It’s State Fair season in Du Quoin
See more photos on pages 6 and 7.
Off the Rails concert series brings Carbondale together
Carbondale’s beloved O the Rail Concert Series continues to bring music, energy and togetherness to the community. City of Carbondale’s Tourism and Special Event Coordinator, Dina Haun, shared that this year marks the fth season of O the Rail. e concert, part of a long-running tradition, highlighted both a band’s deep connection with local audiences and the series’ role in giving musicians a platform. is weekend, the crowd was treated to a special moment as Lucas Wayne & the Cottonmouths took the stage as an opening act - for the one hundredth time.
“It’s about fun, family-friendly, free entertainment that highlights Carbondale’s incredible music scene,” Haun said.
e series, held outdoors in downtown Carbondale, has become a staple of summer and fall weekends. Families, students and longtime residents gather for free live music, food vendors and a
chance to celebrate the area’s diverse talent.
“ ese events are for the community, so if there’s something you’d like to see, let us know. We really do mean it when we ask who you want to see in Carbondale,” Haun said. “We want people to know this is a place for SIU students, the Carbondale family and beyond. is is for them.”
For lead singer Lucas Wayne, performing at the O the Rails Concert Series in Carbondale is more than just another gig. ough he’s not a Carbondale native, Wayne has been embraced by the local community through his band, Lucas Wayne & e Cottonmouths.
“It means a lot to me to get to play this community event, when I’m not necessarily from this community, but have kind of been accepted into it. It’s a great honor,” Wayne said.
Wayne describes his music as a blend of genres he calls “Americana,” combining elements of country, soul and rock into a sound that’s
Estrada | aestrada@dailyegyptian.com RAILS | 5
Carbondale businesses celebrate major milestones
Several Carbondale businesses are reaching milestone anniversaries this year, each marking decades of connection with the Carbondale community. e Neighborhood Coop Grocery is celebrating 40 years of operation, Quatro’s recently marked its 50th anniversary and PK’s bar is approaching 70 years in business. Together, these establishments have adapted with the city’s evolving social landscape, o ering spaces for dining, gathering and entertainment across generations.
Neighborhood Co-op Grocery celebrating 40 years e Neighborhood Co-op Grocery traces its roots back to the early 1980s, when a handful of friends formed a buying club that gathered in living rooms to split bulk orders of food. Francis Murphy, now the general manager, was part of those early days. A three-time SIU graduate, Murphy has been involved with the Co-op for more than three decades.
“In the early ‘80s, a group of friends got together in someone’s living room with a catalog from a wholesale coop in Madison, Wisconsin,” Murphy said. “ ey would drive a truck up there, load it with grains, beans, rice, cheese and nuts, and then bring it back to Carbondale where people would gather in houses and divide up the food.”
at network of neighborhood buying clubs gave the Co-op its name. By 1985, the Co-op had opened its rst storefront at 102 E. Jackson St., later moving next door before relocating to the Murdale Shopping Center in 2006. at expansion, Murphy said, was a turning point.
“We quadrupled in size when we moved from downtown to here, and we did it by leveraging about $50,000 in cash into a $1.5 million project. e city, banks and more than 100 Co-op owners who made personal loans made it possible,” Murphy said.
Beyond being a grocery store, the Co-op has emphasized community connection. It sponsors events like the Feed Your Neighbor 5K and the annual Farm Crawl, while also hosting sales and activities in partnership with SIU and other local organizations. is year’s 40th anniversary will be marked with a free celebration in Turley Park on Saturday, Aug. 30. e event will feature live music from bluegrass musician Mark Sto el, the all-female rock band Loose Gravel
ANNALISE SCHMIDT ASCHMIDT@DAILYEGYPTIAN
Williamson County Motor Patrol driver high ves children driving in the Twilight Parade at the Du Quoin State Fair, Aug. 22, 2025 in Du Quoin, Illinos. Emily Brinkman | erb_photo_
Cody Diekho of the band Chicago Farmer sings and plays guitar during the O the Rails Concert Series Aug. 23, 2025 at the Downtown Entertainment and Events Plaza in Carbondale, Illinois.
a variety of food trucks, vendors and local partners. Attendees can expect games, giveaways and activities ranging from volleyball to face painting.
“I just really hope the Co-op continues to build on its successes,” Murphy said. “The community built the Co-op and continues to support us, and I hope that continues into the future. More and more people are interested in eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle, and I think that portends good things for the Co-op going forward.”
PK’s celebrating 70 years Gwen Hunt and her husband, Tom Hunt, opened PK’s, originally known as Pizza King, in 1955, becoming Carbondale’s first-ever pizza restaurant. As more pizzerias popped up in Carbondale over the years, the Hunts shifted their focus, stopped selling pizza and became better known as PK’s – a staple of Carbondale nightlife.
In April of 2018, Gwen Hunt died at age 84 after 63 years of service to the Carbondale community. After her death, the bar remained in her family’s ownership and was operated by a bar manager until 2020, when current owner Walter Witkewiz took over.
Witkewiz moved to Carbondale in 2009 and had worked many positions throughout the building before purchasing it, starting as a janitor, then a door guy, later a manager and then eventually bought the bar during the COVID pandemic.
After Hunt’s passing, her family began looking to sell the business, and when a buyer fell through during the pandemic, Witkewiz stepped in.
“I’ve changed the bar a little bit, but I feel like even she (Hunt) was evolving and changing the bar all the time,” Witkewiz said.
He said that the venue’s intimacy is a big part of the reason it charms the community.
“The band plays on the floor, there’s no big stage, you’re up close and dancing with the band, and… it’s just a really fun, good experience to have if you’ve ever seen a band there, especially one that you like,” Witkewiz said.
Events have become another defining feature of the spot, from holiday specials, such as an Oktoberfest event with contests and activities, to trivia nights and eating contests.
The upcoming 70th anniversary will be celebrated Sept. 5-6 and will feature $1 PBR specials, giveaways and live music spread over two nights, capped off by a performance from The Copyrights. Looking forward, Witkewiz said he hopes PK’s remains a place that connects people across the community.
“PK’s is everybody’s bar,” he said. “It’s a better representation of the town than anywhere else, because everyone comes together. You have like a college student sitting next to a farmer and everyone is pretty respectful and welcoming and shares the space. It’s not like some exclusive place.”
On Aug. 24, the beloved PK’s alleyway beer garden that had become a second space for the establishment during the pandemic was deconstructed. The Hilton Hotel is adding on a parking lot to the north and the alley will once again be used for through traffic.
With the upcoming anniversary, PK’s has asked that everyone be cautious and aware of vehicles moving through the alley where the beer garden once was. If drinking in the downtown entertainment district, it’s suggested that you grab a plastic cup rather than leaving with bottles or glassware.
Quatro’s celebrating 50 years
According to Quatros.com, Quatro’s Deep Pan Pizza first opened in 1975 when four Chicago friends launched a pizza shop in what had once been a doughnut bakery. The name, Quatro’s, remained even after the original owners filed for bankruptcy within a year.
In 1976, then 21-year-old Steve Payne, a college student with restaurant experience, purchased the struggling business. e website states that he renovated the space, replacing doughnut ovens with proper pizza equipment and expanded the dining area to include more seating. at same year, Quatro’s garnered a boost in popularity when Carbondale became a rest stop for cyclists traveling across the country during
the nation’s Bicentennial bike race. Quatro’s website states that more than 2,000 riders stopped in that summer, helping spread the word about the restaurant far beyond southern Illinois. By fall, Quatro’s had become a steady presence in Carbondale’s food scene.
e Carbondale Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a ribbon cutting and Business After Hours on ursday, Aug. 21 at Quatro’s to
unveil some of the restaurant’s most recent renovations. e event brought together community members, local leaders and longtime customers to mark the milestone.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, the city issued an official proclamation honoring Quatro’s for its role in the community, which was read during the Carbondale City Council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
The proclamation highlighted the restaurant’s decades-long presence in Carbondale and its reputation as a gathering place for students, residents and visitors alike. Quatro’s ownership could not be reached for comment by the time of publication.
Sta Reporter Annalise Schmidt can be reached at aschmidt@dailyegyptian.com.
PK’s, seen here on July 17, has been a staple of the Carbondale Strip for seven decades now. Jackson Brandhorst | @jacksondothtml
COLUMN
Athletics revenue share is approved; here’s what SIU is set to do
RYAN GRIESER FORMER SPORTS REPORTER
It’s nally here.
After a long, dragging lawsuit that saw judge Claudia Wilken rule in favor of collegiate athletes, revenue sharing is o cially on the books, with some athletes nationally receiving payments beginning in July.
How we got here has been covered ad nauseum; dozens of lawsuits and months, even years have led to this moment, when student athletes can nally be paid directly by their university and end the era of underthe-table payments or Name, Image and Likeness deals being their only source of payment.
Whether you agree with athletes being paid or not, it has to be accepted that it is the reality of college sports in 2025 and beyond. e tremendously valuable faces that bring millions to their universities yearly are set to get a piece of the pie, including here at SIU.
In an interview between Athletic Director Tim Leonard and Saluki radio personality Luke Martin published on June 17, the pair discussed the beginning of revenue sharing and what it means for SIU; I won’t bother summarizing the entire thing, and instead focus on three main things that Leonard said that really stood out to me and should to any Saluki fan.
e rst is the fact Southern Illinois opted into the revenue sharing settlement. While money is obviously going to be distributed to student athletes because of this, opting in also includes the enforcement of new roster and scholarship limits.
As Leonard put it, the NCAA is putting a cap on roster size, but schools are allowed to o er as many scholarships upon that roster as they choose.
Some rosters won’t see much of a change in size, and may even expand a couple of SIU teams. Men’s and women’s basketball both rostered 14 players last season, including walkons, but this season are eligible to roster and have up to 15 players on scholarship. Men’s basketball has 14 players and women’s basketball currently has 13, with both teams
likely looking to ll out the last couple roster spots.
Softball is now limited to 25 athletes, and the Salukis had only 22 on the roster for the 2025 season. Volleyball, which had 16 student athletes, is now capped at 18, with 17 set to be on the roster for the fall 2025 season.
Football will also remain largely the same; the Dawgs had 106 players on the roster in 2024 and up to 85 of them were on scholarship. Now, up to 105 can be rostered and on scholarship.
Baseball can now roster and o er scholarships to 34 players, which is equivalent to the amount they had in 2025. Men’s swim and dive can have only 30, while SIU had 27 on the roster in 2024-25.
Cross country, which at SIU has
student athletes for the duration of their collegiate eligibility regardless of roster limits. is means that rosters at some schools may be larger all the way until the 2028-2029 academic year, as freshmen who were recruited under old roster limits also have the potential to be grandfathered in.
While these new guidelines for roster size don’t really change the sizes for SIU all that much, it could eventually a ect the talent pool that they are drawing from, as more athletes are able to receive scholarships from high majors. In all reality, Saluki Athletics likely cannot a ord to o er the maximum amount of scholarships in any sport unless revenue rises dramatically or they make cuts in another area.
is is yet another bump in the road for small schools, and directly
“We need to generate more money than we’ve ever generated before ...”
- Tim Leonard Athletic Director
several athletes that also compete on the track team, had 11 women and eight men and is now limited to 17 for both. Track and eld had 36 female athletes and 35 males in 202425, both which were well under the limit of 45 athletes of each gender.
Some rosters could see some shrinkage though; soccer, which rostered 34 players in 2024, is now limited to 28. Women’s swim and dive had 43 athletes and is now capped at 30, while men’s golf, which consisted of 10 athletes, is limited to nine. Women’s golf previously had nine athletes on the roster and is now limited to nine.
While on the surface these numbers would suggest that some Salukis are going to suddenly be out of a roster spot, included in the settlement was a grandfathering process that allows schools to roster
bene ts the Power IV conferences. ey will naturally have more money to put towards scholarships and be able to share a higher portion of their revenue, though revenue sharing is capped at $20.5 million for the 202526 year.
Leonard alluded to the need to raise revenue, and I thought his thoughts relating to it were a great mindset to have. His quote “We need to generate more money than we’ve ever generated before, and the only way I know how to do that is to win,” is exactly what needs to be the mindset at SIU.
While it would be nice for millions of dollars to be donated to athletics yearly, in reality that just isn’t going to happen. Leonard and the rest of both the campus and athletic administration know that, and are cognisant of the fact that winning
games and drawing more people at games because of that winning is the best way to increase revenue into Saluki Athletics.
I agree with Leonard’s statement that the revenue increases will need to start with basketball. While football may be the largest program, it is also prohibitively expensive and doesn’t turn much of a pro t. Men’s basketball is where the most money can be made due to their high number of games bringing in more revenue and a small roster that may not command as much money being distributed.
While I may be more optimistic than most Saluki fans, I don’t think that athletic revenue will ever be 3-4 times what it currently is. Leonard can hope and dream for that all day; it isn’t going to happen. I do think that doubling athletic revenue within the next 5-8 years could be feasible though, but winning programs across the board and high incentives for boosters and alumni to donate would be necessities for this situation to play out.
Like many others, I was very curious about what SIU would do about revenue sharing and what their plans to address it were for months before anything was ever announced. And while this interview didn’t include speci c dollar amounts that will be distributed and if there will be cuts anywhere, I am pleasantly surprised at the response that Leonard had, and it made me feel that Saluki Athletics is on a sustainable track to remain competitive.
Winning cures all, including fundraising, which makes me think that Leonard’s strategy can be summed up in a quote from Al Davis, the legendary owner of the then Oakland Raiders: “Just win, baby.”
Of course, Al Davis’s Raiders were also notorious for cheating, or at least nding ways around rules. is brings me to the nal important item, and one that doesn’t involve SIU so much as it does college athletics as a whole.
I really appreciated Leonard being frank about his concerns of cheating at the Power IV level and how they may circumvent rules. ere is no
such thing as a level playing eld in collegiate athletics anymore, but I think Leonard hit the nail on the head with saying that there need to be serious consequences when a team does go outside these rules and continue to pay athletes under the table outside of revenue sharing.
To me, this is the only way that any sense of fairness can be achieved; schools must be forced to work within the rules that are in place, irregardless of how unbalanced they may otherwise be.
e establishment of a new clearinghouse run by Deloitte, a massive professional services rm, through which all NIL — name, image, likeness — deals will have to run, should in theory help to monitor transactions and keep payments above the table, though it seems like a very expensive gamble that I think is unlikely to pay o
Just because athletes and schools are required to report NIL deals and earnings doesn’t mean that they will. I am certain that there will be a litany of unreported deals; the real question is what school gets caught rst and what kind of punishment they receive.
All of this is just the start of the rev share era. ere are already lawsuits in place regarding Title IX and revenue sharing, as female sports and therefore athletes are receiving much less than their male counterparts, whichthat may turn the entire system on its head once settled. Nothing is set in stone at this point, and I personally wouldn’t be surprised if there are signi cant rule changes within the rst 12 to -18 months of the o cial revenue sharing era.
It’s an exciting time to be a college sports fan, and I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom for small schools, though I understand the frustration that many fellow fans feel. is is the new normal, and now that there are some rules in place, we can begin to adjust and accept that this is how things are rather than wonder and complain about what is coming next.
Former sports reporter Ryan Grieser can be reached at rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com.
50 years of vendors: Carbondale Farmers Market remains community staple
On a late June morning, the rst murmurs of the Carbondale Farmers Market begin to rise. As morning light spills across the parking lot of the Murdale shopping center, vendors lift the aps of their canopies, unfolding tables with the ease of muscle memory. A breeze carries the scent of basil, fresh bread and summer peaches. By 8 a.m., the lot hums with life. Dogs tugging at leashes, toddlers peeking out from beneath straw hats and old friends greeting each other like it’s a family reunion. A guitarist strums under a shady tree. e music is soft — imperfect and perfect all at once.
For ve decades, the Carbondale Farmers Market has served as more than just a place to buy fresh produce. It’s been a Saturday morning ritual, a community staple and a gathering spot for generations of southern Illinoisans.
Market regulars say the welcoming atmosphere is part of what makes the Carbondale Farmers Market stand out from others in the region. Shoppers are greeted by name, and conversations often stretch beyond what’s in season to include family updates, recipe swaps and shared memories.
What began in 1975 as a modest
setup of local growers with card tables and folding chairs in the parking lot of the Murdale Shopping Center has evolved into one of the region’s longestrunning and most cherished farmers markets. Now boasting more than 28 vendors and hundreds of weekly visitors, the market celebrated its 50th anniversary this summer.
Nestled behind the Westown Centre on Carbondale’s west side, the Carbondale Farmers Market operates every Saturday, March through November. It o ers an array of local products, from baked goods, fruits and vegetables, plants, handmade soaps and art.
In the early ‘70s, concerns about pesticides and the desire for fresh, local produce prompted a resurgence in farmers markets across southern Illinois among many small, family-run operations, which were eager to connect with consumers more directly. The first few seasons were humble but hopeful. Vendors arrived before dawn, often selling out of produce by mid-morning. Despite unpredictable weather, the market gained a loyal following and created an unofficial slogan of “Rain or shine.” As word spread, the market expanded. By the 1980s and ’90s, it had grown to include local bakers, artists and craftspeople. Educational booths, community organizations and musicians
were later added to the mix.
Ann Stahlheber, market manager, told the Daily Egyptian that multigenerational families are involved with the market.
“One family in particular has been here the whole 50 years,” Stahlheber said in a June interview.
For vendors, the Carbondale Farmers Market is more than a business opportunity — it’s a community.
“I have sold in other parts of this country, but this is home and this is fabulous,” said fourth-year vendor Candance Weingart.
Many vendors have deep ties to the region. Some are second- or third-generation farmers. Others are newcomers who’ve bought diverse o erings, from foods and organic mushrooms to pastries and handmade ceramics.
e market’s longevity has allowed it to evolve while staying true to its roots — keeping food local and relationships personal.
In recent years, the market has taken steps to expand access for lowincome families by accepting SNAP/ EBT bene ts and participating in the Neighborhood Co-op Link Match Program, which matches purchases
of fruits and vegetables dollar for dollar. If a shopper spends $10 of EBT benefits on produce, they receive an extra $10 in coupons to spend on fruits and vegetables.
For many Carbondale residents and SIU students, the Carbondale Farmers Market isn’t just a place to shop; it’s a community staple. e market focuses on local youth involvement, and hopes to create mentorship opportunities for aspiring young farmers and entrepreneurs.
“I like to support the local farmers,” said Julia Stemper, a Carbondale native who visits the market when she returns home. “I think that you nd lots of interesting things, you get to make community here, and there are also so many other things — like artisans — and there’s oftentimes music.”
Live music, local artists, food trucks and seasonal fruits and vegetables have turned the market into a full- edged community space. SIU students and faculty are frequently involved, with universitysponsored sustainability programs and agriculture clubs often hosting educational booths or volunteering. e connection between SIU and the market has strengthened over the
decades, especially as public interest in local food systems and sustainability has grown. In a fast-paced digital world, it’s one of the few remaining places where face-to-face connection is still at the heart of community life.
As the Carbondale Farmers Market is in its fth decade, organizers hope to build on its legacy by increasing access to healthy food, partnering with more local organizations and further embracing southern Illinois culture. “It’s very wholesome here,” Stemper said.
Despite the rise of corporate stores and online grocery shopping, the Carbondale Farmers Market remains proof to the power of locals. For many in Carbondale, it’s still the best place to nd not only the freshest greens or the best sourdough bread, but also connection, conversation and a sense of place.
“I think our growers have all gotten much more sophisticated in how they grow and what they grow,” Stalheber, the market manager, said. “Southern Illinois is a wonderful place to grow fruits and vegetables — and people appreciate that.”
Sta Reporter Yahri Edmond can be reached at yedmond@dailyegyptian.com
Families and weekend shoppers stroll past produce stands and artisan booths at the Carbondale Farmers Market June 28, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. The market draws visitors of all ages to gather, shop and connect. Amilia Estrada | aestrada@dailyegyptian.com
Julia Stemper, a Carbondale native now living in Chicago, pauses to browse handmade goods at the Edmond House of Art vendor June 28, 2025 at the Carbondale Farmers Market in Carbondale, Illinois.
Lauren Farley, 14, and Cecily Coello, 14, students from the Marion area, stop to smell the soap at the My Saved Objects vendor during the Carbondale Farmers Market June 28, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois.
uniquely his own.
“I like to tell people that it’s kind of a new sound… something different than what you’re normally hearing. That’s the whole goal — to create something new,” Wayne explained.
He hopes his performances inspire audiences, especially younger fans who might be seeing their first live show.
“If anybody takes anything away, it would be a bit of inspiration to go and create, and to make art in some form,” Wayne said. Beyond entertaining, live shows allow him to connect personally with the community.
The Cottonmouths are celebrating a milestone at Off the Rails, marking their 100th show as a band. Their journey has taken them across multiple states, with memorable moments along the way.
Fans can follow the band’s journey on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, or visit LucasWaynemusic.com to stream their music and purchase merchandise. In addition to performing, Wayne also hosts “The Groove,” a diverse local radio show on 91.1 WDBX every Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m.
Audience members were just as excited about the headliner
that played later that night, Chicago Farmer. Concertgoer and international SIU student Tatiana Castillo said she has been attending the series since its early days.
“I just love how colorful it is, how people are sitting, hanging out — children, older people, young people — everyone looks relaxed, comfortable, and happy,” Castillo said, describing how the atmosphere makes the concerts a highlight of their week.
Another attendee, Miguel Alvarez, shared that the mix of familiar local acts and new performers keeps them coming back.
“We’ve been here at least two years and have made very good friends. Everyone in Carbondale is so friendly with international students,” Alvarez said, adding that he and Castillo are from Colombia.
- Sept. 6: 90’s Kidz and The Swamp Tigers - Sept. 20: Hemp, Hops and Shrooms with Colt Ball and The Git Down and Sturg and Friends - Oct. 3: Brass Queens and Taylor Steele and the Love Preachers
- Oct. 24: SIU Homecoming/ Carbondale Halloween on the Strip
Staff Reporter Yahri Edmond can be reached at yedmond@dailyegyptian.com.
Audience members dance during the O the Rails Concert Series Aug. 23, 2025 at the Downtown Entertainment and Events Plaza in Carbondale, Illinois.
Cody Diekho , performing as Chicago Farmer, sings with the Fieldnotes under stage lights during the O the Rails concert series Aug. 23, 2025. Amelia Estrada | aestrada@dailyegyptian.com.
Vendor tents line the street during O the Rails Concert Series.
Anna Phillips, Eliza Rushing and Eleanor Koehn sit on a oat during the Twilight Parade Aug. 22, 2025 at Du Quoin State Fair in Du Quoin, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
Saluki Silks stand at attention with Chancellor Lane before the Twilight Parade starts at the Du Quoin State fair Aug. 22, 2025 Du Quoin, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual
Stilt walker walking down fairgrounds at the Twilight Parade, Aug. 22, 2025 in Du Quoin, Illinois. Emily Brinkman | @erb_photo_
Vergennes Fire Department Engine 761 rolls through Du Quoin State Fairgrounds during the Twilight Parade Aug. 22, 2025 in Du Quoin, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
Du Quoin State fair visitors enjoy their time together on one of the many rides available at the fair Aug. 24, 2025 at the Du Quoin State Fair in Du Quoin, Illinois. Kaleigh Duncan | kduncan@dailyegyptian.com
Derek Fullerton chokes Damien Blackwell at the Pro Wrestling Epic event at the Du Quoin State Fair, Aug. 22, 2025 in Du Quoin Illinois. Emily Brinkman | erb_photo_
Woman helps young boy while he rides the pony ride that is attached to the Du Quoin State fair petting zoo Aug. 24, 2025 in Du Quoin, Illinois. Kaleigh Duncan | kduncan@dailyegyptian.com
Do an exchange program and do it alone
Carly Gist cgist@dailyegyptian com
Sometimes in class, I learn methods that could be described as stalker-ish. In Germany, it’s not so common.
For journalists — scratch that — for U.S. Americans, nding someone’s home address and phone number o of just their name isn’t unheard of. But sitting through meetings with German students, politicians and journalists has shown me that that’s not the norm here in Germany, where controlling one’s personal data is considered a basic human right, rooted in its postwar e orts.
I spent three weeks in Deutschland this summer, exploring the country’s history and media. It was my third short-term study abroad trip, but my rst exchange program, and I’m here to tell you about everything I learned — from German-American relations to making friends out of strangers — and why I think everyone should do something similar.
My journey started in November of 2024, when one of my professors passed along a ier for the RIAS Berlin Commission’s ERP Student Program. RIAS, named after the Radio in the American Sector, a TV and radio station established by the United States during the Cold War, is a binational organization that o ers fellowship exchange programs for U.S. and German students and journalists. At the time, I was on the hunt for a summer internship in print journalism, whereas the RIAS program was an intensive study program on broadcast journalism. Still, I decided to apply on a whim.
RIAS o ered me an interview, but it was scheduled for immediately after my time reporting with the Daily Egyptian in Washington, D.C. Running on virtually no sleep and still trying to adjust to a new semester of school, I felt unprepared for the questions they threw at me and thought I completely bombed the interview. By some miracle, I was o ered a spot in the program. Four months later, I found myself on the way to an unforgettable experience. When I arrived in Germany, the rst thing I had to do was beat jet lag. e second thing I had to do was face my fears. e past two study abroad
programs I did were through SIU, so I had a little familiarity with my peers, but this was an entirely new ballpark. Prior to our trip, we were sent a list of everyone’s headshots and short bios. I was one of the youngest students and pretty much the only one who didn’t work in or study radio or TV. To say I was intimidated was an understatement. But I learned quickly that everyone was in the same boat. We were all strangers, thrown together in a foreign country with a language we didn’t speak. e bonding happened so quickly, it’s hard to believe we only spent 21 days together. By the end of the trip, we had so many inside jokes that we had to do a paper plate award ceremony at the farewell dinner to recognize them all. (In case you’re curious, mine was “most likely to have an inanimate doppelganger.” It’s a long story.)
e RIAS fellows were some of the coolest people I’ve ever met. Seriously, be on the lookout. ey’re going to be some of the best journalists you come across.
So here’s some words of wisdom: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try something new. Everyone on this trip came from di erent backgrounds and with di erent aspirations. Some of the fellows have plans to go into separate elds, like law, education and biology. While my heart still lies in print journalism, I learned so much about broadcasting, and it’s given me a rm foundation for this semester. I’m taking a course on multimedia reporting, and I’m also working with some of the other DE sta to establish a new podcast. (After a visit to a student-run radio station in Leipzig with RIAS, I’m especially excited about that.)
Speaking of Leipzig, most of the fellowship was based in Berlin, but we also spent time in east Germany, visiting Dresden, Chemnitz, Erfurt, Eisenach, Leipzig, Magdeburg and Hamburg. We toured museums and historical sites, and we also attended meetings at various political and news organizations, as well as German universities. We met countless RIAS alums that had visited the U.S too.
Attending these meetings opened up discussions about media in the U.S. versus media in Germany. I learned that each German household
pays a fee toward publicly funded television stations, and that students typically enter graduate school before gaining hands-on experience.
But we’re not so di erent; in fact, Germany shares many concerns with us: sensationalism, fake news, biases, censorship, the rise of AI…the list goes on. We exchanged ideas for how to overcome these challenges and become trustworthy journalists.
Programs like RIAS are important because they help connect borders.
ey allow students to deepen their knowledge about other cultures and bring a new perspective back to their home countries. For journalists especially, it gives us a global perspective and better communication skills to keep in mind when reporting.
While we did discuss how Germany works to engage audiences with short attention spans, I still haven’t learned how to keep things short and sweet.
I’m already nearing 900 words, so it’s time for a speed run of the highlights of the trip.
It’s hard to pick a favorite memory, but I absolutely loved our visit to Eisenach, where we saw the beautiful Wartburg Castle. We visited the Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, which served as the U.S. Air Force base during the Cold War and became a symbol of freedom during the Berlin
Airlift. On our nal day in Berlin, we received a tour of the East Side Gallery from one of the artists.
One meeting that stuck with me was our time with Peter Keup, a former political prisoner. He gave us a guided tour of a Stasi prison that he was held in for 10 months after trying to escape to West Germany in the 1980s. Keup is a historian, researcher and advocate today. He has a documentary you can watch, but getting to hear his story rsthand was so powerful. It served as a reminder to why freedom of speech, press and movement is so important.
Recognition of history is fairly common in Germany today. It isn’t seamless, but the country works to not shy away from its past. e program gave us a historical perspective of Germany just as much, if not more, as it gave us a journalistic perspective. e country wants its citizens to recognize its past, so that they can continue to be reminded of why it is so important to protect the democracy they’ve created.
roughout the trip, I became well-versed in the public transit system and more comfortable traveling alone. I decided to extend my time abroad and spent nine days exploring Amsterdam, Paris and London. I stayed in hostels with other world travelers and continued to learn about Europe’s history. In
Amsterdam, I saw the 2025 World Press Photo Exhibition and visited the Anne Frank House. In Paris, I toured the Louvre and explored the city’s iconic landmarks. In London, I visited local markets and parks.
Long story short, if you have the opportunity to go abroad, take it. You’ll learn so much about yourself and the world. You won’t gain regrets. Instead, you’ll gain new experiences, new friends and new perspectives.
ere’s a lot of people I owe thanks to for helping me get there: Professor Freivogel, for sending me this application. Molly Parker for writing my recommendation letter. Benjy Je ords for teaching me some last minute broadcast tips. Jan ompson and the School of Journalism and Advertising for covering my contribution fee. Duolingo for helping me learn some basic words. And to the team at RIAS – Pam, Chris and Christina – thank you for making this experience so worthwhile. I’ve built a transatlantic network now, and I couldn’t be more grateful for it.
Deputy Editor Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com, or on Instagram at @gistofthestory.
Tourists gather in front of the German Parliament building May 20, 2025 in Berlin, Germany.
Carly Gist | @gistofthestory
Weekly Event Calendar
Bars
Brews Brothers - Murphysboro, IL
• ursday, Aug. 28: Trivia, 8 PM Hangar 9 - Carbondale, IL
• Tuesday, Aug. 26: Karaoke, 8 PM
• Friday, Aug. 29: e Cattails, Katt Holiday, Stepfan Santiago, 7 PM
PK’s - Carbondale, IL (21+)
• Wednesday, Aug. 27: Trivia, 8 PM
• ursday, Aug. 28: Carrie Nation & e Speakeasy / Gravehu er, 9 PM
• Friday, Aug. 29: Cash and Company, 6 PM
• Saturday, Aug. 30: Acumen, the band Brunch show, 12 PM
• Saturday, Aug. 30: Bite Risk / Jeremy Cullen, 10 PM
Route 51 – Elkville, IL
• ursday, Aug. 28: Nate Graham & Time Whiteford with Mickey Soltys & Max Senteney, 6 PM - 8 PM
• Friday, Aug. 29: Fire & Ice, 6:30 PM9:30 PM
• Saturday, Aug. 30: e Swamp Tigers, 7 PM - 10 PM
Little Nashville Cafe – Marion, IL (21+)
• ursday, Aug. 28: Matt Sneed, 6 PM - 9 PM
• Friday, Aug. 29: Aaron R. Smith, 6 PM9 PM
• Saturday, Aug. 30: Chris Chamness, 6 PM - 9 PM
John Brown’s on the Square - Marion, IL (21+)
• Friday, Aug. 29: Nick Dittmeier & e Sawdusters, 8 PM
The Moonshine Run - Johnston City, IL (21+)
• Tuesday, Aug. 26: Dave Clark, 6:30 PM
• Friday, Aug. 29: Landen Billington, 8pm
• Saturday, Aug. 30: Dave Clark & Honkytonk Troubadours, TBA
Tres Hombres - Carbondale, IL
• Friday, Aug. 29: Chris Chamness, 6 PM
• Saturday, Aug. 30: Ol’ Moose, 6 PM
Vineyards
Blue Sky Vineyard - Makanda, IL
• Saturday, Aug. 30: Carlos Alberto, 2 PM - 5 PM
• Sunday, Aug. 31: Carlos Alberto, 2 PM5 PM
Feather Hill - Cobden, IL
• Saturday, Aug. 30: Kevin Lucas, 4 PM - 7 PM
• Sunday, Aug. 31: Ryan Rumsey, 3 PM - 6 PM
Peachbarn Winery - Alto Pass, IL
• Friday, Aug. 29: Larry Dillard & Train Azul, 4 PM - 7 PM
• Saturday, Aug. 30: Radio Days!, 2 PM - 5 PM
• Sunday, Aug. 31: Blue Afternoon, 1 PM - 4 PM
Pheasant Hollow Winery - Whittington, IL
• Friday, Aug. 29: Chris Owens, 7 PM - 10 PM
• Sunday, Aug. 31: Bill Harper, 2 PM - 5 PM
Starview - Cobden, IL
• Saturday, Aug. 30: Jacob Wolfson, 5 PM - 8 PM
• Sunday, Aug. 31: e Vintage Station Band, 3 PM - 6 PM
Von Jakob - Alto Pass, IL
• Saturday, Aug. 30: Dirt Water Fox, 5 PM - 8 PM
• Sunday, Aug. 31: Tim Crosby, 2 PM - 5 PM
OwlCreek Vineyards
• Friday, Aug. 29: Ryan Gilchrist, 2 PM - 5 PM
• Saturday, Aug. 30: TBA
• Sunday Aug. 31: Kevin Lucas, 3 PM - 6 PM
Crossword answers (puzzle on page 12)
Faculty Managing Editor: Alee Quick aquick@dailyegyptian.com
News Editor: Jackson Brandorst jbrandhorst@dailyegyptian.com
Design Chief: David Starr-Fleming dstarrfleming@dailyegyptian.com
Photo Editor: Dominique Martinez-Powell dmartinez-powell@dailyegyptian.com
Editor-in-Chief: Lylee Gibbs lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com
Deputy Editor: Carly Gist cgist@dailyegyptian.com
Digital Editor: Peyton Cook pcook@dailyegyptian.com
Ad Chief: Matthew Holliday mholliday@dailyegyptian.com
Business Manager: Amy Dion businessmanager@dailyegyptian.com
About Us
Published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale on a weekly basis in print, and every day on dailyegyptian.com. Fall and spring semester editions run every Wednesday. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale, Carterville, Marion, Murphysboro, Du Quoin and Springfeld communities.
Mission Statement
The Daily Egyptian, the student-run news organization of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is committed to being a trusted source of news, information, commentary and public discourse, while helping readers understand the issues affecting their lives.
Publishing Information
The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and functions as a laboratory for the School of Journalism in exchange for the room and utilities in the Communications Building. The Daily Egyptian is a non-proft organization that survives primarily off of its advertising revenue. Offces are in the Communications Building, room 1259, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Ill., 62901.
Copyright Information
@2025 The Daily Egyptian. All rights reserved. All content is property of the Daily Egyptian and may not be reproduced or transmitted without consent. The Daily Egyptian is a member of the Illinois College Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Advisers Inc. and the College Business and Advertising Managers Inc.
Submissions
Letters and guest columns must be submitted with author’s contact information, preferably via email. Phone numbers are required to verify authorship, but will not be published. Students must include their year and major. Faculty must include rank and department. Others include hometown. Submissions should be sent to editor@dailyegyptian.com
Saluki Football eyes bounce-back season in 2025
Saluki Football’s 2024 season is one that is best left in the past. Following a 2-1 start, the Dawgs went into a free fall, dropping the next six games with only one being within one possession, before taking two of the last three to end the season. At 4-8, it was the program’s worst nish since its twowin campaign in 2018. With the 2025 season quickly approaching, the record reverts to zeroes as the Dawgs look to be competitive once again.
It’s impossible to dissect last season’s struggles without rst discussing the injuries, especially those at the quarterback position, with all four on the roster to begin the season missing time. ree of those quarterbacks are returning this year, most notably DJ Williams, who was the starter to begin last season before an injury in week three that kept him sidelined for the rest of 2024.
“When it rst happened, I was in shock, knowing that there was a possibility that my season was over,” Williams said.
With one more season left, Williams is looking to return to the eld and make the most of the opportunity he’s been given, and live in the moment.
“I’m focused on going out there and doing what I love to do. It’s a game that I’ve been playing since I was very young,” Williams said. “I’m guaranteed one game at a time, and my focus right now is omas More.”
Even in his limited time on the
eld last year, Williams was able to put together some impressive performances with 121 yards and two touchdowns on the ground against BYU and 301 yards and two touchdowns through the air against Incarnate Word.
He said he believes his ability to be a multi-faceted threat is sure to be a problem for opposing defenses to plan for.
“ ere are a lot of di erent things that teams have to gameplan and account for. Being able to run the ball and make plays with my legs makes them not able to drop eight guys into coverage,” Williams said.
“It’s things like that that defensive coordinators will have to account for. It opens up things for our o ense and what we can do.”
In terms of who Williams will be throwing the ball to, things look quite di erent this season as last year’s top three receivers in terms of yardage, Keontez Lewis, Allen Middleton and Nah’shawn Hezekiah, are no longer on the team.
Vinson Davis returns for his third year at SIU with the most on- eld experience in the wide receiver room.
In his 24 games as a Saluki, the senior has totaled 1041 receiving yards and has scored ve touchdowns.
With his experience, he’s been able to help mentor the new and less experienced receivers and get them acclimated to their new environment.
“I’m giving them those tools I’ve gotten from past years and the reps I’m taking in now so that they don’t
make the same mistakes that I once did,” Davis said. “I’m giving them that blueprint, if I can, to make sure that they’re ready when their time comes.”
Between graduates and transfers, the build of the defensive roster also looks a lot di erent. With new players needing to ll big roles, the returning players, like Chris Presto, a third-year linebacker, have helped them settle so they can perform well.
“ e guys who have been here welcoming those guys in and helping to develop the younger kids is key to building a good team defense, the way we need to play,” Presto said.
Changes were made at the coaching level of the defense when Lee Pronschinske, who served as the safeties coach last year, took over the
at various positions just helped to make the transition smoother,” Pronschinske said.
In the lead-up to his rst season as DC, Pronschinske has emphasized the importance of e ective communication to the success of his defense.
“When you look at the best defenses in the nation, whether that be FBS, FCS, D-II or High School, it’s groups that communicate at a high level, play really hard and play together,” Pronschinske said. “ at’s been something we’ve been preaching since spring ball.”
If the Salukis have any hope of being competitive in 2025, their defense has to be better than last season. e Dawgs gave up an average
“That’s been a big point of emphasis from the defensive staff this year, is practicing harder.”
- DJ Williams Quarterback
role of defensive coordinator with Antonio James leaving the position. His familiarity with the program has made the change in organizational structure go over more smoothly.
“ e relationships that were already built with guys on the team
of 30.6 points per game last season, which was good for 89th out of 123 FCS schools and 408.3 yards per game (92nd).
One of the reasons that defense performed as it did was because they struggled to get o the eld on late
downs. Opposing o enses were able to move the chains 46.5% of the time on third down (106th) and 54.2% on fourth down (78th).
“ roughout spring ball and fall camp, we were able to compete against the o ense in live situations on third and fourth down,” Pronschinske said. “I’ve built a really good system that our guys feel comfortable with. We need those guys to be comfortable in the system and execute at a high level. We’ve done a good job at preparing the guys for a lot of situations.”
Going into the season, the Dawgs were ranked the 20th-best FCS team in the country, according to the FCS Coaches poll, and will look to secure a spot in the FCS playo s after widely missing the mark last year.
e players who have been at SIU since the 2023 season have seen the di erences between a losing squad and a winning squad, so they know what needs to be done to get back to the postseason.
“We know what it’s like to lose. We know what got us there, what habits we allowed to slide in practice, things as simple as not practicing hard enough,” Presto said. “ at’s been a big point of emphasis from the defensive sta this year, is practicing harder.”
e Salukis will begin the 2025 season this Saturday, August 30, playing host to the Saints of omas More University.
Sports Reporter Nick Pfannkuche can be reached at npfankuche@dailyegyptian.com.
SIU Soccer off to scorching 3-0 start
2024 was truly a tale of two seasons for the Saluki soccer squad. ey didn’t lose a game in their rst four contests, earning two wins alongside two ties, and later went on another six match undefeated streak with four wins and two ties that stretched into conference play before ending the season on a six match losing streak to nish with a 6-8-5 record on the year.
e Salukis looked to wash the bad taste out of their mouths in the beginning of the new season, starting with a home matchup against their in-state rivals, the Eastern Illinois Panthers. As students started repopulating campus on ursday, Aug. 14, many went to Lew Hartzog Field as the soccer squad kicked o the Saluki athletics year.
e Saluki o ense was in tiptop shape from the rst touch, consistently getting pressure on the Panther defense. It took only three minutes for SIU to get their rst corner kick of the year, and only eight minutes and change for sophomore Dory Latenser to score the rst goal of the year.
While there was plenty to celebrate about the defender’s long-range strike, the Salukis were far from done. After the Panther defense had held strong through two more corner kicks, 2024 MVC All-Freshman Team member
Sophia Schlicklin busted through after a feed from freshman forward Dior Knorr. Unsatis ed with merely a 2-0 lead, Schlicklin added an assist to her tally on an Aylie Haycock goal at the 23rd minute to give the Salukis a comfortable 3-0 lead that they would take into the half.
From the whistle to start the second half, Panthers goalie Ashlyn Hoover was sent a barrage of shots on goal, making three saves in quick succession. Twenty minutes into the half, Hoover was forced to try and stop a penalty shot after Hadley Hendrickson committed a foul in the box. Olivia Anderson was chosen by third-year head coach Graeme Orr to take the shot, and she buried it to extend the lead to 4-0, where it would stay for the remainder of the match.
Saluki goalie Reagan Miller was awarded the MVC Goalkeeper Of The Week on Tuesday, Aug. 19 for her performance.
Six days later, the squad returned
to Lew Hartzog Field in front of a packed house to take on their crossriver rivals, the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks. While much of the game’s early stages took place in the Salukis’ attacking zone, they didn’t have nearly the same amount of shooting opportunities.
e Redhawk defense did start to show signs of cracking after it took a miracle save from goalkeeper Madison Geisler to keep Sophia Schlicklin from scoring in the 20th minute. Finally, the Salukis broke through in the 36th minute as Olivia Anderson’s ball in from 30 yards out
found Dory Latenser right in front of the goal for her second goal in as many games. While both teams had massive opportunities in the closing minutes, the score stayed at 1-0 SIU through 45 minutes.
Both defenses came out of the half strong, neither o ense getting any major chances through 75 minutes.
Junior Saluki forward Penny Warner then came inches away from scoring at a near-impossible angle on the goal line, but was thwarted by the far post. Minutes later, the Southern Illinois o ense nally struck again, with Dana Nadda getting her rst
goal as a Saluki o a cross from Sophia Schlicklin. SEMO’s last o ensive push was thwarted by an o sides call with 5 minutes to go, icing the Salukis’ 2-0 victory. rough two games, the Salukis have six goals scored by ve di erent goal scorers. When asked about having multiple scoring options after the game, Saluki Head Coach Graeme Orr said, “We just have to keep getting into the right areas, keep taking advantage of these opportunities.”
Orr also shouted out the Saluki defensive corps that has yet to allow a goal through two matches.
“(Reagan Miller) got individual accolades, which are deserved, and the defensive unit in front of her continue to work extremely hard,” he said. e Salukis, who are now 3-00 after defeating IU-Indianapolis on the road Sunday, aim to stay hot and avoid last year’s slide as they continue their road trip on ursday, Aug. 28 at Alabama A&M.
Sports reporter Eli Hoover can be reached at ehoover@dailyegpytian. com or on Instagram @hoovermakesart.
Photo provided by Saluki Athletics
Solar Bear 2025
SIU students kick o fall semester with frat block party
Flooding the streets between fraternity houses on College Street, hundreds of college kids, dressed anywhere from fun shirts to swimsuits, spent the entirety of their Saturday getting rowdy outdoors. Solar Bear, the annual fall semester kick-o party, takes place each year during the rst weekend of the semester. Borgs, gallon of water jugs lled with a mix of alcohol, water and o en electrolytes, were carried by students and o en stamped with fun, creative names. is year’s party was held at Sigma Pi, Sigma Chi and Phi Kappa Tau fraternity houses, all within walking distance of one another, which o ered water slides, games, food and more for students.
-Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
Locals and students gather together Aug. 23, 2025 for the annual Solar Bear party in Carbondale, Illinois. Deangelo Handley | @_deevisuals4
Nate Clarke poses for a photo with his handmade twisted tea helmet at Solar Bear.
Students hang outside of the Sigma Chi Fraternity house at Solar Bear.
Attendees dance to the music during Solar Bear.
Drake Germann (left) with his friend Collin Shield (middle) hang out at the Solar Bear party.
WEEKLY CROSSWORD
Obscene material
Good Hope or Fear
Strike arbiters?
Run out of gas
Oration from the Mount
Foreshadowing sign
Touch
Misplace 13. Prefix with physics or data 19. Transports in "The Last of the Mohicans" 21. Give the pink slip 25. Offerings on the table 26. Dispense 27. Actor Mineo 28. Religious symbol
29. Haloed guardian
31. Has-been diva
32. "Don't shed ___"
33. Russian emperors until 1917
36. Roof overhang
39. Unselfish sort
40. Educators org.
43. Examination administrators
45. Clocks with sweepng hands
47. Korean pickled cabbage
49. Eliminate
52. Tennis grand ___
53. A quiet stretch?
54. Exchange
55. Club for shoppers
56. Brother of Jacob
57. Latin 101 word
58. Nick's lady in "The Thin Man"
59. Eldest of the Brady boys
61. Vegas opener
"Culture Clash" by Terry Gergely