extra step with every hire, even replacement hires. We’re asking, ‘Is the position needed? Can duties be reorganized to cover it?’”

Koch said UIS is “constantly engaged in budget planning, sometimes weekly.”

A system-wide administrative review and restructuring program has saved $26 million. That effort includes leveraging purchasing power among the three U of I campuses.

“We’ve benefited greatly from that,” she said.

However, UIS hasn’t shortchanged the learning process, despite the state’s financial woes.

Koch's comments were featured in an October 19, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

UIS attraction is a great way to spend the weekend

Star Parties, hosted by the University of Illinois Springfield, are gatherings for everyone from amateur astronomers to star-crossed lovers in the observatory at UIS’ Brookens Library.

Star Parties are a way to see the shining, bright sky and learn a few new things about space from UIS astronomy and physics professors. These parties are pretty popular, attracting masses of people — including a few teens.

As we walked up the stairs to the observatory, John Martin, a professor of astronomy at UIS, told us a little more about the sun, the planets and the stars.

If you find yourself with nothing to do at 8 p.m. on a Friday, check out the star parties. They are a really fun way to learn more about outer space for free.

Star Parties were featured in a Voice article written by high school senior Jessica Grim. The article was published in an October 18, 2011, edition of The State Journal-Register.

YouTube clicks with Republican presidential candidates

When Rick Perry launched an attack of Mitt Romney’s health care plan this week, he didn’t call a news conference, give a big speech or take to the airwaves.

Perry’s campaign turned instead to YouTube, posting a Web video that caught media attention and prompted Romney’s campaign to quickly respond.

Six decades after Richard Nixon’s famous “Checkers speech” propelled television to a central role in political campaigns, Web video could be poised for a similar breakout in 2012.

Michael Cheney, a senior fellow in government and public affairs at the University of Illinois at Springfield, compared the potential effect to Nixon’s speech, when the flagging vice presidential candidate used an emotional appeal to bypass the press. Nixon denied misusing campaign funds and included a heart-tugging reference to a dog named Checkers given to his family.

By turning to television, Nixon was able to take his message over the heads of the press directly to voters. The tactic worked: His speech drew an outpouring of support and compelled the GOP to keep him on the presidential ticket.

“More and more, candidates are using YouTube and the Web to circumvent the normal gatekeeper functions of reporters and the media,” said Cheney, who studies politics and the Web.

Cheney's comments were featured in an October 13, 2011, article in The Dallas Morning News.

Friday, October 14, 2011

SSU's 1986 champions to be honored Sunday

The 1986 Sangamon State University national championship soccer team will be honored at a 25-year reunion Sunday at halftime of the University of Illinois Springfield’s 2:30 p.m. men’s game against Northern Kentucky at Kiwanis Stadium.

Former coach Aydin Gonulsen and players will be on hand for the festivities.

The UIS women’s soccer game against Northern Kentucky begins at noon.

All soccer alumni are invited to walk in the homecoming parade today at 4:15 p.m. A barbecue will take place outside the stadium prior to today’s Great Lakes Valley Conference soccer doubleheader against Bellarmine.

The women’s match begins at 5 p.m. Former soccer players will be recognized at halftime of the men’s game that starts at 7:30 p.m. The night will culminate with a fireworks display.

The reunion was featured in an October 14, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Leading UIS into the future

Asked what is her most important accomplishment at the University of Illinois Springfield, and Susan Koch, about 100 days into her position as chancellor, names Kimberly Pate.

“The hiring of our athletic director was absolutely critical, and even though I wasn’t on board yet I was very, very involved with the hire through the months of May and June because I knew it was very critical,” says Koch, who began her term as UIS chancellor on July 1.

Formerly provost at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Koch in her first several months has listed numerous priorities ranging from boosting faculty diversity to finding a niche for UIS in Springfield’s growing medical community. With each priority, though, Koch issues a central message – that of making connections, with both the campus and Springfield communities.

Meanwhile, Koch’s first new hire, athletic director Kimberly Pate, says her department and the students representing it are the key to some of those connections. “I hope that athletics can be the front porch that connects the community with the university. I do hope that we will become Springfield’s university, that we will earn the respect and recognition from the community as their college team,” Pate says.

Koch and Pate were featured in an October 13, 2011, article in the Illinois Times.

Read the article online

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

India's half-hearted welcome for foreign universities

U.S. universities may not be setting up shop in India yet, but they’re already attracting Indian students in droves – mostly graduate students. Last year, 105,000 Indian students were studying abroad in the U.S., the second most behind China’s 127,000.

At a college fair Monday organized at New Delhi’s Shangri-La Hotel as part of the trade mission, 21 U.S. universities were recruiting and the high enthusiasm of Indian students to go abroad was on display.

Elenora Haag, who was representing the University of Illinois at Springfield, said the school has already had surprising interest from Indians with almost no marketing – of its 200 foreign students (out of a student population of 5,000) 80% are Indians. “It’s entirely by word of mouth,” she said.

But she added that the school is hoping to diversify the kind of Indians it attracts. All its Indians now are computer science graduate students and, interestingly, all are from Hyderabad. “I guess some of them came and told their friends back home in Hyderabad to come,” Ms. Haag says.

Haag's comments were featured in an October 11, 2011, article in The Wall Street Journal.

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Lincoln, Civil War to be discussed

The topic of the 2011 Lincoln Legacy Lectures, to be given Thursday night, will be “Lincoln and the Civil War.”

Speakers will be Michael Burlingame, Naomi Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS, and Lucas Morel, professor of politics at Washington and Lee University.

The lectures, which begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, are free and open to the public, along with a reception and book signing that will follow.

The Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series is sponsored by the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership in cooperation with the Lynn Chair in Lincoln Studies.

The series was featured in an October 11, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online

Monday, October 10, 2011

Women's soccer: Prairie Stars win on road

Erin Egolf, Kaitlyn Logan and Hannah Fyfe scored for the University of Illinois Springfield in a 3-0 victory over the Missouri S&T Miners in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match Friday.

It was the second win in four contests for the Prairie Stars (4-5-1 overall, 3-5-1 in the GLVC.) Egolf is UIS’ top scorer with six goals.

The Miners (3-6-1, 3-6) had 15 shots to the Stars’ 13. Kelli Kubal recorded seven saves for UIS.

The win was featured in an October 8, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online

Thursday, October 6, 2011

UIS nearing fundraising goal

The University of Illinois Springfield is very close to its campus fundraising goal of $28 million, Chancellor Susan Koch said Wednesday.

UIS has pledges of $26.5 million, and “it is my goal to put us over the top,” Koch told The State Journal-Register editorial board. “Many people in the community are very supportive of UIS.”

The University of Illinois Foundation's Brilliant Futures fundraising campaign, covering all three U of I campuses, topped its $2.25 billion goal several months early. The foundation, the university’s fundraising arm, said in late September that Brilliant Futures has raised $2.267 billion in donations from graduates, corporations and others. The campaign ends Dec. 31.

While that campaign is ending, the U of I is launching its Presidential Scholarship Initiative to raise $100 million or more over the next three years.

“One of the critical issues for UIS, as is the case for most public university campuses, is ensuring access to a college education for all students who have the desire to learn and the ability to succeed,” Koch said. “For more students to access our excellent University of Illinois degree here in Springfield, we need more scholarships.”

The fundraising effort was featured in an October 6, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Volleyball: UIS beats Benedictine

Annie Nottingham had 14 kills and teammate Rebeka Pruemer had 28 assists to lead host University of Illinois Springfield to a 25-19, 25-21, 25-15 win over Benedictine University of Springfield.

Kellee Mahaffay and Sam Mainzer both had nine digs.

The win was featured in an October 6, 2011, edition of The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online

Cut to perfection

Illinois State Museum, Prairie Art Alliance, Springfield Art Association, University of Illinois at Springfield and Robert Morris College have bound together to present a citywide exhibition, Partners on Paper, through the month of October.

UIS Visual Arts Gallery offers the paper work of Oregon artist Helen Hiebert, featuring The Mother Tree, a life-size handmade paper dress with crocheted threads extending from its base as roots. Visitors can add their own words to the exhibit on notepads.

An opening reception is Oct. 21 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at which time all organizations will host receptions simultaneously so patrons can gallery hop to see all the paper art at each venue.

The exhibit was featured in an October 6, 2011, article in the Illinois Times.

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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Local schools in Pink Festival

The Benedictine University at Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College, Robert Morris University and University of Illinois Springfield volleyball teams will all play tonight in the Pink Volleyball Festival at The Recreation and Athletic Center on the UIS campus.

The teams have sold commemorative shirts promoting breast cancer awareness with the proceeds going to the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. Fans wearing these shirts will receive free admission to both matches.

LLCC, No. 19 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II poll, and Robert Morris face off at 5:30 p.m. UIS and Benedictine meet in the 7 p.m. match.

The Pink Festival was featured in an October 5, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

UIS professor to receive national award

A University of Illinois Springfield professor has been chosen to receive a national Excellence in Online Teaching award from the Sloan Consortium, a group made up of fellow online educators.

Michael Cheney, professor of communication, is known for his popular online courses, which include “The Beatles: Popular Music and Society,” “Political Communication” and “Writing for Public Relations.” Last year, Cheney’s “Unit 1: Beatles as Mosaic” podcast was the second-most-downloaded podcast on iTunes U for several weeks. The series also was listed in the “Noteworthy” section of iTunes U.

The award is one of the highest honors presented by the Sloan Consortium, which previously has recognized UIS faculty and programs for their online learning successes.

“UIS is known for its excellence in online education, and I am happy to contribute to that reputation through my work,” Cheney said.

The award was featured in an October 4, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Monday, October 3, 2011

UIS Mock Crash

A mock car crash is catching the attention of students all over central Illinois. The event at the University of Illinois Springfield is designed to give kids a look at what reality can look like on the road, especially if someone is drinking and driving.

Andrew Nicol
is a senior at UIS. Two of his closest friends were recently killed in a DUI crash. He was a part of the Road to Reality event, which made memories rush back.

Road to Reality was featured by WCIA Channel 3 in an September 30, 2011 report.

Watch the story online

Monday, September 26, 2011

In My View: An ancestor's diary full of life's lessons

The following is a portion of an op-ed written by University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Susan J. Koch. It was published in an September 24, 2011, edition of The State Journal-Register.

"As new residents of Illinois, my husband and I have found numerous reasons to appreciate our new surroundings. But this move, to assume the chancellorship at the University of Illinois Springfield, is really a homecoming for me. My father grew up in Peru and my great-grandfather was a coal miner in Spring Valley.

With 5,000 acres in the heart of Illinois coal country, the Spring Valley Coal Co.’s intent was to sink four shafts and build a 'Magic City' that would employ up to 4,000 miners. An Irishman, my great-grandfather was one of them. His eldest, Mary, passed along to us her father’s diary, a narrative titled 'Solid Facts.' He made brief entries into this spiral-bound notebook from 1894-1902."

Read the full op-ed online

U of Ill. fundraising campaign tops $2.25 billion

The University of Illinois Foundation says its eight-year-old Brilliant Futures fundraising campaign has topped its $2.25 billion goal several months early.

The foundation is the university's fundraising arm. It said in a news release Friday that the campaign has raised $2.267 billion in donations from graduates, corporations and others. The campaign ends Dec. 31.

Money from the Brilliant Futures campaign will be split among the university's three campuses. So far $1.6 billion is dedicated to the flagship campus in Urbana and Champaign. The Chicago campus will receive $593 million, and the Springfield campus will get $25.9 million.

The campaign was featured in an September 23, 2011, Associated Press article.

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Women's Soccer: Prairie Stars get road win

Chatham Glenwood graduate Erin Egolf scored a goal, and Chandler Sommerfeldt added another to give the University of Illinois Springfield a 2-1 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory over Saint Joseph’s.

UIS improves to 3-3-1 overall and 2-3-1 in conference play.

The win was featured in an September 26, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Downstate Innocence Project gets federal grant

The University of Illinois Springfield’s Downstate Innocence Project has been awarded another federal grant to help investigate cases where people might have been unjustly convicted of crimes.

The $249,319 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice will go toward clearing cases that can’t be resolved through DNA testing.

The Downstate Innocence Project last year received a $687,448 federal grant to investigate cases in which DNA testing is involved.

The grant was featured in an September 22, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Illinois Downstate Innocence Project gets federal grant

An Illinois institute that helps people convicted of crimes they didn't commit has won a federal grant to help cover the cost of tackling cases that cannot be resolved through DNA testing.

The Downstate Innocence Project got more than $249,000 from the Justice Department.

Project director Larry Golden says more than 90 percent of wrongful convictions cannot be resolved with DNA testing. He says that without DNA, figuring out whether someone has been unfairly sent to prison can require years of investigation.

The Downstate Innocence Project is based at the University of Illinois at Springfield. It collaborates with law schools at Southern Illinois University and the University of Illinois.

The grant was featured in an September 22, 2011, report by the Associated Press.

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Paludan sisters open new UIS series

Kirsten and Karin Paludan began performing together when they were just kids.

The sisters, three and a half years apart in age, would put on variety shows in their basement, singing songs, playing violin and recording soap operas on a tape recorder.

On Saturday, the Paludans will bring their show from the basement of their childhood home to a basement of a different sort: the Studio Theatre at the University of Illinois Springfield.

It’s the first performance in Sangamon Auditorium’s new Kitchen Sink series, which also includes St. Louis singer Erin Bode and ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. All the Kitchen Sink artists are to perform in the intimate, black box Studio Theatre, located on the lower level of the UIS Public Affairs Center.

The performance was featured in an September 22, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.

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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Men's golf Stars tie for second

Led by Mike McKillips’ third-place finish, the University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars tied for second at the 36-hole Wisconsin-Parkside Fall Invitational at The Club at Strawberry Creek Tuesday.

McKillips had rounds of 76 Monday and 73 Tuesday for a 149, four strokes behind the individual champion.

UIS moved up two spots as a team by following up a 305 with a 297.

The team was featured in an September 21, 2011, edition of The State Journal-Register.

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Monday, September 19, 2011

Men's soccer: UIS goalie scores tying goal

University of Illinois Springfield’s goalie Jack Turanchik scored a goal with 15 seconds remaining to give the host Prairie Stars a 1-1 tie with Wisconsin-Parkside on Sunday in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game.

Carlo Cubero had four shots to lead UIS (0-4-1, 0-3-1). Turanchik had five saves.

The game was featured in an September 19, 2011, edition of The State Journal-Register.

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