SIU Alumni - Winter 2018

WI NTER 2018

ALUMNI

SIU

MOVING FORWARD LEADERS MAKING PLANS TO I N S I D E: MOVE FORWARD AFTER THE DEATH OF CHANCELLOR.

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LOST, THEN FOUND AFTER A LONG SEARCH, ALUMNUS DISCOVERS WHAT COULD BE A LOST CITY IN HONDURAS.

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Rebel With A Cause

Alumnus turns his street musician roots into a worldwide brand.

Celebrate SIU During the Annual Day of Giving

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oin the SIU community on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, as we unite for a celebration of history and philanthropy.

This year’s SIU Day of Giving theme is “Celebrate!”

-- marking both the third annual SIU Day of Giving and the university’s 150th anniversary.

For 24 hours on March 6, alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members will unite to give students the learning experience of a lifetime when they make a gift on SIU Day. The amount raised and number of gifts are tracked in real-time at siuday.siu.edu, including a constantly updating donor wall.

Colleges and departments will compete with giveaways and games to encourage everyone to support their respective areas. Donors and others will be encouraged to voice their support for SIU, their college or a favorite cause via social media using the hashtag #SIUDay. Activities will be expanded across campus to include a carnival, a large interactive mosaic wall, and a theatrical presentation at Morris Library at 2 p.m. on that day.

Jim Salmo, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation, said that last year’s event once again exceeded all expectations.

“We are already looking forward to next March as the kick-off to SIU Carbondale’s 150th anniversary celebration,” he added.

SIU supporters are invited to connect with the SIU Foundation’s social media platforms to strengthen our message: Facebook: www.facebook.com/SIUFoundationCdale Twitter: twitter.com/SIUFoundation Instagram: www.instagram.com/siufoundation/ For more information, visit siuday.siu.edu or contact Rebecca Renshaw, associate director of development communications, at rebeccar@foundation.siu.edu or 618/453-1328.

www.siuf.org

CONTENTS

ALUMNI

SIU

FEATURES

EDITOR Caleb Hale ’02 ART DIRECTOR Jay Bruce ’93, M.S. ’16 GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Nate Krummel ’00 Kelly McGuire M.S. ’15 PHOTOGRAPHY Rusty Bailey ’90 Steve Buhman SOCIAL MEDIA Tamarah Cook CONTRIBUTORS Tim Crosby ’05 Kathy Dillard ’90 Barb Eidlin ’02, ’07 Hannah Erickson ’18 Gene Green ’75 Andrea Hahn Christi Mathis Rebecca Renshaw ’92 Pete Rosenbery ’82 Tina Shingleton Jeff Wilson ’06 SIU Athletic Media Services University Communications VOLUME 80, NO. 4 WINTER 2018 SIU Alumni (ISSN 1526-4238) is published quarterly by the SIU Alumni Association, Colyer Hall, SIU, Carbondale, IL 62901 for members of the SIU Alumni Association.

Association membership dues $40 annually, include a magazine subscription.

Periodicals postage paid at Carbondale, Illinois, and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: SIU Alumni, SIU Alumni Association, Colyer Hall, 1235 Douglas Dr., Mail Code 6809, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901

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COVER: REBEL WITH A CAUSE

Violinist Lee England Jr. ’08 has lived his life in rebellion of expectations. Living life on his own terms, however, is paying off.

MOVING FORWARD

DEPARTMENTS

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The SIU community was stunned and saddened by the sudden loss of its chancellor, but leaders are making plans to carry forward.

CAMPAIGN UPDATE

12 CAMPUS NEWS

22 RESEARCH

28 SPORTS

36 ALUMNI

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IN MEMORIAM

ON THE COVER Lee England Jr. plays his violin on the streets of Los Angeles.

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44 CLASS NOTES

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LOST, THEN FOUND

After years of searching, alumnus Steve Elkins ’73 discovers what could be an ancient city of legend in the jungles of Honduras.

FROM THE EDITOR

Caleb Hale, editor

SIU Has Already Beaten The Odds I’ve been asked a lot lately about Robert A. Harper’s 1998 book, “The University that Shouldn’t Have Happened but Did.” It’s an account of Southern Illinois University under the leadership of President Delyte Morris, from 1948 when the campus was a small teacher’s college of roughly 3,000 students to 1970, when it was a full-fledged research university of 35,000 students. Perhaps people are feeling nostalgic, with SIU on the cusp of its 150th anniversary.

There have been several written accounts of SIU’s early history, but Harper, who spent nearly two decades as a geography professor on campus, and his analysis are remembered most it seems. Maybe it’s the unusually long but poignant title? In some ways there’s no better way to describe the rise of SIU. What else would you say about the story of a small, rural, and remote college that became not just the second largest public university system in Illinois but a world-renowned institution in its own right, complete with a unique and regal mascot in the Saluki? It probably shouldn’t have worked, but it did.

So, as we enter the university’s 150th anniversary in 2019, let me remind you that SIU has already beaten the odds. It’s already become a university of more than 250,000 alumni and an educational destination for many students across the world. Those are long odds for any place under any circumstances. Hence, this upcoming celebration is about more than just a number, it’s about a history of perseverance and triumph.

A New SIU History Book Speaking of history, a new book covering SIU from 1969 through the present day is due out in March 2019. Published by SIU Press, edited and compiled by visiting professor John Jackson, and authored by multiple people in the campus community, the book aims to bring up to date the modern history of the university.

You can preorder “Southern Illinois University at 150” from siupress.siu.edu now.

1970 Graduation The fall edition of the magazine contained a brief article about SIU’s intentions to host a commencement ceremony for members of the Class of 1970. Some students from that graduating class didn’t get to participate in a graduation ceremony, because protests and rioting on campus and the in the community forced SIU to close in May of that year. While many students did leave campus without a ceremony, it turns out the university did, in fact, host a brief commencement in June of 1970 for the students they could contact. It’s likely, however, many students who couldn’t return never received the chance to participate in a ceremony. The university continues to plan for that opportunity for these alumni when they return to campus in 2020 for their 50-year reunion.

618/453-2408 Tel. 618/453-2586 Fax www.siualumni.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Rick Wysocki ’83, ’85, Orland Park, Ill.

SECRETARY Dede Lingle Ittner ’61, Carbondale, Ill.

IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT Larry Mieldezis ’86, Flowery Branch, Ga.

TREASURER Greg Wright ’84, ’98, Marion, Ill.

PRESIDENT-ELECT Molly Hudgins ’97, St. Louis

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AT-LARGE Allison Niendiek ’08, LeClaire, Iowa Laura Soucy ’87, Grayslake, Ill.

VICE PRESIDENTS Gary Heflin ’89, Chicago Scott Moller ’85, River Forest, Ill.

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Michelle Suarez ’85, M.S. Ed. ’04

MEMBERS Clay Awsumb, Student Representative Harold Bardo, SIU Foundation Michael Blumhorst ’84, ’85, Forsyth, Ill. PRESIDENT Steve Brown ’71, Washington, Ill. LarryBrown Mieldezis Flowery Branch, Ga. Treg ’88, ’86, Carbondale, Ill. Ken Buzbee ’61, ’78, Carbondale, Ill. IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT Kimberly Dahlen ’79, Carbondale, Ill. Michael Kasser ’78, Ill. J. Kevin Dorsey, SIU Pomona, System President Forrest Fairall ’81, St. Charles, Ill. PRESIDENT-ELECT Mike Farmer ’77, Springfield, Ill. Rick Wysocki ’83, ’85,BOT Orland Park, Ill. Hon. J. Phil Gilbert, Alternate Nick Harkovich ’76, DesPlaines, Ill. VICEHiatt PRESIDENTS Rick ’70, Pontiac, Ill. Scott Moller River Forest, Ill. Kevin Jenkins,’85, Student Representative Molly Hudgins Louis Ill. Michael Kasser ’97, ’78, St. Pomona, Holly Kruep ’01, Mt. Vernon, Ill.

Camelle Logan ’89, Chicago Paul Melzer ’12, Murphysboro, Ill. SECRETARY Touissant Mitchell, Student Representative Dede Lingle Ittner’00, ’61,St. Carbondale, Ill. Andrea Nickrent, Louis Slade O’Keefe ’91, Naperville, Ill. TREASURER Jeff rey Parks, ’76, ’80, Herrin, Ill. Greg ’84, Dalton, ’98, Marion, DarzelWright Price ’80, Ill. Ill. Joel Sambursky ’95, M.B.A. ’07, BOT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AT-LARGE Rachel Seay, Student Representative Gary Hefl in ’89, Wayne Sirles ’89,Chicago Alto Pass, Ill. Laura Soucy ’87, Grayslake, Ill. Ill. Liz Walker Smith ’81, Oak Park, Drew Stoker ’75, Manchester, Mo. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Charles Stewart III ’03, Chicago Michelle Wilson Suarez ’71, ’85, Springfi M.S. Ed.eld, ’04Ill. Stephen Steven Wiyatt ’70, Effingham, Ill. MEMBERS Harold Bardo, SIU Foundation Joshua Bowens, Student Representative

Celebrate SIU’s 150th Birthday!

SIU begins a year-long celebration of its 150th birthday in March 2019, and you’re invited!

From the March 6 Day of Giving to Homecoming and beyond, the year will be filled with events celebrating both past and future.

Stay up to date by visiting celebrate150.siu.edu throughout the year.

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INBOX

SALUKIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA Lived in the Delta Zeta house on the University–it’s gone now but being a DZ and going to SIU was one of the greatest experiences in my life! My four daughters are also SIU alums–it gets in the blood!! Phyllis Wagner via SIU Alumni Association Facebook Hey, Salukiverse! It’s move-in day for the class of 2022! Please take a minute to wish them well on their journey to success. Offer tips for studying, or just having fun! Feel free to post pics of your dorm room, or you and your classmates hanging out. Let them know they’re part of the Saluki family!

Welcome !!! Have a great year!! Study hard but have fun too! Your time in Cdale will go by fast!! Laura Jakstas Soucy via SIU Alumni Association Facebook

We helped move our granddaughter, McLain Baker, in to Thompson Point Thursday.

Third generation to be there. Rich and I lived at Kellogg and Warren. Met at Lentz Hall.

Celebrated our 50th anniversary in February.

We are truly a Saluki Family!! Doris Rottschalk via SIU Alumni Association Facebook

Me on my move in day back in 2011.

Good luck to all the future salukis on your adventure here at SIU. One bit of advice I can give is never be afraid to make small talk with everyone you meet. You never know who could become the friend/s you make during your time there. Kathryn Marie Warner via SIU Alumni Association Facebook I lived in Kellogg Hall 1986-89. Met one of my best/longest friends there. Welcome to the SIU Family! Once a Saluki, Always a Saluki!!

Melissa Koonce via SIU Alumni Association Facebook

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Truth. I graduated from SIU (on the five-yearplan) during that time. I lived three blocks from DQ. The Belushi family lived one town over from my family in the western suburbs of Chicago. Myself and my husband attended parties at Animal House and it’s pretty much as described. We also went to a couple parties at the giant stucco house called Heartbreak Hotel. I got “The Talk” early on in my SIU career. “You will love this place. You will never want to leave. But someday, things will happen in your life, like graduation.

Unless you get a PhD and a teaching positon here or open a business, someday you will HAVE to leave. Get used to the thought. But don’t miss out on anything. Because this place will be the time of your life.” And it was.

Elaine Logsdon via SIU Alumni Association Facebook The real SIU Animal House was the AKL frat house at 505 W. main St. That’s my story and yadda, yadda. Kim Riehman via SIU Alumni Association Facebook

Good luck to our daughter and her roomie, just moved in yesterday!! Eva Martinez via SIU Alumni Association Facebook

Well I had a TKE brother ride his motorcycle up the stairs b4 the movie ever came out... on Greek row TKE house!!! So we can all claim a bit of history ...BX675. Michael Kelley via SIU Alumni Association Facebook 710 W College! Michael Johnson via SIU Alumni Association Facebook I believe the TKE house in the late 70’s was the true Animal House! Jayne Fuller Depew via SIU Alumni Association Facebook

It’s syllabus week at SIU, and to celebrate, the Varsity Theater in Carbondale is showing “National Lampoon’s Animal House” before everyone gets serious about their studies.

Local legend has it that John Belushi bought the famous “College” T-shirt featured in the film at a local Carbondale print shop while visiting his brother Jim Belushi, who graduated from SIUC in 1978.

My daughter McLain Tate Baker Baker, Baldwin Hall, Freshman year move-in, 8-16-18. Julie Bird via SIU Alumni Association Facebook

house burned in 2015, but its epic goings on allegedly inspired the film.

There was, in fact, a house called the Animal House on W. Hospital Drive in Carbondale behind the Dairy Queen on the Strip. The

Rumor not true about the house being the inspiration for the movie. Read “The Real Animal House” written by Chris Miller which is available at Morris Library and it doesn’t mention the house ever being an inspiration.

Yeah it was a party house but not the inspiration sorry guys. Anthony Thatcher via SIU Alumni Association Facebook Local legend is correct about the sweatshirt.

Jennifer Anderson via My FIL is the printer SIU Alumni Association Facebook What was the name of the shop? I can’t remember. Morgan Moser via SIU Alumni Association Facebook Gustos. Jennifer Anderson via SIU Alumni Association Facebook

TWITTER

The last time Jason Seaman crossed the field at SIU Carbondale’s Saluki Stadium, the defensive lineman was as a football and academic standout.

When he returns Saturday as our 2018 Homecoming Grand Marshall, he’ll be carrying extra baggage: two bullets caught while protecting his students during a May school shooting incident in Noblesville, Ind.

The walking SIU Pharaohs with Athletic Director Kill at the Ole Miss vs SIU game in The Grove! — with Mike Farmer, Nick Farmer, Kevin Patrick, Michael Kochniarczyk, Ross Sandercock, Jill Sandercock, Forrest Fairall and Tom Annett.

Gail So extremely proud of him.

Gilbert Malott via SIU Alumni Association Facebook

It’s hard to top that picture! Mike Gosnell via SIU Alumni Association Facebook

A real stand up guy!! Charles Robinson via SIU Alumni Association Facebook

Hey, SIU Alumni! Making plans for after Homecoming? Check out @siucmcma Professor Daniel Overturf ’s 113 piece photography exhibition: “Places Been. People Met. Photographs Made: Daniel Overturf.”

Love Dan. Went on Art Ed. trip to Scotland back in the day. Thanks #siuc Billye J. Chabot via SIU Alumni Association Twitter

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CAMPUS MOMENT The Paul and Virginia Fountain on the Old Main Mall sits with fallen leaves just beneath the surface on a clear autumn day at SIU.

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University Moves Forward After Loss of Chancellor Board Outlines Plan To Replace Key Leaders

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he Southern Illinois University community was stunned and saddened by the sudden death of Chancellor Carlo Montemagno this fall, but leaders have enacted a plan that will keep the university moving forward in the year ahead.

The SIU Board of Trustees was set to appoint an interim chancellor over the Carbondale campus in December (The decision had not been made by the due date for this edition of SIU Alumni, which fell before the meeting). The board has also hired Witt/ Kieffer, Inc. based in Oakbrook, Illinois to conduct a national search for a permanent president over the SIU system. Former president Randy Dunn stepped down from the position over the summer, and J. Kevin Dorsey ’78 was appointed as an interim replacement.

The board first wants to focus on naming a permanent system president, with a goal of having the person in place by the fall 2019 semester. Once a president is chosen, the board will begin the search for a permanent chancellor for the Carbondale campus, which should be completed in 2020.

Montemagno began his tenure at SIU Carbondale in August 2017 and quickly launched a plan to restructure the campus to better suit the needs of modern college students. Much of this reorganization was beginning to take shape when he died in October. Dorsey says he too is committed to this change.

“During my many meetings with SIU stakeholders over the last few weeks, I see that Chancellor Montemagno’s plans have significant momentum and support, both on and off campus,” Dorsey wrote in a letter to the campus community. “I have heard frequent calls to keep going – to stay on the path that Dr. Montemagno paved for the campus.

“We will continue to move the reorganization plan through the review process as we head into the university’s 150th anniversary year and for the next 150 years,” Dorsey concluded. “The university will stay on course thanks to the collaboration of many people – faculty, staff, alumni, friends, community members and more – who believe in its mission and are dedicated to its success.”

CARLO D. MONTEMAGNO EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP SIU has established an endowed scholarship in honor of the late Chancellor Carlo D. Montemagno. The Montemagno family will identify the award criteria, and the endowment allows the scholarship to be awarded in perpetuity.

You can contribute to this scholarship fund by visiting siuf.org. Click the “Make a Gift Now” button and select “Carlo D. Montemagno Excellence Scholarship” from the drop-down menu of funds to support.

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C AMPAIGN UPDATE

Beef, Swine Center Donation Goes Beyond Animals

BY JEFF WILSON

Paul Georgy

Venture inside SIU’s beef and swine centers, and one will find students gaining hands-on experience and dedicated faculty and staff.

Look a bit closer, though, and one will see a great need for improvements and expansion.

That’s exactly what University Farms Director Greg Osman is hoping a recent $50,000 donation will bring, even if it takes a little time.

The gift, made by Paul Georgy ’73, will bring a new lot of pigs and cattle to the farm.

The short-term effect will be the immediate improvement of the quality of the livestock, but the long-term benefits are expected to go much further.

“This opens 100 other doors for teaching,” Osman said. “To make the necessary improvements, this is the kind of thing we’re going to need.”

GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING The pigs were delivered to University Farms in October. They are of a higher genetic quality than previous litters. Simply,

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this means a higher profit down the road when they are sold.

“These are show-quality pigs,” Osman said. “They’re going to help us improve the foundation of our program.”

Bringing in show-quality pigs will also mean an improved experience for the Livestock Judging Team.

“Before, our students were going to shows and looking at the high-quality pigs brought by other teams, and thinking ‘What the heck?’” said Colten Collier, manager of the beef and swine centers. “Now they’ll know what it’s like to be on the other side of that.”

As for the cattle, that’s more of a numbers game.

Georgy’s donation will bring more cattle onto the farm, and the increase will bring in more money and help the beef center become more self-sustaining.

“We’ll be able to better utilize our pastures and fill them with our own calves,” Osman said.

The profit from selling more and higher-quality animals will inject new money into the farms and allow for muchneeded improvements.

Collier and Osman were quick to point out that they’re not talking about major overhauls, but repairing and replacing some of the farms most basic needs, such as fences.

FILLING THE NEED Georgy, a Trenton native, came to SIU as a transfer student. His dorm room for the first year at SIU was located at the beef center.

“Each farm had a dorm room,” he said.

“We were able to experience farm life and student life at the same time.”

As a student, he was a member of SIU’s Livestock Judging Team, which managed to win their first competition despite their members’ lack of experience. Georgy believes the access to quality livestock is very important to building a winning team.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in animal science, Georgy spent several years managing a purebred Simmental operation before starting a research/brokerage firm, Allendale Inc., which helps producers become better marketers of their products.

He spent 18 years serving the futures industry on the board of directors of the National Futures Association.

His connection to SIU Farms spurred him to take action.

“How can I impact the most people?”

Georgy said. “In this venture, we have the ability to impact thousands of people.”

Georgy encourages others to get involved and make a difference, pointing out that gifts don’t have to be only monetary in nature.

“Any type of donation can benefit the whole project,” he said. “Donations of manpower, time, effort, gifts-in-kind, these are all ways that we can help restore and elevate the SIU farms to premier status.

“SIU Farms are an attribute that many other universities don’t have. It offers experiences you can’t get elsewhere. I’m excited about the opportunities that we can provide to our SIU students, parents, the community and the agricultural industry.”

For more information about how to give, visit www.foreversiu.org or www.siuf.org/ giving/ways-to-give.

Ag Students Express Their Appreciation, Excitement

BY JEFF WILSON

Paul Georgy’s decision to donate $50,000 was based largely on his passion for SIU Farms and his hope to inspire a new generation of students and alumni.

“Alumni can step up and get stuff done,” he said. “We can make a nice home for the livestock. We can get more hands-on opportunities for the students and open some eyes to the farms.”

For two current students, the impact of Georgy’s gift is already being felt. Not only has it brought new livestock to the farms, it’s strengthened their Saluki spirits.

IMPROVED STUDENT EXPERIENCE Chloe Buchanan and Logan Kennard share a passion for livestock and agriculture.

A chance to learn and work at SIU Farms is what drew each of them to SIU. “The opportunity to learn hands-on at the farms gives SIU students the upper hand when it comes to job placement or admission into higher levels of education, such as veterinarian school or master’s programs,”

said Buchanan, a senior from Fort Wayne, Indiana. “The farms have always been a special place for me because I have always felt welcome and comfortable there.”

Both Buchanan and Kennard are members of the Livestock Judging Team.

Kennard, a senior from Mount Carmel, is the team president.

“The new pigs will make it easier for us to practice,” Kennard said. “Previously, the swine center only had pigs with productionoriented genetics. There is a divide between show stock and production stock. Having show-quality pigs will allow us to practice on campus instead of traveling or relying on Web-based classes.”

A DEEP APPRECIATION SIU Farms will continue feeling the effect of Georgy’s gift long after the delivery of the new pigs and cattle.

The importance of the donation has made an impression on everyone connected to the beef and swine centers.

“Knowing that there are alumni and supporters whose lives were changed by the farms – just like mine had been – is something that keeps me going,” Buchanan said. “It’s just another reason I’m so thankful that I go to SIU.” Beyond adding better pigs, more cattle, raising money for much-needed repairs and improvements and improving the experience of the Livestock Judging Team, Georgy’s donation will help ensure SIU Farms continues to offer a unique experience to students.

“This gift truly speaks to the influence of the program,” Kennard said. “To see that people are willing to donate their hardearned money to the college, proves to me that SIU was the right choice.”

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Energy Treasure Hunt GREEN OFFICE SLEUTHS SEEK SAVINGS, CONSERVATION AT SIU

BY TIM CROSBY

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he task of powering Southern Illinois University ’s 1,200-plus acres is huge…and expensive. A new program has employed the services of two students to investigate ways offices on campus can save energy, increase efficiency, and ensure they’re properly recycling as many materials as possible.

Green Office SLEUTHs (Student-Led EnergyUse Treasure Hunts) is a joint project of SIU’s Sustainability Office and the Advanced Coal and Energy Research Center. “Sleuths” take part in a semester-long externship for undergraduate or graduate students (open to any major), earning $500 and a certificate at the completion of the assignment.

SLEUTHs help staff members in some of the university ’s roughly 250 offices on campus identify wasteful or inefficient energyrelated practices and establish local plans to conserve power and recycle.

Program leaders recently selected Tori Neal, a first-year doctoral student in the sociology graduate program, and Erik Torres, an exchange student from Mexico studying computer science, as its first two student participants.

Neal, from Fayetteville, Tennessee, says she decided to get involved to help others be environmentally conscious.

“I know that going green can seem daunting, but we make going green easy,” she says. “There are small, manageable tasks that people can incorporate into their everyday lives that will help save the environment. We help people develop a plan to integrate those simple changes.”

Torres, of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, says he got involved as part of personal, ongoing effort to make more people aware of environmental issues.

“There are small, manageable tasks that people can incorporate into their everyday lives that will help save the environment.”

Tori Neal and Erik Torres work with Angela Anima-Korang, a research assistant in the Sustainability Office, to prepare for an Energy Treasure Hunt as part of the new Green Office SLEUTHs program on campus.

“We are not doing enough for our planet, but we can change that by just doing small things that not only help the planet, but also help our society and ourselves as individuals,” he says. “The SLEUTHs program is perfect because it actually has the influence to achieve these things. As soon as I saw the program, I knew I had to be part of it.”

Expanding the Hunt The program is looking for campus units to volunteer to participate in the energy treasure hunts, says Geory Kurtzhals, sustainability coordinator.

Many major companies and other institutions have saved substantially on their energy costs and reduced their environmental impact by undergoing such a process.

“Every office on campus has an opportunity to reduce waste and save money. The program educates and empowers individuals working in offices around campus to do just that,” Kurtzhals says.

SLEUTHs go through a checklist and determine which activities are applicable to each office, as well as ongoing savings activities and goals.

After completing a consultation, they develop a personalized plan of action for the unit.

Kurtzhals says the program will allow students to develop new competencies while identify ing opportunities for the campus to reduce energy usage and save money.

“Skills related to energy and sustainability are increasing in demand in the job market,” she says.

“With this program, our students develop highly needed skills in a real-life setting. As a university, it supports our educational mission and also provides an opportunity to reduce both costs and our carbon footprint.

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Clinical Center Marks 60 Year of Training, Service

BY HANNAH ERICKSON The Clinical Center at Southern Illinois University opened its doors in 1958 with a mission to train students to provide exceptional community service in psychological and speech and language assessments. Sixty years later that goal still stands.

The Clinical Center, housed in the west wing of the Wham Education Building on campus, marked its 60th anniversary in October. A reception of current and former directors, along with Carbondale community officials, commemorated the work done these last six decades.

The Clinical Center first opened under the guidance of Delyte Morris, former president of SIU. From its beginning, the center focused on providing a training ground for graduate students earning degrees in one of the accredited programs on campus that require a clinical component. In addition to training the students, the Clinical Center serves a dual purpose of providing exceptional and affordable services to community members.

Holly Cormier, director of the Clinical Center, sees the two-part mission of the center as the key to long-term success. “Although our mission is training, it doesn’t mean we don’t prioritize service,” Cormier says. “You can’t separate them.”

The clinic’s structure is set up similar to a training and research hospital, Cormier says. While the graduate level students conduct the assessments and run the sessions, they are closely monitored and mentored by experienced faculty advisors. This pushes the students towards high levels of work.

The programs requiring clinical training are very rigorous and prepare students to excel after graduation. Those graduating from these programs: clinical psychology, communications disorders and counselor education, are some of the best in the field and leave SIU with elite internship and work opportunities already set up, Cormier says.

Available to All The Clinical Center offers a variety of services to both students and community members. While the services do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, fees are based on a sliding scale with most charges $5 - $30. The Clinical Center provides evaluations and interventions for children and adults in these areas, such as learning difficulties evaluations, speech/language needs, psychological evaluations, family and couples counseling.

Students, faculty and community members are all welcome to receive care. The Clinical Center is open 51 hours a week, with extended hours on some days to fit with each individual’s schedule.

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While the Clinical Center focuses on education and research, no information about an individual or the services provided is released without written permission (unless required by law).

For the last two years, the Clinical Center has partnered with Jackson County to waive fees for psychological assessments for those who qualify. Additionally, the center often works with DCFS on certain cases, along with receiving assessment and counseling cases by court order.

SIU CLINICAL CENTER There’s more information about the Clinical Center’s full range of services online at clinicalcenter.siu.edu, or contact Holly Cormier at (618) 453-2361.

Kayliym Islam (back right) instructs a class in Workforce Education and Development at the NAS Pensacola program in Florida.

Off-Campus Learning Takes SIU Program Nationwide

BY CHRISTI MATHIS Off-campus learning is critical for many adults these days, making possible educational and career advancement goals while still managing daily work and life obligations. Southern Illinois University knows how to suit busy schedules.

SIU launched its first off-campus degree program in 1973. Today, it offers students the chance to earn their degrees at any one of 32 military and non-military locations located in 13 states – programs like those at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. Earlier this year, for the first time ever, all 12 people who graduated at NAS Pensacola were active-duty military personnel.

Kayliym Islam, a new instructor in the program, is pleased to have the opportunity to “give back to those who serve” while helping all of his students strive to achieve their educational and career goals. This past semester, there were 19 workforce education and development students enrolled at Pensacola.

Islam’s professional experience is extensive and diverse, as he’s served as an administrator, instructor and educator within the corporate and academic worlds for more than 20 years.

He’s an alumnus of SIU, earning his bachelor’s degree in vocational education studies from the university. He also holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from American Intercontinental University

in Phoenix and a doctorate in higher education with emphasis in training, development and consumer marketing from Northcentral University in Prescott, Ariz.

Most recently, he served as executive director for Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation in Tampa, Fla., where he oversaw a $15.3 million budget and five global directors.

SIU’s Extended Campus offers a hybrid Workforce Education and Development program at NAS Pensacola. It incorporates a combination of online coursework and seated weekend classes and is designed to be completed by working adults in about two years.

OFF-CAMPUS LEARNING Learn more about SIU’s Pensacola program. Contact Caroline Norris-Watson, NAS Pensacola program student adviser, at (850) 455-2449 or caroline.norris-watson@siu.edu, or email pensacola@siu.edu.

For more about off-campus learning elsewhere, visit extendedcampus.siu.edu.

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Stress Busting

SIU Helping Students Fight Stress, Be Healthy Inside and Out

BY CHRISTI MATHIS Student health at Southern Illinois University is treated holistically.

That’s why staff members at Wellness and Health Promotion Services on campus are taking steps to help students not only be healthy but manage mental health issues, like stress, as well.

The Student Health Center (attached to the Rec Center) has become more than a place to get a checkup. It offers a range of screening and counseling services aimed at improving students’ everyday quality of life.

“We want to do everything we can to address the whole student – mind, body, and spirit – so every aspect of the person is healthy,” says Beth Morrison, assistant director of SIU Student Health Services and director of wellness on campus.

The American Psychological Association notes a 30 percent rise in the number of students seeking counseling in the last decade, even

though total student enrollment on college campuses nationwide grew by only 5 percent in that same time period. Experts attribute the rise to better public education campaigns about the availability of such services. Still, those seeking help are benefitting to alleviate things such as anxiety, depression, stress, and relationship problems.

This past semester the health center at SIU hosted its own awareness campaign, the second annual Fresh Check Day, which invited students to learn about their various services, many of which have been made possible through federal grant funding.

Student Health Services is also in the midst of revamping its website, hosting ongoing workshops and classes on a variety of healthrelated topics, and providing training to University Housing residence assistants to help them better address some needs of student tenants.

Caleb Hale contributed information to this article.

Student Health Center Learn more about what’s available online at shc.siu.edu, by calling (618) 453-3311 or by emailing shcinfo@siu.edu.

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Services of the Student Health Center

Blue Room “Blue Mind Theory” states being around water makes you happier and healthier. A room in the center is dedicated to a blue water theme, complete with a bubble wall, ocean sounds, a water mural, and hammock.

Light Therapy Seasonal Affective Disorder is depression related to changing seasons, typically happening in the fall and winter. Light therapy is a proven relief for the condition when used in conjunction with other treatments, such as medicine or counseling.

Students have access to a light therapy box in the center.

Stress Lab The space features a computer and biofeedback instruments, helping students identify and visualize stress points on their bodies.

Dawg Lounge Open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays the newly-expanded lounge features massage chairs, adult coloring pages, yoga mats, calming water features, salt lamps, and Zen gardens.

Massage Room Nothing beats a good massage, and students can take advantage of one with Student Health Services staff. Soon, they’ll even be able to schedule regular appointments.

Free Beverage Bar The Wellness Office inside the Student Health Center contains a beverage bar, with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate always available. There’s even a place to charge your phone.

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SIU ALUMNI WINTER 2018

After years of searching, an alumnus discovers what could be an ancient city of legend in the jungles of Honduras

BY CALEB HALE

I

t began one day with the insatiable urge to wander up a dirt road.

Steve Elkins ’73 was a student at Southern Illinois University and enrolled in an anthropology class, which had enlightened him to some of the ancient settlements that dotted the land in and around the Shawnee National Forest and Mississippi River.

He was en route to St. Louis along Illinois 3 when an unpaved road off the highway called to him.

“I just started driving around, as I often did, and, for some reason, I decided to park the car and start hiking,” Elkins says. “I went down into this mini canyon of sorts, and lo and behold there was this classic-looking rock shelter.” Believing it was the remnants of an ancient settlement, Elkins started to do some light digging. “All of a sudden I start finding ancient pieces of pottery and then some arrowheads. I became quite excited then, and I kept going back.”

He took friends there. He took dates. “I spent a lot of time there, sometimes I’d even camp overnight.” His professors even let him investigate the site for credit in a special studies project. The experience ignited his imagination for places lost to time, for finding things that would otherwise go unnoticed.

What started in southern Illinois gave him the drive to discover something truly incredible later in life.

“I think some of us just have an innate curiosity that becomes obsessive.”

Elkins was describing his fascination for a legend hundreds of years old, a lost city in the near-impenetrable Central American jungles of La Mosquitia in eastern Honduras, with walls of white stone and home to untold wealth and an unknown people who worshipped a monkey god. It was known as La Ciudad Blanca, or the White City. This would become Elkins’ life work.

By the time Elkins first learned of the lost city, he was a 30-something resident of southern California (where he still resides), doing contract work with cinematography and filmmaking equipment. Elkins had originally gone west years before to help with his father’s business, but he’d begun pursuing his interests in creating films.

“I decided I wanted to start producing my own programs and put word out that I was looking for things, particularly stories involving science and adventure,” Elkins says.

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Steve Elkins and author Douglas Preston wade through a river during their expedition in the jungles of Honduras.

It was 1994 when Elkins made his first trek into Honduras in search of the White City. He did so by foot with a small team, armed with only a handful of legends, stories and crudely-drawn maps.

While there are several accounts of exploits involving the lost city, many would later be revealed as hoaxes or outright lies made by opportunists.

The jungle of La Mosquitia is no casual stroll either. Snakes with venom that can kill within hours, insects that carry flesh-dissolving diseases (some of which only manifest months later), foliage dense enough to be almost suffocating, as well as the fact the jungles are known paths for heavily armed drug traffickers. Elkins first trip to search for the White City was largely navigated via a local river. While there was no luck in finding the legendary city, Elkins’ team did discover a petroglyph in a rock along the water, a sign someone had inhabited the region centuries ago.

It was all the evidence Elkins needed to plan a bigger expedition deeper into the jungle. It didn’t happen though. In 1998, as Elkins was in the midst of working with the Honduran government to set up the

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exploratory trip, Hurricane Mitch swept across the country, bringing with it a catastrophic flood and more than 7,000 deaths to an already beleaguered nation. In the chaotic aftermath, the legend of the White City would have to wait.

More than a decade passed before Elkins would make another attempt at the White City, and it started with a phone call from a former contact in Honduras. The Honduran government was in need of a win. High crime, corruption and poverty had taken its toll on the country’s morale, and it wasn’t good for the politicians in power. They saw the chance to discover a lost treasure as an opportunity to build national pride and to bring some much-needed positive attention to Honduras on the world stage.

Meanwhile, Elkins had recently learned of new technology that might help him find the remnants of an ancient civilization hidden within centuries of jungle overgrowth. Called LIDAR, it’s a method of air survey that utilize laser light pulses and their reflections to creates maps of areas too dense or inaccessible to traverse by ground.

As Elkins had read, a pair of archaeologists from the University of

Central Florida used it to map roughly 200 square miles of terrain in ancient Central American people, who were neither Maya nor Aztec.

Belize to uncover previously undiscovered Mayan ruins.

No one knew anything about this culture, but that day a new and It was an expensive longshot, but if anything had a chance at significant historical project was born, one that continues today, with penetrating the dense jungle of La Mosquitia and revealing hidden hundreds of relics collected and imaginations awakened thanks to structures, it was LIDAR, Elkins reasoned. the discovery.

“Without the LIDAR, I am 100 percent sure we still wouldn’t “For year’s I’d been following something that many might consider know about this place,” Elkins said. “On ground it can be the blind a folly. Being able to see it on the ground, touch it, was such a feeling leading the blind. LIDAR changes the game, it’s a revolution in of satisfaction,” Elkins says. “I tell people I could have dropped dead at archaeological surveying.” that moment and felt I had a great life.”

Teaming up with a fellow (and independently wealthy) filmmaker, Yet was it the legendary La Ciudad Blanca, the White City, the Lost Bill Benenson, Elkins founded UTL (Under the City of the Monkey God? So many times before “For year’s I’d been LIDAR) Productions and set out to utilize the the city was claimed to have been found, only to technology to survey the region where the White following something that be disproven. Elkins has never been so bold as to City had supposedly been lost to time. Elkins and a definitively claim the find as the city of legend. many might consider a team of scientists and technicians spent seven days “The legends are legends, but they are often based folly. Being able to see it on truth,” Elkins says. “I’m sure (the White City) is in 2012 mapping the region, via a LIDAR equipped Cessna. Upon getting the results, it didn’t take long to on the ground, touch it, an amalgam of many places that did exist. In fact, identify what clearly looked to be the outline of manafter our research there, I’m convinced the entire was such a feeling made structures. jungle was probably urbanized at one point in time. of satisfaction.”

It was a moment of joy, Elkins describes, but also Whether or not the place we found exactly fits the meant only one thing – a return to the jungles of legend, we don’t know. At this point I would say we La Mosquitia for on-the-ground reconnaissance. haven’t found a monkey god statue yet…but we could.”

The LIDAR had detected four sites of interest in the jungle. The Legends and myths aside, what Elkins has found in the jungles of ground team would seek to explore on foot one of them on the eastern Honduras is a cultural treasure and has led to a nationwide fi rst attempt. In February 2015 Elkins’ company organized a joint conservation effort that not only aims to protect the site as a place of Honduran-American ground expedition to the site. The group local heritage but as a nature preserve in an area where deforestation included archaeologists, anthropologists, engineers, camera crews is beginning to take its toll. and Honduran Special Forces soldiers. Also among the group was For Elkins himself, the discovery is a beginning, the same as the Douglas Preston, then writing a magazine article that would later point when he initially discovered that ancient stone settlement in inspire the best-selling book about the expedition, “The Lost City of southern Illinois. He’s sure researchers will be uncovering items the Monkey God.” from the Honduran site for the next 100 years. Elkins just hopes he’s To say the trip was tough was an understatement. No stranger around to see some of the more interesting finds. to the harsh realities of the Honduran jungle from his 1994 trip, Elkins knew some of what to expect.

“The jungle is just a giant recycling plant on steroids,” he says.

“There’s a lot of stuff in there just waiting to devour you and use you for something else.”

THE LOST CITY Yet, the call of the White City was too great for anyone on the OF THE MONKEY GOD team to get cold feet. And within days, Elkins had found what he wanted all along: Vindication.

The full, detailed account of The fi rst signs of civilization were an undisturbed cache of Elkins’ search for the legendary carved stone wares. Elkins says everyone in the group was White City was chronicled in stunned by the sudden discovery. The moment was fi lmed. In the Douglas Preston’s 2017 book, footage, members of the expedition team hover around the ancient “The Lost City of the Monkey pieces until one of the archaeologists, his voice quivering from God,” now available in paperback excitement, yells at everyone not to touch anything. from Grand Central Publishing.

“I think he was so stunned he didn’t know what else to say at that point,” Elkins says, laughing at the footage.

What followed, however, was even more astonishing. The ruins of ancient plazas, pyramids and other structures. A lost settlement of

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RESEARCH

A GROWING

INDUSTRY SIU Rolling Out New Cannabis Research Initiative To Support Evolving Markets

I

ndustrial hemp and medical marijuana are on the rise. The industries need more trained cultivators and technicians, and farmers want to know more about how they could benefit from these markets. As laws and society’s views on cannabis continue evolving, officials at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are responding with a new, interdisciplinary initiative to train students and help farmers and growers make better-informed, sciencebacked choices in their operations. The effort involves areas one might expect, such as agriculture and plant biology, but also chemistry, engineering, business, ecology and other disciplines. SIU’s cannabis science initiative is aimed at creating a program to support agriculture and industry with solid research and top-notch training. The effort is a response to area farmers and students interested in the opportunities presented by the growing markets for cannabisrelated products.

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BY TIM CROSBY

Researchers in the College of Science and College of Agricultural Sciences began work securing permits and collecting information a few years ago, with the first actual shovel-and-dirt steps expected this spring in the form of a five-acre hemp research field. Plans call for organizing the program around the dual areas of industrial hemp science and medicinal cannabis science. Along with the hemp field, officials hope to have a program in place by next year that would lead to a certificate in medicinal cannabis production.

“We want to create a program to support this emerging industry,” says Karen Midden, interim dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. “We’re getting this request and input from stakeholders, who are reaching out to us, telling us they need the science.

But we’re also getting it from students – current and potential students – that they would like to have programs to prepare them for work in these areas.”

“Both of these crops – hemp and medicinal cannabis – show benefits in numerous areas, all the way from health and quality of life to having another natural fiber that can be used in so many ways.”

HEMP FIELD BEING CLEARED, PLANTED IN SPRING Land for the hemp research field currently is being cleared, and the medicinal cannabis program is working its way through the approval process, Midden says. The university already offers all but one of the classes included in the certificate program, potentially simplifying the effort.

Eventually, officials believe many areas of research at SIU could become involved with the effort, including most agriculture programs, engineering, chemistry, business, marketing, microbiology, medicine and sports medicine, among others.

“Both of these crops – hemp and medicinal cannabis – show benefits in numerous areas, all the way from health and quality of life to having another natural fiber that can be used in so many ways,” she said. “We want a program to support this emerging industry. They need the science we can provide, and we are positioning ourselves to help.”

MANY QUESTIONS ON NEW CROP’S POTENTIAL Goals of SIU’s industrial hemp effort include studying the feasibility of creating such an industry in Illinois. Because it was only recently made legal to grow the crop in Illinois, not a lot is known about how it might fit in with Illinois’ existing crops and crop rotations, largely dominated by corn and soybeans, says Karla Gage, assistant professor of weed science and agricultural systems.

As she does with other crops, Gage would like to study weed control issues in an industrial hemp crop.

Gage also plans to look at hemp’s required growing conditions and adaptability to Southern Illinois, as well as its harvest methods and impact on the environment, among other questions.

Of particular interest to Gage is how it might impact the prevalence of herbicide-resistant weeds in a long-term crop rotation system. Hemp is known, for instance, to compete very well against weeds, growing quickly and shading out other plants with seeds in the nearby ground.

“So I’m interested in how that looks in rotation with typical crops; what does that do to the weed seedbank, for instance? Could you suppress populations of herbicide-resistant weeds by adding hemp to the crop rotation or by just growing hemp for a few years? Will growing hemp continuously have negative impacts on the environment and the crop? If hemp does not effectively suppress weeds, will there be a buildup of the weed seedbank?”

RESEARCH NEEDED ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA Aldwin Anterola, associate professor of plant biology, said SIU has been involved with planning this initiative for several years and now finds itself ahead of the curve.

“We’ve been engaged and we are trailblazers in this, ahead of the other universities in the state,” he says.

A needed sign-off from the Drug Enforcement Administration came through earlier this year, clearing the way for SIU researchers to grow hemp.

Anterola sees a lot of potential for research into hemp fiber, as both the market and the science aimed at understanding it is a bit soft, currently.

Ultimately, Anterola would like to collaborate with Illinois’ licensed medicinal marijuana growers to study different strains, their bioactive components and their biological effects. He’s also tracking federal legislation that will make it possible to grow marijuana for research purposes at other universities, including SIU. Currently, all federally legal research marijuana is grown only at the University of Mississippi-Oxford.

“We really need science behind this,” he says.

“Medical marijuana is in its infancy, and with our expertise at SIU, we could help a lot in terms of quality control and standardization.”

He’d also like to see SIU become the site for major stakeholder conferences on the industry, with roundtable discussions, marketing planning and scientific paper presentations.

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RESEARCH

Eating On A Whim Think Self-Control Will Stop Weight Gain? Think Again, Says SIU Study.

BY HANNAH ERICKSON

Americans spend $60 billion annually on weight loss and diet programs. Obesity isn’t an epidemic due to a lack of care. Rather, research done by one Southern Illinois University professor shows that much of the problem comes down to a battle in the brain between impulsivity and self-control.

Food choices are a part of life for every individual. In an attempt to understand this normal decision making process, Jebaraj Asirvatham, assistant professor in the SIU agribusiness economics program, used unique, non-experimental data to evaluate the food struggle within the common person, and find out why this battle is such a big issue.

IMPULSIVE EATING MEANS HIGHER CALORIE COUNTS From corner bakeries, to social settings and drive-thru restaurants, food is a constant part daily American life. In the

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past, food decisions were predominantly determined by factors such as quality and price, but now, many of these choices are made because of convenience and time.

But while these options are quick, they also increase the chance of eating impulsively and without thought.

Asirvatham’s research shows these impulsive actions are what generate an overeating scenario. When a person is at a social setting or driving by a bakery, they may eat because the food is readily available. But such impulsive actions are what often lead to an overall higher calorie intake.

BRAIN BATTLE Most people can recognize the struggle they face between making healthy and unhealthy food choices. But the battle between impulsivity and self-control is a deeper struggle than many people may think.

“There is a neuroscientific basis for this,” Asirvatham says. “Initially people used to think that impulse and self-control are one thing, and you have a balance. But it seems like impulsive behavior involves a different region of the brain, and when you exercise control it uses a different region of the brain.

It’s almost like a tussle inside of a person.”

Surprisingly, for Asirvatham the study showed that those who are overweight, or chronically fall into patterns of over-eating, actually practice more restraint than many others who don’t struggle in the same way.

“Those who are eating a lot are actually impulsive, which is what we would expect, but they are also showing that they are the ones who are exercising more restraint.

Which means there is a bigger battle between these two brain regions among those who are eating more.”

While this neurological battle is frustrating for many people, it changes the way the topic of over-eating is handled and discussed.

Simply depending on more self-control does not fix the problem, as the element of control is already in place.

Asirvatham believes other practices, such as setting up internal rules for one’s behavior, is more successful in bringing lasting results. Generally, people will follow rules and boundary lines. If a certain individual tends to be more impulsive in social settings, making rules before the food options come up, such as which foods are off limits or resisting extra servings, can lead to greater impulse control in that specific situation.

FAST FOOD ONLY A SMALL FACTOR A common thought in solving the food battle is to reduce the amount of easily available food options, such as fastfood restaurants, so people have fewer opportunities to eat impulsively. While this is a reasonable alternative, researchers have wondered if it would make a true difference, or if people would find other occasions to overeat.

If the problem is controlling external impulses, then reducing easily accessible food options, such as unhealthy restaurants and bakeries, might make a difference, Asirvatham explains. If, however, the impulse comes from an internal emotional element, reducing those accessible food options won’t make a big difference.

Besides being driven by sheer impulse, people also make unhealthy food decisions based on their internal emotional state.

Asirvatham found that if a person is solely motivated by seeing food and impulsively acting towards it, then decreasing fast-food restaurants might make a difference. But if a person is motivated by internal emotions, reducing food options would not change the outcome.

Asirvatham’s goal for this research is to help doctors and physicians better understand and address over-eating and weight issues with their patients. Broad statements encouraging patients to practice more control do not deal with the root issue, and are usually not successful.

Bullies Are Victims Too Professor’s Work Shows Strong Overlap With Perpetrators

BY HANNAH ERICKSON

Nobody likes a bully; especially not the victim. Yet research shows bullies are likely to be victims of bullying themselves.

Southern Illinois University criminology and criminal justice assistant professor Sujung Cho found further proof of an overlap between those who were once victims of bullying, and those who are perpetrators. With an estimated 25 to 33 percent of U.S. school children facing some form of bullying, the topic continues to be one of serious concern.

Many reports suggest that the prevalence of bullying not only impacts children during their school years, but may also lead to serious other consequences and criminal behaviors later in life.

Much research has been done over the years to understand the correlation between those who have been victims of bullying, and those who are perpetrators.

While the connection between the two was made some time ago, Cho is using her background as a statistician to better understand the timeorder and reason for this overlap.

“Normally, bullies and the victims of bullies are totally different people,” Cho says. “But I have found that some who bully others, are being bullied by others. There is an overlap and a link.”

Not all forms of bullying are the same, but according to Cho’s findings, when youth spent time with bullies in the previous year, they were generally more at risk for being collectively teased and bantered. However, her findings suggest that the bullies themselves are also more likely to be a victim at the same time.

Cho’s research also found several characteristics that increase the risk of both becoming a bully and victimization. Several aspects, such as proximity to crime, exposure to potential offenders, connection with crimeprone environments and the absence of a guardian, are all found to increase the risk for bullying victimization, Cho explains.

In an examination of ways to decrease these

Southern Illinois University criminology and criminal justice assistant professor Sujung Cho.

risks, Cho found that strong attachments to other individuals can do much to decrease the negative actions of bullies, as well as the negative impact on potential victims.

“People who have strong ties to a combination of people such as parents, teachers and non-delinquent peers might think of their relationships when they think about the criminal behavior,” Cho says. “If they have positive relationships with another person like a teacher or parent, especially parent and peers, they are less likely to commit the criminal behaviors.”

Cho believes this research is crucial for public policy, school counselors and others involved with adolescents. Findings on the link between perpetration and victimization allow service providers to recognize significant risk factors, and implement prevention efforts to address bullying.

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RESEARCH

Big Dawg’s Sniffing For Food SIU Supercomputer Involved In Project To Monitor Global Food Supply

BY HANNAH ERICKSON

Southern Illinois University’s very own supercomputer, lovingly called ‘Big Dawg,’ and its handler, SIU Office of Information Technology Coordinator Chet Langin ’74, ’03, Ph.D. ’11 are now on the case to solve at least some of the world’s food problems.

Langin was recently accepted as one of five individuals to receive the 201819 Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) Campus Champions Fellowship. He and ‘Big Dawg’

are assisting researchers at Purdue University, Langin working with an agriculture model that is set to untangle the food and environmental issues found in the world’s farm-food system. The team of researchers has already created an open-source tool, and is now collecting data for the next step of the project.

With 250-350 gigabytes of storage, the average computer is fairly capable of solving basic problems. But when those numbers jump up to the 48,000 gigabytes of storage found on ‘Big Dawg,’ a researcher can quickly run complex calculations on topics such as genetic sequencing and atmospheric science. Or create a geospatial model to support the global food economy. With a theoretical 34.7 teraflops of processing power and 48 terabytes of usable storage, the supercomputer is capable of completing tasks in just hours, rather than several days.

“They [Purdue researchers] have divided up the globe into 36,000 cells. So the entire

globe, or at least the entire land surface area of the globe, has been divided into a cell,” Langin says. “For each cell, then they collect information such as climate impacts, water scarcity, biodiversity, terrestrial carbon stocks and food security for that area.”

The researchers then assign values to each cell. The next step is to set up a model where they project into the future to perceive how the cells interact with one another, and determine how much food will be available in each cell. Once the model is set up, the researchers can change the variables to plan for potential problems or food shortages.

As Langin works on the project, he wants to transfer the information he learns to the work done at SIU. He will help perform calculations with this data by using one of the clusters found at the other 20 universities that have similar high performance computing clusters.

XSEDE, funded by the National Science Foundation, is a program that scientists use to interactively share computing resources, data and expertise. People from across the globe access the resources and services of this program, and work together to improve the planet.

While no one organization has all of the solutions, the world-wide collaboration provides better hope for solving complex issues for years to come.

Learning To Spot Cougars With Social Media

BY TIM CROSBY

People think they see cougars everywhere, but oftentimes it’s a case of mistaken identity.

The problem of misidentification is prevalent enough that The Cougar Network, a nonprofit research organization dedicated to studying cougar habitat and the role of cougars in ecosystems, runs a popular weekly feature called #CougarOrNot on Twitter. The polling-style game that’s been around since fall of 2015 involves posting a photo each Friday and then inviting

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participants to identify the beast as a cougar … or not a cougar.

Kori Kirkpatrick, a graduate student of zoology at SIU, is working with researchers to find out just how accurate – or inaccurate – the public is in identifying cougars in the #CougarOrNot photos. Her findings might tell scientists whether they can rely on visual sightings alone of a cougar’s presence, even as the great cat’s range continues to grow.

“The cougars’ range is expanding eastward, and tracking cougars is more important now than ever before,” Kirkpatrick says. She is also investigating whether online games such as #CougarOrNot improve the public’s accuracy. “Maybe activities like this are a way to allow for visual sightings to be more reliable.”

That’s important, because researchers and organizations such as The Cougar Network are being flooded with alleged sightings in the form of photographs, tracks, scat and simple visual sightings. Researchers tend to discount visual sightings, as there typically is no objective evidence to verify them.

Working with Michelle LaRue, an SIU assistant scientist who is also executive

director of The Cougar Network, and Clay Nielsen, a professor of wildlife ecology and conservation in the forestry degree program, Kirkpatrick is surveying participants in #CougarOrNot to evaluate the accuracy of photo identifications, to understand demographic characteristics of participants who offer the most accurate sightings and to determine whether #CougarOrNot responses increase in accuracy over time.

Kirkpatrick, who is receiving partial funding for the study from The Cougar Network, expects the simple, 5-minute online surveys to tell a lot about cougar enthusiasts.

Overseeing the project is Nielsen, whose research group has studied Midwest cougar recolonization for 15 years, publishing

multiple papers on topics such as potential cougar habitat, future population levels and human dimensions. As a leader in this area of research, Nielsen sees the #CougarOrNot project as an extension of that previous work, providing further understanding of the human element in large carnivore recolonization.

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27

‘THE COMMON THEME IS WINNING’

Impressive Class Inducted Into

Saluki HALL FAME OF

BY GENE GREEN

O

ne of the most decorated classes in Saluki Hall of Fame history was inducted Homecoming Weekend at Southern Illinois University. Jermaine Dearman (Men’s Basketball), Mallory Duran-Sellers (Softball), P.J. Finigan (Baseball), George Loukas (Football), Jeneva McCall (Track & Field), Bryan Mullins (Men’s Basketball) and Bruce Weber (Men’s Basketball Head Coach) were placed among the all-time greats at Southern in front of one of the largest crowds to attend such an event.

Dearman played forward for the Salukis from 1999-2003 and helped lead the team to an 88-42 record during his career with two NCAA Tournament appearances (2002, 2003), including a Sweet 16. He was also a member of the 2000 NIT team. Dearman fi nished his career 10th in career scoring with 1,446 points, seventh in rebounding (802) and ninth in blocked shots (71).

“With Coach Weber’s help and our team’s hard work, we were able to turn the empty seats to a fi lled up Arena,” Dearman says “People were sleeping overnight for tickets and the whole vibe and buzz in the city was special.” He was at his best in big games, earning the nickname “Big-Game Jermaine,” and was selected three times as the CBS Player of the Game in NCAA Tournament games versus Texas Tech, Georgia and Missouri.

An outfielder for the Salukis from 2009-12, Duran-Sellers was a career .327 hitter, placing her eighth all-time in school history. She is

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the all-time leader at SIU in runs scored (162) and finished fift h in stolen bases (46). She won the MVC’s Most Valuable Player award in 2012 and was named Second-Team AllRegion that year, though her best statistical season came in 2011 when she hit .398 and set the conference record for runs scored with 61.

“I am thankful for Coach Kerri Blaylock and Coach Jen Sewell,” Duran-Sellers says.

“Kerri believed in me when I stopped believing in myself. I didn’t do well my freshman year and she was always behind me and supporting through all of it.” She was an outstanding student, as well, earning CoSIDA Academic All-American honors in 2011 and 2012, plus the MVC’s coveted Elite 18 Award in 2012.

Finigan was both a standout shortstop and pitcher for the Salukis from 2002-05. As a senior, he was named the MVC Player of the Year after he led the conference with a .386 batting average and posted a 9-3 record with a 3.24 ERA on the mound. He was first-team all-MVC that season as both a position player and pitcher, making him the only person to ever do that.

“Just knowing the names that have gone through Saluki Baseball and those who are already in the Hall of Fame makes this a special honor,” the current SIU pitching coach says. “This is something I would have never guessed happening when I first got to SIU, so to be a hall of famer is a dream come true.”

A fullback at SIU from 1970-72, Loukas piled up 1,427 yards on the ground, ending his career as the school’s third all-time leading rusher trailing only Hall of Famers Amos Bullocks and Carver Shannon. His 1,052 rushing yards in 1971 was the second-best total in school history and included a 224-yard rushing performance versus Wichita State.

“I walked on and came here without a scholarship,” Loukas notes. “I worked in the steel mills for two months to save money to come to school.” Now a successful businessman, he has assisted the University in many ways over the years, and is the owner of the Cubby Bear and other properties in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood.

McCall, a world-class thrower at SIU from 2009-2012, is one of the most decorated track & field athletes in school history. A three-time NCAA champion, she claimed the NCAA Indoor weight throw and NCAA Outdoor hammer throw titles in 2012, and also captured the NCAA Outdoor discus championship in 2010. Her three national titles are the most by an athlete at SIU and third-most in league history.

“I used to stare at the Hall of Fame wall, wondering how I could get up there,” McCall admits. “I just stuck to what coach was telling me to do. Now I am up there with a bunch of great people. It is amazing.”

Mullins was arguably the best point guard in school history. SIU’s floor general set the school career record for assists with 509 and averaged more than four assists per game as

The newest Saluki Hall of Fame members, from left: P.J. Finigan, Jeneva McCall, Jermaine Dearman, Bruce Weber, Mallory Duran-Sellers, Bryan Mullins, and George Loukas.

a four-year starter. He guided the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 in 2007 and a No. 11 national ranking – the highest in school history. He was a tenacious defender who twice won MVC Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a member of the league’s All-Defense team all four seasons.

“To be able to represent this University for four of the best years of my life is amazing,” Mullins says. “The common theme with this induction class is winning.” He was also an outstanding student, joining Mike Glenn as the program’s only other two-time Academic All-American. A member of SIU’s AllCentury team, he is currently the Associate Head Coach of the Loyola Ramblers and

helped lead that program to the NCAA Final Four in 2018.

Weber was the architect of SIU’s basketball resurgence during the 2000s. He inherited a program that had recorded three-straight losing seasons and quickly turned them into Valley champions. During his five seasons at SIU (1999-2003), Weber’s teams compiled a 103-54 record, advanced to two NCAA Tournaments (2002, 2003), including a Sweet 16 appearance, plus an NIT appearance (2000). Southern won the MVC title in both 2002 and 2003 and Weber was named MVC Coach of the Year in 2003.

“I am blessed and fortunate to have been a part of this program,” Weber says. “We had one of the best mid-major runs in the history

of college basketball, it was special, and I am proud to have been part of it.” After SIU, Weber coached nine seasons at Illinois and made six NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to the Championship game in 2005. He is currently the head coach at Kansas State where the Wildcats reached the Elite Eight last season.

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Basketball Salukis Return All Starters In Battle For League Title

Armon Fletcher

The resurgent SIU men’s basketball team – the only squad in the Missouri Valley Conference to return all five starters this season – is excited about the challenges of the league schedule. The Salukis will lean on seniors Armon Fletcher (first team) and Kavion Pippen (second team), who were named to the preseason all-conference teams.

Loyola was picked to win the league over Illinois State in the MVC preseason poll, while SIU received four first-place votes and was picked third.

Fletcher was named first-team all-district and second-team all-MVC after leading the Salukis in scoring last year. He has averaged double-figures in each of the last two seasons and is just 52 points away from becoming Southern’s 46th 1,000-point scorer.

Pippen was a third-team All-MVC selection last year and was also a member of the league’s All-Newcomer team. He started all 33 games and led the team in rebounding (5.9 rpg), blocks (45) and field-goal percentage (.551). He was a four-time MVC

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Newcomer of the Week in 2017-18 after transferring to SIU from Three Rivers Community College.

SIU returns its top four scorers, Fletcher (14.1 ppg), Pippen (12.1 ppg), Sean Lloyd, Jr. (12.1 ppg) and Aaron Cook (9.8 ppg), from last season’s 20win team that finished second in the league.

In all, the Salukis return 83 percent of scoring and 77 percent of rebounding.

They also return Thik Bol (2016-17 MVC All-Defensive Team) and Eric McGill, who missed last year due to season-ending injuries.

Head Coach Barry Hinson is looking forward to leading a veteran team.

“Having a lot of guys back allows us to get things in place quicker,” Hinson says. “Plus we are seeing some of the good things about going to Cuba – these guys know exactly what we’re doing. The non-league schedule is challenging, but the whole goal was to give us the best opportunity to prepare to win a conference championship, play in postseason, and if you’re not fortunate to win it outright, to get an at-large bid.”

In November SIU played the Universiity of Kentucky, which resulted in a 59-71 loss.

“The schedule we had already was phenomenal, and when you add Kentucky to that, it gives us the chance to play the toughest non-conference schedule in the history of this program.”

The Salukis begin MVC action Jan. 2 hosting Missouri State.

Helleny Provides Major Gift For Scholarship Fund The Saluki Athletic Scholarship Fund (SASF) has announced the fourth-largest gift in Saluki Athletics history. Charles Helleny ‘57, a proud Saluki season-ticket holder, donor, and a top contributor to the program for more than 60 years, is providing the donation.

In honor of his gift, the first Division I men’s basketball home game each year will henceforth be known as the Charles Helleny Tip-Off Classic game.

“Charles has been loyal to SIU since the day he walked into this place. He never misses a game, supports every program, and is a special person,” says SIU Director of Athletics Jerry Kill. “I don’t know if I’ve ever met a more giving guy than Charles, and we appreciate the tremendous gift – not many people are willing to step up and do that. The more who can, the more we can solve problems.”

Helleny says he doesn’t want the gift to take away from the game.

“I am embarrassed, but honestly this is a great honor since I love SIU,” he says of the Tip-Off Classic being named for him. “We have had our ups and downs and always have remained competitive. This year we are primed for top-two finishes in all sports in the conference.”

Saluki Women Fourth In League Hoops Poll The Saluki women’s basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, and junior Nicole Martin has been selected to the five-member preseason All-MVC Team.

Back-to-back defending MVC champion Drake was projected to finish first, followed

by Northern Iowa. Missouri State, SIU and Illinois State rounded out the top-five.

The Salukis, under the direction of Head Coach Cindy Stein, finished 17-14 overall and earned the fourth seed in the MVC Tournament with an 11-7 mark a year ago. SIU returns an experienced nucleus of 12 letterwinners from last season.

Stein says some aspects of success can be controlled if everyone is going in the same direction. “We need to concentrate on getting better regardless of who gets the credit,” she says. “I feel like we have a great nucleus of veterans combined with talented new kids, so the key will be how we can improve every single day.”

The returnees are led by 2018 All-MVC first team selection Martin, as well as 2018 MVC Freshman of the Year Abby Brockmeyer.

Martin had a breakout sophomore

campaign in which she led the team in scoring and finished the regular season ranked in the top-15 in the Valley in six statistical categories, while Brockmeyer led all MVC freshmen in rebounds, blocks, offensive rebounds, and defensive rebounds.

The lone loss from last season’s squad was a big one – guard/forward Kylie Giebelhausen was second on the team in scoring, blocked shots and paced the Salukis in minutes played.

SIU prepared for the MVC portion of the season by playing a solid non-conference schedule, highlighted by the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout in Las Vegas, one of the premier tournaments in the country. At press time, the Salukis were set to battle a field consisting of five teams that played in the NCAA Tournament a year ago (Arizona State, Baylor, Buffalo, Louisville, South Dakota State) and a sixth, Georgetown, that advanced to the second round of the WNIT. Southern brings back the bulk of its statistical production from last season with a roster that includes seven underclassmen and eight upperclassmen. The Salukis return

MVC first-team pick Nicole Martin.

81.8 percent of their scoring output from last year, 85.9 percent of their rebounds, 81.3 percent of their steals and 79.2 percent of their assists.

One new face on the bench will need little introduction, as Jody Adams-Birch returns to SIU as an assistant coach.

“I am thrilled about the opportunity to have Jody join our staff,” says Stein. “She is a winner, successful as a player, assistant, and head coach. The knowledge she will bring to an already outstanding staff is invaluable.’

During her coaching career, Adams-Birch spent nine seasons as a collegiate head coach at Wichita State, where she compiled a school record 161 wins, with three Missouri Valley Conference championships and a trio of NCAA Tournament appearances. She served as SIU associate head coach and recruiting coordinator under Dana Eikenberg for three seasons (2004-07), helping Southern claim its first-ever MVC regular season title in 2006-07.

The Salukis open league play Jan. 4 against Evansville at the SIU Arena.

Maier Wins MVC Cross Country Title Saluki senior Josh Maier captured the men’s individual title at the 2018 MVC Cross Country Championships, while fellow SIU runners Cain Hassim and Megan Krolak each earned top-15 finishes.

Maier’s win is the 12th individual title in school history and the first for a Saluki since Dan Dunbar took home the title in 2010. Krolak’s top-15 finish, meanwhile, is the first for a Saluki woman since 2014. As a team, the Saluki men finished sixth due to a tiebreaker and the women came in seventh.

11 of SIU’s 12 runners set personal-bests, including all six women.

“His smile coming down the final stretch was just fun to watch,” says SIU Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Coach Rosalind Joseph. “Watching Josh finish

MVC individual champion Josh Maier.

out a stellar season as MVC cross country champion was only fitting. He’s been a man on a mission all season, and his work ethic is deserving of this win. Those are the guys this program will remember.”

Maier entered the race with the secondfastest 8K performance in the Valley this season and held on to that distinction at the MVC event on the Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Illinois, by finishing with a personalbest of 23:57.18. That was more than 20 seconds faster than his previous best time and seven seconds ahead of Michael Ward of host school Bradley.

Rebel with a Cause

BY BARB EIDLIN

L

ee England Jr. ‘08 is a rebel. He’ll tell you so himself. While studying violin performance and music business at Southern Illinois University, he expressed it through his dress, wearing tuxes and tales around campus, with his hair styled in dreads and Timberland boots or all black tennis shoes.

That rebelliousness exists in the Waukegan native’s business life, too, as he prefers to earn his daily bread as a street performer in cities around the world, and allows him to be choosey about which “real gigs” he accepts. It’s also one of the reasons he was one of the first non-athletes signed by Nike to the Michael Jordan brand.

Even his early relationship with the instrument that would bring him fame and fortune started with rebellion. He started playing violin as a six year old after seeing a demonstration at school.

“I was completely taken by the sound of the violin. But when I tried to play one and I couldn’t make it sound the same, I actually thought it was broken and I then I wanted to quit,” England says.

But England’s father, Lee Sr., knew that if his son started practicing, he’d soon improve and most likely love the instrument.

“So he told me if I would just practice for 15 minutes a day, he would think about letting me quit. So I started practicing. But a funny thing happened. I got a lot better and then I didn’t want to put it down,” England says.

England played violin all through elementary, middle, and high school, and was concertmaster in all three venues. He describes his younger self as a very extroverted player, with a very good ear, who was into playing basketball, but a fairly mediocre student.

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“However, the same rebelliousness that I later tapped into in a positive way, at that time had impelled me along a tragic and ty pical path for a young man like myself in that environment and that community,” England says.

During the summer after high school his parents divorced, and England admits to feeling lost.

“It was an emotionally complicated time for me, but toward the end of that summer I had an awakening. I realized that the way I was leading my life was not the best life for me,” England says.

When he reviewed his options, he realized attending college was probably his best bet. So with two weeks to go before the start of the semester, he enrolled at SIU Carbondale.

“My mother, Sylvia, went to SIU, so it made sense that I would, too.

We drove down there a week before school was supposed to start and she got me settled into the dorms, and the next thing I knew, I was a Saluki,” England says.

And though England ended up with three degrees in music, he started his time at SIU with every intention of never playing the violin again.

“I was going to be a business man. But then I met Karen Clayton, who worked in the School of Music, and she started asking me about the things I did in high school. I told her about being on the chess team, and playing basketball, and being a concert master, and she said ‘You play violin? Did you know you can do music and business?’ and I said, ‘OK, let’s do that,’” England says.

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The day England made that decision was also the same day the School of Music had open auditions. Since he had his violin with him at school, he took a chance and auditioned.

“I ran back to my dorm, grabbed my violin, came back, looked over the music, and sight read what was there. I got into the first section of the Civic Orchestra and got placed all the way back in the symphony, and that was the beginning of the next level of my life.” England says.

Until he began studying at SIU, the only time England had private lessons was as a little kid. Up until then his curriculum had been the “band stuff they make you play,” and very little else.

“I had never studied classical technique. In regional high school competitions I noticed that many of the students from other schools were better than me, but I never knew why. And then I started studying classical technique, and my eyes opened,” he says.

Before he got to SIU no one had “fed” him at that level. He had been reading music, but had no one challenged him. His ear was so good that he would have something memorized almost immediately after hearing it. But he was playing what he heard, not what was on the page.

“I actually learned the Mendelssohn Concerto without looking at sheet music. But I had never explored phrasing, or chord structure.

And though I had some friction with some of my professors, they taught me how to practice,” England says.

And practice can be tedious, so England would do different things to entertain himself while practicing. He experimented with a metronome, playing at different speeds. From this he learned to approach the violin from a vocal standpoint. That phrasing and breathing are similar. And he began to progress.

He also learned that for him, things happen for a reason. When an assistantship with the School of Music fell through, he ended up teaching violin to third graders at Lewis Elementary School in Carbondale, Illinois, which taught him how to teach beginners.

When he realized he was spending his social time with friends who were performance majors, he took the upper divisional exams, passed with f lying colors, and added a third major, in performance, to his ambitions. And then, during his junior year, his father passed away.

“The last time I saw him alive was at breakfast the morning after I won $1,000 for a charity in a talent contest on campus. I remember the look in his eyes. How proud he was that I had gone from the 6–year-old wanting to quit to winning a contest. That was also the moment I knew that there was something to the style of playing I had developed,” England says.

Losing his father was difficult, but he got a lot of support from different sources on campus.

“Dr. (Seymour) Bryson and Father (Joseph) Brown kept me close.

They helped create a scholarship for me and raised thousands of dollars to get me a proper instrument. And they helped me want to give back. So in my last few semesters I ended up playing for sometimes 13 hours a day, playing in churches, and helping students,” England says.

“My education at SIU was invaluable to me. I learned to stop compartmentalizing each subject – and to start making connections

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“Its heady stuff, and street performing keeps me grounded.

It’s what I come back to.

It’s my Carnegie Hall.”

between all of them. When the education was put in my hands, I thrived. When I stopped grouping things like islands and started to approach them as one land mass, I started getting straight A’s. I give my mom a lot of credit for that,” England says.

Real Life After graduation, England got a job as an elementary school teacher in Chicago, and spent his free time as a street performer while he tried to figure out how to get on bigger stages.

In 2009 he auditioned for MTV’s “Making His Band,” a talent show in which performers competed to be a part of a new band. His audition was so powerful that the production team changed the rules to allow “non-traditional” instruments to be considered.

England capitalized on that success by going on to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Mo Nique Show, perform in concert with stars like Stevie Wonder, Babyface, and K’Jon, and open for rappers Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri, and Akon among others.

During this time he also produced, composed, and starred in several BET commercials. But he continued to hone his skills through street performing.

“I approached street performing as a scientist. I found out what songs I could play that would stop a person dead in their tracks. And then, armed with that knowledge, I would play on stage somewhere where there was a captive audience and knew they had no idea what was going to hit them,” England says.

In 2010, while touring with the R & B singer K’Jon, England ended up at the Fabulous 23 Dinner during the 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend in Dallas, Texas, a star-studded affair where Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Amad Rashad mingled with the likes of Michael Jordan and Spike Lee. England was not the headliner – K’Jon had been hired to play background music for the cocktail party before the main event and England was just a guy in his employ. But K’Jon gave England a few minutes to perform solo, and the rest is history.

“I played everything from centuries-old classical pieces to Jay Z and Biggie. The star power in that room was so intimidating that I had to keep my eyes closed while playing. But at the end of it, everybody in the room was fi xated on me,” England says.

And that included Michael Jordan who was there to greet him when he came off stage. “MJ said, ‘I’m going to take care of you.’ I didn’t have any idea at that time what that meant,” England says.

He soon found out. After England’s tour finished, the Jordan Brand began sending him clothes, shoes, and after several weeks, a contract.

“Whatever Michael Jordan saw in me in that short time was enough for him to recruit me as one of the first non-athletes signed to the Jordan Brand. And that recognition has opened doors for me that I didn’t even know existed,” England says.

After signing with Jordan, England began performing halft ime shows for the NBA and became one of their most sought after halft ime performers.

In 2014 he was commissioned to compose music for, and star in, a Super Bowl XLVII commercial. In 2016 he performed at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles for an audience that included George Lucas, Elton John, Lady Gaga, and Quincy Jones.

From that performance, Jones ended up producing a showcase performance for England at the Geffen’s Gil Cates Theatre, and signing England to his management company, Quincy Jones Productions.

During all of this, England kept up his street performing, moving to Venice Beach for five years, and then to New York City, where he now resides.

“Street performing feeds into the business side of music. It allows me to choose which gigs I want to take. It boils down to sheer volume.

I made more street performing when I played one of the big festivals in New Orleans, than I did as a performer on their main stage. Plus I sold thousands of CD’s,” England says.

England says he will always return to street performing. It represents his roots.

“A few years ago I did an event for Bono’s (of U2 fame) ONE Foundation after which he hopped up on stage and thanked me. Two years later I got a call from them asking for me to play a private event with the ONE Foundation’s Board of Directors. You can imagine the illustriousness of the people in that room,” England says.

In other words, England is the person Bono calls to entertain him after he entertains thousands of fans at a sold out Madison Square Garden.

“Its heady stuff, and street performing keeps me grounded. It’s what I come back to. It’s my Carnegie Hall. To quote Carlos Santana, ‘As a musician you have to know where you’re going - straight to the listener’s heart to tell them that they’re loved and they can change the world.’ and I believe that,” England says.

And England is working to change the world, one heart at a time, through the non-profit organization he founded called Love Notes.

“I am from Waukegan, and benefited directly from the philanthropy of the great entertainer Jack Benny. He donated money to the fine arts so that someone like myself could emerge. And I did. And so I have an obligation to respond to his vision and his philanthropy with the same. So now, in my home town, we have one of the biggest string programs in the whole county. It’s like an orchestra music fine arts oasis,” England says.

So what comes next? Carnegie Hall, of course.

“I recently did a walkthrough of the venue and got an estimate. The event I’m planning will take place in 2019, so I have about a year to sell 2,804 tickets. But in reality, it’s already sold out,” England says.

England is also, and always, working on music, and has plans to produce one more “cover” CD, before concentrating on his own vocal music, composition and production.

To find out more about Lee England, Jr. visit his website at: leeenglandjr.com or visit him on Facebook to track his progress toward Carnegie Hall.

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Blairs Receive Association Achievement Award for Service

Association Hosts Annual Wrigley Field Gathering

BY CALEB HALE “Jim, Vicki, and their Salukis are fixtures of the SIU community,” said Rick Wysocki ’83, ’85, president of the SIU Alumni Association Board of Directors. “They’re loyal fans through and through, but I don’t think they realize just how much joy they bring to the students, alumni and friends. We can’t thank them enough for their time and generosity, but this award is a small token of our appreciation for their service to SIU.” Jim and Vicki Blair receive the SIU Alumni Association Achievement Award The Blairs have raised for Service from Ricky Wysocki (right), president of the Association’s Salukis for many years now.

National Board of Directors.

They now care for 11 dogs.

“We are pleasantly The SIU Alumni Association has given surprised and very appreciative to be one of its highest honors to Jim and chosen for such an honor,” said Vicki Vicki Blair of Energy, Illinois for their Blair. “We love SIU and love that everyone dedication to enhancing campus life there has made us feel like part of with the inclusion of their Saluki dogs at the family. Jim and I are honored and university events. humbled by this recognition.”

The SIU Alumni Association Achievement Award for Service is presented only to those individuals who have demonstrated the highest commitments to helping the Association support Southern Illinois University.

The Blairs have been loyal Saluki fans, and their dogs have graced many alumni events, as well as sporting events, open houses and other student activities for a number of years, giving students and alumni the chance to interact with the living embodiment of the legendary SIU mascot. For this and more, they are this year’s recipients of the achievement Jim Blair and two of his Saluki dogs at Saluki Stadium. award.

The Blairs received the award at the annual Alumni Association and SIU Foundation luncheon on Oct. 19.

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The SIU Alumni Association hosted its annual SIU Day at Wrigley Field Friday, September 28, gathering hundreds of Chicagoland alumni to the Cubby Bear Lounge prior to the Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals game that afternoon.

This tradition was started back in the late 1970s by alumnus George Loukas ’73, former owner of the Cubby Bear, which is now managed by his children. SIU Day at Wrigley has been going for more than 40 years.

Saluki alumni were treated to a pregame meal and drinks, provided by the Cubby Bear, where they also heard from university leaders. Afterwards, they enjoyed the baseball game, where the Cubs beat the Cardinals, 8-4.

UPCOMING EVENTS Textbook Awards Ceremony Jan. 14, SIU Student Center 14Th Annual St. Louis Trivia Night Jan. 25, Shrewsbury Center Alumni Gathering @ Loyola Jan. 27, Location TBA

SIU Alumni Association Board Names Local Attorney Honorary Director

BY CALEB HALE

A local attorney and longtime friend of the SIU Alumni Association has been granted the status of Honorary Director by the organization’s national board of directors.

John W. Huffman, a partner in the Gilbert, Huffman, Prosser, Hewson & Barke, Ltd. law firm in Carbondale, Illinois, has served as the legal counsel for the Association since 1973, providing crucial guidance during some of the most critical times in the organization’s history. He has also been an adjunct professor in the SIU School of Law, as well as a lifetime member of the Association.

Huffman is the first person ever to be granted the status of Honorary Director on the board, which, under the organization’s bylaws, is allowed by a majority vote of board members and given to individuals deemed to have valuable institutional or historical knowledge. The board voted in early November to ratify the special appointment.

As an Honorary Director, Huffman has the right to attend meetings and, when appointed, serve on committees of the board.

“John Huffman has been a devoted friend to the SIU Alumni Association for decades. His counsel has been a rock from which hundreds of board members over the years could make sound decisions,” says Rick Wysocki ’83, ’85, president of the SIU Alumni Association National Board of Directors. “We can’t imagine him not having a role on this board, which is why members made the unprecedented move of granting him Honorary Director status. There’s simply no one more deserving.”

Huffman was previously honored by the organization in 2003 with the SIU Alumni Association Achievement Award for Distinguished Service, which is given to those who exemplify a history of outstanding service to the Association in its mission to support Southern Illinois University.

Association Hosts ’68 Reunion, Alumni Band Group for Homecoming

The SIU Alumni Association participated in a variety of activities as a major sponsor of 2018 Homecoming festivities on campus, including its tradition Half-Century Club Induction Ceremony and the annual Alumni Band Group Reunion.

The Association inducted 34 alumni from the Class of 1968, who returned to campus for their 50-year reunion, into the

Half-Century Club on Friday, October 19.

Reunion participants also enjoyed a campus tour, social gatherings, and the opportunity to ride in the Homecoming Parade.

Approximately 100 individuals participated in the annual Alumni Band Group Reunion, also held Friday, October 19 in the SIU Student Center. Per usual, participants were treated to a performance by the Marching Salukis and got the opportunity to march in a half-time show with the band during the Saturday football game.

In addition to its traditional events, the Association also took part in a university block party, held earlier in the week near Pulliam Hall. More than 600 students and community members participated in the

event, which featured games and food vendors from the region.

The Association also hosted a station in front of the Student Center Saturday afternoon, treating alumni and Association members to drinks and giveaways.

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Get Connected, Get Involved With Alumni Near You Setting Up An Alumni Club In Three Easy Steps

BY CATHIE MELDIEZIS DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT RELATIONS One of the most frequently asked questions of the SIU Alumni Association is, how do I start gathering alumni and hosting events in support of Southern Illinois University? With thousands of alumni across the country, and many naturally want to connect with fellow Salukis, who live nearby.

As the new Director of Constituent Relations for the Association, overseeing chapters, clubs, and groups across the U.S., I’ve had the opportunity in recent weeks to discuss with alumni their wishes to be more engaged in gathering support for their alma mater. It begins with simply organizing your local alumni for events and activities in what will start as an alumni club. The process of setting up any club can be boiled down into three steps:

1. FIND OUT HOW MANY ALUMNI LIVE NEAR YOU First, you’re going to want to know how many alumni live in your general area. On the Association’s website, siualumni.com, click the link titled “Where Do Alumni Live?” There, you will be taken to a map that breaks down alumni numbers by state and zip code. Alternatively, you may also contact the Association office at (618) 4532408 to get the information as well. Due to privacy rules, the Association cannot distribute the specific contact information for these individuals.

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2. START A PETITION If, after consulting with the Association, it’s determined there are enough alumni in a specific area to pursue a club, we can then begin the process of identifying interested parties through various communications. This will also be the point you’re asked to use this information to secure 25 local signatures of Association members on a formal petition to organize as a club.

3. HAVE YOUR CLUB RATIFIED Once all signatures are secured, the petition will be submitted by the constituent relations director to the SIU Alumni Association National Board of Directors. Board members will consider ratifying the petition during the one of their bi-annual meetings on campus. Once ratified, the club will become official and the process of planning a schedule of events and activities can begin.

Once an alumni club is shown to be continuously active and experiencing growing participation for no less than two years, a club may be apply for a charter, which would grant it the status of an official chapter of the Association.

In addition to clubs and chapters, the Association also supports alumni groups, which involve graduates who have a common affiliation. For more information on this process, please contact the Association during regular business hours, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Cathie Mieldezis ‘89, MS Ed. ‘06 joined the Association staff as Director of Constituent Relations in September. She can be reached at cathiem@alumni.siu.edu.

Design Phase on Saluki Alumni Plaza Begins

BY CALEB HALE Initial design and planning for Saluki Alumni Plaza began this past fall, as the SIU Alumni Association moves forward on the structure that will become a new landmark for students and alumni visiting campus.

John Medwedeff ’86, ’91, an independent studio sculptor and metal smith of Murphysboro, Illinois, has been tapped to create the three Saluki statues that will adorn the plaza space, which will be located between Pulliam and Woody halls. The three dogs represent past, present, and future students of SIU. Medwedeff had live Salukis in his studio earlier this year for measuring and

sketching. From these elements, mock-ups of the final sculptures will begin to take shape.

The Association’s national board of directors committed to financing a portion of the $320,000 project in the spring.

The Association, in conjunction with the SIU Foundation, are now fundraising to secure contributions for the remaining balance. Official are set to open the plaza for Homecoming 2019 to commemorate the university’s 150th anniversary.

DONATE TO SALUKI ALUMNI PLAZA You can learn more and contribute to the plaza by visiting siualumni.com.

Sculptor John Medwedeff ’86, ’91 sketches the head of a live Saluki in his studio for the planning and design phase of Saluki Alumni Plaza.

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IN MEMORIAM

BYDALEK, Grace M., ’42 9/17/2018, Kankakee, Ill. EASTERLY, Thomas A., ex ‘42 10/14/2018, Hot Springs Village, Ark. MUCK, Catherine E., ex ‘42 9/2/2018, Tunnel Hill, Ill. PURDUE, Joyce L., ‘42 8/10/2018, Jefferson City, Tenn.

CIVITELLO, Dorothy M., ‘45 8/13/2018, Walnut Creek, Calif.

CAMPBELL, Sherell E., ‘49 8/27/2018, Bloomington, Ill. DEAN, William C., ‘49 2/9/2018, Hoover, Ala. KITTLE, R. D., ‘49 8/1/2018, Pompano Beach, Fla. MANN, Roberta B., ex ‘49 8/29/2018, Spring, Texas WILEY, Harlan D., ex ‘49 9/11/2018, Yorkville, Ill. FLY, Martha S., ’50, ’52 M.S.Ed. 1/30/2018, Highland Park, Ill. BOSWELL, Donald W., ‘51 10/5/2018, Memphis, Tenn.

GOLDSMITH, Clarence H., ’51, ’55 M.S.Ed. 5/31/2018, Caseyville, Ill. MCCOY, Janet O., ‘51 8/4/2018, Marion, Ill. COLLINS, Thomas W., ‘52 8/19/2018, Moorhead, Minn.

SCHIFF, Daniel J., ex ‘52 9/9/2018, Johnston City, Ill. BENTON, James W., ‘55 10/21/2018, Marion, Ill. BRUBAKER, Billy R., ’55, ’56 M.A. 9/28/2018, Tallahassee, Fla. DEJARNETT, Fern B., ‘55 10/1/2018, Belleville, Ill. PHILLIPS, Martin T., ‘55 10/8/2018, Warrensburg, Mo. JEFFERS, William B., ‘56 7/22/2018, Mount Carmel, Ill. RENDLEMAN, Russell L., ‘56 10/14/2018, Trenton, Ill. BLALOCK, Jimmie R., ’57, ’58 M.S.Ed. 9/24/2018, Streator, Ill. HEDGES, Thomas V., ’57, ’60 M.S. 9/4/2018, Dallas, Texas KROEGER, Henry E., ’57 7/28/2018, Cobden, Ill. LONG, Wanda J., ‘57 8/26/2018, Franklin, Ind. SPILLER, Shirley B., ‘57 7/31/2018, Marion, Ill. WILHITE, Lora, ex ‘57 8/13/2018, Carlinville, Ill. BELLINA, Robert H., ’58, ’62 M.S.Ed. 8/15/2018, O’Fallon, Ill. BISHOP, Gloria P., ‘58 10/11/2018, Herrin, Ill. BOATRIGHT, Freddrick M., ‘58 10/8/2018, Saint Charles, Mo. BOURLAND, Elizabeth M., ‘58 8/21/2018, Godfrey, Ill. MEYER, Herbert J., ’58, ’59 M.S. 6/26/2018, Carbondale, Ill.

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SIU ALUMNI WINTER 2018

REVELLE, Harry J., ’58, ’63 M.S.Ed. 9/28/2018, Energy, Ill. WOOD, Gerald D., ‘58 9/25/2018, Homer, Ill. EDWARDS, Robert E., ’59, ’60 M.S. 7/1/2018, Paducah, Ky. GREENLEE, Wilma M., ‘59 10/19/2018, Carterville, Ill. HELBERG, Ronald C., ‘59 8/6/2018, Barrington, Ill. LOOS, Paul R., ‘59 7/20/2018, Englewood, Colo.

MILES, Eileen B., ‘59 5/22/2018, Grand Chain, Ill. BISHOP, Joyce N., ‘60 8/12/2018, Bloomington, Ill. GRODZICKI, John, ‘60 6/29/2018, Shawnee, Kan. HOLZ, William C., ’60 Ph.D. 10/7/2018, Perkasie, Pa. RUDDY, Timothy F., ‘60 10/3/2018, Cape Girardeau, Mo. WALLER, Donald R., ‘60 2/1/2018, Monte Vista, Colo.

YOCKS, Donna W., ‘60 8/29/2018, Saint Peters, Mo. FLEMING, David W., ‘61 8/6/2018, Litchfield, Ill. PFAFF, Nancy B., ’61, ’64 M.S.Ed. 8/15/2018, Carbondale, Ill. VARNUM, Gerald G., ‘61 8/29/2018, Pinckneyville, Ill. VICK, Beverly A., ‘61 8/10/2018, Springfield, Ill. CHILDERS, J.R., ‘62 8/29/2018, Michigan City, Ind. DOWLING, Peter, ex ‘62 8/10/2018, Old Lyme, Conn.

KARR, Sharon S., ’62 M.S.Ed., ’70 Ph.D. 7/19/2018, Emporia, Kan. LU, John C., ’62 M.A. 8/16/2018, Reno, Nev. MCCLURE, George R., ‘62 9/23/2018, White Hall, Ill. NICHOLS, Maureen C., ’62 M.S. 9/1/2018, Ann Arbor, Mich.

PEHLMAN, Joseph E., ’62 M.S. 8/19/2018, Malden, Mo. SIMON, Charles W., ‘62 9/21/2018, Carbondale, Ill. STRONGE, Karen L., ex ‘62 6/21/2018, Nipomo, Calif.

UTLEY, Dorothy L., ‘62 10/17/2018, Tifton, Ga. WHITTENBERG, James M., ‘62 10/18/2018, Chester, Ill. BRAINARD, Charles T., ‘63 10/5/2018, Lincoln, Ill. CANUPP, Jessalyn A., ‘63 9/16/2018, Benton, Ky. GLENN, Eleanor M., ‘63 9/30/2018, Mount Vernon, Ill. HANSON, Edward R., ‘63 9/29/2018, Edwardsville, Ill. HERRING, Zennie G., ‘63 9/1/2018, Collinsville, Ill.

NEAL, Fred L., ‘63 7/18/2018, Marion, Ill. REID, Robert H., ‘63 8/15/2018, Carbondale, Ill. TERMUENDE, Edwin A., ‘63 8/20/2018, Council Bluffs, Iowa TRIGGS, Wandalee B., ’63, ’75 M.S.Ed. 5/31/2018, Fairfield, Ill. DELGADO, Herman M., ’64 M.S. 10/10/2017, Cape Girardeau, Mo. HICKS, John R., ‘64 8/4/2018, Mount Vernon, Ill. JOHNSON, Roger R., ’64, ’80 M.S. 7/20/2018, Wayne City, Ill. MARSEILLES, Ruth A., ‘64 4/19/2018, Bloomington, Ill. ROSS, Billy I., ’64 Ph.D. 10/8/2018, Lubbock, Texas THYGESEN, Dennis L., ’64, ’66 M.A. 7/13/2018, Ukiah, Calif.

ZIMMERMAN, Melvin L., ‘64 8/12/2018, Hillsboro, Ill. GRAVES, Audrey B., ex ‘65 7/31/2018, Mendon, Ill. JOHNSON, Karen S., ‘65 8/9/2018, Aurora, Ill. KRUKEWITT, Charles W., ’65, ’66 M.S. 7/18/2018, Dixon, Ill. LAUTERBACH, Jay M., ‘65 9/2/2018, Springfield, Ill. MYERS, Richard M., ‘65 9/8/2018, Pittsford, N.Y. RADKIEWICZ, Edward F., ’65, ’65 M.A. 10/2/2018, Hebron, Ill. RONGEY, Robert W., ‘65 9/21/2018, Los Angeles, Calif.

RUNGE, Keith A., ‘65 8/17/2018, Rochester, Ill. COVINGTON, Joe J., ‘66 9/30/2018, Cortland, N.Y. HOPKINS, Bill, ‘66 10/14/2018, Marion, Ill. RASMUSSEN, Paul E., ’66 M.A., ’69 Ph.D. 8/5/2018, Springfield, Ill. STANISZEWSKI, Thomas P., ‘66 8/21/2018, Palos Hills, Ill. BROCK, Glenda K., ‘67 8/28/2018, Murray, Ky. CASH, Charles I., ’67, ’69 M.B.A. 7/30/2018, Benton, Ill. CHISNELL, Sandra S., ‘67 9/11/2018, Clinton Township, Mich.

COSTA, Thomas F., ‘67 8/15/2018, Jacksonville, N.C. CRAIN, Victoria L., ‘67 10/5/2018, Carterville, Ill. GRUEN, Clemens A., ’67 M.S. 9/2/2018, Conway, Ark. OLSON, John, ‘67 9/4/2018, Dekalb, Ill. PAVELONIS, Charles G., ‘67 10/15/2018, Cedar Falls, Iowa WATSON, Gary G., ‘67 5/25/2018, Brownstown, Ill.

DINGERSON, Michael R., ’68, ’71 M.S.Ed., ’74 Ph.D. 7/30/2018, Norfolk, Va. KASTNING, Allen W., ‘68 3/2/2018, Elgin, Ill. STEWART, Thomas J., ’68, ’70 M.S.Ed. 10/1/2018, Bay Minette, Ala. YAEGER, Leroy R., ‘68 7/25/2018, Lebanon, Ill. BAIRD, Van K., ‘69 9/7/2018, Eldorado, Ill. BROOKS, Esther M., ’69, ’71 M.A., ’87 Ph.D. 9/16/2018, Chapel Hill, N.C. LAWRENCE, Jerry E., ‘69 8/29/2018, Carterville, Ill. THOMPSON, James A., ‘69 7/18/2018, Eureka, Mont.

ELLISON, John W., ‘70 9/11/2018, Charlotte, N.C. HIPPENSTEEL, Ned L., ’70, ’83 M.S. 8/23/2018, Galesburg, Ill. LUCHANSKY, James M., ‘70 10/19/2018, Mokena, Ill. MIELKE, Donna M., ‘70 8/23/2018, Saint Charles, Ill. SHABAN, Roman A., ‘70 8/7/2018, Round Lake Beach, Ill. BERESTITZKY, Larry S., ‘71 7/13/2018, New Orleans, La. CUNNINGHAM, James F., ‘71 8/16/2018, Riviera Beach, Fla. DRNDIC, Dasa, ’71 M.A. 6/5/2018, Rijeka, Croatia HUTSON, Terry C., ‘71 9/4/2018, Sesser, Ill. MIATKE, Phillip J., ‘71 7/21/2018, Sterling, Ill. NEWMAN, Isadore, ’71 Ph.D. 10/3/2018, Miami, Fla. SCHWENDLER, Carl G., ’71 M.S.Ed. 9/6/2018, Green Bay, Wis. DAVIS, John L., ‘72 10/16/2018, West Frankfort, Ill. GARZA, Jane M., ‘72 8/17/2018, Chicago, Ill. KMENT, Robert E., ‘72 9/7/2018, Long Valley, N.J. LUKAS, Connie W., ‘72 11/24/2017, Longwood, Fla. MAIN, J.S., ‘72 8/31/2018, Cape Coral, Fla. TYLER, Thomas A., ‘72 7/23/2018, New Lenox, Ill. KITTRELL, Ethel J., ’73 Ph.D. 8/14/2018, Edwardsville, Ill. MITCHELL, Samuel W., ‘73 10/5/2018, South Holland, Ill. EDWARDS, Jean S., ‘74 12/16/2017, Lockport, Ill. MORALES, Charles L., ‘74 8/9/2018, Rockford, Ill. HILLIARD, Cary E., ‘75 7/29/2018, Lexington, Ky. GRAY, Jeffrey G., ‘76 7/21/2018, Lebanon, Ill.

HAYES, John L., ‘76 8/17/2018, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. MARTIN, Andrew J., ‘76 7/30/2018, Marion, Ill. WITTENAUER, Timothy J., ‘76 8/17/2018, Freeburg, Ill. BARNES, Sheila M., ‘77 9/30/2018, Chesterland, Ohio BRUCE, Silas, ‘77 7/25/2018, Portland, Texas VINEYARD, Melvin C., ‘77 1/7/2018, Chesterfield, Mich.

WATKINS, Alan G., ‘77 9/1/2018, Scottsdale, Ariz.

BATISTA, David E., ’78 J.D. 5/31/2018, Broomall, Pa. BRUHN, Willian K., ‘78 8/1/2018, Denton, Texas MORIN, Ronald E., ‘78 10/12/2018, Ravenwood, Mo. YAMBERT, Jens A., ’78, ’81 M.D. 8/31/2018, Urbana, Ill. WHITE, Lalura R., ’79 M.D. 3/4/2018, Brooklyn, N.Y. KOEN, Charles E., ’80 M.S. 7/20/2018, Cairo, Ill. MIKITA, Joseph V., ‘80 9/6/2018, Jacksonville, Ark. BILYEW, Sandra L., ‘81 8/17/2018, Robinson, Ill. COONAN, Lisa M., ’81 M.S.Ed. 7/14/2018, San Antonio, Texas WIESER, James P., ’81 M.S.Ed. 4/30/2018, Mchenry, Ill. AUSTIN, David C., ’82 M.A. 10/8/2018, Jefferson City, Mo. DANKO, John R., ‘82 10/2/2018, Boonville, Ind. GILLESPIE, Thomas V., ‘82 10/7/2018, Champaign, Ill. LANNAMANN, Maureen A., ‘82 9/12/2018, Moore, S.C. MANIER, William Z, ‘82 9/30/2018, Oakdale, Ill. TRUESDALE, George A., ‘82 8/9/2018, Burbank, Ill. JONES, Stanley G., ‘83 5/21/2018, Derwood, Md. MILLER, Willard G., ‘83 9/24/2018, Sun City, Ariz.

SKAGGS, Tami L., ‘83 10/20/2018, Springfield, Ill. OLIVER, Charles W., ‘84 10/11/2018, Bountiful, Utah THACKER, Russell S., ‘84 9/21/2018, Knoxville, Tenn.

WEISENSEE, William J., ‘84 8/14/2018, Woodbine, Ga. SMITH, Patricia L., ‘85 8/25/2018, Carterville, Ill. GULDEMANN, Melissa, ‘87 9/15/2018, Glencoe, Minn.

Chancellor Carlo Montemagno Passes Away

Dr. Carlo Montemagno, chancellor of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 in St. Louis. He was 62.

Montemagno was appointed chancellor by the SIU Board of Trustees in July of 2017 and began his tenure on campus Aug. 15, 2017. Montemagno had announced during the summer that he was undergoing treatment for cancer. Despite this, he remained an active presence in the SIU community up until his death.

His brief tenure was marked by an ambitious plan to restructure SIU and make it more relevant and responsive to the needs of the modern college student. Dr. Montemagno spent much of his time working with faculty, staff and students on campus to see this plan take shape.

Dr. Montemagno was an internationally recognized expert in nanotechnology and biomedical engineering, focusing his work on linking multiple disciplines to solve problems in areas of health, energy and the environment.

Before coming to SIU, he founded the interdisciplinary Ingenuity Lab based at the University of Alberta in Canada. He also served as director of the biomaterials program for the Canadian Research Council’s National Institute for Nanotechnology, as well as research chair in intelligent nanosystems for the Canadian National Research Council. Prior to that, he was the founding dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and a professor of bioengineering at the University of Cincinnati. He also served as a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, founding chair of the Department of Bioengineering and co-director of the NASA Center for Cell Mimetic Space Exploration at the University of California, Los Angeles.

His other roles in life included serving as director of the biomedical engineering graduate program and associate professor at Cornell University, group leader in the environmental research division at Argonne National Laboratories at the University of Chicago, and as a U.S. naval officer working with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Dr. Montemagno received a number of awards for his scientific work, including the Feynman Prize for Experimental Work in Nanotechnology, the Earth Award Grand Prize and the CNBC Business Top 10 Green Innovator award. He was named a Bill & Melinda Gates Grand Challenge Winner for his development of an oral vaccine delivery system that increased vaccine stability. He was named a fellow for the American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineering, the American Academy for Nanomedicine and the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts.

Montemagno obtained his bachelor’s degree in agricultural and biological engineering from Cornell University in New York, a master’s degree in petroleum and natural gas engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and a doctoral degree in civil engineering and geological sciences from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

He is survived by Pamela, his wife of more than 40 years, two children, as well as five grandchildren.

41

IN MEMORIAM

HUNT, Guy R., ‘87 7/19/2018, Petersburg, Ill. RIESCH, Kay T., ’88, ’95 M.A. 9/20/2018, O’Fallon, Ill. EHLERS, Bradley D., ‘89 8/20/2018, Campbell Hill, Ill. KRAUS, Carol A., ‘89 7/30/2018, Freeburg, Ill. HASELTINE, Jeffrey O., ’90 Ph.D. 7/28/2018, Abilene, Texas TAPIO, Tim W., ‘90 10/9/2018, Springfield, Ill. WOODS, William P., ’90 J.D. 9/30/2018, Evansville, Ind. DANIELS, Jerry R., ‘91 7/19/2018, Evans, Ga. DUGGER, Jean A., ‘91 8/1/2018, Sterling, Ill. TENNANT, Paula L., ‘91 8/25/2018, Lake Villa, Ill. WILSON, Penni J., ‘91 10/6/2018, Chattanooga, Tenn.

OLAS, John J., ‘94 9/28/2018, Crystal Lake, Ill. HOUSER, Kevin, ‘95 8/28/2018, Mahomet, Ill. MOYER, Christopher J., ‘95 7/23/2018, Saint Petersburg, Fla. ALANIZ, Pedro A., ‘96 9/8/2017, Sahuarita, Ariz.

BUDIHAS, Dennis T., ‘96 9/28/2018, Jacksonville, Fla. PIGLIA, Lawrence M., ‘96 9/29/2018, West Frankfort, Ill. DERYCK, Wayne D., ‘98 9/5/2018, Winters, Calif.

TROTTER, Gary L., ‘98 6/24/2018, Kingman, Ariz.

DELAP, Darice A., ’99 Ph.D. 9/29/2018, Panama City Beach, Fla. KENNEY, Heidi K., ’00 M.D. 9/10/2018, Marshfield, Wis. MCGRAW, Kevin L., ‘00 8/24/2018, Chesapeake, Va. FACKER, Robert J., ‘03 8/12/2018, East Peoria, Ill. POPE, Jed M., ‘03 9/9/2018, Folsom, Calif.

SMITH, Cornelia B., ‘03 10/4/2018, Athens, Ga. THOELE, Lyndsie J., ‘03 6/21/2018, Saint Charles, Mo. BELL, Duane L., ‘05 9/15/2018, Mobile, Ala. KERR, Louis A., ‘05 8/14/2018, Marion, Ill. WOOD, William E., ‘05 8/8/2018, Norris City, Ill. REED, Joseph D., ’06 J.D. 7/25/2018, Vincennes, Ind. LAMBOLEY, George F., ‘12 7/21/2018, Seneca, Ill. SULLIVAN, Kenny A., ‘12 7/31/2018, Johnston City, Ill. NELSON, Michael N., ’17 5/26/2018, Chicago, Ill.

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FACULTY/STAFF

BARRY, Jane R. Civil Service - Extra Help Standardized Patient Education and Curriculum - School of Medicine 7/13/2018, Springfield, Ill. BRADLEY, Richard W. Civil Service - Extra Help Technical/ Paraprofessional Education and Curriculum 8/26/2018, Carbondale, Ill. CRELLING, John C. Research Professor Department of Geology 9/27/2018, Carbondale, Ill. HARTLINE, David A. Civil Service - Extra Help Skilled Crafts Physical Plant Service 10/5/2018, Cobden, Ill. JONES, Eileen Civil Service - Extra Help Advanced Clerical Cancer Center Institute & External and Health Affairs 9/16/2018, Sherman, Ill. JONES, Matthew T. Civil Service - Extra Help Capital Planning and Service Operations 7/28/2018, Taylor Springs, Ill. MCKENNEDY, Lisa Specialist, Constituent Development and Fundraising External and Health Affairs 8/22/2018, Springfield, Ill. RANDALL, William D., ’64, ’67 M.S.Ed., ’83 Ph.D. Emeritus, Civil Service - Extra Help Technical/Paraprofessional Undergraduate Admissions 8/3/2018, Herrin, Ill. SYDNOR, Ann Civil Service - Extra Help Standardized Patient Education and Curriculum - School of Medicine 10/18/2018, Springfield, Ill. WARRICK, Vicki L. Civil Service - Nurse, Certified Clinic Internal Medicine Clinic - School of Medicine 9/24/2018, Springfield, Ill.

Coppi, ‘The Face’ Of WSIU, Passes Away

Erv Coppi (right) and Virginia Marmaduke ’33 during a WSIU pledge drive. Photo courtesy of WSIU.

Long-time broadcaster and WSIU-TV personality Ervin “Erv” Coppi died November 14, 2018. He was 92.

A native of Royalton, Illinois, Coppi began his radio broadcast career in 1951. He worked at various stations across the southern Illinois region. Coppi was best known, however, as “The Face” of WSIU. For nearly two decades he hosted programming on a variety of the station’s coverage of local events, on-air pledge drives, as well as a popular movie series, “Movie Theatre Horror Night” and “Comedy Classics.” His presence on WSIU was so ubiquitous that once on a survey conducted by the station, most respondents believed Coppi owned it, as he told SIU Alumni magazine during a 2011 interview.

Coppi attended Southern Illinois University for one year but then entered the U.S. Army during World War II. He served under General George Patton, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, the final conflict in the European theater. His unit received three gold battle stars. Coppi also worked in the office of the SIU president before being hired by WSIU in 1969. He retired from the station in 1993.

Contributions to SIU in Coppi’s memory can be made to the International Friends Club, c/o the SIU Foundation.

The SIU Alumni Association Tradition Fund allows members to continue financial support of scholarships, programs, and events vital to alumni engagement and student success. Take a moment to consider what impact your membership dues have already made, and imagine what your further support through the Tradition Fund could bring to the future of SIU.

siualumni.com/traditionfund

43

CLASS NOTES

Rosser Creates Men’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship

JAMES ROSSER ’62., M.A. ’63, PH.D ’69, SIU Athletics

Campaign Chairman for the Forever SIU campaign, has established the Dr. James M. Rosser Men’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship. The SIU Alumni Association life member was on the Saluki Men’s Basketball team from 1960-62, and in addition to the endowed scholarship, previously started the James M. Rosser ScholarAthlete Scholarship at SIU. During his distinguished career in higher education, Rosser served as president of California State University, Los Angeles, from 1979 to 2013, and was named president emeritus in 2013.

Prior to becoming president at Cal State Los Angeles, he was the vice chancellor of the Department of Education of the State of New Jersey. Earlier he served on the faculty at Southern Illinois University and founded the SIU Black American Studies program in 1968.

Rosser was a recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award in 1982, the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999, and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2003.

“I was extremely grateful for the scholarship from Dr. Rosser,” says SIU football player Malik Haynes, the 2016-17 recipient of the James M. Rosser Scholar-Athlete Scholarship. “As a freshman, the scholarship helped support me through my first year in college.”

Rosser knows the importance of athletics and the development of student-athletes on and off the field. “My best memories center on diverse friends, teammates, faculty, administrators and staff,” he explains. “SIU Athletics played a major role in my development and subsequent success as a professional. It has been and must continue to be a major contributor for educational attainment, economic development, social mobility, and social justice.”

1950s

KEN AND JEAN CONRADY ’58

were recently honored by the Alton Symphony Orchestra during the first concert of the season for their work in serving the community as educators and musicians for the past 60 years. Both taught music in Alton schools for more

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SIU ALUMNI WINTER 2018

than three decades, as well as gave private lessons. The two met while in the orchestra at SIU, both playing French horn. In addition to music education, the pair have been involved with the Greater Alton Concert Association, the Alton Civic Orchestra Guild, the Alton Youth Community Service League, and helped co-found the Alton Youth Symphony.

1970s

VALERI DECASTRIS ’79, ’86

was recently inducted into the 2018 Italian Hall of Fame by the Greater Rockford Italian American Association during its annual awards banquet in October. The group annually honors local Italian Americans who have made significant contributions to the community.

DeCastris lived in Carbondale, Illinois for nearly a decade while earning her degrees in biological sciences and geography and environmental resources at SIU. She was a full-time researcher and manager in the Pollution Control Laboratory. She also engaged in several other civic activities, such as establishing Carbondale’s energy division, establishing an oil recycling depot on campus, and serving on various boards addressing local energy issues. After leaving Carbondale, DeCastris did research work for the Illinois General Assembly and state agencies in Springfield and Rockford.

1980s

NEIL KUNYCKY ’80 has been appointed managing director of the east coast for Mente Group, a business aviation consulting company. In his new role he will be based at Hanscom Field near Boston, Massachusetts. Kunycky has more than 30 years of experience in aircraft sales and services. Sales experience, which

includes work for Beech, Hawker and Bombardier. While at SIU, Kunycky was a member of the national championship-winning precision flight team. He is also a commercial/instrument pilot with more than 2,500 flight hours.

1990s

When United Airlines brought prospective aviation students to campus in October as part of its 20th annual SIU Aviation Career Day, the pilot on board was NIA

WORDLAW ’97. The Houston, Texas, resident was featured on the cover of SIU Alumni magazine’s summer edition in a story written by retired editor GENE GREEN ‘75. Wordlaw, an international pilot for United, was also profiled on the PBS “American Masters” series. (As an African American female, she represents less than 1 percent of commercial airline pilots in the country).

“I conducted the interview over the phone, but we instantly hit it off and hoped that someday our paths might actually cross,” Green says. That happened Homecoming Weekend, when Wordlaw was selected to fly prospective aviation students (including her son, Thaddeus) to SIU – the only university in the country that works with a major airline to fly students to its campus for a career day. “She called to let me know that she had been added to the event at the last moment, and asked if I could come to the SI Airport and meet her faceto-face,” Green recalls. “It was fun to actually meet her and her son, and I can attest that our alumni can be proud of this talented woman.

Nia is enthusiastic, talented, fearless ... and a proud Saluki!”

Parks, School Of Medicine Host Noted Ebola Fighter At Homecoming

SIU Alumni Association National Board of Directors member JEFF

PARKS, M.D. ’76, ’80 and the SIU School of Medicine hosted a special guest for Homecoming in October – Dr. Jerry Brown, medical director of the Eternal Love Winning Africa Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia.

Dr. Brown was an instrumental figure in helping stop the 2014 deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa. Brown was featured as a “Person of the Year” by TIME magazine in 2014 for his efforts. Parks met Brown in March while in Liberia training medical providers in a rural village.

Parks is part of a group of Springfield, Illinois medical and community leaders that has been traveling to the African nation for roughly seven years, offering relief to victims of the country’s civil war. In the past three years the group has provided 500 free surgical procedures, 2,500 clinic patients, and offered additional services like dental and eye care.

BRYAN DURHAM ’98 has been appointed as the executive director of the Illinois Community College Board. His appointment began in December.

Durham has been with the community college board for 16 years, focused on policies pertaining to remedial education reform, apprenticeship expansion programs, as well as transfer programs. He earned his master’s degree at SIU and served six years with the U.S. Army Reserves and Indiana National Guard.

MICHAEL KLITZING ’99 recently received the National Distinguished Professional Award from the National Recreation and Park Association during its annual conference in September. The

award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the parks and recreation field through leadership, research, advocacy, community outreach, or program development.

Klitzing is the chief operating officer for Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation in Carmel, Indiana. The park has won the National Gold Medal Award, the highest honor for municipal park and recreation agencies, under his leadership. The park has also won numerous other accolades for its facilities, programs, and commitment to serving people with disabilities. Klitzing has lent his expertise to several boards and commissions during his career and is a frequent speaker at state and national conferences.

BRETT O’DANIELL ’99, vice president of mortgage lending at Guaranteed Rate in Chesterfield, Missouri, has developed a new smartphone app, HomeTraq, that’s become known as the “Uber of Real Estate.”

The app was designed to streamline the home buying experience, allowing individuals to schedule home tours directly from their devices. O’Daniell says he was inspired by the fact that roughly 65 percent of home buyers today can find properties of interest without the assistance of a real estate agent. The app, he says, is meant to save people the step of having to first contact an agent.

Instead, individuals can schedule a showing through the app, with an arrangement to have a local agent meet them there at the desired time. O’Daniell has been in the mortgage industry for more than a decade, much of that time spent establishing customer service initiatives for several companies.

He graduated SIU with fine arts degree in visual communication.

2000s

BRANDON TANNER, a civil airport engineer at Hanson Professional Services Inc.’s Carbondale regional office, has earned professional engineer licenses in Illinois and Kentucky.

Tanner, who joined the firm in 2014, provides design and construction observation for airport projects in Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. He also operates an unmanned

aerial vehicle, or drone, for aerial mapping, photography, videography and site and aviation obstruction surveying of projects. Tanner has an associate degree in pre-engineering from Shawnee Community College and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Hanson is a national, employeeowned consulting firm providing engineering, planning and allied services.

ROBIN THURINGER ’12 has been promoted to corporate marketing director by Mid-America Real Estate Group based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. In her new role Thuringer will oversee all channels of marketing and public relations.

She joined the company in 2014 as a marketing coordinator for the investment sales team.

There, she directed efforts that contributed to more than $2.8 billion in sales. Prior to joining Mid-America, Thuringer was a marketing and communications coordinator for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

If you would like a Class Note to be considered for publication, please contact the SIU Alumni Association at 618/453-2408 or by email at alumni@siu.edu, and use the subject line: “Class Note.”

Alumni listed in maroon are SIU Alumni Association members.

45

CLASS NOTES

Richard Ford Appointed New Chicago Fire Commissioner

RICHARD C. FORD II ’08 has been appointed as the new Chicago Fire Department Commissioner

by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

His appointment began September 1.

Ford has been with CFD for 35 years and has served as the First Deputy Commissioner sincer 2016. He was previously Deputy Fire Commissioner, overseeing fire

Sewell Awarded For Her Positive Attitude During Battle With Incurable Disease

JEN SEWELL ’09, MS.ED. ’11 has been

awarded the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Donna Newberry “Perseverance Award.” Sewell has been associate head coach of the SIU Softball Team for 10 seasons.

The Newberry Award is given to someone who demonstrates extraordinary strength in willpower and character

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SIU ALUMNI WINTER 2018

prevention activities, including the department’s enforcement of fire and building codes. In addition, Ford has served as the assistant director for training and as a battalion chief for Engine 42 Firehouse.

“I am humbly honored to take on this new leadership role at the fire department and strengthen our efforts to provide the best emergency fire and medical services to the residents of Chicago,” Ford says. “The responsibility to the residents of this great city, to keep them safe and care for them in their time of need, is not one that I take lightly.”

Ford earned his bachelor of applied science degree from SIU’s Fire Service Management Program. teams and operates the Brooks Basketball Academy.

in overcoming physical, mental or social challenges. Sewell was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis in 2011, a condition she discovered on the road with her team.

PSC is a chronic illness that affects the bile ducts. It can cause bile to collect in the liver, gradually damaging it and impairing its ability to function properly. Liver transplants are often needed for this incurable disease. The ailment struck Walter Payton, a hall of fame running back for the Chicago Bears, who died from PSC in 1999.

Despite this, Sewell has led to softball team to finishing in the top half of the Missouri Valley Conference in on-base percentage in all but one of her coaching seasons. The team has finished either first or second in the league in that category for five of those years.

Sewell says she’s managing the disease well, and doctors say she does not yet need a liver transplant. This past year, Sewell and the team joined with Midwest Transplant Services to raise awareness about organ donations.

Alumna Becomes 13th Woman In Alpha Sigma Alpha History To Win Eminence Award SILVANA FILIPPELLO RICHARDSON ’85 has

become the 13th woman in Alpha Sigma Alpha history to receive the Recognition of Eminence Award. The honor is given to members whose professional or community achievements become noted outside the realm of the sorority.

After earning her doctoral degree in community health education at SIU, Richardson serves as the dean of the School of Nursing at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

During her 17-year tenure, she helped establish a master’s in nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. She was also a key figure in the development of a nursing educational facility that increased the size of

Livek Named To International Covenant House Board Of Directors

BILL LIVEK ’76 has been elected to the Covenant House Board of Directors, which oversees programs for youth overcoming homelessness in 31 cities across the United States, Canada, and Latin America. Livek is vice chairman of the board of directors and advisor to the chief executive officer for comScore, a marketing analytics company based in Reston, Virginia.

the nursing school and equipped it with state-of-the-art exam rooms, laboratories, and classroom space. She now serves as the Sister Grace Clare Beznouz Professor of Nursing.

In addition, Richardson was in the Nurse Corps of the U.S. Naval Reserve for 12 years, where she became a commander. She was also a visiting scholar at the University of Utah and served as nurse team leader for the spectator medical area during the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

Richardson has become a distinguished Alpha Sigma Alpha alumna, having served as chapter president of the Gamma Lambda Chapter at Loyola University in Chicago, where she earned her bachelor’s degree and was charter president of the Chicago Metro Alumnae Chapter. She has also been a member in Boston, a past national council member, and attended more than 15 national conventions.

Covenant House has helped more than 1.5 million children and youth transform their lives and is the largest charity helping homeless youth in the Americas.

“Covenant House is a leading organization that meets the immediate needs of young people who find themselves homeless,” Livek says. “I hope that my background in understanding young people as consumers can be applied to the work I plan on doing with the Board. The world is changing very quickly and it is very important to listen and learn from our young people every day on what they are facing and how we can help provide better life changing services.”

47

STEP BACK IN TIME

MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO...

An elevated view of Anthony Hall on the SIU Carbondale campus circa 1927. The surrounding landscape is sparse compared to what is seen today, with rolling farmland in the background as far as the eye can see.

Anthony Hall has served many purposes during the life of the university.

Today, it houses the main administrative offices of campus, including the office of the chancellor.

48

SIU ALUMNI WINTER 2018

No one really ever teaches us how to be amazing at managing our careers.

SIU alumni receive $40 off the Weekend Resume Makeover course.

www.JobJenny.com Code: SIUALUMNI

Even better‌

Members, receive $75 off the Weekend Resume Makeover.

Call 618/453-2408 or email alumni@siu.edu for the member only promo code!

You will also have the opportunity to purchase any e-book or kit for just $20/ea. (reg. $39).