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Methamphetamine
reference guide puts UIS on the map nationally
By Chris Sabo
Methamphetamine “meth” users and
manufacturers have a new enemy. Recently, the University of
Illinois at Springfield’s Institute for Legal Policies and
Studies has put together a reference guide to help law
enforcement officers and the court system better understand the
drug and its effects. This reference guide is the first of its
kind on methamphetamine.
According to a statement
released by the UIS Office of Campus Relations, this guide
describes, “How meth is made, who uses it, the extent of the
meth problem in Illinois, treatment issues, and laws and
regulations that affect evidence collecting.”
The Office of National Drug
Control Policy (ONDCP), recently released information warning
chronic meth use can result in “inflammation of the heart lining
and, for injecting drug users, damaged blood vessels and
abscesses.” Studies have also shown meth to cause strokes,
heart attacks, severe stomach cramps and shaking.
Carol Esarey is the interim
director of the Institute for Legal Policies and Studies and
feels very grateful for the opportunity to assist in the
development of this guide.
“UIS was given a grant through
the Illinois State Police to work as a neutral party on this
guide. We were very fortunate to work with such wonderful
people in a very prestigious community.”
Esarey added UIS played the role
of manager and facilitator in writing the guide. She said the
guide will soon be available via the Internet and available for
training in the state’s attorney and Attorney General’s office.
Illinois has discovered a
growing problem of clandestine laboratories (meth labs)
appearing in rural parts of the state. These labs can be
portable and dismantled quickly for easy transport. The ONDCP
also notes the production of meth in clandestine labs produces
toxic waste and extremely hazardous chemicals that often pose a
threat to ensuing law enforcement agents. Toxic resistant suits
are now worn when investigating possible drug labs.
The DEA released data stating
that 12,715 meth lab incidents were reported in 46 states in
2001. Meth has been on a constant increase since its production
and ingredients are readily available over the counter.
According to
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.org, Springfield experienced
moderate meth use with low availability in 2002-2003. Prices
per gram were similar to other cities ranging from $90 to $150.
Sangamon County also experienced a 45% increase in drug arrests
between 1994 and 1998.
Meth use has existed for many
years. Amphetamine is a type of “speed” used in WWII to keep
soldiers awake and alert. Hitler was said to personally receive
four shots daily of this dangerous drug. Meth has also been a
popular choice among truck drivers, allowing them to travel long
distances with minimal sleep.
SGA,
administration discuss two-pronged approach to expand CAP
Program
By Carly Hawkins
Amidst
traded barbs about the World Series playoffs, the Student
Government Association met on Sunday to discuss issues facing
the University in both the short and long term.
The first hour of the
meeting was spent discussing the addition of a general education
curriculum that will be targeted at both transfer students and
the planned transformation of the Capital Scholars program. Dr.
Karen Moranski, director of Capital Scholars and a member of the
General Education Working Group, reported to SGA on the
difference facets of this plan, which will be implemented in the
Fall 2006 semester
The curriculum that the
Working Group is developing will have a two-pronged approach.
The core courses will be focused around the development of basic
skills in a variety of areas as well as the development of
engaged citizens. Dr. Moranski said that this method would “give
life to the mission of the University” as a school that
concentrates on public affairs. Outside of those core courses,
there will also be distribution requirements from a number of
specific programs in the undergraduate offerings.
Two million dollars has been
requested by the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Board of
Higher Education (IBHE) and ultimately the General Assembly in
order to fund this effort, which will help transfer students
fill “holes” in their general education as well as attract a new
set of 150 first year students a year, which will fall under an
“umbrella” program still known as Capital Scholars.
According to Dr. Moranski,
students in Capital Scholars who enroll in Fall 2006 or
afterwards will fall under one of two designations: the “honors
program” or the regular track. The honors program will
essentially be what Capital Scholars is now: a highly integrated
and interdisciplinary approach to undergraduate general
education. The non-honors Capital Scholars will take the more
traditional track of general education courses.
At this time, UIS is only
permitted to admit first year students under the designation
Capital Scholars, due to the program request that was submitted
to and approved by IBHE in 1999. Under the stipulations that
were used to guide the original formation of Capital Scholars,
first year students are only to be admitted as “small” classes,
with “rigorous” admissions standards for “highly qualified”
students. In the current political climate, as well as under
time constraints, it would not be possible for UIS to get a new
program approved by IBHE that would allow first year students
not labeled as Capital Scholars.
Many of the concerns voiced
by SGA members were with regard to this morphing of the Capital
Scholars program in two years. Saira Malik, representative from
Business & Management, expressed concern that the only reason
that the general education program is being pushed by the upper
administration at this time is because of the budget crunch.
Marya Leatherwood, Associate Vice Chancellor and Director of
Enrollment Management, explained that Illinois could see
approximately a 17% increase in college enrollment around 2008,
and in order for UIS to experience any growth, it is necessary
to be ready to accommodate more first year students. She also
reported, later in the meeting, that UIS saw a 3% decline in
enrollment this year, primarily in “continuing” students, for a
near $300,000 loss in revenue.
President Tyson Roan and
Treasurer Jason Kennedy both expressed their displeasure at the
road that the University had decided to take on enrollment
expansion, saying that they felt they had been “painted into a
corner.” Roan advised that students should be given a more
active role in the remainder of the process, particularly after
the student concerns voiced at the forum on this subject held
nine months ago were seemingly ignored.
Also at this meeting: SGA
heard reports from Dr. Leatherwood on Registration and from Dr.
Miller on Student Affairs, both of whom assured the board that
they are working to make every service student friendly.
Representative Malik reported on behalf of the Housing Utilities
committee, and SGA approved the proposal of Liz Moran that a
tutoring program at Washington Middle School be their service
project for the academic year. A “Ride Board” coordinated
through Student Life is on the right track to be available soon,
and the issue of Greek Life was tabled for this meeting.
Finally, SGA approved arrangements for Housing to provide $25
per resident to Student Life to make up for the possibility of
Lincoln Land students who live on campus participating in UIS
funded activities.
UIS Alumnus speaks
out on Domestic Violence
By Janee Mitchell
On Thursday, Oct. 21, the Women’s
Issues Caucus held a domestic violence seminar in honor of the
National Young Women’s Day of Activism. The seminar was held in
the PAC conference room D, from noon to 1p.m.
WIC said they chose domestic
violence for their discussion because October is National
Domestic Violence Awareness month. Also, Oct. 21 is the National
Young Women’s Day of Activism. In a written statement on the
event, WIC said the special day had begun 11 years ago in honor
of Rosie Jiménez, who died in October of 1977, after having an
illegal abortion in a Texas back alley.
Jodi Morgan, a victims advocate
from the Sojourn Shelter and UIS alumnus, led the discussion.
Morgan began the discussion describing what domestic violence
was. According to Morgan, domestic violence is not just
physically hitting someone; it can be harsh words or any
controlling behavior as well.
Morgan said that although this is
National Domestic Violence Awareness month, she feels it should
be called “Domestic Violence Education month”. Morgan said that
being aware of the problem is not enough; we must be educated on
domestic violence. Education on domestic violence gives the
public better methods for dealing with victims and gives
avoidance techniques to prevent becoming a victim.
Morgan said that the biggest
problem with the issue of domestic violence is the public’s
mistreatment of victims. According to Morgan, victims of
domestic violence are often dismissed as liars or the best
approaches to solving their problems are not taken.
Morgan said that there are three
main assumptions that people often make in dealing with victims.
First, the victim is blamed for their situation. The victim is
made to believe that it is their fault for making their partner
angry. Next, people tend to offer anger management to the
abusive partner. They mistakenly think that the abuser’s problem
is simple anger. Morgan said that abuse is a matter of choice
and has nothing to do with anger management. Lastly, the victims
are often blamed for staying in the relationship.
Morgan addresses the reasons why
people that are abused in relationships stay. First of all,
Morgan said that there might never be a safe time to leave. More
and more people who try to leave abusive relationships are being
killed. Morgan said that women go back to their abusers between
7 and 9 times.
According to Morgan, the most
popular times women leave their abusers are November, December
and May. November and December are holiday months, when family
members are in town. May is when the children get out of school.
Morgan said the abused find these times the safest times to
leave their abusers.
Before the conclusion of the
seminar on domestic violence, Morgan described what is called
the Cycle of Violence. There are three phases in the cycle of
violence: tension building phase, acute battering phase, and
honeymoon phase.
The tension phase is when the
tension builds up and the abused just knows that the acute
battering phase is at hand. The acute battering phase is the
worst. Morgan said that this phase occurs most often and is the
most dangerous. The honeymoon phase is where the abuser
apologizes and becomes really nice to lead back into the tension
building phase. Morgan said that this cycle is never-ending.
Morgan said that the people in
these types of relationships go back because they feel that if
they can stay out of the abusers way in the most severe stages
they will be okay. Other reasons can be attributed to the
childhood of the abused, economic beliefs, beliefs about
marriage, fear, isolation, low-self esteem and gender roles.
However, the greatest reason, said Morgan, is hope. The abused
wants to believe the person will change.
The victims described in this
article are most often referred to as “the abused”; this is for
clarity because not all victims of domestic violence are women.
Morgan said that men are being abused as well, but this is most
commonly seen in homosexual relationships.
Morgan said that it is always
important to remind the victim that the abuse was not their
fault. Also, give them the number to the Sojourn Shelter for
help and even offer to dial the number for them.
The shelter offers living
quarters and counseling for the accused, as well as other
services geared toward the victim. Currently, men who are being
abused can receive these services as well but they are excluded
from the living quarters.
There is currently a waiting list
at the Sojourn Shelter. The shelter is currently at its
capacity, but the victims are being referred to other shelters,
in Peoria, Decatur, and Jacksonville, that offer the same
services. The police will be there to relocate the victims to
these shelters.
Men who are victims will also be
referred to other places for services, but will not be allowed
to have living arrangements. This poses a problem for men who
want to leave their abusers. The men will be sent to homeless
shelters to live but the shelters won’t have the comfort and
security that the Sojourn Shelter provides for its victims.
As a final reminder, Morgan once
again stated the importance of education on domestic violence.
She illustrates the importance through the life story of a
victim. The unnamed victim went to a medical hospital to seek
treatment after being abused by her husband. Morgan said the
victim was reluctant to tell her story but finally confided in
the doctor.
The doctor then called in the
victim’s husband, the abuser, and reprimanded him telling him
what he had done was wrong. Morgan said that despite the
presence of all the doctors and security officials upon reaching
the parking lot the victim was dragged to the car by her abuser.
Upon returning home he then set her on fire and she died.
This story illustrates the
importance of taking the proper steps in dealing with a victim
of domestic violence. Morgan said that approaching the victim’s
abuser on their behalf is not a smart thing to do; because once
you leave the victim is at their disposal.
If you or someone you know is a
victim of domestic violence, please call the Sojourn Shelter at
217-726-5200. This number is a 24-hour hotline and someone will
be eagerly standing by to help you with your situation. Also,
when confronting a victim of domestic violence, remember
Morgan’s advice: remind the victim that the abuse was not their
fault, assure them that they are not the only one who’s been
abused before, and tell them about the shelter. |
