Monday, October 31, 2016

Men's Basketball - UIS men's basketball picked No. 7 in GLVC East

The University of Illinois Springfield was voted in a preseason coaches poll to finish seventh out of eight teams in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division.

Bellarmine was picked to win the division and received nine first-place votes for 114 points.

Wisconsin-Parkside received two first-place votes and earned 90 points. Lewis and Indianapolis also received first-place votes and tied for third with 88 points. Southern Indiana was fifth with 76 points and one first-place vote. McKendree (46), UIS (34) and Saint Joseph's (32) were sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. Quincy was chosen to finish first in the GLVC West Division.

UIS was 11-18 overall and 5-13 in the GLVC last season. The Prairie Stars open the season in an exhibition against Northwestern Friday.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 30, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Women's Volleyball - UIS volleyball team gets first conference win

The University of Illinois Springfield snapped an 11-match Great Lakes Valley Conference losing streak and defeated Missouri-St. Louis 25-17, 25-21, 20-25, 25-22 Friday for its first league win of the season.

Alli Splitt notched 13 kills and four blocks for the Prairie Stars at The Recreation and Athletic Center.

Tiffany Sunderlin added 12 kills and 12 digs. Lexi Hall had 25 assists and 12 digs.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 28, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

UIS offering new majors to students

University of Illinois Springfield officials say five new majors are now being offered to students.

Officials say the new majors include bachelor's degrees in public policy, exercise science, public administration, and biochemistry, as well as a master's degree in data analytics.

A bachelor's degree in theatre will be available to pursue at the university starting in fall 2017.

UIS Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs James Ermatinger says, "“These new majors represent a continual effort by our faculty to provide undergraduate and graduate degree opportunities in the professional fields, STEM, and the liberal arts."

This story appeared on WAND TV on October 26, 2016.
Read the entire article online.

Best of Springfield 2016 - Best Places

Best place to get a higher education - University of Illinois Springfield.

Hooray for University of Illinois Springfield, arguably the scrappiest institution of higher learning to hit the land of Lincoln since Red Grange galloped past the outstretched arms of lesser men.

From the very beginning, UIS, which began life as Sangamon State University in 1969, has demonstrated that it’s a serious academic institution where independent thought is cherished – in 1971, the campus, including the university president, wore floppy hats in protest after a state legislator criticized Professor Gus Stevens for wearing a hat in the presence of women.

“It’s not what we wear, it’s what’s under our hats that counts,” Stevens said back then, and it’s still true today.

Enrollment has shot past 5,400, up by around 1,000 from a decade ago. More than 1,000 students live on campus, and there are plenty of online courses for those who can’t be full-time students.

The school has been rated highly by U.S. News and World Report, and readers agree: You can’t beat UIS when it comes to getting a leg up.

This story appeared in The Illinois Times on October 27, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Best of Springfield 2016: Best Arts, Culture and Music

Best live music venue, ticketed seating - UIS Sangamon Auditorium

One of the most lovely designed and acoustically sound venues just about anywhere, the Sangamon Auditorium, on the campus of University of Illinois Springfield, is indeed a crown jewel of our community.

The 2,018-seat performing arts center and concert hall was built in 1981 and through the years has seen a cavalcade of stars, thousands of theater productions and countless shows of all kinds roll across the well-worn stage.

Home to our illustrious Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the hall hosts several concerts of symphony productions annually. The venue also books shows specifically designed for grade-school kids and offers the space for a few specific community productions.

Director Bob Vaughn, a hometown fellow, uses a lifetime of experience in the field to find popular and well-planned shows, keeping the best ticketed venue in town headed for continued success.

This article appeared in The Illinois Times on October 27, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

UIS Theatre celebrates Shakespeare with production of 'Macbeth'

For some married couples, acting side by side in one of William Shakespeare's iconic tragedies might spell "double, double toil and trouble." But for University of Illinois Springfield theater professors Eric and Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson, playing the lead roles in "Macbeth" is a chance to fulfill some of their own ambitions.

The play, directed by Bill Kincaid, opens Friday for seven performances in the UIS Studio Theatre. 

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth "are bucket list roles," said Missy, an associate professor of theater. 

First performed around 1606, "Macbeth" tells the story of a Scottish nobleman, spurred on by his wife and the prophecies of three witches, who murders King Duncan (Jim Hepworth) and becomes king himself, only to see his regime collapse in bloodshed, madness and rebellion. Despite — or more likely because of — violent and occult aspects that gave the play a reputation for being cursed,

In theatrical circles, it is sometimes dubbed "The Scottish Play" because mentioning its name outside of an actual performance was thought to bring bad luck. But that didn't discourage the Thibodeaux-Thompsons from slating "Macbeth" as UIS' fall production this year.

"It plays very well into the Halloween season with its ghosts, witches, and horror," said Christopher V. Marbaniang, a graduate student who appears as Malcolm, Duncan's son and rightful heir.

Since this year marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death and UIS had not staged a Shakespeare play since "As You Like It" in 2009, the Thibodeaux-Thompsons thought it would be an appropriate time to produce another. "We had done a comedy, so we thought, why not a tragedy," said Eric, associate professor and director of theater. "'Macbeth' has lots of good roles; it's also the shortest of Shakespeare's tragedies, and very action-packed."

The production is UIS' largest ever, with 22 actors in 34 roles, and features sets designed by assistant professor Dathan Powell.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 26, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Women's Cross Country - Litchfield native runs for UIS

Alexandria Quarton, of Litchfield, finished 90th in the Great Lakes Valley Conference XC Championships, which was held at the Missouri University of Science and Technology Golf Course in St. Louis, Missouri.

The University of Illinois Springfield freshman finished the 6,000-meter race in 24 minutes, 46.47 seconds.

UIS took 14th in the conference finals with 334 points.

This story appeared in The Journal-News in Hillsboro on October 27, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

UIS and Illinois DCFS partner to launch Child Protection Training Academy

Two organizations are coming together to improve child protection training for investigators of child abuse.

The University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy and Leadership is partnering with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to launch a Child Protection Training Academy.

Currently, the academy has already trained nearly 130 new DCFS investigators, utilizing the Residential Simulation Lab and the mock courtroom on the UIS campus. Now, it will expand to include new curricula for supervisors, multidisciplinary team members and a training partnership with the SIU School of Medicine.

Susan Evans is a 24-year veteran of DCFS and the new director of the Academy. She says with a constantly changing landscape and complex cases; investigators need to be well-prepared. “Training is critical, and the investigators who have completed this new simulation training overwhelmingly expressed a desire for additional hours in the simulation labs, practicing the skulls they will need to be confident and competent in the field,” Evans explains.

The Academy was initially created by the Illinois General Assembly back in August 2015 with Public Act 99-0348.

"The lives of children depend on us, and resources like this training academy will help improve the overall quality of our investigations and better serve the most vulnerable," said DCFS Director George H. Sheldon.

This story appeared on WAND TV on October 25, 2016.

Read the entire article online.




UIS to open transfer office at Richland Community College

The University of Illinois Springfield and Richland Community College in Decatur are partnering to make it easier for students to continue their college education after earning their associate's degree.

UIS will hold periodic office hours at a space inside the Kitty Lindsay Learning Resources Center on Richland’s campus for advising and counseling for RCC students considering transferring to UIS. 

After that, UIS plans to have a presence on the Richland campus on a weekly basis with regularly scheduled office hours allowing for more interaction with visiting UIS professors and advisers.

This story appeared online at WRSP Fox Illinois on October 25, 2016.

Read the entire article online.


Women's Golf - Hill, Matsen lead Stars

University of Illinois Springfield junior Brooke Hill tied for 15th and senior teammate Jocelyn Matsen tied for 19th at the UIS Island Getaway on the Ocean Course at Rio Mar Country Club Tuesday.

Hill fired a 4-over-par 75 in the final round and had a two-day total of 13-over-par 155. Matsen had rounds of 78 and 80 for a 158.

The Prairie Stars placed sixth out of eight teams in their final fall tournament.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 25, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Men's Golf - UIS' Goecks wins golf event in Puerto Rico

University of Illinois Springfield senior Nathan Goecks shot a 3-under-par 69 in the final round and won medalist honors at the UIS Island Getaway at Rio Mar Country Club Tuesday.

Goecks defeated runner-up Colton Godwin of Valdosta State by six strokes at the River Course and had a two-day total of 4-under-par 140 in the final tournament of the fall season.

A 71 in the first round, Goecks earned his fourth career victory, the most of any UIS golfer.

The Prairie Stars shot a 596 as a team. Valdosta State won with 589.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 25, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

UIS To Host 39th International Festival

For more than 35 years the International Festival has been a tradition at the University of Illinois Springfield Campus.

This year, the tradition will be carried on as the campus faculty, staff, friends and students will offer insights into the many beautiful and different cultures that make up our world.

The event will be held on Friday, November 6th from 5-8 p.m. at the TRAC location on campus. This year’s theme is the "World as One: Uniting Peoples and Cultures.”

This story appeared on WAND TV on October 24, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Monday, October 24, 2016

Women's Cross Country - Finley leads Stars at GLVC meet

Junior Krissy Finley finished 42nd and was the highest placers for the University of Illinois Springfield at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Cross Country Championship at Missouri S&T Golf Course Saturday.

UIS placed 14th with 334 points.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 22, 2016.

Read the entire article online.


Men's Cross Country - Stars take 10th at GLVC meet

University of Illinois Springfield junior Eli Cook placed 27th at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Men’s Cross Country Championship and the Prairie Stars finished 10th out of 13 teams Saturday. 

Cook completed the 8,000 meter race on the Missouri S&T Golf Course in 26 minutes 2.37 seconds. 

UIS was 10th with 254 points.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 22, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Lincoln ax, FDR letter brought to UIS History Harvest

Since Springfield is a political town in a political state, perhaps it’s no surprise that when the University of Illinois Springfield put out a call for residents to bring in their political memorabilia, they got at least 450 items.

It was a parade of campaign posters, buttons, bumper stickers, T-shirts and more during the UIS History Harvest event Saturday at the Old State Capitol.

Some of the more interesting items included Abraham Lincoln campaign buttons and a small, about 3-inches long, ax from Lincoln’s 1860 presidential campaign. There also was a letter from four-time President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and a uniform from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s campaign. 

The project was the idea of history professors Ken Owen and Devin Hunter, who wanted to “increase the public history work and digital media work” their students are doing, Owen said.

About eight or nine colleges in the country have held a history harvest. UIS is the first to do so in the Midwest, according to Hunter. The idea is to have the community bring in historical artifacts that relate to a particular theme (in this case politics) so students can make digital scans of them, learn citizens’ stories about the items, and make a permanent online archive of the photos and stories.

“We’re hoping to learn about how ordinary citizens engage with and experience the electoral process,” Owen added. “We want to know why the particular messages have resonance with people and why particular bits of memorabilia stuck in their mind and have personal meaning.”

The UIS students, who planned and ran the History Harvest, may have a list of artifacts and their pictures available online within a couple weeks, according to Hunter. Check their website for updates.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 22, 2016.

Read the entire article online.


Friday, October 21, 2016

Food pantry started to help hungry UIS students

University of Illinois Springfield graduate student Malayzja Anderson knows that students like her are at times compelled to stretch their money and food in resourceful ways.

Food insecurity in particular is common among students, Anderson has found. She’s addressing that issue by helping to stock donated, nonperishable food items for the university’s new UIS Cares, an initiative that provides a food pantry for students.

“Around this time of year, especially as the semester is ending, meal plans are depleted, so students often eat at their friends’ houses or may not eat as much for the day,” said Anderson, 25, a world history masters candidate and graduate assistant in UIS’ Diversity Center. “With the food pantry, they’re able to come in and just grab something to supplement them.”

UIS Cares opened for the first time from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center, Student Affairs Building 60, on the UIS campus.

UIS Cares also will be open to UIS students for the fall semester from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, and Thursday, Dec. 1.

“It will be ongoing,” said Mark Dochterman, director of the Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center. “It also has its own email address (UISCares@uis.edu), and people can contact us directly and set up a time. Hunger doesn’t happen on our schedule. If somebody needs to come in between these dates or a different time … we’ll work with them on an individual basis.”

The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on October 21, 2016.

Read the story online.

Matsen sisters are student-athletes and ambassadors for UIS

University of Illinois Springfield student-athletes and sisters Jocelyn Matsen and Emily Matsen play different sports in the same season, so the Rochester High School graduates turn to technology to keep tabs on what the other one is up to.

“I watch her soccer games even if we are traveling in the bus,” said Jocelyn, a senior on the UIS women’s golf team. “I’ll pull it up on my phone or I’ll watch it at the hotel.”

Golf tournaments aren’t usually broadcast over the Internet.

“I’ll look at the live stats and if our mom goes to watch, she’ll text me every three holes,” said Emily, who also is a member of UIS women’s basketball team.

There’s a lot for the sisters, who are one year and eight months apart, to keep up with this fall.

Jocelyn was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week on Oct. 13.

"She played exceptionally well," UIS golf coach Frank Marsaglia said. "She just seems more relaxed on the course this year. I think that's why you’re seeing lower scores from her.”

Emily is a junior starter on a women's soccer team that has set the program’s single-season record for wins at seven and she was the hero in one of those victories. Emily scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win against Wisconsin-Parkside on Sept. 30. It was UIS’ first time ever beating the Rangers.

The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on October 21, 2016.

Read the article online.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

UIS slates Blue Madness basketball Nov. 3

The University of Illinois Springfield will kick off the men’s and women’s basketball seasons with its annual Blue Madness event at 8:45 p.m. Nov. 3 at The Recreation and Athletic Center.

The event will feature a 10-minute scrimmage between the teams. The cheerleading and dance teams will perform.

UIS men’s basketball team plays an exhibition Nov. 4 at Northwestern. The women’s squad plays an exhibition Nov. 6 at Northwestern.

This article appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 18, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Men's soccer: Stars' Falsone scores game winner in men's soccer

Mario Falsone scored the game-winning goal in overtime and the University of Illinois Springfield defeated William Jewell 2-1 Friday in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match. It was his fifth goal this season.

Lincoln Land Community College transfer Naba Alzhyri assisted on the game winner.

UIS’ Eoin Watts tied the game at 1-all on his first goal of the season in the closing minutes of the second half.

The Prairie Stars are 6-7-1 overall and 5-5-1 in the GLVC.

This article appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 15, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

UIS 'harvesting' political memorabilia for website

If you have political memorabilia, you can share it with the world and keep it at the same time, thanks to a planned “history harvest” in Springfield.

The history department at the University of Illinois Springfield is hosting an event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Old State Capitol, where members of the community are being asked to bring items that can be photographed or scanned, to be shared on a website. Some audio or video recording also may be done.

“We won’t be keeping anything physically,” said Kenneth Owen, an assistant professor of history at UIS. “And we’ll have a team of students that are around to talk to you about the individual object and sort of take notes to help us build the archive.”

Owen said the “history harvest” concept was begun at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and has spread to other areas.

Owen said he hopes the “harvest” will bring out views of some items with personal or family meaning. “It might be that you have some memento of meeting a candidate or going to a rally, or it might be that you were involved in a campaign and someone wrote a letter of thanks,” Owen said. “There are a lot of interesting stories out there, and we’re looking forward to hearing them.”

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 16, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

UIS men's basketball team plays NU, Bradley, NIU this season

Exhibitions against Northwestern, Bradley and Northern Illinois dot the University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball schedule for the upcoming season.

UIS opens the preseason on Nov. 4 at Northwestern then plays Bradley Nov. 11 in Peoria. It will play several non-conference games and two Great Lakes Valley Conference contests before taking on Northern Illinois on Dec. 31 in DeKalb.

The Prairie Stars are mere days away from starting the season. Saturday is the first official day NCAA Division II men’s and women’s basketball teams can practice full time.

Regular-season play for the 2016-17 season begins Nov. 13 against past national champion Findlay.

“We’re going to have seven freshmen and sophomores in our rotation,” Coach Bill Walker said. “So they’ll get a real baptism by fire.”

UIS women’s basketball schedule also includes games against RMU and Blackburn. Also like their male counterparts, the team plays its first exhibition against Northwestern. The Wildcats host UIS on Nov. 6. The Stars play their other exhibition Nov. 26 at Eastern Illinois University.

“It’s a competitive schedule,” Coach Mark Kost said. “I think playing teams from the GLIAC, playing a team from the MIAA and having the exhibition against Northwestern will give us a gauge of where we’re are, and help us get ready for conference play.”

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 12, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Wrongful conviction puts innocent man behind bars for 18 years

A Champaign man is free and telling his story after spending nearly two decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit.

Teshome Campbell was 22 years old when he was convicted of murder, after a man was beaten to death in Champaign on Christmas morning in 1997.

He spent 18 years in prison, but this January, the 40 year old walked away from the Danville Correctional Facility as a free man.

Campbell says incorrect eyewitness identification and ineffective counsel led to his wrongful conviction. "Had I had the right representation, I would have never been here doing this right now." 

Campbell's hope is to help others who, like him, were convicted of crimes they didn't commit.

He's doing that with the help of the Illinois Innocence Project based at the University of Illinois Springfield, which helped with his exoneration. Larry Golden, the Founding Director of the Illinois Innocence Project, said, "There's nothing that I've done in my life that exceeds the reward of walking somebody out of prison who's actually innocent. It's so rewarding and heartbreaking at the same time, that this individual lost the core years of his life."

Campbell will receive compensation from the state for the wrongful conviction, but details on how much or when have not been released.

This story appeared on FOX Illinois on October 11, 2016.

Watch the entire story online.


Tuesday, October 11, 2016

UIS teacher education program offers several strengths

The following is an excerpt from a column by University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Susan Koch. This column appeared in The State Journal-Register on Saturday, October 8, 2016.

"The hours may be long, the salary modest and the “customers” sometimes challenging, but according to the National Center for Education Statistics, earning a bachelor’s degree in education and becoming a teacher is still among the top choices made by college students in the U.S. today.

Every year, nearly 200,000 candidates graduate from teacher preparation programs across the country, each of whom aspires to help young minds grow and reach their full potential. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, there are 77 approved teacher education institutions in Illinois. 

The University of Illinois Springfield is one of them, and Dr. Cindy Wilson, chair of the Teacher Education Department, is enthusiastic about recent growth of the program. “Students are attracted to the UIS teacher education program for several reasons,” she says. “We take a team approach to supporting our students, providing individualized attention beginning when students declare their major and continuing through their student-teaching experience and job placement.”

According to Dr. Wilson, students who enroll in teacher education come from many walks of life, with about 30 percent being non-traditional aged. It’s not unusual for a teacher education student to have already earned a bachelor’s degree in some other area or to have had a career in another profession.

For such students, a post-bachelor’s teacher licensure program is available, offering credit for prior educational experience while at the same time providing the necessary sequence of courses needed to acquire a teaching license for Illinois.

The introductory sequence is offered both on campus and online, further enabling working adults to participate.

Dr. Hanfu Mi, UIS dean of Education and Human Services, is particularly proud of UIS students’ performance on the edTPA exam, an assessment used to verify an aspiring teacher’s readiness to succeed in the classroom that is required for teacher licensure. “UIS students consistently score well above the state’s average,” he reports, “with 100 percent of UIS students who attempted the exam passing it last year.” 

“We currently have more than 50 agreements with local school districts that provide opportunities for our students to observe and participate in hands-on experiences, including student-teaching,” says Mi. “Area superintendents speak highly of UIS graduates.”

Read the entire column online.

Wronfully convicted aren't getting compensated

Prisoners who are exonerated in Illinois receive money from the state. But one organization says the state's current budget situation isn't living up to the promise.

Faith Hook knew she always wanted to be a lawyer. "While I was taking this class I was like I want to get more involved, I love this." But after taking one unique class at the University of Illinois Springfield that dream became evident.

"So I started volunteering there and eventually interned and now I'm working part time," said Hook. Hook got involved in the Illinois Innocence Project.

Her favorite part is helping those wrongfully convicted walk out free.

"I was personally able to see Christopher Abernathy walk out and Teshome Campbell I'm just being there was very emotional."

But when they do go free they leave out with much of nothing. The state is required to compensate them but the state budget has limited that process.

They say that about 6 exonerees haven't seen a penny in two years.

"Illinois does have compensation but it's very minimal and maxes out at 220,000," said Lauren Myerscough-Mueller. 

There are efforts to change that in the state.

The innocence project wants to make sure those free get what they deserve.

The project reviews more than 300 requests for help from Illinois inmates each year. Undergraduates at UIS, and law students from the state's three public law schools, work alongside attorneys.

This story appeared on WCIA-TV on October 10, 2016.

Watch the report online.

Women's Golf - UIS' Matsen gets record-setting win in golf event

University of Illinois Springfield senior Jocelyn Matsen set a women's school record for lowest 36-hole score as she won the Maryville Fall Invitational on Sunday at Annbriar Golf Club.

Matsen, a Rochester High School graduate, opened with a 2-under-par 70 on Saturday and followed with a 73 on Sunday.

Her 1-under 143 total broke the UIS record by three strokes.

Matsen, who finished five strokes ahead of Southern Indiana's Taylor Howerton, gained her first career victory for the Prairie Stars.

UIS finished third in the team standings with a 622, just two shots behind first-place Southern Indiana and one behind runner-up Lindenwood.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 10, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Women's Soccer: UIS women's soccer team breaks school record with 6 wins

Wins against conference opponents that the University of Illinois Springfield women’s soccer team had previously never defeated are boosting the Prairie Stars’ confidence and win count.

UIS shut out Wisconsin-Parkside 1-0 on the road last Friday with Rochester native Emily Matsen scoring the game-winning goal.

The victory broke the program’s record for single-season victories. It was the Stars’ sixth win of the year and it came against a team that it had lost to in six previous Great Lakes Valley Conference games.

“We were ecstatic that we set the record for the most wins in a season,” UIS junior defender Madisyn Coudriet said. “We didn’t perform at our highest level, but we were still able to grind out the win.” 

The Stars have scored 17 goals this season compared to 12 in 2015. UIS is four shots shy of matching the number of shots it attempted last year.

“We’ve changed our shape,” Erin Egolf said. “We have more numbers in our attack. It’s the mindset. You have to have a goal scoring mindset.”

I think at this point in the season we’re sitting in a good spot. The next couple of weekends are going to be crucial to see where we fall in the postseason.

”UIS is tied for 10th in the 16-team GLVC standings. The top eight teams advance to the conference championship tournament. UIS is attempting to make more history by qualifying for its first conference tournament and finishing with a winning record for the first time since the program began in 2008.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 4, 2016.

Read the entire article online.


LGBT Legacy Wall on display at UIS

A portable display that lists the achievements and stories of 125 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people throughout history is returning to Springfield for the first few weeks of October. 

The Legacy Wall will be on display at the University of Illinois Springfield Public Affairs Center Concourse through Oct. 15.

It was set up over the weekend, and is designed to share the often-hidden LGBT lives that are a part of history.

Through the Legacy Wall, he hopes to educate the public and inspire young people. “One of the missions of the wall is to first and foremost inspire kids who still grow up without the benefit of learning about LGBT role models in history,” Victor Salvo said.

The Legacy Wall includes photographs and biographies of 125 well-known LGBT people in the fields of politics, art, religion, sports and social activism.

An opening celebration for the exhibit will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the UIS Public Affairs Center. The celebration also kicks off a month of LGBT activities at UIS.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 4, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Found Guilty, Proven Innocent

Since 1989, there are 1,886 exoneration's of wrongfully accused people in the United States with 175 of them being in Illinois.

The Illinois Innocence Project based out of the University of Illinois Springfield, is responsible for 9 of those in Illinois.

Staff Attorney for Illinois Innocence, Lauren Myerscough-Mueller said, "we try to make the system do what its supposed to we look for the truth. And we are not trying to free guilty people to get out on the street but we want people who are innocent to be living their lives and we want the right people in prison."

Observing International Wrongful Conviction Day, the UIS campus set out 1,886 flags on campus to represent the innocence lives regained who were once victims of wrongfully judged cases.

This story appeared on WAND on October 4, 2016.

Watch the story online.

Monday, October 3, 2016

Women's Soccer: Matsen scores game winner for UIS women soccer team

Emily Matsen scored the game-winning goal off a deflection and the University of Illinois Springfield won 1-0 over Wisconsin-Parkside on Friday in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match. 

The victory set a program record for single-season victories.

The Prairie Stars improved to 6-4 overall, breaking the record set last year with five wins.

UIS is 3-4 in the GLVC and is one win away from tying the program’s conference record for wins.

This article appeared in The Courier on October 1, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

UIS trying to break attendance mark

The University of Illinois Springfield is attempting to draw 1,000 fans to men’s and women’s soccer games against Drury at Kiwanis Stadium Friday and break the NCAA Division II record for attendance.

A fireworks display will take place at the end of the men’s soccer game, which begins at 7:30 p.m.

The women’s match starts at 5 p.m. The first 200 UIS students will receive soccer scarves.

The 2016 Athletics Hall of Fame class will be honored at halftime of the men’s soccer game. UIS will also honor the hall of famers with a tailgate tent.

This article appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 1, 2016.

Read the entire article online.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Men's Soccer: UIS men's soccer making pitch for conference tourney

If the Great Lakes Valley Conference Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament was held today, the University of Illinois Springfield would qualify for the first time.

UIS sits in sixth place in the 16-team conference standings with a 4-2 league record.

The top eight teams advance to the single-elimination GLVC tourney, and UIS has never finished high enough in the standings to earn a berth.

“I think we’re taking a few more risks going forward,” UIS first-year coach Adam Hall said. “We’re not as defensive. We’re actually trying to get forward and score. The guys are buying in to the new methods and new style of play.”

UIS could easily be undefeated in the GLVC. It fell 1-0 to Missouri-St. Louis on Sept. 16.

The Stars last had a winning record in 2008 when they compiled a 7-5 mark in their final year of competing at the NAIA level.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on September 29, 2016.

Read the entire article here.


Shakespeare Garden dedicated at UIS

The University of Illinois at Springfield dedicated its new Shakespeare Garden Thursday, which includes plants and flowers mentioned in The Bard’s plays and poems.

There are roses in honor of “Romeo and Juliet"; columbine, which is mentioned in “Hamlet”; and daisies from “Love’s Labor’s Lost." The garden also has a fountain and a bench with a statue of William Shakespeare so that visitors can sit down and have their picture taken with it.

Chancellor Susan Koch said the Shakespeare Garden is not just for faculty and students. “The Shakespeare Garden is another beautiful addition to our growing campus,” Koch said. “As we are growing in enrollment, we are also growing in our contribution to the community. We feel like the garden is going to be another great attraction, not only for people on the campus, but for people in the community.”

This year marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.

Brian Beckerman, superintendent of grounds at UIS, designed the garden.

This article appeared in The State Journal-Register on September 29, 2016.

Read the entire article here.