WEEKEND WINS
DARING DISPLAY
The Panthers swept Belmont and Tennessee State over the weekend in Nashville.
Advanced Drawing students are putting together a temporary installation in Doudna.
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D aily E astern N ews
Monday, April 25, 2016
VOL. 100 | NO. 144
“TELL THE TRUTH AND DON’T BE AFRAID”
C E L E B RATI NG A CE NT UR Y OF COVE RA GE
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W W W . D A I L Y E A S TE R N N E W S . C O M
General Assembly agrees on bill, Sophomore awaits signature from governor found dead By Cassie Buchman Associate News Editor | @cjbuchman A bill that would spend $600 million to fund public universities and colleges through the summer, SB2059, passed through the House and Senate Friday morning. If a p p rove d by Gov. Br u c e R a u n e r, $12,456,500 will be appropriated from the Education Assistance Fund to Eastern’s Board of Trustees for ordinary and contingent expenses. The bill passed the House 106-2 and the Senate 55-0. Rauner has indicated he will sign the bill, which has now been sent to him, The Chicago Tribune reports. $20,107,300 is allocated to Chicago State University; $6,974,400 is given to Governor’s State University; $10,695,100 is allocated to Northeastern Illinois University, and $57,482,200 is allocated to Southern Illinois University. Northern Illinois University will receive $26,403,200 under this bill, and $14,911,400 will go to Western Illinois University. The University of Illinois will receive $167,645,200, and Illinois State Uni-
versity will be given $20,934,900. $74,142,300 will be given to the Illinois Community College Board, and $169,798,700 will be used for Monetary Award Program grants. Paul McCann, interim vice president for business affairs, said the money from this legislation would be used for operating expenses, such as salaries for current employees and supplies. “This will go to support the budget that’s already out there for FY16, and then we’ll be doing in June a (FY17) budget,” McCann said. The $12,456,500 given to Eastern is not enough to bring back laid off employees and will not go to any one area or department; it will just be used to cover the university’s expenses for about two months. McCann said the administration would continue monitoring what is happening in Springfield, and they will make the necessary decisions to continue operating. The bill was passed because money is sitting in the Education Assistance Fund to pay for it, McCann said. Although the bill is “better than a poke in the eye,” McCann said there were other bills being discussed that would have helped the
university more, and this bill funds the university for a fairly short period of time. “There are others that would have given us more money,” McCann said. “This is probably the least of all of them.” He said the bill funds Monetary Award Program grants somewhere around $3.5 million. “They’re going to fund the fall semester of MAP grants,” McCann said. “The students will see no difference.” President David Glassman said the stopgap bill will help universities through the summer. “I see this as a first step toward moving forward with the budget,” Glassman said. “It’s really good to see both sides working together in a bipartisan effort and this is the beginning of funding for higher education.” As the May 1 deadline to make their final college decision approaches for many high school seniors, Glassman said he has been trying to spread the message that legislators need to continue to work toward a budget to ensure that students are confident in choosing schools in Illinois.
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‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’ sees 3rd year By T’Nerra Butler Multicultural Editor | @DEN_News Pavement with chalked arrows marked the path for members of the community in the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” awareness demonstration. During the third annual walk-a-thon, participants were seen holding signs that read sayings like “Only yes, means yes,” and “No excuse for abuse.” Drivers going past Morton Park honked in support of the walk. The Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Service invited the all ages and genders to kick on their heels, gyms shoes and flip-flops to walk two laps around the park. The women of the National Association of Colored Women’s Club led the way at the start of the walk with a banner. Men were seen wearing high heels strutting down scale of Morton Park. Sheldon Aaron, a graduate student, works with SACIS as a volunteer and was among the men walking the mile in heels. Aaron said the walk helps to get the agency’s name out so survivors can see support. “Males need to be more active in agencies like SACIS, just because historically, males weren’t as involved,” Aaron said. “SACIS brings to this community a sense of safety and a sense of security.” SACIS has been working without a budget and had to reduce their operating expenses. Erin Walters, the executive director of SACIS, rounded the group in an ending speech explaining the importance of the walk. She said the walk makes talking about sexual violence visible, in that people passing by see the signs and the many supporters. Walters said the signs broke the silence and provided representation of those who stand by survivors in their fight. She said over time the dialogue has shifted from prevention efforts being surrounded around the survivor to it putting responsibility on the offender. Questions like “Why were you there?” and “Why did you put yourself in that situation?” have been used in the past while talking to survivors, Walter said. She said society has to change
C ASSIE BUCHMAN | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Participants of the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event march down Lincoln Avenue to raise awareness of sexual assualt and sexual violence Sunday afternoon.
the language. Donna Hudson, an adult counselor at SACIS, said sexual violence is a topic that people reluctant to talk about, and the walk gives a safe space to welcome the conversation. “It stays in the shadows and this event makes it possible for people to actually speak about it,” Hudson said. “When we talk about something, we’re more likely to be able to ready to deal with it.” Hudson said today’s society is still pent up on the value of men over women. She said seeing different genders and ages walking in solidarity encourages people to stand with one another. “It makes it OK for others to stand up for others,” Hudson said. “When you see one guy up there in high heels, soon you’ll see 10 guys with high heels.” The women of the National Association of Colored Women’s Club stopped by before the walk to put chalk on the sideway which helped
to guide the walkers around the park. Janae Houser, a junior pre-nursing major, is a member of the National Association of Colored Women’s Club and said the walk brought empowerment and positivity. She said the support from men showed them putting pride aside for a good cause. Ma’Chana Ambrose, a senior kinesiology and sports studies major, said is a member of the National Association of Colored Women’s Club and said the male support show that support can come from anyone. “It shows that there’s no gap, it means that we’re all on one page,” Ambrose said. “They support women, and what we stand for.” Hudson said proceeds that came from donations and registration goes back to SACIS and their services. T’Nerra Butler can be reached at 581-2812 or tabutler@eiu.edu.
Saturday, cause under investigation By Stephanie Markham Editor-in-Chief | @stephm202 Sophomore political science major and Delta Tau Delta fraternity member Michael Bellock, from Lombard, was found dead Saturday morning in a Charleston apartment complex. He was 20 years old. Coles County deputy coroner Greg Epperson said Bellock’s death is still under investigation. Vicki Woodard, Eastern’s coordinator of public information, said members of the Counseling Center are meeting with members of Bellock’s fraternity and making their services available to anyone who may need them. Richard Wandling, chair of the political science department, said when he notified professors they expressed that Bellock was a great student with an “engaging mind” and a strong interest in the world of politics and government. “I have not had the privilege of having Michael in one of my classes, but my political science colleagues readily recall Michael as an inquisitive, curious student with a promising future,” Wandling said. “We know that he will be missed by all.” Wandling said while it is difficult to know what to say in this kind of situation, he knows that his department wants to extend its deepest sympathy to Bellock’s family, friends and loved ones. “We can only imagine how difficult this sudden loss must be for everyone to understand,” he said. Kevin Anderson, a political science professor, had Bellock in an introduction to political theory class last fall and said he remembers him as a quiet but very bright young man. “He didn’t speak out a lot, but when I would call on him, he would always make good statements and show that he was a serious student,” Anderson said. “I was really, really surprised when I saw the message that he had passed away.” Paul Danyi, a political science professor, said he had Bellock in four courses and noticed him finding his way in his studies and rapidly developing interests in topics like international terrorism. “I took notice of Michael because he struggled early on in one of my courses on international relations,” Danyi said. “But he talked with me, worked hard, and in subsequent courses he was among the top and most thoughtful students I had.” Danyi said Bellock “silently impressed” in the classroom, and he imagines he did in other areas of his life as well. “It was with a heavy heart that I received the news of his tragic death,” he said. “Michael was someone I fully expected to teach again and to watch him grow as a student and scholar.” Information regarding memorial and funeral services will be shared when available. Cassie Buchman contributed to this story. Stephanie Markham can be reached at 581-2812 or samarkham@eiu.edu.