HOME ADVANTAGE
WINTER HAS PASSED
News editor Stephanie Markham reviews The Charleston Alley Theatre’s play “The Lion in Winter.”
The softball team won its first home doubleheader against Murray State 3-1 and 7-6 Sunday. PAGE 8
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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
Monday, March 30, 2015
“TELL THE TRUTH AND DON’T BE AFRAID”
VOL. 99 | NO. 122
Senator petitions to save higher education funding By Luis Martinez Administration Editor| @DEN_News Illinois Sen. Scott Bennett started a petition in February to stop a $209 million cut to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2016. Bennett represents the 52nd district containing the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign. Rauner’s proposed 31.5 percent budget cut to higher education could lead to higher tuition costs and student fees to help the university make up the difference. However, Rauner’s proposal came about
a month after the U of I’s board of trustees instated a tuition freeze to help families deal with the rising costs of higher education. According to a press release, Bennett started a petition in late February to urge the governor to “consider the human cost associated with slashing the university’s budget.” Bennett took the petition to Gifford, Rantoul, Tilton, Champaign, Georgetown and Danville. The petition is also available on Bennett’s website, where he states the budget cut could mean a potential spike in tuition costs and fees, larger class sizes and a de-
crease in other resources. “The University of Illinois is a vital resource not only to our community but for the entire state of Illinois. I’m asking the governor to consider the long-term effects of drastic cuts to higher education funding,” Bennett said in the press release. “These cuts will result in lost opportunities and students graduating Illinois’ public universities with higher amounts of debt—this is unacceptable.” Bennett also said the state should be looking for ways to make college affordable for families. “Education increases opportunities for students and drives our economy,” Bennett
said. “If we want to continue to grow as a state, we need to continue to make investments in opportunities for our children.” Reena Tandon, a member of the Senate Democrats Caucus Staff, said the senator is more worried about cuts than proposals. “Each senator fights for resources in the community, for their constituents,” Tandon said. The petition Bennett started was focused on the University of Illinois since the school falls within his district. Luis Martinez can be reached at 581-2812 or lpmartinez@eiu.edu.
A JA TAYLOR | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
The band The Down-fi sings “You Won’t Like It” to the crowd at the Cavetone Records’ seven-year anniversary concert at the Top of the Roc on Saturday. The Tim Blys band opened the event.
Cavetone Records rocks out for 7-year anniversary By Cassie Buchman City Editor | @DEN_News Audience members were dancing to the music as they celebrated Cavetone Records’ sevenyear anniversary Friday evening at the Top of the Roc. The Tim Blys was the first band to perform that night, singing both original songs
and covers. The audience could be seen mouthing the words and got even more excited as The Tim Blys sang pop culture songs such as the theme songs from TV shows “The King of the Hill,” “Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles” and “Batman.” They sang more personal songs as well, such as one about singer Matt Davis’ friend committing suicide.
“I hope this letter finds you well; I hope this letter finds you,” Davis sang. Davis also sang another song he said was a true story. “Last night I dreamed it was the end of the world; I woke up disappointed,” he sang. “Every night could be the end of the world.” Davis said working with Cavetone Records was a great experience.
“You could take anything away from working with Cavetone Records: delicious baked goods, Scott (Walus, owner) took off his shirt at one point,” he said. “They really wanted to work with us, and were friends of ours. It made the whole thing very pleasant.” The next band, The Down-Fi, came to Charleston from Indianapolis. CAVETONE, page 5
Community Theatre explores family dysfunction By Carlita Dixon Staff Reporter | @DEN_News The Tarble Arts Center was packed with members from the Charleston community who were ready to watch the play “Daddy’s Dyin’…Who’s got the Will?” performed by the Charleston Community Theatre Saturday night in the Tarble Arts Center. Se t i n t h e s u m m e r t i m e o f 1 9 8 6 i n the small town of Lowake, Texas, “Daddy’s Dyin’…Who’s got the Will?” is a play about a father named Buford Turnover who has recently suffered a physically as
well as mentally disabling stroke. His four adult children arrive at the family’s homestead to spend time with him during his last days. The family was dysfunctional, with each of them having multiple different and unique personalities. A lot of chaos and drama took place within the family throughout the play. Two of the sisters got violent during its climax. The brother Or ville, played by Cor y Knechtges, senior theatre arts major, was also very verbally and physically abusive to his wife Marlene, played by Meghan Kegeris.
“This is my third time coming to see this play. Every family goes through different things and just the feeling of family is a great thing to have.” - Sherry Walker, audience member
Despite their differences, the family was still able to come together to practice the song they would be singing at his funeral at the end of the play after Buford’s death. The setting of the play was entirely in the Southern family’s living room. Seating was placed close to the stage to provide a more intimate experience. There were singing and parts of guitar and piano playing in this play.
THEATRE, page 5