Illinois Springfield in the News

UIS' Glogovsky gets it done on and off basketball court

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:40:00 +0000

Erin Glogovsky is a college sophomore, but that didn’t stop her from trick-or-treating last weekend.

It was for a good cause. Glogovsky and her teammates on the University of Illinois Springfield women’s basketball team weren’t going door-to-door wanting candy. The players collected canned goods for a Trick-Or-Eat competition with the products going to a local food bank.

Glogovsky, a 6-foot center from Gurnee, has involved herself with community service for years. At Mundelein Carmel Catholic High School, she dedicated herself to 20 service hours each semester.

Glogovsky was featured in an November 6, 2009 State Journal-Register article.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091106-SJR-UIS-Glogovsky-gets-it-don.pdf

Funding in limbo for low-income college students

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:36:00 +0000

Gov. Pat Quinn pledged in October to reinstate the remaining $205 million in Monetary Award Program (MAP) funds to keep the program in full force for the next fiscal year. But where exactly the money will come from, and its effect on a growing state budget deficit, is undecided.

“This was done without a real clear revenue source,” said University of Illinois-Springfield political science professor emeritus Kent Redfield. “This is one more drop in the bucket in terms of a really, really bad (budget) situation.”

Redfield's comments were featured in a November 5, 2009 Elmhurst Press article.

Download a the article as a PDF.
20091105-Elmhurst-Funding-in-limbo.pdf

Richard Judd: Small business recovery is lagging

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:44:00 +0000

If the economic recovery touted as taking place right now seems weak and prepared to relapse, what might be the causes of a relapse?

Unemployment has crept above 10 percent and may stubbornly stay there if not rise higher for some time to come.

Richard Judd is a National City Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois Springfield. Judd's comments were featured in an November 4, 2009 opinion article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091104-SJR-Richard-Judd-.pdf

UIS Hopes to Gain International Appeal

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:19:00 +0000

In an effort to increase enrollment from students overseas UIS is hosting a group of EducationUSA advisers who come from 5 different countries around the globe.

"By brining international students here they connect with our students, they're involved in our courses, they're helping to internationalize the curriculum," said Dana Atwell, UIS ESL Coordinator in the Office of International Programs.

The international visitors were featured in an November 2, 2009 report by Heather Hubbs of WICS-TV 20 Springfield.

Watch the report online:
http://www.wics.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wics_vid_839.shtml

February primary ballots to be lengthy

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:13:00 +0000

The question almost becomes, “Who’s not running for governor or U.S. Senate?”

The close of the filing period for the Feb. 2 primary on Monday left seven Republicans, four Democrats and two Green Party candidates running for governor and eight Republicans, seven Democrats and one Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate.

Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield, said Democrats have the problem of having inherited “an incredible mess” from ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Redfield's comments were featured in an November 3, 2009 State Journal-Register article.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091103-SJR-February-primary-ballots.pdf

Illinois' borrowing bonanza

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:04:00 +0000

Facing both an election and the politically unpalatable prospects of raising taxes or cutting social programs, Gov. Pat Quinn and lawmakers increasingly have turned to borrowing as a quick fix and are on track to rack up more than $6.5 billion in loans to keep the state afloat.

As University of Illinois at Springfield state budget expert Charles Wheeler asks: "How are they going to pay that money back?"

Wheeler's comments were featured in an November 2, 2009 article in the Chicago Tribune.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091102-TRIB-chi-state-of-denial.pdf

UIS Notebook: It's all new for Gamble's Prairie Stars

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Not only will the University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball team play in a new division and a new conference this season, but the roster will have a new look.

UIS officially will move up from NAIA to NCAA Division II in 2009-10 and from the American Midwest Conference to the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Nine of coach Kevin Gamble’s 14 players are new to the UIS Prairie Stars program.

“It was a little scary at the beginning, but I like the intensity and the effort that the guys are putting out,” Gamble said.

The team was featured in an October 31, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091031-SJR-UIS-Notebook-Gamble.pdf

U of I Classes in Peoria

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:34:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:23:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:40:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:41:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:37:00 +0000

“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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:19:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:13:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:09:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:50:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:46:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:08:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:03:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:55:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:51:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:02:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:54:00 +0000

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

bwood8@uis.edu (Blake Wood) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:47:00 +0000

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