States across U.S. still cling to outdated gay marriage bans

Following years of failed attempts under Republican control, Virginia’s newly empowered Democrats finally passed bills repealing two outdated state laws that prohibited same-sex marriage.

States have two types of bans on same-sex marriage: statutory and constitutional. Statutory bans appear in state family law, while constitutional bans are embedded in states’ constitutions. “Most of them are still on the books, though they are not enforceable,” Jason Pierceson, a political science professor at the University of Illinois Springfield, told NBC News.

“Democratic control of legislatures has created opportunities to get rid of some bans,” Pierceson said. “That’s the big difference between Indiana and Virginia.”

There were two phases of same-sex marriage bans, according to Pierceson. The first one began in the 1970s, when gay couples would apply for marriage licenses and many state judges at the time ruled that these unions were not prohibited. This prompted lawmakers to explicitly outlaw same-sex marriage.

The second phase followed a 1993 Hawaii Supreme Court decision that found denying same-sex couples the right to marry may violate the equal protection clause of the state’s constitution. That ruling prompted state and federal lawmakers to take action.

Utah was first to enact a statutory ban in response to that decision in 1995, and then a year later, Congress passed the federal Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman. Several states adopted their own “mini-DOMAs” after that, according to Pierceson, and by the year 2000, he said “virtually every state,” with the exception of New Mexico, had a “statutory ban on same-sex marriage.”

These “mini-DOMAs,” he noted, banned gay marriage in family codes and state law, not the constitution.

Since the legalization of same-sex marriage federally, hundreds of state bills have been introduced that poke holes in gay marriage in various ways.

“I think in the short term marriage is fairly safe. It’s hard to see the Supreme Court overturn itself in the next couple of years,” he said, though he added that he is less confident about its long-term safety.
“The religious right, conservative movements and the Republican Party are hoping for an overturning of Obergefell with a more conservative judiciary,” Pierceson said. “The religious right has not said, ‘We lost same-sex marriage, and we are moving on,’” Pierceson said. “They are still fighting same-sex marriage, both politically and legally.”

This story appeared online on NBC News.

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UIS receives $100,000 STEM grant

The University of Illinois Springfield will receive a five-year $100,000 National Science Foundation grant aimed at developing and implementing evidence-based programs that will support the academic success of underrepresented minority students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

One of the goals of the grant is to increase the participation of minority students in research through the establishment of faculty-student mentoring teams. The end goal is to provide a variety of resources to ensure student academic success and to prepare the next generation of scientists.

Lucía Vázquez, associate dean of the UIS College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will serve as one of the principal investigators on the project.

This article appeared in The State Journal-Register on January 14, 2020.

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UIS Professor pens book: 'Fake News Battle' makes case for regulation

Ha Jae-sik's book "Fake News Battle" is a fresh update about fake news and its irreversible, devastating consequences on the community. The fallout of fake news goes far beyond what we can possibly imagine and what's worrisome is that the entire globe is grappling with the phenomenon, according to the author.

Ha, an assistant professor at the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois Springfield, voices his concerns about social media, claiming it has become a conduit for misinformation, and encourages those who are involved in the media to stand up against fake news. "It's regrettable that social media has become the epicenter of fake news," he wrote. "Conspiracy theories are rampant on social media and they are out of control. It seems inevitable that all members of society, including policymakers and journalists, start a debate about how to regulate disinformation and draw up measures to redress the victims."

According to him, content creators are not the only people to be held accountable. "I think social media companies are not directly responsible for fake news," he told The Korea Times in a recent interview. "Broadly speaking, I think there are three groups of people who are responsible for manufacturing and disseminating misinformation ― social media users who created and uploaded misinformation, internet users who selectively choose information they are to consume in favor of their political orientation and some media outlets that are trying to profit from fake news.

This story appeared in The Korea Times on December 6, 2019.

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A Brief History of Thanksgiving

Guest View: A Brief History of Thanksgiving written by Graham A. Peck. He is the Wepner Distinguished Professor of Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield.

In 1867, the popular New York City printmaking firm Currier and Ives published “Home to Thanksgiving.” The print celebrated domestic bliss. Although the roofs of the house and the barn were covered in snow, all was warm within: The grandmother cradled her granddaughter while the young husband warmly grasped the hand of his father-in-law. The print reflected mid-19th century domestic ideals that the American middle and upper classes had come to associate with Thanksgiving.

Yet Thanksgiving was not always a family holiday, but only slowly became one, which reminds us that everything — including holidays — has a history. To understand Thanksgiving now we need to know its past.

This article appeared in the State Journal-Register on November 28, 2019. 

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Illinois State Police changes education requirements for applicants

Right now, the Illinois State Police is changing its policies to draw in more potential new hires. 

Starting next year, you will no longer need a bachelor's degree to apply to be a state trooper.
Applicants will now only need an associate’s degree or 60 credits of course work.

The reason? A shortage of state police in Illinois.

In 2009, the state police had approximately 2,119 troopers. Today, they only have about 1,767. "We don't have enough troopers out there in my opinion, We need to be out there patrolling the interstates," said Hector Alejandre, a master sergeant with the Illinois State Police.

University of Illinois Springfield political science professor Ryan Williams believes that this will open doors to lower-income applicants. "A two-year degree might be more affordable for the population that can't afford a four-year degree,” said Williams.

Williams said a bachelor's degree does help in certain areas. "An education helps them be more empathetic,” said Williams. “It helps them write better when they have to write reports." Overall, he said lowering academic requirements won't make a big difference in everyday police work.

ISP officials said they also offer tuition reimbursements if troopers want to go back to college after they're hired. They are actively recruiting for their 2020 state trooper class.

This story aired on WICS Newschannel 20 on October 8, 2019.

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Sharon Graf, UIS ethnomusicology professor

Why you should know her: Sharon Graf, an associate professor of ethnomusicology at the University of Illinois Springfield, a musician, and a sailor, took a 15-month sea voyage to study the music, culture, and language of the Pacific Islands in 2010. She and her husband sailed there from Alton, Illinois on their 42-foot yacht, the Larabeck.

What is ethnomusicology? “The study of people making music. It encompasses a global perspective, so we look at people making music around the world.” She studied anthropology and music in college.

Why did you go to the Pacific Islands? “I had a very special opportunity because my husband, Michael Graf, wanted to go on a sailing trip. It wouldn’t have been possible without his interest and expertise. I wanted to visit and learn more about the world and other cultures.”

What did you learn about music in these cultures? “People in the Polynesian triangle were pioneers of sailing and populated all these islands, and their languages and musical customs are related. I find that really fascinating. It was interesting to go from island to island, to see the linguistics part of it, the ways their greetings were different but very related. The same with musical customs.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on July 29, 2019.

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UIS, SIU collaborate on heart disease research

A grant has been awarded to the University of Illinois Springfield and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

The grant was given by the Caryl Towsley Moy, Ph.D., Endowed Fund for Collaborative Research to conduct innovative heart disease research.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

"By modulating or somehow interacting with this ryodean receptor, there's the possibility to cure all kinds of cardiovascular disease, like what we call extreme distress, things like that and so, we're looking for a molecule that might help in aiding or modulating this channel, specifically to help treat certain cardiovascular disorders," Stephen Johnson said.

The endowed fund is in honor of wife and mother, Caryl Moy. Moy taught at UIS for 21 years.

This story aired on WICS Newschannel 20 on June 26, 2019.

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C-SPAN bus makes stop at University of Illinois Springfield Wednesday

A bus aimed at educating communities about Washington D.C. came to the University of Illinois Springfield Wednesday.

The C-SPAN Bus is traveling to all 50 U.S. capitals with a goal to teach about Congress, the White House, legislative processes and more.

Students could also see what it was like to do a live interview, experience a 360-degree video station and take selfies in a D.C. - themed area.

This story aired on WICS Newschannel 20 on September 19, 2018.

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Blind UIS graduate opens people’s eyes to possibilities

Raven Wilson has had the help of her service dog, Dana, for the four years she’s been a student at the University of Illinois Springfield.

Wilson, who is blind, has used her 5-year-old black Labrador/golden retriever to help her navigate a journey that’s taken her from her freshman year at UIS to her participation as a marshal for the English department on Saturday during the 47th annual commencement for UIS. 

Wilson, 22, received a bachelor of arts degree in English.

She will be missed “very much,” said Sarah Weaver, director of the Office of Disability Services at UIS. “We have only one student right now who is blind who actually uses a guide dog, and that’s Raven. The other student, who is blind, she uses a guide cane,” said Weaver, who added that Wilson has used the Office of Disability Services for test taking and for receiving alternate formats for books.

”(Raven) has added so much to this campus in the way of educating people about disability, especially a student being blind. She has participated in everything.” Weaver said, for example, Wilson has participated in a student panel that included students with different types of disabilities. "Raven was one of the first ones to jump on board when I suggested that. She has added so much to this campus. I don’t think there’s probably anybody on this campus that doesn’t know Raven, and it’s always a positive thing, too,” Weaver said.

Wilson said professors at UIS have been “really great” in working with her in figuring out alternatives to assignments that are primarily visual.

Wilson tried something new when taking a recent history final. “The professor put the final on a thumb drive, and I was able to put it in my machine (BrailleNote Touch) and complete the final, and they give him back the thumb drive. ... That worked out really, really well,” Wilson said. “That was something new that I tried out, and it really worked out because usually, I’ll go to the office of disabilities to take the tests because I’m usually allotted time and a half, but honestly, I’ve never really needed to use the time and a half except for a few occasions. I normally can finish up in the same time as the rest of the class.”

Among her many activities, Wilson helped start the student organization Awareness Respect Education Ability for disability awareness.

Wilson will be a camp counselor this summer in upstate New York and will travel to England. She hopes to move to North Carolina, searching for permanent work.

“Raven has opened the door and opened the eyes of a lot of people to see that just because someone has a disability that doesn’t mean they can’t accomplish their goals and live a really fulfilling, productive life.”

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on May 12, 2018.

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Net neutrality: What is it?

On Friday, the Federal Communication Commission is set to vote on a plan to repeal 2015 regulations on internet service providers. Included in those regulations is a theory called “net neutrality.”

We asked University of Illinois Springfield Communications Associate Professor Ann Strahle to explain what that is.

“Net neutrality is the idea, the theory, that all internet service providers, ISPs, should treat all internet traffic equally,” Strahle said. “It doesn’t matter what kind of content it is, that it is all distributed equally.”

In a statement calling for the repeal, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai argued that, for twenty years, the internet “thrived under a light-touch regulatory approach.”

“Under my proposal, the federal government will stop micromanaging the internet,” Pai wrote. “Instead, the FCC would simply require Internet service providers to be transparent about their practices so that customers can buy the service plan that’s best for them.”

Critics of the change argue that removing net neutrality means internet companies could cut deals with some customers to give them an unfair advantage over others.

Several commentators have suggested, for example, that an internet provider could cut a deal with one video streaming service like Hulu to give them faster speeds than competitors like Netflix.

Other critics worry removing the requirement could put free speech at risk.

“If access to certain information is only available to those people who can pay more, then that can be seen as a limit to the freedom of speech or the freedom of the press and how people get their information,” Strahle said.

This story appeared on WAND TV on December 12, 2017.

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UIS Theatre Department launches degree program with production of ‘Machinal’

When she chose the 1920s drama “Machinal” as the University of Illinois Springfield’s fall theater production, director Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson felt a certain sense of deja vu.

The play, opening Friday for six performances at the UIS Studio Theatre, depicts a young woman “struggling to find her place in what (the playwright) perceived as an overly mechanized, automated, unfeeling society and culture,” said Thibodeaux-Thompson, associate professor of theater at UIS.

Its main character also experiences sexual discrimination and harassment, pressure to conform to society’s expectations of women, and a growing sense of alienation, with tragic results.

“It can be difficult to distinguish whether Treadwell was writing about the 1920s or the 2010s,” Thibodeaux-Thompson said, especially since adverse treatment of women in entertainment, politics and other fields continues to make news on a daily basis.

“Certainly times have changed, but how much, and how far?”

“Machinal,” written by Sophie Treadwell, depicts a young stenographer who marries her boss but finds him repulsive and controlling. Desperate to escape her loveless marriage, she has an affair with a younger man, kills her husband and is tried for his murder.

“She is a victim of her time,” said Sherri Mitchell, a newly enrolled theater major who plays the young woman’s mother.

Mitchell said her own character “represents the ugly side of what it meant to be a woman” with no financial security apart from a breadwinning man. “She represents the life most women had been living then,” focused only on the drudgery of daily survival, she said.

The show also marks another milestone for the UIS Theatre Department: the official launch of its bachelor’s degree program in theater, approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education last year.

“Having a BA in theatre is a great asset for the campus and makes it a robust liberal arts university,” added Thibodeaux-Thompson, whose husband Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson, associate professor and director of theater, and assistant professor Dathan Powell round out the theater department faculty.

This article appeared in The State Journal-Register on October 25, 2017.

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UIS launches chemistry course for high schoolers

A group of high school seniors are studying chemistry at the University of Illinois Springfield this semester, as part of the university’s first dual credit course.

The course, which includes 19 seniors from Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, earns students college credit and is taught at the UIS campus by Associate Professor of Chemistry Stephen Johnson.

Johnson said organizers hope the class will help students consider important health careers.

“We thought this would be the perfect chance for them to see the health field industry, all the way in through advanced biochemistry, but at a survey level,” Johnson said.

Some students are considering those careers. “I’d like to major in biochemistry in college,” said student Taylor Rahn. “Chemistry and science are my favorite things to do in school, so when I found out I could take this class, I knew that I really wanted to.”

Students in the class attend two lectures each week and one weekly lab.

Johnson said students in the class pay a discounted fee.

This story aired on WAND News  on October 24, 2017.

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Susan Koch: Research collaboration benefits UIS, Brazilian students

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 September 9, 2017.

Summer always seems to be filled with possibilities, and most of us remember coming back to school from summer break to be greeted with a familiar question: “What did you do over the summer?”

But not many would be able to provide a response that includes having been “up close and personal” with alligators, toucans and coatimundi or visiting Iguazu Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. 

These unusual encounters were part of many new experiences shared by a group of U.S. and Brazilian university students and faculty who spent several weeks this summer as part of an international research collaboration between University of Illinois Springfield and UEM -- the Universidade Estadual de Maringa, a university in southern Brazil. 

Thanks in part to an external grant, Dr. Keenan Dungey, a chemistry professor at UIS, and Dr. Luiz Felipe Machado Velho, a biologist from UEM, worked together to create a course focused on the study of the aquatic ecology of the Illinois River in Illinois and the Rio Parana in Brazil -- both parts of large and important river systems in the Americas. 

The course included opportunities for students to spend time doing research together while learning some of the cutting-edge science behind restoration and conservation on both river systems. 

The experience also helped students develop understanding of the cultural differences and similarities between the U.S. and Brazil that result in different and sometimes similar approaches to the environment. 

UIS has been connected with scientists from the UEM since Dr. Mike Lemke, professor of biology and founder of the UIS Emiquon Field Station on the Illinois River near Havana, first traveled to Brazil several years ago.

“We’re honored to work with our colleagues from UEM,” says Dr. Lemke. “Felipe’s work complements mine, helping me to bridge ecological links from nutrients to bacteria to protozoa. The value of floodplain aquatic ecology is what is at stake here.” 

“The idea of the course was to do similar things on the floodplains in both countries,” says Dr. Dungey. “For me, it was fascinating to be in Brazil and be surrounded by great science; to see the UIS students and watch them form relationships and teams with the Brazilian students and experience a different culture.” 

“In the next ten years, I think focusing on some of these critical conservation issues will be the thing that this collaboration can bring to bear,” says Dr. Lemke. 

“The Brazilians are losing their rivers to hydroelectric plants, and we can learn from that. At the same time, the UIS Emiquon Field Station is located in one of the largest floodplain restoration projects in the country and has much to offer our international partners.” 

“Working with our UEM colleagues, who have been studying the Parana River floodplain for more than 30 years, was a good experience for our UIS students,” says Dr. Dungey. “Students will present the results of our research on each campus and at an international conference.” 

Dungey hopes the future collaboration of UIS and UEM can go beyond biology and chemistry. “In addition to its relevance for scientific study, river floodplain restoration is also a public affairs and an education issue,” he says. “There are a lot more opportunities for collaboration.” And, in case you were wondering, the coatimundi is South America’s version of a raccoon.

Read the entire column online.

UIS adds six degree programs

The University of Illinois Springfield has added six new majors to its curriculum that are in high demand among incoming students.

Half of the new programs, including biochemistry, are connected to the health field. Students graduating with a degree in biochemistry would be in a good position to pursue careers in medicinal chemistry and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields. For some of the students holding that degree, their first post-college job could be in Springfield.

The six new programs bring the total number of bachelor’s degrees offered at UIS to 31 and the number of master’s degree programs to 20. The university also has one doctoral program.

In addition to biochemistry, the other new bachelor’s programs are in exercise science, theater, public administration and public policy. The sixth new program is a master’s degree in data analytics, which has applications in the medical field and other areas.

All of the new majors started this fall except for theater, which starts next fall.

James Ermatinger, UIS interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost, said the university typically adds about one new program each year.

“A few years ago we looked at our data and noticed that students were requesting certain majors,” Ermatinger said. “We created a task force that identified several new majors. Departments on their own also produced proposals for new majors.”

The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on October 31, 2016.

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The issue of climate change has risen to prominence in the past decade

The debate over climate change has gone from a back burner issue a decade ago to a major topic in this year's presidential race.

It's part four of our eight-part series on issues of the 2016 election.

The next President and Congress will be responsible for carrying out agreements made at last year's Paris summit. Depending on who wins, the U.S. may or may not live up to its commitments. Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) said at a rally he would make reducing the effects of climate change a top priority.

"We have a moral responsibility to make sure the planet we leave for all of our kids and grandchildren is habitable and healthy,” Sanders said.

University of Illinois-Springfield biology professor Jim Bonacum said more politicians are understanding the seriousness of the issue.

"People are responding much more to the urgency of this,” Bonacum said.

He said people can’t ignore the problem any longer.

"If the average global temperature goes beyond an increase of 2 degrees Celsius, that may be the tipping point,” Bonacum said. “If that happens, we're expecting truly catastrophic changes."

15 of the top 16 warmest years have occurred since 2000. 2015 was the warmest year on record. Bonacum said it’s only going to get warmer.

"Even if right now we completely stop using any and all fossil fuels, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has still not worked its way up to its full heat producing ability,” he said.

The story was featured on WCIA-TV on February 18, 2016

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UIS professor: French, European values attacked

A University of Illinois Springfield professor living in Paris said Friday's coordinated terrorist attacks were an assault on the European and French culture that may be the beginning of things to come.

Rosina Neginsky, an associate professor of interdisciplinary studies and comparative literature and art history, is on sabbatical from UIS and is doing research for a new book she is writing. She is set to return to Springfield in August.

Neginsky was attending a concert on des Champs-Elysees with a friend the day of the attacks. A relative of Neginsky's friend called her to tell her about the events and that they should avoid certain areas of the city.

Neginsky said she was able to return to her home in La Butte aux Cailles, in the southern part of Paris and away from Friday's violence, without incident. She later saw some of the events unfold on her computer and by listening to the radio.

"Here, it's an attack on French values and European values, the joy of life and freedom," said Neginsky, reached in Paris by phone Monday. "Those values are extremely important here."

Neginsky was profiled by The State Journal-Register on November 17, 2015.

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How 21-year-old Springfield twins are making serious cash building video games

A part-time job in college can go a long way towards paying off loans and having some cash on the weekend. For two University of Illinois at Springfield twins, their part-time jobs means developing video games. And it pays a whole lot better than bar tending.

Matthew and Nathan Dean, 21-year-old brothers from Springfield, are creating games on an interactive gaming platform called Roblox, which help kids and teens learn the art of coding and game development.

The two first started playing games on Roblox in 2009, but quickly began building games on their own. They've created a game called Trade Hangout, where people in Roblox can socialize online and haggle over virtual items than can be bought with Roblox currency called Robux.

Matthew and Nathan performed so well on the site that Roblox offered them internships at its San Mateo, CA headquarters, where the twins have worked the past two summers.

"Roblox is not only a great place to make games, but to learn to program in general," Nathan said. "A lot of kids have gone on from Roblox to pursue computer science in high school and study it in college, and have a career in software development. It's a place to have fun, but you’re also learning skills that are really valuable in the future."

This story appeared online on ChicagoInno.com on July 13, 2015.

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UIS drawing in record breaking numbers of international students

For some students graduating from college means gaining a sense of independence while preparing to enter the working world.

For others like UIS student, Rabeena Iqbal, this milestone has a deeper significance. "I'm graduating in computer science and this is like the one time opportunity which I get".

Rabeena was born and raised near Hyderabad, India. After receiving her bachelor's degree in her bachelor's degree in her home city, she decided it was time to travel abroad and earn her Masters degree in computer science at the University of Illinois Springfield. Her parents traveled 21 hours to be with her for her big day.

Rabeena is the first in her family to leave her country for higher education in the United States. She's not alone.

UIS Spokesperson Derek Schnapp says the University has become a big draw for international students. "We have over 800 international students this past academic year which is our record year of international students to be quite honest it's over 15 percent of our enrollment," Schnapp said. He adds it's their computer science and business schools that bring in the most international students because of what the programs offer.

As for Rabeena's future plans: "If there is a good job opportunity I would like to experience it here I could like to gain some more experience in the us before I land up in India".

This story appeared on WICS Newschannel 20 on May 15, 2015.

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Friday Night Star Parties return to UIS

Friday Night Star Parties 8-10 p.m. return on April 10, 17 and 24 at the UIS observatory on the roof of Brookens Library, University of Illinois Springfield.

Visitors learn about galaxies, the sun and stars and view Jupiter, the Moon and the Great Nebula Orion through telescopes.

Hosted by John Martin, assistant professor of astronomy and physics. Free. Weather permitting; for weather questions, call 206-8342 at 7 p.m. on the evening of the Star Party.

For more information, email jmart5@uis.edu or visit UIS Star Parties.

This article appeared in The State Journal-Register on March 26, 2015.

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Susan Koch: UIS' Computer Science program providing opportunities

The following is a portion of a guest column written by UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch. It was published in the November 9, 2014 edition of The State Journal-Register.

"Those ever-increasing opportunities in STEM fields are certainly evident on the University of Illinois Springfield campus, where our Computer Science program has grown from just over 100 students in 1990 to well over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students today.

The program has earned the prestigious Center for Academic Excellence designation from the U.S. National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security and its online Computer Science degree has been cited as one of the four leading online Computer Science programs in the country (along with MIT, Oregon State and Udacity).

UIS Computer Science professor Svet Braynov was attracted to UIS a decade ago from the University of Buffalo because of the department’s reputation for high-quality teaching.

'On many campuses, a student can get lost,' he says, 'but not here. Our students feel a great atmosphere in the department and both students and faculty grow together.'

'We don’t really recruit students,' adds longtime department head Ted Mims. 'Our recruiting is done by our own graduates, who tell others about their great experience in the program.'

A constantly innovating curriculum is another reason that students are attracted to the UIS Computer Science program."

Read the full column online