Displaced students find refuge

By Janee Mitchell - Feature Writer

Efforts to establish new homes for individuals and families displaced by Hurricane Katrina have been underway for sometime now, in the wake of the disaster. Hurricane Katrina has destroyed many homes, businesses and cities, yet one thing remains unforgotten in the assessment of Hurricane Katrina's damage - the need to fill the educational void created by school closings due to the hurricane.

“There is only one appropriate response in this situation and that is to make every effort to accommodate these students who have had their plans for college this year completely disrupted. They need a safe environment, and an affordable alternative, and we pledge our help in that regard,” said Chancellor Ringeisen in a statement.

Many school officials from various universities have also taken a bold step forward to accommodate students affected by Hurricane Katrina although their fall semesters had already begun. One day soon after the hurricane, while attending a law and legal processes course I watched as the instructor, Vice Chancellor Dr. Chris Miller, entered in and out of the classroom to discuss possible means for accommodating displaced students. He said the school was going to find a way to allow the displaced students to further their education at UIS.

The desperation in pursuing all necessary means to enroll displaced students had shown bright in the situation and it was assumed that UIS would do its part to accommodate the displaced students. However, the length to which UIS would go to accommodate students was unforeseen.

The school has already begun to enroll students by way of the Sloan Semester, on campus and other online courses. Now special attention will be given to graduate students, law students and attorneys as well through the Educational Leadership Program at UIS. The EDL program is currently making room to accommodate displaced students in the recently created graduate program in the legal aspects of education offered online.

EDL faculty and Program Chair Margaret Noe said the program was “designed to remove barriers to accessibility to quality educational programs.” Although the graduate certificate in the legal aspects was originally created for the professional needs of teachers and those seeking to further aspects of their legal education, the program is being extended to students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

In a statement Noe said, “These courses were designed to allow educational leaders to increase their knowledge of legal issues that may affect them professionally and also to enable them to meet statutorily mandated requirements for professional development and certification. We believe that they may be viable curricular options for displaced students, law school students or attorneys looking for educational opportunities this year.”

Larry Stonecipher, dean of education and human services, according to a press release, “requested the EDL program to make the courses available.” There are currently only two courses offered through this program, EDL 580 and EDL 582, but the number may increase according to interest.

Exchange faculty gets taste of U.S.

By Mallory Medved - Copy Editor

Shen Min, on first sight, looks like your typical college student. Blue jeans, t-shirt and long hair give her the laid-back, casual aura of any UIS student parked in front of a computer on a Thursday afternoon, surrounded by notes and books, bag of potato chips within easy reach.

Min has more in common with UIS' professors than its students, however. She is a faculty exchange scholar here from Heilongjiang University in Harbin, China, where she works in the English department, teaching subjects as varied as Roman and Greek mythology, the Bible and the works of “Our Town” author Thornton Wilder.

As part of the Faculty Exchange Program, Min, who arrived in the U.S. last month, will attend classes and live on campus at UIS through July of 2006. Since 1997, UIS and Heilongjiang University have participated in the faculty exchange, a part of the International Studies program. UIS sends a faculty member to China for six weeks, where they lecture, and HU sends a faculty member for a year. The two schools also collaborate on research projects, according the International Studies' Web page.

Min is quickly getting used to life at an American university. This semester, she is taking a variety of classes, including Rosina Neginsky's European Literature: Ancient Greek and Biblical Motives. “I like the class atmosphere,” she said. “It's a discussion-based class and all the students have different ideas.”

“ Springfield is so quiet,” says Min. “You don't see many people outside during the day. I like the serenity; you can study and not be disturbed. In China , which has a larger population, there are always people outside, studying or talking. The buildings are taller, too, and not so much grass around.”

When she's not in class, Min is getting the typical UIS college experience. She lives in an apartment on campus with three other international students. They are getting her interested in various aspects of American culture, including the food. Min is learning to love all things dessert-related, especially her favorite – banana bread. Her roommates are also introducing her to American music. Jimmy Buffett is one of her new favorites.

Min hasn't only been to Springfield , though. She accompanied a group, led by Steve Schwark, to New Harmony , Ind. , to see an example of a pioneer Utopian community a few weeks ago and likes to attend lectures, particularly political ones.

In the rest of her time here, Min would like to do more studying and research. She wants to gather enough material for a textbook on Greek and Roman mythology to teach in China . “I would also like to see a staging of ‘Our Town,'” she said.

Min wants to get the most out of her stay in America . She is especially determined to make her trip worthwhile, since she leaves behind a husband and 19-month-old daughter in China . “I had a hard time deciding to leave her. I had to think hard about leaving my daughter for a year, so I want to study hard and learn a lot to bring back to China for her,” she said.

“I'm here to learn,” Min says when asked about what she wants to take back from this trip the most. “I want to learn everything.”

Mural adds life to Student Center

By Heather Gach - General Assignment Reporter

The Student Life Center at the University of Illinois at Springfield has some new “life” in it.

A new edition, a “timeline-like” mural reflecting the life and growth of Sangamon State University to what it is today, has been created on a 45 foot wall at the center by Joe Miller, a recent visual arts graduate.

The mural shows what the university was, now is, what has changed and what has remained the same.

The idea to liven up the center came from workers including Kim Jones, student center manager and Cynthia Thompson, director of student life. Paul MacDonna, athletics director, recommended Miller, a basketball player, for the job.

“I began discussing ideas with student life and Paul MacDonna. They had been brainstorming ideas for a new way to attract attention to the Student Life Center , whether it be adding paintings, photos or something like that,” Miller said. “Around the end of the summer, the idea came about. There's so much wall space we just figured it (a mural) would be the best thing to do.”

Thompson said Jones saw a mural in a movie, located the movie and showed the concept to them.

“We think it adds color and flavor to the Student Center ,” Thompson said. “Also, any time we can solidify established traditions by documenting them for future generations to see, it's a good thing.”

The mural starts in black and white and shows things associated with Sangamon State University , such as the old Prairie Star logo and the soccer team, which was the only team the university had at that time.

Colors filters in as new things are added, such as volleyball, men's and women's tennis, cheerleading, homecoming and the new Prairie Stars logo.

Some things have stayed the same even as the university has grown and evolved, such as The Journal and the tug of war games of Springfest.

“There are parallels going on from the black and white side to the color side,” Miller said. “We have the old sculpture, the falling columns sculpture that has been on campus since late 70s, early 80s, by the teardrop sculpture. Now recently, we have the new quad built with those columns. It shows the old falling and the new standing, and they are portrayed in a glorified, new way. That's something the campus is proud of right now. It's the newest edition.”

Miller said he got most of the images from the university's website and www.twosouth.com , the website of the “Healthy Lifestyles" wing in the Lincoln Residence Hall. He said one of the most complex images to paint was the new Prairie Stars logo. Another challenge was creating the Prairie Stars blue color paint. He and James Cockroft, a senior Miller refers to as his “color specialist,” and has filled Miller's shoes as visual arts student representative since he graduated, assisted in mixing paints to create the distinct blue color.

The images Miller said he is most proud of are The Journal and the women dancing at the International Festival because he thinks they stand out in comparison to the other images.

And some people on the mural are actual students, including the leader of the Blue Crew Brad Ward.

“It's kind of a collage of images, and that's the way I paint anyways, so I think it turned out good in my eyes because I have experience in balancing things in way that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye,” Miller said. “It flows easily.”

Miller said he's heard talk of other similar projects on campus and told Thompson to refer people to him if interested.

“I think it went pretty well. It took a little longer than I thought it would, but I'd never done anything that big before,” Miller said. “I'd done smaller murals for friends and other groups but nothing near that size. I think it turned out well for me.”

From start to finish, Miller said the project took about almost three weeks, putting in a little more than 100 hours into it.

Thompson said Miller got the concept down and the mural is exactly what they intended it to be.

“I think it looks great,” Thompson said. “It's absolutely wonderful.”

Crawford named WUIS bureau chief

By Ashley Rook - General Assignment Reporter

WUIS 91.9-WIPA 89.3, public radio network of UIS, recently chose Sean Crawford as the new statehouse bureau chief for the station and the Illinois Public Radio News network. He succeeds Bill Wheelhouse, who has been appointed to the position of WUIS-WIPA general manager.

Crawford, a graduate of UIS' Public Affairs Reporting program, has been a statehouse reporter with WUIS since 1997. His involvement in the news business spans 20 years, starting in his high school years when he worked part-time at a commercial radio station, WJPF/Herrin. From 1989 to 1992, Crawford was news director of WKBM/Joliet, and worked as an editor at Bailey Publishing, a chain of three Joliet newspapers, from 1992 to 1994.

For two years before he joined the bureau, Crawford served as a panelist on the weekly program “State Week in Review” and reported on local news on the Morning Edition at WUIS. His work in the fields of state government and politics gained him several awards, including an Associated Press award for documentary work in 2001.

He also received Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors awards for Radio Beat Reporting in 2002 and 2003 and for a story on “The Elusive Third Chicagoland Airport” in 2005.

WUIS News Director Rich Bradley describes the promotion as a “slam-dunk,” saying, “Sean is the ultimate professional. I definitely think he's qualified to take on more direct responsibility for running the bureau and directing the interns.” Bradley also plans on hiring another reporter to work alongside Crawford in the two-person bureau, most likely in late December, as well as podcasting broadcasts and news programs.

As a veteran reporter, Crawford feels he is familiar with the beat, and plans to build on what WUIS has done in the past. “It's an interesting beat to cover,” Crawford said. “State government isn't very popular. We tell people what they need to know at a time when they can still affect the process, because issues move quickly. People can be very effective when they call their lawmakers.”

More citizen involvement may be needed this year, particularly as WUIS covers pressing issues such as the state budget, student aid and higher education issues and the 2006 election year.

WUIS, which will be celebrating its 30 th year of broadcasting this year, is a member station of both National Public Radio and Public Radio International, and broadcasts original material as well as programs from other sources. Offering a combination of local information, music programming and statewide government news coverage is an integral part of its mission. More information about WUIS' program schedule and events can be found at www.wuis.org.

Displaced students find refuge

Exchange faculty gets tast of U.S.

Mural adds life to Student Center

Crawford named WUIS bureau chief