RUNNING HIGH AND LOW
HIGH ON CENTRAL TIME Pokey LaFarge and friends provide cultural experience of various genres Monday in the Doudna Fine Arts Center
The Eastern football team rushed for a season-high 180 yards at Illinois State, despite losing Walter Payton Award candidate Shepard Little.
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Dai ly Eastern News
THE
W W W .D A I L YE A S TE R N N E W S. C O M
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014
VOL. 99 | NO. 17
“TELL THE TRUTH AND DON’T BE AFRAID”
WHO’S UP? WHO’S DOWN? Eastern enrollment decreases more than competitors FALL ENROLLMENT
By Jack Cruikshank Staff Reporter | @DEN_News With Eastern’s fall enrollment decreasing by approximately 8 percent compared to fall 2013, three similar public universities around the state also tolerated a decrease in enrollment. Western and Northern Illinois Universities, currently have a smaller fall enrollment versus fall 2013. Meanwhile, four other universities around the state have experienced an increase in enrollment as compared to their enrollment numbers from fall 2013. The University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and Illinois State University each have an increased enrollment of about 1 percent higher than a year ago. President Bill Perry said the university has increased financial opportunities for students as part of an enrollment initiative, but competition has been a setback. “We have put more money into institutional aid in the past three years; however, some other institutions appear to have increased aid,” Perry said. Perry said Eastern’s approach this year included getting students with better ACT scores and better grade point averages as part of the university strategic plan toward excellence.
2013
25,000
2014
20,272
20,615
21,138
20,611
20,000 17,964
17,989
15,000 13,850
13,972 11,707
11,458
10,000 9,775
8,913
5,000
EIU
ISU
NIU
SIUC
SIUE
WIU
ILLINOIS UNIVERSITIES
ENROLLMENT, page 5
GR APHIC BY ANTHONY C ATEZONE
Doudna avoids low enrollment Civil Rights and Diversity effects, ticket sales stay consistent director search yet to start By Samantha Middendorf Entertainment Editor | @Samantha_EE The Doudna Fine Arts Center has not experienced a significant decrease in ticket sales for its 2014-15 performance season despite an enrollment decrease. Dan Crews, director of patron services at Doudna, said despite the lack of students, Doudna is not dealing with a decrease of interest in their performances. “When you always have a lower population of students, you’re going to get the threat that there are fewer students that are going to come out because that pool is smaller,” he said. “However, so far, we’ve not experienced that.” Eastern’s enrollment has decreased from 9,775 in the Fall 2013 semester to 8,913 this semester, which is a reduction of 862 students or nine percent. Despite the fact that there is not a decrease in student participation, Crews said Doudna is always trying to increase student participation. Doudna performances have seen an increase in student participation through classes requiring students to attend performances for class credit. “We have a good amount of students who come to our performances whether it’s for their enjoyment or for class,” Crews said. “Some classes require students to see so many artistic things and sometimes theater classes might require students to see a particular production.” Crews also said it is hard to tell if the enrollment
decrease will manifest an impact on Doudna, because it is so early in the season. Doudna works to draw audiences with traditional social media use and other creative outlets. “We need to market strongly to the students,” Crews said. “We use Facebook or Instagram or Twitter to get their attention, and we’ve also got a coupon in the campus coupon books for two for one tickets.” A large amount of ticket sales also comes from the city of Charleston, and Doudna does not solely look to attract a student audience. The most recent concert at Doudna has shown a large amount of popularity, resulting in a positive impact on ticket sales. “Pokey LaFarge has taken a lot of community and regional interest,” Crews said. “We’re taking a lot of phone calls from St. Louis, Bloomington and Indianapolis from people wanting to come to the event.” Overall, Crews said the biggest influence the enrollment decrease has had on Doudna is the availability of students looking for jobs. “When you have fewer students, you have fewer students who are involved in productions,” Crews said. “I have a smaller pool to chose from when I hire ushers or box office people, but the decrease in enrollment hasn’t affected Doudna much.” Samantha Middendorf can be reached at 581-2812 or semiddendorf@eiu.edu.
By Roberto Hodge Multicultural Editor | @BertoHodge The Office of Civil Rights and Diversity pushes through their work load despite the departure of Cynthia Nichols, the former Civil Rights and Diversity director. Robert Miller, the Eastern general counsel, is also the manager and supervisor of the office. Miller said the responsibilities and work load is being divided amongst Heather Dragoo, the assistant director of civil rights, and Leah Reynolds, the interim assistant director of civil rights. Miller said because of the fiscal challenges the university is currently facing, he is serving as their supervisor, which will allow the next president of Eastern to decide how the office will be run. President Bill Perry’s presidential term will end June 2015. Miller said they have not begun the hiring and search process for a new director, despite the three-month departure of Nichols. “I am intimately familiar with the process and responsibilities of the civil rights office,” Miller said. “I have continued to work closely with the civil rights office during my tenure as general counsel.” Before working as the general counsel, Mill-
er had worked at the office of Civil Rights and Diversity for nine years. Miller said the position is similar to many other directors of any office. The director must file reports, be a forward thinker and provide leadership for the office. Both Dragoo and Reynolds have worked closely consulting and making sure any issues get solved in a timely fashion, Miller said. Miller said Dragoo has continued to review hiring files and paperwork since Nichols’ June departure. He added the process is moving along smoothly; however, hiring has slowed considerably. The slow down as result of the hiring freeze has helped the office devote more time to work towards the goal of eliminating all forms of discrimination, sexual harassment and assault. Their goal is to also increase contact with students in the areas of diversity and sexual assault awareness, Miller said. “Heather and Leah work very well together, and we all developed a good rapport,” Miller said. “We maintain good lines of communication and we regularly discuss initiatives, issues and resolutions.”
Roberto Hodge can be reached at 581-2812 or rlhodge@eiu.edu.