Eastern News
Tuesday
“Tell th e t r u t h a n d d o n ’ t b e a fr a i d . ”
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NOVEMBER 29, 2011 V O LU M E 9 6 | N o. 1 5 9
EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CHARLESTON, ILL. D A I LY E A S T E R N N E W S . C O M T WIT TER.COM/DENNE WS
Student prepares to teach abroad
Miller wins freshman award
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DOUDNA FINE ARTS THEATER
UNIVERSIT Y AFFAIRS
Eastern’s budget increases By Rachel Rodgers Administration Editor
Editor’s Note: This is the third installment of a series of budget articles.
KIMBERLY FOSTER | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Molly Manhart, a senior theatre arts major, and Vince Dill, a psychology graduate student, perform during dress rehearsal for the play "The Shape of Things" Monday in the Black Box of the Doudna Fine Arts Center. The show will run Thursday through Sunday, with performances at 7:30 Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. KIMBERLY FOSTER | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Molly Manhart, a senior theatre arts major, and Vince Dill, a psychology graduate student, perform during dress rehearsal for the play "The Shape of Things" Monday in the Black Box of the Doudna Fine Arts Center. The show will run Thursday through Sunday, with performances at 7:30 Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Shape of Things Cast explores self-identity in new performance By Samantha McDaniel Activities Editor
A four-member cast will take the audience on a journey as the story of love versus self-identity is discovered this week. “The Shape of Things” will take place Wednesday through Sunday thanks to Eastern’s theatre department.
Jeff Tangeman, an assistant professor of theatre and the director of “The Shape of Things,” said this hour and a half play tells the story of Adam, a shy student, who falls in love with Evelyn, an intense artist. “The play centers around the main character, Adam, and how he explores how far he is willing to change himself for a girl he falls for,” Tangeman said.
Evelyn encourages Adam to bet- Performance dates ter himself, so he has to decide if he wants to take her advice. • Time-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, “We see how the relationship Thursday, Friday and Saturday tests his own will and his own sense and 2 p.m. on Sunday of identity and who he is,” Tange- • Place- Black Box Theatre of the Doudna Fine Arts Center man said. Adam’s relationship with Evelyn • Price- $5 for Eastern students, affects his Adam’s relationship with $12 for general admission and $10 for employees and people his friends Jenny and Phillip. CAST, page 5
62 and older.
Eastern’s budget increased by about $3.18 million, which carried over from Fiscal Year 11 funds because of Eastern’s cash flow management in response to lacking state payments. In June, the state owed Eastern about $21 million of its total appropriated FY 11 funds of about $47.4 million. Since then, the state has reimbursed Eastern with about $12.1 million and still owes about $8 million. William Weber, the vice president for business affairs, said the $3.18 million is a pool of one-time-only funds resulting from the two major ways the university has compensated for funds the state owes. “Typically we do not have significant amounts carry over like this,” Weber said. “It is an anomaly and is the result of how we managed the cash flow situation.” The two major ways the cash flow was managed are cutting back on spending and borrowing internally from local non-restricted funds, which consist of income that is not from tuition or general revenue funds, he said. “We purposely did not spend our full budget authority and have cut back on funding as much as possible while still being able to have classes and keep the university running,” Weber said. “This has helped supplement our expenditures on a temporary basis as we try to move forward with the situation with the state.” The spending cuts significantly affected the university in terms of personnel, he said. “The employee headcount of full and parttime employees is down by more than 100 compared to two years ago,” Weber said. “We have also cut back on travel and equipment expenditures, which now require VP approval.” COUNCIL, page 5
CIT Y
Council changes insurance policies By Sara Hall City Editor
The City Council voted to renew their health, vision and life insurance policies and switch health insurance companies at a special meeting held Monday at City Hall. T h e C o u n c i l vo t e d t o s w i t c h health insurance policies from PersonalCare to Blue Cross Blue Shield after Blue Cross Blue Shield offered a lower premium. Mayor John Inyart acknowledged the dedication of the insurance committee’s work in deciding this year’s insurance policies. “A lot of work goes into each renewal,” Inyart said. “Changing com-
panies is even more work.” City Manager Scott Smith said the cost of health insurance is shared by each employee and the city, with the city giving each employee an allowance toward the total cost of their health insurance coverage. The employee pays the difference, Smith said. Sm i t h a d d e d t h a t e m p l o y e e s can choose each insurance item to be covered as single employee or through a family plan. The council voted to renew their vision insurance through Vision Service Plan with a 21.9 percent decrease than the current rate. They also voted to approve MetLife for dental insurance with
an increase of 13.1 percent than the current rate. Smith said employees must cover 100 percent of any dental and vision coverage they choose to receive. The council voted to renew the life insurance policy through Delta TruAssure Insurance Company at a 3.6 percent increase. Smith said the city pays for the life insurance policy at no cost to the employee. Active employees are eligible for a $20,000 life insurance policy. Retirees can pay the premium cost and be eligible for a $10,000 policy. Sara Hall can be reached at 581-2812 or smhall3@eiu.edu.
KIMBERLY FOSTER | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
City council member Jim Dunn, right, listens as city manager Scott Smith wraps up Monday's special city council meeting by thanking contributors who helped put together the insurance coverage policies approved by the council last night.