The Intern Queen visits UIS

UIS students got a dose of reality to help them gain an edge in today’s tough job market and it came from the queen herself, "The Intern Queen".

Lauren Berger had 15 internships under her belt by the time she graduated from college, each with different companies. Now the self-titled "Intern Queen" has made a career of helping others land internships.

Berger's visit to the UIS campus was featured by WICS-TV reporter Heather Hubbs in a November 11, 2009 report.

Watch the report online:
http://www.wics.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wics_vid_906.shtml

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

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

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

Pep rally kicks off UIS homecoming week

Homecoming activities kick off today (Monday) at the University of Illinois Springfield and later in the week include a parade, a barbecue and varsity soccer games.

UIS Family Weekend also coincides with homecoming events on Saturday and Sunday.

The theme of the 2009 event is “There’s No Place Like Homecoming.”

The homecoming schedule was published in a September 28, 2009 edition of the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20090928-SJR-UIS-homecoming-activiti.pdf

Government jobs are cut less quickly than private businesses

Big government employers usually provide a degree of security that can be rare today as governments tend to react more slowly to economic downturns than private businesses. This is true today of cities like Bloomington, Champaign-Urbana and Springfield, where UIS and other state departments and agencies are located.

The topic was the focus of an April 9, 2009, article in the U of I's Daily Illini student newspaper.
20090409-DI-govtjobs.pdf

Former UIS administrator still does work in Springfield while living in Wisconsin

L. Christopher “Chris” Miller, previously an administrator at the University of Illinois at Springfield, left Illinois last year to become vice president for student affairs at Marquette University in Milwaukee, although he is still serving in a role to recruit minority applicants for the police and fire departments of Springfield.

Miller's role was discussed in an April 10, 2009, article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article
20090410-SJR-ChrisMiller.pdf

State 529 program launches incentive program

Starting today, College Illinois!, the state's only 529 prepaid tuition program launches its
"57 Reasons" Incentive Program, which helps to makes the decision to enroll easier by giving qualifying purchasers money.

The program was discussed in an April 9, 2009, article on PRNewsWire.

Download a PDF of the article
20090409-PRnewswire-collegepayment.pdf

Sloan Foundation will close online education grant program

Though the Sloan Consortium will continue to promote online learning, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation announced that it is closing its online-education grant program, which leaves many colleges with online learning focuses without support.

The remarks of Ray Shroeder, director of the Office of Technology-Enhanced Learning at UIS, were featured in an April 6, 2009, article about the Foundation's announcement in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Download a PDF of the article
20090406-ChronofHigherEd-SloanFoundation.pdf

UIS spring enrollment increases

UIS' enrollment for Spring 2009 has increased over last year's enrollment for the spring semester. A total of 4,535 students are attending UIS, 105 more than last spring, which is an increase of 2.3 percent.

The news was featured in a February 10, 2009, article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article
20090210-SJR-springenrollment.pdf

Gov. Quinn faces many challenges in new role

While new governor Pat Quinn has the advantage of coming into office on a surge of goodwill and without corruption, he also faces many daunting challenges because the former governor left the state in such dire condition, according to Dr. Christopher Mooney, professor of political science at UIS.

Mooney's quotes were featured in a February 1, 2009, article published in the Christian Science Monitor about Quinn's new role as governor.

Download a PDF of the article
20090201-CSMonitor-PatQuinngovernor.pdf

BOT votes to increase housing and meals plan prices

The University of Illinois Board of Trustees voted to raise the price of housing and accompanying meal plans by anywhere from four to eight percent during their January 15 Chicago meeting.

The meeting was featured in a January 16, 2009, article of the Chicago Tribune.

Download a PDF of the article
20090116-ChicagoTrib-univincreasecost.pdf

Naperville reps sworn in at UIS

Naperville representatives Darlene Senger and Mike Connelly were featured in a January 15, 2009, article from the Naperville Sun about their inauguration ceremony on the UIS Campus on January 14.

Download a PDF of the article
20090115-NapervilleSun-Napervillereps.pdf

Cook County wants money owed from state for prison

According to an article from the Medill Reports, Cook County is threatening to take the state to court to get money it is owed for housing state prisoners in its jail. The state hasn't paid its half of the cost of the 16,000 prisoners a day since 2005, so the county is looking into filing a claim against the state to get its money.

However, it could be a while until the county gets its money, says Charlie Wheeler, director of the Public Affairs Program at UIS, who was quoted in the January 14, 2009, article.

Download a PDF of the article
20090114-MedillReports-CookCountyprison.pdf

State legislature faces budget problems after impeachment

Many of the Illinois lawmakers sworn into the 96th General Assembly Wednesday, January 14, on the UIS campus said their top priority for the spring is dealing with the state's financial problems.

But the battle over the budget might not occur until after the impeachment process currently underway against Gov. Rod Blagojevich has ended, according to an article in the January 15, 2009, Bloomington Pantagraph.

Download a PDF of the article
20090115-Pantagraph-Housebudget.pdf

Blagojevich impeached twice

Gov. Rod Blagojevich made more history Wednesday by being the first Illinois governor to be impeached twice and the first to have a trial started against him.

The new members of the House of Representatives voted in favor of impeachment 117-1 after being sworn in on January 14 during a ceremony on the UIS campus, as written about in a January 15, 2009, article in the Galesburg Register-Mail.

Download a PDF of the article
20090115-GalesburgRM-Houseimpeachesgov.pdf

White refuses to sign Burris' paperwork

Secretary of State Jesse White on Wednesday formally refused to sign paperwork appointing Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate. Burris was named to the seat by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is facing an impeachment trial.

Legal experts are split on whether White’s refusal to sign the paperwork will derail Burris’ appointment, or if the Senate can get away with refusing to seat someone based on who made the appointment.

What will happen is anyone's guess since the issue is unprecedented in Illinois, according to Dennis Rendleman, assistant professor of legal studies at the UIS. Rendleman was quoted in a January 14, 2009, article in the Murphysboro American.

Download a PDF of the file
20090114-MurphysboroAm-WhitedeniesBurris.pdf

Rep. Gordon inaugurated in House at UIS

New state Rep. Jehan Gordon admitted to feeling "a lot of mixed emotions" when she took her oath of office and voted to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich during the inauguration ceremony on the UIS campus on Wednesday, January 14.

Gordon's inauguration was featured in the January 15, 2009, Peoria Journal Star. Gordon represents the 92nd District, which includes about two-thirds of the city of Peoria.

Download a PDF of the article
20090115-PeoriaJS-Gordoninaugurated.pdf

House votes again on impeachment

An article in the January 14, 2009, State Journal-Register discussed details about the plans for the Illinois House of Representatives to vote a second time on the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich after the swearing-in ceremony, held at the UIS campus.

Download a PDF of the article
20090114-SJR-Housevoteagain.pdf

Alumna featured in Springfield's Own magazine

Nina Harris, who received her bachelors and masters degrees from UIS, was featured in the January/February 2009 issue of Springfield's Own magazine, which is distributed by the State Journal-Register.

Harris is president and CEO of the Springfield Urban League, which is the largest urban league in the state. Most recently, she became a new member of the UIS Campus Alumni Advisory Board.

Download a PDF of the article
20090113-SO-NinaHarris.pdf

Jesse White holds firm on Roland Burris' Senate status

Dr. Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at UIS, was quoted in an article about Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's involvement with the controversy surounding Gov. Rod Blagojevich's appointment of former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama.

The article was run by the Associated Press on January 8, 2009.

Download a PDF of the article
20090108-AssocPress-JesseWhitesenateseat.pdf

Springfield upbeat at news of Governor's arrest

The mood in the capital city was for the most part upbeat when news of Governor Blagojevich's arrest broke on December 9.

UIS associate professor Marcel Yoder was among psychologists asked to explain the irreverent public reaction to such a serious situation. Yoder said that many people "have a tendency to believe the world is a just place. They'e glad the Governor is getting his comeuppance."

Yoder's comments appeared in a December 17, 2008, article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a pdf file
20081217-sjr-BallandChainParty.pdf

Is Illinois really the most corrupt state?

Rod Blagojevich's addition to the state's rather long list of public officials to run afoul of the law has led to the observation that if Illinois isn't the most corrupt state, it's at least "one hell of a competitor." But it turns out that determining which state really holds that title isn't so easy.

In an article published in the December 18, 2008, Kansas City Star, Chris Mooney, UIS professor of Political Science, observes, "It's notoriously difficult to measure political corruption."

Download a pdf file of the article
20081218-KCS-IsIllinoistheMostCorrupt.pdf

Redfield commentary: Citizens must blame themselves

Kent Redfield, UIS emeritus professor of Political Science, filed a commentary with CNN on Gov. Rod Blagojevich and how he reflects the apparent general consensus among Illinoisans that "politics is solely about power, winning, and personal gain."

Download a pdf file of Redfield's commentary, which appeared on Dec. 16, 2008.
20081216-CNN-CommentaryonIllinoisVoters.pdf

Illinois citizens expect corrupt politics

A New York Times article recounting Illinois' long history of corrupt politicians speculates that Illinoisans have a wide-spread acceptance of less-than-ethical behavior by the people they elect to public office.

Kent Redfield, UIS professor emeritus of Political Science, observes in the article that, "There is this attitude among politicians, and frankly among citizens, that this is the way things are. Politics is for professionals."

Download a pdf file of the article, published on December 14, 2008.
20081214-NYT-InIllinoisaVirtualExpectation.pdf

Senate contenders unsure how to proceed

There is no shortage of potential candidates interested in filling President-elect Obama's vacant Senate seat, but in the current situation no one is sure exactly how to pursue that interest.

Chris Mooney, UIS professor of Political Science, says it's his opinion that -- if the choice falls to (current) Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn -- the appointment won't go to anyone known to be under consideration by (current) Gov. Rod Blagojevich. "We're making this up as we go along," Mooney observed.

Mooney was interviewed for an Associated Press article that appeared on December 12, 2008.

Download a pdf file
20081212-AP-ContendersNotSure.pdf

State's political culture fosters corruption

Even some of the most cynical observers of Illinois politics were shocked by the behavior that brought about Gov. Rod Blagojevich's arrest on federal corruption charges. But it was the extent of his brazenness that surprised people rather than the arrest itself; many point to Blagojevich as just an extreme example of the state's political culture.

In an article in the December 11, 2008, Christian Science Monitor, Kent Redfield, UIS professor emeritus of Political Science, says that Illinois tends to "treat politics as a business. It's not about public interest…It's about power and winning and jobs."

Download a pdf file of the article
20081211-CSM-CorruptionWindsThru.pdf

Blagojevich arrest hinders ability to conduct state business

Though Governor Rod Blagojevich gives no sign of stepping down, his ability to fulfill his official duties is seriously in question.

Kent Redfield, UIS professor emeritus of Political Science, says that while Blagojevich is governor and can sign bills and issue executive orders, "Nothing he does will be taken on its merits. It will all be: How does this fit into (his) legal problems?"

Redfield's comments were part of an article published in the December 11, 2008, Peoria Journal Star.

Download a pdf file of the article
20081211-PJS-ArrestCripplesGovernor.pdf

Corruption in state government isn't anything new

Governor Rod Blagojevich's arrest on federal corruption charges is just the latest chapter in Illinois' long history of political scandal.

Chris Mooney, UIS professor of Political Science, observed that "Government in Illinois isn't about political ideology or helping people. It's about which…brother-in-law are you going to get a job…because he helped you get into office."

Mooney's comments appeared in a December 10, 2008, posting in the Conservative Libertarian Outpost.

Download a pdf file
20081210-CLO-JustWhatIsNewinIl.pdf

Close ties to governor a liability

Illinois State Rep. Jay Hoffman has been among Gov. Rod Blagojevich's closest political allies and friends. But Hoffman, who serves as chair of the House Transportation Committee, may find he has less clout when the legislature reconvenes.

Kent Redfield, UIS professor emeritus of Political Science, notes that while the Governor's friendship had previously been a big asset, "now it's probably a liability."

Redfield's comments appeared in an article published December 10, 2008, in the Olympia, Washington, Olympian.

Download a pdf file of the article
20081210-Olympian-HoffmansClout.pdf

Quinn, Blagojevich don't get along

Though Pat Quinn serves as Lt. Governor, it's no secret that he and Gov. Rod Blagojevich don't like each other. An article that appeared in the December 10, 2008, Huffington Post examined the reasons for this and speculated on Quinn's future should Blagojevich leave office.

In the article, Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of Political Science at UIS, noted that the Quinn-Blagojevich relationship was "a marriage of convenience…their experiences are very different, so they really didn't have a lot to talk about."

Download a pdf file of the article
20081210-HP-QuinnVBlagojevich.pdf

Blagojevich re-election is a "sad commentary"

When Rod Blagojevich was first elected governor in 2002 he presented himself as a reformer; however by the time he was re-elected in 2006 the fact that his administration was under federal investigation was already widely known.

In an article that appeared in the December 9, 2008, Bloomington Pantagraph, Kent Redfield, UIS professor emeritus of Political Science, notes, "It's a pretty sad commentary that we elected him again."

Download a pdf file of the article
20081209-BP-HistoryRepeats.pdf

Arrest reinforces image of state as corrupt

An Associated Press story filed on December 9, 2008, reports on the growing opinion that the arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich has only reinforced Illinois' image as among the most corrupt states in the nation.

In the article, Charles Wheeler III, director of Public Affairs Reporting at UIS, notes that Blagojevich's apparent brazenness "blows everything else out of the water."

Download a pdf file of the article
20081209-AP-ArrestReinforcesImage.pdf

Wheeler: Blagovejich "most incompetent" governor

In an article contrasting the early promise of Gov. Rod Blagojevich with his subsequent performance and, finally, arrest on federal corruption charges, Charles Wheeler III, director of Public Affairs Reporting at UIS, assessed Blagojevich as "the most incompetent governor we've had in the last 50 years."

The Chicago Tribune article was published December 10, 2008.

Download a pdf file
20081210-CT-BlagojevichsPromiseCrashes.pdf

Redfield in NYT: Blagojevich may have tripped over ambition

Kent Redfield, UIS professor emeritus of Political Science, was among those asked to comment on Governor Rod Blagojevich's arrest on federal corruption charges for an article that ran in the December 10, 2008, New York Times.

Redfield noted that while Blagojevich "had clearly come into office believing he was destined for bigger things," he may have tripped up on his own ambition.

"The combination of arrogance and stupidity…is just stunning," said Redfield. "There's no feedback loop or reality check."

Download a pdf file of the article
20081210-NYT-BlagojevichArrest.pdf

Barricaded workers are a symbol

The laid-off workers of now-defunct Republic Widows and Doors who have taken over the Chicago factory and are refusing to leave until they receive assurances of promised severance and vacation pay have put a face to the reality of hard economic times.

Kent Redfield, UIS professor emeritus of Political Science, noted in a Chicago Tribune article that, while the case is classic politics, "politicians who… have something to offer are rightly intervening.

"It becomes a metaphor for what's going on in the larger economy," Redfield said.

Download a pdf file of the article, published on December 8, 2008.
20081208-CT-WorkersareaMetaphor.pdf

New search options gaining popularity

Established Internet search engines such as Google may be facing competition from a variety of newer tools such as Blinkx, Grokker, and ChaCha.

In an article in the November 26, 2008, eSchoolNews, UIS OTEL Director Ray Schroeder noted that these new tools can be a boon to students, especially when their searches involve media other than print.

Download a pdf file of the article
20081126-eSN-NewSearchTools.pdf

Constant connection to work is a mixed blessing

With the advent of e-mail, Blackberries, and smart phones, more and more workers find it hard to be "off duty."

An article in the November 24, 2008, State Journal-Register quotes Keith Burton, assistant professor and chair of Psychology at UIS, who notes that "employees need time to rest in order to be productive.

"We're not built to be constant working machines," he said.

Download a pdf file of the article
20081124-SJR-WiredWorld.pdf

Campus Town may be moving closer to reality

With the BOT approval of UIS' updated Campus Master Plan, the development of a Campus Town, to be located on the west side of campus outside the ring road, has moved a step closer to becoming a reality.

WCFN reporter Blake Wood posted a report November 14, 2008, on MyCFN News.

Download a pdf file
20081114-wcfn-CampusTown.pdf

Corruption charges taint state's mood

With an Illinois senator poised to become President of the United States and centennial celebrations for the birth of Abraham Lincoln about to begin, the atmosphere in the state's capital should be buoyant. But allegations of government corruption are rampant.

An article in the November 24, 2008, Newsweek discusses the cloud hanging over Illinois politics and quotes UIS Professor Emeritus Kent Redfield as noting that, while the state has produced such iconic figures as Lincoln and Adlai Stevenson, an air of "let's make a deal" has always been "pretty pervasive" in Illinois.

Download a pdf file of the article
22081124-NW-CorruptionintheLandofLincoln.pdf

Who will Governor choose?

President-elect Barack Obama has resigned his Senate seat and it's up to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to choose a successor. Speculation is rife as the list of potential nominees grows longer.

An article in the November 13, 2008, New York Times quotes Kent Redfield, UIS professor emeritus of political science: "Compared to everything else, this is good publicity."

Download a pdf file of the article
20081113-NYT-BlagojevichPicksSuccessor.pdf

Obama candidacy shines a light on Illinois legislature

Barack Obama's background in the Illinois Senate has focused more national attention than usual on the Illinois legislature and Illinois politics, as an article in the November 2, 2008, State Journal-Register reports.

UIS Professor of Public Affairs Reporting Charles Wheeler, a former newsman who covered the Statehouse for many years, weighs in on what Obama's record of voting "present" really means.

Professor of Political Science Chris Mooney notes that he had expected Obama to face much more and much harsher criticism because of the current investigation into charges of corruption in Illinois government and the federal conviction of one-time Obama fundraiser Tony Rezko.

Download a pdf file of the article
20081102-sjr-ObamaDrawsSpotlighttoIllLegislature.pdf

Redfield sees local races as a "way to send a message"

Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of Political Science, noted that local races are the best way for voters "to send a message" to the leaders of their respective political parties.

His comments appeared in an article on the impact local races can have on people's everyday lives that appeared in the November 3, 2008, Chicago Daily Herald.

Download a pdf file of the article
20081103-CDH-DontSkipUndercard.pdf

White tells campuses to prepare for tough times

In a recent campuswide memo, U of I President Joseph White said that he has told leaders at the three campuses to prepare for tough economic times over the next year and a half. White said the university should expect to face possibilities such as reduced state support, students with greater need for financial assistance, and leaving vacant positions unfilled.

Download a pdf file of an article from the October 28, 2008, Chicago Tribune
20081028-CT-PrezsaysLeanTimesAhead.pdf

Student trustees ask top administrators to freeze salaries

The three student representatives to the Board of Trustees have proposed that administrators who earn $150,000 or more annually agree to voluntarily freeze their salaries for two years.

While the savings this would realize would probably not be significant, the students say that, in the face of tough economic times, the move would send a message to the entire university community that "we're all in this together." UIS student trustee Craig McFarland says he plans to raise the issue when the Board meets in Springfield on November 13.

Download a pdf file of an article that appeared in the October 28, 2008, Champaign News Gazette
20081028-CNG-StudentTrusteesaysFreezeSalaries.pdf

Wheeler: Lawrence "one of the best"

When Mike Lawrence announced that he was returning to journalism after 11 years at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, including four years as director, his colleagues around the state were quick to praise the decision as well as the man.

UIS Public Affairs Reporting director Charles Wheeler III, who worked with Lawrence when both were Statehouse reporters, said, "I think that Mike's one of the best reporters I ever met," adding that Lawrence was respected by both Republicans and Democrats because he "took the time to understand the issues."

Download a pdf file of the article that appeared in the October 26, 2008, edition of The Southern
20081026-TS-LawrenceReturnstohisRoots.pdf

Veselenak is community resource for mushroom hunters

Jim Veselenak, UIS associate professor of Clinical Laboratory Science and Public Health, is also an expert on mushrooms.

Illinois Times correspondent Julianne Glatz talked with Veselenak for an IT article on hunting wild mushrooms that was posted on September 25, 2008.

Download a pdf copy of the article
20080925-IT-ForagingforFungi.pdf

Redfield sees McCain decision to suspend campaign as a ploy

Opinions differ on Sen. John McCain's suspension of his Presidential campaign to return to Washington while Congress considered the administration's plan to resolve the economic crisis.

In an article that appeared in the September 25, 2008, Galesburg Register Mail, UIS Professor Emeritus of Political Science Kent Redfield observed, "His implication is, I care more about this issue than Obama does, and I'm above politics….The irony is, you have a political ploy…to show he's above politics."

Download a pdf file of the article
20080925-GRM-PoliticsorStatesmanship.pdf

White will seek independence for Global Campus

The U of I's Global Campus, launched in January, is so far showing significantly smaller enrollments and fewer course offerings than originally planned. University President B. Joseph White says that, to speed up development of degree programs, he would like to turn the Global Campus into an independent, accredited university and he intends to put the proposal before the BOT in November.

A report on this initiative was posted by the Associated Press on September 25, 2008.

Download a pdf copy
20080925-AP-GlobalCampusFlounders.pdf

Redfield sees campaign suspension as a political ploy

Opinions differ on Sen. John McCain's recent decision to suspend his Presidential campaign in order to return to Washington while Congress considers the Bush administration's proposal to mend the economic crisis.

In an article that appeared in the September 24, 2008, State Journal-Register, UIS Professor Emeritus of Political Science Kent Redfield observes, "The irony is, you have a political ploy from the McCain camp to show he's above politics."

Download a pdf file of the article
20080924-SJR-PoliticsorStatesmanship.pdf

UIS part of the "miracle" at Emiquon

Chicago Sun Times reporter Dale Bowman toured The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve in late summer and found himself "stunned" by the results that have been achieved in such a short time. Much of that success he credits to the "clout" of The Nature Conservancy and the "intellectual strength" of UIS. His article about the experience appeared in the September 21, 2008, Sun Times Outdoors section.

Download a pdf file of the article
20080921-CST-CreatingaMiracle.pdf

Redfield: Comment about draft is a "third rail"

At a recent public forum in Peoria, Colleen Callahan, Democratic candidate for a seat in the 18th Congressional District, suggested that she could support a reinstatement of the military draft as "the fairest way for us to begin to rebuild our military." Her comment touched off an immediate controversy, much as her opponent, Aaron Schock, had done earlier when he stated that the U.S. should sell nuclear missiles to Taiwan.

State Journal-Register columnist Bernard Schoenburg discussed the situation at length with Kent Redfield, UIS professor emeritus of Political Studies, for an article that appeared on September 14, 2008.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080914-SJR-CallahanHitsHotButton.pdf

More students living on campus

UIS' enrollment figures for the 2008 fall semester showed an increase in undergraduate students and the most-ever (1,050) living on campus.

Chancellor Ringeisen spoke with reporter Chris Dettro about student demographics for an article that appeared in the September 15, 2008, State Journal-Register.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080915-SJR-MoreStudentsLivingOnCampus.pdf

Governor back in the spotlight

After months of keeping a relatively low profile, Gov. Rod Blagojevich is once again making public appearances and talking with reporters.

In an article that appeared in the September 8, 2008, Chicago Tribune, Kent Redfield, UIS professor emeritus of Political Studies, speculated that the reason for the Governor's return to the public eye may be that he's feeling less pressure now that the trial of his friend and fundraiser Tony Rezko is over.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080908-CT-GovernorNotShyingAway.pdf

Documentary by Dave Antoine to be shown

"Springfield Had No Shame," a documentary by UIS staff member Dave Antoine, will be shown on September 15 as part of the campus' series of events commemorating the city's 1908 race riot.

In an article that appeared in the September 8, 2008, State Journal-Register, reporter Pete Sherman talked with Antoine about his experiences producing the film.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080908-SJR-DocumentarybyDaveAntoine.pdf

Innocence Project asks court to re-examine evidence in 1989 murder

The Downstate Illinois Innocence Project at UIS is expected to ask a Springfield circuit court to allow evidence from the 1989 murder of Melissa Koontz to be re-examined, using technologies such as DNA testing that were not widely available at the time of the trial.

One of the men serving a life sentence for the crime, Tom McMillen, has repeatedly denied any involvement. Director of Investigations Bill Clutter and students Priyanka Deo and Sarah Wellard say they have statements from some key witnesses who now claim not to have told the truth during the original investigation. The three have spent several weeks presenting their evidence to local authorities.

The August 31, 2008, State Journal-Register published an article about the case and the Innocence Project's role in re-examining McMillen's conviction.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080831-SJR-InnProjWants1989MurderRe-examined.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

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

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

U of I employees to get raises

The July 22, 2008, State Journal-Register reported on a campuswide memo from UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen stating that U of I employees would be receiving pay raises averaging 1.5 percent. The raises are merit-based and will be funded through tuition, state money, and internal reallocations.

Download a pdf file of the article
20080722-SJR-UofIPayHikes.pdf

Illinois Issues is among Chicago Tribune's favorites

Illinois Issues has been selected as one of 50 favorite magazines by the Chicago Tribune. The list appears in the Tempo section of the July 9, 2008, newspaper.

Download a pdf file of the list

20080709-CT-50Favorites.pdf

WUIS cuts two positions

Public radio WUIS has eliminated two part-time news anchor positions as part of efforts to address "ongoing internal deficits" at the station.

In a June 25, 2008, article in the Springfield State Journal-Register, General Manager Bill Wheelhouse said the move was in no way performance-related: "I'm really trying to get our budget in check." He said the cuts will save money without affecting programs.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080625-SJR-WUISCuts.pdf

UIS' new Japanese garden noted in blog

The campus' Japanese garden, dedicated on May 16, was mentioned in the Hewn and Hammered blog "Japanese Gardens in the US" posted on May 27, 2008. The garden is located on the south side of the Public Affairs Center.

Download a pdf file of the blog

20080527-HH-JapaneseGarden.pdf

Materials from UIS Archives to be part of State Museum project

As part of the ongoing Illinois Oral History Project, researchers from the Illinois State Museum are scouring the state to record and preserve "the back roads" of its agricultural history.

Dozens of audiotapes made and archived at UIS' Brookens Library will be included in the project, which is scheduled to be available online in the near future.

An article in the May 27, 2008, Arlington Heights Daily Herald outlined the project.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080527-DH-OralHistory.pdf

U of I campuses should be a system of peers

The recent move of e-mail addresses on the Urbana campus from the "uiuc.edu" domain to "illinois.edu" might be seen as sending a mixed message about the status of the other two campuses in the University of Illinois system.

In an article that appeared in the May 20, 2008, Daily Illini, Chelsea Fiddyment argues that it is important not to lose sight of the fact that the Chicago and Springfield campuses are equally important members of the system: "institutions with a caliber of education equal to that of the central campus."

Download a pdf file of the article

20080520-DI-FirstAmongEquals.pdf

Chancellor Ringeisen profiled in Springfield Scene

Chancellor Richard Ringeisen had a long and successful career before he came "home" to UIS. The May/June 2008 edition of Springfield Scene Magazine features a profile of the Chancellor by Ed Russo.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080515-SSMag-Chancellor.pdf