Redfield on Governor's third term

On August 29, 2008, Chicago Newsradio WBBM reported on Governor Rod Blagojevich's hint that he might seek a third term. The report cited UIS Professor Emeritus of Political Studies Kent Redfield's assessment that there would be "little enthusiasm" should the Governor decide to run for reelection in 2010.

Download a pdf file of the report

20080829-WBBM-Blagojevich3rdTerm.pdf

Campus Town proposal will be submitted again

The master plan that UIS will submit to the Board of Trustees in November will once again include plans for a commercial "campus town" development on 80 acres on the west side of campus.

The idea aroused little interest from businesses when it was first proposed several years ago. However Chancellor Ringeisen is confident that several factors, including a much larger number of residential students, have combined to ensure success this time.

Tim Landis' column in the August 31, 2008, State Journal-Register outlined the revamped plan.

Download a pdf file of the column

20080831-SJR-CampusTown.pdf

Innocence Project asks court to re-examine evidence in 1989 murder

The Downstate Illinois Innocence Project at UIS is expected to ask a Springfield circuit court to allow evidence from the 1989 murder of Melissa Koontz to be re-examined, using technologies such as DNA testing that were not widely available at the time of the trial.

One of the men serving a life sentence for the crime, Tom McMillen, has repeatedly denied any involvement. Director of Investigations Bill Clutter and students Priyanka Deo and Sarah Wellard say they have statements from some key witnesses who now claim not to have told the truth during the original investigation. The three have spent several weeks presenting their evidence to local authorities.

The August 31, 2008, State Journal-Register published an article about the case and the Innocence Project's role in re-examining McMillen's conviction.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080831-SJR-InnProjWants1989MurderRe-examined.pdf