RAIN CHECK The Eastern women’s softball team is currently 4-15 on the season after its game against Evansville was canceled Wednesday due to inclement weather. PAGE 8
EARLY ELECTIONS
First-day turnout for early voting at the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union was steady, with two days left to vote. PAGE 3
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Thursday, March 10, 2016 “TELL THE TRUTH AND DON’T BE AFRAID” C E L E BRATI NG A CE NTUR Y OF COV E RA GE E S T . 1 915
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Electrical outage scheduled for break By T’Nerra Butler Multicultural Editor | @DEN_News In an effort to lower the chances of future electrical problems, Eastern will have its annual spring power outage during spring break. Mark Hudson, director of Housing and Dining, said the annual campus-wide electric outage has been going on for as long as he knows. He said it is not a way to save money, but a way to use a nearly empty campus to do a preventative maintenance check. During the outage, electricians switch different gears to make sure things are operating properly. They also repair and replace equipment around campus. “What they’re trying to do is trying to prevent future issues that would be an inconvenience to the campus,” Hudson said. Mark Brown, the associate director in housing and dining for facilities, said an outage like this one is usually planned for spring break because it is the break where most students vacate the buildings. Other breaks can also be used for this purpose, but these outages are not campuswide. “Really it’s an effort that the electricians go through to help ensure reliability of the campus’ electrical services,” Brown said. “And in order to work on that equipment they have to have electricity disconnected.” Spring break is moderate enough in terms of weather that electricians avoid any frozen pipes and things of that nature, Hudson said. This is a daytime outage, so the limited lights do not cause an inconvenience to the students who need to stay over break. The outage usually goes from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The places where students stay have emergency generator backup systems, which make sure that safety is not an issue near emergency exits and other areas throughout the building. The outages will rotate to different parts of the campus on different days during the break. Each of the buildings will have an outage only once throughout the week. The campus was also supposed to have a water outage where the majority of campus would not have hot or cold water 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, but this was canceled.
OUTAGE, page 5
JASON HOWELL | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Beka Parker Murphy, owner of Jazzercise in Charleston and board member of the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, speaks to the Red Flag March participants on the steps of the Coles County Courthouse on Wednesday. Murphy said the ripples of the budget tragedy will affect the business community.
JASON HOWELL | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Members of the Eastern and Charleston community plant red flags representing laid-off employees in front of the Doudna Steps during the Red Flag March Wednesday.
JOSH SAX TON | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Jeannie Ludlow, coordinator of women’s studies, speaks with marchers before the Red Flag March on Wednesday in front of the Doudna Steps.
Marchers plant red flags, show support for laid-off employees By Analicia Haynes Administration Editor | @DEN_News Silence loomed over the gathering of more than 100 Eastern and Charleston community members Wednesday while they solemnly planted 261 red flags in honor of laid-off employees. The red flags, though small, contrasted against the muted backdrop in front of the Doudna Steps and the Charleston Courthouse and left a tremendous mark on the community by drawing attention to the struggles and sacrifices individuals are
now forced to endure. The silence was broken by chants and several inspiring speeches charged with words of hope and support for those who lost their jobs. Jeannie Ludlow, coordinator of women’s studies, introduced the speakers and, with a megaphone in hand, she kicked off the demonstration with a memory. “In September, on the day of the first layoff, I ran into a coworker who told me he was one of the people being laid off,” Ludlow said. “He said ‘don’t be angry for me, because I’m not.’ Then he said,
‘I’m really worried for my family. They’re scared.’” Ludlow paused, and nearly in tears, she said each flag represents a job, a person, a coworker, a friend and a family. She said sometimes two flags represent two members from the same family. “Today we mark, in a very visible way, the effects of our politicians’ game playing on real peoples’ lives,” Ludlow said. “We are here today because we refuse to ignore the realities of the lives (Gov. Rauner) is changing.” FLAGS, page 5
MAP grant application deadline ends Wednesday By Abbey Whittington Entertainment Editor | @DEN_News With a deadline two and a half weeks later than it was in 2015, the opportunity to apply for Monetary Award Program grants came to an end on Wednesday. The previous year’s deadline was Feb. 22nd. Illinois residents who filled out their Free Ap-
plication for Federal Student Aid before the deadline and meet certain income requirements are eligible for the MAP grant. Anyone who is applying for the FAFSA on or after Thursday will not be eligible for this grant. Every year, students can apply for MAP grants. This year’s maximum award given was $4,720. During the fiscal year 2015, 2,451 awards were given to Eastern students.
The amount of money distributed to the students through the grant is decided by the Illinois Student Assistant Commission and is based on a student’s FAFSA information. After the ISAC decides who is eligible for the MAP grant, a file of the students who will receive the award is sent to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Mandi Starwalt, interim senior associate direc-
tor for the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, said loans do not have deadlines like other awards do. Starwalt said for the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Student loans and private loans, students should consider beginning to apply after June 1 for the 2016 fall semester.
MAP, page 6