Taste of UIS tackles East Side development

By Ashley Rook - General Assignment Reporter

The problem of economic underdevelopment and urban decay in Springfield’s troubled Eastside has always been a problem, but only a few citizens have made strides in leveling the playing field.  One of these community activists is former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and local businessman Mike Pittman, who was the featured speaker on the subject at the Mar. 23 Taste of UIS program.
Speaking on the topic of “Springfield’s Eastside Development,” Pittman addressed a crowd of more than 40 individuals over lunch at Maldaner’s Upstairs in downtown Springfield on the problems facing African-Americans on the east end of town.  “The Eastside is economically depressed and the people there need to become empowered and build up their community,” Pittman said.
Pittman outlined the economic problems facing the residents of East Springfield, particularly a lack of business growth in the area.  “African Americans have a combined 800 billion in income to spend, but spend 90 percent of that sum outside of their communities because there aren’t enough black-owned businesses,” he said.  “Black businesses need to retain those dollars and create more jobs for people in the community.”
Pittman, an entrepreneur and community leader, is more than qualified to lecture on the topic.  He has previously worked as an athlete, janitor, prison guard, state employee and as a director of community relations under former mayor Karen Hasara and graduated from Sangamon State University with a bachelor’s degree in labor relations.  Now a small-business owner and president of the Springfield Black Chamber of Commerce, he has taken steps to create business prospects in underdeveloped areas by developing subdivisions and founding local businesses.
“Mike is one of our distinguished alumni and is someone who not only has risen as a community leader, but also as a successful businessman,” said Chuck Schrage, the vice president for alumni relations.  “In the Taste of UIS program, we like to highlight the best and brightest of the UIS family.”
Pittman spoke about the current state of the Eastside and offered solutions for economic empowerment, encouraging entrepreneurship in African-Americans and for churches to get involved.  “My advice is to learn as much about business as you can and create a job instead of trying to find one,” he said.  “Once you have wealth, you can give back to the community.” 
He also advocates local leaders getting involved in the process.  “This is a very important initiative because the Eastside is a dead area of town and with the new presidential library, you don’t want the town to be economically and racially segregated,” Pittman advised.  “If the Eastside becomes economically empowered, it will lower the crime rate and raise property values, so the city council and mayor have a real interest in this issue.”
The Taste of UIS programs are sponsored by the Alumni Association and are held at Maldaner’s Upstairs at 222 S. Sixth St.  The cost to attend is $20 per person and $15 for Alumni Association members and their guests, and includes a hot buffet lunch.  For more information, call 206-7395, visit www.uiaa.org/spfld or e-mail alumni@uis.edu.

Ettiquette expert hosts business dinner at UIS

By Janee Mitchell - Feature Writer

A new student theater group, Rogue Productions, has been created as a student alternative to the already existing program. Their first production will be Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”
According to his self-titled Web site, the play is based off Fulghum’s books and “a sure hit for almost any performing group.” It was also said that the play “takes a funny, insightful, heart-warming look at what is profound in everyday life.”
John Roskopf, freshman in psychology and legal studies, is the president of Rogue Productions, which he said has been in the making since last October. Roskopf said the development of Rogue Productions was a decision made by himself, Jacob House, Karen Nickerson and Stacie Evans after their participation in the fall production of “Oedipus Rex.”
Roskopf said “I knew that I wanted another outlet for students to get involved in theatre. UIS theater only had room for students to act, as well as limited backstage opportunities. I wanted students to be able to control all aspects of their productions, putting everything in their hands, from directing to publicizing to house management.”
Karen Nickerson, director of the student production of “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” said “ever since hearing at orientation how to create a school club, I loved the idea of a student-produced, -directed and -performed theater group.  My friends all had the same idea, so we got started!”
Nickerson also said, “I think it's very cool to see all different people coming together to make a production, and it provides a great opportunity for students interested in all aspects of putting on a show and running a club.” Nickerson said the group is called Rogue Productions because they wanted to have the group separate from UIS theatre but “self-sufficient” and “student-based.”
Nickerson said the next production they take on will be directed by Roskopf but that no definite play has been decided on for production as of yet. All group members of Rogue Productions seem unclear on the next production but are excited about the idea of more productions and said they are currently looking at various ideas.
Stacie Evans, freshman in biology, serves as Rogue Production’s secretary and treasurer. Evans said the group was created to be completely run by the students and that future productions from the group would be determined by the space available and number of participants, Evans said her personal goal for Rogue Productions is “to see more people interested in participating so that we can do more complex shows later on.”
Roskopf said for next year, he would like to see at least one drama and one comedy produced by the group. Roskopf also said that the students will be more involved with the student theatre group than the UIS theater group because it is entirely done by students, “you name it, a student did it.”
“All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” will be performed at 2 and 8 p.m. April 13 in Brookens Library and 8 p.m. April 15.

New auditorium director approved

By Ashley Rook - General Assignment Reporter

Robert A. Vaughn has been announced as the new Sangamon Auditorium director by UIS Provost Harry Berman.  Effective May 1, Vaughn will be filling the position currently held by interim director David Taylor.
Vaughn previously served as senior director of finance and administration and director of operations at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln since 1995.  A native of the Springfield area, he graduated from Sangamon State University with a bachelor’s degree in communication in a technological society and was a member of the Sangamon Repertory Theater during the 1972 and 1973 seasons.  He subsequently was employed in the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at SSU from 1973-1975.
“Mr. Vaughn has a very extensive background in the management of performing arts centers and arts programming and is very well qualified for the position,” said Berman.  “It was particularly nice that he had ties to the Springfield community and also to the university.”
Vaughn’s previous experience includes serving as the executive director of the Fairbanks, Alaska, Arts Association and the Jasper, Ind., Community Arts Commission and administrative positions in New Mexico and Washington, D.C.  He is also serves as chair of the 46th Annual Members Conference Committee for the Association of Performing Arts Presenters and has been a national fellow with the National Endowment for the Arts’s Federal/State Partnership Program.
Vaughn is Sangamon Auditorium’s third director, following John Dale Kennedy and Susan Linn.  He could not be reached for comment at this time.

Taste of UIS tackles East Side development

New student theater group at UIS

New auditorium director approved