UIS ranked among the best

In its first year of eligibility, UIS was named to U.S. News and World Reports' list of America's Best Colleges: once as best public university (master's category) in the state, and again as fourth best university in the same category in the Midwest.

On August 22, 2008, the State Journal-Register ran an article profiling the honor.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080822-SJR-UISAmongUSNewsBest.pdf

Blagojevich keeps low profile

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is keeping a low profile as far as Illinois Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama is concerned.

In an article that appeared in the Rockford Register Star on August 21, 2008, UIS Professor Emeritus Kent Redfield notes that one big reason is Blagojevich's seemingly close ties to Tony Rezko, who is awaiting sentencing on his federal corruption conviction.

Download a pdf file of the article
20080821-RRS-BlagojevichSitsOut.pdf

State senators vie for Jones' spot

Members of the Illinois Senate are already jockeying to be in position to fill Emil Jones' spot as Senate President when he retires.

Chris Mooney, UIS Professor of Political Studies, is quoted in an article published August 22, 2008, by the Sun Times News Group. The article discusses senators who have expressed an interest, as well as why the senate presidency is so important.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080822-STNG-NextSenatePrez.pdf

Green roof installed on Founders Hall

On August 14 and 15, 2008, workers installed a green roof, one of the first in the area, on Founders Hall. The structure is a key element in the campus' goal to save energy and increase sustainability.

On August 15 the State Journal-Register ran an article that profiled the new roof and outlined some of the campus' other efforts toward becoming more environmentally friendly.

Download a pdf file of the article
20080815-SJR-GreenRoofatUIS.pdf

Wheeler says it's "no surprise" Jones is retiring

Illinois Senate President Emil Jones has announced that he will retire when his current term expires in January 2009.

"I can't say I'm surprised," observed UIS' Public Affairs Reporting Director Charles Wheeler III in an article that appeared in the August 18, 2008, Daily Herald. Wheeler noted that Jones' close alliance with an unpopular governor has been an issue.

Download a pdf file of the article
20080818-DJ-EmilJonestoRetire.pdf

Alcohol 101

Many college students, away from parental oversight for the first time, indulge their new-found freedoms by drinking too much, too often.

The August 12, 2008, State Journal-Register ran an article that took a look at the problem and how some campuses are responding to it. Valerie Scarbrough, an alcohol and drug prevention counselor at UIS, was among those interviewed.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080812-SJR-Drinking%20101.pdf

Early morning star party a success

Nearly two dozen people attended a special version of a UIS Star Party, held August 13 at the Emiquon Nature Preserve near Havana, even though it began at 3:30 a.m.

Assistant Professor of Astronomy/Physics John Martin led the program, which focused on the Perseids Meteor Shower. Emiquon Field Station Director/Associate Professor of Biology Mike Lemke and staff from the Nature Conservancy were also on hand to talk about the preserve's return to its natural river floodplain state.

Participants were encouraged to stay and watch the day begin on the marshland.

Brenda Rothert, reporter for the Peoria Journal-Star, attended. Download her article

20080813-PSJ-LookontheBrightSide.pdf

Stargazing at Emiquon

UIS' Emiquon Field Station is hosting an early morning program that will combine an opportunity for star-gazing with the chance to watch as the marsh creatures wake up and begin a new day.

The August 6, 2008, Canton Daily Ledger carried a notice of the event.

20080806-CDL-StargazingatEmiquon.pdf

Redfield says method used to redraw county districts was good

Two maps suggesting possible redistricting if membership of the Sangamon County Board is reduced from 29 to 15 are drawing criticism from a number of constituencies. However Kent Redfield, UIS professor emeritus of Political Science, notes that the criteria used to determine the district boundaries was correct.

Read the article that appeared in the August 3, 2008, State Journal-Register.

20080803-SJR-MapsofPossibleCoBdDistricts.pdf

WUIS to air special programs commemorating 1908 riot

On August 6, 7, and 8, WUIS will air special original programs in observance of the 100th anniversary of the Springfield race riot. The segments were produced by WUIS reporter Jenna Dooley.

Read the article from the August 3, 2008, State Journal-Register.

20080803-SJR-WUISCoverageof1908Riot.pdf