U of I Classes in Peoria

The UIS Peoria Center was previously located on the ICC campus in East Peoria.

According to the Dean of the College of Business Management, moving downtown provides convenience and affordability for those seeking a bachelors or M.B.A.

He says in these economic times, it's important for Peoria to have affordable public education in the heart of the city.

The Peoria Center was featured in an October 29, 2009 report on WEEK-TV and WHOI-TV.

Read more and watch the report online:
http://www.centralillinoisnewscenter.com/news/local/67424667.html

Trick-or-Eat competition to collect canned goods

The Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center at the University of Illinois Springfield will sponsor a Trick-or-Eat competition to collect canned goods Saturday.

The event is part of the UIS Holiday Stars Project. The overall goal is to collect 4,500 of pounds of food for the Central Illinois Foodbank by Dec. 3.

Teams of UIS students have been assigned to neighborhoods where they will collect non-perishable food items. The teams have already canvassed the neighborhoods, distributing collection bags, along with door hangers that explain the project.

The article was featured in an October 29, 2009 edition of the State Journal-Register.

Download the article as a PDF.
20091029-SJR-Trick-or-Eat-competition.pdf

Best of Springfield 2009: Best Theatrical Production - Drama

BEST THEATRICAL PRODUCTION - DRAMA

As You Like It
University of Illinois at Springfield

Shakespeare’s tale of love, deception and cross-dressing has been performed many times, many ways, in many places. For the first time ever, UIS was the stage, and its students not-so-merely the players. Associate Professor of Theatre, Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson tells us that the show came about as schoolwork. “For the 2008-2009 school year, my idea was to offer, in tandem, a Shakespeare class and a Shakespeare production.” The class, “Playing Shakespeare,” was offered for the first time in the fall of 2008 and by spring, they were ready to take the stage, with Thibodeaux-Thompson encouraging his students to audition. “We had a total of 18 actors in 23 roles. Approximately 80 percent were students, with 20 percent community actors, faculty and alumni. I enjoy a mix of students and community actors. I was very proud in a lot of ways.”

The honor was given the the Illinois Times in an October 29, 2009 edition.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091029-ILTimes-Best%20of%20Springfield%202009.pdf

Taking a Second Look

A 20 year old murder case could soon be re-opened. 18-year-old Melissa Koontz’s body was found near her hometown of Waverly in the summer of 1989.

Five people were sent to prison; two are still serving life sentences, Gary Edgington and Tom McMillen. Edgington confessed, but McMillen has maintained his innocence. It’s a plea that was finally heard by the UIS Downstate Innocence Project. They’re asking to take a second look at the case in hopes of proving McMillen is innocent.

“He was convicted based on a mentally retarded individual who claimed to be an eyewitness to the murder. None of what [that individual] said matched the crime scene,” says Bill Clutter with the Innocence Project.

The story was featured by WCIA-TV reporter Marissa Torres in an October 29, 2009.

Read the story and watch it online:
http://illinoishomepage.net/content/fulltext/?cid=114422

Innocence Project to sponsor DNA workshop

A workshop on post-conviction DNA testing is being held at the University of Illinois Springfield’s Brookens Auditorium from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Registration is still open to the public.

The Downstate Illinois Innocence Project housed at UIS is sponsoring the workshop on introducing Touch DNA to Illinois courtrooms. The program features the defense team of Timothy Masters, convicted in 1999 of murder in 1987 in Fort Collins, Colo.

The article was featured in an October 28, 2009 edition of the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091028-SJR-Innocence-Project.pdf

Kathryn Rem: Better cooking through chemistry

“Let the magic begin,” announced Harshavardhan Bapat to a crowd of students as he stirred liquid nitrogen into a bowl of sugar and heavy cream.

With a temperature of -320 degrees F, the nitrogen turned into a white gas when poured, looking a bit like puffy Cumulus clouds.

Last week was National Chemistry Week. At the University of Illinois Springfield, the annual event was celebrated by the school’s Chemistry Club with a public demonstration of instant ice cream-making.

The story was featured in an October 28, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091028-SJR-UIS-National-Chemistry-Week.pdf

Eck ends 31-year career with Prairie Stars

After 31 years, today is the first day Joe Eck is no longer with the Prairie Stars’ men’s soccer program, first with Sangamon State University and, since 1995, with the University of Illinois Springfield.

Eck, 54, announced his retirement earlier this month, citing family and employment reasons. Eck has worked at the university since 1981 and is assistant director for planning at the Department of Facilities and Services.

He said the school’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II status has “drastically increased” the paperwork associated with his part-time job as soccer coach.

Eck's story was featured in an October 26, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091026-SJR-Eck-ends-31-year-career.pdf

Sixty people naturalized at Springfield ceremony

Sixty people became new U.S. citizens during a ceremony at the Old State Captiol on Friday, October 23. The new citizens come from 29 different countries and more than half are from Asia.

Tih-Fen Ting says her heart swelled with pride as she took the oath to become an American citizen. Like many of her fellow immigrants Tih-Fen is educated. She holds a Ph.D. and teaches Environmental Science at UIS.

Ting was interviewed by reporter Gordon Graham of WAND-TV 17 in an October 23, 2009 report.

Watch the report online

Sports complex plan to get national boost

Plans for a new Springfield athletic complex received a boost recently when a letter of intent was signed between organizers of the facility and an as-yet-unidentified national sports group.

The baseball and softball diamonds, soccer fields and 3,000-seat baseball stadium are proposed for 123 acres owned by Calvary Temple near Interstate 72 and Second Street. Both the Springfield Sliders and University of Illinois Springfield baseball teams have expressed preliminary interest in playing at the complex.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091026-SJR-STAR-sports-complex-announ.pdf

Robert Williams named new police chief

Robert Williams, a Springfield native has been nominated to succeed Ralph Caldwell as chief of the Springfield Police Department. Williams has been serving in the role of assistant chief under Caldwell.

Williams earned a bachelor's degree in social justice from the University of Illinois Springfield.

Williams was featured in an October 23, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091023-SJR-Robert-Williams-named.pdf

UIS soccer team breaks 14-game winless streak

The University of Illinois Springfield slopped its way to its first win since the season opener, beating Millikin 1-0 in a non-conference men’s soccer game Thursday night at Kiwanis Field.

It was also the first lead the Prairie Stars have taken since going ahead 1-0 against Maryville on Sept. 17, a game that ended in a 1-1 tie.

UIS upped its record to 2-13-1 while the Big Blue fell to 5-11-1. The Prairie Stars broke a 14-game winless streak dating to a 5-1 victory over Blackburn on Aug. 28.

The win was featured in an October 23, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091023-SJR-Prairie-Stars-break-14-ga.pdf

GOP Candidates for Illinois Governor Meet in Forum

While the five Republican candidates tackled questions about education, abortion and government reform, two of the biggest names looming in the GOP primary race were missing from the event: former Illinois GOP chairman Andy McKenna and former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan.

Ryan's entry into the race could help overcome a potential weakness in the Republican field, said Chris Mooney, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

''There are no statewide-elected or former statewide-elected officials in the field,'' he said.

Mooney's comments were featured in an Associated Press article which appeared on the New York Times and Washington Post websites.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091021-NYT-GOP-Candidates-for-Illinois.pdf

Springfield college students see through eyes of a drunk driver

Students used fatal vision goggles as they walked the line simulating a roadside sobriety test. Students also got into a golf cart and tested the goggles with impaired vision.

The simulator is one of three big events planned by UIS as the university celebrates National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week.

The story was featured in a WAND-TV 17 news report on October 21, 2009.

Watch the story online

Bernard Schoenburg: New job for Jaeger

Bethany Jaeger, who has been Statehouse bureau chief for Illinois Issues magazine since early 2006, is leaving that job to become a management consultant for Kerber, Eck & Braeckel in Springfield.

Jaeger, 29, of Chatham, is an Algonquin native who has a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois Springfield. She interned with Illinois Issues as part of her master’s program in 2004.

Jaeger's departure was featured in Bernard Schoenburg's column in an October 22, 2009 edition of the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091022-SJR-Schoenburg-Jaeger.pdf

Funding MAP Grants could add to state budget crisis

Michelle Claussen is a junior at the University of Illinois Springfield. She relies on several forms of financial aid including MAP Grants to keep her in school.

When MAP grant funding was slashed she worried about how she'd pay for school, but now that the funding has been restored some believe the financial hardship has been handed over to the state.

"We're spending more than we're taking in on a regular basis," said UIS Political Science Professor Chris Mooney.

The story was featured in a WICS-TV 20 report on October 20, 2009 by reporter Heather Hubbs.

Watch the story online:
http://www.wics.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wics_vid_748.shtml

Upstate split benefits Brady in gubernatorial race

These are the best of times for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady of Bloomington.

"For Brady, this is all a benefit because he'd like to see the others fight it out," said Chris Mooney, a political scientist at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

"The fact that there are seven candidates now means that no one has been able to clear the field," said Kent Redfield, another University of Illinois at Springfield political scientist. "But in the cold light of day they're going to look at what it costs to do media buys and someone is going to drop out."

Mooney and Redfield were featured in an October 18, 2009 article in the Champaign News-Gazette.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091018-NG-upstate_split_benefits_Brady.pdf

Lack of soccer wins doesn't take way Torricelli's enthusiasm

The victories haven’t been numerous in Ryne Torricelli’s collegiate soccer career.

“I’ve been watching the Prairie Stars since I was a kid,” Torricelli said. “I’ve always wanted to play here."

“This was a dream come true to play here. I’m still in Springfield, my family can watch me play, and I’m getting a good education. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Torricelli along with men's soccer coach Joe Eck were featured in an October 19, 2009 State Journal-Register article.

Download the article as a PDF.
20091019-SJR-Lack-of-wins-doesn-t-tak.pdf

MAP grant threat brings college students to Springfield

The threat of losing a key piece of financial aid next semester spurred thousands of Illinois college students to rally Thursday in Springfield and pressure lawmakers to replenish funding for the Monetary Award Program.

Jaime Casinova, a University of Illinois Springfield junior, said he depends entirely on financial aid -- including MAP grants -- to attend college.

MAP grant recipient Charles Olivier, a junior at UIS, said education should be one of the state's top funding priorities, he said.

The students comments were featured in an October 16, 2009 edition of the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091016-SJR-MAP-grant-threat.pdf

GOP governor candidates appear at forum

Five GOP candidates for Illinois governor fielded questions about subjects ranging from college tuition costs to budget reduction to 2nd Amendment rights during a forum at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday.

The candidates included Sen. Bill Brady, Sen. Kirk Dillard, DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom, Political Commentator Dan Proft and Businessman Adam Andrzejewski. The forum was hosted by the College Republicans at UIS and the Illinois College Republican Federation.

Highlights from the debate were featured in an October 15, 2009 State Journal-Register article.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091015-SJR-GOP-gubernatorial-candidate.pdf

Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Face Off

The University of Illinois Springfield College Republican's hosted five GOP candidates for governor in an October 14, 2009 forum at Brookens Auditorium.

Candidates answered questions on a variety of issues and talked about why they are running.

WICS-TV 20's Kelly Larson reported on the forum during the 10:00 news on October 14th.

Watch the story online:
http://www.wics.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wics_vid_718.shtml

'Darwin the Dinosaur' features family events

Sangamon Auditorium hosts a performance of “Darwin the Dinosaur” on Friday — and kids and grownups can get involved with related activities this weekend.

“Darwin the Dinosaur” begins at 7 p.m. Friday at Sangamon Auditorium, on the University of Illinois Springfield campus. Tickets: $19 adults, $11 children, available by calling 206-6160 or online at http://www.sangamonauditorium.org/. Family activities begin at 6 p.m. Friday in the auditorium lobby.

The show was featured in an October 15, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091015-SJR-Darwin-the-Dinosa.pdf

Quinn fights for college grants he helped cut

To hear Gov. Pat Quinn tell it, the General Assembly failed tens of thousands of would-be college students by slashing funding for a financial aid program.

For more than a month, Quinn has crisscrossed Illinois, promising to push lawmakers to find $200 million for the Monetary Award Program and chastising them for leaving 137,000 students wondering if they'll be able to pay tuition next spring -- even though he helped create the problem.

"It's not fair at all," said Kent Redfield, an emeritus political science professor at the University Illinois-Springfield. "It's the governor's budget, he signed off on it. There was clearly enough discretionary spending in what the governor signed off on to cover this."

Redfield's comments were featured in an October 14, 2009 Associated Press article, which was published in the Chicago Tribune and State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091014-Trib-chi-ap-il-quinn-higheredmon%2C.pdf

Larry Golden: Secrecy gets city into trouble time and again

Larry Golden, emeritus professor of political science and legal studies at the University of Illinois Springfield was featured in an October 14, 2009 State Journal-Register opinion column.

"The recent State Journal-Register editorial on the Springfield Civil Service Commission’s consideration of the suspension of City Water, Light and Power workers in the noose incident was merely an introduction to an event with secretive and anti-democratic actions that bring shame to the entire city and its citizens," wrote Golden.

Download the entire opinion article as a PDF.
20091014-SJR-Larry-Golden-Secrecy-ge.pdf

Springfield looking more like a college town

No one is going to confuse Springfield with Ann Arbor or South Bend, but there's a sense that it might be becoming a bit of a college town.

“If it’s going to be a college town, it will be UIS driving it,” said Richard Ringeisen, chancellor at UIS.

UIS’s campus has taken on a more collegiate look in recent years, with a quad, a central colonnade, two 200-bed residence halls for freshmen and sophomores, and a new recreation and athletic center.

Ringeisen's comments were featured in an October 12, 2009 edition of the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091012-SJR-Springfield-college-town.pdf

Illinois Issues magazine starts program with libraries

Illinois Issues, the not-for-profit public affairs magazine published at the University of Illinois Springfield, has started a new program in cooperation with state legislators to provide the magazine and other publications to public libraries.

“Issues for Citizens,” designed to promote public policy information and education through the public library system, began last month with 31 legislators providing Illinois Issues to 59 libraries across the state.

The program was featured in an October 12, 2009 story in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091012-SJR-Illinois-Issues-magazi.pdf

UIS volleyball team gets first league win

The University of Illinois Springfield earned the first Great Lakes Valley Conference victory in program history Saturday, downing Maryville 29-27, 23-25, 25-16, 25-22.

UIS (7-13 overall, 1-7 in the GLVC) and Maryville (2-14, 1-8) are both first-year GLVC members. Courtnee Brown led UIS with eight kills and 14 digs, and Kim Bartosiak added six kills. Carrie Gerberding dished out 22 assists and Cayla Roberts chipped in with nine digs.

The win was featured in an October 12, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091011-SJR-Area-colleges-Volleyball.pdf

UIS Notes: Basketball season starts later for Prairie Stars

In past years, basketball season already would have tipped off for the University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars.

The program’s move to NCAA Division II from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has pushed the first day of men’s and women’s basketball practice to Thursday.

“It starts a little later than NAIA,” UIS men’s basketball coach Kevin Gamble said. “NAIA started practicing Oct. 1, whereas we’re starting Oct. 15.”

The story was featured in an October 9, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091009-SJR-UIS-Notes-Basketball-sea.pdf

Hynes first to air TV ad in Ill. gov.'s race

Democrat Dan Hynes criticizes Gov. Pat Quinn's tax proposal while touting his own plan to raise income taxes in the first TV ad of the governor's race, which debuted Thursday.

It's risky for Hynes to spend money on TV airtime now, but it's understandable because he's trying to topple a sitting governor, said Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

"It's a risk because people aren't really thinking politics. On the other hand, he's playing catch-up. He doesn't really have any other option," Redfield said.

Redfield's comments were featured in an October 8, 2009 Chicago Tribune article.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091008-TRIB-chi-ap-il-governorsrace-hy%2C0.pdf

Sangamon Co. Sheriff lobbies for budget increase

The Sangamon County Sheriff is calling for a sales tax hike to fill a growing budget gap.

WAND-TV 17 reporter Gordan Graham interviewed UIS Public Administration Associate Professor Beverly Bunch about the growing trend across the country.

"At some point it comes down to what services we can afford," said Bunch.

The report aired on October 8, 2009.
Watch the full report online

UIS adding new undergrad degree program

The University of Illinois Springfield is adding a 23rd undergraduate degree program that is expected to attract 25 students next year.

The state Board of Higher Education approved the Management Information Systems bachelor’s degree for UIS at its meeting in Chicago on Tuesday.

The undergraduate major is designed to provide students with a balance of technical skills and business knowledge and to prepare them for employment in private and public sectors in a changing global economy.

The announcement was featured in an October 8, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091008-SJR-UIS-adding-new-undergra.pdf

Republican Forum at UIS

Several remaining candidates for governor are slated to participate in a forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Brookens Auditorium at the University of Illinois Springfield.

The College Republicans at UIS and the Illinois College Republican Foundation are hosting the event, which is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served afterward.

Among candidates planning to attend are state Sens. KIRK DILLARD and BILL BRADY, DuPage County Board Chairman BOB SCHILLERSTROM, businessman ADAM ANDRZEJEWSKI and political activist DAN PROFT.

The forum was featured in Bernard Schoenburg's column on October 8, 2009 in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091008-SJR-Bernard-Schoenburg-Ald.pdf

Illinois not alone in disputes over high-speed rail

Illinois isn't the only state where some local officials are balking at the prospect of having high-speed passenger rail service running through their communities.

For sure, not everyone in Springfield is against the high-speed rail line.

In a letter to federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, University of Illinois-Springfield Chancellor Richard Ringeisen expressed support for the concept.

Ringeisen's comments were featured in an October 7, 2009 edition of the Bloomington Pantagraph.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091007-Pantagraph-Illinois-not-alone.pdf

Fire Safety Grant at UIS

The University of Illinois Springfield now has more money for fire safety on campus. The school received a $10,000 grant from State Farm Insurance.

WICS-TV 20 interviewed Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center Director Kelly Thompson about the grant and how it's being used in an October 6, 2009 report.

Watch a video of the report online:
http://www.wics.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wics_vid_672.shtml

UIS students face hate crime charges

Three University of Illinois Springfield students were arrested early Saturday in connection with an incident that authorities are calling a hate crime.

The three men allegedly were at an off-campus party when they began calling two other men derogatory names aimed at homosexuals.

The story was published in an October 6, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091006-SJR-Three-face-charges-in-f.pdf

Chicago supporters crushed, confused by early elimination

An audible gasp swept through the Daley Plaza when the large-screen video boards showed Chicago's elimination in the first round of voting for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Kent Redfield, political science professor at University of Illinois Springfield, said "Obama is personally very popular internationally, but the U.S. as a country is still suffering the fallout of eight years of the cowboy foreign policy under Bush. Any acting out of negative feelings" by the IOC "is more a repudiation of the U.S.'s image and standing in the world, which Obama is trying to repair."

Redfield's comments were featured in a October 3, 2009 edition of USA Today.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091003-USAToday-Chicago-supporters.pdf

Eck says he'll retire after UIS' season

Joe Eck is retiring as the University of Illinois Springfield men’s soccer coach at the end of this season, leaving a program he has been a part of since 1979.

Eck announced Thursday he’s stepping down after eight seasons as head coach. He’s leaving the coaching ranks, but not college soccer. Both of his children will play for NCAA Division I soccer programs next year and he doesn’t want to miss out on their college experiences.

Eck's announcement was featured in a October 2, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091002-SJR-Eck-to-retire-as-UIS-soc.pdf

Lanphier HS looks for solutions to in-school violence

Police have arrested 44 students at Springfield's Lanphier High School for fighting so far this year.

WAND-TV reporter Gordan Graham interviewed UIS Associate Professor in Teacher Education Allan Cook about what can be done to stop the problem.

"What we need to look at is violence prevention a lot of schools I think now are going towards anger managment counseling," said Cook.

The interview aired on October 1, 2009.
Watch the report online

MAP grants fall victim to state budget cuts

MAP Grant funds for more than 700 students on the University of Illinois Springfield campus are in question for the spring 2010 semester. Lawmakers cut the money from the budget to keep the program fully funded.

WAND-TV reporter Gordan Graham interviewed UIS students April Fountain and Charles Olivier along with UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen in a September 29, 2009 report.

Watch a video of the report online

An Uncommon Employment Opening

A Springfield business is looking for a Chinese interpreter to help improve their operation. They buy a majority of shirts, hats and other items overseas.

UIS Associate Professor Dr. Baker Siddiquee is interviewed about the global economy and why this is becoming a more common trend. WICS-TV 20 Springfield reporter Andrew Hansen filed the report, which aired September 30, 2009.

Watch the report online:
http://www.wics.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wics_vid_631.shtml

Oh Governor, Where Art Thou?

Within 12 days of the Chicago Tribune’s initial article about an admissions scandal at the University of Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn was on the case.

Yet, when faculty members at Chicago State University urged Quinn in April to intervene in a presidential appointment they say smacked of cronyism, the governor took no formal action.

Christopher Mooney, a professor of political science at the University of Illinois’s Springfield campus, says it’s difficult to separate race from any political decision in Illinois. But race and the politics of race are never simple, and how lawmakers and the governor reacted -- or didn’t react -- to Chicago State illustrate that complexity, he says.

Mooney's comments were featured on the Inside Higher Ed website on October 1, 2009.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091001-HigherEd-Oh-Governor.pdf