SOFTBALL SPLIT The Eastern women’s softball team split its doubleheader against DePaul Wednesday at Williams Field. PAGE 8
TOILETRY COLLECTION Zeta Phi Beta Sorority is hosting their annual toiletry drive until the end of this week. PAGE 2
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EIU-UPI, Glassman approve proposal By Cassie Buchman Associate News Editor | @cjbuchman Eastern’s chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois voted to accept a pay deferral plan that President Glassman approved later that day. This plan was put in place to raise over $2 million that Glassman said was needed to make payroll. Bargaining members will now defer a percentage of their salary on a graduated system. Those making $50,000 or less will defer 2.5 percent of their annual base contract salary and those with a salary of $51,000 to $75,000 would defer 5 percent. Faculty members would get paid back from this deferral if Eastern gets any state funding, including Monetary Award Program reimbursements, an FY17 appropriation and any funds from the FY16 budget. If bargaining unit members make $75,000 to $100,000 they will defer 6 and a half percent of their annual salary and those who make more than $100,000 will defer 7 and a half percent. Sixty percent of eligible members voted on this proposal, with 234 members voting for it and 65 voting against it. After the members voted, Glassman said the administration has accepted and appreciates the UPI membership’s approval to assist the university. “The salary deferral became necessary because of the budgetary impasse in Springfield that has left our state’s public universities without funding going into the 10th month of the fiscal year,” Glassman said. Billy Hung, media coordinator for the University Professionals of Illinois, said this plan, through making provisions for an FY17 proposal and having a tiered deferral system, protects those who are vulnerable, such as those with lower incomes, but it is still painful, especially for Annually Contracted Faculty who may not be hired back next fall. “If you ask them to defer a payment, and then not have a job, that’s rough,” Hung said. Lucinda Berry, an English professor, echoed these sentiments in a UPI press release, saying that though this proposal provided a more equitable solution than what the administration originally proposed, it left those on annual contracts vulnerable. “We are giving this loan to our employer with no certainty about being able to pay our own bills. It’s frustrating,” Berry said. Hung said they would get paid back after the school received an FY17 appropriation, which could happen at any point during the year, even as late as November and December. Hung said there could be a strain on those with families as well. Jon Blitz, president of the UPI, said he expected the UPI to vote to pass the proposal. He said they were able to raise slightly more than $2 million as they structured the proposal so the four income brackets gave different amounts.
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JASON HOWELL | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Junior political science major Lewis Hamer participates in inflatable jousting during the laser tag tournament on Wednesday in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. Hamer, in his first time jousting in over a decade, "imagined Donald Trump on the other platform."
Student Senate hears resignation, discusses RSOs, upcoming events Business affairs committee chair resigns from Senate By Torri Griffith Staff Reporter | @DEN_News The Student Senate discussed various topics including the resignation of a senate member, the addition of new registered student organizations and upcoming events Wednesday night at their Student Senate meeting. Jack Cruikshank, the former business affairs committee chair, announced his resignation Wednesday evening in an email. “I believe it is my only option to resign from the Senate, effective immediately,” Cruikshank said. In his email, Cruikshank explained to the members of student government why he is unhappy with the Senate and the reason he has decided to leave. “Since I started as a senator this semester, I have been fed up with the office hours requirement,” Cruikshank said. “To the extent of my not doing them because of my belief that other tasks, such as homework, were more deserving of my time than sitting in the Student Activities Center doing nothing for two hours per week.” Ceci Brinker, the adviser for student government and JaLisa Smith, the internal affairs committee chair, talked to the senators about their roles in the Senate. Brinker said she was disturbed by the con-
text of the email. “There really isn’t an excuse for not being productive with your office hours,” Brinker said. Brinker said she believes it is sad when people leave an organization and they blame the organization for them not having an impact. “You guys are doing a good job,” Smith said. “Do not let his email get you all down.” Along with the resignation, the additions of two organizations were discussed. Students who are from India proposed to add a cricket team as an RSO. Cricket is a sport that is similar to baseball and it has two teams of 11 players. It was proposed that this new sports club be adopted because the international students from India want to be able to participate in different types of sports. There are 150 Indian students who are in favor of having the cricket club, and 60 American students who are interested as well. Ivan Soria, the vice president for Alpha Psi Lambda, talked about getting his organization to be an RSO as well. Soria attended the meeting and said he hopes the Senate will approve the fraternity. Alpha Psi Lambda is the first and largest Latino fraternity. They are the first fraternity on campus to target Latinos, but anyone can join, Soria said. Soria said there are currently 12 members of the organization, which exceeds the 10-member requirement when starting a chapter of Alpha Psi Lambda.
The Cricket Club and Alpha Psi Lambda could not be approved as RSOs because the Senate did not meet quorum. Executive members and committee chairs also gave their reports during the meeting. Shirmeen Ahmad, the student body president, gave her executive report. Ahmad said the Senate hopes to have at least 1,000 student vote in the current student government elections. Links for students to vote have been sent to each student’s Panthermail. Ahmad said next week unofficial results will be sent out, and April 6th will be the release date for the official results. Ahmad also announced a Take Back The Night event, which will be on April 13th and is a walk to bring awareness to sexual assaults that occur on college campuses. Take Back The Night will be partnering with the It’s On Us Campaign this year. After the walk there will be a Survivor’s Slam, which is a spoken word event for sexual assault survivors to tell their stories. Courtney Sage, the student vice president of student affairs, gave her executive announcements as well. Sage said the current budget for student government is $5,842.52 and reminded senators about Panther Service Day. Service Day will be April 23 from 10:45 a.m. until 3 p.m. There will be various sites for students and organization to volunteer at. Torri Griffith can be reached at 581-2812 or tlgriffith@eiu.edu.